Mass Displacements Amid Spiralling Violence in DR Congo
Scores of people have been displaced from Nyiragongo in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the unrelenting spate of conflicts in the territory. Several families of the Rusayo tribal group, especially from the Kanzana and Kabale Katambi villages, left their bases on May 12, heading towards Goma and Sake, after repeated violent attacks on their homes and properties…The massive displacement is prompted by the increasing violence. On April 5, 11 civilians were executed while taking their breakfast in the village of Kabale Katambi. Most recently, on the night of May 11 and 12, four members of the same family were burned alive by unidentified gunmen. Faced with this mounting insecurity, the administrator of the Nyiragongo territory installed by the M23/AFC has taken a series of restrictive measures prohibiting the circulation of motorbikes after 9 p.m. Heavy-duty trucks and passenger vehicles carrying cargo have also been banned at night. These measures aim at restricting night movements, which are most times exploited by criminals. According to a report by the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), criminality within the region of Goma and Nyiragongo has witnessed an increase since the advance of the M23/AFC rebels supported by Rwanda. UNOCHA specifically cites the violent clashes of April 9 in the localities of Mutaho, Mujoga and Karungu in Nyiragongo territory, which humanitarian toll is still difficult to ascertain. HumAngle
More than 638,000 Face Famine in Sudan as Lean Season Looms, U.N. Says
More than 638,000 people in Sudan are experiencing famine conditions, the United Nations said on Wednesday, warning that the dire humanitarian crisis could worsen significantly as the June-September lean season approaches. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) figures, released late last year and covering the period through May, show that about half of Sudan’s population, or 24.6 million people, faced high levels of acute food insecurity between December 2024 and May 2025. Some U.N. reports indicate as many as 30.4 million people in Sudan will need aid throughout 2025. Famine conditions (IPC Phase 5 – Catastrophe) have been projected in at least ten areas, particularly in conflict-hit regions such as Darfur, Kordofan, and Khartoum, with another 17 areas at risk, according to the IPC. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stressed that without immediate and substantial humanitarian assistance and completely unimpeded access, the situation is set to deteriorate. Ongoing conflict is a primary driver of the crisis, causing widespread displacement and restricting aid. Recent reports highlighted severe conditions in Al Fasher and the Zamzam camp in North Darfur due to escalating violence. Sudan Tribune
Niger Lawyers Slam ‘Illegal’ Jailing of Junta Critic
Niger’s jailing of Moussa Tchangari, a critic of the west African country’s ruling junta, is “illegal and arbitrary”, his lawyers said on Wednesday. Following his return from a trip abroad gunmen arrested Tchangari, who heads a significant Nigerien rights group and has branded the army’s coup a “step backwards” for democracy, at his home on December 3, 2024. The civil society figure was then sent to jail on charges including “apology for terrorism, undermining state security, criminal conspiracy in connection with a terrorist enterprise and conspiracy against the authority of the state in collusion with enemy powers”. “For some six months now, he has been neither heard nor questioned, irrefutable proof that the reasons justifying his detention are certainly unrelated (to the charges), which reveals the desire to silence a free and critical spirit,” the lawyers said in a statement…Since coming to power in a military coup in July 2023, Niger’s military rulers have cracked down on the opposition and are accused of throwing critics in jail on trumped-up charges to silence them. Tchangari, secretary-general of Niger’s Alternative Citizen Spaces NGO, has in the past voiced his “total support” for ousted democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum, confined by the army to his official residence since the coup. AFP
A French Mining Company Sues Niger after Its Director Disappears and Offices Are Raided
French uranium mining company Orano has sued the government of Niger after the disappearance of its director and the raiding of its local offices, as military authorities in the west African country tighten their grip on foreign companies and civil society…The company’s director was reportedly detained earlier this month. The company says the raids in Niamey, the capital, seized staff’s electronic devices and cellphones. Niger’s military authorities did not respond to a request for comment. Orano has been operating in Niger, the world’s seventh biggest supplier of uranium, for over 50 years, and holds majority shares in three main uranium mines in Niger. Only one of the mines, near the town of Arlit, is currently operational. Last year military authorities withdrew the company’s operating permit for the Imouraren uranium mine, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tons. The authorities also took operational control of Orano’s subsidiary, Somaïr, which operates the only active mine. AP
Judge to Hear Mali’s Request to Reopen Barrick Mine under New Management, Official Says
A court in Mali will hold a hearing on Thursday to consider a request made by Mali’s military government to reopen Canadian miner Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine under a provisional administration, a court official said. Granting the request would represent a major escalation of a dispute between the West African country and the Canadian miner after operations at the complex were suspended in January in a dispute over taxes and ownership. Souleymane Maïga, vice president of the Tribunal de Commerce of Bamako, told Reuters there will be a filing process and preparation of the case on Thursday. Three sources told Reuters earlier on Wednesday a judge was expected to rule on the government’s request to put Barrick’s mines under new provincial management. In its earnings update on May 7, Barrick said it had on April 17 received a notice from the government threatening to impose provisional management unless the mines resumed operations by April 20. Barrick Mining, previously called Barrick Gold, and Mali’s government have been at odds since 2023 over the implementation of a new mining code that raises taxes and gives Mali’s government a greater share in the gold mines. Barrick has said it can only resume operations when the Malian government removes restrictions on gold exports. Reuters
Arrests Of Civilians Spark Protest in Mali
Around 100 people protested for a second day Wednesday in a central Malian village to demand news of some 30 civilians arrested by men in military dress, witnesses said. Men in Malian army uniforms detained the men on Monday, a local official from the village of Diafarabe, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told AFP. “We marched to Diafarabe village hall to demand the truth about what has happened to our relatives,” said one man attending Wednesday’s protest. According to several witnesses, the arrested men came from the Fulani community, who are often accused of links to jihadist groups…One Fulani association representative put the tally of people detained at 22. “But there are other civilians who have been abducted who are not on this list. What is happening is demoralising,” the representative said. One demonstrator said that “contrary to what they (the army) claim, they are not here to protect us but to exterminate us.” The Malian army and its allies from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner are regularly accused of committing abuses against civilians. Two weeks ago, several bodies were discovered near a Malian military camp in the west, days after the army and Wagner paramilitaries arrested dozens of civilians, most of them Fulani. In February, some 20 civilians were killed in northern Mali when the army and mercenaries targeted their vehicles, according to local sources. AFP
Guinea’s Junta Revokes Dozens of Mining Concessions
Guinea’s junta has scrapped dozens of companies’ mining concessions, according to a decree broadcast on state television Wednesday night. The cancellations affect more than 50 permits for extracting gold, bauxite, diamonds and graphite, according to the junta-issued decree, which offered no reason for the decision. Since coming to power in a September 2021 coup, junta leader Mamady Doumbouya has sought greater control over the lucrative mining sector…This month, the junta cancelled concessions granted to two local extractors, Guiter Mining and Kebo Energy SA, a day after ordering permits to be withdrawn from companies that do not comply with the country’s mining code. It has also given foreign companies until the end of May to submit proposals and timetables for building refineries that would ensure the mineral bauxite is locally processed. Despite its abundant natural resources, Guinea remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with the spoils of its extractive industries unequally distributed. AFP
Mauritania’s Former President Is Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison after Appealing a 5-year Verdict
An appeals court in Mauritania handed down a 15-year prison sentence and a $3 million fine to former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on Wednesday after he appealed a five-year sentence. Aziz helped lead two coups before serving two terms as president of the northwest African country and becoming a counterterrorism partner to Western nations. He was sentenced in 2023 after being found guilty of money laundering and self-enrichment. According to investigators, he accumulated over $70 million in assets while in power. He has been in custody since the verdict. The trial marked a rare instance in which an African leader was tried for corruption. Aziz’s lawyers have framed the trial as score-settling between him and current President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani. Wednesday’s verdict cleared six senior officials from the former president’s administration, but sentenced Aziz’s son-in-law to two years in prison for influence peddling. The court also ordered the dissolution of the “Errahma” (Mercy) Foundation led by Aziz’s son and the seizure of his assets. Ghazouani and Aziz were allies until Ghazouani became president in 2019 in the country’s first peaceful transfer of government since independence. AP
South Sudan: ‘Release the Funds now’: Election Boss Demands Action
The chairperson of the South Sudan National Election Commission (NEC), Abednego Akok Kachuol, has called for the release of funds to prepare for the upcoming general election. Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Akok said the commission had already submitted the official election plan—also referred to as the election timeline—which President Salva Kiir has approved. “I met the president, and we discussed the future of the nation related to the extension period from September last year to September 2027,” Akok said. He added that the plan, submitted May 8, outlines the country’s readiness for the general election scheduled for December 2026. Following the plan’s approval, the next critical step is the disbursement of funds for key activities, including civic education and a national population census. “What remains is the release of the resources by the government to ease the remaining activities, which include civic education and the population census,” he said. The commission has so far received only 22 billion South Sudanese pounds (SSP) of the 253 billion SSP required, Akok noted…Akok also underscored the need for political will and the urgent release of resources so the commission can carry out its work. Radio Tamazuj
Libya Fighting Eases after Announcement of Truce
The worst fighting in Libya’s capital for years calmed on Wednesday after the government announced a ceasefire, Tripoli residents said, while there was no immediate statement from authorities on how many people had been killed. Clashes broke out late on Monday after the killing of a major militia leader. After calming on Tuesday morning, the fighting reignited overnight, with major battles rocking districts across the entire city…The ministry said the neutral units it was deploying around sensitive sites were from the police force, which does not carry heavy weapons. After the fighting, burned-out cars littered the streets in some areas, and nearby buildings were pocked with bullet marks. Monday’s clashes had appeared to consolidate the power of Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, prime minister of the divided country’s Government of National Unity (GNU) and an ally of Turkey…The main fighting on Wednesday was between the Dbeibah-aligned 444 Brigade and the Special Deterrence Force (Rada), the last major armed Tripoli faction not currently in his camp, the English-language Libyan Observer reported. Fighting also erupted in western areas of Tripoli that have historically been a gateway for armed factions from Zawiya, a town to the west of the capital. Dbeibah on Tuesday ordered the dismantling of what he called irregular armed groups. Reuters
Zimbabwean Protesters Granted Bail After 6 Weeks in Custody
A Zimbabwe court released on bail on Wednesday scores of anti-government protesters held in custody since taking part in a demonstration against President Emmerson Mnangagwa six weeks ago. Nearly 100 people were arrested on March 31 at a protest in the capital Harare called by a veteran of the ruling ZANU-PF party who claims Mnangagwa is seeking to extend his rule beyond the end of his term in 2028. Those arrested were charged with breaching the peace and participating in gatherings with intent to promote public violence, offences that carry sentence of up to five years in jail. The court ruling that announced the bail’s granting said 89 of the protesters would be required to report to police every two weeks until their case was concluded. The March demonstration was called by Blessed Geza, a veteran of the 1980 independence war who has been demanding that Mnangagwa step down, accusing his government of corruption and mismanagement. A journalist who interviewed Geza was arrested on February 24 and held in jail for more than 70 days until being granted bail last week, which critics have pointed to as an illustration of growing repression in Zimbabwe…Mhlanga’s trial was due to start on Wednesday but was postponed after the government applied to consolidate his case with HStv, which is also facing charges. AFP
Ethiopia Bans Historic Tigrayan Opposition Party
A leading opposition party that dominated Ethiopian politics for decades has been banned from any political activity, the Election Commission said Wednesday, ahead of national elections due next year. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has roots that go back a long way in national politics. It led the 1991 revolution that toppled the authoritarian Derg regime and ruled until 2018, when current prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, took power and effectively sidelined the party. In 2020, the TPLF’s home region of Tigray in northern Ethiopia erupted in a vicious two-year conflict against the federal government that ultimately claimed some 600,000 lives. A peace accord in November 2022 has failed to address many issues stemming from the war. The TPLF, now in opposition, has been roiled by internal divisions in recent months, resulting in violent clashes in Tigray and the removal of the regional leader, Getachew Reda. In a statement on Wednesday, the Election Commission’s board said it had “resolved to formally deregister” the party on the grounds that it had failed to hold a general assembly. The decision comes as Ethiopia prepares for elections to be held by June 2026 at the latest. The TPLF had already been suspended for three months in February and warned of deregistration if it did not take “corrective action” within three months. The TPLF can still apply for re-registration for the 2026 polls. AFP
Nigeria to Launch Four Satellites for Earth Observation, Security
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Wednesday said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the launch of four satellites to aid Earth observation and the fight against insecurity in the country. Mr Nnaji said this at the 22nd National Council on Innovation, Science and Technology (NCIST) in Abuja…The minister said that the satellites consisted of three Earth Observation satellites and one Radar Aperture satellite…“The search satellite is the one that will pick images both day, night, during rain, every time of the day and that is technology in play. “The military can use it effectively, unlike now that when we want to go and view Sambisa forest and some of these dungeons on guerilla warfare, we have to buy images, data,” he said…Azikiwe Onwualu, president, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), recommended an increase in R&D spending to three per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. News Agency of Nigeria
France Expels Algerian Diplomats in Tit-for-tat Decision as Their Feud Deepens
France said Wednesday it will expel Algerian diplomats in response to Algeria’s decision to do the same, escalating a diplomatic standoff. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a statement it had summoned Algerian officials to inform them of the decision, describing it as “strict reciprocity” after 15 French officials were expelled from Algiers on Sunday. France did not say how many Algerians holding diplomatic passports had been expelled…The measures are the latest sign of deteriorating relations between France and Algeria. They go against a 2013 deal allowing individuals with diplomatic passports to travel between the countries without needing visas. Algeria said it expelled French officials on Sunday because France had broken procedures, including in how it assigned new diplomats to replace a different set that were expelled last month…Tensions flared last year when France shifted its longstanding position and backed Morocco’s plan for sovereignty over disputed Western Sahara. Algeria views the Morocco-controlled territory as Africa’s last colony and supports the pro-independence Polisario Front materially and politically. AP