Africa Media Review for September 26, 2024

Sudanese Army Launches Major Offensive against RSF in Khartoum
The Sudanese army launched a major offensive against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital Khartoum on Wednesday, targeting several areas controlled by the paramilitary group in the centre, west, and south of the city. Clashes erupted around 2:00 AM near the strategic “Al-Istritagia” site close to the Al-Muqrin area in western Khartoum. Government forces were reported to have crossed several bridges towards Khartoum, and smoke plumes were seen rising from the vicinity of the Armored Corps south of Khartoum. The Sudanese army’s warplanes flew extensively over Omdurman, coinciding with reports of airstrikes targeting the “Al-Istritagia” headquarters in Al-Muqrin, Khartoum, which the RSF seized from the army in June. … Sudan Tribune’s correspondent reported hearing clashes and gunfire between the army from northern Omdurman and the Rapid Support Forces from northern Khartoum Bahri. The army shelled Rapid Support Forces positions in Khartoum Bahri with heavy artillery from northern Omdurman, and smoke rose from the Al-Azariqab and Halfaya areas in northern Khartoum Bahri, coinciding with the army’s artillery shelling. WhatsApp and Telegram groups affiliated with the Sudanese army reported that its forces launched a ground attack on Singa, the capital of Sennar state, which is controlled by the RSF, and conducted airstrikes on Al-Damazin, the capital of East Darfur state, considered a stronghold of the RSF. Sudan Tribune

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Juntas Investigate French Journalist for Jihadist Analysis
Prosecutors in junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have launched investigations against French journalist and researcher Wassim Nasr, accusing him of being an “apologist for terrorism” over his analysis of jihadist attacks. Nasr, who works for the broadcaster France 24, is also a security expert who regularly comments on an Islamist insurgency that took root in Mali in 2012 and has since spread across West Africa’s Sahel region. He carried out a detailed analysis of a rare jihadist attack on several strategic sites in Mali’s capital Bamako on Sept. 17, and was cited in several media outlets in the aftermath. The prosecutors from the judicial divisions that specialise in terrorism in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger all issued the same statement, aired on their national televisions late on Wednesday. … Neighbours Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are at the heart of the Sahel insurgency and are all led by military governments that seized power in a string of coups that started in 2020. … The countries have already suspended France 24 and other international broadcasters over their coverage of the insurgency. Reuters

DR Congo Opposition Calls for Release of Political Prisoners at Protest
Hundreds protested in front of Congo’s top court Wednesday to demand the release of political prisoners, including the country’s three most prominent opposition figures. After the protest ended, representatives of opposition parties handed the minister of justice a statement accusing Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi of trying to “muzzle the opponents” and “silence dissenting voices.” The parties called for the release of Jean-Marc Kabund, leader of the Alliance for Change party; Mike Mukebayi, a former member of the provincial parliament for Together for the Republic; and Seth Kikuni, a candidate in the presidential elections last year. Kabund and Mukebayi were arrested last year for “insulting the head of state” and “spreading false rumors.” … Last month, Congo announced its intention to apply for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. … The council has been criticized since its creation in 2006 because of some members’ poor rights records and claims that rights abusers seek seats to protect themselves and their allies. AfricaNews/AP

Race to Combat Mpox Misinformation as Vaccine Rollout in DRC Begins
For doctors and nurses fighting mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the virus itself is not the only enemy. They are also facing swirling rumours and misinformation. The first of millions of promised doses of mpox vaccine have finally started to arrive. Now the focus is on ensuring that people who need them will take them when the vaccination campaign begins next month, and teaching wider communities how to protect themselves. Conspiracy theories spreading across the country include the suggestion that mpox has been invented by white people in order to sterilise Congolese people with vaccines – or that it is just a money-making scheme from pharmaceutical companies. Mistrust in medical institutions and treatments is in many cases a legacy of racist colonial policies. “You see this kind of misinformation – and it spreads [more] quickly than the normal information,” said Dr Junior Mudji, chief of research at Vanga hospital in the west of the DRC. With about 26,000 mpox cases reported across the DRC this year, officials are working to combat myths, teach people how to prevent infection and where to seek treatment, and lay the groundwork for vaccine acceptance. The Guardian

Eswatini Opposition Leader Poisoned in South Africa – Party
Eswatini’s main opposition leader has been poisoned as part of an assassination attempt and is being treated in hospital, his party says. Mlungisi Makhanya, 46, has been living in exile in neighbouring South Africa for the last two years, saying he fears for his life at home following a violent crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Africa’s last remaining absolute monarchy. “Our president has been stabilised but he is still in a critical condition,” the People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) said. … King Mswati III has been on the throne since 1986 and rules by decree. He has been criticised for his extravagant lifestyle and is regularly accused of not allowing any dissent, which his government denies. Last year, Thulani Rudolf Maseko, a human rights lawyer, who was opposed to the king, was killed in his home in the capital, Mbabane, sparking widespread condemnation. In September 2022, Makhanya’s home in Eswatini was set alight in an alleged fire bomb attack by state agents. He now lives in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, with his family. BBC

Tunisia Presidential Candidate Sentenced to Six Months in Prison
A Tunisian court sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to six months in prison on Wednesday on charges of falsifying documents, his lawyer told Reuters, the second prison sentence against him in a week, days before the presidential election. The verdict highlights rising tensions ahead of the election, amid opposition and civil society groups’ fears of a rigged election aimed at keeping President Kais Saied in power. Zammel was sentenced to 20 months in prison last week on charges of falsifying popular endorsements. “It is another unjust ruling and a farce that clearly aims to weaken him in the election race, but we will defend his right to the last minute,” Zammel attorney Abdessattar Massoudi told Reuters. Zammel was among only three admitted candidates competing for the position of president alongside incumbent Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui. Political tensions in the North African country have risen ahead of the October 6 election since an electoral commission named by Saied disqualified three prominent candidates this month amid protests by opposition and civil society groups. VOA/Reuters

Benin State Prosecutor Says Arrests Made over Suspected Coup Plot
Benin’s state prosecutor said on Wednesday a former sports minister and a prominent businessman have been detained on suspicion of plotting a coup. Ex-sports minister Oswald Homeky was caught after 1 a.m. on Tuesday while handing over six bags of cash to the head of the republican guard, who is also in charge of President Patrice Talon’s security. Investigators said they found that Homeky and Beninese businessman Olivier Boko had paid off the military commander to not resist a coup d’etat planned for Sept. 27. Boko and the commander were also detained and investigations are ongoing to identify other suspects, prosecutor Elon’m Mario Metonou said in a statement. Reuters

As Global Temperatures Rise, Nigeria Faces a Cooling Crisis
In Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, temperatures have exceeded 95 degrees Fahrenheit multiple times this year—a level that, combined with the region’s pervasive humidity, strains the human body’s ability to cope. Without relief, even healthy individuals face potentially dangerous consequences. … Ms. Rasaq and her family, like many people in Nigeria, cannot afford an air-conditioner. Instead, the Rasaqs rely on a fan to cool their apartment. However, Nigeria’s near-daily blackouts frequently leave them without even this basic cooling method. As average global temperatures rise because of climate change, sub-Saharan African nations, including Nigeria, are experiencing even faster rates of warming. A study published in the journal Nature Sustainability identifies Nigeria as one of five countries expected to see the highest surge in heat exposure if temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius. And as temperatures surge, so does Nigeria’s population: Today, one in seven Africans live in Nigeria. By 2050, the United Nation projects that Nigeria—about twice the size of California—is expected to overtake the United States as the world’s third most populous country. NY Times

Nigerian Navy Establishes New Base to Tackle Oil Theft in Ondo
The Nigerian Navy has commissioned a new Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State as part of efforts to protect vital oil infrastructure in the state. The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, M.B. Hassan, while officially opening the base on Wednesday, said it was strategically located to tackle oil theft and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta region. Mr Hassan, a Rear Admiral, explained that the establishment of the base was necessary due to its proximity to oil fields in Ondo State, adding that the move would help curtail illegal operations in the area. “For years, criminals have exploited these areas as safe havens after stealing oil, necessitating our presence to bring such activities to a halt,” he said. … Traditional rulers, members of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun), and heads of other security agencies, who were in attendance, took turns to pledge continued collaboration with the Nigerian Navy to maintain security in the state. Premium Times

Biden’s Angola Trip to Focus on Lobito, As the US Eyes China-partnered Tanzania
When outgoing US President Joe Biden lands in Angola on a three-day visit from 13 to 15 October, regional security and the Lobito Corridor will be at the top of his agenda. Biden promised to visit Africa during his time in office, but has failed to do so until now. Angolan President Joao Lourenco met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) this week, ahead of that state visit, to settle what will be discussed in Luanda. The two “spoke about the importance of the Lobito Corridor to the development of the region and Angola’s critical leadership in the peace process for the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo”, said the US State Department. The DRC, with its rich natural resources at the end of the Lobito Corridor, is critical to American interests in Africa. … “The ultimate goal is infrastructure connecting the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean,” [Blinken] added. … China is attempting to link the DRC to the Indian Ocean, while the US is also expanding its interests in that direction. News24

Norway Arrests Cameroonian ‘Separatist Leader’ for Crimes against Humanity
Norwegian police on Wednesday said they had arrested a man on suspicion of incitement to commit crimes against humanity in Cameroon, where a radio station identified him as “separatist leader” Lucas Cho Ayaba. The Kripos police unit that deals with war crimes and crimes against humanity said in a statement that it had arrested “a man in his 50s” on Tuesday, but did not name him. “Norwegian police have arrested the separatist leader Lucas Cho Ayaba. He is implicated in atrocities committed in the northwest and southwest,” said CRTV radio station. … Cameroon has been gripped since 2016 by a bloody conflict in its two anglophone regions, in the northwest and southwest, between separatists and state forces. The conflict was sparked by the brutal suppression of peaceful protests in the anglophone regions by long-time President Paul Biya. “Kripos considers that the suspect is playing a central role in the ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon,” the Norwegian police statement said. The anglophone community, which has long complained of marginalization and discrimination, makes up about 20% of the largely francophone central African country. Ayaba is the leader of the Ambazonia Defense Forces, one of the main armed groups operating in the anglophone areas. VOA/AFP

EU’s Africa Fund ‘Spread Too Thinly’ to Reduce Migration
In a scathing report, the European Court of Auditors said the European Union’s (EU) €5 billion Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) was “spread too thinly” to address migration as it financed “too broad a range of actions in the areas of development, humanitarian aid, and security.” The fund was created at the height of the refugee crisis in 2015 and intended to address the root causes of instability, irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa. But a year before it lapses, the auditors said it didn’t concentrate “enough on priorities,” to tackle the root causes of migration. The objectives and priorities were “kept as broad as possible, so that most types of actions could be considered eligible.” But some of the projects funded seem to have little to do with migration such as renovation of a Roman theatre in Libya or a radio station in Sahel, the report said. DW

Transporters to Juba, DRC Brace for High Costs after Uganda Bridge Closure
Uganda has closed Karuma Bridge, a key arterial connection to South Sudan and DR Congo, to traffic to pave the way for major repairs, plunging the region into significant transportation challenges. Karuma Bridge is 266km north of Kampala, and 175km south of Nimule on the Uganda-South Sudan border. The closure of the bridge has disrupted the flow of both passenger and freight traffic, with transporters reporting long turnaround times for trucks, and high operating costs as goods reach markets late. The bridge, according to Uganda’s Minister of Transport and Works Gen Katumba Wamala, was closed due to safety concerns, amid the negative economic impact expected during the closure. … The sorry state of the bridge reached worrying levels after inspections by local and Japanese experts discovered big cracks, and water leakage due to alkali-aggregate reaction. … Over 90 percent of goods in Uganda are transported by road, which is expensive compared with water and rail. … Authorities are still looking for funders of the bridge project with eyes on Japan, Works and Transport Permanent Secretary Waiswa Bageya told The East African. The new bridge, according to feasibility studies, has the potential to benefit South Sudan, DRC and Ethiopia. The East African

Remains of South African Freedom Fighters Arrive Home from Zimbabwe and Zambia
The remains of 42 South African freedom fighters who died while exiled in Zimbabwe and Zambia during the struggle against white minority rule arrived in the country Wednesday, officials said. The remains were received by government officials and family members at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in the capital Pretoria after being exhumed in Zambia and Zimbabwe for their reburial in the country of their birth. This was part of a government program to bring closure to families, whose loved ones died away from home while serving in the underground structures of both the African National Congress and Pan Africanist Congress, according to officials. Before the apartheid system ended in South Africa in 1994, many activists left the country to receive military training elsewhere with the aim of returning home to wage an armed struggle. Others left the country to avoid being arrested by the apartheid regime for their involvement in anti-apartheid activities, and chose Zimbabwe and Zambia where the underground structures were the strongest. AP

Namibia Begins Restorative Justice for Descendants of Genocide
The Namibian government is welcoming back nearly 100 Batswana of Herero descent to their ancestral land, marking a significant moment in the ongoing process of restorative justice for the descendants of those who fled German South West Africa — now Namibia — during the 1904-1908 genocide. Fleeing German aggression, many sought refuge in then Bechuanaland — what’s now known as Botswana. As part of this effort, Namibia has made five commercial farms available for their resettlement, a step toward reconciliation and healing. … Although Namibia was prepared to receive 98 returnees, only 50 crossed the border on Friday. Some are still waiting for the quarantine clearance for their livestock before they can cross the border. … The 20 hectares at Gam will be treated as a transit camp for returnees to adapt to life in Namibia before moving to the commercial farms they have been allocated by the government. At the settlement in Gam, the returnees will be issued hospital cards and proper identification documents. Their children will be placed into Namibian schools. VOA