Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Egypt and Sudan have renewed warnings over Ethiopia’s massive hydroelectric project on the Nile, describing it as a serious threat to stability in the Eastern Nile Basin and urging Addis Ababa to return to regional cooperation. In a joint statement following high-level talks in Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Irrigation Minister Hani Sweilam, and Sudan’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Sediq accused Ethiopia of disregarding international law in the construction and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). “The Ethiopian dam, built unilaterally, represents a continuing threat to downstream nations and regional stability,” the statement read. Call…

Malawi is preparing for a decisive election on 16 September 2025, with voters set to choose a president, members of parliament, and local councillors in what many see as the most consequential vote since the country’s historic 2020 re-run. More than 7.2 million registered voters will take part in the polls. This year’s presidential race features 17 candidates, though the contest is widely expected to be a showdown between current President Lazarus Chakwera and former leader Peter Mutharika. A Repeat Battle The two men have a long electoral rivalry. Mutharika beat Chakwera in 2014 and was declared winner again in…

Ghanaian authorities have confirmed that 186 Ivorians have crossed into the country in the past two weeks, citing growing political tensions in Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the October presidential election. According to the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB), most of the new arrivals are women and children who said they fled to avoid potential violence linked to the polls. They are now being hosted at the Ampain Refugee Camp in the Ellembelle District of Ghana’s Western Region. The exodus follows President Alassane Ouattara’s controversial decision to seek a fourth term in office. Opponents argue that the move violates democratic principles, even…

2 September 2025 – Darfur, Sudan – A devastating landslide in Sudan’s Marra Mountains has killed more than 1,000 people, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A). Triggered by days of torrential rain, the disaster struck on Sunday in the remote village of Tarasin, where survivors say the entire settlement was “wiped out.” Only one person is reported to have escaped alive. The SLM/A, which controls the area, has appealed for urgent humanitarian aid from the United Nations and other international bodies, warning that the scale of the tragedy is beyond local capacity to manage. Darfur’s governor, Minni Minnawi, aligned…

The small West African island of Annobón has renewed its push for independence, with its self-declared leadership appealing to Argentina for support amid what it calls a worsening humanitarian and political crisis. Orlando Cartagena Lagar, who identifies as the island’s prime minister, accused Equatorial Guinea’s government under President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of committing human rights abuses against Annobón’s people. He described conditions on the island as “unbearable,” citing a lack of clean water, electricity, healthcare, and education, as well as allegations of military violence and child abuse. Annobón declared independence unilaterally in July 2022, but no state has formally recognized…

Doron Almog, a former Israeli military commander and current head of the Jewish Agency for Israel, has cancelled his planned visit to South Africa amid concerns that he could face arrest over his role in Israel’s war on Gaza. According to Israeli broadcaster KAN, Almog was due to meet members of the Jewish community in South Africa but withdrew after legal and political risks were raised. The move comes against the backdrop of South Africa’s ongoing genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing Tel Aviv of atrocities in Gaza. Almog previously commanded the Israeli army’s Southern…

New satellite analysis shows that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are constructing a vast earthen barrier around the city of El-Fasher, deepening concerns for civilians trapped under siege conditions. Research from Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) indicates that more than 31km of berms — raised earth walls — have been built since May in areas surrounding the city. El-Fasher, home to around 300,000 people, remains the Sudanese army’s last stronghold in Darfur after more than a year of conflict. The HRL said the berms appear designed to cut off movement of people and supplies, describing the development as creating…

South African opposition leader Julius Malema has once again been found guilty of hate speech, this time over remarks he made during a rally in 2022. The Equality Court ruled that Malema’s comments amounted to incitement, marking the third time the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader has faced such a judgment. The case, brought by the South African Human Rights Commission, focused on a speech in Cape Town where Malema told supporters that “revolutionaries must not be scared to kill” and suggested that racist acts should be met with deadly retaliation. The court said his words represented “a clear intention…

At least 70 people have died after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Mauritania in one of the deadliest maritime tragedies in recent years on the Atlantic route to Europe, Gambian authorities confirmed late Friday. The vessel, which had departed from Gambia and was carrying mostly Gambian and Senegalese nationals, sank early Wednesday with an estimated 150 people on board. Mauritanian officials said 70 bodies had been recovered by Thursday, while 16 survivors were rescued. Dozens more remain missing, with witness accounts suggesting the death toll could exceed 100. The incident highlights the growing dangers of the Atlantic…

Oman has opened talks with Burkina Faso on potential investments in the West African country’s mining sector, marking the Gulf nation’s latest effort to expand its economic footprint in Africa. Burkinabè leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré on Wednesday received an Omani delegation led by Abdulsalam Bin Mohammad Al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Authority. Discussions centered on opportunities in mineral extraction, agriculture, and other priority sectors. Al Murshidi said Muscat aims to strengthen trade ties and pursue agreements that will enable Oman to invest in Burkina Faso’s growing industries. “We are looking forward to further agreements and closer cooperation…

Ethiopia has signed a landmark agreement with Nigeria’s Dangote Group to construct a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in the country’s southeast, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Thursday. The facility, to be built in Gode town, will have an annual production capacity of 3 million metric tons, making it one of the largest in Africa. Officials say the project aims to boost Ethiopia’s agricultural sector while contributing to the continent’s broader goal of reducing dependence on fertiliser imports. The agreement was signed between state-owned Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) and Dangote Group. Under the deal, Dangote will hold a 60% stake,…

Somalia’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the first contingent of Egyptian troops assigned to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has successfully completed its initial training program. The Ministry hailed the milestone as a sign of Egypt’s growing commitment to Somalia’s security and to strengthening the Somali National Army within the framework of the new AU mission, which replaces ATMIS. It also credited both the African Union and international partners for their role in supporting Somali security institutions and accelerating efforts against militant groups such as Al-Shabaab and Daesh. Egypt’s participation as a troop-contributing country…

China Strengthens Trade Ties as Africa Becomes Key MarketChina’s exports to Africa have surged in 2025, cementing the continent’s role as one of Beijing’s fastest-growing markets. Official data shows Chinese shipments to Africa rose by 25% year-on-year, reaching $122 billion, with trade flows expected to surpass $200 billion for the first time. The increase comes amid shifting global trade patterns, particularly as U.S. tariffs under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) have reduced African exports to Washington. This has allowed Beijing to consolidate its position as Africa’s leading trading partner for the 15th consecutive year. China’s exports to Africa…

Russia has raised the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in Niger, signaling its intention to expand influence in the uranium-rich Sahel state as relations between Niamey and France deteriorate. The proposal, discussed under a cooperation agreement between Nigerien authorities and Russia’s state energy corporation Rosatom, includes potential projects in nuclear power generation, medical applications, and training local specialists. If realized, this would be West Africa’s first nuclear power project. For decades, French nuclear group Orano dominated uranium mining in Niger, supplying fuel for France’s energy sector. However, the military government nationalized Orano’s operations in June, ending decades of…

Japan has denied claims that it plans to introduce a special visa program for young Nigerians under the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) “Africa Hometown” initiative, urging Abuja to correct what it called a misleading announcement. The denial came after Nigeria’s presidency issued a statement last week suggesting that Japan would create a new visa category for highly skilled and innovative young Nigerians to live and work in Kisarazu, a Japanese city designated as Nigeria’s partner in the program. In a statement on Tuesday, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said the Nigerian announcement “contained information inconsistent with the facts.” It stressed that…

Delegations from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel movement have returned to negotiations in Qatar as fighting continues to intensify in the country’s troubled east. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that discussions are underway in Doha to review the July truce agreement, which committed both sides to a ceasefire and laid out a path toward a comprehensive settlement. That deal, however, faltered after both Kinshasa and the rebels accused each other of repeated violations. Qatari spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said current talks focus on establishing a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire, alongside arrangements for prisoner exchanges.…