A Powerful, Opaque Al-Qaeda Affiliate Is Rampaging across West Africa
After years spent quietly gaining strength, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is now the most well-armed militant force in West Africa and among the most powerful in the world, according to regional and Western officials, with as many as 6,000 fighters under its command. Local strategies employed to combat JNIM are accelerating its rise, officials and experts say, as atrocities by West African forces have allowed the group to claim the moral high ground and legitimize its growing authority…JNIM, along with the rival Islamic State-Sahel Province, has turned the region into an epicenter of Islamist insurgency…The chaos ravaging the region has helped military officers seize power in coups — vowing to break with the West and restore calm. But in most countries the security situation has only gotten worse. In 2024, Burkina Faso ranked as the nation most affected by terrorist violence for a second straight year, and Niger saw the largest increase in terrorism-related deaths globally. In a sign of JNIM’s southward spread, Togo reported the most terrorist attacks it its history; Benin has reported nearly as many deaths in the first three months of this year than in all of 2024. Increasingly, experts say, JNIM’s informant and supply chain networks are stretching into stable nations such as Ghana, Senegal and Guinea. The Washington Post
Mali Military Withdraws from Base After Second Deadly Attack in Days
The Malian military withdrew from a major base in the centre of the country Friday after it came under a second deadly attack in less than a week, according to multiple sources, as the country faces an uptick in jihadist assaults. At least 30 soldiers were killed at the Boulkessi army base in central Mali on Sunday in an attack claimed by the Al-Qaeda affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). On Friday, a religious holiday in Mali, soldiers left the post after a new deadly assault, locals and a military source said, affirming there had been multiple deaths in a Thursday attack. AFP
Nigerian Catholic Priest Who Had Recently Served in the US Abducted by Extremists, Church Says
A Nigerian Catholic priest who recently served in the United States has been abducted by extremists along with other travelers in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, the church said. The Rev. Alphonsus Afina was kidnapped on June 1 near the northeastern town of Gwoza, close to the border with Cameroon, by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, Bishop John Bogna Bakeni of Maiduguri told The Associated Press on Sunday…The priest was traveling from the city of Mubi, where he is based, to Maidiguri, the capital of Borno, for a workshop when his convoy was ambushed by armed men while waiting for clearance at a military checkpoint, he said…Rev. Robert Fath, the vicar general of the diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska, told the Anchorage Daily News on Thursday that he had received a phone call from Boko Haram confirming they had Afina. Afina served in Alaska from 2017 to 2024 before returning to Nigeria, where he works with the Justice, Development and Peace Commission, a Catholic social justice group. AP
Sudan’s Hamdok Pushes for Political Solution, Warns against New Government
A Sudanese civilian delegation led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has urged the international community to support a political-only solution to Sudan’s crisis, warning that attempts by the rival Port Sudan authority to form a government will only prolong the war. The delegation from the “Smoud” civil alliance delivered its message during more than 14 meetings at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Governance Week in Marrakesh, which took place from June 1-3, according to a report issued by the group. The delegation, which included prominent figures Yasir Arman, Omer Manis and Bakry Eljack, argued that “A credible political process is the only way forward” …During its meetings, the alliance, which describes itself as the largest civil coalition seeking to stop the war, also cautioned against efforts to reinstate Sudan’s membership in the African Union under the current circumstances. The delegation’s stance follows a May 20 welcome by the African Union and the United Nations for the appointment of Kamel Idris as prime minister under a plan that the military-led government says is aimed at restoring civilian rule. In a move to build a unified front, the Smoud delegation held extensive meetings with Abdel Wahid al-Nur, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement. The two sides agreed to activate a “Joint Committee for the Broad Front” to unify civil forces. Sudan Tribune
RSF and Allied Rebels Seize Town from Army in Sudan’s South Kordofan
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and an allied rebel group have seized the town of Um Dehilib in Sudan’s South Kordofan state from the army, as the military continues to lose ground in the region. The capture comes amid reports from a local rights group of escalating attacks by the RSF on civilians in the neighbouring state of West Kordofan. Since February, the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, has been fighting in a coalition with the RSF against the Sudanese Armed Forces. RSF soldiers announced the capture of Um Dehilib, an area east of the main SPLM-N stronghold of Kauda, in a video posted on Saturday…The Sudanese army and its allies have been ceding territory in South and West Kordofan to the RSF coalition since late May. Separately, the Dar Hamar Emergency Room, a local advocacy group, said on Saturday that RSF troops had attacked the village of Bani Badr in West Kordofan, beating civilians, looting, and seizing fuel for water stations. Sudan Tribune
South Sudan: MSF Permanently Closes Hospital, Ends Support to 13 Facilities in Ulang County
Citing safety and security concerns, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said it has decided to permanently close its hospital in Ulang, Upper Nile State, as well as withdraw its support to 13 primary health facilities in the county. According to a press statement extended to this publication, MSF suspended all its medical services on 14 April 2025 after armed individuals forced their way into the hospital and its offices, threatened both staff and patients, and violently looted and destroyed property throughout the facility… “They took everything: medical equipment, laptops, patients’ beds and mattresses from the wards, and approximately nine months’ worth of medical supplies, including two planeloads of surgical kits and drugs delivered just the week before. Whatever they could not carry, they destroyed,” says Zakaria Mwatia, MSF head of mission for South Sudan…Since its launch in 2018, the MSF project in Ulang has provided vital healthcare services to over 150,000 people across Ulang County. This included running a secondary care hospital and supporting 13 primary healthcare facilities throughout the region. Radio Tamazuj
Russia Says Plan to Boost Role in Africa Includes ‘Sensitive’ Security Ties
Russia plans to step up cooperation with African countries, including in “sensitive areas” such as defence and security, the Kremlin said on Monday. Russian mercenary group Wagner said last week it was leaving Mali after helping the military junta there in its fight with Islamist militants. But the Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force, said it would remain in the west African country…Russia’s Africa Corps was created with the Russian Defence Ministry’s support after Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and commander Dmitry Utkin led a failed mutiny against the Russian army leadership in June 2023 and were killed two months later in a plane crash. About 70-80% of the Africa Corps is made up of former Wagner members, according to several Telegram chats used by Russian mercenaries seen by Reuters. Reuters
Russia Skirts Western Sanctions to Ramp up Its Military Footprint in Africa
Even as it pounds Ukraine, Russia is expanding its military footprint in Africa, delivering sophisticated weaponry to sub-Saharan conflict zones where a Kremlin-controlled armed force is on the rise. Skirting sanctions imposed by Western nations, Moscow is using cargo ships to send tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and other high-value equipment to West Africa, The Associated Press has found. Relying on satellite imagery and radio signals, AP tracked a convoy of Russian-flagged cargo ships as they made a nearly one-month journey from the Baltic Sea. The ships carried howitzers, radio jamming equipment and other military hardware, according to military officials in Europe who closely monitored them. The deliveries could strengthen Russia’s fledgling Africa Corps as Moscow competes with the United States, Europe and China for greater influence across the continent…Researchers and military officials say the flow of weapons from Russia appears to be speeding Africa Corps’ ascendancy over Wagner, helping it win over mercenaries that have remained loyal to the group. Africa Corps is also is recruiting in Russia, offering payments of up to 2.1 million rubles ($26,500), and even plots of land, for signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense, plus more on deployment. Within days of the latest equipment delivery, Wagner announced its withdrawal from Mali, declaring “mission accomplished” in a Telegram post. Africa Corps said in a separate post that it would remain. AP
Gulf Countries Expand Their Footprint in Africa
Gulf countries are expanding their footprint in Africa — moving beyond traditional sectors like mining, logistics, and agriculture — as they seek to deepen their commercial and diplomatic ties to the continent. The UAE is backing a new economic zone and digital incubator in Ghana, while Qatari businesses have been in talks over possible investments in construction and infrastructure projects in Tanzania. The African Export-Import Bank estimates Gulf countries invested more than $100 billion in Africa in the decade to 2022. Much more has followed since then, and the UAE now outpaces China, France, and the UK when it comes to investment in the continent. Gulf companies are still pouring capital into traditional sectors: Emirates Global Aluminium is planning a major investment in a bauxite project in Ghana, and Abu Dhabi’s International Resources Holding agreed to buy a majority stake in a Democratic Republic of Congo tin producer for $367 million. Semafor
Ivory Coast Former Minister Billon Seeks to Lead Opposition in October Vote
Ivory Coast former trade minister Jean-Louis Billon said he is seeking to represent the opposition PDCI party in October’s presidential election after former Credit Suisse chief Tidjane Thiam was excluded from the final list of candidates last week…In an interview with Reuters in the commercial capital Abidjan, Billon, 60, blamed party officials for the handling of legal challenges to Thiam’s candidacy and did not rule out the possibility of representing another party, though he said it was too early to make such a move…He said it was time for Ouattara and other politicians of his generation to leave the scene. “Ivory Coast will change. I think our elders have had their day,” he said. Reuters
Kenya Protests Erupt after Activist Albert Ojwang Dies in Police Custody
Albert Ojwang died just a few hours after his arrest. He had been detained for allegedly criticising the police on his blog and social media. According to the police, he injured himself by banging his head against the wall in his cell—an official explanation that his family and supporters strongly dispute…Julius Juma, the family’s lawyer, told the press: “…If he was arrested for the reasons given, why was he placed in solitary confinement? Why are we being told he hit his head against the wall? His body showed numerous injuries—to his head, hands, and shoulders. His head was completely swollen.”…A protest march began in the capital, Nairobi, on Monday, near the Central Police Station where Ojwang died while in custody…Police claim that Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. All officers present that night have been suspended to facilitate the investigation. The police department announced that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority has launched an investigation…This blogger’s death comes almost a year after several activists and protesters were killed and abducted by Kenyan police during finance bill protests in 2024. RFI with AP
Zambian Court Blocks Film Investigating Chinese Businesses
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia sued privately owned News Diggers after the outlet shared a May 20 teaser on Facebook for its film, “Chinese Investment in Zambia: The Good, The Bad and The Dangerous,” according to a copy of the court order, reviewed by CPJ, and News Diggers Editor-in-Chief Joseph Mwenda, who spoke to CPJ. The Lusaka High Court issued the gag order on May 22, the day before the film was due to be broadcast. The film’s trailer included images of alleged labor abuses and violence…The court said the outlet could be guilty of contempt of court if it aired the documentary in breach of the injunction, which carries a penalty of a six-month jail term or a fine of up to 300 kwacha (US$12)…CPJ has documented numerous attacks and arrests of journalists in Zambia and April’s new cyber laws further threaten press freedom. CPJ