DRC and M23 Rebels Agree on Roadmap for Peace in Eastern Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo government and the M23 rebel group have agreed on a roadmap for peace talks aimed at resolving the protracted conflict in eastern DRC. It marks the latest step in an internationally brokered peace process that has seen the parties make cautious concessions, without ending the fighting. Following talks in Switzerland earlier this week, the parties have committed to “pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace”, mediators said in a joint statement released on Saturday night. They staked out a roadmap “setting out sequenced steps and timelines for negotiations” and agreed to establish a mechanism to address problems implementing the peace deal they signed late last year in Qatar, the statement said. They also affirmed “the importance of a standardised method for reporting allegations of ceasefire violations”. A ceasefire verification mission is due to arrive in Minembwe, in South Kivu province in eastern DRC, on Monday. … It will be the first formal inspection since the peace deal was signed in November 2025, and the first deployment of the shared body meant to oversee it. The latest negotiations took place in Switzerland from 17-21 August, mediated by the United States, Qatar, Togo, Switzerland and the African Union Commission. RFI
Sudan War Has No Military Solution, Former Prime Minister Says
Sudan’s civil war has no military solution, former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok said on Sunday, urging civilian unity and sustained regional diplomatic engagement to halt the conflict. Speaking to a group of reporters in Addis Ababa … Hamdok described recent consultations among anti-war factions as a significant step forward for the civilian movement. “We do not carry weapons, and we have informed the regional community that there is no military solution in Sudan,” said Hamdok, who heads the Somoud coalition and the Declaration of Principles group. … Hamdok’s comments followed two days of talks in the Ethiopian capital that brought together political parties, civil society organizations, and youth and women’s networks to establish a unified front against the conflict. The participants outlined a vision for a peace process comprising three integrated, simultaneous tracks, with a humanitarian pathway aimed at protecting civilians, opening humanitarian aid routes, and facilitating the unconditional return of displaced persons. Sudan Tribune
Chad Accuses Sudanese Military of Strike on Convoy inside Its Territory
Chad’s military on Saturday accused the Sudanese armed forces of launching drone strikes against a convoy inside Chadian territory, an incident that risks escalating regional tensions from Sudan’s civil war. The strikes targeted a column of vehicles in the Ennedi Est region, more than 100 km from the border, the General Staff of the Chadian Armed Forces said in a statement late on Saturday. General Alchanan Issakha Acheikh, director of military information for the Chadian army, said available information indicated aircraft and drones belonging to Sudanese forces or allied groups carried out the attack. Chad placed all military units on high alert and warned all warring parties against spilling the conflict across the frontier, adding it reserved the right to defend its territorial integrity. The Sudanese army spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Sudan’s army has previously accused Chad of supporting the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and facilitating the transit of military supplies sent by the United Arab Emirates through Chadian airports in Amdjarass and N’Djamena. The strike follows reported air raids on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21 targeting suspected RSF supply lines and reinforcements moving from border areas. Sudan Tribune
ExxonMobil Advances Mozambique Gas Project despite Militant Threat
ExxonMobil has revived plans to build a liquefied natural gas plant in Mozambique, as war in the Middle East bolsters the case for projects outside the region. The developers of the Rovuma LNG project had awarded about $1.1bn in pre-investment contracts for equipment, Exxon said in a statement on Monday, in the clearest signal yet that the long-delayed project will go ahead. Work on the facility had been on hold since the massacre of 800 people by Islamist militants seeking to seize control of the nearby town of Palma in 2021. After visiting the Cabo Delgado province this month, UN special rapporteur Ben Saul said a military solution “does not appear imminent” and that the “frequency, severity and spread of attacks on civilians” had worsened over the past year. … The Gulf is home to about a third of the world’s LNG supplies — mostly from Qatar — and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have reinforced the case for developing supplies outside the region. Financial Times
Nigeria: Gunmen Abduct Worshippers during Friday Prayers in Niger State
Several worshippers have been abducted during Friday prayers at a mosque in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. The attackers reportedly stormed the mosque while worshippers were observing the Juma’at prayer and took an unspecified number of people away. Details of the incident, including the exact location of the mosque and number of victims, were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report. The latest incident comes amid renewed security concerns in Borgu, an area that has witnessed several deadly attacks and abductions in recent months. In January, at least 30 people were reported killed when gunmen attacked Kasuwan-Daji village in Borgu, while several others were abducted. The attackers also reportedly burnt houses and the local market. A month later, gunmen attacked three communities in the area – Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso and Pissa, killing at least 32 people and abducting an unspecified number of residents, according to police and local sources. Premium Times
Zambia Courts Sealed off as Election Petition Deadline Looms
Court premises in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, and elsewhere have been shut as the deadline for filing a petition against the outcome of the recent presidential election approaches. An unusual police presence has been reported at some courts, which have been taped off to prevent access. Opposition candidate Brian Mundubile said he would challenge the election result, citing irregularities, after coming second with a 38% share of the vote. Incumbent Hakainde Hichilema won a second term with 60%. Mundubile is in hiding over alleged threats made against him, amid a post-election period marked by controversy, including the shooting dead of an opposition figure and the arrest of others. Monday is the last day on which petition against the presidential election result can be filed. Such a petition could potentially affect the inauguration of Hichilema, which is scheduled for 1 September. On Monday, lawyers who arrived at the courts were being asked to depart. One lawyer told the BBC that three armed men approached his vehicle, identified themselves, and instructed him to leave the area. The courts that have been sealed off include the High Court in Lusaka, the Supreme Court, which also houses the Constitutional Court, and several local courts. BBC
Uganda: Byanyima Decries Besigye’s Return to Prison Cell, Calls Trial Cruel amid Health Concerns
Ms Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of UNAIDS, has issued an impassioned plea to the government to allow her husband, veteran opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, for urgent medical treatment. Writing on X in the early hours of August 24, 2026, Ms Byanyima expressed deep concern for Dr Besigye’s deteriorating health following his return to a detention cell, calling his current treatment cruel and a violation of fundamental human rights. … She assured authorities that Dr Besigye would return to Uganda to face trial once he recovers, emphasizing that he remains innocent until proven guilty. … Highlighting the harsh conditions at the facility, Ms Byanyima condemned the decision to move the four-time presidential candidate back to confinement. “Returning a very weak man to an airless, dark, bedbug-infested cell and denying him family care is cruel and a violation of his human rights,” she stated. She further voiced anxiety over earlier public remarks by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who had reportedly threatened that Dr Besigye would leave prison in a coffin. “After Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s public threat… I cannot remain silent. Are they trying to make that threat a reality?” she asked. Monitor
Uganda and Burundi Military Officials Visit Israel to Discuss Gaza Troop Deployment
Military officials from Uganda and Burundi visited Israel last week to discuss deploying troops to Gaza as part of an international security force envisioned by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for the fragile ceasefire, according to officials. A Board of Peace official told The Associated Press that Ugandan officials joined a Burundian military delegation, and that Uganda is finalizing details of its participation after its parliament approved the troop contribution this month. … A Burundian military official told the AP that three other senior military officers led the delegation to Israel and that Burundi appeared intent on joining. … Paul D. Williams, director of the security policy studies program at The George Washington University, said Uganda and Burundi have gained considerable peacekeeping experience through long-term deployments in Somalia as part of an African Union force resisting [al-Shabab]. AP
Congo Receives More than 16,000 Doses of Ebola Vaccine as It Grapples with Unprecedented Outbreak
Congo has received more than 16,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine as the country grapples with the fastest Ebola outbreak in history, the country’s health minister said. The 16,250 doses arrived at the N’djili International Airport in the capital, Kinshasa, late Friday, as part of 70,000 doses expected from the World Health Organization and partners that were announced on Thursday. More doses are expected early next week. The current Ebola outbreak in Congo is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which currently has no approved treatment or vaccine. It can spread easily and go undetected because some of its symptoms are similar to other illnesses, such as malaria. The Ervebo vaccine is licensed to treat Ebola and has been effective in past outbreaks. The WHO said it may provide some protection against the Bundibugyo virus. AP
Eastern Libya Executes 10 Convicted on Terrorism Charges, Sparking Rights Outcry
Authorities in eastern Libya said they executed 10 people after their conviction by military courts on terrorism-related charges. … The office of the military prosecutor in eastern Libya said the 10 people were executed by firing squad after yearslong trials. The office is overseen by the self-styled Libyan National Army, which is commanded by powerful Gen. Khalifa Hifter and controls the eastern and southern parts of Libya. The people were convicted of charges ranging from joint terrorist groups to assassinations of military personnel and civilians, the office said in a statement. … Local media reported that the executions took place in the notorious Qarnada military prison in the northeastern town of Shahat, and that their families were notified to receive their bodies from a hospital in the city of Benghazi. … The National Institution for Human Rights in Libya said military trial of civilians “raises fundamental questions concerning jurisdiction, judicial independence, and guarantees of a fair trial.” … It cited a Constitutional Court ruling that said the trial of civilians before military courts for terrorism-related offenses and crimes against the state was unconstitutional. AP
South Africa: Knysna Tensions Grow after Two Councillors Killed within 24 Hours
Political tensions are rising in Knysna after the killings of former mayor and serving ANC councillor Aubrey Tsengwa, who was shot dead on Wednesday, 19 August, followed less than 24 hours later by the fatal shootings of former councillor Mandla Matiwane and local taxi forum secretary Mandla Tyololo. The killings have heightened fears that the violence could deepen political instability in the town ahead of the local government elections. The three murders also take on an added significance when considering Knysna’s history of political contestation and allegations of factional battles. There are also fears that this latest violence could signal a return to politically linked killings. … The violence comes amid wider concern over attacks on councillors and municipal officials, with South African Local Government Association president Bheke Stofile warning that such killings posed a direct threat to democracy. … The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has placed the killing of Tsengwa against the wider political backdrop ahead of the local government elections. … The timing of the killing, amid heightened political tensions in Knysna, has raised concerns about the potential for violence or intimidation to undermine the electoral environment. Daily Maverick
2 Bodies Recovered and about 12 Missing after Migrant Boat Capsized off Tunisian Coast
A boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of southern Tunisia, killing at least two people and leaving 12 missing, Tunisia’s national guard said Saturday. One survivor was rescued. Guard spokesperson Houssem Eddine Jebabli told state news agency TAP that authorities recovered two bodies and transferred them to a hospital on the nearby island of Djerba. He told national radio Mosaique FM that about 15 people were believed to be aboard the boat when it took off between the cities of Zarzis and Ben Guerdane. The boat had set off early Thursday, and a commercial ship found the sole survivor Saturday in a life jacket, Mosaique reported, citing testimony from the survivor. A helicopter and coast guard boats were then dispatched to the area in search of more survivors, according to an Associated Press photojournalist at the scene. The migrants were believed to be headed toward Italy. Zarzis has long been a departure point for Tunisians and others from around Africa or beyond attempting to cross the Mediterranean toward Europe. AP