Uganda: Bobi Wine Says Army Fully Occupies His Home, Lawyer Asks Commonwealth to Indefinitely Suspend Uganda
Uganda’s opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, said on Tuesday that military forces had forcibly occupied his home in Magere, Wakiso District, the latest in a series of condemned post-election operations that have left the musician-turned-politician in hiding and prompted growing calls for international intervention. … In a February 2 statement, Bobi Wine’s long-term counsel, Robert Amsterdam of Amsterdam & Partners LLP, a London- and Washington-based law firm, warned that the continued military occupation and targeting of Bobi Wine constitute serious breaches of Uganda’s obligations under international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. … Amsterdam & Partners LLP say they on Monday “formally submitted a dossier to the Commonwealth Secretariat, requesting the urgent referral of Uganda to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) for serious and persistent violations of democratic norms, including the repression of political opposition, mass arrests, and threats to life. Monitor
Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, Son of Libyan Dictator, Is Killed in Attack, Lawyer Says
Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, a politician and a son of the deposed dictator Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, was killed on Tuesday in an attack at his home in western Libya, according to his lawyer and a political adviser. Mr. el-Qaddafi, 53, was killed after four men stormed his home near the city of Zintan and disabled the security cameras, the lawyer, Khaled al-Zaydi, told The New York Times. … Mr. el-Qaddafi’s death injected more uncertainty into the fraught political landscape in Libya. … The younger, British-educated Mr. el-Qaddafi was not officially aligned with any Libyan government. For a time, he appeared to support overhauling his father’s brutal regime and was seen by Western governments as a symbol of hope. But after joining a crackdown on opposition rebels during the uprising in 2011, he became an emblem of the same kind of brutality his father had inflicted. … In 2021, Mr. el-Qaddafi announced that he was running for president. His candidacy was seen by some as a cynical attempt to reclaim power after his father’s destructive rule. Many Libyans, however, were not hopeful that better alternatives existed. But the electoral process collapsed and Libya again entered a state of political deadlock. The New York Times
Sudan: RSF and SPLM-N Attack Army’s Positions in Blue Nile, Capture Strategic Area
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) launched an attack on Tuesday on three sites in the Blue Nile region of southeastern Sudan, seizing the strategic town of Deim Mansour. … On January 26, the army regained positions in Bau County in Blue Nile from a coalition comprising the RSF and SPLM-N, one day after the coalition had seized them using forces that advanced from within South Sudan. The SPLM-N, led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, announced it had taken control of the strategic town of Deim Mansour, as well as Bashir Nuqu and Khor al-Budi in Kurmuk County, following battles with the Sudanese army. Deim Mansour is considered a critical strategic town whose fall is feared to clear the way for the army to lose the city of Kurmuk. … Kurmuk Commissioner Abdel Ati Mohamed al-Faki said on Tuesday that the RSF and SPLM-N attacked army garrisons in the county, including Deim Mansour and Khor al-Budi, and that the army was engaging them. Sudan Tribune
Sudan Army Enters Kadugli as Siege Is Lifted After More Than Two Years
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) troops entered Kadugli, breaking a siege on the South Kordofan state capital that had lasted for more than two years after fierce fighting on the outskirts of the city, on Tuesday morning. According to regional media reports, the advance followed days of heavy clashes along the main road linking Kadugli with Delling, where SAF and allied forces fought positions held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N). … The development comes just over a week after government forces reopened access to Delling, another major town in South Kordofan that had also been under siege. The blockade on Kadugli, imposed by the RSF and SPLM-N, severely disrupted trade and movement. Local sources have long reported soaring food prices and worsening humanitarian conditions as goods struggled to reach the city. Aid agencies and UN data previously cited by relief organisations indicate the siege created famine-like conditions, and that a large majority of the city’s residents were displaced during the blockade. Delling faced similar hardship. Dabanga
DRC: M23 Claim Failed Drone Attack on Kisangani Airport
The leader of the AFC/M23 rebel movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting the airport serving the strategic northeastern city of Kisangani, describing it as a warning to the government. Eight explosive-laden drones were launched at the airport over the weekend, but were shot down before reaching their target, the provincial government said. The airport lies about 17km from central Kisangani, hundreds of kilometres from the front lines in North and South Kivu provinces, where AFC/M23 has seized large swathes of territory since 2022, capturing the key cities of Goma and Bukavu in a lightning offensive last year. In a statement posted on X late on Tuesday, rebel leader Corneille Nangaa said the operation in Kisangani showed that the “air superiority” of Congo’s armed forces had been broken and warned that any aircraft used against rebel-held areas would now be targeted “at their source”. … Nangaa’s statement came one day after Congo’s government and the AFC/M23, meeting in Doha under Qatari mediation, agreed on the deployment of the first UN team mandated to monitor a ceasefire. Reuters
Nigeria: Troops Destroy ISWAP Detention Facilities in Northeast, Free Over 70 Captives
The Nigerian Army says the North-eastern troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), a joint task force, have destroyed three detention facilities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) deep inside Timbuktu Triangle, a broader part of Sambisa forest straddling Borno and Yobe states. The Army said the operation also led to the escape of more than 70 captives. The operations which lasted two weeks, according to a statement by the joint task force spokesperson, Sani Uba, marked a “significant advance into areas long considered beyond the reach of security forces.” Mr Uba said the operations also underscored the growing effectiveness and sustainability of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-east. The two-week coordinated, intelligence-led operations, which began on 21 January, according to the military spokesperson, was conducted under a mission codenamed ‘Operation DESERT SANITY V.’ During the operations , Mr Uba said ISWAP fighters were forced to abandon key strongholds previously considered impenetrable. … Mr Uba said the destruction of the camps goes beyond a tactical victory, weakening ISWAP’s internal enforcement system, disrupting its detention and ransom networks, and further constricting its operational freedom. Premium Times
US Announces Military Team Sent to Nigeria After Recent Attacks
The U.S. has dispatched a small team of military officers to Nigeria, the general in charge of U.S. Africa Command told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday. General Dagvin R.M. Anderson said the move followed his meeting with Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, in Rome late last year. “That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years,” Anderson said. … The U.S has supplied Nigeria with military equipment and carried out reconnaissance missions across Nigeria. Nigeria has been battling several armed groups across the country. The groups include Islamist sects like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province. AP
Mozambique Naval Forces Clash With Insurgents off Mocímboa da Praia
After nearly two weeks of successive militant operations on islands off the coast of Mocímboa da Praia district, government security forces mounted a response last week. At least three insurgents were killed during a clash on 30 January in waters off Mocímboa da Praia, when militants were allegedly attempting to return boats they had recently seized on Muissune Island. According to local sources, security forces identified as naval marines from Mozambique’s Navy intercepted the group, triggering an intense exchange of fire. During the confrontation, three insurgents were killed, one source said, while the remaining fighters retreated. … Meanwhile, a security advisory issued by an organisation that provides security information to non-governmental organisations operating in Cabo Delgado province warned partners that continuous gunfire has been reported in the Quiterajo area since 29 January, suggesting clashes between insurgents and defence and security forces, including the use of helicopters. Quiterajo Administrative Post is considered one of the last remaining insurgent strongholds in Cabo Delgado, where Mozambique’s armed forces and Rwandan defence forces have been attempting, without success, to dislodge the fighters. The area also serves as a gateway to the Catupa region, believed to host the insurgents’ main base. Mozambique Times
UN: Renewed South Sudan Violence Aggravates Civilian Suffering
The Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday said the UN’s humanitarian colleagues in South Sudan have reported that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating across the country, driven by renewed violence, civilian displacement, and access constraints, particularly in Jonglei State. According to Stéphane Dujarric, since the end of December, renewed fighting and airstrikes in Jonglei have forced an estimated 280,000 people to flee their homes. “Our ability to deliver critical aid remains restricted due to ongoing clashes and insecurity,” he said. “Today (Tuesday), UNICEF warned that more than 450,000 children are at risk of acute malnutrition nationwide as hostilities disrupt health and nutrition services, with six counties in Jonglei close to running out of therapeutic food assistance.” “Cholera is spreading in Duk County in Jonglei State, and overcrowding in displacement sites and limited access to safe water and sanitation are leading to more cases of cholera,” Dujarric added. … [H]e said that humanitarian operations remain under serious threat. Facilities and assets, including vehicles, boats, and office equipment, have been looted or damaged, and aid workers have faced intimidation, undermining response efforts. Radio Tamazuj
Kenya and UK Sign MoU to Boost Border Security
Kenya and the United Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen joint efforts against cross-border threats and enhance security along Kenya’s borders. The agreement aims to protect communities from transnational organised crime, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling, while improving border security cooperation. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the MOU marks a key step in promoting peace, stability, and socio-economic development in Kenya’s borderlands. … The implementation will be coordinated through Kenya’s national security architecture, led by the Ministry of Interior, with structured engagement of key partners. The program will support early warning systems, intelligence sharing, protective security responses, and coordinated interventions to safeguard citizens. The MOU follows President William Ruto’s visit to the UK in July last year, during which the two countries renewed and deepened their partnership for five more years. According to Omollo, the initial phase will prioritise Turkana, Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, and Busia counties. The Standard
Ethiopia: Election Board Holds National Consultation on Security Ahead of 7th General Election
The meeting, held on 2 February 2026, brought together Presidents of Regional States, Mayors of City Administrations, senior security officials, representatives of national political parties, and civil society organizations (CSOs). NEBE Chairperson Melatwork Hailu said the board is preparing for the 7th general election by incorporating lessons from the 6th election and subsequent post-election consultations. She highlighted ongoing efforts to propose amendments to relevant proclamations and issue directives in coordination with stakeholders to ensure a free, credible, and democratic vote. Biruk Wondwossen, head of NEBE’s Operations Department, presented constituency-level peace and security reports collected from regional states and security agencies. … Melatwork and Biruk also addressed broader feedback on NEBE and preparations for the election. Melatwork said the consultation demonstrated how sharing perspectives can align stakeholders and strengthen the democratic process. She added that similar consultations on election operations and security will continue ahead of the vote. Addis Standard
South Africa Unity Government Party Leader Steps Aside
The leader of the second-largest party in South Africa’s ruling coalition, the Democratic Alliance, announced Wednesday he would not seek re-election, in a major shake-up ahead of local polls. The pro-business DA — credited with boosting confidence in South Africa when it joined the 10-party coalition in 2024 — has been rocked by a series of internal controversies over the leadership of John Steenhuisen. Also agriculture minister in the government of national unity (GNU), Steenhuisen said he would not run for a third term at party elections in April so that he could focus on a foot-and-mouth outbreak ravaging local stocks. … South Africa in January rolled out a 10-year drive to vaccinate 20 million cattle against the disease in an outbreak Steenhuisen described as the “worst ever”. First elected in 2019, he has come under scrutiny in recent months over his handling of the outbreak, the firing of the environment minister in November, and various internal party complaints. Steenhuisen’s exclusion from the leadership race is seen as a bid by the party to remove perceptions that it is in disarray ahead of local government elections later this year. AFP