Sudan’s RSF Waged Starvation Campaign in Siege of El-Fasher
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) waged a campaign of starvation against the people of el-Fasher, razing dozens of farming villages and devastating crop production around the city, according to a major new report corroborating UN allegations of genocide. The report, produced by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) with Nasa’s Harvest programme, used satellite imagery and other data to identify 41 agricultural communities attacked between March and June 2024, the first months of a siege that went on for more than 500 days. Over the following months, two-thirds of those communities showed “no visible pattern of life”, suggesting residents had been displaced or killed. During the same period, the area of land being farmed declined by more than 80 percent. Forensic analysis of the patterns of damage to the buildings based on remote sensing data showed that the communities were attacked deliberately, Yale’s HRL said. Ten of the 41 communities attacked were razed more than once, the report found, with at least six communities targeted for burning three or more times. One of these was razed to the ground at least seven times. Twenty-eight of the communities appear to have no visible pattern of life. These findings, the report said, suggest the attacks displaced or killed residents of the farming communities, which led to decreased food production in the region. … The report is the first study of its kind to use remotely sensed data to assess food insecurity in conflict settings to corroborate an alleged campaign of intentional starvation. Middle East Eye
Sudan Reports over 1,200 Dengue Cases as Measles and Hepatitis Spread
Sudan’s health ministry on Tuesday reported more than 1,200 cases of dengue fever across five states, as measles and viral hepatitis infections continue to rise amid a collapsing healthcare system. Northern State has become the epicentre of the dengue outbreak despite local vector control efforts. The health ministry said it has deployed response teams and provided diagnostic kits to the region. The ministry’s Emergency Operations Centre said in a statement that 1,238 cases of dengue fever were recorded within one week in Khartoum, River Nile, Gezira, Northern, and White Nile states. Health officials also recorded 54 cases of Hepatitis E in Gezira state, while 165 cases of measles were documented across White Nile, North Darfur, West Kordofan, Gezira, and River Nile states. The outbreaks are linked to deteriorating health services, poor sanitation, and water shortages. Continued mass displacement due to the ongoing conflict has heightened fears that these diseases will spread further. The ministry said it is continuing environmental health activities, including water chlorination and mosquito control. However, it noted a shortage of essential medicines for cholera, dengue, and malaria at several regional warehouses. Sudan Tribune
Drone Strikes on M23-held DR Congo City Kill Several People
Air strikes overnight Tuesday to Wednesday killed several people in the key eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma, controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, sources told AFP. Since taking up arms again in 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of the mineral-rich Congolese east with Rwanda’s backing, unleashing a fresh spiral of violence in a region long plagued by fighting. According to witnesses, the sound of bomb blasts and buzzing drones rang out in several residential neighbourhoods of Goma, a large provincial capital near the border with Rwanda, which the M23 seized in a lightning offensive in 2025. A drone strike was reported in the city of Goma, with one device said to have fallen on the residence of a UNICEF staff member, according to the Africanews correspondent. According to the AFC/M23, the drone was allegedly launched by the Congolese army. So far, the government has not yet commented on these accusations. At this stage, the exact official toll is not yet known, but the damage is considerable. Africanews
South Sudan: UN Official Concerned over Human Rights Violations
As accounts of human rights violations in South Sudan pile up, the spokesperson for the UN high comisisoner of human rights has voiced concern. Seif Magango said, “in the past 17 days, more than 160 civilians have been killed, at least 139 of them by fighters from the Bul Nuer ethnic group in Abiemnom locality, in the Ruweng Administrative Area, on 1 March. On 21 February, 21 civilians were killed by government forces in Panko village, Ayod County, Jonglei State, when soldiers lured them into gathering at one place promising to give them food aid, then opened fire on them.” “Fifteen women and three girls were among those killed. That same day, soldiers reportedly tied up and beheaded four civilians – one elderly man, a woman, a boy, and a girl – in Thiam village of Wau Payam, Western Bahr al Ghazal State,” he added. He called for an immediate ceasefire in the country, which has been plagued by violence for years. … According to local officials, at least 178 people were killed in an attack on Sunday when a group of unidentified men launched an attack in the north of the country. Government forces are attempting to retake territory from those loyal to First Vice-President Riek Machar, who has been suspended from his role after being accused of plotting to overthrow President Salva Kiir. Africanews
Jihadis Intensify Attacks against Nigeria’s Military, Killing Officers and Carting Away Weapons
Jihadi extremist groups, including Boko Haram and one of its factions, have been blamed for intensified attacks targeting Nigeria’s military bases in the northeast of the country in the last week. At least two officers and several soldiers have been killed in the attacks. … Over the weekend, Islamic extremists launched at least six attacks in Borno and Yobe states and in the wider Lake Chad region, spiriting away trucks and military hardware from the bases, according to security analysts and security reports. … While ISWAP has staged a growing number of attacks against the military in recent months, observers say this is the first time in recent history that the group has successfully launched simultaneous attacks of this scale in the region. The attacks show “a remarkable level of coordination” from the group, according to Vincent Foucher, senior research fellow with France’s National Center for Scientific Research who has extensive knowledge of the conflict. Videos published by ISWAP showed massive weaponry and ammunition, as well as dozens of motorcycles and vehicles that the extremists said were captured during the raids. … A key goal of the jihadis is to restock their weapons arsenal, said Taiwo Adebayo with the Africa-focused Institute for Security Studies. “When they hit those camps, they strip the base of weapons, burn it down and retreat into the forests,” Adebayo said. AP
Doctors Without Borders Announces Arrest of Two Employees in the Central African Republic
Two employees of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have been arrested in the Central African Republic, the charity said on Tuesday, March 10, a day after authorities announced the detention of a French aid worker. The two workers – one French and the other a Centrafrican – were detained in the southern town of Zemio last week and then transferred to the capital Bangui “where they are still in police custody,” MSF said in a statement. The announcement comes two days before France’s top diplomat Jean-Noël Barrot carries out the first visit to Bangui by a French foreign minister for seven years. Barrot is to meet President Faustin-Archange Touadéra on Thursday. The Central African defense ministry said late Monday the French MSF aid worker was suspected of “activities aimed at destabilizing the security situation” in the region. … It alleged that he had illegally crossed into the Central African Republic from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). … Security in the country has improved following civil war more than a decade ago. But the restive southeastern region of Haut-Mbomou, which borders South Sudan and the DRC, is beset by tensions between the Central African armed forces, supported by Russian Wagner group mercenaries, and a local militia. Le Monde with AFP
Morocco Becomes Africa’s Top Arms Importer amid Strains with Algeria: Report
Morocco has become the largest importer of major weapons in Africa, with purchases rising over the past five years as the country continues to modernise its military, a report has found. The increase comes amid strains with neighbouring Algeria. The findings come from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) in Sweden, which tracks global arms transfers. Its latest report published this week shows Morocco’s imports of major weapons rose by 12 percent between 2021 and 2025 compared with the 2016-2020 period. Major weapons include equipment such as armoured vehicles, fighter jets, warships and missile systems. Morocco now ranks 28th in the world among arms-importing countries, as Rabat continues to modernise its armed forces in a region marked by “persistent tensions” with neighbouring Algeria, the report said. Algeria’s own arms imports fell by 78 percent over the same period. But Sipri urged caution with the figures, noting that Algeria tends to be discreet about its military purchases. … Elsewhere in Africa, the trend was very different. Arms imports by other countries on the continent fell by 41 percent between 2021 and 2025. RFI
Somalia: Somali Future Council Warns of ‘Instability ‘ over 2026 Election Delays
The Somali Future Council issued a stark warning Monday regarding potential delays to the country’s upcoming federal elections, urging authorities to adhere to constitutional timelines to avoid a repeat of past political instability. In a formal press statement, the Council expressed “deep concern” over the possibility of a leadership vacuum or term extensions as the mandates for federal institutions approach their expiration dates. Under the 2012 Provisional Constitution, the term for the Federal Parliament is set to conclude on April 14, 2026, followed by the expiration of the President’s term on May 15, 2026. The Council emphasized that holding elections within these legal windows is essential to safeguarding Somalia’s constitutional order. The warning drew a direct parallel to the political crisis of 2021, when disputes over election delays and term extensions triggered violent clashes in the capital and a prolonged security standoff. Garowe Online
AU Appoints Akufo-Addo to Lead Election Observation Mission to Congo
The African Union has appointed former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to lead its Election Observation Mission to the Republic of the Congo ahead of the country’s upcoming presidential elections. In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 10, the Office of the former President announced that the continental body has selected Mr Akufo-Addo to head the mission, which will observe the conduct of the elections scheduled for March 15, 2026. According to the statement, the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) will bring together representatives from several continental institutions and stakeholder groups. These include members of the AU Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), the Pan-African Parliament, the African Governance Platform, election management bodies, independent election experts, civil society organisations, and representatives of women’s and youth groups. The mission is part of the African Union’s efforts to support credible and transparent electoral processes across the continent. … Mr Akufo-Addo’s appointment adds to the role frequently played by former African heads of state in supporting election observation missions across the continent. Joy Online
UN Chief Appoints Kenyan Monica Juma as New Head of UN Office on Drugs and Crime
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Kenya’s Monica Juma as the new head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV). … Her appointment marks a significant milestone for Kenya in international diplomacy and global governance, highlighting the country’s growing influence in multilateral organisations. … She previously served as Kenya’s Foreign Minister and National Security Adviser and will lead the UN agencies in addressing global drug trafficking, organised crime, and other international challenges. Her appointment comes at a critical time as the UN intensifies its efforts to combat transnational criminal networks and promote global security. … She served as Cabinet Secretary in several strategic ministries in Kenya, including the Ministry of Energy (2021-2022), the Ministry of Defence (2020-2021), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2018-2020). She was also Acting Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining in 2022. Earlier, she was Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2016-2018), the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government (2014-2016), and the Ministry of Defence (2013-2014). From 2010 to 2013, she was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kenya to Ethiopia and Djibouti and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Daily Nation
Mahama Begins South Korea Visit with Talks, Diaspora Engagement and Investment Push
President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in South Korea for a multi-faceted visit that will see him engage both government officials and the Ghanaian community in the country. During his stay, President Mahama is expected to hold bilateral talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and meet the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea, Woo Won-shik, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries. As part of the visit, the President will also engage with Ghanaian students, professionals and residents in South Korea. The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for members of the Ghanaian community to share their experiences and concerns while strengthening ties between the government and the diaspora. Other highlights of the visit include a ship-naming ceremony at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan. President Mahama will also attend a conferment ceremony at Yonsei University, one of South Korea’s leading academic institutions. The visit will conclude with a dinner meeting with business leaders aimed at promoting investment opportunities and deepening economic cooperation between Ghana and South Korea. Joy Online
Amnesty Calls on Ivory Coast to Release ‘Unjustly Arrested’ Election Protesters
Amnesty International is calling on Ivory Coast to release of dozens of people arrested during protests linked to October’s presidential election. Alessane Ouattara won a contested fourth term after two leading opposition candidates were barred from running. The election campaign was marked by protests and a harsh crackdown by authorities. Amnesty said some of those detained are being held only because they were in the vicinity of the unrest. Among them are three women in the advanced stages of pregnancy, the rights group said. A lawyer for the women said they were arrested “when going about their daily business” and had been “severely affected, both mentally and physically.” … In 2016, Ouattara changed the country’s constitution limiting presidents to two terms in office. Africanews and AFP