UAE Faces Growing Outrage over Support for Paramilitary in Sudan
The United Arab Emirates is facing growing international outrage over its involvement in Sudan’s civil war after paramilitary fighters backed by the gulf state went on a rampage in the city of El Fashir late last month, slaughtering families, doctors and other civilians. Advocacy groups, members of the U.S. Congress and regional experts have condemned the Rapid Support Forces’ actions in El Fashir as a genocide, and blamed the UAE for backing the fighters and fueling the violence that has wreaked havoc across Sudan’s western Darfur region for more than two years. The Emiratis have denied backing the RSF, despite evidence showing the gulf state has provided munitions, drones and other military support to the paramilitary group. … The gulf state’s involvement in the Sudanese civil war stems from its interests in the Red Sea, which sees about 12 percent of world shipping, experts have said. That shipping lane is crucial for trade at Emirati ports. The oil-rich nation also has interests in Sudan’s gold and agriculture sectors, part of a broader effort to diversify its economy. The Washington Post
ICC Prosecutors Seek Life Sentence for Janjaweed Leader Convicted of Darfur Crimes
Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court on Monday asked for a life sentence for a leader of the feared Janjaweed militia convicted of playing a major role in a campaign of atrocities committed in the Sudanese region of Darfur more than 20 years ago — including ordering mass executions and bludgeoning two prisoners to death with an ax. … Last month, Abd–Al-Rahman was convicted of 27 counts, including mass murders and rapes, for leading Janjaweed militia forces that went on a campaign of killing and destruction in 2003-2004. It was the first time the court had convicted a suspect of crimes in Darfur. … The defense will take the floor later in the week and has asked for a seven-year sentence, which would allow the 76-year-old to be released in the next 18 months, considering time served. Abd–Al-Rahman surrendered to authorities in the Central African Republic, near the border with Sudan, in 2020. … Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes in Darfur over the years. AP
Malian Media Authorities Suspend Two French Broadcasters
Mali’s media regulator has suspended French broadcasters LCI and TF1 over allegedly broadcasting false information on a fuel blockade imposed by a [jihadist] group. … Mali’s High Authority for Communication (HAC) said in a letter to image distributors in Mali, dated November 13 and made public on Friday, that it had suspended TF1 and LCI, claiming the two private TV channels had made “unverified claims and falsehoods” in a broadcast on November 9. … The letter said the authority disputed three passages in broadcasts by the two channels, specifically that “the junta has banned the sale of fuel,” “[the regions of] Kayes and Nioro are completely under blockade,” and “the terrorists are now close to bringing down the capital [Bamako].” … Since September, the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group … has imposed a blockade on fuel entering the landlocked country, by sealing off major highways used by tankers to transport fuel from neighbouring Senegal and the Ivory Coast. In recent weeks, fuel shortages caused by the blockade have created long lines at gas stations and further deteriorated the security situation in the country. Al Jazeera with agencies
Four Nigerian Security Personnel Killed in Jihadist Ambush
Jihadists aligned with the Islamic State group ambushed Nigerian security forces in northeastern Borno state, killing two soldiers and two anti-jihadist militia members, sources said Saturday. Fighters from Islamic State-West Africa Province (ISWAP) opened fire Friday with heavy guns on a motorcycle convoy of Nigerian troops, anti-jihadist militia and local hunters on patrol in Damboa district, according to a military source and a security report. The incident is the latest in dozens of attacks targeting Nigerian security forces by ISWAP, which has recently intensified raids on military bases with rocket-propelled grenades and suicide drones. … The attack underlines the threat ISWAP poses in the region despite being locked in internecine infighting with rival jihadist group Boko Haram for control in areas around Lake Chad. ISWAP split from Boko Haram in 2016 due to ideological differences and rose to become a dominant group in the region. The group has been under pressure from Boko Haram, which has pushed it from most of the islands in Lake Chad under its control. On Sunday, Boko Haram killed around 200 ISWAP fighters in an ambush on the shores of the lake, according to intelligence and anti-jihadist militia sources. AFP
Madagascar’s New Leader Randrianirina Outlines Bold Roadmap in First National Address
Nearly a month after being sworn in as Madagascar’s “president of the refoundation,” Michael Randrianirina made his highly anticipated first address to the nation. Speaking in a pre-recorded televised “conversation” from the State Palace, the colonel who rose to power after weeks of tension and youth-led demonstrations recounted the dramatic three-week struggle that reshaped the island. Randrianirina firmly rejected claims that the fall of his predecessor, Andry Rajoelina, was a coup, insisting no violence occurred. Responding to accusations of judicial revenge against the former regime, he was blunt: investigations are the work of justice, not vengeance and he vowed to pursue those who plundered the country. Laying out Madagascar’s roadmap, he announced a nationwide consultation, led by the influential FFKM, to build a new governance system, followed by a referendum and a presidential election within two years. He also promised a new Youth Assembly and a stronger place for Malagasy language and history in schools. When asked if he would run for president, Randrianirina said the decision belongs to the people. Africanews
Benin MPs Vote to Extend Presidential Terms Ahead of 2026 Vote
Benin’s lawmakers voted to extend the term of office of the country’s presidents to seven from five years, renewable once, less than six months before next year’s presidential election. The amendment to the constitution, approved by 90 votes to 19, also sets up a senate, creating a new bicameral legislature alongside the existing national assembly, according to the body’s official Facebook page. The overhaul comes ahead of April’s presidential election, where President Patrice Talon’s chosen successor, Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, will face only one opponent after the electoral commission disqualified the main opposition candidate for failing to secure enough sponsorships. Under Benin’s electoral code, each presidential hopeful must obtain 28 endorsements from elected officials in order to qualify. Wadagni is widely credited with steering Benin’s strong economic performance — including growth above 6% each year since 2021. He’s seen as the leading contender to succeed Talon, who is set to step down after completing his second five-year term. Bloomberg
Central African Court Lets Two Ex-PMs Stand against Touadera in Vote
Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera will face six rivals in a presidential election on December 28, after a court rejected attempts to bar two former prime ministers from standing against him. Touadera, who took office in 2016, had said in July that he would run for a third term, seeking to extend his rule into a second decade after scrapping term limits in 2023. The seven candidates were formally approved on Friday by the Constitutional Council, the country’s highest election court. The candidacies of former prime ministers Henri-Marie Dondra and Anicet-Georges Dologuele had both been challenged by opponents who accused them of holding dual citizenship in France and Congo, respectively. But the court allowed them to compete, finding that evidence had not been produced proving either was a citizen of another country. Dologuele served as prime minister in 1999-2001 and ran against Touadera in elections in 2015 and 2020. Dondra served as prime minister under Touadera in 2021-2022. A U.N. peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSCA, said late on Thursday that it had renewed its mandate for a year. This extension would allow Central African authorities to rely on U.N. forces to help secure the elections. Reuters
Tanzanian Imams Condemn Election-related Killings
Muslim leaders in Tanzania on Saturday condemned killings by security forces on the sidelines of a disputed general election last month. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the October 29 poll with 98 percent of the vote after her main opponents were jailed or disqualified. The opposition have said more than 1,000 people were killed during several days of unrest, and Hassan promised on Friday to set up a commission of inquiry into the deaths. … The imams said their unofficial election observers had found evidence of ballot stuffing and the registration of dead people as voters, adding it was “impossible” to have a legitimate outcome under those conditions. The imams called for dialogue, a new constitution and the restoration of “justice, peace and human dignity” in the east African country. AFP
Uganda: Byanyima Marks Besigye Abduction Anniversary with Scathing Appeal to Museveni
On the first anniversary of the abduction and ongoing detention of Ugandan opposition strongman Dr Kizza Besigye from Nairobi, his spouse, Winnie Byanyima, renewed calls for his release, denouncing what she described as “endless injustice” and a “justice system captured” by political influence, while issuing a searing condemnation of what she called a broken justice system and an assault on the nation’s soul. Besigye and his aide, Obeid Lutale, have been held at Luzira prison since their arrest on November 16, 2024. Multiple bail applications have been rejected, including one that cited Besigye’s age and his prolonged pre-trial detention. A former Museveni ally and onetime personal physician, Besigye became his most persistent challenger, running against him in four presidential elections whose results he repeatedly contested. … Byanyima traces the political divorce to the erosion of the ideals they once shared. Before becoming a long-time opposition figure, Besigye played a key role in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and Uganda’s liberation struggle that shot Museveni to power. Monitor
Zimbabwean Activist Wins German Africa Prize
This year’s prestigious German Africa Prize has been awarded to democracy activist Namatai Kwekweza from Zimbabwe. The 26-year-old is being honored by the German Africa Foundation for her unwavering commitment to the rule of law and democracy in her home country … The women’s and youth activist offers a “resounding message of confidence and democratic renewal,” according to the 20-member independent jury. It had selected Kwekweza from more than two dozen nominees in the final round. At the age of 18, Namatai Kwekweza founded the WELEAD Trust, an organization that trains young leaders and works to involve them in political decision-making processes. In the increasingly repressive climate in Zimbabwe, she is fighting for the rule of law and political participation. Kwekweza has risked a lot for this: she has been arrested several times and has reported torture and intimidation attempts. … “At the end of the day, we have to choose our hard,” Kwekweza told DW. “If you’re abducted for speaking truth to power, if you’re in prison for speaking truth to power, it’s hard, but if you’re waking up and you’re living a life, a shell of a life that is limited in opportunity and possibility, that is also hard.” DW
South Africa: Civil Society Launches ‘People’s Summit’ to Counter Johannesburg G20
As Johannesburg hosts the G20 summit at Nasrec on 22-23 November — the first on African soil and featuring dignitaries from the world’s wealthiest nations — civil society organisations demand that governments prioritise climate justice, debt reduction and taxing billionaires and dollar millionaires. … With Civil 20 (C20), these civil society efforts involve more than 100 local and international organisations, including trade unions, research institutes and non-profits focused on human rights, climate justice and economic justice. South Africa has used its G20 presidency to foreground issues that predominantly affect Global South countries, including sovereign debt burdens, the cost of capital and inequality. … Civil society organisations say that without the input of ordinary people, the Johannesburg G20 Summit risks prioritising the interests of elites and perpetuating the status quo. … These inequalities are particularly stark in South Africa, which is ranked the most unequal country in the world. … In addition to taxing the rich, the People’s Summit is also targeting illicit financial flows and debt crises. A particular concern is international financial lending institutions to which low-income countries are heavily indebted. Daily Maverick
Google to Pay Millions to South African News Outlets: Watchdog
Google will pay more than $40 million to support South African news media, many of them floundering in a digital age, the country’s competition authority said Thursday. Tech giants, including TikTok, X and Facebook, have come under fire for anti-trust practices that the watchdog says hurt local media by limiting their ability to distribute and profit from their digital content. In February, the Competition Commission had recommended that Google pay up to $27 million a year for five years, following a 16-month investigation that found Google searches favoured international news over local outlets. … Under the agreement, $4 million will go to national publishers and broadcasters over five years for content on Google News, while $2.6 million will be allocated annually to support AI innovation. Community and small media outlets will receive $2.2 million over three years to support digital transformation. “Google will also introduce new user tools to prioritise local news sources, provide technical assistance to improve website performance, share enhanced audience data,” the commission said, adding that YouTube had also agreed to support monetisation. … The platforms also committed to removing algorithmic bias favouring foreign outlets, it said. AFP
DR Congo Upset Nigeria and Keep 2026 World Cup Dream Alive
Democratic Republic of Congo ended Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with a penalty shootout victory in the African play-offs final on Sunday. DR Congo and Nigeria drew 1-1 after extra time in the tie in Rabat and the central Africans won 4-3 on penalties to book a place in inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico next March. … DR Congo was called Zaire when the country qualified for the only time in 1974. It was not a happy debut as they failed to score, and conceded 14 goals, including nine against Yugoslavia. Nigeria lie 19 places above DR Congo in the world rankings and were pre-match favourites, but DR Congo recovered from conceding early to look the likelier winners the longer the match proceeded. … Victory qualifies the Congolese for a six-nation inter-confederation mini-tournament in Guadalajara and Monterrey from March 23. … The nine automatic African participants are Algeria, surprise packets Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. AFP