Foreign Support, Drones Fuel Sudan War and Possible War Crimes, UN Probe Says
Foreign weapons, military technology, fighters and logistical networks are helping sustain Sudan’s conflict and expanding the warring parties’ ability to strike distant civilian areas with drones, a U.N. fact-finding mission said on Thursday. Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has displaced more than 14 million people and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. In a report, the U.N. mission said more than 1,000 people were killed in drone strikes in the first five months of 2026, accusing both sides of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in drone operations, with some conduct amounting to war crimes. … The mission said investigators found grounds to believe a network involving individuals and entities in the United Arab Emirates, Chad, Libya and Somalia supplied the RSF with weapons, equipment, logistics, training and foreign personnel. Reuters
Disagreements Hit Quintet Group over Planned Sudan Visit
Sharp divisions have split the Quintet group over the Sudanese crisis, with several members boycotting a planned visit to Khartoum next week, an official involved in the mediation told Sudan Tribune.The five-party group – comprising the United Nations, African Union, East African bloc IGAD, European Union, and the Arab League – was established to coordinate international and regional efforts to facilitate an intra-Sudanese dialogue and restore civilian rule. The official said reservations grew over concerns that participating in a visit organized by one side of the conflict would compromise the group’s neutrality and undermine its standing with civilian forces. … Civilian and political groups, led by the Somoud coalition, have also clashed with the Quintet group over the process, accusing mediators of trying to pre-engineer talks rather than acting as neutral facilitators. Sudan Tribune
Kidnapping on the Rise Near Cameroon’s Border with Nigeria
A report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has revealed that over 300 persons were kidnapped by terrorists in the Far North region of Cameroon during April, May, and June of 2026. In the same timeframe in 2025, 141 abductions were reported, which is a staggering 118 per cent increase in kidnappings. The recent report shows a serious decline in the region’s security landscape in the second quarter of 2026. During this period, 72 people were killed, and 48 were injured, which actually reflects a 6.5 per cent decrease in fatalities compared to the previous year, when 77 civilians lost their lives. The UNOCHA report stresses that understanding the worsening security situation in Far North Cameroon requires more than just looking at casualty numbers. Compared to the latter half of 2025, there were 167 more kidnappings, suggesting that abductions have become the major form of violence affecting communities near the Nigerian border. Beyond the loss of lives, terrorist operations in the region seem to have established a pervasive climate of fear, limiting movement and undermining the livelihood of local communities. The report states that such violence can lead to new displacements as people flee to areas deemed safer. HumAngle
Nigeria: Air Force, Police Deepen Security Cooperation Ahead of 2027 Polls
The Nigerian Air Force and the Nigeria Police Force have strengthened their strategic partnership ahead of the 2027 general elections, with both institutions pledging closer coordination to enhance national security and ensure a peaceful electoral environment. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, made the commitment on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. … The Air Chief stressed the need for enhanced coordination, timely intelligence sharing and stronger institutional collaboration ahead of the 2027 elections. He also identified opportunities to leverage existing capabilities and expertise, including the possible deployment of Nigerian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance assets in support of police operations. Responding, Disu welcomed the engagement and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthening its partnership with the Air Force and other security agencies in promoting national security and ensuring peaceful elections. The meeting also considered areas of joint capacity development, including intelligence, forensic investigations, crime scene management and criminal investigations. PR Nigeria
Xi Jinping Visits Grand Egyptian Museum as China and Egypt Deepen Strategic Ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Grand Egyptian Museum on Wednesday alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, as the two countries sought to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties. Xi, making his first visit to Egypt in a decade, was welcomed by Sisi at the Ittihadiya presidential palace in Cairo with a 21-gun salute before the two leaders held talks. The visit comes as China seeks to expand its influence in the Middle East, against the backdrop of the ongoing U.S.-Iran war and growing concerns over regional security and shipping. During their talks, Xi urged Middle Eastern countries to take greater control of their own affairs and reject outside intervention. He said China supports regional dialogue on peace and security and is ready to work with countries in the region to protect international shipping lanes. China is a major buyer of Iranian oil and has opposed efforts to isolate Tehran economically, while also seeking to protect its own commercial interests in the region. … Xi’s visit highlights the expanding relationship between Beijing and Cairo, combining investment and trade with growing cooperation on regional diplomacy and security. Africanews
Kenyan Editor Found Safe after Abduction, Employer Says
An editor of one of Kenya’s largest media groups was abducted by armed men and released hours later at the edge of a dam more than 200 km away, his employer said on Wednesday. Alex Kiprotich, an associate editor at Standard Group, was taken from a car near the city of Nakuru shortly before 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, the company said in a statement. Dashcam footage shared by Standard Group appeared to show four armed, masked men emerging from a vehicle parked on a busy road. Screams could be heard from the car carrying Kiprotich. … Looking shaken, Kiprotich appeared at a press conference in Nairobi on Wednesday but did not speak. Standard Group’s Chief Executive Chaacha Mwita told reporters the abductors had demanded that he reveal the newspaper’s sources. … Dozens of government critics and activists have been reported abducted or missing in Kenya since anti-government demonstrations in June 2024. Human rights groups have accused state security agencies of being responsible. … The Standard newspaper, owned by Standard Group, has been critical of Ruto’s government, accusing it of enabling corruption and police brutality. Ruto has accused The Standard of running “extortionist propaganda headlines”. Reuters
DRC Radio Station Now Used as AFC/M23 Intelligence Office
A radio station north of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Goma has been repurposed as an AFC/M23 intelligence service office, according to a report released Thursday by media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Radio Télévision Nyiragongo Musisimuke, which ceased broadcasting in January 2025 after the armed coalition seized the area, has since been occupied by the group’s intelligence services. RSF said the former studios are being used not only for intelligence operations but also as a temporary detention site for civilians, citing witness accounts and photographs showing the station’s logo still displayed at the compound entrance. Witnesses described violent interrogations, inadequate food and transfers to Goma’s provincial intelligence office known as Chien Méchant. RSF condemned the development as “another red line crossed” by the AFC/M23, which has already been accused of detaining journalists in shipping containers and suppressing media freedoms in North and South Kivu. APA
Ghana: Police Arrest 68 Suspects, Seize 835 Devices in Interpol Cybercrime Operation
The Ghana Police Service has arrested 68 suspects and confiscated 835 digital devices in a coordinated operation with Interpol as part of efforts to combat cybercrime. Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, disclosed that the operation also led to the identification of 108 victims, while investigators traced losses exceeding $450,000 and recovered a significant amount of the stolen funds. COP Donkor made the disclosure at the launch of the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month for the Ghana Police Service and the law enforcement community on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. According to her, the outcome highlights the importance of intelligence-led policing and international collaboration in dismantling increasingly sophisticated cybercrime operations. … COP Donkor noted that the Police Service was also expanding its capacity to investigate technology-driven crimes through enhanced digital forensics, cyber intelligence and virtual asset investigations. She said stronger collaboration with law enforcement agencies in Ghana and abroad was equally critical, given the cross-border nature of cybercrime. Joy Online
Regional Police Chiefs Adopt Interpol’s Nexus Upgrade to Fight Crime
As criminal organisations grow more sophisticated and borderless, police and data protection officials from across Eastern and Central Africa have converged on Mombasa this week to accelerate the rollout of Interpol’s Nexus messaging system. Nexus is a web-based, AI-powered platform designed to put actionable intelligence into investigators’ hands faster than ever before. And police chiefs think the shift will enable National Central Bureaus (NCBs) to exchange intelligence more quickly and coordinate investigations into criminal networks that operate across jurisdictions and increasingly rely on digital technology. Kenya has already migrated its National Central Bureau in Nairobi to Nexus, with assistance from the Interpol Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa, marking a step in the transition from the long-standing I-24/7 secure communications network. The development comes as police, data protection officers, regulators and legal experts from the region meet in Mombasa for a three-day symposium on strengthening international police cooperation. … Nexus is now being positioned as a strategic upgrade, as criminal groups increasingly use digital platforms to organise activities across borders. The East African
Moscow’s Influence? Russian Orthodox Church Expands Africa Footprint
The Russian Orthodox Church is rapidly expanding across Africa, building congregations, training local priests and embedding itself in communities, even as diplomats and analysts warn that its growing network could give Moscow another channel for political and ideological influence on the continent. … Ukraine’s Ambassador to Kenya Yurii Tokar said the war has showed that the Russian Orthodox Church has morphed into an influential state tool for Russia. … A September 2024 investigation by the Jamestown Foundation said African students who travelled to Russia under programmes linked to the Russian Orthodox Church were recruited into the Russian Armed Forces after initially being brought in for religious studies and construction work. The report said students from countries including Kenya, Burundi, Cameroon, Madagascar and Uganda had been identified among Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territories. The allegations included nationals from Kenya, Burundi, Cameroon, Madagascar and Uganda. Mr Tokar said the church had helped legitimise Russia’s war in Ukraine, amplify state narratives and provide Moscow with another avenue of influence alongside diplomatic, political and information activities. The East African
Tunisia Accused of Shutting down Civil Society through Sweeping Crackdown
Tunisian authorities have intensified pressure on civil society through arrests, prosecutions, financial investigations and mass suspensions, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday – warning that the independent civic space created after the 2011 revolution has been all but shut down. Authorities have prosecuted at least 47 people linked to non-governmental groups and held at least 10 in preventive detention for longer than 14 months, the maximum allowed under Tunisian law, the rights group said. At least 14 people connected to civil society have been convicted and sentenced to prison after trials in 2025 and 2026. Human rights activist Saadia Mosbah was sentenced on 19 March to eight years in prison and a heavy fine on what HRW described as abusive financial crime charges. “It is clear that the authorities are abusing every tool at their disposal to close the space for civil society in Tunisia and shut these organizations down,” said Bassam Khawaja, the group’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa. RFI
El Niño Threatens West Africa’s Cocoa Producers
West Africa’s cocoa producers are under threat from this year’s El Niño, which threatens to be the worst on record. The weather phenomenon has been known to intensify the yearly Harmattan winds, which dry out topsoil and cause pods to fall. Côte d’Ivoire — the world’s top producer — is expected to see its output slump by around a fifth, Bloomberg reported. El Niño is likely to exacerbate the impact of torrential rains in neighboring Ghana that have damaged crops and increased the prevalence of the plant-killing black pod disease. The Institute of International Finance warned that cocoa is not the only food product at risk from El Niño, which forecasts suggest will affect Africa’s agricultural sector across the board, through either flooding or drought. Projections suggest the extreme weather patterns will drive food inflation across much of the continent. Many African economies are in a much weaker economic position compared to the strong 2015-2016 El Niño, the IIF report said, largely due to higher oil prices, which have driven up transport costs, and a strong US dollar. Semafor
Uganda Names Its Oil ‘Pearl Sweet ‘as It Prepares for First Export
Uganda officially named its oil “Pearl Sweet” on Wednesday as its energy secretary said it expects to join the club of oil-exporting nations by the end of the year. Two oil sites in western Uganda, run by French energy giant TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, are close to completion and will eventually give the east African country a peak production capacity of 230,000 barrels per day. Energy secretary Irene Batebe told AFP the first site, Kingfisher, would come online “by the end of this year” with an initial production of 28,000 bpd. The much larger Tilenga site is 74 percent complete, she added. … The name “Pearl Sweet” is a reference to Uganda’s nickname as the “pearl of Africa” and the oil’s low sulphur content. Most of the oil will be pumped out of landlocked Uganda along the newly constructed East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the world’s longest heated pipeline, stretching 1,443 kilometres, to the Tanzanian coast. AFP