Africa’s Enduring Conflicts Deepen Population Displacements
Nearly 45 million Africans (roughly 3 percent of the African population) are forcibly displaced—having fled conflict, violence, and repression. Seven countries—Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, and Ethiopia—account for roughly 85 percent of that number. The total represents a slight reduction from the figure of more than 45 million forcibly displaced observed in 2025, largely due to a return of some 1.5 million Sudanese despite the ongoing conflict there. The plateauing in the level of displacement is noteworthy as it breaks a decade-long pattern of consistently increasing numbers of forcibly displaced people on the continent. As a point of comparison, there were 19.9 million Africans forcibly displaced in 2017. Conflict remains the dominant driver of forced displacement in Africa. The top 10 leading countries of origin for displaced people on the continent are all in conflict. These conflicts, moreover, tend to persist. Of the top 10 source countries of displacement, all have been in conflict for at least 8 years. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
At Least 50 Soldiers Killed in Jihadist Attack on Malian Army Base
A large-scale attack on a central army base in Mali last week killed at least 50 soldiers and five Russian Africa Corps paramilitaries, security and local sources told AFP Monday. Thursday’s assault on the Dioura military camp, which was claimed by jihadists, is one of the deadliest suffered by the Malian army since the beginning of the conflict that has ravaged the west African country for more than a decade. … Several dozen Malian soldiers were also taken prisoner, according to the security and local sources. … Since late April, JNIM and its Tuareg separatist allies have waged a series of attacks aimed at weakening the country’s junta rulers, including capturing the northern city of Kidal and killing the defence minister. Africanews with AFP
Fuel Shortage in Yemen Hampers Migrants Fleeing Conflict and Seeking Safety in Djibouti
A fuel shortage in Yemen is hampering the movement of people fleeing the country’s escalating fighting and seeking safety across the Red Sea in Djibouti, with the U.N. migration agency warning that more Yemenis are ready to make the crossing by boat. More than 2,000 Yemenis are currently in Djibouti, where the country’s government and the International Organization for Migration are providing food and shelter. … Now the number of people from Yemen fleeing the fighting is soaring, with nearly 94,000 people displaced in the country. IOM Regional Director for East and Southern Africa Frantz Celestin told The Associated Press on Monday that arrivals had slowed because of the fuel shortage, but warned that more people were expected to make the dangerous crossing. Djibouti sits across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Yemen, making it one of the closest places of refuge for Yemenis fleeing the conflict. AP
Curse of the Nile’s Gold: How Sudan Is Losing Its Fertile Fields and Ability to Produce Food
In Abu Hamad, on the banks of the Nile, verdant orchards, gardens and fields once produced a bounty of dates, citrus fruits, winter grains and cereals for the towns and cities of eastern Sudan, including Khartoum and Port Sudan. Today, the land looks drastically different. … Dotted around the town and its outskirts, more than 700 mounds of grey waste are poisoning the soil, water and air. The mounds are the toxic remnants of artisanal gold mining, a practice that began in about 2008 and has intensified over the past six years. …The creeping toxicity has decimated the agricultural foundation of Abu Hamad, transforming the town’s tranquil way of life into a daily battle against pollution and disease. Flood waters carrying runoff from mining sites have caused massive spikes in soil salinity, leading to a catastrophic decline in food production. … The tragedy of Abu Hamad is not isolated. It is deeply entangled in Sudan’s war, now in its fourth year. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rely heavily on the gold sector. Since the war started in April 2023, both sides have been involved in controlling mining, says researcher Suliman Baldo of the thinktank Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker. Ayin Network and The Guardian
BRICS Leaders Call for Immediate Sudan Ceasefire, Warn of Extremism Proliferation
Leaders of the BRICS group of nations called on Sunday for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Sudan, urging a peaceful settlement through dialogue while warning of the growing risk of the proliferation of extremism and terrorism. The joint statement came in the “New Delhi Declaration 2026,” adopted during the bloc’s 18th summit in the Indian capital over the weekend. … The bloc—founded by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and later joined by South Africa—expanded in recent years to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, among others. … Several prominent BRICS members, including Egypt, Russia, China, and Iran, maintain close relations with the Sudanese military-led authorities. Sudan Tribune
Geneva Talks Put Rwanda-DRC Peace Deal to the Test
Officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are due to reconvene in Geneva on September 16 and 17 for talks on the implementation of the 2025 Washington Accords. The two-day meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) will bring together representatives of the two countries, with mediators from the United States, Qatar, Togo and the African Union Commission. The mechanism was established to monitor and coordinate the implementation of security commitments between the two countries. … The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, signed on December 4, reaffirmed the parties’ commitment to implementing that agreement. Among the key security commitments are the DRC’s obligation to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Rwanda’s disengagement of forces and lifting of defensive measures. Al Jazeera
Nigeria: Road Safety Corps, Army Strengthen Partnership on Training, Security
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has sought stronger collaboration with the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police (NACMP) in training, security, discipline and conflict management as part of efforts to enhance national safety and security. The Corps Provost of the FRSC, Headquarters Abuja, Corps Commander Livinus S. Audu, made the call on Thursday, September 10, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police. Audu said the visit was aimed at strengthening the existing relationship between the two organisations and establishing a more strategic partnership to advance their complementary roles in promoting national safety and security. … Responding, the Provost Marshal (Army), Major General Mathias Erebulu, welcomed the visit and stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation, intelligence sharing and sustained professional interaction in addressing Nigeria’s complex security and safety challenges. PR Nigeria
Nigeria Suspends Official Visits to South Africa over Anti-migrant Violence
Nigeria’s parliament has banned official visits to South Africa in protest over continued violence against immigrants there, including attacks on Nigerian citizens. “All official visits to the Republic of South Africa by the National Assembly, its Committees, lawmakers, officials and staff are hereby suspended,” Akin Rotimi, spokesman for the lower chamber, said in a statement on Friday. The ban extends even to virtual engagements, after months of anti-foreigner protests across South Africa that have driven tens of thousands of people to leave the country. Al Jazeera with AFP and AP
Cape Verde’s President Neves to Run for Re-election in November
Cape Verde President Jose Maria Neves will run for a second five-year term in the country’s November elections, he announced Monday. The west African archipelago nation, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Senegal, heads to the polls on November 15. Neves, 66, served as prime minister from 2001 to 2016 and was elected president in 2021. The president of the National Assembly, Janira Hopffer Almada, will serve as interim president of Cape Verde for the next two months now that Neves has made his announcement. … Nine people have already announced their intention to run for president, however they must submit the required documents to the country’s constitutional court before Wednesday. Candidates for the Cape Verde presidency are put forward by figures from civil society. Parties may support a presidential candidate although the president cannot belong to a party. Neves indicated that he was seeking the support of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), which he formerly led, while also calling for broader backing. Africanews
Nigerian Oil Refinery Dangote Launches IPO
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote on Monday launched what is slated as Africa’s biggest initial public offering (IPO), which aims to raise $1.6 billion to expand his mega oil refinery to become the world’s largest. The Lagos-based refinery, which began operations in 2024, has a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, exceeding domestic demand in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. It began exporting its fuel abroad a few months ago. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery aims to raise funds to double its capacity to 1.4 million barrels a day by 2028, which would make it the world’s largest refinery, surpassing Jamnagar in India. … Investors can buy as few as 10 shares at 525 naira each, potentially raising 2.15 trillion naira ($1.6 billion) in a move Dangote hopes will give ordinary people a chance for a stake in a long-term asset. He has said the offering, which closes October 13, will be the biggest IPO in African history and has encouraged participation by small investors, including people on lower incomes. AFP
Kenya to Host 2029 World Athletics Championships in African First
Kenya will become the first African country to host the World Athletics Championships after winning the bid for the 2029 edition. The capital Nairobi will hold the event at the 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium. London and Rome were the cities to miss out, with Munich awarded hosting rights in 2031. Kenya’s rich athletics heritage was central to its bid for 2029, with the East African nation boasting 72 World Championship and 38 Olympic gold medals, predominantly in middle- and long-distance running. It is the second-most successful nation in the history of the World Championships, and two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, who also won 5000m gold at the 2003 World Championships, was among those who made the case for Nairobi during the bid process. BBC