Congo’s M23 Rebels Control Devastated Goma as Mercenaries Exit via Rwanda
Rwandan-backed rebels strengthened their control over east Congo’s largest city, Goma, on Wednesday as columns of Romanian mercenaries hired to fight for Congo entered Rwanda under tight supervision by Rwandan security forces. Despite a flurry of diplomatic activity, including the United States telling Rwanda it was “deeply troubled” by Goma’s fall to M23 fighters, there were growing signs the rebels were taking over the running of Goma. Isolated gunfire sounded through some outlying districts of the lakeside city of 2 million where Monday’s rebel storming left bodies lying in the streets, hospitals overwhelmed and U.N. peacekeepers sheltering in bases. The city is a hub for people displaced by recent fighting in eastern Congo and earlier wars and for humanitarian groups, U.N. peacekeepers and Congo’s army. On Tuesday, M23 fighters seized control of the airport, a vital link to the outside world. Congo’s forces were nowhere to be seen in the city centre on Wednesday, and a Reuters reporter saw M23 fighters patrolling the border with Rwanda and cutting chains and padlocks that had barred the way for pedestrians and vehicles. “It feels like we are in a dual nation. We are in Congo and at the same time in Rwanda,” a resident of an upscale part of Goma said. … As the Rwandan-backed rebels gained ground in the last two years, Congo turned to private military companies to try to shore up their defences. The mercenaries provided training and advice to Congolese troops and were deployed to protect Goma but appeared to offer little resistance when M23 marched into the city centre on Monday. Reuters
The Evidence That Shows Rwanda is Backing Rebels in DR Congo
[A] group of UN experts maintains the Rwandan army is in “de facto control of M23 operations”, detailing how M23 recruits are trained under Rwandan supervision and supported by high-tech Rwandan weaponry. … “There was no question that there are Rwandan troops in Goma supporting the M23,” said UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix, though he added that it was it was difficult to tell the exact numbers on the ground in Goma. Tellingly some Congolese army soldiers in Goma who surrendered on Monday, did so by crossing over the border into Rwanda. Since the conflict begun, President Kagame has repeatedly denied any involvement in supporting the M23 rebels, who are well equipped, well armed and well trained. However, this response has noticeably shifted as accusations continue to grow with “overwhelming evidence” showing Rwanda’s support for the rebel group, according to Richard Moncrief, International Crisis Group’s project director for the Great Lakes. “The tone has changed to justification for defensive measures,” he told the BBC. “It has become harder to deny Rwanda’s support for M23.” … Clémentine de Montjoye, senior researcher in the Africa division at Human Rights Watch, told the BBC that geolocated images placed Rwandan troops in Sake, a town just outside Goma last week. The UN experts say the M23’s decision to capture the mining town of Rubaya, which fell to its forces in May, was “motivated by a strategic need to monopolise” the lucrative trade in coltan, which is used to make batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones. BBC
RSF Attacks Displace 4000+ Families in North Darfur
Nearly 4,000 families have displaced from villages west and south of El Fasher due to Rapid Support Forces attacks. The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) says that about 3,960 families were displaced from different villages across El Fasher locality, North Darfur, between Saturday and yesterday, Monday. The DTM explained that the displacement occurred due to the increasing attacks by the Rapid Support Forces throughout the region last Friday and Saturday. Families were displaced from the villages of Shagra, Shagra South, and other villages to locations within El Fasher locality. There were reports of people being killed and abducted during the attack that took place on Saturday, Starlink devices were stolen and personal property was looted and burned. … The Rapid Support Forces launched an attack on the village of Jebel Halla near the administrative unit of Burush on January 18, killing 40 civilians. This brings the total number of victims in one week to 100 civilians. … Saif El Din Haroun, the youth official at El Hamdija camp, told Radio Dabanga that the displaced people are living in tragic conditions due to the lack of shelter, food and water, noting that they have not received any aid. He pointed out that most of the displaced people are women and children and that some of them came from Kabkabiya on foot. He called on organisations to intervene urgently and expedite the provision of aid. Dabanga
Global Push Grows to Free Niger’s Former President Mohamed Bazoum
Niger’s president Mohamed Bazoum has spent 550 days as a hostage of the military junta in the capital, Niamey. His lawyers say that his detention is setting a dangerous precedent and have launched a global campaign to have him released. World leaders have joined the call for his release and many have signed a special petition to have him released which has now reached Washington. The campaign has also created a website dedicated to ensuring Mohamed Bazoum is not forgotten. “His unjust detention is a call to action – for democracy, justice, and the principles he represents. Together, we stand with President Bazoum and demand his freedom,” the petition reads. The American human rights lawyer and prosecutor Reed Brody is one of Mohamed Bazoum’s lawyers and spoke to him regularly until Bazoum’s phone was taken away, almost a year ago. … “It speaks about the lack of rule of law,” he said. “No charges have been brought against [former] president Bazoum and his wife. There is no legal basis for holding him. I think it’s a symbol because the military doesn’t want [him]… to talk to the world.” … Since the 2023 coup, the military have reinforced their power in the country, and have not clarified when they intend to install representative democracy. RFI
Three Countries Officially Quit Major West African ECOWAS Alliance
Three military-ruled countries have officially withdrawn from the West African regional alliance known as ECOWAS, the bloc said on Wednesday, defying pressure from the group to return the countries to civilian democratic rule. … The three nations — Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — announced their intention to leave last year. Negotiations between their leaders and the bloc then failed to reach an agreement that would keep them in. Instead, the three juntas are forging ahead with their own grouping … But analysts say that the three exiting countries stand to suffer the most, including through higher prices, shortages of food supplies and political isolation. … The three juntas have lately severed ties with some of their key traditional partners, ending military cooperation with France and the United States, and imposing new mining laws and taxes to maximize revenue from their ailing economies. They have strengthened their cooperation with Russia, which provides them with weapons and mercenaries. And they have secured new contracts for China to run mining operations that were previously controlled by Western companies and to supply arms, according to local media outlets. … analysts said that most people in these countries did not support the juntas’ decision to leave. “Critical voices are suppressed,” said Gilles Yabi, the founder and executive director of the West Africa Citizen Think Tank. Across the three countries, the human rights situation has sharply deteriorated, with thousands of civilians killed by the military and state-backed militias last year alone, according to rights groups. NY Times
Surge in Terror Attacks in Northern Nigeria Raises Analysts’ Concern
Security analysts in Nigeria are expressing alarm after a surge in attacks by terror groups in the country’s north near the border with Niger. The deterioration of relations between Abuja and Niamey following Niger’s July 2023 coup has disrupted joint military patrols, creating opportunities for armed groups to intensify incursions and attacks. Last Friday’s killing of 20 soldiers, including a commanding officer, at a military base in the remote town of Malam Fatori is among the latest attacks by terror groups. Malam Fatori is located near Nigeria’s border with Niger. Suspected fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) arrived in trucks outfitted with guns and overpowered Nigerian troops in a coordinated assault. That attack took place three weeks after a similar raid on a military base in nearby Damboa, in Borno state, where six soldiers were killed. On Sunday, Nigeria’s defense authorities announced that 22 soldiers died during military operations against militants in Borno state between Jan. 16 and 25. … The terror threat is not limited to northeastern Nigeria. In the northwest, a new militant group called Lakurawa is wreaking havoc in remote communities and crossing the border into Niger. VOA
Experts, CSOs, Politicians Decry Death of Strong Opposition in Nigeria
Experts and politicians have called for a more vigorous opposition in Nigeria to serve as a check on the current administration. This was one of the resolutions reached at a two-day conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria. The event, which took place from Monday to Tuesday, was attended by members of civil society organisations, politicians from all major political parties in the country, and other relevant people. … In a communiqué issued and read by Ezenwa Nwagwu, participants called for a robust opposition to prevent Nigeria from sliding into a one-party state. “Over time, state institutions have been gradually weakened by the overbearing tendencies of those who occupy the executive arm of government. There is a growing incidence of state and elite capture in our political system, with the tendency to slip into a one-party state,” the communiqué reads in part. They expressed concern over the passive nature of the opposition, stating that most political parties have been captured by “barons and warlords.” “The role of political parties has, over time, been eroded due to their capture by barons and warlords, resulting in a lack of internal democracy and discipline. There is an obvious dearth of opposition voices and silence in the civic space,” the communiqué further stated. … The communiqué made several recommendations for the National Assembly to strengthen democratic institutions. Premium Times
Ghana’s Illegal Mining Crisis: Environmental Destruction, Clashes, and Calls for Action
Illegal mining has become a crippling burden on Ghana, wreaking havoc on the nation’s water bodies, land, and even claiming lives. Despite repeated efforts by successive governments, the problem remains unresolved. It is estimated that over 1.1 million people are engaged in illegal mining across Ghana, with youth unemployment being a key driver. Foreign nationals from Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, and China are also involved in these activities. The country’s cocoa industry is under severe threat as illegal mining devastates cocoa farms. As the world’s second-largest cocoa producer – responsible for around 20% of global supply – Ghana is losing vast tracts of farmland to mining operations. The environmental destruction caused by illegal miners is immense, with major water bodies such as the Pra, Offin, Densu, and Ayensu rivers heavily polluted. These rivers serve as critical water sources for communities, but due to contamination, many water treatment plants have been forced to shut down, as the high turbidity damages machinery. There are growing concerns over the long-term health effects of mercury used in mining, which could severely impact residents in affected communities. According to Ghana’s Forestry Commission, an alarming 4,726 hectares of forest land have been destroyed due to illegal mining, affecting 34 of the country’s 288 forest reserves. RFI
Puntland Blocks Illegal Entry of Foreigners in IS Crackdown
Authorities in Somalia’s Puntland region this week banned the illegal entry of foreigners and ordered telecom companies to deactivate SIM cards linked to undocumented people and Islamic State terrorists. The moves are an attempt to disrupt Islamic State financial networks as the military continues an offensive against IS fighters hiding out in the region. Authorities recently launched military operations against IS fighters in the Alimiskaad and Al-Madow mountains in Puntland’s Bari region. Security forces seized camps and defensive positions and pushed the fighters further into the mountains. Security agencies have also started a crackdown on undocumented people in Puntland. According to local reports, authorities made more than 300 arrests in the operation. … The International Crisis Group, in a report released in December, said Islamic State’s Somalia branch was becoming influential in dispersing money to finance terrorism elsewhere in Africa. The group extorts civilians and businesses to finance its operation and sends money to other IS affiliates. VOA
South Sudan Orders Temporary Ban on Social Media
The Government of South Sudan government has ordered a temporary shutdown of social media sites such as Facebook and TikTok within the country. The National Communications Authority (NCA) on Wednesday directed telecoms to block access to social media for at least 30 days, a move that has attracted widespread criticisms from the public. The regulatory body said the social media ban seeks to limit the spread of violent content, citing the recent dissemination of content about the violence meted against South Sudanese in Sudan. … According to NCA, the contents such as videos depicted brutal attacks on women and children, adding that it invoked Sections 9(g)(i) and 34(6) of the National Communication Act of 2012. The temporary ban, which could be extended to up to 90 days, seeks to protect the public, it stated. “This directive may be lifted as soon as the situation is contained,” the regulator said in a statement. Critics and activists have described the move as a violation of the rights to freedom of expression. Sudan Tribune
South Sudan Ceasefire Monitors Decry Violations
The South Sudan ceasefire monitors have raised concerns over violations of the truce. Speaking during the 50th meeting of the board of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) on Tuesday, Chairperson Maj Gen Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, said although the truce was largely holding, it was concerned about the recent violation in Western Equatoria. … Yitayal said CTSAMVM’s Verification Teams were alerted to reports of the clashes over the weekend of January 11 and 12 and consistent accounts from both parties and the civil society representatives indicated that the incidents were not isolated misunderstandings but rather a considered attack upon ceasefire partners. … “CTSAMVM condemns these armed exchanges and urges both parties to exercise restraint and sound judgment. We emphasize that this is a critical moment for exemplary leadership one that embraces dialogue and fosters mediation to alleviate tensions and resolve grievances,” he added. Tamazuj
Zimbabwe: Shurugwi Mayor Calls for Dialogue with Chinese Miner Chengxi over Violations
Shurugwi Mayor Fanuel Machiya says Chinese company Chengxi Pvt Ltd, chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son Collins, should be more responsible as it has put immense pressure on the mining town’s infrastructure while contributing very little to the well-being of society. Machiya said there was a need for urgent dialogue between the company, the town’s residents and other stakeholders to address growing tensions as a result of the company’s mining activities. He revealed that previous efforts to engage the company have been futile because it has been resisting engagement. A recent investigation conducted by NewZimbabwe.com and commissioned by the Information for Development Trust (IDT) revealed that hundreds of houses in Shurugwi are at risk of collapse due to the company’s blasting operations. … Chengxi is engaged in large-scale opencast gold mining across several sites, including the Peak Area Boterekwa, Wanderer, and Dunraven, where it has caused massive damage to tourist attractions and picturesque areas. Residents say they receive little to no warning before blasting occurs, which takes place randomly, day and night, leading to significant structural damage. … Mayor Machiya revealed that his attempts to engage with Chengxi have been largely ignored. … In interviews, residents said the company was acting with impunity because of its close association with the First Family and Zanu PF officials. New Zimbabwe
France Responsible for ‘Extreme Violence’ in Cameroon Independence War, Report Finds
France waged a war marked by “extreme violence” during Cameroon’s fight for independence in the late 1950s, historians said in the latest officially commissioned study grappling with Paris’s colonial past released on Tuesday, January 28. The historians found that Paris implemented mass forced displacement, pushed hundreds of thousands of Cameroonians into internment camps and supported brutal militias to squash the central African country’s push for sovereignty. The historical commission, whose creation was announced by President Emmanuel Macron during a 2022 trip to Yaoundé, examined France’s role leading up to when Cameroon gained independence from France on January 1, 1960, and the following years. Composed of both French and Cameroonian historians, the 14-person committee looked into France’s role in Cameroon between 1945 and 1971 based on declassified archives, eyewitness accounts, and field surveys. … [B]etween 1956 and 1961 France’s fight against Cameroonian independence claimed “tens of thousands of lives” and left hundreds of thousands displaced, the historians found said. “It is undeniable that this violence was extreme because it violated human rights and the laws of war,” it said. Le Monde
African Nations Set to Light Up the Homes of 300 Million People by 2030
Nearly 600 million Africans live without access to electricity – higher than any other continent. A plan dubbed “Mission 300”, launched by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) last April, is now racing to connect half of those homes to power by 2030. The push aims to unlock at least $90 billion (€85 billion) in capital from multilateral development banks, development agencies, finance institutions, private businesses and philanthropies, according to the Rockefeller Foundation, which is part of the initiative. “We want to expand and rehabilitate our electricity grids using the least cost possible,” said Kevin Kariuki, vice president for infrastructure at the AfDB during a two-day energy summit of African heads of state in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. … Providing 300 million people with access to electricity is a crucial building block for boosting Africa’s development by creating new jobs, Banga said. The World Bank expects to spend $30-40 billion on the plan, Banga said, while the AfDB will provide $10-15 billion. The rest will come from private investors and other sources. RFI