‘There Are No Words’: Dozens Killed in Airstrikes Near Sudan-Egypt Border
Dozens of gold workers in northern Sudan were killed over the weekend after warplanes bombed an open air mine near the Egyptian border, according to Sudanese rights groups, graphic video and eyewitnesses interviewed by The New York Times. Footage from the aftermath of the bombing showed badly mutilated bodies of young men scattered amid sacks of mineral ore at a remote site in Red Sea State, roughly 25 miles from Sudan’s border with Egypt. Emergency Lawyers, a rights group, estimated the death toll at 72. Two eyewitnesses said it was at least 65, with another 120 or more wounded. … The attack on Saturday was striking because it occurred in an army-controlled area largely untouched by fighting, and because the loudest accusations were directed at Egypt, a country that has been a staunch ally of Sudan’s military throughout the war. The New York Times
As South Sudan Plans for Elections, a Town Counts the Cost of War
Since renewed fighting between government and opposition forces erupted across large parts of South Sudan last year, collapsing the country’s fragile peace agreement, Akobo, in the east, has been one of the flashpoints. Now, thousands who fled the fighting are coming home, exposing the scale of the challenges facing the town and reflecting the wider humanitarian emergency impacting the country, which is supposed to be preparing for its first ever elections. … In Akobo, widespread pillage occurred after the town was taken by the South Sudanese army in March. Opposition forces retook it in April, though several months later schools are still barely functioning, health workers are overwhelmed, and food is in short supply. … As fighting and insecurity continues across Jonglei, Upper Nile, and other states, the impact on South Sudan’s long-postponed elections remains uncertain. But observers say the conditions needed for a free, fair, and credible vote are absent. With only months remaining before the scheduled vote – intended to be the country’s first since independence in 2011 – there is no voter registration database, no census has been conducted, and the opposition continues to be suppressed. The New Humanitarian
Ethiopia’s Tigray War: Where do the UAE and Saudi Arabia Stand?
As renewed fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray region threatens to destabilise the Horn of Africa, public backing by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of Ethiopia’s federal government and Saudi Arabia’s record of regional diplomacy are drawing scrutiny. Both Gulf powers have strategic interests in the Horn of Africa, but their roles differ. The UAE has publicly backed Ethiopia’s government while Saudi Arabia has previously helped broker an Ethiopia-Eritrea rapprochement and was reported to have offered to mediate between the two countries in 2025. … [Abu Dhabi’s public position is clear]: It backs Ethiopia’s federal government while calling for de-escalation and dialogue. It did not establish whether the UAE was providing military assistance or had secured commitments from the parties to end the fighting. … [Saudi Arabia] has not publicly commented on the renewed war, according to an October 1 analysis by Critical Threats, although it undertook diplomatic efforts earlier this year to reduce tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the TPLF. Al Jazeera
Islamist Fighters Kill 10 Soldiers in Attack on Northeast Nigeria Army Base
The militants attacked the base in the Guzamala local government area on Tuesday night, overrunning troops, destroying military vehicles and setting fire to parts of nearby Mairari village, two military sources said. More than 20 people were wounded in the assault, while at least five civilians and a forest guard were killed, the sources said on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media. … Before the attack on the military base, the fighters seized more than 40 fishing boats in Tumbun Barebari, a nearby lakeside village, said Jibrin Hassan, a fisherman who lost his boat in the raid. Reuters
Nigeria, Sierra Leone Deepen Defence Ties to Tackle Regional Security Threats
The Nigerian Army has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional security cooperation and defence partnerships with Sierra Leone, with emphasis on intelligence sharing, joint training and coordinated responses to emerging threats across West Africa. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, stated this on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, when he received the Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja. … The Army Chief called for deeper defence partnerships among member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), particularly English-speaking countries, to strengthen intelligence exchange, joint training and operational coordination against transnational security threats. … Earlier, Bangura acknowledged Nigeria’s decisive intervention in restoring peace to Sierra Leone during its civil war, expressing appreciation for the sacrifices made by Nigerian troops. He described the relationship between Nigeria and Sierra Leone as a strategic partnership built on shared history, mutual trust and a common commitment to regional peace, recalling his military training in Nigeria as part of the longstanding ties between both countries. PR Nigeria
Guinea-Bissau Junta Sacks Senior Officer Close to Ousted President Embaló
General Horta N’tam, the leader of the military junta in Guinea-Bissau, has dismissed a military officer close to ousted president Umaro Sissoco Embaló, according to a decree seen Wednesday by AFP. Lieutenant-General Sadji Fati, a former defence minister and military advisor under Embaló, headed the presidential civil office at the palace but the decree said that he had been “dismissed with immediate effect.” His dismissal was just the latest involving personnel serving in defence and the security forces since the fall of Embaló, who is now in exile in Morocco. The junta has been in power since November 26, a day before the scheduled announcement of provisional presidential and legislative election results. The military overthrew Embaló and suspended the electoral process, leading many observers to suspect Embaló might have orchestrated the coup to halt an election he appeared set to lose. However, the junta has recently taken a number of measures suggesting it is distancing itself from the former president. Many members of his presidential guard and most officers close to him are being removed from positions of influence. Africanews with AFP
Tech Giants, International Law Enforcers Bust Major West African Fraud Syndicates
A coalition of international authorities and global technology titans has dismantled sprawling, sophisticated cybercriminal infrastructure spanning West Africa. Described as the largest and most comprehensive operation of its kind in history, the landmark operation targeted transnational fraud syndicates operating primarily out of Nigeria and Ghana, exposing deep-seated human trafficking rings and disrupting financial pipelines that have fleeced unsuspecting victims across the globe. The coordinated offensive was hosted in London by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) in a high-stakes partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and several other elite U.S. federal agencies. Law enforcement personnel from 10 countries joined forces with an unprecedented coalition of tech giants, including Meta, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Coinbase, Adobe, Starlink, and cybersecurity firm Silent Push, to strike at the heart of cybercrime networks that have long operated with near-impunity across West African territories. … According to platform telemetry and intelligence reports, most of these removed entities utilised sophisticated impersonation tactics. However, the reach of these criminal networks extended far beyond Western democracies. … The operation exposed the industrial-scale nature of modern cyber fraud. Rather than isolated hackers operating out of basements, these syndicates functioned as highly organised corporate entities, managing vast webs of digital infrastructure, communications channels, and physical compounds. Guardian Nigeria
France Expels Intelligence Officers from Niger as Sahel Security Ties Deteriorate
The latest case involved two Nigerien intelligence officers assigned to Niger’s embassy in Paris, who were declared persona non grata on 16 September 2026 and left French territory three days later. … The developments come as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso deepen security cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States and strengthen relationships with Russia after distancing themselves from France. The incidents illustrate how deteriorating political relationships have affected intelligence cooperation, an area in which France previously maintained close ties with several Sahel governments. According to Le Monde, which disclosed the Nigerien expulsions on 8 October, the two officers belonged to Niger’s General Directorate of Documentation and External Security. A French diplomatic source said their continued presence was no longer justified because intelligence cooperation between Paris and Niamey had ended. A Nigerien source cited by the newspaper also alleged that one of the officers had been monitoring Nigerien opposition figures living in France. Business Insider Africa
Mauritius Imposes Curfew to Calm Days of Protests after Woman Shot by Police
Mauritius imposed an overnight curfew after a police shooting fueled rare civil unrest on the Indian Ocean island , better known as an idyllic holiday destination and one of Africa’s most stable democracies. Police said on Wednesday that the situation was under control and the curfew had been lifted after days of protests that intensified when an officer shot and wounded a woman on Friday. Protesters clashed with police, blocked roads with burning tires and other debris, and damaged public buildings, according to local reports. Videos published by a Mauritian news outlet showed protesters firing what appeared to be fireworks at police officers. … The protests began last week over water shortages and the cost of living but escalated after the shooting in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, southwest of Port Louis. Financial services and tourism underpin Mauritius’ economy. The island , known for its luxury beach resorts, last experienced similar unrest in 1999, when the death of a popular musician in police custody sparked days of rioting. The Washington Post
Malawi Launches Black Market Fuel Crackdown as Prices Soar
Malawi launched a nationwide crackdown on fuel hoarders and black market sellers as the nation struggles with shortages that have left truckers queuing for up to a week and bus fares doubling on some routes. Diesel and petrol have been scarce for weeks because the country lacks the hard currency to buy fuel supplies, sparking a scramble for dollars that has seen the central bank sell off gold to pay suppliers and the government return to the IMF for a bailout. Malawi, which has among the highest fuel pump prices in Africa at more than $3 a liter, highlights the impact of a $100-plus per barrel crude price on import-dependent economies with thin buffers. Unlicensed resellers face arrest, and stations caught hoarding can lose their license under the new measures. Semafor