Sudan: AU, IGAD Indefinitely Postpone Sudanese Political Consultations
The African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have indefinitely postponed consultations between Sudanese political factions scheduled for next week in Djibouti, organizers said on Thursday. It marks the second such delay in recent months; talks planned for October were abandoned after Sudanese groups failed to agree on the participant list. … Officials involved in the planning told Sudan Tribune the meetings, set for Dec. 16-18, were shelved after the Democratic Bloc coalition refused to participate alongside the Sudan Founding Coalition (Tasis), a bloc dominated by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). … Four previous AU-led attempts to organize a dialogue have failed due to disputes over selection criteria and management. Deep divisions persist across the political landscape. The Somoud alliance rejects any dialogue involving figures from the ousted regime and demands the inclusion of independent civil forces. Sudan Tribune
Sudan: UN Warns of Escalating Violence in Darfur, Kordofan
The United Nations has raised the alarm over escalating and indiscriminate violence targeting civilians across Sudan’s Darfur and Kordofan regions, citing a deadly drone strike in South Darfur and worsening insecurity in South Kordofan. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, told reporters on Thursday that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is deeply concerned by the intensifying conflict. In South Darfur State, a drone strike on Monday in the town of Katila, approximately 150 kilometres south-west of Nyala, reportedly killed some 30 civilians and injured many others, including women and children. The strike targeted a location under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), highlighting the devastating impact of aerial attacks on non-combatants. The security situation in South Kordofan State is also rapidly deteriorating. Haq reported that drone strikes have hit the state capital, Kadugli, and the town of Dilling. Sudan Tribune
Rwanda-backed M23 Offensive in Congo’s South Kivu Kills over 400 Civilians
More than 400 civilians have been killed since the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group escalated its offensive in the South Kivu province in eastern Congo, regional officials said, adding that Rwandan special forces were in the strategic city of Uvira. “More than 413 civilians (have been) killed by bullets, grenades and bombs, including many women, children and young people” in localities between Uvira and Bukavu, the regional capital, the South Kivu government spokesperson said in a statement late Wednesday. … M23 said it had taken control of the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Congo on Wednesday afternoon, following a rapid offensive since the start of the month. Uvira is an important port city on the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika and is directly across from neighboring Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura. AP
UN Warns of ‘Regional Conflagration’ as DR Congo Violence Uproots 500,000
More than half a million people have now been uprooted by escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) the UN said on Thursday, warning that the M23 rebel offensive is driving a rapidly worsening humanitarian emergency. … The UN aid coordination office (OCHA) said new assessments indicate that more than 500,000 people have been displaced in just over a week, a dramatic rise from earlier estimates. While some families have returned to areas where fighting has momentarily subsided, most remain in overcrowded sites where the risk of cholera, mpox and other disease outbreaks is rapidly rising. … The violence has also driven people across DRC’s borders – an estimated 50,000 people have crossed into Burundi, where conditions at makeshift sites remain “very precarious,” according to OCHA. UN Info
About 200 West African Soldiers in Benin for ‘Clean-up’ after Failed Coup
Some 200 West African soldiers, mainly from Nigeria and Ivory Coast, are in Benin to support the government following Sunday’s failed coup, Benin’s foreign minister says. The attempt was foiled after Nigeria deployed fighter jets to drive the mutineers out of a military base and state TV headquarters, where they had declared a takeover. This is the first time that officials have said how many foreign soldiers were deployed to the country, although it is not clear if some have been withdrawn since Sunday. Benin’s Foreign Affairs Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari on Thursday said some of the regional troops sent to help had remained in the country “as part of the sweep and clean-up operation”. … The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, deployed troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to secure key installations and prevent any resurgence of the violence. … Bakari praised Ecowas as “an important tool that allows us to defend democracy and the values of democracy in our regional space”. BBC
Tanzania Opposition Calls for Transitional Government after Disputed Election
Tanzania’s main opposition party called Thursday for the establishment of a transitional government after a disputed election that it was barred from taking part in, saying the current government has “no legitimacy.” John Heche, vice chair of the opposition party Chadema, said the United Nations and African continental bodies should oversee a transitional government and a fresh, fair election. He said the Oct. 29 election, which the ruling party won by more than 97%, was null and void, and called for the dissolution of the Tanzanian electoral body. “The entire election is invalid, and it has no legitimacy because it took place under gross violations of the law, justice, and democratic principles,” Heche said. … Chadema’s Chairperson Tundu Lissu has been in prison since April, when he was arrested and charged with treason for calling for electoral reforms. AP
Macron Vows Stronger Cooperation with Nigeria after Mass Kidnappings
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday, December 7, that France will step up cooperation with Nigeria after speaking with his counterpart, as the West African country faces a surge in abductions. Nigeria has been wracked by a wave of kidnappings in recent weeks, including the capture of over 300 school children two weeks ago that shook Africa’s most populous country, already weary from chronic violence. Macron wrote on X that the move came at Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s request, saying France “will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations,” while urging other countries to “step up their engagement.” Le Monde with AFP
Somlia: Puntland President Announces Somalia State-Building Conference in Garowe
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni said his administration plans to host a conference in the regional capital of Garowe to discuss Somalia’s state-building and find practical solutions to ongoing political challenges. Speaking in Garowe, Deni said the conference will bring together Somali experts and academics to provide ideas beyond the interests of politicians, aiming for a more evidence-based approach to state-building issues. … He added, “Politicians may have other agendas, but we want reason to guide the process and prevent ambition and emotions from driving leadership. This is the role we expect Somali experts and scholars to play.” Puntland, the oldest Federal State in Somalia, is currently in a political deadlock with the Federal Government in Mogadishu, having suspended all cooperation since March 2024 over constitutional disputes and accusations of federal overreach. Garowe Online
South Sudan: The Town on the Banks of the Nile that Turned Floods into Fortune
Bor was entirely submerged when the White Nile broke its banks in late 2020. Although used to its seasonal overflow – bor means flood in the Dinka language – it was flooding people here had not seen for 60 years. Parts of Jonglei have remained under water, and extreme flooding, which experts say is down to climate breakdown, has this year displaced close to 380,000 South Sudanese people, according to the UN’s office for humanitarian affairs. But Bor has recovered, and last month a completed $5.4m project, funded by the Netherlands and South Korea, was formally handed over to the management of the state-owned corporation (SSUWC). … Dykes were built along the river and drainage systems established for rainwater. An existing treatment plant was overhauled into a “climate-resilient” installation: built on raised ground, it runs on solar power, minimising running costs and carbon emissions. … It has brought jobs – 30 core staff have been trained for the plant – electricians, pump mechanics, plumbers and lab technicians to test the water quality, with accountants to oversee revenue. … To date, 28 community kiosks, 704 households, seven schools and a hospital have been connected to the 33-mile pipe network. With 96,000 users, 80% of Bor’s population, there should be revenue to sustain and expand. The Guardian
Sierra Leone: Two Teenagers Went to Seek Gold. They Were Buried Alive in a Mine Collapse
[In Sierra Leone’s Eastern Province, 16-year-old Mohamed Bangura and 17-year-old Yayah Jenneh hoped to earn a little extra money for their families.] They had gone in search of gold but never returned. The makeshift pit they were digging in collapsed on them. This was the third fatal mine accident, leaving a total of at least five children dead, in the last four years in this region. Mohamed and Yayah were part of a phenomenon that has seen a growing number of children missing school in parts of Sierra Leone to mine the precious metal in potentially lethal pits, according to headteachers and community activists. The Eastern Province has historically been known for diamond mining. But in recent years informal – or artisanal – gold mining has expanded as the diamond reserves have been depleted. Mining sites pop up wherever local people find deposits in this land laden with riches – on farmland, in former graveyards and along riverbeds. … Charities and local activists try to remove children from the pits and place them back into school, but without reliable alternatives for income, the pits are too attractive. BBC
ECOWAS to Cut Air Transport Taxes in Bid to Lower Cost of Air Travel in West Africa
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to abolish air transport taxes from 1 January 2026, in a bid to reduce the cost of air travel across the region. In a statement on Wednesday, ECOWAS also said aviation charges related to passengers and security would decrease by 25% starting next year. The measures stem from a decision made by the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS during their summit in Abuja in December 2024. The organisation said the reform responds to “long-standing concerns about the high cost of flying in West Africa.” ECOWAS argues it has constrained tourism, trade and the free movement of persons and goods. The community believes the reform will lead to “lower airfares, increased passenger traffic, stronger regional airlines and deeper regional integration.” ECOWAS said it would monitor the implementation of the measures in all member states through a dedicated oversight mechanism. Africanews
All You Need to Know about Afcon 2025
The continent’s best footballers are preparing to descend on Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) as the finals are held over Christmas and New Year for the first time. The tournament kicks off on Sunday, 21 December when the hosts take on Comoros at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium at 19:00 GMT. … The 24 teams have been split into six groups of four. … The top two in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams will advance to the last 16, with quarter-finals, semi-finals, a match for third place and the final to follow. The opening match between Morocco and Comoros kicks off at 19:00 GMT, with three games the next day. After that, the group stage, which runs until 31 December, offers fans a Christmas feast of football, with four matches every day. … Morocco has pumped vast sums of money into renovating stadiums to host Afcon 2025 while also preparing to co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. … The hosts are the overwhelming favourites. … But, with seven different winners in the past eight editions, the tournament is likely to provide plenty of surprises. BBC