News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts simply need not be believed— and when irrefutable they are just pushed aside as inconsequential, as incidental.”
HIGHLIGHTS
DRC conflict reheats after lull
Boko Haram hits northern Cameroon
Continuation of Trump/Musk vs SAfrica
Migrants were shot before buried in Libya
New AU commission poised to be elected at summit.
TOP NEWS
EASTERN AFRICA
WEST AFRICA
SOUTHERN AFRICA
NORTH AFRICA
united nations
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
EASTERN AFRICA
DR CONGO
The DRC Crisis/War:
Rebels attack DR Congo army ending lull in fighting
M23 rebels have attacked Congolese government forces in the South Kivu province, breaking a two-day lull in fighting. They are now pushing towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivuummit of East and Southern African leaders called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. The rebels have seized vast swathes of land in the eastern DR Congo, including the major city of Goma. They are now pushing towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu – another key city in the region. Tuesday’s fighting erupted near Ihusi, a locality around 70km (43 miles) from Bukavu and 40km from the South Kivu’s airport. A spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance (known by its French acronym AFC), an alliance of rebel groups including the M23, suggested its fighters could take their battle to Bukavu.
African leaders await response to call for ceasefire in eastern DRC
African leaders trying to solve the fighting in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo between the M23 armed group and Congolese government forces were on Sunday [9 February] waiting for a response to their call for military chiefs from both sides to thrash out a peace deal. In a final communique from their two-day summit in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, two dozen heads of state from eastern and southern African countries urged the commanders to meet within five days and provide technical details for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
South Africa’s military reinforces besieged DRC mission
South Africa has sent additional troops and military equipment to Democratic Republic of Congo in recent days, political and diplomatic sources said after 14 of its soldiers were killed in fighting with M23 rebels last month. The South African reinforcement comes amid fears that fighting in eastern Congo could spark a broader war in a powderkeg region that has over the past three decades witnessed genocide, cross-border conflicts and dozens of uprisings. The SANDF spokesperson said on Friday he was not aware of the deployment to Lubumbashi…about 1,500 km (930 miles) south of Goma, the eastern city on Rwanda’s border that the M23 rebels seized last month during an offensive that has killed over 2,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Bukavu under threat as M23 rebels warn of intervention
M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo threatened on Tuesday to advance on the provincial capital of Bukavu, citing a “dangerously deteriorating” situation. The rebels seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, at the end of January but had paused their march towards the capital of South Kivu province after declaring a unilateral ceasefire… Heavy shelling was reported along the frontline on Tuesday morning, rebel, military and local sources said. Bukavu and the strategic town of Kavumu 35 km to the north are still under the control of the Congolese army. Panic has gripped the area since runaway soldiers looted villages and carried out acts of violence against civilians, prompting the arrest of over 80 soldiers.
SAfrica calls for withdrawal of ‘uninvited troops’ from DRC
President Ramaphosa said on Monday that a process should be set in place for the withdrawal of “uninvited foreign armed forces” from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “We have a responsibility to support all efforts to bring peace and stability to our fellow African nation, which has been racked by war for more than three decades,” Ramaphosa said in a statement after a joint summit of the leaders of EAC and SADC. The summit “affirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC,” said Ramaphosa.” This means that a process must be developed for uninvited foreign armed forces to withdraw from the DRC.” He also said that measures taken in the summit would “finally lead to the drawdown” of the troops from SADC mission in Congo.
Could a rebellion in eastern Congo widen into a regional war
The M23 rebels ‘ capture of the city of Goma last month and their reported advance on another provincial capital have drawn in concerned countries from east and southern Africa. A joint meeting of leaders from those regions over the weekend offered no strong proposals for ending the fighting beyond urging talks and an immediate ceasefire. Notably, they didn’t call for the rebels to withdraw from Goma…But there are concerns that long-shifting alliances in the region also could lead to a collective collapse. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi had sought the help of allies in the region and beyond when the M23 rebels resurfaced at the end of 2021. Troops from Burundi and Tanzania were deployed in Congo under the banner of a regional bloc. And Uganda had already deployed hundreds of troops to fight a different rebel group in eastern Congo. Also included were mercenaries and troops from the southern Africa regional bloc that Rwanda alleges are collaborators with Congo’s army.
Goma: The elusive peace and the human cost of DRC conflict
A short-lived ceasefire in eastern DRC for weeks has revealed the human cost of the conflict in Goma city – hospital wards choked with wounded civilians, destroyed infrastructure and a spiralling food shortage. Beneath the veneer of relative calm now, lies an unsettling picture of civilian suffering. Water and electricity are not fully restored, and roads leading to the city have been blocked. Hospital wards are teeming with patients nursing gunshot wounds. The United Nations estimates that nearly 3,000 people were killed and almost 3,000 injured over the last two weeks. These numbers will likely be revised upwards. The UN has flagged inadequate medical supplies, fuel and staff as the most critical challenges in managing the current situation.
OpEd: DRC conflict: talks have failed to bring peace. Is it time to try sanctions?
ETHIOPIA
At least 26 killed in Ethiopia bus crash
At least 26 people have been killed after the bus they were travelling in overturned in Oromiya, Ethiopia’s largest region, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting reported on Tuesday. The bus was travelling from Shambu, in the west of the country, to the capital Addis Ababa, Fana reported, quoting the East Wollega Zone traffic safety inspector, Asnake Mesfin. Asnake said another 42 people were injured and added the death toll could rise. There were no further details immediately available. Deadly traffic accidents are common in Ethiopia, where driving standards are poor and many vehicles are badly maintained. At least 71 people died in late December in the southern Sidama region when a truck packed with passengers plunged into a river.
KENYA
Debate over Ruto’s scrapping of vetting requirement for Northern Kenya ID applicants
Just a few days after President William Ruto annulled the 60-year-old ban that required residents of border areas to undergo screening before obtaining ID cards during his visit to Wajir County, the decision has angered some Kenyans. The opposition, led by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, alleges that it is part of President Ruto’s plan to secure more votes and turn the region into his stronghold ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In Search of Economic Boost, Kenya Sends Workers Abroad
Sending workers abroad has been at the core of development strategies of Asian countries but not widely embraced in sub-Saharan Africa. That is starting to change. For the government of Kenya and jobseekers alike, the logic of turning to overseas employment is simple: about a million Kenyans enter the workforce each year, but only a fifth find formal jobs. Work in targeted countries pays considerably more than in Kenya, and part of the income is remitted to family members at home. Central to the government’s calculus are stark demographic trends. The United Nations projects that Africa’s working-age population will grow by about 1.5 billion by 2100, and that by 2050, it will be the only region in the world with a falling ratio of dependents to working-age people.
Reflections on 60 Years of Strengthening Military Professionalism in Kenya
Kenya has made a purposeful and sustained effort to create a culture of military professionalism within its armed forces since independence. This process has included continuous efforts to upgrade its professional military education system. It has been further supported by the active engagement of the Kenyan Parliament and provisions adopted in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution. While every country’s path to establishing military professionalism is unique, Kenya’s ongoing effort to inculcate and strengthen a culture of military professionalism holds lessons that may be applicable elsewhere. To gain a deeper understanding of Kenya’s experience, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies spoke with several current and former Kenyan officers to gain their perspectives on how the Kenyan Defence Force’s culture of military professionalism has evolved.
SOMALIA
Islamic State hits back at Puntland
The Islamic State armed group attacked military bases in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland state overnight with suicide car and motorbike bombs, a military official said on Tuesday. Puntland announced a major offensive against Islamic State and a rival Islamist group, al Shabaab, in December and claims to have since killed dozens of foreign fighters, captured several IS bases, and forced a senior commander to surrender…The Islamic State faction in Somalia has become an increasingly important part of its parent organization’s worldwide network in recent years, and was the target of U.S. air strikes earlier this month.
Somalia warns about businesses paying extortion to Al-Shabaab
Somalia’s government Saturday sent stern warnings to businesses and individuals that pay extortion money to al-Shabab, saying the full force of the law would be brought against traders and individuals who pay the militant group. Officials said that any business found to have paid or collaborated with al-Shabab in any way would “face legal action,” including having their government-issued trading permits revoked…Saturday’s government warning follows the conclusion of the 7th Prosecutors’ Conference of Somalia in Mogadishu this week, which marked a significant step in the nation’s fight against terrorism financing.
SOMALILAND
President in the UAE for World Governments Summit 2025
The newly elected and 6th President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro, spoke at the World Government Summit 25 in Dubai, highlighting his nation’s history, strategic location and vision for the future. His speech emphasized the need for global engagement in Somaliland’s development and recognition. The World Government Summit 25 provides a forum where global leaders and organizations gather to discuss ‘Shaping Future Governments.’ The summit aims to foster collaboration and drive innovative solutions for future governance challenges.
@WorldGovSummit
SOUTH SUDAN
UN reports at least 80 killed as violence flares in Southern Sudan
The United Nations announced that renewed violence in southern Sudan has resulted in at least 80 deaths while increasing regional tensions. The fighting that started earlier this week stems from communal clashes and armed group activities which worsen the region’s unstable security situation. UN officials report that the ongoing violence has forced thousands of civilians to leave their homes as they seek sanctuary in adjacent areas. The worsening security climate makes aid distribution challenging, according to humanitarian agencies, because essential supplies face looting and destruction. Experts worry that the violence will expand further if swift action is not taken to control the humanitarian crisis.
President fires two vice-presidents
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday night dismissed Vice-Presidents James Wani Igga and Hussein Abdelbagi, along with National Security Service head Akech Tong Aleu, in a presidential decree. Abdelbagi had held the position since 2020 under the terms of the revitalized peace agreement. Kiir reassigned Wani Igga as Secretary-General of the ruling SPLM party after his removal as vice president. Akech Tong Aleu was dismissed after only four months in office. No official reason has been provided for the removal of the top government officials. South Sudan is one of the few countries with five vice-presidents, a structure established under the 2018 peace agreement.
IGAD approves new chair to monitor peace in South Sudan
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, has endorsed the appointment of George Aggrey Owinow of Kenya as the new chair of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the South Sudan peace monitoring body said on Sunday [9 February]. Owinow, a retired major-general, was nominated by the Kenyan government and approved by IGAD to replace Charles Tai Gituai, who served in the same capacity since August 2020, the RJMEC said a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
SUDAN
The Sudan Crisis:
Sudan humanitarian crisis ‘worst in world’, says AU
African Union officials on Tuesday branded Sudan’s civil war the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world” and warned it was leaving hundreds of thousands of children malnourished. It “has hampered access to humanitarian relief, led to shortage of food and aggravated hunger,” Mohamed Ibn Chambas, chairman of an AU panel on Sudan, said Tuesday on X. “Children and women are continually abused, and the elderly and sick lack medical assistance,” he added. “This is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.” A senior AU official for child welfare added “We witness reports of grave violations, including attacks on schools and hospitals, forced recruitment of child soldiers, and the denial of humanitarian access.”
Sudan’s army nears it’s biggest victory of the war
Sudan’s army is edging closer to recapturing the country’s capital Khartoum in what allies of its leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said would be their most significant victory in two years of brutal civil war. The army claimed to have recaptured nearly all of Khartoum North, across the Blue Nile river from the city centre, during intense fighting with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemeti. A former military officer in touch with units on the ground said Sudanese Armed Forces were now within 2km of the presidential palace, with RSF resistance concentrated in the partially destroyed city centre in the south. The army claims to have captured all but a small part of Kafouri, the once-affluent northern part of the city where the RSF had its stronghold…The recapture of Khartoum would be a huge victory for the SAF but would leave the country split between army-controlled areas of the east and the west, including Darfur, most of which is controlled by the RSF.
UAE proposes Sudan ceasefire; army rejects the call
The United Arab Emirates called on Tuesday for a ceasefire in Sudan during the coming holy month of Ramadan, a UAE official said, a call rejected by the Sudanese army, as the country’s civil war approaches the two-year mark. The army considers the UAE to be an aggressor of the war, accusing it of arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, accusations U.N. experts and U.S. lawmakers have said are credible. The UAE denies these charges. On Monday the Sudanese government rejected the summit idea, saying it represented a “crime and aggression against an African nation seeking to protect its land and sovereignty,” given the UAE’s alleged complicity in the war…
The ‘Tagadum’ coalition is officially dissolved
The Coordination of the Civil Forces Alliance “Tagadum”, a prominent Sudanese civilian coalition, has officially announced its dissolution following internal disputes over the formation of a parallel government in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The anti-war coalition, led by Abdallah Hamdok, held a meeting on Monday to discuss “the issue of legitimacy (in Sudan) and the position on the concept of establishing a government as one of the accepted means of dealing with this issue.” Calls to form a parallel government in RSF-controlled territories led to divisions among the coalition’s blocs. The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), which includes armed groups in Darfur and groups from eastern Sudan, along with some civil society bodies and organizations, supported it.
UN accuses paramilitaries of blocking aid to Darfur
The United Nations on Monday accused Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of blocking aid to the war-torn country’s famine-threatened Darfur region. The RSF, which has been at war with the regular army since April 2023, controls nearly all of Darfur, a western region the size of France. Since May, it has besieged North Darfur’s El-Fasher and attacked displacement camps nearby…Famine has been declared in three areas of North Darfur and is expected to spread to five more by May, according to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification…Since the war began, humanitarian workers have reported obstruction by both sides, looting of aid and threats against relief staff. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted 12 million and created the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises.
OpEd: Peace in Sudan: what it’s going to take
UGANDA
Detained Ugandan politician starts hunger strike
Detained Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye has begun a hunger strike as his time spent in detention awaiting trial nears three months. Besigye, 68, was charged in a military court with possession of pistols and attempting to purchase weapons abroad – accusations which he denies. Besigye was dramatically abducted while visiting Kenya and forcibly taken to Uganda, where he was charged along with an aide, Obeid Lutale. In a landmark ruling last month, Uganda’s Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional for military courts to try civilians, ordering the transfer of all such cases to civilian courts. The move angered President Museveni, who dismissed it as “a wrong decision” and vowed to challenge the ruling.
Uganda to miss 2025 planned start of oil production
Uganda will not begin oil production this year, a government spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development said on Tuesday, missing a long-standing target to begin extracting crude from its western fields this year. Hurdles including disagreements with international oil firms over taxes and development strategy and slow progress in the construction of requisite infrastructure have repeatedly delayed the start of production. The fields, estimated to contain 6 billion barrels of crude reserves, according to government geologists, are being developed by France’s TotalEnergies and China’s CNOOC. The two firms, alongside the Ugandan and Tanzanian governments, are also developing a $5 billion pipeline to help export the crude via a port on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast.
WEST AFRICA
ALLIANCE OF SAHEL STATES (AES)
OpEd: Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali exit: ECOWAS and AES face uncertain future
From the future of monetary sovereignty in the region to trade relations and fragile security alliances, the implications of the AES breakaway move could reshape the future of regional integration in West Africa.
CAMEROON
Boko Haram leave trail of destruction in the north
In the past week, communities in Kolofata in northern Cameroon, suffered from a fresh wave of violence and kidnappings as suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched multiple attacks on villages in the region. The Kolofata district, which shares a border with Nigeria, has been a long standing target of the insurgents, who have exploited the porous borders to launch attacks on civilians. Over the past three days, insurgents have abducted two children and an elderly man, looted homes, and set an entire village on fire, leaving at least three people dead, locals told HumAngle…These latest attacks have reinforced fears that Boko Haram remains a persistent threat in northern Cameroon, despite years of military operations aimed at weakening the group. Residents of Kerawa say their community has been at the frontline of violent incursions since 2014 when they were first attacked and displaced, and the situation is only getting worse.
GHANA/BURKINA FASO
Why some Ghanaians are fighting in insurgency-hit Burkina Faso
Three Ghanaians have spoken their involvement in the fighting between Islamist insurgents and the military in neighbouring Burkina Faso, describing scenes of sometimes indiscriminate violence and bloody battles. “We are always with the dead. In some battles, I’ve seen 40, 50 or 100 dead people,” one of the men said. The three, all in their late thirties or early forties, said they had fought in Burkina Faso multiple times since 2018. They crossed the porous 550km-long (340-mile) border between the two countries, without being detected by the security forces. They denied being primarily motivated by religion or being trained by the jihadists, saying they went to fight to defend civilian communities with whom they had strong family and ethnic ties… In 2022, a France-based NGO, Promediation, said its research showed that the jihadists had recruited between 200 and 300 young Ghanaians. And the Netherlands Institute of International Relations think-tank, in a report released last July, external, said the jihadists had “minimal success” recruiting in Ghana. However, the men offered a different perspective, claiming that people from “all parts of Ghana” and from “many” ethnic groups were joining the insurgency in Burkina Faso. “Some are fighting for jihad. Some are doing it for business,” one of them said.
IVORY COAST
Dry season in Ivory Coast triggers cocoa shortage fears
A lack of rain in most of Ivory Coast’s cocoa-growing regions could delay the start of the April-to-September mid-crop, potentially leading to a shortage of beans, the main ingredient in chocolate, farmers said this Monday. Farmers said they no longer expected beans of good quality at the start of the mid-crop season in April as the soil moisture content was weak and the heat was drying leaves on trees. They warned that if plantations don’t receive two abundant rains before the end of February, the mid-crop would start slowly with a possible shortage of beans in April. Farmers from the country’s central regions said they were concerned about the development of the mid-crop harvest because some trees had started to show signs of weakness due to a prolonged lack of adequate rains.
LIBERIA
War crimes tribunal to be established
Liberia’s President Joseph Nyuma Boakai endorsed a majority legislative vote in August 2024 to set up the long-awaited tribunal. Since then, the international community, including France, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, and the United States, whose courts have already tried and sentenced some Liberian war criminals, has welcomed the decision to establish the court, as has the United Nations. Meanwhile, President Boakai and Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, are engaged in a continuous diplomatic effort worldwide to seek support for the court, which will prosecute those most responsible for gross human rights violations during the country’s two civil wars, which lasted 14 years and ended in 2003. The conflict resulted in an estimated 250,000 deaths, countless amputations, and widespread rape of girls and women, alongside a looming ethnic crisis and immeasurable destruction of both private and public infrastructure.
NIGERIA
What’s fuelling tanker explosions in Nigeria?
Fuel tanker explosions triggered by road accidents are being reported with alarming frequency. In September last year, a tanker collided with a truck carrying passengers and cattle in Niger State, killing 59. On January 18, tragedy struck again in Niger State costing 100 lives. About a week later, Enugu State was mourning over 20 deaths in an accident involving a fuel-laden tanker. Over 300 people have been killed in petrol tanker accidents in the past few months alone…from 2009 onwards at 1,896 in 172 tanker accidents. The agency, which oversees the transportation of petroleum products in Nigeria, lists reckless driving and ignorance of road safety guidelines, poor condition of some of our roads, and the ramshackle condition of some tankers as the leading causes of these accidents.
SENEGAL
English started in nursery and primary schools
More than 600 classes in Senegal have been testing a new programme of teaching English in nursery and primary schools since mid-January in a push for better connectivity with the wider world. The developing country, which has seen a massive youth boom but also an exodus of young people searching for a better life…Senegal is a member of the Francophonie group of French-speaking nations and uses French in public schools and in administration. Students also learn Arabic and the country’s national languages. Until recently, English was only taught in public high schools and universities…The initiative has been praised by Ousmane Sene, director of the Dakar-based West African Research Centre (WARC), which handles academic exchanges between US and west African universities. “English is the most common language at an international level and it’s the most used language in diplomacy and international cooperation, so it’s an additional asset,” Sene told AFP.
SIERRA LEONE
Social media ‘Influencer’ arrested on ‘Live TV’
Hawa Hunt, a dual Canadian and Sierra Leonean citizen, was arrested on 22 December while starring in House of Stars, a reality TV show, for comments she made on social media about the president of Sierra Leone and the first lady in May 2023. In a 25-minute video, Hunt, a 42-year-old fitness and wellbeing influencer who has more than 100,000 followers across Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, criticised Julius and Fatima Maada Bio. She faces two counts of “transmitting insulting messages via a computer system” in accordance with the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021…Alicia [Hunt] believes her mother’s arrest is politically motivated. She said her mother and Fatima Maada Bio went to school together and had engaged online before.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
Trump/Musk vs SAfrica:
Musk may be allowed to bypass Black ownership rules
The South African government is considering ways for Elon Musk’s companies to invest in the country without complying with the nation’s Black empowerment rules, three people familiar with the matter told Semafor. South Africa’s government last year spoke to the billionaire about investing in his country of birth after Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, approached the government over securing regulatory approval. Under the country’s Black economic empowerment policy, introduced nearly 30 years ago to reduce apartheid-era inequality, at least 30% of the South African operation of any Musk-owned company such as Tesla or Space X would have to be sold or donated to Black locals.
How a White Fringe Group Drew Trump’s Ire on South Africa
A White Afrikaans rights group’s years of lobbying right-wing US politicians culminated in President Donald Trump on Friday falsely accusing South Africa of seeking to seize land from “ethnic minority Afrikaners” and withholding financial aid to the nation. The accusation of racist policy against the country that overcame apartheid sparked an unusually united condemnation across the South African political spectrum. But the fringe groups that have spent years promoting the narrative that the government is oppressing the White minority that once ruled the country said Trump had a point — even as they tried to roll back some of their most alarmist rhetoric in the face of a surprisingly aggressive US response. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress, blamed AfriForum for its “racist distortions” that “mislead the global community and protect apartheid-era land ownership patterns.”
Zuma’s party accuses white group of treason over Trump attack
The MK party filed a treason complaint on Monday against a group championing the white Afrikaner minority after Donald Trump attacked South Africa’s new law aimed at redistributing white-owned land, and signed an executive order last week cutting financial aid. The group, AfriForum, has lobbied against the land law in U.S. media and political circles, portraying it as part of a wider onslaught against Afrikaners. In a criminal complaint, MK, the party of ex-president Jacob Zuma, accused AfriForum of spreading misinformation to influence Trump. Supporters sang anti-apartheid songs outside Cape Town’s central police station. AfriForum’s CEO Kallie Kriel said in a statement the accusation of treason was absurd. The Trump administration said the United States would welcome Afrikaners as refugees, lending credence to AfriForum’s complaint that they are being persecuted.
The stark divide that South Africa’s land act seeks to bridge
The law which President Cyril Ramaphosa signed last month partly seeks to redress stark economic inequalities, which allows the government to expropriate land – in rare cases without compensation – has reignited racial tensions that have dogged Africa’s southernmost tip ever since European settlers began arriving nearly four centuries ago. For nervous owners, it is an assault on property rights, a view shared by U.S. President Donald Trump. Spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of International Affairs Chrispin Phiri said it was false that the act enabled “land seizure or confiscation. This misrepresentation fuels unwarranted fears … that white South Africans … are being targeted,” he said. White-owned farms are among the nearly 26 million hectares – about three quarters of privately-owned land – still in the hands of whites, who make up 8% of the population. Only 4% of privately-held land is owned by Blacks who are nearly 80% of South Africa’s 60-million population.
“The PayPal Mafia”: Meet the South African Oligarchs Surrounding Trump, from Elon Musk to Peter Thiel
Part 1: President Trump’s targeting of South Africa is clearly tied to his influential adviser Elon Musk and a coterie of wealthy U.S. oligarchs, “all of whom in some way or other grew up in South Africa as children.” These men are known as the “PayPal mafia” due to their involvement in the founding of the financial tech company PayPal, explains reporter Chris McGreal. McGreal, a former South Africa correspondent for The Guardian, outlines Musk’s pro-apartheid and neo-Nazi family history, which appears to form the basis of his adherence to a right-wing ideology that believes white South Africans “are the victims of the end of apartheid” and at risk of a “white genocide.”
Part 2: “What does Elon Musk believe?” and “How the roots of the ‘PayPal mafia’ extend to apartheid South Africa.”: Reporter Chris McGreal, who was Johannesburg correspondent for The Guardian during the last years of apartheid through 2002. His new pieces for The Guardian are headlined “What does Elon Musk believe?” and “How the roots of the ‘PayPal mafia’ extend to apartheid South Africa.” Elon Musk was born in 1971 in Johannesburg, and McGreal discusses Musk’s grandfather, Joshua Haldeman, who immigrated to South Africa in 1950 when apartheid became “in many ways reminiscent of the Nazi Nuremberg laws against Jews in the 1930s. They have very similar echoes in stripping Black people of the right to work in certain places, their movements, controlling them, confining them to areas.”
2 Guardian articles on Elon Musk and the PayPal founders links with apartheid-era South Africa
1) What does Elon Musk believe?
2) How the roots of the ‘PayPal mafia’ extend to apartheid South Africa
South Africa Halts Search for Trapped Illegal Miners Over Safety Concerns
Authorities on Monday suspended rescue operations for an unspecified number of alleged illegal miners trapped in an abandoned mine shaft west of Johannesburg due to safety concerns. The operation became too risky to continue, according to an emergency services official, after a pulley system used to enter and exit the mine snapped. Last month, at least 78 bodies were pulled from an illegal gold mine in South Africa after police cut off food and water supplies for months in an attempt to crack down on the activity. Illegal mining is common in many parts of South Africa. Typically, undocumented miners known as zama zamas – from an isiZulu expression for “taking a chance” – move into mines abandoned by commercial miners to extract any remaining resources.
Op-Ed: South Africa’s food poisoning crisis: the government’s response isn’t dealing with the real issues
NORTH AFRICA
LIBYA
Bodies of migrants in Libya mass graves had gunshot wounds, UN says
The UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) expressed “shock and concern” on Monday over gunshot wounds discovered on some of the bodies of migrants recently discovered in two mass graves in Libya following a police raid which saw hundreds rescued from people traffickers. IOM urged the Libyan authorities to ensure “a dignified recovery, identification, and transfer of the remains of the deceased migrants while notifying and assisting their families”.
ICC judges looking into Italy’s release of Libyan fugitive
Judges at the International Criminal Court are investigating whether Italy’s release of a Libyan military officer wanted for war crimes by the tribunal breaches the court’s statute, a court spokesperson said on Monday. Last week Italy’s Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said Rome had no choice but to free ICC suspect Osama Elmasry Njeem because of what he described as mistakes and inaccuracies in the court’s arrest warrant. Njeem was released and flown home to Tripoli two days after being detained last month in northern Italy on the back of the ICC warrant which said he was suspected of the murder, torture and rape of detainees in Libya. The procedure now opened at the ICC could lead to Rome being referred to the court’s governing body or ultimately the United Nations Security Council, which could issue reprimands.
Campaigner for Migrants in Libya says was targeted in Spyware attack
An Italy-based human rights activist whose work supports the international criminal court in providing evidence about cases of abuse suffered by migrants and refugees held in Libyan detention camps and prisons has revealed that Apple informed him his phone was targeted in a spyware attack. David Yambio, the president and co-founder of Refugees in Libya, has been a critic of the Italian government’s migrant pact with the north African country and its recent controversial decision to release Osama Najim, a Libyan police chief wanted by the international criminal court (ICC) for suspected war crimes, including torture, murder, enslavement and rape. Yambio, 27, was an alleged victim of Najim’s abuses during his detention at the notorious Mitiga prison near Tripoli.
MOROCCO
Israel’s Elbit Systems selected as nation’s primary defence supplier
Morocco has selected Israel’s Elbit Systems as its primary defence supplier, securing a deal to acquire 36 Atmos 2000 self-propelled artillery systems, according to French newspaper La Tribune. This move comes amid rising tensions between the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) and France’s defence company KNDS, Morocco’s previous main arms provider, due to persistent technical malfunctions in the Caesar artillery systems, which Morocco ordered in 2020 and partially received in 2022…Morocco and Israel announced a normalisation agreement on 20 December 2020, during US President Donald Trump’s first term, within the framework of the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements pushed by Washington to strengthen relations between Israel and several Arab countries.
Earthquake of magnitude 5.1 hits northern Morocco
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck northern Morocco late Monday, February 10, 2025, at 11:48 p.m. According to initial reports, the epicenter was located approximately 15 kilometers from Ksar El Kébir, with a depth of 10 kilometers. The tremors sent shockwaves through various northern cities, including Tangier, Tetouan, Larache, and even reached the nation’s capital, Rabat. Alarmed residents reported feeling the ground shaking and many took to the streets, seeking safety from potential aftershocks. As of now, there is no reported material damage or casualties.
Northern Morocco sits at the crossroads of two tectonic plates—the African and Eurasian—making the region prone to earthquakes. However, tremors of this intensity are considered relatively uncommon despite the area’s geological activity.
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
New AU commission to be elected as summit gets underway in Addis Ababa
The election of the Africa Union Commission (AUC) senior leadership including the next AUC chairperson for the 2025-2028 period will be a major development at the 38th AU summit, from February 15 to 16, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, officials have said. As part of the summit, the AU Executive Council meeting, comprising foreign ministers from member states, is scheduled from February 12 through 13, followed by the two-day assembly of African heads of state and government starting on February 15. The elections of the AUC senior leadership will be conducted during the Executive Council and assembly sessions, according to a communique issued by the organizers. The three candidates vying for the AUC chairperson position are Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister, Richard Randriamandrato. By design, the next top executive of the AU must come from the East African region which has not produced one ever since the Union was reformed in 2002, which is why all the candidates in the race are from this sub-region.
China builds space alliances in Africa as Trump cuts foreign aid
In its bid to surpass the U.S. in space, and giving China more eyes on the skies (as America slashes help for developing countries) Beijing has 23 bilateral space partnerships in Africa. In the past year, Egypt, South Africa and Senegal agreed to collaborate with China on a future moon base, a project that rivals the United States’ own lunar plans. In a meeting with dozens of African leaders in Beijing in September, Xi said satellites, as well as lunar and deep-space exploration, would be among the priorities for $50 billion in Chinese loans and investment earmarked for Africa over the next three years. Xi’s administration says publicly it is helping boost African space programs because China wants no country left behind as economies and militaries become increasingly reliant on space technology. Privately, China is getting far more in return for its investment.
US aid freeze: Impact and more reaction:
Why African nations may turn to EU as Trump slashes aid
The Trump administration’s decision to exit the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organization, and shutter USAID, may be a chance for the European Union to build better relations with African nations. The US has long been a leading investor in global health, climate action and development aid. But Trump’s sudden directives to reverse the status quo may allow for other powers to expand geopolitical reach by investing heavily in health and climate initiatives, particularly across Africa. When Trump’s administration cut WHO funding in 2020, Germany stepped in to fill the financial gap. The European Union could take a similar approach — but the bigger question is if the EU is ready to play a bigger role in Africa’s future on health, climate, and geopolitics.
Kagame backs Trump’s USAID’s cuts: A call for self-sufficiency?
In a surprising move, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has expressed support for President Donald Trump’s push to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), despite Rwanda being a significant beneficiary of its aid programs. “President Trump has an unconventional way of doing things,” Kagame said in an interview with CNN. “I completely agree with him on many things.” When asked about the potential negative impact on Rwanda, which relies on USAID funding for healthcare and development initiatives, Kagame noted, “I think from being hurt, we might learn some lessons.” Kagame emphasized his skepticism towards foreign aid: “It’s an aid thing which I’ve never been a friend of it, much as I’ve been a beneficiary of it.” He echoed sentiments shared by many across Africa that much foreign assistance is lost to corruption or administrative costs rather than reaching those in need.
Ghana’s President directs urgent action to bridge USAID funding gap
President John Dramani Mahama has directed his Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to take immediate steps to address the significant funding gap caused by the suspension of USAID’s international funding programme. The suspension has left a shortfall estimated at $156 million, with critical health and social intervention programmes at risk of disruption. President Mahama expressed deep concern over the potential impact of the funding gap. Of particular concern is the projected $78.2 million shortfall that threatens essential programmes in malaria prevention, maternal and child health, family planning, reproductive health, nutrition, and the fight against HIV/AIDS.
UNAIDS: HIV infections could jump over 6 times if US support is dropped and not replaced
The head of the U.N. AIDS agency said Monday the number of new HIV infections could jump more than six times by 2029 if American support of the biggest AIDS program is dropped, warning that millions of people could die and more resistant strains of the disease could emerge.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said in an interview. HIV infections have been falling in recent years, with just 1.3 million new cases recorded in 2023, a 60% decline since the virus peaked in 1995. But since President Donald Trump’s announcement, Byanyima said officials estimate that by 2029, there could be 8.7 million people newly infected with HIV, a tenfold jump in AIDS-related deaths and an additional 3.4 million children… made orphans.
Warnings from Ethiopian rights leaders
Masud Gebeyehu Reta, Executive Director of the Ethiopian Human Rights Organisations and a member of the Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations, warns that numerous civil society and humanitarian groups may have to halt their critical operations due the Trump freeze of USAID programs. Recently, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health revealed plans to lay off over 5,000 contracted health workers as a direct consequence of the Trump administration’s 90-day aid freeze…The United States remains the largest provider of foreign aid globally, although some European nations allocate a larger percentage of their budgets to such efforts. Last year, the U.S. provided over $6.5 billion in humanitarian aid to the sub-Saharan region.
OpEd: US health funding cuts: what Nigeria stands to lose
Why Africa has a role to play in developing AI
Heads of state, top government officials, and scientists from around 100 countries have gathered in Paris for a two-day international summit on developing artificial intelligence (AI). Decisions are expected to be reached on AI’s real-world impact and how to take it forward together. The African continent has an important role to play. According to the African Union, AI is a “strategic asset pivotal to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063” (The Africa We Want) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To get a sense of where the continent is, RFI spoke to Paulin Melatagia, head of the research team on IA and data science at Yaounde I University, declared that there are a lot of initiatives across the continent – lots of startups and many public organisations are beginning to invest in the development of AI applications, notably in the fields of health, transportation, and agriculture. They’re being proposed almost every month as part of competitions and hackathons to address Africa-specific issues.
AI & Inequality: African women most likely to be affected
Founding CEO of the Global Center on AI Governance Rachel Adams spoke about how artificial intelligence could exacerbate inequality across Africa, with women likely to be the most affected. “One of the major routes of inequality is around people’s access to work and labour opportunities,” Adams said. Highlighting Africa’s largely informal economy, she noted that those most likely to be affected by AI job displacements are those with the least formal skills, particularly women.
Africa looks to Indian tourists
Indian travelers are poised to play a key role in Africa’s growing tourism industry, according to the CEO of a major European online travel agency. The continent is expected to see significant tourism growth in the years to come, GetYourGuide’s Johannes Reck said. While Africa’s revenue from the sector is a “dip in the ocean” compared to Europe or North America, GetYourGuide is seeing increased interest in Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains, “more sustainable trips on safari in Mozambique or Kenya,” and growing interest in Botswana. India will be integral to African countries’ efforts to lure visitors: Whereas Chinese tourists once drove huge growth in the sector, Indian travelers are increasingly responsible for the industry’s expansion, Reck said. “One of the driving forces in travel in the next 10-20 years will be India. Indian travel to the Middle East and Europe is already strong, and to Africa will increase.”
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Feb. 10: The Red Line rail service in Lagos expands its offering to five morning and four evening trips daily, up from only two morning trips.
Feb. 12: Zambia and Namibia announce their interest rate decisions.
Feb. 12-13: The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha holds a public hearing on a suit between the governments of DR Congo and Rwanda over the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
Feb. 15-16: Addis Ababa hosts the 38th African Union summit.
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