Kenya: Mudavadi to Visit Russia Over Forced Conscripts in Ukraine
Kenya said Tuesday its foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi would go to Moscow next month after condemning recruiters luring Kenyans to Russia with promises of lucrative jobs, only to send them to Ukraine’s front lines as “cannon fodder.” Mounting reports in recent weeks indicate that Kenyans, deceived into travelling for high-paying work in Russia, are dying on the battlefield or suffering serious wounds. An AFP investigation published this week revealed the web of deception into which four men with no military background fell — forced to sign contracts with the Russian army and swiftly sent to the front lines in Ukraine. … Mudavadi said he would also pursue the release of Kenyans held as prisoners of war in Ukraine and “verify” the condition of those hospitalised. He said more than 30 Kenyans had been evacuated from Russia over the past two months and unscrupulous recruitment agencies in the east African country had been shut down. AFP
Mali’s Junta Arrests Prominent Journalist for Criticizing Niger’s Military Leader, Rights Group Says
Malian authorities arrested a prominent journalist for criticizing the leader of neighboring Niger, a rights group said Monday, as the military regime in the West African country increasingly curtails freedom of expression during a security crisis. Youssouf Sissoko, editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper L’Alternance, was arrested by police at his home in Bamako, Mali’s capital, on Feb. 5, Human Rights Watch said in a statement. … The arrest followed the publication of an article in L’Alternance on Feb. 2 questioning accusations by Niger’s military ruler Gen. Abdourahamane Tchani that the presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast supported extremist groups that attacked an airport in the capital Niamey last month. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State Sahel Province. … The security situation in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso has worsened in recent times, analysts say, with a record number of attacks by Islamic extremists. Government forces have also been accused of killing civilians they suspect of collaborating with militants. Meanwhile, the military leaders have cracked down on political dissent and journalists. AP
Violence Surges in South Sudan, Leaving Civilians at Risk and Peacekeepers Stretched Thin
Escalating violence, political stalemate and humanitarian constraints are pushing South Sudan’s civilians to the brink once again, while funding cuts weaken the UN mission tasked with protecting them. Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council on Tuesday, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said instability had risen sharply in recent weeks, driven by political deadlock among signatories to the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement and a dangerous escalation in armed confrontations. Fighting has intensified most dramatically in Jonglei state, where clashes between Government forces and opposition elements displaced more than 280,000 people, according to government sources. Reports of aerial bombardments, inflammatory rhetoric and severe restrictions on humanitarian access have raised fears of a return to the widespread violence seen in 2013 and 2016. UN News
Sudanese Nomads Trapped as War Fuels Banditry and Ethnic Splits
Gubara al-Basheer and his family used to traverse Sudan’s desert with their camels and livestock, moving freely between markets, water sources, and green pastures. But since war erupted in 2023, he and other Arab nomads have been stuck in the desert outside the central Sudanese city of al-Obeid, threatened by marauding bandits and ethnic tensions. … [The war has] upset the delicate balance of land ownership and livestock routes that had maintained the nomads’ livelihoods and wider relations in the area, local researcher Ibrahim Jumaa said. … Those who spoke to Reuters from North Kordofan said they found themselves trapped as ethnic hatred, linked to the war and fueled largely online, spreads. “We used to be able to move as we wanted. Now there is no choice and no side accepts you,” al-Basheer said. … As well as the encroaching war, the nomads – who Jumaa said number in the millions across Sudan – face a threat from bandits who steal livestock. Reuters
EU Official Warns of Catastrophic Sudan Crisis as Millions Face Starvation
The European Union’s humanitarian chief warned on Tuesday that Sudan’s conflict has reached a “beyond catastrophic” level, with more than 33 million people requiring aid as the war surpasses 1,000 days. Addressing the European Parliament, Commissioner Janez Lenarčič, represented by Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, described the situation as a “brutal power struggle for resources sustained by armed actors who show no mercy for civilian life”. The Commissioner highlighted recent atrocities in Darfur, specifically citing “horrendous attacks” by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their capture of El Fasher late last year. … “Humanitarian space continues to shrink in Sudan, which is one of the deadliest places in the world for aid workers,” Lahbib said, pointing to bureaucratic barriers used to block assistance. The EU official also criticized regional powers for fuelling a “proxy war” while publicly calling for peace, urging international mediators to exert more concrete influence over the warring factions. Sudan Tribune
Strategic Alliance: Somalia and Egypt Solidify Military Ties Ahead of AU Mission Deployment
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Egypt’s defense minister reviewed Egyptian troops on Tuesday ahead of their deployment to a new African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia, Cairo’s military spokesperson said. The inspection by Mohamud and General Abdel Mageed Saqr, Egypt’s commander-in-chief and minister of defense, marks a significant step in the growing security partnership between the two nations as Somalia moves toward a new security phase. The Egyptian forces will join the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which is slated to replace the current ATMIS peacekeeping force. During the ceremony, officials were briefed on the “preparation and equipping procedures” for the units, which the Egyptian military said demonstrated a high level of operational and combat readiness. The program also included training demonstrations and a display of vehicles designated for the mission. Garowe Online
Senegal and Egypt’s Top Diplomats Discuss Strengthening Bilateral Relations
The foreign ministers of Senegal and Egypt met outside Cairo on Tuesday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing political coordination between the two countries. Badr Abdelatty and his Senegalese counterpart, Cheikh Niang, also spoke about harmonising their positions on regional and international issues ahead of the upcoming African Union summit. This included the ongoing civil war in Sudan, with Abdelatty saying they spoke about the importance of preserving “the sovereignty, unity, and independence of Sudanese lands”. He went to say they rejected “any parallel entities or governments” and would not accept the “secession of any region from the Sudanese state”. … At the regional level, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa and the Sahel. He stressed the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach that integrates security and development dimensions to address the root causes of terrorism. Abdelatty also praised the growing ties between Cairo and Dakar, describing Senegal as a strategic partner for Egypt in West Africa. Africanews with agencies
Tanzania: Lissu Protests Restrictions on Prison Visits, Trial Delays
Chadema chairman, Tundu Lissu, has lodged fresh complaints after spending more than 300 days in remand, claiming Ukonga Prison authorities have barred party leaders and members from visiting him. He also protested what he described as a lack of privacy during meetings with his lawyers, saying the problem, previously raised in court, has resurfaced. In addition, Lissu criticised delays in the handling of his treason trial, though he said he did not blame the judges or State attorneys involved in the proceedings. Meanwhile, the prosecution has responded to his objection over the legality of witnesses testifying from behind protective screens. The High Court is scheduled to rule on the objection on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Lissu raised the concerns yesterday before the High Court at the Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry resumed hearing the case. … The case is being heard by a panel of three judges led by the High Court Judge in charge of Iringa, Justice Dunstan Ndunguru, alongside Justices James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde. The trial is currently at the prosecution stage. The Citizen
Court Showdown Over Malawi’s Electoral Commission Relocation
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has approached the high court to challenge a presidential order that would move its headquarters from the capital, Lilongwe, to Blantyre within three months. At issue is whether President Arthur Peter Mutharika can, by decree, direct an independent commission’s operational choices. … On 10 October 2025, Mutharika signed Executive Order No 01 of 2025, instructing several state bodies to move: MEC, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and the Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) to Blantyre, and the Malawi Prison Service (MPS) to Zomba. … In a public notice dated 28 January 2026, MEC said it had filed for judicial review, arguing that the directive trespasses on its constitutional and statutory independence. … The high court’s ruling will set a marker for the limits of executive power over independent commissions in the region. MEC is seeking interim relief to keep operating from Lilongwe while the case is heard. A stay would buy time and signal that constitutional guardrails have teeth. Mail & Guardian
Gunfire Near Guinea’s Main Prison as Infamous Inmate Transferred
A well-known Guinean prisoner involved in an infamous 2009 stadium massacre was transferred from Conakry’s central prison Tuesday, a prosecutor said, as witnesses and an AFP journalist reported automatic gunfire near the facility. Heavy security was deployed around the prison following the rapid shots and both armoured vehicles and ambulances were seen in the area. The prisoner, Aboubakar Sidiki Diakite, known as Toumba Diakite, is serving a 10-year sentence for his role in the September 2009 killing of 156 people and the rape of at least 109 women by pro-junta forces under then-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara. … The September 2009 massacre and rapes took place during and after a political rally attended by opposition supporters in a Conakry stadium and is one of the darkest chapters in Guinean history. Diakite, an aide de camp to Camara, was serving as commander of the presidential guard at the time of the massacre. Camara was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to 20 years but was later pardoned by Guinea’s current leader, Mamady Doumbouya. AFP
Tropical Cyclone Gezani Hits Madagascar and Kills at Least 9 on the Indian Ocean Island
Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall in Madagascar’s main port city, unleashing winds that collapsed houses and left at least nine people dead on the Indian Ocean island, authorities said Wednesday. Wind speeds exceeded 195 kph and Madagascar’s weather service issued red alerts for several regions, warning of possible floods and landslides as Gezani moved across the largely poor country of 31 million people. Madagascar, battered by another deadly cyclone less than two weeks earlier, is especially vulnerable to cyclones blowing in off the Indian Ocean. … Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island, has been impacted by more than a dozen tropical storms or cyclones since 2020. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction say they cause an estimated $85 million worth of damage to infrastructure each year that impedes the nation’s development. AP
Drought Leaves People Hungry in Kenya as Their Livestock Die
Drought conditions have left over 2 million people facing hunger in parts of Kenya, with cattle-keeping communities in the northeast the hardest hit, according to the United Nations and others. … In recent years, rainy seasons have become shorter for some communities, exposing them to drought. Normally, animals are the first to die. The livestock losses echo what happened between 2020 and 2023, when millions of animals died in the region that extends from Kenya into parts of Ethiopia and Somalia. At the time, a famine predicted for Somalia was averted by a surge in international aid. Four consecutive wet seasons have failed in parts of the Horn of Africa, which juts into the Indian Ocean. The wet season from October to December was one of the driest ever recorded, according to the U.N. health agency. Because the rains were brief, parts of eastern Kenya were the driest they have been during that season since 1981. … The northeastern county of Mandera, bordering Somalia, has reached the “alarm” classification, which means critical water shortages have led to the death of livestock and the wasting of children. The suffering extends into Somalia, Tanzania and even Uganda, where many are threatened by similar weather patterns and water shortages, the World Health Organization said in late January. AP