Sudan’s RSF Accused of Fresh Atrocities, Ethnic Cleansing in El Fasher
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of committing a new wave of killings, abductions, and ethnically motivated attacks against civilians attempting to flee El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur. The RSF on Sunday escalated its attacks on the city and the adjacent Abu Shouk camp, which shelters 190,000 displaced persons. A spokesperson for the camp told Sudan Tribune that RSF fighters are forcibly displacing thousands of residents. “The RSF forcibly displaced residents from blocks 17 to 28 after occupying their homes,” the spokesperson said. He added that while some were forced back into El Fasher, others fled towards areas controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement under Abdel Wahid Nur. The number of civilians abducted by the RSF has now exceeded 20, including women, children, and the elderly, the spokesperson stated, expressing “grave fears they could be killed under the pretext of supporting the army.” The attacks are part of a renewed push by the RSF to seize control of the city, which it has besieged since April 2024, blocking humanitarian aid and triggering a severe hunger crisis. Sudan Tribune
Sudanese Groups Launch Campaign to Extend UN Fact-finding Mission
A broad coalition of Sudanese civil society groups is preparing to launch a national campaign demanding a two-year extension for the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, citing unabated atrocities and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The UN Human Rights Council established the mission in October 2023 to investigate widespread violations by Sudan’s warring parties. The mission is scheduled to present its final report during the council’s 58th session in September, when its mandate is set to expire. Mohamed Salah, an executive member of the Emergency Lawyers group, told Sudan Tribune the campaign aims to secure a renewal of the mandate during the upcoming session, which begins on September 8. “The campaign will launch on September 1 with the participation of more than 170 professional bodies, trade unions, youth and women’s groups, political parties, and national figures,” Salah said. He argued that an extension is critical due to the “continuation of violations, the escalation of attacks on civilians, and the widening scope of the conflict.” Sudan Tribune
Malians Flee Town after Jihadist Attack
Many civilians have fled the town of Farabougou in central Mali following a jihadist attack this week on a military camp, local and military sources told AFP on Saturday. Soldiers also evacuated the town’s military installation, which was attacked by jihadists on Tuesday, the sources said. For more than a decade, Mali has faced violence from fighters linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as from separatist movements and criminal gangs. No information was immediately available on the toll of the Farabougou attack. “Civilians are fleeing the town and surrounding villages,” a local official told AFP, requesting anonymity for security reasons. “Several hundred people continue to flee. The jihadists control the town. They even held Friday prayers in Farabougou,” the person added. A military source confirmed that the army was no longer in the town on Saturday…The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed to have carried out the attack in Farabougou, as well as in the southwestern town of Kassela, some 60 kilometres from the capital Bamako. AFP
Nigeria’s Military Says Its Airstrikes Killed 35 Islamic Militants in Borno State
Nigeria’s military said it targeted militants with precision airstrikes in the country’s northeast early on Saturday, killing at least 35 suspected jihadists as the West African country grapples with militancy and a resurgent Boko Haram. The strikes were launched on four targets in the area of Kumshe in Borno state, near the border with Cameroon, according to Ehimen Ejodame, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force. Boko Haram, a homegrown group of jihadists in Nigeria, is considered one of the world’s deadliest armed groups. It took up arms in 2009 to fight Western education and impose its radical version of Islamic law in the country’s northeast. A splinter group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, is known for targeting the military and has overrun bases in northeastern Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. The conflict has spilled into Nigeria’s northern neighbors, including Niger, and resulted in the death of around 35,000 civilians and the displacement of more than 2 million others, according to the United Nations. AP
Nigeria: Tinubu Arrives in Brazil for State Visit
President Bola Tinubu arrived in Brasília early Monday for a two-day state visit aimed at deepening Nigeria-Brazil relations. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian leader is scheduled to meet with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other senior Brazilian officials on Monday at the Palácio da Alvorada. President Tinubu’s agenda will focus on boosting cooperation in aviation, agribusiness, livestock, security, trade, and cultural exchange with Latin America’s largest economy. Key discussions will also explore partnerships in agriculture, energy transition, regional security and areas of mutual strategic interest. A major highlight will be the signing of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) for direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil. News Agency of Nigeria
Over 1,200 Arrested in Africa Cybercrime Crackdown: Interpol
More than 1,200 people were arrested and some $100 million recovered in a major crackdown against rising cybercrime in Africa, global police organisation Interpol said Friday. The United Kingdom and 18 African countries carried out the operation dubbed “Serengeti 2.0” between June and August, identifying some 88,000 victims of of fraud and illegal cryptocurrency networks, a statement read. Reports of online fraud have spiked 3,000 percent in some African countries during the last year, Interpol said in a recent report. Cybercrime now makes up more than 30 percent of all reported crime in west and east Africa, the report said. In one bust, the Angolan authorities shut down 25 cryptocurrency mining centres, where Chinese operators were illegally validating digital currency transactions, seizing equipment worth an estimated $37 million. Proceeds from the seizure will go towards improving electricity distribution in the central African country, Interpol said. Ivory Coast officers dismantled a transnational inheritance scam — described as “one of the oldest internet frauds” — in which victims pay fees to claim fictitious fortunes, causing losses of about $1.6 million, according to the statement. And in Zambia, investigators targeted a network responsible for an online investment scam, identifying around 65,000 victims who lost some $300 million. AFP
Guinea’s Junta Suspends Three Main Political Parties
Guinea’s junta has suspended three main political parties — including that of former president Alpha Conde — for three months, ahead of an electoral campaign for a rewrite of the constitution, according to an order seen by AFP on Saturday. The move came as the west African nation readied for protests called by the main parties and civil society groups from September 5 to condemn what they see as a power grab by the head of the junta, General Mamadi Doumbouya. The opposition has condemned plans for a September 21 referendum on revising the constitution — a vote organised by Doumbouya, who took power in 2021 when a coup toppled Conde, who had been president for 10 years. Doumbouya’s military-run government has banned all demonstrations since 2022, and has arrested, prosecuted or pushed into exile several opposition leaders. As well as Conde’s Rally of the Guinean People, the new order suspends the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, led by former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress. It did not detail what the unfulfilled obligations were, but set a three-month deadline for the parties to correct them or face additional sanctions. In a separate order read on state television late Friday, the junta also declared that the start of the election campaign period for the constitutional referendum had been pushed back a week, to August 31. AFP
Burkina Stops Gates Foundation’s Anti-Malaria Campaign
Burkina Faso on Friday halted a project backed by US billionaire Bill Gates that had seen genetically modified mosquitoes released in a bid to eradicate malaria and other insect-borne diseases. Target Malaria, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is the latest NGO to come under pressure from the country’s military rulers. It was ordered to stop “all activities”, the government said in a communique. Burkina Faso has been ruled for nearly three years by a military administration led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who seized power following a coup in September 2022. In June and July, the government revoked the operating licenses of 21 international NGOs, or those receiving international funding. Target Malaria, involving a consortium of more than 150 African and Western researchers, has released genetically modified mosquitoes in an effort to eradicate malaria that it says kills more than 500,000 people a year across Africa. The first release took place in 2019 in Burkina Faso, with another release this month. But the project has been criticized by some civil society groups and targeted by disinformation campaigns on social media sites linked to the government…The Target Malaria said that it has “been operating in compliance with Burkina Faso’s national legislation since 2012” and “remains ready to cooperate.” AFP
Cameroon Says 10 Kidnapped Children Freed
Ten children who were kidnapped in restive northern Cameroon last week have been freed in a rescue operation, but one captive died, according to the regional governor. The Cameroon authorities had made no comment since the children were seized while travelling on a bus from Kousseri to Maroua and taken across the border to Nigeria. But Far North province governor Midjiyawa Bakari said in a social media video on Thursday that 10 youngsters had now been rescued by soldiers from the Cameroonian army and an anti-jihadist taskforce including soldiers from neighbouring Nigeria and Chad…Some 50 people have been arrested, he went on. The governor did not comment on how the kidnapping took place or whether those responsible belonged to the jihadist group Boko Haram, as reported in Cameroonian media. AFP
Cameroon Court Rejects Bid to Block Biya from Re-election
Cameroon’s constitutional court on Friday rejected an attempt to bar veteran President Paul Biya from seeking an eighth term of office and extend his nearly 43 years in power. Biya, at 92 the world’s oldest president, is running for a new seven-year term in elections on October 12. His age, his health and capacity to govern have become the subject of debate, given his age. The attempt to block Biya from running was brought by Akere Muna, from the Universe party, one of 12 candidates contesting the vote. But court president Clement Atangana dismissed the case “on substance, as it is not justified”, after two hours of legal argument and a closed-door session. Muna, a lawyer and long-standing anti-corruption campaigner, said he accepted the court’s decision but questions remained unanswered about Biya’s competency. “President Biya reigns but he doesn’t govern,” he said, with his lawyer and supporters pointing to his dependence on his entourage and wife to fulfill his presidential duties. Cameroon’s divided opposition is struggling to challenge Biya, who has been accused by rights groups of suppressing political rivals. AFP
DRC Military Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty against Former President Kabila
A military prosecutor on Friday demanded the death penalty for DR Congo’s former president Joseph Kabila who is on trial in absentia on treason charges. Kabila’s party called the proceedings “a political trial.” General Lucien René Likulia called on judges to condemn Kabila to death for war crimes, treason and organising an insurrection. The former president, 53, went on trial in his absence in July for his alleged support for Rwanda-backed M23 militants. Kabila, who has been outside the DRC for two years, is accused of plotting to overthrow President Felix Tshisekedi and charges including homicide, torture and rape linked to the M23 group… Kabila has already denounced the trial, calling the courts “an instrument of oppression”. The indictment also accuses Kabila of responsibility for atrocities committed by M23 in North and South Kivu provinces in the mineral-rich east. It lists the “forcible occupation of the city of Goma”, captured by M23 fighters in January before they agreed a ceasefire with the government in July. Kabila went to Goma in May, meeting local religious leaders in the presence of M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka…The AFC and M23’s executive secretary Benjamin Mbonimpa distanced the movement from Kabila in comments to journalists in Goma in July. Kabila ruled the country between 2001 and 2009, taking power following the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila. Although he left the DRC in 2023, the former leader still has influence over Congolese political life. Le Monde with AFP
Egypt Intensifies Lobbying African States on ‘Water Security’, ‘Red Sea Stability’ as Counter to Ethiopia’s Stance
Egypt has launched a new round of diplomatic lobbying across Africa, positioning its outreach as a counterweight to Ethiopia’s policies on the Nile. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Thursday with his counterparts in Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia, Egyptian media reported. In the conversations, Abdelatty “reaffirmed Egypt’s categorical rejection of unilateral measures that violate international law in the Eastern Nile Basin,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Egyptian diplomatic push comes despite Ethiopia’s repeated assurances and the formal entry into force of the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), a landmark legal instrument governing equitable use of the Nile since October 2024. He claimed that “water security is existential for Egypt,” asking African partners to back consensus as the only basis for managing transboundary watercourses. The lobbying comes as Ethiopia prepares to inaugurate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Cairo has long claimed that Ethiopia’s filling and operation of the dam without a “legally binding agreement” undermines its water security. Abdelatty’s push to rally regional support underscores Egypt’s bid to frame the issue beyond a bilateral dispute, linking it to international laws and “regional stability.” Addis Standard
UN Libya Mission Reports Attempted Rocket Attack On HQ
The UN Support Mission in Libya said Friday that its Tripoli headquarters had come under rocket attack without causing any casualties or damage. The Libyan interior ministry said it foiled “an attempted attack” with an anti-tank missile on the compound housing UNSMIL headquarters. The rocket hit a house in Janzour in the outskirts of the capital, the ministry added, without specifying how far that was from UNSMIL headquarters. Authorities said they seized a pickup truck “carrying two more missiles and a launch platform” but gave no indication of who might have carried out the attack…The latest attack took place as UNSMIL chief Hanna Tetteh was briefing the Security Council in New York, the mission said. “The mission’s premises were not impacted,” it said, commending “the vigilance of the Libyan authorities and their swift measures to thoroughly investigate this incident and ensure continued security of UN facilities”. The Tripoli-based government condemned what it called a “failed attempt” and a “serious act aimed at undermining security and stability, and damaging Libya’s relations with the international community”. AFP
Japan Commits $5.5B in Loans to Africa at Major Summit
Japan committed $5.5 billion in loans to Africa this week, positioning itself as a reliable partner at a time when the US and UK governments have made huge cuts to foreign aid. The new funding package was announced during the country’s flagship conference promoting development on the continent, a forum attended by more than two dozen African presidents and heads of state or their high-level representatives. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held bilateral talks with the presidents of Angola, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, among others. Japan is also seeking to strengthen its ties with Africa through a new economic zone connecting the continent with the Indian Ocean under an initiative proposed by Ishiba this week. His government will provide a grant to develop Kenya’s Port of Mombasa, where ongoing infrastructure upgrades saw cargo volumes rise 8% in the first half of this year. Kenya is also set to receive a yen-denominated loan worth $169 million, with the backing of Japan’s Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, to boost its local automotive and energy sectors. Semafor
Long-promised Burundi-Tanzania Rail Corridor Kicks Off
Tanzania and Burundi broke ground on a long-promised cross-border railway linking East Africa’s landlocked regions to the port of Dar es Salaam. The $2.15 billion 282-kilometer (175-mile) electrified line is a key leg of the “Central Corridor” project that has been on the cards for over a decade. It is expected to slash four-day truck journeys by road to just one day by 2030, when the line is scheduled for completion. The new line is being built by the China Railway Group. Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye described the project as central to his country’s economic future, especially its mining sector. Burundi holds reserves of gold, tantalum, tin, and rare earths, but exporting them efficiently has been a challenge. East African governments have been pushing for an integrated rail network spanning the region, linking Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway to Tanzania’s system. Semafor