Mapping China’s Strategic Port Development in Africa
Chinese state-owned firms are active stakeholders in an estimated 78 ports across 32 African countries as builders, financiers, or operators…With a total of 231 commercial ports in Africa, Chinese firms are present in over a quarter of Africa’s maritime trade hubs. This is a significantly greater presence than anywhere else in the world…In some sites, Chinese firms dominate the entire port development enterprise from finance to construction, operations, and share ownership…Despite the risks over loss of control, the trend on the continent is toward privatizing port operations for improved efficiency… [One] risk of China’s expansive port development in Africa is the potential for repurposing commercial ports for military activities…This raises concerns about China’s broader geostrategic aims with its port development and stokes Africans’ widely held aversion to being pulled into geostrategic rivalries. There is also a growing wariness against hosting more foreign bases in Africa. This underscores the mounting African and international interest in scrutinizing China’s port development—and dual-use military basing—scenarios. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
A Turkish Arms Firm Helped Fuel Sudan’s Brutal Civil War, Records Show
Baykar, co-owned by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son-in-law, sent at least $120 million worth of weapons — including eight of its signature TB2 drones and hundreds of warheads — to the Sudanese army last year, according to a contract and end user certificate viewed by The Post, along with other messages and flight tracking information supporting the sale…The trove also shows that competition is intensifying among regional governments over the spoils of war. During discussions after the drone sale, Baykar executives told their colleagues that leaders in the Sudanese military were considering offering Turkish firms access to copper, gold and silver mines, company documents show, as well as development rights to Abu Amama — a key Red Sea port that was previously promised to the UAE and is also coveted by Moscow…Baykar’s shipments to the Sudanese army appear to be in violation of several rounds of U.S. and European Union sanctions, illustrating the risks run by Turkish companies as they seek to deepen their influence across Africa…Sudanese authorities told Baykar representatives in a Sept. 9 meeting that “With this move, Turkey has become the country that has supported them the most,” according to an internal Baykar document describing the conversations. The Washington Post
Uganda Deploys Special Forces to South Sudan to Protect the Government as Fears of Civil War Grow
Uganda has deployed an unknown number of troops to South Sudan in a bid to protect the fragile government of President Salva Kiir as a tense rivalry with his deputy threatens a return to civil war in the east African nation. Ugandan special forces have been deployed to Juba, the South Sudanese capital, “to support the government of South Sudan” against a possible rebel advance on the city, said Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, a spokesperson for the Ugandan military. “We sent a force there two days ago,” he said. “We are not there for peacekeeping.”…Kiir and Museveni are allies, and Museveni has in the past intervened in the South Sudan conflict to keep Kiir in power. The deployment of Ugandan troops to South Sudan underscores rising tensions in the oil-producing country that has been plagued by political instability and violence since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011…The latest tensions stem from fighting in the country’s north between government troops and a rebel militia, known as the White Army, that’s widely believed to be allied with Machar. AP
Ngok Dinka, Misseriya Leaders Vow to Pursue Peace in Disputed Abyei
Traditional leaders from the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities in the disputed Abyei region pledged to work together for peace despite concerns that the ongoing conflict in Sudan could escalate tensions. The leaders, representing the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms and the Misseriya, made the commitment after an 11-day training session held in Todach, north of Abyei town, from February 16 to 26. The training was jointly organized by the Community Liaison Office of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and Concordis International, a non-profit organization focused on conflict resolution. The sessions included women, youth, trade unionists, and other stakeholders and aimed to identify solutions to the root causes of conflict. Independent facilitators with expertise in law, conflict mitigation, and peacebuilding led the discussions…Tribal authorities are recognized as the custodians of culture and values respected by tribes and clans,” [Stephen Mayuen Mou, Concordis International’s project manager in Abyei] said. He emphasized their role in recognizing human needs, rights, service delivery, and development efforts. Sudan Tribune
DR Congo Offers $5m Bounties for Rebel Leaders
The Democratic Republic of Congo government has offered a reward of $5m (£4m) for help arresting three leaders of a rebel group which has seized much of the east of the country this year. Corneille Nangaa, a former head of DR Congo’s electoral commission, now leads the Congo River Alliance, which includes the M23 rebel group. He has addressed large rallies in the cities under the group’s control. The bounty is also on offer for M23 leaders Sultani Makenga and Bertrand Bisimwa. Last year the three men were prosecuted in absentia by a military court and given death sentences for treason. A reward of $4m (£3) was also offered for the arrest of two journalists living in exile, and others the government describes as accomplices. BBC
Congo Ex-president Kabila’s Allies Questioned by Military Prosecutor
Officials from the party of Democratic Republic of Congo’s former President Joseph Kabila appeared before a military prosecutor on Monday in a sign of political tensions over advances by Rwanda-backed rebels in the east. The exact reason for the invitation to appear before the prosecutor was not clear, said Jean Mbuyu, a lawyer for the officials and former security adviser to Kabila. But after leaving the prosecutor’s office on Monday evening, one of the officials told Reuters they had been called in for questioning over February 26 comments made by Aubin Minaku, vice president of the party and former president of the National Assembly. “The chief said ‘we must be ready for anything’,” Minaku said at the time, referring to Kabila. “When the chief says we must be ready for everything, each of us, a pure-blooded (party member) understands… the time for silence, for clandestine actions is over, now is the time for open actions.”…President Felix Tshisekedi, who once formed an awkward power-sharing deal with Kabila, has recently accused him of sponsoring the M23 rebels who have seized east Congo’s two biggest cities since January. Reuters
Dialogue or Confrontation? Mozambique’s Chapo Chooses Both
The Mozambican government announced March 5, 2025 as a “Day of Dialogue,” with President Daniel Chapo signing an agreement with all political parties represented in parliament to resolve the post-election crisis. However, that day turned out quite differently than what Chapo had hoped for: violent clashes broke out during a protest march, which were met by the usual police brutality, which has become symptomatic in recent months. The rallies were led by former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane and thousands of his supporters. Since Mondlane had not been invited to partake in the “Day of Dialogue,” he called for a “peaceful walk” through some of Maputo’s poorer neighborhoods in protest instead…Mondlane continues to accuse the ruling FRELIMO party of election fraud to this day, and considers himself the true winner of the presidential election held on October 9, 2024. The opposition politician said before that if he is not invited to such an exchange, the people of Mozambique equally are not included, announcing “daily protests over the next five years” in response. The police forcibly dispersed the demonstration, with security forces using tear gas and live ammunition against the crowds, which included Venancio Mondlane himself. DW
Somali President Praises Religious Scholars as Pillars of Stability in Fight Against Extremism
Religious scholars are integral in the nation-building and stability of the country, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told the clergy during the Iftar dinner, on Sunday, emphasizing their importance in fostering cohesion and national unity…During the meeting, the president commended religious leaders for their vital role in raising public awareness, promoting reconciliation, and fostering national stability, state media reports, just in the middle of the ongoing crackdown against Al-Shabaab and ISIS militants…President Mohamud reaffirmed that religious scholars are pillars of governance and national development, urging them to strengthen their leadership role in guiding society and supporting government efforts to enhance peace and liberate the country from extremist threats. Additionally, the religious leaders shared insightful recommendations on reinforcing state institutions, countering extremist misinformation, and advancing the collective interests of the Somali people. Garowe Online
Gunmen Storm Hotel in Central Somalia, at Least Four Killed
Gunmen stormed a hotel in the town of Baladweyne in central Somalia on Tuesday and a siege was ongoing, two witnesses told Reuters. Dahir Amin Jesow, a federal lawmaker from Baladweyne, said so far at least four people had been killed but that “we are still counting casualties”. It was not immediately clear who was carrying out the attack on the Qahira hotel, although Islamist militant group al Shabaab frequently launches bombings and gun attacks in the fragile Horn of Africa nation. Reuters
11 Killed in Jihadist Revenge Attack in Nigeria
Fighters from a new jihadist group torched seven villages in northwest Nigeria over the weekend and killed 11 people in a revenge attack, a police spokesman told AFP Monday. Militants from the Lakurawa group on Sunday attacked Birnin Dede and six villages near the border with Niger, Kebbi state police spokesman Nafiu Abubakar said, to avenge the killing of their commander by security forces in the area…The recent appearance of Lakurawa jihadists in the northwest has worsened the violence in the region. On Thursday, security personnel posted in the area killed a senior commander of the jihadist group, known by the name Maigemu. This came days after the group killed six civilians in attacks on two nearby communities, the police spokesman said…Lakurawa jihadists who hailed from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have crossed into Nigeria and settled in Kebbi’s Tsauni forest. From their camps in the forest, which stretch to the Niger border, they carry out deadly attacks, rustle livestock and impose tax on communities. AFP
Nigeria Strikes $200 Million Deal to Power Rural Areas with Renewable Mini Grids
Nigeria has agreed to $200 million deal with WeLight, a pan-African Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) company to deploy hundreds of renewable mini grids, aimed at bringing reliable electricity to millions in rural communities and those surrounding urban centres. Africa’s most populous country, seeking to increase its renewable energy share of its electricity mix from 22% to 50% and securing financing from private investments for this purpose, sees this deal as an important step in this regard. The project backed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank will develop and operate 400 mini grids and 50 MetroGrids across Nigeria’s mostly rural areas to improve electricity access to an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people and boost local economies. Reuters
Three Journalists Remanded in Chad for Collusion with Russia
Three journalists have been remanded in custody pending trial in Chad after being accused of colluding with a Russian paramilitary group, the public prosecutor and one of their lawyers said Monday. “They are suspected of working with the Russian paramilitary group Wagner,” public prosecutor Omar Mahamat Kedelaye told AFP….The public prosecutor said the journalists were Olivier Mbaindinguim Monodji, director of the weekly newspaper “Le Pays” and Chadian correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI), and another editor from “Le Pays”, Ndilyam Guekidata. The third was a journalist from Tele Tchad, Mahamat Saleh Alhissein…The three journalists were remanded to the Klessoum prison on Monday afternoon after being questioned by the examining magistrate. They will appear in court on Thursday…In recent months, journalists, politicians and opposition figures have been arrested or kidnapped in a bid to suppress voices critical of Chad’s military leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno. In mid-September, the World Organization Against Torture denounced the Chadian intelligence service’s increasing use of arrests and detentions without due process. After coming to power following the death of his father three years ago, Deby has strengthened his hold on Chad in a series of elections denounced by the opposition as neither free nor fair. AFP
Jailed Benin Cyberactivist Denies Criticising Government
Beninese cyberactivist Steve Amoussou, accused of spreading false news and inciting rebellion, denied running an account critical of the government during a brief court hearing on Monday. Amoussou has been jailed in Benin since August 2024, after being “kidnapped” in neighbouring Togo, according to his lawyers. His trial before the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism (CRIET) has been postponed several times. Amoussou is suspected of being “Frere (Brother) Hounvi”, a famous anonymous columnist who published viral audio material to some 75,000 subscribers, criticising the government of President Patrice Talon, who has been in power since April 2016. Critics accuse the president of imposing increasingly authoritarian rule on a country once praised for its democracy…A few weeks ago, Olivier Boko, an estranged friend of the Beninese president, and Oswald Homeky, a former sports minister, were sentenced to 20 years in prison for “conspiracy against the authority of the state”. Boko’s brother-in-law Rock Nieri, who is currently on the run, was also sentenced in absentia. AFP
Ivory Coast Opposition Parties Form Coalition Ahead of Presidential Poll
Dozens of opposition parties in Ivory Coast have formed an alliance ahead of the country’s president poll due to take place in October. The Coalition for a Peaceful Alternation is hoping to push demands for electoral reform and impose a balance of power on the ruling party. Heavyweights include the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), the country’s oldest party, the Movement of Capable Generations (MGC) of former first lady, Simone Gbagbo, and Charles Blé Goudé’s Young Patriots of Ivory Coast, COJEP…But one major party is missing from the new coalition, that of former president Laurent Gbagbo. With the opposition in three blocs, there’s a risk of votes being divided among them which could benefit the ruling party. Unless the new coalition manages to rally support beyond its ranks. Political analyst, Christophe Koffi, believes the President Alassane Ouattara’s party will have something to worry about if the vote goes to a second round…“If they manage to force the party in power to a second round, there will be a grouping of all the opposition voters around whoever comes in pole position and I think that this could upset the ruling party.” Koffi said it “should not underestimate this coalition that has been put in place”. Africanews
Tanzania Confirms Two Mpox Cases
The Ministry of Health has confirmed two cases of Mpox, marking the first time the disease has been reported in Tanzania. The confirmation, made by Minister of Health Jenister Mhagama on Monday, March 10, 2025 follows the isolation of two individuals suspected of having the virus. The individuals, exhibiting symptoms like facial, hand, and foot rashes, along with fever, headaches, sore throats, and body aches, were tested after the ministry received reports on March 7, 2025. One of the suspected cases involved a cargo driver who traveled from a neighboring country to Dar es Salaam. Samples were sent to the National Laboratory for testing, and on March 9, the lab confirmed both individuals were infected with the Mpox virus. The Citizen
New Drive Seeks to Unlock Blue Economy in East Africa
[A new campaign] dubbed Kilindini seeks to address the region’s urgent need for sustainable management of its maritime resources and enhance the professions of coastal communities dependent on the South West Indian Ocean for their survival. Derived from the Swahili word for “deep”, Kilindini reflects the region’s rich maritime history and its economic potential, according to Pan-African initiative Ascending Africa which runs the campaign. However, the sector faces mounting challenges, including illegal fishing, dwindling fish stocks, environmental degradation, and maritime security threats. The Kilindini campaign seeks to reverse these trends by promoting sustainable fisheries management, enhancing coastal community involvement, and leveraging innovative technologies to safeguard the future of the Indian Ocean…[T]he region’s waters, which serve as a key global shipping route, face threats from piracy, smuggling, and illegal trafficking, necessitating improved security measures…The campaign also aims to empower coastal communities by providing training and awareness programmes to support sustainable fishing and conservation. Strengthening cooperation among East African nations is another key objective, as regional collaboration will help to develop shared solutions for coastal challenges. The Citizen
South Africa: Coal Hunters Encircle Africa’s First Wilderness and Rhino Sanctuary
The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is now almost completely encircled by fossil fuel hunters eyeing the region’s rich mineral pickings, primarily coal. Over the past few years, several relatively unknown mining companies have applied for prospecting rights close to the 130-year-old wildlife sanctuary in KwaZulu-Natal, but mainly outside the 5km wide “no-go mining zone’ declared by the park custodians, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. More recently, however, some prospectors have extended their ambitions right up to the park’s boundary fence. Now, with the exception of the northern and southern tips, the reserve has been ringed by wall-to-wall mining and prospecting claims although some of these have subsequently been withdrawn. This suggests that if viable mineral deposits are found and further mining rights are authorised via Gwede Mantashe’s Ministry of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, companies will be free to conduct daily dynamite blasting or strip-mining directly next to Ezemvelo’s flagship Big Five conservation area and tourism attraction. Daily Maverick