Armed Groups Install ‘Parallel Administration’ in DR Congo, Security Council Hears
Armed groups affiliated with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have continued to expand their control in North and South Kivu – setting their sights on more territorial gains. That’s according to the head of the UN stabilization mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, who briefed the Security Council in New York on Thursday over escalating violence and displacement in the country since M23 overran the key cities of Goma and Bukavu last month. These armed groups are not only seizing territory, she explained, but also attempting to install “a parallel administration”, recently appointing a governor and two-vice governors in Bukavu as well as financial and mining officials in North Kivu. The MONUSCO peacekeepers have been in DRC since 2010 with a mandate to protect civilians and strengthen the Congolese Government’s efforts to quell violence and insecurity at the hands of multiple armed groups in the east. MONUSCO had proceeded, at DRC’s request, to withdraw its troops from South Kivu in June 2024 but Kinshasa reversed course, asking the Security Council to extend MONUSCO’s mandate through the end of 2025. Despite best efforts, armed groups have made major recent gains, chiefly the March 23 Movement which defends the interests of Congolese Tutsi – many exiled from Rwanda – and benefits from the support of Rwandan forces, and the extremist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). UN News
Sudan: Child Casualties, Malnutrition Cases Soar in War-torn Darfur
Grave violations against children have surged across Sudan’s Darfur states since the start of the year, with 110 violations verified in North Darfur alone and a staggering 83 per cent increase in child casualties in Sudan compared to the first quarter of 2024. In Al Fasher, North Darfur, more than 70 children have been killed or maimed in less than three months. Since early 2025, intense shelling and airstrikes in the Zamzam camp for internally displaced people (IDPs), have resulted in 16 per cent of all verified child casualties in Al Fasher. “An estimated 825,000 children are trapped in a growing catastrophe in and around Al Fasher,” said UNICEF Representative for Sudan, Sheldon Yett. “With these numbers reflecting only verified incidents, it is likely the true toll is far higher, with children in a daily struggle to survive. Death is a constant threat for children, whether due to the fighting around them or the collapse of the vital services they rely on to survive.” More than 60,000 people have been newly displaced in North Darfur in just 6 weeks, adding to the more than 600,000 people displaced between April 2024, when the violence escalated, and January 2025 – including 300,000 children. AfricaNews/AP
Drones Attack Sudan’s Blue Nile State Capital for First Time in War
Suspected paramilitary drones attacked civilian and military sites in Ed-Damazin, the capital of Sudan’s Blue Nile state, on Thursday for the first time since the country’s war began, residents reported. The attacks follow a pattern of intensifying drone use, attributed by the Sudanese army to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeting sites across several states, including Gedaref, River Nile and Northern states, sometimes damaging infrastructure like power stations. Witnesses told the Sudan Tribune that Sudanese army anti-aircraft units engaged a swarm of drones over the city. … Ed-Damazin is held by the Sudanese army, but the RSF controls parts of western Blue Nile state. Also, its allied rebel group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, holds territory elsewhere in the state, bordering South Sudan. Sudan Tribune
Kenya’s Ruto Sends Odinga to South Sudan amid Crisis
Kenyan President William Ruto has appointed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a special envoy to South Sudan following the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, amid fears of renewed conflict. Odinga is expected to travel to South Sudan on Friday as part of regional efforts to defuse tensions. Machar, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), was detained in his residence on Wednesday, sparking international concern over a potential return to civil war. His party said security forces loyal to President Salva Kiir surrounded his residence before his arrest. According to Machar’s press secretary, Puok Both Baluang, and deputy party leader Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, a convoy of armed vehicles, led by South Sudan’s defense minister and national security chief, forced entry into Machar’s home. His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was presented under what his team called “unclear charges.” Machar remains under house arrest, while aides and security personnel were reportedly detained. The SPLM-IO condemned the move as a violation of the 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan warned the country’s leaders were “on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict.” The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which mediated the 2018 deal, said the crisis risked derailing the peace process and triggering “full-scale war.” Radio Tamazuj
Is South Sudan on the Brink of Another Civil War?
The arrest of Vice President Riek Machar could trigger a new wave of fighting in Africa’s youngest nation. Analysts are urging the international community to push for peace in the fragile country. In South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, a fragile power-sharing deal is teetering. On Thursday, the country’s opposition said that the arrest of Vice President Riek Machar means that the 2018 peace deal that ended a brutal civil war had been invalidated. … Patrick Oyet, DW correspondent, described the situation as grim. “The military is patrolling the streets of Juba, people are afraid, there is no information from the government about the way forward,” Oyet, president of the Union of Journalists in South Sudan, said. “We have little hope that everything will be okay.” Richard Orengo, the country director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), also fears a further escalation in South Sudan. “We are concerned that if the international community and neighboring countries do not defuse the situation in time, the situation can quickly escalate into a full-blown conflict that will exacerbate the current crisis we already have in the country,” he told DW. DW… Corruption, the lack of an effective government and weak institutions have plunged the country further into a cycle of violence. DW
Somalia: German Nurse Kidnapped in 2018 Calls for Help
A German nurse kidnapped while working in Somalia seven years ago has called on the German government to secure her release, as security in the country remains precarious following an assassination attempt on the president by al-Qaeda and al-Shabab militants. In a video posted on social media, a visibly distraught Sonja Nientiet explained that her health had deteriorated and that what was keeping her going was the hope of seeing her loved ones again. On May 3, 2018, Sonja Nientiet was taken through a back door from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) compound in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Somali authorities later claimed it was an inside job by a disgruntled former employee. Christian Cardon , spokesman for the ICRC, said the video gave “hope for his release”. … The security situation in Somalia remains fluid with recent attacks by Al-Shabab, the latest of which was the one targeting a presidential convoy last week. The Somali government has intensified its military campaign against Al-Shabab in recent months, with troops gaining territory in Middle Shabelle and other regions. AfricaNews/AP
Somalia, Turkey Deepen Security and Economic Ties in Ankara
Somalia and Turkey have reaffirmed their strategic partnership, pledging stronger security cooperation and expanded economic collaboration, officials said following a recent meeting between the two nations’ leaders. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan discussed accelerating joint initiatives in infrastructure, trade, and humanitarian aid, underscoring Turkey’s role as a key ally in Somalia’s reconstruction efforts. … The leaders emphasized ongoing military cooperation against militant groups, particularly the Al-Shabaab militants. Erdoğan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to Somalia’s security sector, pledging continued military, technical, and humanitarian support. … Turkey operates its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu and has played a pivotal role in training Somali forces. Officials say the partnership has helped weaken terrorist networks and improve regional stability. Beyond security, discussions focused on increasing Turkish investment in Somalia’s infrastructure, education, and healthcare sectors. Turkey has already overseen major projects, including the development of Mogadishu’s airport and seaport, further strengthening its economic presence in the country. Goobjoog
Six Dead Including Two Children after Tourist Submarine Sinks in Egypt’s Red Sea
Six people are dead, including two children, after a tourist submarine sank in the Egyptian Red Sea. The vessel, called Sindbad, was taking tourists to explore coral reefs off the coastal city of Hurghada before it crashed and sank 1km offshore on Thursday. Of the 45 passengers on board, 39 were rescued with one unaccounted for. The six dead were all Russians, the local governor’s office said on Facebook. Nine people were injured, with at least four in critical condition. Young children on oxygen are among those being treated in hospital. The Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi said there were 50 passengers on board mostly Russian but also Egyptian, Indian, Norwegian and Swedish nationals. He added the vessel had a valid licence, as investigations into what caused the “accident” are ongoing. … It is not yet clear what caused the sinking. The Independent
French-Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal Sentenced to Prison in Algeria as France Calls for his Release
A court in Algeria on Thursday sentenced an award-winning French-Algerian writer to five years in prison over remarks that questioned the borders dividing Algeria from regional rival Morocco, which prosecutors claimed threatened national security. The case against 76-year-old Boualem Sansal has become a flashpoint in growing tensions between the Algerian and French governments. French President Emmanuel Macron later Thursday called for his release. “I sincerely hope that, after this judgement, the highest Algerian authorities will take clear, humane and humanitarian decisions to restore his freedom, and allow him to become a free man once again and to take care of himself, as he is also fighting illness,” Macron said after a summit on Ukraine in Paris. … Sansal had been found guilty under anti-terrorism laws that human rights advocates in Algeria claim have long been used to quash anti-government voices. Charges included undermining national unity, insulting public institutions, actions likely to harm the national economy, and disseminating videos that threaten national stability. AP
Nigerian Senators Debate Sale of Country’s Third-largest Cement Manufacturer to Chinese Firm
Nigerian senators on Thursday debated the proposed sale of the country’s third-largest cement producer to a Chinese firm. After the debate, the Senate directed the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to oversee the sale of Lafarge Africa Plc to ensure it aligns with national security and economic interests. The upper chamber also mandated its Committee on Capital Market to liaise with government agencies in the sale process to ensure that it is transparent. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Shuaib Salisu (APC, Ogun Central) during the plenary, amid concerns over foreign dominance in Nigeria’s cement industry. The motion led to an intense debate on the Senate floor, with some senators urging the upper chamber not to be seen hindering a legitimate private transaction and, thus, foreign investment. The majority, however, wanted the government to monitor the sale and if necessary, intervene in it. Lafarge Africa, a leading player in Nigeria’s cement industry, is a subsidiary of Holcim AG, a multinational building materials giant. It is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Holcim AG is reportedly finalising plans to sell its 83.8 per cent stake in Lafarge Africa to China’s Huaxin Cement Co. in a $1 billion deal, expected to be completed in 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. Premium Times
Under-fire Zimbabwe President Names New Army Chief
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a new army chief ahead of planned protests on Monday, called by a group of war veterans who want to force the president to resign. The former major general, Emmanuel Matatu, takes over with immediate effect. President Mnangagwa has faced calls from his former supporters to step down citing mismanagement and corruption. Earlier this week Mnangagwa abruptly retired his army chief, Lt Gen Anselem Sanyatwe, appointing him sports, arts and culture minister. Matatu, reportedly 72 years old, is a veteran of the 1970s liberation war that is still a huge factor in Zimbabwean politics. … Matatu is seen as a loyalist of the current head of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), Philip Valerio Sibanda, also an ex-Zipra war veteran. … The ZDF was previously led by the man who is now Vice-President, Constantino Chiwenga. The faction of the war veterans calling for Monday’s protests has called for Chiwenga to take over the presidency. … While it’s not clear how much public support the veterans have for their planned protests, the security minister has warned Zimbabweans against taking part in the demonstrations. BBC
‘We Can Talk through Our Art’: The Malian Festival Uniting the Sahel’s People
A group of Tuareg musicians dressed in light blue robes were playing by a campfire that cast dancing shadows on the red sand. A drum and violin accompanied the electric guitars as more people came to watch the band, called Aitma. Every February, the city of Ségou, 140 miles (230km) north of the capital, Bamako, is transformed into Mali’s cultural hub as tens of thousands of people come to enjoy a week-long arts and music festival, Ségou’Art, on the banks of the Niger River. “We are here to meet each other,” said Aitma’s band manager, Mohamed Mitta. “When we share our culture, we remember that we are one people, even if politics divides us.” In 2012, Mitta’s band members fled the northern desert city of Timbuktu with their families to escape the advancing jihadists. … The military regimes of the AES states sent a senior delegation of ministers and envoys to the festival. … After the ministers left, visitors crowded round Abdoulaye Konaté, an artist whose internationally acclaimed canvases are on display at the museum. “For me, this festival is like a library, a place and yearly event where we can share knowledge and dialogue about what matters to us. We can talk through our art. It is important,” he said. The Guardian