Sudan: Poor Security, Services, Water, Force Returnees to Leave Khartoum for States
Lack of security and poor services such as electricity, water, internet, and telecommunications in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, have prompted a significant number of people to return to displacement areas, with the exception of areas of Omdurman, which are witnessing a remarkable return to life. [Bashir El Sadig, director of the Lizenfo organisation] pointed to the suffering of returnees from security failures and remnants of war, explaining that a number of civilians returned from Khartoum to the states after facing great difficulties in the capital during the conflict…Callers from various parts of Khartoum told Radio Dabanga that telecommunications networks are fluctuating, and the internet is not available most of the time. They pointed out that they are forced to charge their phones, at great expense, at shops that rely on solar energy, and warned of a terrible deterioration in the humanitarian situation, and the high cost of food. They also complain of a large-scale campaign launched by the security cell in southern and eastern Khartoum, where civilians are detained taken to unknown locations without giving reasons. Dabanga
How Guinea became a gateway for Russian weapons to reach the Sahel
Despite the departure of the Wagner Group from Mali, Russia is continuing to strengthen its military presence in the country through its Africa Corps. Using satellite imagery, shipping logs and eyewitness reports, journalists from RFI have confirmed that Russia is discreetly shipping in large quantities of military equipment via the port of Conakry in neighbouring Guinea. Data collected by RFI’s Info Vérif investigative unit shows that Russia is using a logistics hub in Guinea’s capital Conakry, on Africa’s west coast. So far this year, three convoys have been transported by sea from Russia to the port of Conakry, before reaching land-locked Mali by road, RFI found. Mali’s national news channel (ORTM ) confirmed the arrival of a military convoy made up of several dozen transport trucks, escorted through Bamako by Malian police, on 31 May…RFI’s investigative unit obtained exclusive footage and testimonies showing that Russia is going to great lengths to assure its military logistics. Using ship tracking tools, RFI reports that two Russian cargo ships, both under international sanctions, docked in the Guinean capital between 25 and 28 May. The ships – the Baltic Leader and the Patria – are part of Russia’s shadow fleet, discreetly transporting weapons to the Kremlin’s various partners. The Baltic Leader was part of the “Syrian Express” – the name given to Russian ships providing naval links between Syria and Russia. RFI
Suspected Jihadists Kill Dozens of Niger Civilians
An attack by suspected jihadists has killed “dozens” of civilians in Niger in the latest massacre to plague the unrest-hit border with Burkina Faso and Mali, sources told AFP on Monday. Along with its Sahel neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger has been plagued by years of persistent jihadist unrest, as well as criminal gangs and sectarian and ethnic violence. According to residents from the area, the fighters targeted Muslim worshippers heading to Friday prayers in the southwest village of Manda, in the borderlands where jihadists allied to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group mount regular assaults…Like neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger is led by a military junta which seized power in a coup, pledging to tackle the Sahel region’s long-running insecurity. Yet none have managed to stem the jihadist tide, with the violence killing at least 2,400 people in Niger since the army overthrew democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, according to conflict monitor ACLED. AFP
West African Leaders Admit Security Woes Mounting in Region
Leaders from the west African bloc ECOWAS on Sunday admitted during talks in the Nigerian capital that the region was in trouble, facing mounting unrest and political instability. “Our region is at the crossroads,” said Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio as he took over the rotating chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu. West Africa is “facing serious challenges, some long-standing, others new and evolving”, he said. They included “insecurity in the Sahel and coastal states, terrorism, political instability, illicit arms flow and transnational organised crimes”. It was time to “overhaul our collective security architecture” including intelligence-sharing and rapid response, he added. “The democratic space is under strain in parts of our region — the constitutional order has been disrupted.” Coups and attempted putsches have rocked nearly half of the original ECOWAS member states in the last decade, straining relations between neighbours. Three junta-led countries — Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — quit the bloc earlier this year, setting up their own alliances. Jihadists exploiting fraying ties between regional countries are gaining ground in the Sahel and Lake Chad region. AFP
Nigerian Navy Cracks down on Oil Theft, Arrests 76 Vessels in Two Years
The Nigerian Navy has arrested 76 vessels and at least 242 suspects in anti-oil theft operations, and destroyed more than 800 illegal refining sites during a two-year crackdown, it said on Thursday. Rampant oil theft from pipelines and wells has crippled Nigeria’s oil industry in recent years, damaging government finances and stifling exports. Since June 2023, naval authorities have seized around 171,000 barrels of crude and millions of litres of illegally refined fuels from criminal networks, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla said at a briefing in the capital Abuja. The navy also began verifying oil cargoes loaded at Nigeria’s five major export terminals in January to combat oil theft at its source, Ogalla said. The navy has acquired patrol boats, three new ships and three AW 139 Trekker helicopters. It is also building two additional seaward defence boats and will take delivery of two 76-meter offshore patrol vessels from Dearsan Shipyard in Turkey. Reuters
Intercommunal Attack Kills 17 Women, Children in Chad
An attack by herders armed with machetes has killed at least 17 people, all women and children, in a village in southwestern Chad, an official for the regional governor told AFP Friday. A dispute between nomadic Fulani herders and Ngambaye farmers over the delimitation of grazing and agricultural areas is believed to have sparked the violence, local sources said. Fulani people are often stigmatised across the wider Sahel, accused of collaborating with violent Islamist groups that stalk the region…The attack in the village of Oregomel on Thursday took place five kilometres (three miles) from Mandakao, where 42 people were killed in an attack a month earlier, he said…In southern Chad, locals following Christianity or traditional African religions often argue they have been marginalised by the majority-Muslim authorities in the capital N’Djamena. Separately, at least 20 people have died since last week in intercommunal violence in the eastern province of Ouaddai, according to parliamentary and local sources…A strategic area near the border with Sudan which sees significant population movement, Chad’s east has for several dozen years also been gripped by conflicts between Arab herders and local farmers. AFP
Uganda’s Museveni Will Seek Re-election, His Party Says
Uganda’s ruling party said Tuesday that the country’s long-running president Yoweri Museveni will seek re-election in polls due early next year. The 80-year-old had been widely expected to try and extend his almost four-decade rule over the east African country. The opposition has faced a mounting crackdown ahead of the general election in January, with leading activists and politicians intimidated, abducted and detained…Once hailed for his commitment to good governance, the former rebel leader has crushed any opposition and tweaked the constitution to allow himself to run again and again. His announcement follows one of his most prominent opponents, musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine, also confirming that he intended to run in 2026. Wine, real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, lost to Museveni in elections in 2021 that were marred by widespread reports of irregularities and severe violence from security forces. He has been arrested numerous times, with Museveni’s son and heir-apparent General Muhoozi Kainerugaba repeatedly threatening to behead him on social media. Last year, Kizza Besigye, another long-time electoral foe, was abducted in neighbouring Kenya and brought to Uganda where he now faces the death penalty for treason. AFP
Kenya to Charge Police Officers with Murder over Blogger’s Death in Custody
Kenyan prosecutors said on Monday they approved murder charges against six people, including three police officers, for their role in killing a political blogger whose death in police custody sparked large protests. Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said in a statement that the six suspects would be arraigned on Tuesday. One of the police officers was the commander at the station where Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old blogger and teacher, was held in Nairobi…Ojwang died earlier this month following his arrest as part of an investigation triggered by a complaint by the deputy national police chief, Eliud Lagat. Lagat had filed a formal complaint about allegedly false and malicious information published about him on social media, according to the state-funded police watchdog. Police initially attributed Ojwang’s death to suicide but apologised after an autopsy found that his wounds were the result of assault. Ojwang’s death prompted hundreds to protest police brutality over the past two weeks. Additional demonstrations are expected on Wednesday, which will also mark the one-year anniversary of a mass protest that culminated in the storming of parliament and several deaths by police gunfire. Reuters
EA Lawyers Shift Summit from Zanzibar, Hints at Tanzania Unsettled Rights Climate
The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has moved the venue for its 2025 annual conference and general meeting from Zanzibar to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, citing security concerns in Tanzania ahead of its general election in October. In a communiqué on Monday, EALS president Ramadhan Abubakar said that they had been compelled to change the venue “in the absence of firm guarantees to delegates who will be attending the event.” …At least 800 delegates comprising lawyers, judges, academics, regulators, corporate counsel and policymakers from across the region are expected to attend this year’s anniversary at a date to be confirmed. According to Mr Abubakar, it will be “not merely a commemoration of longevity, but a recognition of three decades of promoting the rule of law, regional integration and the legal profession.” The change of venue comes amid increasing international scrutiny of Tanzania’s human rights record and allegations that the State is ruthlessly squeezing civic space in the run-up to the election. The lobby’s concerns were amplified by the deportation of two prominent Kenyan jurists, ex-Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and former Justice minister Martha Karua, last month soon after they had arrived at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere Airport to attend the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Activists Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda were also detained and allegedly tortured by security agents before being deported by road. They said they were beaten, stripped and sexually abused while in the hands of the police. The East African
South Sudan’s Kiir Travels to UAE
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit departed Juba on Sunday for the United Arab Emirates on an official diplomatic visit, his office announced. Kiir was seen off at the Juba International Airport by senior government officials, including ministers, advisers, and Vice President for the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel. With First Vice President Riek Machar under house arrest, Vice President Bol Mel is expected to oversee government operations until Kiir returns. The president’s office did not specify how long the visit would last. This marks Kiir’s second trip to the UAE this year…The visit comes amid heightened regional tensions. In May, Sudan’s military-led government severed diplomatic ties with the UAE, accusing it of arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and fueling the ongoing war. Kiir is expected to hold high-level meetings with Emirati business leaders and government officials to discuss investment opportunities, regional peace and infrastructure development, according to his office. Radio Tamazuj
South Sudan to Host East African Scientific Conference This Week
The national health ministry on Friday announced that it is set to host the 10th East African Scientific Conference, which aims at promoting scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange among East African countries from 25 to 27 June in Juba. The East African Scientific Conference is a regional platform that brings together scientists, researchers, policymakers, academic institutions, and development partners from across East Africa to present and discuss scientific research, innovations, and solutions to the region’s pressing challenges. Addressing a press conference, National Health Minister Sarah Cleto Rial said this year’s conference will host about 300 delegates from across the region…According to Cleto, other benefits of the East African Scientific Conference include showcasing research findings and innovations relevant to health, agriculture, environment, education, and development; influencing regional policy through evidence-based research; and strengthening regional research networks and capacity, among others…“We have to tackle other fronts in food security, safe water, airborne enzymatic diseases, environmental hazards, cross-border transmissions, traffic accidents, regulation of food and drugs entering the country, the list is long,” she said. Radio Tamazuj
Guterres Condemns Deadly Attack on Peacekeepers in Central African Republic
The UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned a deadly attack on peacekeepers serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, or CAR, which claimed the life of a Zambian peacekeeper and left another wounded. The ambush took place on Friday along the Birao-Am Dafock axis in the volatile Vakaga Prefecture, in northeastern CAR, close to the border with conflict-hit Sudan. According to the stabilization mission, MINUSCA, the patrol was targeted by “unidentified armed elements” in the locality of Am-Sissia… [Guterres] stressed that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and urged the Central African authorities “to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this tragedy so that they can be brought to justice swiftly”. This marks the third fatal attack against MINUSCA peacekeeping patrols since the start of 2025. In March, a Kenyan peacekeeper was killed in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture, and a month earlier, a Tunisian ‘blue helmet’ lost his life in the north. Earlier this week, two Nepalese peacekeepers were injured during an assault in the southwest. UN News
Cybercrime Threat Rises in Africa as Mobile Banking Grows: Interpol
Cybercrime incidents make up a large share of overall crime in Africa, the latest threat assessment by Interpol found, with the global policing body calling for urgent action to close vulnerabilities as the continent’s digital transformation accelerates…More than two-thirds of Interpol’s 54 African member countries said cyber-enabled crimes were a medium-to-high share of all crime in 2024. Phishing is the most frequently reported form of cybercrime in Africa, comprising a third of all such incidents, while ransomware attacks, business email compromise, and the provision of malware-as-a-service are some of the other leading threats, according to the report…The trend is helped by the widespread increase in digital services. Incidences of banking information theft online have reduced across Africa with improved law enforcement measures, but they also remain serious cyberthreats, the report said. Many African countries “still lack adequate cybersecurity measures” to counter the rise in attacks. Less than a third of countries have databases for cyberthreat intelligence or systems for reporting incidents, for example. Reforming cybercrime laws, increasing public awareness, and strengthening international cooperation are all necessary for Africa to combat cybercrime. But the backbone to an effective response would be “sustained investment in national capacity,” the report said. Semafor
Court Jails 23 Chinese Nationals for Cyberterrorism, Internet Fraud in Lagos
The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced 23 Chinese nationals to one year in prison each for cyberterrorism and internet fraud linked to a massive cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme uncovered in December 2024… In a statement on Monday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the convicted persons were part of a 792-member cyber-fraud syndicate arrested on 19 December 2024 in Lagos during an operation code-named Eagle Flush…Each of the convicts was arraigned on one count of cyberterrorism and internet fraud. The charge filed against Yu Hui (a.k.a. A. Bin) alleged that the defendant and others, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, “accessed computer systems used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria.” EFCC said the act constituted an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015. Another charge accused Jia You (a.k.a. A. You) of accessing computer systems “for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria,” in violation of the Cybercrimes Act and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Premium Times