Civilians in Sudanese City El Fasher ‘at Risk of Mass Killings and Starvation’
The medical NGO, known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), said a full-scale attack could lead to more bloodshed, as seen in the massacres that struck other parts of Darfur last year. Its report, published on Thursday, documents killings, sexual violence, looting and attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies. “People are not only caught in indiscriminate heavy fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces and their respective allies – but also actively targeted by the RSF and its allies, notably on the basis of their ethnicity,” said MSF head of emergencies, Michel Olivier Lacharité. The conflict in North Darfur has worsened since May 2024. The RSF and its allies have surrounded El Fasher and the nearby Zamzam camp, a large settlement for displaced people just outside the city, blocking people from getting food, water or medical aid. MSF’s report is based on its own field data, direct observations and more than 80 interviews carried out between May 2024 and May 2025 with patients and displaced people. RFI
Sudan Says 3,800 Bodies Buried in Khartoum since Fighting Ended
Sudanese authorities have recovered and buried 3,800 bodies found in the streets and homes of the capital Khartoum since the army recaptured the city from paramilitary forces, the head of the forensic authority said on Saturday. During months of intense urban warfare, many residents were trapped by the violence and unable to reach cemeteries, forcing them to bury the dead in makeshift graves in houses and public squares. Hisham Zain al-Abidin, head of the Forensic Medicine Authority, said in a press statement that teams were dispatched after the army declared it had taken full control of Khartoum state on May 21. He said reports of bodies came from homes, residential areas, hospitals, and government buildings. Authorities have also discovered hundreds of mass graves in Khartoum, according to the statement. It is believed that many of the victims were subject to enforced disappearances and killings by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their control of the city. A committee that includes forensic, security, and local officials has been formed to survey gravesites in the old neighbourhoods of Omdurman, part of the wider capital area, Zain al-Abidin said. Sudan Tribune
M23 Wants More DR Congo Talks Despite Washington Peace Deal
The M23 armed group said on Thursday that it wants further talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government to address “problems” left out of a peace deal to end the conflict in the country’s east. The DRC and Rwanda signed an agreement last week in Washington that was meant to bring about an end to fighting that has killed thousands of people in mineral-rich, conflict-ravaged eastern Congo…But the Rwanda-backed M23, the main armed group fighting Congolese forces, was not present at the Washington talks. It said that it wanted a separate ceasefire deal with the DRC government, with which it had been holding talks in Qatar. “What happens between the DRC and Rwanda is between them,” M23 executive secretary Benjamin Mbonimpa told a news conference. AFP
Major Rwandan Coltan Exporter Bought Smuggled Minerals, a UN Report Says
Rwandan company Boss Mining Solution bought minerals smuggled from rebel-held areas of neighboring Congo, helping fund an insurgency in that vast African country, according to a confidential report by a group of United Nations experts that was reviewed by Reuters. The U.N. report marks the first time the world body has named a company that’s purportedly complicit in trafficking minerals looted from Congo since M23 insurgents seized a key mining area there last year…Illegal mining in M23-controlled areas and the smuggling of these minerals to Rwanda have “reached unprecedented levels,” the report said. The report was submitted to the U.N. Security Council sanctions committee for Congo in early May and is due to be published soon, diplomats told Reuters. M23 did not respond to requests for comment. Boss Mining’s operations are run by Eddy Habimana, a Rwandan businessman, corporate records reviewed by Reuters show. U.N. investigators identified Habimana a decade ago as a minerals smuggler connected to rebels waging war in eastern Congo…A Reuters analysis of customs records from 2024 found that Boss Mining is one of a number of Rwandan companies that export significant volumes of coltan despite the fact that Rwanda produces little of the metallic ore. Reuters
Mali Junta Chief Granted Renewable Presidential Mandate
Mali’s military authorities on Thursday granted the junta chief a five-year presidential mandate, renewable “as many times as necessary” and without election. The move clears the way for General Assimi Goita to lead the west African country until at least 2030, despite the military government’s initial pledge to return to civilian rule in March 2024. The bill, adopted by the legislative body, now only needs approval by the junta leader himself who rose to power following back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021. It is the latest in a series of restrictions on freedoms by Mali’s military leadership to consolidate its power in the jihadist-hit Sahelian nation. The bill was unanimously backed by the 131 members present in the National Transitional Council, an AFP journalist said…When Goita took power, he insisted on Mali’s commitment to the fight against jihadist violence and initially pledged a return to civilian rule. But the military ultimately reneged on its promise to cede power to elected civilians by their own deadline. Earlier this year, a junta-led national consultation recommended the move proclaiming Goita president without a vote for the five-year renewable term. The same assembly — boycotted by most political groups — also recommended the dissolution of political parties and tougher rules for their creation. Subsequently, the junta announced in May the dissolution of all political parties and organisations, as well as a ban on meetings. AFP
Burkina Faso Bans, Suspends Foreign NGOs, Associations
Burkina Faso has withdrawn the licences of four foreign NGOs to operate in the junta-led country and suspended two other associations, according to decrees seen by AFP on Friday. The decrees dated mid-June cited a government minister as saying the decision against the four NGOs was due to formality breaches…Authorities regularly repress dissent, notably within civil society and the media, claiming it as part of the battle against jihadist violence that has plagued the west African country for a decade. There has been an upsurge in kidnappings and extrajudicial arrests, particularly of civilians considered hostile to the junta. Diplomats accused of “subversive” activities have been expelled and several foreign media have been forced to close down. The two foreign associations cited in last month’s decrees were suspended for three months, one of them accused of data breaches. AFP
Guinea Party Appeals to High Court After Junta Bars Meeting
One of Guinea’s two main political parties said Friday it was appealing to the Supreme Court after the ruling junta prevented it from holding a congress this weekend. The Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) was informed in late June that it should “suspend, without delay” the gathering of its various leaders that was to be held Sunday in Conakry, in a letter from the country’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation. The west African nation’s military government is regularly accused of cracking down on freedom of expression and silencing critics. The ministry’s move to block the event “constitutes a serious violation of the rule of law, the freedoms of association and assembly, as well as the autonomy of the political parties”, UFDG’s national leadership said in a statement. The party added that it would suspend organisation of the congress pending the Supreme Court’s decision. The extraordinary congress would have gathered various elements of UFDG’s leadership, from its central committee down to youth leaders. AFP
Ambushes, Mines, Kidnappings: The Sahel’s Roads of Fear
Africa’s turbulent Sahel region, sometimes referred to as the global epicentre of terrorism, has been plagued by violence from jihadist groups for more than a decade. According to a recent OECD report, “70 percent of violent events and 65 percent of fatalities in North and West Africa occur within just one kilometre (0.6 mile) of a road”. In the central Sahel — as well as the Lake Chad basin and western Cameroon — some roads “have become epicentres of violence”, the 145-page report said, disrupting financial trade and governance. “Transport routes have become a prime target for attacks against government forces, particularly military convoys, and a means to pressure rural communities,” said Olivier Walther, a co-author of the study, adding that jihadists regularly set up roadblocks around towns…With 433 recorded incidents since 2012, he said Mali’s National route 16 connecting Mopti in central Mali to Gao in the north, is “by far” the most dangerous transport axis. South of the Malian border, in Burkina Faso, “all roads leading to Djibo” are dangerous “due to blockades imposed on the town” by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), Walther said. AFP
Togo Opposition Calls for Election Delay after Deadly Protests
Two opposition parties and several civil society groups in Togo called on the authorities Friday to postpone municipal elections scheduled for July 17, after deadly anti-government protests. The west African country, ruled for nearly six decades by Faure Gnassingbe and his late father, has had rare protests erupt in recent weeks over electricity price hikes, arrests of government critics and a constitutional reform consolidating Gnassingbe’s grip on power. At least seven people have been killed in the protests, dozens wounded and more than 60 arrested, according to civil society groups. The opposition National Alliance for Change (ANC), Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR) and several civil society groups, said they “condemn in the strongest terms” the “brutal repression” of protests and called for the elections to be postponed indefinitely. Campaigning for the elections opened Tuesday. Rights group Amnesty International called Thursday for an independent investigation into allegations Togo’s security forces killed, tortured and kidnapped people in their crackdown on the protests. AFP
Consumer Groups in Togo Decry Internet Restrictions after Protests
Consumer advocacy groups in Togo have reported internet and social media access restrictions in the country since deadly protests last month, one of their officials told AFP on Friday. The restrictions follow two rare waves of protests against the arrest of government critics, electricity price hikes and constitutional reforms that have allowed veteran leader Faure Gnassingbe, 59, to consolidate his power. Civil society groups and opposition parties have said that seven people were killed during the anti-government demonstrations in the capital Lome, with dozens more injured and over 60 detained…The Togolese Consumers Association (ATC) also reported “difficulties using social media applications and platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and even WhatsApp”, raising “deep concern among consumers”. Aside from Togolese consumer rights groups, the London-based internet access monitoring organisation NetBlocks also reported that “TikTok, Facebook and Telegram access has been restricted” for at least three days since June 26. AFP
UN Council Rejects Eritrea’s Bid to End Human Rights Probe
The United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday rejected a bid by Eritrea to end the mandate of a U.N. expert investigating alleged abuses in the country, in a relief to Western diplomats who feared it would set a dangerous precedent for states seeking to escape scrutiny. The motion brought by Eritrea caught many off guard and marked a rare attempt by a country subject to an investigative mandate to terminate it. It was defeated decisively, however, with just four voting for it, 25 rejecting it and 18 abstaining. A counter-motion by the European Union to extend the mandate for a year then passed comfortably. In his last report, Sudanese rights lawyer Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, who currently holds the U.N. expert position, described the situation in Eritrea as critical, highlighting cases of arbitrary detention and the extensive use of military service which is stoking migration…Supporters of Eritrea’s motion included Iran, Sudan and Russia – all of which are subject to their own investigations mandated by the 47-member council. China also spoke in favour of Eritrea, calling such an investigation mandate a waste of resources. Reuters
Pressure Group Launched to Push for Democratic Transition in South Sudan
Several South Sudanese civil society activists launched a pressure group on Friday, dubbed the Constitution-making and Democratic Engagement Consortium (CMDEC), to advocate for key electoral reforms and public engagement ahead of elections scheduled for December 2026, as the country’s transition to democracy rests at a crossroads…The CMDEC is a coalition of seven civil society and community-based organizations, which include Rights for All Organization (RFA), Concern on Climate Change for the Community Initiative (FOURCi), Base for Hope and Human Rights Organization (BHHRO), Vision South Sudan, Youth Link, INTREPID South Sudan (ISS), and Action for Community Transformation Initiative (ATI). The group’s coordinator, Mutto Emmanuel, told Radio Tamazuj that they aim to foster participatory democracy through inclusive constitution making, credible electoral processes, and sustained citizen engagement in local and State governance. “This conviction came about as a result of the apparent endless transition to democracy in South Sudan despite the consistent demands for election and complete systemic reforms by South Sudanese,” Mutto stated. Radio Tamazuj
African Union Criticised for Calling Burundi Election ‘Credible’
A senior opposition official in Burundi on Saturday criticised the African Union for describing the country’s election as “credible” despite widespread claims of irregularities and intimidation during the vote. The Peace and Security Council of the African Union said on X that it had reviewed elections for the past six months and “congratulated Burundi, Comoros and Gabon on holding credible elections”. Burundi’s ruling party of President Evariste Ndayishimiye won every seat in parliament in last month’s vote, with 96 percent of the vote. Rights groups, the Catholic Church and the opposition all said there were serious irregularities, pointing out that key opponents of the ruling party had effectively been barred from running. “It is distressing to see the African Union give (Burundi’s election commission) a free pass… when the Catholic Church, which had the most electoral observers, identified numerous irregularities,” said the official. AFP
Armed Gang Attacks Kenya Human Rights Commission
An armed gang attacked the headquarters of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission on Sunday as it hosted a press conference calling for an end to state violence, an AFP journalist saw…The press conference was being held ahead of Monday’s “Saba Saba Day”, an annual commemoration of pro-democracy protests in the 1990s, that this year coincides with large-scale demonstrations against police brutality and poor governance. Women’s Collective Kenya, a grassroots rights movement, had helped organise the press conference to call for “an immediate end to arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of their children for taking to the streets”. But the meeting had yet to start when the gang of around 20 people attacked, some armed with sticks, forcing many to flee for safety. RFI
Government Takes Blame for Liberia’s Atrocities
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued a formal apology on behalf of the state for the atrocities and suffering inflicted upon Liberians and others endured during the country’s two brutal civil wars — a move that represents a notable drive in the country’s prolonged journey toward reconciliation. President Boakai expressed remorse for the horrors that occurred between 1989 and 2003, a period marred by extreme violence that resulted in an estimated 250,000 fatalities and lasting trauma throughout the nation. The conflicts were characterized by massacres, sexual violence, amputations, and the recruitment of child soldiers. Speaking at a national reconciliation ceremony at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex on Saturday, July 5, President Boakai offered a sincere apology to all victims of the civil conflict, acknowledging the profound pain and devastation experienced by individuals and families affected by the wars…This public apology marks a significant moment as it is the first time a Liberian president has issued a public, formal apology, despite the recommendations made in a 2009 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report. Liberian Observer