Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Sudan’s brutal civil war has entered its third year, leaving over 150,000 people dead and triggering what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The power struggle between Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the army, and Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as “Hemedti”, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continues to devastate the country. War Roots: A Failed Transition and Military Rivalry The conflict began in April 2023, following a deep rift between the army and the RSF, two forces that had jointly seized power in 2021. Tensions escalated when efforts to integrate the…

A major milestone in Africa’s tech evolution has been reached as Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa and Jensen Huang, CEO of U.S.-based Nvidia and one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, launch the continent’s first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) factory. The initiative is spearheaded by Masiyiwa’s Cassava Technologies in partnership with Nvidia, the global leader in graphics processing and AI computing. The new facility will feature thousands of Nvidia’s advanced GPUs, making it a core hub for African AI innovation and digital infrastructure. Initial GPU installations have begun in South Africa, with plans to expand to Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, and Egypt in the…

A confidential United Nations investigation seen by Africa Independent News alleges that Kigali-based Boss Mining Solution has been purchasing coltan siphoned out of rebel-held territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, indirectly channelling revenue to the M23 movement. Key findings Unprecedented volumes of contrabandUN experts say shipments leaving the Rubaya mining zone – now under M23 control – are being trucked overnight across the Bukavu and Congo border posts into Rwanda, where they are blended with legitimate output before export. The panel recorded almost 200 tonnes entering Rwanda in the final week of March alone. Corporate trailBoss Mining, managed by…

Mali’s transitional parliament has approved a new bill granting military leader Assimi Goïta a renewable five-year presidential term, extending his mandate through at least 2030. The law was unanimously backed by 131 of the 147 members of the transitional council. It states that the transition period will continue “as long as necessary” until national stability is achieved. General Goïta, a senior army officer, first came to power in August 2020 following a military takeover that removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. In May 2021, he assumed full leadership after another power reshuffle within the transitional government, and was subsequently appointed interim…

Ethiopia has officially shelved its long-anticipated natural gas pipeline project linking the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia to Djibouti, citing financial hurdles and shifting development priorities. Initially envisioned in 2028 as a 767-kilometer corridor for transporting natural gas to an LNG terminal for export, the project has now been discontinued, according to the recently released Ethiopia Energy Outlook 2025. The pipeline, which had attracted early-stage discussions involving Black Rhino—a former Blackstone portfolio firm—was seen as a game-changing infrastructure for East Africa. The company had conducted a preliminary feasibility study and showed interest in establishing a refined petroleum products pipeline as…

Presidents from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal are expected to participate in the high-level gathering, which observers see as a potential turning point in U.S.–Africa relations. While the WhiTrump to Host 5 African Presidents in Washington Summitte House has not issued an official statement, media outlets close to the administration suggest the summit will focus on trade, investment, and security cooperation. A Shift in U.S. Africa Policy The Trump administration is signaling a sharp departure from past aid-driven approaches, instead promoting what officials call a “self-reliance model.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that future partnerships will prioritize…

The assailants, whose identities remain unknown, opened fire on residents of Kwallaijiya village, causing panic and mass casualties. Authorities say the attack occurred late Tuesday night, and emergency services are still responding to the aftermath. No group has claimed responsibility for the violence. Northern Nigeria has faced growing insecurity in recent years, with various armed gangs — commonly referred to as “bandits” — frequently launching attacks on rural communities. In addition to criminal networks, terror groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to operate across the region. Security forces have been deployed to…

Senegal has officially taken control of a French military communication base located near the capital Dakar, marking another key step in France’s phased military exit from the West African nation. The facility in Rufisque, historically used by the French armed forces for communication across the South Atlantic since 1960, was formally transferred to Senegalese authorities as part of an agreed drawdown of French troops and infrastructure in the country. The move aligns with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s earlier declaration that all French military presence must end by 2025. The withdrawal process began in March with the first base handovers…

Angola and Türkiye have announced plans to significantly expand bilateral trade, setting an ambitious goal of reaching $500 million in the coming years. The announcement came during the third Türkiye-Angola Joint Economic Commission session held in Ankara, where high-level officials from both nations emphasized mutual commitment to deepening ties in energy, trade, and development cooperation. Angolan Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, met with Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar to explore opportunities in sectors such as oil, natural gas, agriculture, transportation, education, and investment. “We seek a sustainable, long-term partnership with Türkiye,” said Azevedo,…

South Africa’s year-old Government of National Unity (GNU) is showing deeper cracks, as disputes between President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) and its largest coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), intensify. Once hailed as a stabilizing force to prevent a radical coalition with opposition parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), the ANC-DA alliance is now grappling with trust issues, policy disagreements, and growing frustration on both sides. The latest flashpoint emerged after President Ramaphosa dismissed DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield, who had undertaken an unsanctioned trip to the United States to lobby for South…

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to expand its diplomatic and economic footprint across Africa, pledging $25 billion in new investments and the opening of more than 40 embassies across the continent in the coming years. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Walid Al-Khereiji made the announcement during the Africa Day reception in Riyadh, underscoring the Kingdom’s growing commitment to African development and partnership. He outlined that the investment package includes $10 billion in export financing and $5 billion in additional development funding by 2030. “Africa holds a vital place in Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy,” said Al-Khereiji, noting that the Kingdom has…

The Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) say they have killed 83 fighters from the armed Fano movement during week-long sweeps in Gojjam and South Gondar, underscoring the endurance of hostilities in Amhara Region despite federal assurances that the conflict is nearly over. In a statement issued Wednesday, army officials described a “co-ordinated operation” conducted between 25 June and 2 July that also left 39 Fano combatants wounded, 12 captured, and 20 others who reportedly laid down their arms. The military claims to have seized several vehicles along with weapons stockpiles that include 22 Kalashnikov-style rifles, eleven older firearms, one DShK…

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in Ghana this morning, opening a two-day state visit aimed at deepening economic and development ties between New Delhi and Accra. It is the first trip to Ghana by an Indian head of government since 1995. Vaccine hub and direct investments During the visit, officials from both countries are expected to sign a slate of agreements, including a flagship memorandum to establish a vaccine-manufacturing hub in Ghana. The project, to be developed with Indian technical support and financing, is intended to boost regional vaccine production capacity and reduce dependence on imports. Other accords…

A military helicopter crashed and caught fire at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport on Tuesday, witnesses reported, marking the second such incident involving African Union forces in recent weeks. Eyewitnesses at the airport described a loud explosion followed by thick smoke billowing from the helicopter. “We heard a blast and saw flames and smoke completely covering the aircraft,” said one airport staff member who requested anonymity. It remains unclear whether the helicopter was taking off or landing at the time of the accident. The aircraft is believed to have been operated by the African Union’s peacekeeping mission in Somalia, which…

Ethiopia is losing a significant share of its gold production to informal and illegal trade networks, according to a new report commissioned by the Indian Embassy in Addis Ababa. The study warns that nearly two-thirds of the country’s gold, particularly from artisanal and small-scale miners, is either sold in underground markets or smuggled abroad. The report, presented to the Ministry of Mines, estimates that Ethiopia may be losing up to 60 tons of gold annually, valued at nearly USD 6 billion, due to unregulated trade. Although the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) received around 26 tons of gold over the…

Sierra Leone is positioning itself as the next big player in Africa’s energy sector, announcing plans to launch a new oil and gas licensing round later this year. The move comes after the completion of a fresh round of seismic surveys that officials hope will reignite interest among global energy companies. According to the country’s Petroleum Directorate, the latest data has already attracted attention from major international firms, including Shell, Petrobras, and Hess Corp. The survey, conducted in collaboration with multi-client geophysical firm TGS, aims to unlock the potential of an estimated 30 billion barrels of recoverable oil equivalent believed…