Islamist Militant Attacks on Niger, Benin and Nigeria Border Zone Soaring, Research Shows
Militants are rapidly increasing their attacks on the borderlands between Niger, Benin and Nigeria, turning remote transit corridors into active conflict zones, according to a crisis monitoring group. Violent incidents involving Islamist groups in the tri‑border area rose 90% between 2024 and 2025 and deaths more than doubled to over 1,000 as attacks intensified, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project said in a report published on Thursday. The findings underscore the accelerating spread of jihadist groups in West Africa, where governments and foreign militaries have struggled for more than a decade to contain their advance. … The report said fighters have deepened their presence in Benin’s Alibori and Borgou departments, Niger’s Dosso region, and Nigeria’s Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states. … Regional coordination has weakened in recent years as Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali—now governed by military juntas—have withdrawn from regional blocs, hampering joint security operations. ACLED said jihadist groups have stepped up communication about their activities in the tri‑border zone, which could signal competition between rival factions. Such “outbidding,” the report said, is likely to drive further escalation. Reuters
Kenyan Police Arrest Man Accused of Recruiting Fighters for Russia’s War in Ukraine
Police in Kenya have arrested a man named in the alleged scheme that duped Kenyans with promises of skilled work in Russia, only for them to end up on the front lines of the fighting in Ukraine. Festus Omwamba was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking in the northern Kenyan town of Moyale, near the border with Ethiopia, and charged Thursday in an antiterror court in the capital, Nairobi, with specific charges of trafficking 25 Kenyans to Russia last year. Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said Omwamba was fleeing after returning from Russia. Omwamba, who was identified by three Kenyan recruits who spoke to The Associated Press, had gone missing after families started protesting the disappearances and deaths of their relatives in the war in Ukraine. The Kenyan government last week said more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine and that at least 89 Kenyans were still on the front line, 39 were hospitalized, 28 were missing in action, and others had returned home. At least one person was confirmed dead. An intelligence report presented to Kenya’s Parliament by the majority leader, Kimani Ichung’wah, said Kenyan and Russian government officials colluded with rogue job recruitment agencies to lure Kenyans to the front lines. AP
South African Police Question 11 Men Lured to Russia to Fight in Ukraine
A group of South African nationals who were allegedly lured into fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine arrived at Durban airport on Wednesday. The 11 men arrived at the King Shaka International Airport and were ushered into the police station to be questioned about how they ended up on the front lines of the war in Ukraine. One of the men was taken off the aircraft in a wheelchair, while others carried their luggage in what appeared to be military-style bags. It brings to 15 the number of South Africans who have now returned to the country, with two others still in Russia. … At least five people are being investigated in connection with the men’s recruitment to Russia, including Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma. … Five people were arrested in December and now face charges related to the men’s recruitment and are due to appear in court in April. AP
More than 1,700 Africans Fighting for Russia, Ukraine Says
More than 1,700 Africans are fighting for Russia in its war in Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Wednesday, adding that Moscow was using deception to trick them into fighting. Speaking alongside his counterpart from Ghana, Sybiha said that discussions were taking place with governments across Africa to prevent their citizens from being drawn into such schemes. Ghana will chair the African Union regional bloc next year. “We clearly see that Russia is trying to drag African citizens into a deadly war,” Sybiha told a news conference. “According to our data, there are currently over 1,780 citizens from the African continent fighting in the Russian army.” The African fighters came from 36 different countries spread across the continent, he added. … Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said that many of the Africans fighting for Russia were victims of deception, lured on the dark web with the promise of ordinary jobs. “They have no security background. They have no military background. They have not been trained,” Ablakwa said. “They were just lured and deceived, and then put on the frontlines.” Ablakwa expressed solidarity with Ukraine and called for a ceasefire to end the war, which marked its fourth anniversary on Tuesday. Reuters
Sudan: Tribal Leader Musa Hilal Reaches Army-held Areas after RSF Attack
The leader of Sudan’s Revolutionary Awakening Council, Musa Hilal, has reached areas controlled by the national army outside the Darfur region following a paramilitary attack on his base, the council said. Musa Hilal, a powerful leader of the Mahameed tribe, arrived safely and in good health in the army-held zones, council spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Abkar said in a statement on Wednesday. The move marks a significant shift in the conflict in North Darfur, occurring days after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed Hilal’s headquarters in Mistariha. … Mistariha had been under siege from multiple directions by RSF combat vehicles and infantry. The ground offensive followed a drone strike on Sunday that hit Hilal’s residence during a Ramadan breakfast, killing several council members and wounding one of Hilal’s sons, according to sources familiar with the matter. Hilal, a former government ally who commanded militias during the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s, formally declared his support for the regular army last year. Tensions between Hilal and the RSF reached a breaking point earlier this year after the paramilitary group attempted to install a rival leadership for the Mahameed tribe. The attack on Hilal’s stronghold triggered defections from the RSF, with many fighters returning to Mistariha to protect their traditional leader. Sudan Tribune
Fierce Fighting in Kivu after Reported Death of M23’s Willy Ngoma
Fierce fighting between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and its allied coalition, and the M23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) rebels, has intensified across the Kivu region. The clashes, now in their seventh day, have heightened tensions amid reports that Lieutenant Colonel Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson of the M23/AFC, was killed in a drone strike. Ngoma is reported to have died at around 3:00am on Tuesday in Rubaya, a coltan-mining town in North Kivu Province. Sources say the strike targeted a residential house at Kasuku Farm, where he was allegedly staying. The FARDC-allied militia coalition known as Wazalendo (Patriots) claimed responsibility for the strike. However, M23/AFC officials have not publicly confirmed Ngoma’s death. … As fighting continues, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated. Residents from Kazinga, Ndete, Chugi, Kaniro, and Muhanga villages have reportedly fled their homes in search of safety. The renewed hostilities raise uncertainty over the future of ongoing peace talks reportedly taking place in Doha, Qatar, and whether diplomatic efforts can succeed amid escalating violence. Monitor
President of Somalia’s Puntland state and Turkish Ambassador Discuss Somalia’s Political and Security Landscape
The President of Somalia’s Puntland state, Said Abdullahi Deni, met Thursday with the Turkish Ambassador to Somalia, Alper Aktaş, to discuss the nation’s tightening security landscape and ongoing political transitions. The high-level meeting focused on the general situation in Somalia, specifically addressing security cooperation, political stability, and humanitarian challenges facing the region. Ambassador Aktaş was accompanied by a delegation of senior embassy officials. Turkey remains a primary security and development partner for Somalia, maintaining its largest overseas military base in the capital, Mogadishu. The session was attended by members of the Puntland Cabinet and senior presidential advisors. The meeting comes as regional leaders and international partners intensify consultations to address the political deadlock between the federal government and member states. Garowe Online
Somalia: Hobyo Port Advances amid Security Risks and Ethiopia Trade Scramble
Project officials say construction of Somalia‘s Hobyo seaport is advancing despite geopolitical tensions, security concerns and fierce competition among regional ports across the Horn of Africa. Heavy equipment and core construction materials have been delivered to the site, with cranes and excavators operating along Hobyo’s central coastline, a visible shift from blueprint to build phase. … HICO holds a 70% stake in the development, partnering with Metag Holding, a Turkish-owned construction firm that controls the remaining 30% and oversees the technical aspects of the project, a structure combining local capital with foreign engineering expertise. Supporters say Hobyo could redraw Somalia’s maritime map, easing pressure on overstretched ports and opening new trade corridors across the Horn of Africa. Rather than competing directly with facilities in Mogadishu, Bosaso and Berbera, the new port is expected to complement them, expanding overall capacity as cargo volumes grow and regional trade intensifies. … Landlocked Ethiopia depends heavily on Djibouti for maritime access. Analysts say Hobyo’s location along Somalia’s central coast could offer Addis Ababa an alternative corridor, potentially lowering transport costs and reducing reliance on a single port gateway. The Africa Report
Madagascar Charts New Course with France, after Meeting Putin in Moscow
French President Emmanuel Macron and Madagascar’s interim leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, held talks and agreed to “renew” ties on Tuesday, despite steps taken by the former French colony to draw closer to Russia. … In Madagascar, concerns have been raised about what one Western diplomatic source described as the speed with which Russia has moved to build ties with the new leadership. Moscow has already supplied military equipment and dispatched instructors to train Malagasy forces, including in the use of drones. … In Paris, Macron welcomed the interim leader with a clear message – France intends to remain a key partner. In a joint statement, the two sides outlined a “renewed, balanced and resolutely forward-looking partnership” grounded in mutual respect and focused on delivering concrete results. They approved a set of guidelines for cooperation over the next two years – aligning with Madagascar’s transition timeline – covering political relations, economic development and ongoing security and defence collaboration. Macron also reiterated France’s support for a return to constitutional order, emphasising the importance of holding free and transparent elections within the agreed timeframe. RFI
China’s Lithium Price Soars after Zimbabwe Export Ban
China’s lithium prices surged on Thursday after Zimbabwe suspended all raw mineral exports, raising concerns about potential supply disruptions amid growing demand for energy storage. Lithium, often called “white gold,” is a key component in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage systems. On the Guangzhou Futures Exchange, the most traded lithium carbonate contract jumped 6.07% to 178,020 yuan ($26,043) per metric ton as of 03:30 GMT, after earlier spiking more than 9% to 187,700 yuan, Reuters reported. Zimbabwe’s export ban, announced Wednesday, covers all raw minerals and lithium concentrates. As Africa’s largest lithium producer, the country shipped 1.128 million tons of spodumene concentrate in 2025, up 11% from 2024, with most exports going to China. Chinese companies such as Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine have invested heavily in the country’s lithium sector in recent years. Business Insider Africa
18 Egyptians Missing After Deadly Boat Capsize Near Greece
Egypt said Wednesday that 18 of its citizens were still missing after a migrant boat capsized, killing four people, off the Greek island of Crete last week. The wooden boat was carrying 50 people, including four minors, when Greece’s coast guard was alerted late Friday. According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, an accident occurred when the commercial vessel approached the migrants’ boat. As the passengers tried to climb up ladders into the rescue vessel, a sudden movement caused the wooden boat to capsize. Egypt’s foreign ministry said that 21 Egyptians were on board the boat when it capsized, three of whom have been found dead while the rest remain missing. The body of a 28-year-old Sudanese woman was also discovered, according to the Greek coast guard. Twenty migrants were rescued by the commercial vessel, according to the Greek authorities, leaving several people still unaccounted for. Greek authorities arrested two Sudanese men suspected of being people smugglers who are set to appear before judges on Wednesday, according to local media Creta24. AFP