Sudan Drone Attack on Key Hospital Killed 64 People during Eid, WHO Says
Sudan’s army has denied it carried out a deadly attack on a major hospital on Friday night in a city in the west of the country held by its rivals, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said 64 people – including 13 children, two nurses and a doctor – had died in the strike on el-Daein Teaching Hospital and 89 others had been wounded. “Enough blood has been spilled,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X, urging the warring parties to end the conflict, which started nearly three years ago. The RSF said an army drone had hit the hospital in el-Daein, the capital of East Darfur state, on the day Muslims were marking the festival of Eid. … Dr Tedros, who said el-Daein Teaching Hospital was no longer able to function following Friday night’s attack, condemned the frequent targeting of medical facilities. “Over the nearly three-year conflict, WHO has confirmed that 2,036 people have been killed in 213 attacks on health care, including Friday night’s strike,” the WHO chief said in his tweet. “The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers, and humanitarians,” he said. BBC
Three Years of Silence: A Sudanese Journalist’s Journey from a Digital Dead Zone
After three years of absolute silence, during which the mobile phones of El Fasher were little more than dead pieces of plastic, Dr Mohamed Suleiman Atim stood before a telecommunications office in Port Sudan, staring at his screen in disbelief. Atim, a veteran journalist and editor-in-chief of the Al-Sharaa Al-Sudani newspaper, felt his heart pound as he inserted a new SIM card into his old device. For 1,000 days, that phone had been a paperweight. When the network name finally flickered into life, he broke down. … Since April 15, 2023, when the first shots of Sudan’s civil war were fired in Khartoum, the city of El Fasher had been plunged into a sensory void. Communication towers were looted or levelled, leaving the population to hear the voices of their loved ones only in their memories. The isolation was more than a technical glitch; it was a cloak for a humanitarian catastrophe. In the silence, children died in shelling, and the wounded bled out in homes that could not call for help. … “The children here do not just suffer from hunger,” Atim said. “The disconnection from hope makes a child die twice: once from hunger, and once from the silence.” … “The internet has returned for me, but the world has not,” he said. “We are screaming, but no one is listening. I still ask myself: how many more will die in silence before the world decides to hear us?” Sudan Tribune
UAE Tries to Rewire Supply Routes to Sudan’s RSF via Ethiopia & Central African Republic
The United Arab Emirates is restructuring its logistical network to sustain supply lines to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), shifting routes through neighboring states as existing corridors face pressure. … As the traditional supply routes UAE-backed RSF has used face scrutiny, the UAE is developing alternative routes via Ethiopia and the Central African Republic, including a training camp established in Ethiopia exposed by a Reuters investigation. A January analysis also cited Antonov AN-124 flights linking Abu Dhabi, Israel, Bahrain, and Ethiopia as part of a broader supply chain tied to RSF operations. These routes reflect intensifying Gulf competition over Sudan’s conflict dynamics. In the Central African Republic, the UAE has expanded its footprint following a March 6, 2025 agreement between Mohammed bin Zayed and President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. Projects include a new international airport and a solar power plant in Bangui. … Libya remains a primary corridor. According to Radio France Internationale, around 600 flights connected Abu Dhabi to the Koufra airbase in 2025, supporting RSF positions in El-Fasher and Nyala. The evolving logistics network coincides with mounting scrutiny of the UAE’s role. Western intelligence sources cited in December 2025 said Abu Dhabi had supplied weapons to the RSF, a force accused of mass atrocities. Clash/Le Monde
Nigeria: Terrorists Abduct Nine Worshippers in Kwara Church, Three Rescued
Suspected terrorists, on Sunday morning, stormed an ECWA Church in Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting nine worshippers. Vanguard gathered that joint security operatives rescued three of the abducted victims during a swift response to the attack. The incident occurred during the weekly church service, causing panic among worshippers and residents of the area. It was further gathered that the assailants invaded the church premises while service was ongoing and whisked away several worshippers into the forest. … [T]he state Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, confirmed the incident, stating that security operatives successfully rescued three victims, while efforts were ongoing to secure the release of others. Vanguard
44 Ghanaians Rescued from Human Traffickers in Nigeria
The Ghanaian government has announced the rescue of 44 Ghanaians from a human trafficking ring operating in Nigeria. In a statement issued on Saturday, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the rescued Ghanaians arrived in Accra on Friday. It said the rescue was in partnership with Nigerian authorities. The victims, according to the ministry, were lured from Ghana to Nigeria and into the scheme through a deceptive job and travel offer. These fraudulent opportunities are advertised on social media and informal recruitment platforms, the Ministry said. When they arrived in Nigeria, however, they were “subjected to exploitative conditions” and forced to entice others to join the scheme. … Premium Times reports that human trafficking has continued to be a menace in Nigeria despite the efforts of the Nigerian government and its agencies. Such trafficking can be done internally, across states, or internationally, as in the Ghanaian case. Premium Times
Jihadist Prisoner Release Secures Fuel Convoy Truce in Mali
More than 100 suspected jihadists have been freed in Mali under a deal to halt attacks on fuel convoys that had paralyzed the capital, Bamako, official and security sources told AFP on Sunday. Since September, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) had repeatedly targeted tanker convoys, causing acute fuel shortages. A local elected official confirmed the release of “more than 100 jihadists” in exchange for “the opening of a corridor to allow convoys of tanker lorries to pass through.” Several security sources said the truce will hold until the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha (Tabaski) at the end of May. Members of the Fulani ethnic group, often conflated with jihadists, have also been released. AfricaNews
Zimbabwe: Biti Arrested in Widening Crackdown
Zimbabwean police have intensified their crackdown on dissent following the arrest of prominent opposition politician and Constitutional Defenders Forum (CDF) convener Tendai Biti, amid growing tensions over proposed changes to the country’s founding document. Biti, a former finance minister and veteran activist, was detained by authorities on Friday while attending a private meeting in the central business district of Mutare. Sources indicate the gathering was part of a broader mobilisation effort to oppose the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, which critics argue will centralise power and undermine democratic checks and balances. Alongside Biti, police arrested journalist Fanuel Chinowaita, politician Morgan Ncube, and lawyer Nyasha Gerald. All four were taken into custody at Mutare Central Police Station, where they remained as of late yesterday. Despite their detention, authorities have yet to formally disclose the charges against them, a move that legal experts say points to a pattern of arbitrary arrests. The Standard
Leading Anti‑Racism Activist in Tunisia Jailed for Eight Years
A Tunisian court has sentenced human rights activist Saadia Mosbah to eight years in prison and fined her £26,000 ($35,000). Mosbah, who leads the anti-racism group Mnèmty, had been charged with money laundering and illicit enrichment and was arrested in May 2024. The 66 year old has long been a prominent advocate for sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, particularly after a 2023 speech by President Kais Saied, which described “hordes of illegal migrants” as a demographic threat. Since President Saied dissolved parliament in 2021, opposition figures and rights groups have warned of a steady erosion of rights and freedoms in the North African country. … Authorities last year ordered the suspension of activities of leading civil society organisations – including the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights and the Association of Democratic Women, both recognised for their defence of civil liberties – citing financial audits linked to foreign funding. During Thursday’s hearing, lawyers for Mosbah – who was tried alongside other activists – argued that their clients were innocent. Mosbah’s son was also sentenced to three years in prison, while another campaigner received a two-year term, AFP reports. BBC
Congo’s ‘Nintendo Election’ was Rigged from the Start, Observer Says
Civil society groups in Congo-Brazzaville are challenging the integrity of last weekend’s presidential election, which handed veteran leader Denis Sassou Nguesso a fifth term in office. Bertrand Menier Kounianga, spokesperson for the civil society platform CAPGED, tells RFI the vote was “rigged from start to finish”. Observers say the polls were marked by a communications blackout, a lack of oversight in polling stations and turnout figures that do not match what they witnessed on the ground. Sassou Nguesso was credited with 94.82 percent of the vote, while all other candidates remained below 2 percent. … Following the vote, candidates now have until Sunday to challenge the results, after which the Constitutional Court has 15 days to review any complaints before announcing the final outcome. … “A Nintendo election is one that has been rigged from start to finish by the person in control of everything – from preparation through to the vote. We observed that nothing was clear, nothing was credible, and nothing could reassure the people.” RFI
Damaged Russian Tanker Adrift in Mediterranean to be Towed to Libyan Port
A damaged Russian tanker abandoned in the Mediterranean Sea will be towed to a Libyan port, Libyan authorities have announced. The Arctic Metagaz is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” transporting fossil fuels in violation of international sanctions. The tanker was carrying liquefied natural gas to Egypt when it was hit by a series of explosions earlier this month. All 30 crew members were rescued. Video footage shows the ship listing to one side, blackened by fire, with two holes on either side of the hull. … After nearly three weeks adrift, it entered Libya’s search and rescue zone. Italian authorities are now working with Libya to bring the wrecked vessel to shore and reduce the risk of pollution. AfricaNews
China Vice President Han Zheng Arrives in Kenya for Official Visit
Han Zheng, China’s Vice President, arrived in Nairobi on Sunday for a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation with Kenya. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi led senior government officials in receiving him at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, alongside China’s envoy to Kenya Guo Haiyan and Kenya’s Ambassador to China Willy Bett. … During the visit, Han is expected to hold high-level talks with Kenyan leaders focused on enhancing collaboration in key sectors, including trade, investment and infrastructure development. The trip is also set to reinforce the Kenya-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with discussions aimed at expanding economic opportunities and strengthening bilateral relations. China remains one of Kenya’s largest trading partners and a major financier of infrastructure projects, including roads, railways and energy developments. Capital FM
Kenya, Uganda Open Rail Extension Burdened by Chinese Debt
The Standard Gauge Railway, built from 2013 to 2019, connects the Kenyan port of Mombasa to its capital Nairobi, and on to the lake town of Naivasha, but China refused further lending before it could be extended to Uganda as planned. Kenya now spends roughly $1 billion a year servicing Chinese debt, most of it borrowed to build the railway. That is far more than the line generates in revenue – around $165 million last year – even if passenger and cargo numbers have been growing strongly over the past year. A report by Kenya’s auditor general last year found more than $260 million had been wasted just on penalties and interest from late debt payments. … Treasury estimates say the overall cost will be more than 500 billion shillings ($3.9 billion), according to Kenya’s Business Daily. Kenya is not taking more cash from Chinese banks this time – instead borrowing against future cargo taxes – though it is partnering with Chinese transport firms to build the new phase. … Kenya considers the railway extension crucial for strengthening trade through east and central Africa, hoping to reach landlocked countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo. RFI
In Africa, the Cost of Jet Fuel is Changing Faster than You Can Fly
Airlines are grappling with soaring jet fuel prices as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has caused a supply shortage – leaving consumers facing surcharges and airlines struggling to manage volatile costs as the fuel gets scarcer. Africa is among the most exposed regions to both supply disruptions and higher prices. Around 70% of jet fuel and kerosene imports to the continent flow via the Strait of Hormuz, according to financial and commodities analytics firm S&P Global. Since the conflict began in late February, shipping of fuel from refineries in the Middle East through the Strait of Hormuz has almost ground to a halt, removing roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies from the market. “You fly to airports across Southern, West and East Africa and you negotiate prices on arrival,” Jannie de Klerk, executive director of flight operations at South Africa’s National Airways Corporation, a charter business which also includes air ambulance services, told Reuters. “By the time you get there, the price has changed. If the war continues, availability will become a problem. The instability of (jet fuel) prices makes it very challenging to move around.” Reuters
Africa’s Solar Boom Faces Higher Costs as China Cuts Export Subsidies
China’s decision to end value-added tax rebates on solar panel exports and phase out incentives for making battery storage equipment could push up the cost of solar installations in Africa, which relies heavily on imported Chinese technology. The changes, expected to take effect April 1 for solar panels and beginning next year for batteries, may complicate efforts to expand renewable energy to close vast electricity gaps across Africa, though experts say the impact likely will be manageable. “We are likely to see solar panel prices increase in Africa because most of the inputs come from China,” said Wangari Muchiri, an energy analyst focused on Africa’s clean energy sector. “Removing the rebate will add to existing costs, especially when you consider shipping, logistics, and other import fees.” Africa already pays significantly more for solar equipment than other regions because of transport costs, smaller import volumes and tariffs. China’s policy change reflects broader shifts after fierce competition among Chinese manufacturers pushed solar module prices to as little as $0.07 per watt in 2025, from $0.25 in 2022. That helped drive global adoption of solar energy, but left many companies with heavy losses. AP
African Michelin-starred Chef Mory Sacko Designs Meals for Air France
Air France has asked Michelin-starred chef Mory Sacko to create dishes to be served to its first and business class passengers on flights from Abidjan, followed by Dakar and Nairobi. Of Malian and Senegalese origin, Sacko becomes the first “Air France signature chef” on flights departing from Africa. … It was in his Parisian restaurant, Mosuke, that he devised the dishes which will now be served on Air France flights departing from Abidjan, and later from other African capitals. “Air France came to see me. So, it was their initiative to develop signature dishes. They already do this on many other routes, and now they wanted to develop recipes for flights departing from West Africa,” explains Sako from his kitchen. … Sako has taken inspiration from the West African dishes he loves. … He has also developed dishes that are a fusion of African and French styles, describing them as “a bridge” – such as beef seasoned with peppers from Madagascar and served with cassava gratin. RFI