UN Mission Says Sudan Conflict Is A ‘Crisis of Humanity’
A UN mission in Sudan on Tuesday described the situation in the war-torn country as “a crisis of humanity”. Sudan has been gripped by more than two years of war between its army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and efforts by international mediators to halt the fighting have so far failed. “Let me be clear, what is happening in Sudan is not only a humanitarian crisis. It is a crisis of humanity itself,” Mona Rishmawi, an expert member of the United Nations’ fact-finding mission, said in a statement. Rishmawi spoke of “widespread” sexual violence, children dying of hunger and blocked humanitarian aid. “While the bombs and bullets dominate the headlines in Sudan, a quieter but more brutal, perhaps, war is being waged on the bodies of women, girls and marginalised communities,” she added in comments to reporters…The conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths and to the displacement of 14.3 million people, making Sudan the world’s largest forced displacement situation, according to the UN refugee agency. The UN mission described the increasing use by both sides of heavy weapons in populated areas…According to the mission, both sides are manipulating humanitarian aid. AFP
Sudan: Deadly Strike Hits Shelter for Displaced during Heavy El Fasher Fighting
At least 35 displaced persons were killed and wounded after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelled a shelter at the Ministry of Agriculture building in El Fasher, the governor of North Darfur said on Sunday. The alleged shelling followed a large-scale ground assault launched by the RSF at dawn on Sunday, ending a period in which its forces had halted ground incursions into the city and instead relied on artillery and drone strikes. “As the militia was retreating following its defeat, it shelled a shelter for the displaced at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, which led to the martyrdom of five people and the injury of more than 30 others,” Governor Al-Hafiz Bakhit said in a statement…Residents of El Fasher are grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis, facing shortages and high prices for goods due to a siege imposed on the city by the RSF since April 2024. Sudan Tribune
If Nigeria Wins, West Africa Wins, Outgoing AFRICOM Commander Speaks on Insecurity
Nigeria and its West African neighbours are facing one of the most volatile security environments in decades, and according to outgoing US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander, Michael Langley, the stakes could not be higher: “If they win, West Africa wins. The Sahel wins,” the US Marine general told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview at the Pentagon on 4 June…Mr Langley emphasised that African countries must move toward self-sufficiency in combating these threats. “The idea is not dependence, but independent operations. African-led […]—with clear benchmarks for institutional capacity.” …This reaffirmed a consistent theme throughout Mr Langley’s command: respect for African sovereignty. “African countries… they’re not asking us to pull them up. They’re already there. They want us to respect their sovereignty. Treat them as equal partners. And that’s what we have been doing.” …Throughout his tenure, Mr Langley has credited Africa’s younger generation as essential actors in the continent’s fight against violent extremism—as builders of peace. “The enduring solution for terrorism is not just military. It’s law enforcement. It’s communities. It’s civil-military relations. It’s the Imams. It’s the teachers. That’s what stabilises a region,” he said. Premium Times
Nigeria: Over 6,000 Displaced in Renewed Benue Attacks, Says NEMA
A total of 6,527 people have been displaced in the aftermath of the recent violence in Benue State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said. NEMA disclosed this on Monday, noting that more than 3,000 displaced persons, including children and women, were in urgent need of humanitarian assistance such as food, non-food items, potable water, and essential medical supplies. Among the displaced people are 82 pregnant women, 252 lactating mothers and 657 children under 18, NEMA says in a statement posted on X…[The Benue State Police Command] said “efforts to support displaced populations are underway,” adding that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Red Cross and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) are coordinating relief activities at a newly established Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the Makurdi International Market.” Premium Times
Mali Begins Building Russian-backed Gold Refinery
Mali’s military junta has started building a gold refinery in partnership with a Russian conglomerate, the Yadran Group…[Gen Assimi Goïta] has strengthened military and economic ties with Russia since seizing power in a coup in 2021, while reducing relations with former colonial power France and other Western nations. This reflects a broader trend in the region, with neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger also pivoting towards Russia after the overthrow of civilian leaders. Western firms have since been facing a tough time – the latest example being Mali’s decision to put a huge gold mine, run by Canadian giant Barrick, into administration, effectively bringing it under state control. On Monday, Gen Goïta – along with Yadran Group head Irek Salikhov – attended a ceremony for the construction of the refinery, which will have a 200-tonne capacity, in Senou, not far from the capital, Bamako. BBC
Mali’s Junta Tightens Grip after Five Years of Military Rule
In 2020 and 2021, General Assimi Goita siezed power of Mali, bringing the country under military rule…In June 2025, the National Transitional Council approved a bill granting Goita an additional five-year term, extending his presidency until at least 2030. One of the main justifications for the coup was to improve the nation’s security amid a growing number of jihadist attacks. However, this plan has not worked, said Ahmed Ould Abdallah, president of the Sahel Sahara Center for Security Strategies. “Not only has terrorism not disappeared, it is actually increasing and becoming more intense. It no longer affects only the north and center of the country, but also the south toward Sikasso, and the Kayes region in the west,” he told DW…The opportunities to freely express one’s opinion in Mali have deteriorated over the past five years, said Claus-Dieter König, head of the West Africa office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLS) in Dakar. “Goita is becoming a dictatorial ruler. Opposition members live in fear of being arrested. Radio stations have been banned and it is more difficult to obtain licenses,” König says. Journalists in the country feel pressure not to write about army losses in the fight against jihadists or about Russian mercenaries, say experts. Several pro-democracy activists have recently been detained in Mali. According to Human Rights Watch, two opposition leaders who took part in protests in early May have disappeared. DW
Health, Separatist Violence Loom Over Cameroon Vote
Cameroon is counting down to a presidential election with key questions over the health of 92-year-old veteran leader Paul Biya, separatist violence in its English-speaking regions and ethnic tensions all unresolved. With less than four months until the first ballot is cast, any prospective challenger will have to soon announce their tilt at taking over the central African nation at a tough time for the economy…Given Biya is already the world’s oldest head of state, questions over his health and capacity to govern have dominated debate over the vote. Cameroon’s opposition appears more fragmented than ever, undermining its ability to oust the longtime leader despite the favourable political winds…Since 2016 Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions have been riven by conflict between English-speaking separatists and the government…All the while Boko Haram jihadists have been sowing terror at the other end of the country in the Far North region, where the group has been active since 2009. The various security crises have uprooted many Cameroonians from their homes and pose a challenge to the peaceful conduct of the elections. AFP
Eritreans Face ‘Systemic’ Rights Violations: UN Expert
Eritreans face severe rights violations under the three-decade rule of President Isaias Afwerki, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea has said. The small country of around 3.5 million people in the Horn of Africa is sometimes nicknamed the “North Korea of Africa”. It consistently ranks among the worst in the world for rights — in last place for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders, and 175th out of 183 for human development in 2022, according to the United Nations. “Violations are systemic, and the need for accountability is urgent,” said Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea, speaking at a summit in Geneva on Monday. The single-party state has been ruled for more than 30 years by Afwerki, who led the country to independence from Ethiopia. He has violently suppressed dissent, often locking up opponents without trial for decades in horrific conditions. Civilians are conscripted for life into the army or subjected to forced labour under a national service system the UN has likened to slavery. AFP
Ethiopia, Morocco Establish Joint Military Commission, Sign Defense Cooperation Agreement
Ethiopia and Morocco have signed a new military cooperation agreement aimed at consolidating defense ties through joint training, exercises, scientific research, and military health programs. The agreement, signed on Tuesday, 17 June in Rabat, also establishes a joint military commission to oversee its implementation…This latest development marks a growing defense cooperation between the two countries, building on momentum from earlier high-level exchanges. In April, Ethiopia hosted General Berrid and a Moroccan delegation for a four-day visit, which included talks with Ethiopia’s Chief of General Staff, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, and tours of key military installations. During that visit, both sides expressed shared interest in expanding cooperation to include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and defense industry development. Addis Standard
Africa CDC Reports Daily Cholera Cases Decline in Amhara, Attributes Progress to Joint Response
Daily cholera cases in the Amhara Region have declined in recent weeks, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), which attributed the development to a “coordinated response” implemented jointly with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and the Amhara Public Health Institute (APHI). Africa CDC said the deployment of its technical experts to Amhara in late April 2025 contributed to several “critical response pillars,” including surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control (IPC), risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), and operational capacity building for the region’s Incident Management System (IMS). “The major outcome,” said Dr. Aniekeme Aniefiok Uwah, Africa CDC’s Senior Country Representative to Ethiopia, “was a significant reduction in the daily number of cholera cases reported.” …Africa CDC reported that the outbreak in Amhara, which began in January 2025, has resulted in over 2,281 confirmed cases and 15 deaths. The agency said the outbreak has been “exacerbated by the influx of pilgrims and fragile water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure at these sacred sites.” Addis Standard
Ghana: Government to Pilot 6-week Basic Military Training as Part of National Service
The National Service Authority (NSA) has announced a significant development in the forthcoming 2025/2026 national service cycle with the introduction of a six-week Basic Military Training (BMT) programme. This initiative, which forms part of a broader strategy to enhance national cohesion and civic responsibility among graduates, will be rolled out on a limited scale during a pilot phase. According to a statement released on Tuesday, June 17, a select number of graduates from the upcoming cohort will be deployed to participate in the pilot phase of the BMT programme. The NSA emphasised that participation is voluntary, with interested applicants invited to express their interest during the standard online registration process. The training, to be delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and other relevant agencies, is designed to equip young graduates with essential skills in discipline, resilience, and teamwork, while fostering a greater appreciation of national security imperatives. Joy Online
Zimbabwe Ex-minister Detained Ahead of Graft Trial
A Zimbabwe court denied bail on Tuesday to ousted President Robert Mugabe’s foreign minister, who was arrested at the airport on corruption charges as he returned from seven years abroad. Walter Mzembi, foreign minister when Mugabe was removed in a military-backed coup in 2017, was arrested on Friday at Harare’s international airport on 2018 graft charges for which he had been granted bail. The allegations include that he stole $1.6 million in donations while tourism minister, prior to taking the foreign affairs portfolio. His lawyer told the court that Mzembi had not been able to return to face trial because he was receiving medical treatment in South Africa…The 61-year-old was first arrested months after the coup that installed President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose government has moved to prosecute former Mugabe loyalists, mostly for alleged corruption. After Mzembi told the courts in 2018 that he was battling stomach cancer, he was granted bail and left the country. AFP