Sudan Transforms into Industrial-Scale Captagon Hub as War Fuels Drug Trade
Sudan has rapidly transitioned from a transit corridor into a primary manufacturing hub for the synthetic drug Captagon, with production escalating to an industrial scale since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023. A report by the Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker (STPT) released in March 2026 reveals that the collapse of Syria’s state-sponsored drug industry in late 2024 has displaced narco-networks toward Sudan’s conflict-affected environment. The country’s fragmented authority, weakened border controls, and strategic maritime access have created permissive conditions for this shift. Seizure data indicate a dramatic expansion in manufacturing capacity. … The STPT report identifies narcotics as a burgeoning structural component of the war economy, providing scalable, high-margin revenue for armed actors. While the report notes that available evidence does not establish centralized institutional direction by the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), it highlights that drug trafficking and manufacturing have expanded significantly in RSF-controlled zones amid the collapse of judicial oversight. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have also been linked to these illicit economies through the mobilization of various militias. Sudan Tribune
Sudanese Army Retakes Strategic Town in North Kordofan
The Sudanese army and its allies from the Joint Forces on Thursday regained control of the strategic city of Bara in North Kordofan state following fierce battles against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF had maintained control over the strategic city since last October, during which time international organizations and human rights groups reported widespread abuses amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. … According to sources speaking to Al Jazeera, the recapturing of Bara was the result of a joint operation between the Sudanese army and allied forces. The sources explained that the forces moved from El Obeid toward Al-Dankouj, located north of the capital and west of Bara, before launching an intensive attack on RSF positions inside the city. This was preceded by drone strikes that fired missiles at the militia’s deployment sites. … Meanwhile, local sources said that after their defeat, RSF forces attacked the village of Umm Kuraidim, east of Bara, and proceeded to destroy and burn the village after looting it. According to the sources, the attack came due to RSF allegations that village residents had cooperated with the armed forces and provided intelligence. … The RSF had controlled the strategically located city of Bara since the early months of the conflict that began on April 15, 2023, using it as a launching point to attack El Obeid. Sudan Tribune
15 Soldiers Killed in Jihadist Attack in Northern Benin
Jihadists killed 15 soldiers in an attack on an army base in northern Benin, the west African country’s military said Thursday. The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the Wednesday raid on a base in Kofouno, near Benin’s border with Niger. West Africa is suffering from a surge in attacks by the JNIM, the Islamic State group and other jihadist militias, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where a series of military coups have coincided with severe instability. The violence has increasingly spread into northern Benin and Togo in recent years. Beninese army spokesman Colonel James Johnson told AFP Wednesday’s raid had also wounded five soldiers, “whose lives are not in danger”. He said military aircraft had killed “at least four terrorists” as they withdrew, adding: “The hunt continues.” … Benin, which is set to hold a presidential election next month, had a particularly deadly year for its security forces in 2025, including an April JNIM attack that killed 54 soldiers. The country launched a 3,000-troop anti-jihadist force in 2022 to secure its borders, and has since recruited another 5,000 soldiers to reinforce its northern region. … The border area between Benin, Niger and Nigeria has become a new hotspot for jihadist violence, according to a recent study by conflict monitoring group ACLED. A UN Security Council report last month said the JNIM had recently appointed an emir for Benin. Africanews with AFP
Nigerian Military Kill Militants after Attack on Borno Base
The Nigerian military on Tuesday reportedly killed scores of Boko Haram militants after an attack on a military base in Borno State. The militants had reportedly killed nine soldiers and a community chief imam in Ngoshe, a town in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. The militants carried out the attack on Tuesday evening shortly after residents broke their Ramadan fast. Local media reported that they attacked the military formation with heavy weapons before moving into the town to continue the attack. Sources also said residents deserted Ngoshe after the attack. An online platform, Zagazola Makama, reported that the Nigerian Air Force later carried out air strikes on the terrorists. … Residents further reported that the insurgents burnt several houses before retreating. Premium Times
Nigeria: Film Shows Chibok Mothers’ Enduring Courage
[Video] In 2014, Boko Haram militants seized hundreds of girls from their school in the town of Chibok. A new film documents the lives of the missing girls’ mothers, who have shown resilience in the face of grief. A new documentary follows the Chibok mothers in northern Nigeria, whose daughters were abducted by Boko Haram in 2014. It highlights their resilience, daily struggles and efforts to rebuild their lives through farming support that boosted their income. At the Lagos premiere, audiences praised the women’s strength, as they continue to hope for the return of more than 80 girls still in captivity. DW
Families of Kenyan Recruits Duped into Fighting in Russia’s War on Ukraine Demand Their Sons Return
Families of Kenyan recruits duped with promises of work in Russia who ended up on the front lines of the fighting in Ukraine petitioned the country’s parliament on Thursday to ban the recruitment of Kenyans for Moscow’s war. The families held up photographs of their sons who are either now on the front lines or have been killed, wounded or are missing in the war. They marched through the streets of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, chanting slogans asking authorities to bring their loved ones home. … The government last month said that more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine and that at least 89 Kenyans were still on the front lines there. It confirmed one death and said 39 Kenyans have been hospitalized, 28 are missing in action while others had returned home. Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi told The Associated Press last month that he would travel to Russia for what he called a “diplomatic approach to rein in” those who are “taking advantage of anyone in this misadventure.” He also said efforts were underway to secure the release of Kenyans held in Ukraine as prisoners of war and repatriate those still in Russia. … The families petitioning the parliament on Thursday said those behind the scheme to lure their loved ones must be prosecuted for “human trafficking, forced recruitment, and possible violations of international humanitarian and labor laws.” Two Kenyans have so far been charged with human trafficking in the case. AP
CAR President Pledges Closer Ties with Russia
Security cooperation was the focus of the recent meeting between Presidents Faustin-Archange Touadéra and Vladimir Putin. During his visit to Moscow, the Central African head of state called for a strengthening of strategic partnerships between Bangui and the Kremlin in several key sectors, including energy. Bangui is experiencing fuel shortages and, according to its president, has been able to count on Russian donations to mitigate the crisis. … Since 2018, Bangui has forged closer ties with Moscow, with the later providing security and economic assistance. For Moscow, Bangui is a strategic foothold in Central Africa. The visit to Russia is Touadera’s first since winning a new term as president at the end of 2025. Africanews
Former US Diplomat James Swan to Lead UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo
US diplomat James Swan is taking over the United Nations MONUSCO mission in DR Congo, Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Thursday. Swan knows the country well. During his more than 30 year career with the US government, he held a number of roles in Kinshasa, including Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission and Desk Officer. He also served as US Ambassador to Djibouti. More recently, Swan led the UN transitional assistance mission in Somalia. The MONUSCO mission is aimed at protecting civilians and stabilizing the situation in eastern Congo, where Congolese armed forces have been fighting armed groups for decades. The region last year saw an escalation in the conflict. Now MONUSCO peacekeepers are currently tasked with monitoring events on the ground with a view to implementing a permanent ceasefire. Swan succeeds Guinea’s Bintou Keita at MONUSCO. Africanews with AFP
Chinese General Named New UNMISS Force Commander
Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday appointed Maj. Gen. Junhui Wu of China as the new force commander for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, known as UNMISS. Wu succeeds Lt. Gen. Mohan Subramanian of India. Guterres expressed gratitude for Subramanian’s leadership of the mission, which is tasked with protecting civilians in the conflict-torn nation. A veteran of the People’s Liberation Army, Wu brings 40 years of military and peacekeeping experience to the role. He most recently served as the defense attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Germany. He previously held similar diplomatic posts in Canada and Syria. Wu is no stranger to the U.N. system. From 2012 to 2014, he served as assistant director-general of the Peacekeeping Affairs Office at China’s Ministry of National Defense. His previous field experience includes stints as a military observer in Western Sahara and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as a post as a planning officer at U.N. headquarters in New York. The general’s appointment comes as UNMISS continues to navigate a fragile security environment in South Sudan. Radio Tamazuj
Nduva Bids EAC Farewell as Arusha Summit Faces Leadership Shift and Budget Woes
The East African Community (EAC) is entering a period of transition and tension as regional leaders prepare for an ordinary Summit in Arusha on March 7, 2026, amid growing financial pressures and a change in the Secretariat leadership. Outgoing EAC Secretary-General Veronica Nduva has been bidding farewell to regional heads of state ahead of the summit, which will appoint a new chief executive for the bloc. Nduva, who took office in June 2024 after Kenya recalled her predecessor mid-term, is scheduled to formally leave the role in April. … The upcoming Arusha summit arrives at a delicate moment for the bloc. The EAC is confronting severe budgetary strains caused by delayed financial remittances from several Partner States. The shortfall has disrupted the work of key organs, including the East African Legislative Assembly and the East African Court of Justice, raising fresh questions about the sustainability of the integration project. Under the principle of rotation, South Sudan is next in line to nominate the Secretary General, though the final decision rests with the Summit of Heads of State. The meeting will also mark the end of William Ruto’s tenure as Chairperson of the EAC Summit, with another Head of State expected to assume the role under the bloc’s annual rotation system. Kenyan Foreign Policy
Morocco’s Legislative Elections Set for September 23
The Moroccan Government has announced that the next elections for the House of Representatives will be held on September 23, 2026, with the official campaign period running from September 10 to 22. The government spokesperson, Mustapha Baitas, announced on Thursday that the decision came as part of the adoption of a draft decree submitted by the Interior Ministry, governing the organization of the vote and the various stages of the electoral process. … Nomination of applications will be filed either through a dedicated digital platform or directly with the relevant government authority responsible for receiving applications and that the decree also establishes the official candidacy submission windows and the conditions governing elections. The official campaign period will open at the start of Thursday, September 10, 2026 and close at midnight on Tuesday, September 22 — the eve of polling day. APA
Ghana: Our Democracy Has Endured because We Learned to Compete Without Destroying – Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has praised the resilience and maturity of Ghana’s democracy during his 69th Independence Day address at the Jubilee House. “Every administration, regardless of its challenges, has contributed to the Ghana that we have today. Our democracy has endured because we learned to compete without destroying, to disagree without hatred, and to transfer power peacefully, which is a testament to the maturity of the Ghanaian people,” he stated. He emphasised that Ghana’s ability to maintain a multiparty system, conduct regular elections, and respect constitutional governance has positioned it as a model for democratic practice in Africa. The President further stressed that political stability is sustained not only by laws and institutions but by the attitudes of the people, who have repeatedly chosen dialogue, compromise, and tolerance over conflict. “Democracy is more than elections; it is a culture, a practice, and a shared commitment to fairness and justice,” he added. Joy Online