Category: Africa

M23 Rebels Trigger Humanitarian Crisis Amid Regional Tensions

4Mar

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African Union, Congo, News, Rwanda

M23 Rebels Trigger Humanitarian Crisis Amid Regional Tensions

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is grappling with a deepening crisis as the M23 rebel group intensifies its campaign in the country's mineral-rich east, displacing tens of thousands and exacerbating one of the world's most severe humanitarian emergencies. As of today, over 50,000 people have fled their homes due to forced conscriptions and violent clashes, with the rebels' recent territorial gains reigniting fears of a broader regional conflict. M23's Rapid Advance and Forced Conscriptions The M23, a Tutsi-led militia widely believed to be backed by Rwanda, has made significant strides in eastern DRC since late 2024. The group captured Goma, the bustling capital of North Kivu province, in late January, followed by Bukavu, the South Kivu provincial capital, in mid-February. The...

Guinea-Bissau’s President Threatens to Expel ECOWAS Mission

3Mar

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ECOWAS, Guinea-Bissau, News

Guinea-Bissau’s President Threatens to Expel ECOWAS Mission

Political tensions in Guinea-Bissau reached a boiling point on Monday as President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s threat to expel a mediation mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) dominated headlines across Africa. The dramatic standoff, which saw the ECOWAS team abruptly depart the country over the weekend, has raised fresh concerns about stability in the coup-prone West African nation and the broader region’s unity. The ECOWAS mission, deployed in late February to broker a resolution to an ongoing election dispute, left Bissau in the early hours of March 1 after what the regional bloc described as explicit threats from President Embalo. The delegation had been tasked with facilitating dialogue between the government and opposition parties over the timing of legis...

Retreating Congolese Army Leaves Child Soldiers in Bukavu

19Feb

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Armed Forces, Congo, News, Rwanda, Violence

Retreating Congolese Army Leaves Child Soldiers in Bukavu

BUKAVU, Democratic Republic of Congo – In the ongoing crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Congolese army's retreat from the city of Bukavu has left a vacuum that not only M23 rebels but also children have filled, taking up arms amid the chaos. This development underscores the desperate security situation in the region as M23 rebels, with alleged support from Rwanda, continue their advance, challenging the sovereignty of Congo's eastern borderlands. A City Under Siege: Reports from the ground indicate the M23 rebels have entered Bukavu, a significant commercial and mining hub, following their capture of Goma, the largest city in the area, earlier this month. The Congolese army, known as FARDC, has reportedly withdrawn from strategic positions to avoid urban c...

Inflation Report: “Our Reality on the Ground is Different”

19Feb

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Cost of Living, Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria

Inflation Report: “Our Reality on the Ground is Different”

Bloomberg's recent announcement of Nigeria's inflation rate dropping to 24.48% in January 2025 has sparked widespread skepticism and outright rejection among Nigerian citizens. Despite the National Bureau of Statistics' (NBS) claim of a significant decrease from December's 34.80%, many Nigerians argue that the data does not reflect their daily economic struggles. The NBS attributed the drop to a rebasing of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a move intended to update the basket of goods and services used to measure inflation. However, this statistical adjustment has not translated into tangible relief for the average Nigerian. Public Reaction: In the bustling markets of Lagos, traders like Mrs. Adaeze Okonkwo, who sells staple foods, expressed frustration. "They say inflation is down...

12Feb

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Africa

African Union Summit 2025

Addressing Conflicts, Resource Competition, and Development Setbacks in Ethiopia The 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit commenced today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations." The summit, a pivotal gathering of African heads of state, ministers, and international delegates, has placed conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), resource competition, and development setbacks at the forefront of its agenda. As the continent grapples with escalating crises, the AU faces mounting pressure to deliver actionable solutions and demonstrate leadership in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. The summit opened with a powerful call for unity from Ethiopian Foreign Minister Ged...

Militant Attack in Mali Leaves Dozens Dead

10Feb

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Mali

Militant Attack in Mali Leaves Dozens Dead

- Russian Paramilitaries Involved BAMAKO, MALI—A devastating militant attack in central Mali has left at least 25 civilians dead, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the country’s ongoing struggle with insurgency. The assault, which occurred on February 8, 2025, targeted a convoy of vehicles escorted by Malian military forces and Russian paramilitaries, underscoring the volatile security situation in the Sahel region. The victims, mostly gold miners, were ambushed near the town of Niono in the Ségou region, a known hotspot for militant activity. The convoy, comprising approximately 60 vehicles, was en route to a gold mining site when it came under heavy fire from unidentified gunmen. According to Colonel Major Souleymane Dembélé, a spokesman for Mali’s military, the attackers ...

Rwanda Accused of Fuelling Congo Conflict

10Feb

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Congo, Rwanda

Rwanda Accused of Fuelling Congo Conflict

African Leaders Demand Action The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached a critical juncture, with African leaders convening an unprecedented joint summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on February 8, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The summit aimed to address the escalating violence fuelled by the M23 rebel group, which the DRC and international observers accuse Rwanda of supporting. The meeting underscored the deepening regional divide, with eastern African nations leaning toward dialogue and southern African states condemning Rwanda’s alleged role in the crisis. The leaders called for an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of foreign forces from Congolese soil, and direct talks with the rebels—a...

U.S. Freezes Aid to South Africa Over Land Reform Law

10Feb

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Economy, Human Rights, News, South Africa, United States of America

U.S. Freezes Aid to South Africa Over Land Reform Law

- Trump Offers Refuge to White Farmers U.S. President, Donald Trump, has reignited global debates over race, land rights, and international diplomacy, by signing an executive order on February 7, 2025, halting all foreign aid to South Africa. The decision comes in response to South Africa’s controversial new land reform law, which Trump claims discriminates against the country’s white minority, particularly Afrikaner farmers. The executive order also outlines plans to prioritize the resettlement of Afrikaners in the United States as refugees, a proposal that has drawn both praise and sharp criticism. The land reform law, signed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in January 2025, allows the government to expropriate land without compensation in specific cases—such as when the...

Five Years On: What Has become of the AfCFTA?

10Feb

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Africa, Economy, News, Trade

Five Years On: What Has become of the AfCFTA?

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was ambitiously launched with the goal of transforming trade across Africa, creating what would be the world's largest free-trade zone by connecting 1.3 billion people and aiming for an additional $450 billion in revenue by 2035. However, five years after its signing in 2019, questions arise about its implementation and overall impact. The Promise of AfCFTA The AfCFTA was designed to dismantle trade barriers, reduce tariffs on 90% of goods by 2034, and foster a single market for goods and services across 55 African countries. It was seen as a pivotal step towards economic integration, promising to elevate intra-African trade, stimulate industrial growth, and enhance economic competitiveness. Early transactions under this framework, suc...

Opinion: Nigeria Strategic Infrastructure Monopoly by Kalu Aja

6Feb

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Economy, Infrastructure, News, Nigeria, Transportation

Opinion: Nigeria Strategic Infrastructure Monopoly by Kalu Aja

Nigeria, the top economy in West Africa, has seven main ports 1. Lagos Port Complex: Lagos State; 94% of exports and 76% of imports according to NBS Q4 2023 2. Tin Can Island Port Complex: Lagos State; 3% of exports and 8% of imports 3. Lekki Deep Sea Port: Lagos State 4. Onne Port Complex: Located in Rivers State 5. Rivers Port Complex: Located in Rivers State 6. Calabar Port Complex: Cross River State 7. Delta Port Complex: Located in Warri, Delta State Nigeria's most important port is the Lagos Port Complex. That single port in Apapa is the key export and import point for over 200m Nigerians. In 2024, it was reported that the “Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had allocated more than $200 million over the past decade to dredging operatio...