Sudan’s Military Has Used Chemical Weapons Twice, U.S. Officials Say
Sudan’s military has used chemical weapons on at least two occasions against the paramilitary group it is battling for control of the country, four senior United States officials said on Thursday. The weapons were deployed recently in remote areas of Sudan, and targeted members of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries that the army has been fighting since April 2023. But U.S. officials worry the weapons could soon be used in densely populated parts of the capital, Khartoum. The revelations about chemical weapons came as the United States announced sanctions on Thursday against the Sudanese military chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, for documented atrocities by his troops, including indiscriminate bombing of civilians and the use of starvation as a weapon of war…Two officials briefed on the matter said the chemical weapons appeared to use chlorine gas. The New York Times
UN Says Sudan War Turning ‘More Dangerous’ For Civilians After Al-Jazira Attacks
The United Nations human rights chief warned Friday that the war in Sudan is becoming “more dangerous” for civilians, following reports from rights groups of army-allied militias carrying out ethnic-based attacks on minorities in Al-Jazira state. The “Sudan conflict (is) taking more dangerous turn for civilians,” UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk said on social media platform X, addding that “there is evidence of… war crimes and other atrocity crimes”. The Sudanese army, at war with rival paramilitaries since April 2023, led an offensive this week on Al-Jazira, recapturing the state capital Wad Madani from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Rights groups said on Monday that at least 13 people including two children were killed in ethnically-targeted attacks against minority communities in the agricultural state. AFP
South Sudan: Chaos in Juba as Citizens Attempt to Loot Shops
Tensions erupted in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Thursday night as groups of South Sudanese citizens took to the streets to protest and, in some cases, attempted to loot and destroy shops owned by Sudanese nationals. The unrest followed earlier protests at the University of Juba and the Sudanese Embassy, which had been contained by police. However, anger soon escalated, with groups of youths turning violent and targeting businesses in various parts of the city. The protests were fueled by growing concerns over the deaths of civilians, including South Sudanese nationals, following the capture of Wad Madani by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). On Wednesday, South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had summoned Sudan’s ambassador to protest the “loss of lives among innocent citizens.”…In Juba, reports indicate that Sudanese-owned businesses across multiple neighborhoods were targeted, vandalized, and looted amid the growing tensions. Radio Tamazuj
Lawyer for Ugandan Opposition Politician ‘Arrested and Tortured’
A human rights lawyer involved in a case featuring a prominent Ugandan opposition leader has been tortured after he was arrested and detained without trial, according to colleagues who have visited him. Eron Kiiza was assaulted and arrested by soldiers on 7 January while entering a military courtroom where he was representing Dr Kizza Besigye – a political opponent of President Yoweri Museveni – and his aide Haji Obeid Lutale. He was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment on the same day. He was immediately transferred to Kitalya prison, 34 miles from the capital, Kampala. According to Ugandan lawyers Andrew Karamagi and Primah Kwagala, who have worked with Kiiza and visited him in prison, Kiiza showed signs of mental and physical torture. Most parts of his body, particularly joints, knees, nails, knuckles and head, were swollen…Reaction to Kiiza’s detention was one of “shock and awe”, said Kwagala, because until last week lawyers had not been beaten, arrested or detained in the course of their work. The Guardian
Guinea’s Main Opposition Parties Call for Withdrawal from Junta-led Legislative Body
The main opposition coalition in Guinea has called for its members to withdraw from the country’s legislative body after the ruling junta missed a deadline for a return to democratic rule. The Forces Vives de Guinée coalition group, which includes the country’s main opposition parties, called for its members to withdraw from the National Transitional Council in a statement late Wednesday. The council has served as the parliament since the military took power two years ago. Guinea is one of several West African countries where the military has taken power and delayed a return to civilian rule. The country’s leader, Col. Mamadi Doumbouya, in power since 2021, agreed in 2022 to launch a democratic transition after a Dec. 31, 2024, deadline. The ruling junta’s failure to meet the deadline led to opposition protests that paralyzed Guinea’s capital Conakry last week. But in his New Year’s message, Doumbouya said a decree for a constitutional referendum will be signed to launch the democratic process, without committing to a date. Activists and opposition groups condemned the announcement as a ploy to prolong military rule. The junta dissolved more than 50 political parties last year in a move it claimed was to “clean up the political chessboard.” The junta has also tightened the grip on independent media, rights groups say, with social networks and private radio stations often cut off, information sites interrupted or suspended for several months without explanation, while journalists face attacks and arrests. AP
Ugandan General Returns to X to ‘Shake up the World’
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, has reactivated his X account barely a week after he quit the social media platform, citing renewed focus on his military duties…He came back in his characteristic style with a series of controversial posts, threatening to “shake up this world!”. The 50-year-old army general has become increasingly involved in the political arena, in breach of military protocol, reigniting debates about his ambitions to succeed his father, who has been in power since 1986. Critics have taken a swipe at the general over the statements he has made on social media, which touched on subjects considered taboo for a serving soldier. He recently sparked anger with a tweet in which he threatened to behead the country’s leading opposition figure, Bobi Wine…Gen Kainerugaba is widely believed to be the heir apparent to his father, who has governed Uganda since 1986, although Museveni has denied that he is grooming him for the presidency. BBC
CAR Leader Thanks Putin For Support Against Rebels
The president of the Central African Republic (CAR) thanked Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday for sending Russian military personnel to his country to help battle rebel factions…Fighters from Russia’s mercenary group Wagner have supported government forces in the CAR since 2018. Moscow also trains thousands of local soldiers…Putin told Touadera he planned to maintain the level of support…Moscow has sought to expand its influence in Africa in recent years, offering “security assistance” to embattled leaders under the guise of maintaining “stability” in the region. Western officials say Russia is serving its own interests and that Wagner fighters have committed atrocities against civilians, razing entire villages while taking over local mining operations. AFP
Angola and France to Sign €430m in Contracts during Lourenço State Visit
French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Angolan President Joao Lourenço for a two-day state visit [which started] Thursday to strengthen political, cultural, and economic ties. The French presidency said the visit aims to boost cooperation between the two countries while addressing major regional and international issues. President Lourenço is preparing to take over the presidency of the African Union in February, a key topic for discussions. One of the key issues on the agenda is the conflict between Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Macron, who visited Angola in March 2023, has reiterated his support for Lourenço’s efforts as key mediator. Since November 2021, the armed M23 movement, has seized large swathes of territory in the east of the DRC, rich in natural resources and torn apart by conflicts for 30 years…On the economic front, more than 430 million euros worth of contracts are due to be signed during Lourenço’s visit to Paris. While trade between France and Angola has been dominated by the hydrocarbon sector, Angola is now turning to France to help it diversify its economy. Lourenço will attend the Angola-France Business Forum which will bring together companies from both countries at the headquarters of Medef, the French employers’ organisation, on Friday. RFI
Zimbabwe Ruling Party to Push for Third Term for President Mnangagwa
Zimbabwe’s ruling party says it will initiate steps to amend the constitution so President Emmerson Mnangagwa can run for a third term in the 2028 elections. The opposition is strongly opposed to amending the 2013 constitution, which limited presidents to two five-year terms. In an interview Thursday with VOA, Ziyambi Ziyambi, Zimbabwe’s minister of justice, legal and parliamentary affairs, said the government is ready to move forward once lawmakers introduce the bill to amend the constitution…Lovemore Madhuku, a law professor at the University of Zimbabwe and an opposition leader, said it will be difficult though not impossible for the ruling Zanu-PF party to change the constitution in time for its leader to run in the 2028 election…Douglas Mwonzora, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change party, said the MDC will campaign vehemently against the bid to have Mnangagwa stand for a third term. VOA
Libya: UN Calls for Investigation into Reports of Prison Torture
The UN Support Mission in Libya says it is alarmed by what it called ‘‘disturbing footage circulating on social media”, believed to show the torture of detainees at the Gernada prison in eastern Libya. The facility is run by military personnel under Khalifa Haftar; Haftar supports the country’s eastern administration…Critics of the eastern administration are known to be held in the prison, which is situated around 250 kilometres from Benghazi, the seat of the eastern administration. Although the footage is unverified, the UN insists it matches up with patterns of human rights violations in detention facilities across the country. The organisation is calling for an urgent investigation. Rights groups have long ccriticised abuses in Libyan detention centres, alleging widespread abuse and torture. Africanews
Spain, Morocco Move Towards Africa Exclave Trade Thaw
Morocco and Spain’s north African exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla moved closer to a “new era” of normalised trade ties on Thursday after the first passage of goods since 2018. The small Mediterranean coastal territories claimed by Rabat have long complicated Spanish-Moroccan relations and are the European Union’s only land border with Africa. Rabat closed its customs post with Melilla in 2018 against a backdrop of tensions linked to Spain’s refusal to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. Both border crossings shut in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic struck and only reopened in 2022 after Madrid backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. But the Melilla customs post stayed shut due to what Spain called “technical” issues…The Spanish and Moroccan governments have provided little information about the opening of the customs posts, but a full normalisation of trade would represent Rabat’s implicit recognition of Madrid’s authority in Ceuta and Melilla. AFP
Botswana Records Grim Gender-based Violence Statistics
Despite efforts by Botswanan authorities to combat gender-based violence, nearly 100 women were raped and 10 murdered during the late-December festive season, officials said Tuesday. Botswana Police Service Commissioner Dinah Marathe told reporters that 10 of the 25 murders recorded between Dec. 19 and Jan. 2 were related to gender-based violence. During the same period, 93 rapes were reported. Of all reported crimes, she said, 61% were related to gender-based violence…The government introduced laws and policies last year meant to combat gender-based violence, including courts dedicated to dealing with such cases and the establishment of a sex offender registry…A 2023 report by the World Bank said more than 42% of women in east and southern Africa experience physical and sexual violence in their lifetime. VOA
Renowned Egyptologist Unveils Slogan for UNESCO Director General Candidacy
Egypt’s candidate for the position of UNESCO Director General has revealed the slogan he will be using in his campaign for the position: ”UNESCO for the people”. Khaled El-Enany unveiled the catchphrase during a gathering at the National Museum of Egyptian civilisation on Monday. The event was attended by ambassadors from dozens of countries and leading figures from the political, academic, and cultural worlds. During the event, the renowned Egyptologist laid out his vision for if he secures the role. He pointed out the need of adapting the organisation to today’s realities by tackling challenges including the ecological transition, the impact of new technologies and inequalities in access to education. El-Enany’s candidacy is backed by a string of countries including France, Brazil and Spain. The league of Arab states and the African Union are also supporting him. Africanews