Renewed Fighting in DR Congo as Warring Parties Violate Ceasefire
Despite the order for a ceasefire aimed at facilitating the Doha peace talks between the government forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and various armed groups, heavy fighting has persisted in South Kivu. Since June 18, 2025, clashes have intensified between M23/AFC rebels and the Wazalendo militia, particularly in Kabare, Kalehe, and Walungu territories. On June 18, reports from several local sources indicate that heavy and light arms detonations occurred in the Walungu territory, particularly in Nyangezi and its surrounding areas. A local informant mentioned that a similar situation is unfolding in Walungu territory, with clashes reported in Lurhala and nearby regions; however, the casualty figures remain unknown. Intense combat has been reported in the Kabare territory, particularly in Cirunga, Mumosho, and Katana…Local civil society sources report widespread panic in Mumosho and Katana and conflicts around Kigabi. The clashes in Mumosho extended to Nyantende, where gunshots were heard, causing panic in the Panzi area…The recent clashes violate the ceasefire intended to support various peace talks to establish peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). HumAngle Media
Sierra Leone’s President Bio to Be the Next ECOWAS Chairman with Region in Turmoil
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio was chosen on Sunday to be the next chairman of the West African economic bloc, ECOWAS. The Economic Community of West African States, known as ECOWAS, was founded in 1975, and is facing challenges due to rising violence, member departures and economic disturbances. In a statement following Sunday’s announcement, Bio promised to prioritize democracy, security cooperation, economic integration and institutional credibility. “We are still confronting insecurity in the Sahel and coastal states, terrorism, political instability, illicit arms flow and transnational organized crimes continue to test the resilience of our nations and the effectiveness of our institutions,” he said…Bio’s new position comes as the region faces its most severe crisis in decades with jihadist forces controlling vast swaths of the Sahel, a semi-arid region south of the Sahara. In the past few years, ECOWAS has struggled with the departure of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger which have all faced military coups. All three juntas left the bloc, and created their own security partnership, the Alliance of Sahel States…The three countries have been the hardest hit by jihadist violence in recent years. AP
Mali Junta Chief Visits Russia as Jihadist Threat Waxes
Mali’s military strongman arrived on Sunday for a visit to Russia, whose help the west African country’s junta has sought in fighting its long-running jihadist threat since seizing power. Under General Assimi Goita, who came to power after back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali has turned away from the West and its former colonial master France in particular in favour of closer ties with Moscow. Goita’s visit comes shortly after Russia’s paramilitary Wagner group, which has been on the ground helping the Malian army since 2021, announced it would leave the country, to be replaced by its successor Africa Corps. Both mercenary forces have been tools of Russia in its search to broaden its influence across the continent, though the Kremlin has always denied being behind Wagner. After arriving in Moscow on Sunday morning, General Goita is due to meet Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to Mali’s state broadcaster ORTM. AFP
A Confidential Brief Urges the ICC to Investigate Wagner’s Promotion of Atrocities in West Africa
The International Criminal Court has been asked to review a confidential legal report arguing that the Russia-linked Wagner Group has committed war crimes by spreading images of apparent atrocities in West Africa on social media, including ones alluding to cannibalism, according to the brief seen exclusively by The Associated Press…Turning from Western allies like the United States and France, the governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have instead embraced Russia and its mercenary fighters as partners in offensives. Observers say the new approach has led to the kind of atrocities and dehumanization not seen in the region for decades. Social media offers a window into the alleged horrors that often occur in remote areas with little or no oversight from governments or outside observers. Experts say the images, while difficult to verify, could serve as evidence of war crimes. The confidential brief to the ICC goes further, arguing that the act of circulating the images on social media could constitute a war crime, too. It is the first such argument made to the international court. “Wagner has deftly leveraged information and communications technologies to cultivate and promote its global brand as ruthless mercenaries. Their Telegram network in particular, which depicts their conduct across the Sahel, serves as a proud public display of their brutality,” said Lindsay Freeman, director of the Technology, Law & Policy program at the Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law…It is hard to know at what scale cannibalism might occur in the context of warfare in the Sahel, and actual cases are “likely rare,” said Danny Hoffman, chair in international studies at the University of Washington. But “the real force of these stories comes from the fascination and fear they create,” Hoffman said of the videos, with the digital age making rumors of violence even more widespread and effective. AP
Libya’s Al-Khadim Airbase Becomes a Hub for Russian Arms in the Sahel
The airbase in Hmeimin in the Latakia province of Syria, along with the naval base in Tartus are key military outposts for Russia. The overthrow of longtime Syrian ruler and Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in December cast the future of these bases into doubt, with Western countries hoping to pressure Damascus into closing them. Russia, whose military backing helped Assad cling to power, has sought to retain the two bases and has begun discussions with the new interim leadership under former rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. In the meantime, reports show that Russia has begun shifting some of its equipment to other bases – notably in Libya. Using satellite imagery and flight radar information, RFI’s investigative unit Info Vérif was able to trace last month’s voyage of a Russian Antonov-124 plane, which took off from the Hmeimin base and arrived at the Al-Khadim base in Libya. The Antonov-124 is designed to carry heavy, bulky loads (up to 100 tonnes), but it requires long, concrete runways for lift-off…RFI journalists focused on an Antonov-124 (RA-82030) operated by a logistics company known as 224 Flight Unit, a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Defence. RFI
Sudan’s Pro-army Allies Demand Say in New Government
Political factions allied with Sudan’s army submitted a formal demand to Prime Minister-designate Kamel Idris on Sunday, insisting on being included in consultations before a new government is announced. The move from key parties in the Democratic Bloc coalition underscores growing divisions among the army’s supporters over the recent appointment of Idris, which they say was made without their involvement. In a memorandum seen by Reuters, the groups stressed their role in providing political support for the military and defending the state in regional and international forums. The appointment of Idris without prior consultation had drawn criticism from forces allied with the army. The document urged that the incoming government’s main goals should be the fair and effective delivery of services and the launch of an inclusive, all-Sudanese dialogue…Signatories to the memo included the Democratic Alliance for Justice, led by Mubarak Ardol, the National Movement Forces, led by Tijani Sisi, and a faction of the Popular Congress Party, among other members of the Democratic Bloc. Idris is expected to announce his cabinet in the coming days. Sudan Tribune
Sudan: Chaos, Crime Force Residents to Flee Sudan’s Nyala amid Security Collapse
Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, is facing an unprecedented collapse in security. Violations have sharply escalated to include extrajudicial killings, systematic looting, extortion, and kidnappings for ransom, with senior officers accused of organizing and directing these criminal enterprises. The lawlessness peaked following the arrival of numerous Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters retreating from military losses on the fronts in Khartoum, Al Jazirah, White Nile, and Sennar states. According to local sources, these returning fighters have unleashed a wave of widespread looting and plunder. This has turned civilian life into a nightmare, forcing dozens of merchants and employees into hiding for fear of being targeted…Human rights activist Othman Badr al-Din attributes the crime wave to a vacuum of law and order. He notes that RSF fighters have not been paid since the war began, driving them to loot and kill simply to provide for themselves…Specialized kidnapping groups are active in Nyala, where over 100 people have vanished under mysterious circumstances in the last two months. The RSF operates multiple detention centers in the city, most notoriously the “Neem Forest” and the former military intelligence headquarters. Sudan Tribune
Al-Shabaab Weapons Store Destroyed in Somalia
The Somali National Army (SNA) has destroyed a suspected Al-Shabaab weapon store in central regions, following a sophisticated operation launched by the military within Adan Yabaal district, which is largely under the militants. The two facilities were used for storage of weapons and vehicle-borne explosive preparations, officials said. The militants usually use the facilities to wage attacks against security forces and innocent civilians within central regions. Reports by security teams suggested that the compound, which was destroyed, was used by the militants to rig vehicles with explosives…Military sources described the raid as a strategic blow to Al-Shabaab’s logistical network in the central region. The damage would significantly aid the military in increasing its operations against Al-Shabaab to retake the town…The Somali National Army (SNA), backed by local intelligence, has intensified operations across Galgaduud and Middle Shabelle in recent months to degrade Al-Shabaab’s strongholds. Garowe Online
Nigeria: Troops Kill over 600 Insurgents but Apprehension Remains in Borno Communities
Despite the killing of at least 600 Boko Haram insurgents (JAS and ISWAP) in Borno State in the last three weeks, apprehension remains among the war-weary residents. The Nigerian military has recorded major successes since revving up its counter-insurgency operation in the North-east, codenamed Operation Hadin Kai. Those killed by security agencies included at least nine top commanders of the groups terrorising communities in the region by imposing taxes and implementing capital punishments on residents. PREMIUM TIMES spoke with residents who said the shadows cast by the terrorists in the communities remain despite the intensity and successes of the military operation. Farmers are still afraid to go to their farms, and the needs for humanitarian assistance continue to rise. In many communities, residents live with the fear of attack when soldiers withdraw after routing the insurgents. The military renewed its onslaught in the first week of June after the insurgents killed several soldiers and civilians in at least 12 attacks in Borno in the preceding weeks. Premium Times
ECOWAS Tells Guinea Military Ruler to Engage Others in Vote Plan
The West African bloc ECOWAS on Sunday directed Guinea’s military leader to involve other players in vote planning after he created a new elections authority ahead of a September constitutional referendum. General Mamadi Doumbouya decreed last week that the new agency, operating under the interior ministry, would organise political votes and referendums and manage the biometric voter roll. In a statement at the end of its summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it had noted the “new transition timelines set by the Guinean authorities for the return to constitutional order”. But it “encourages and directs” Guinea authorities “to urgently deploy a political mission to engage with the Guinean stakeholders on all the political and organisational aspects of elections”. Guinea’s opposition and civil society have criticised the junta’s increasingly authoritarian rule. The junta, which took power in a 2021 coup, had promised elections by the end of 2024 but has missed that deadline. In early April, it set 21 September as the date for the referendum on a new constitution. By mid-May, Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah announced plans to “do everything” to ensure presidential and legislative elections were held in December. AFP
Ivory Coast President Weighs Fourth-term Run as Tensions Rise Over Barred Rivals
President Alassane Ouattara said on Sunday he would announce in the coming days whether he will run for a fourth term in Ivory Coast’s October election, as tensions rise over the exclusion of opposition candidates. His response was eagerly awaited Sunday by tens of thousands of supporters during a major rally in the west African country’s largest city Abidjan, a day after his party nominated him as its presidential candidate. “I will make a decision in the coming days, after careful consideration in my soul and conscience,” Ouattara said inside the Ebimpe stadium that bears his name, cheered by supporters who filled all 60,000 seats and the pitch…Ouattara, 83, who has led Ivory Coast since 2011, was officially nominated on Saturday by the ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), but he has yet to confirm whether he will seek a fourth term. His nomination comes after weeks of rising political tensions triggered by the courts’ barring of several opposition politicians from the October 25 election. Critics of Ouattara accuse him of tightening his grip on power and strongly oppose the prospect of him running again. AFP
Sahel Juntas Pile Pressure on Foreign Mining Firms
Army strongmen who have seized power in coups across Africa’s Sahel region since 2020 have ramped up pressure on foreign mining companies in the name of greater control over their countries’ riches. Niger’s nationalisation of the local branch of French uranium giant Orano on Thursday is the latest such measure by the junta and its allies in Burkina Faso and Mali. In particular the coup-hit trio, which have all turned their backs on their shared former colonial master France in favour of stronger ties with Russia, have placed Western firms firmly in their sights. Niger’s nationalisation of Orano’s local branch Somair has brought a months-long struggle with the French firm to a peak. Orano, which is 90-percent owned by the French state, had already admitted to having lost operational control of its subsidiary months ago. Meanwhile in Mali, Canadian giant Barrick Mining is locked in a tug-of-war with the army over a mining code that came into force in 2023. The military is demanding hundreds of millions of dollars of back taxes from the firm. Barrick has since lost control of Loulo-Gounkoto, the country’s largest gold mine, in which the Canadian firm holds a majority stake. In November 2024, Malian soldiers arrested the director of Australia’s Resolute Mining, along with two employees. All were subsequently released after Resolute agreed to pay the junta $160 million in exchange…To fight back against the juntas, the mining industry has looked to international arbitration. AFP
Burundi Approves Vote Result Despite Alleged Irregularities
Burundi’s constitutional court on Friday approved the results of June’s legislative elections, which handed all seats in parliament to the party which has ruled the country for two decades. The impoverished African Great Lakes nation held elections on June 5 in which the incumbent CNDD-FDD party swept 96 percent of the vote — and all 100 seats in parliament. The opposition and Catholic Church quickly condemned the vote as “rigged”…According to a Human Rights Watch report, “ruling party officials and youths intimidated, harassed and threatened the population and censored media coverage to secure a landslide victory.”…President Evariste Ndayishimiye took power in June 2020 after the death of his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza, who had ruled Burundi with an iron fist for 15 years. The CNDD-FDD has been accused of hobbling its main adversary, the CNL, which came second in the last elections in 2020. AFP
Thousands of Migrants Abandoned in the Desert Without Food, Water or Shoes
Thousands of migrants including hundreds of unaccompanied children have been kicked out of Algeria and left in the desert without food, water or shoes, aid groups have said. Over 7,000 people including more than 700 children have been trucked over the border by the Algerian authorities since April in a dramatic escalation of the migrant crisis in the Sahara, according to data from the Agadez governorate in northern Niger. While Nigerien nationals among them are driven to a transit centre, those from countries across Sub-Saharan Africa are stripped of their belongings, including mobile phones, passports and shoes, and dumped in a remote area of the Niger desert known as Point Zero. From here, they have to make a 15km journey to the transit centre in Assamaka, a dusty border village, facing 40 degree heat and frequent sandstorms without food or water…Survivors of the arduous desert trek report suffering beatings, dehumanising abuses and rape at the hands of Algerian border guards…Under a 2014 agreement between Algeria and Niger, only Nigerien citizens are meant to be sent back across the border. But the testimonies collected by aid groups operating in the area reveal that large numbers of migrants from third countries are being kicked out in unofficial operations. The Telegraph
37 Ethiopians among Scores of Foreign Nationals at “Imminent Risk” of Execution in Saudi Arabia: Rights Groups Report
At least 37 Ethiopian men are facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia for drug-related offences, according to a joint statement by 31 civil society and human rights organizations, which raised alarm over what they described as an “imminent risk” of execution for hundreds of foreign nationals in the kingdom. In a joint statement released on 17 June 2025, the groups said they are “gravely fearful for the lives” of detainees, particularly Ethiopian, Somali, and Egyptian nationals, amid what they described as a “dramatic surge” in executions for non-lethal drug-related offences…It further stated that the 37 Ethiopian men, along with 27 Somali nationals, are being held on death row in Najran Central Prison in southwestern Saudi Arabia, while 26 Egyptian nationals are detained in Tabuk Central Prison in the northwest of the country. The joint statement—signed by groups including Reprieve, ALQST for Human Rights, and the African Academy of Diplomacy—alleged that many of the detainees are “likely victims of human trafficking,” and were “coerced or deceived into transporting illicit substances.” Addis Standard