News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I hate it when I can’t operate something on the iPad and the resident tech expert is asleep. Because he’s 9. And it’s way past his bedtime.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Presidents of Congo and Rwanda meet in Qatar
Mali joins Niger and Burkina Faso in quitting group of French-speaking nations
S.Africa remains committed to US ties
France and Algeria feud continues over expulsion policy
8 countries could run out of HIV treatments due to USAID cuts
Colonel may lead as White House Africa chief.
TOP NEWS
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
THE WEEK AHEAD
EASTERN AFRICA
Comoros returns gold bars to Madagascar that soured relations
The Comoros has returned to Madagascar 28 gold bars seized from smugglers at the main airport in 2021, both governments said Friday, concluding a saga that soured relations between the neighbours. The gold, weighing 49 kilogrammes, was discovered in the luggage of three people about to catch a flight from the Comoros to Dubai. The find uncovered a smuggling route by boat from Madagascar to the Comoros, about 800 kilometres away. Two of the men, from Madagascar, were swiftly repatriated to face trial. Five Comorans — including a former airport director and a customs officer — were arrested and sentenced to jail in 2022. However the Comoros held onto the gold, leading Madagascar to suspend sea and air links with its Indian Ocean neighbour. A statement issued by the governments of both countries said the gold had now been returned.
DR CONGO
M23 withdraws from talks after EU sanctions
The M23 armed group said on Monday that it will withdraw from peace talks set for Tuesday in Angola. The M23 rebels had planned direct negotiations with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to end the conflict in the country’s east. But the Congo River Alliance of rebel groups, which includes the M23 group, said it was pulling out of talks because of sanctions imposed by the EU earlier in the day against M23 and Rwandan officials. The rebel group coalition said in a statement that the EU actions were aimed at “obstructing the much-anticipated talks.” Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi had previously refused direct talks with the M23 rebels that have fought the government for more than a decade. But Tshisekedii announced last week he was ready to meet with the M23 group after a meeting with his Angolan counterpart, who has acted as a mediator in the conflict.
Presidents of Congo and Rwanda meet in Qatar
The presidents of Congo and neighboring Rwanda met Tuesday in Qatar for their first direct talks since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two major cities in mineral-rich eastern Congo earlier this year, the three governments said. The meeting between Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame to discuss the insurgency was mediated by Qatar, the three governments said in a joint statement. The summit came as a previous attempt to bring Congo’s government and M23 leaders together for ceasefire negotiations on Tuesday failed. The rebels pulled out Monday after the European Union announced sanctions on rebel leaders. Congo and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire during the meeting in Qatar on Tuesday. Peace talks between Congo and Rwanda were unexpectedly canceled in December after Rwanda made the signing of a peace agreement conditional on a direct dialogue between Congo and the M23 rebels, which Congo refused at the time.
AND
Joint statement between Qatar, DR Congo, Rwanda:
Armed groups said to covet ‘cocoa’ in Kivus
North Kivu is primarily rich in coltan and other minerals that have fuelled the fighting that has ravaged the region for the last three decades. Vast areas have been seized by the M23 rebel group in a lightning offensive since January including the capital Goma. But further north in Beni, cocoa, whose prices have soared on the world market in the last two years, also stokes the violence. Massacres committed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels…have left thousands dead and prevented cocoa farmers from accessing their plantations for years…Cocoa production across the DRC remains relatively marginal, just over one percent of global production. But that is still enough to attract the attention of various armed groups in Beni who fuel smuggling networks to neighbouring Uganda, according to those involved in the sector…Even before the emergence of the ADF in the 2000s, the region was already plagued by attacks from the “sangabalende” –- criminal groups that specialised in cocoa theft and smuggling, said Richard Kirumba, Beni civil society president.
Congo President Tshisekedi meets US lawmaker amid talk of mineral deal
Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi has met U.S. lawmaker Ronny Jackson to discuss fighting in the east of the country and opportunities for U.S. investment, Congo’s presidency said. The meeting took place one week after Washington said it was open to exploring critical minerals partnerships with Congo. A Congolese lawmaker in February contacted U.S. officials to pitch a minerals-for-security deal. A presidency statement described Jackson as a “special envoy” for U.S. President Donald Trump.The government has not publicly detailed a proposal for a deal with the U.S., saying only that it was seeking diversified part nerships. There was no direct mention of minerals in Sunday’s statement. “We want to work so that American companies can come and invest and work in the DRC. And to do that, we have to make sure that there is a peaceful environment,” Jackson was quoted as saying in the statement.
Explainer: Why does DRC want an Ukraine-like minerals deal with Trump, amid conflict?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is having “daily exchanges” with the United States government with the aim of securing a minerals-for-security deal, Congolese officials have told the media. The move comes amid escalating violence in the East African country. The rebel M23 armed group has seized territory in areas rich in gold and coltan, an important mineral used in the manufacturing of electronic gadgets. Although there are no details of an official proposal for a deal with the US, DRC legislators appear to be hoping that the US will deploy troops to help contain the conflict in exchange for rights to the minerals. Analysts, however, say it is unclear whether such an alliance would align with US President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, and that Washington would be more likely to take a less hands-on approach under any deal. Here’s what we know so far about the DRC’s proposal.
ETHIOPIA
Tigrayans fear fresh Ethiopian conflict
People living in Mekelle, the main city in Ethiopia’s war-scarred Tigray, fear they could soon be dragged into conflict again. Growing tensions threaten the fragile peace agreement signed in late 2022, which brought an end to a brutal civil war that claimed an estimated half a million lives. Many here are preparing for the worst – either leaving for the federal capital, Addis Ababa, on sold-out flights, or stocking up on emergency supplies and withdrawing their savings from the bank. Tigray was the epicentre of the conflict. The guns were silenced when two of the main warring groups, Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the leading political party in the region, signed a peace agreement… in recent months there has been a growing power struggle between senior figures within TPLF and Tigray’s interim administration. Both sides accuse each other of engaging in treasonous activities that involve “external actors”. There are now concerns the peace agreement could unravel, and even fears over the prospect of a direct conflict between Ethiopia and its neighbour Eritrea. During the Tigray war, Ethiopia’s government was supported by Eritrea. But relations have deteriorated between the two countries since the peace deal, which Eritrea did not sign. Since then, there seems to be a feeling in Eritrea that it has become the fall guy for the atrocities reportedly committed during the war.
Explainer: Ethiopia’s war may have ended, but the Tigray crisis hasn’t
For over 20 years, Ethiopia was led by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, a coalition of four ethnic-based political parties representing Tigray, Amhara, Oromo, and Southern nations, nationalities and peoples. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front was the most influential party within the coalition. However, in 2018, when the Prosperity Party came into power, the front lost its important role in government. On 4 November 2020, the federal government launched an attack on Tigray, terming it a military offensive against political aggression from the Tigrayan front. This sparked a war that lasted two years. On 2 November 2022, the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front signed a peace deal. More than two years later, however, Tigray still faces immense political and humanitarian challenges. Assefa Leake Gebru, who has studied post-war Tigray, explains what’s happening.
Russia agrees to rebuild Ethiopian Navy after France failed
Ethiopia has taken an important step toward rebuilding its navy by signing a cooperation agreement with Russia, a move prompted by the apparent collapse of an earlier partnership with France. The Ethiopian Navy has a storied past, though it has faced significant challenges. Once known as the Imperial Ethiopian Navy until 1974, it was a modest but capable force founded in the 1950s. However, the navy was disbanded in 1996 following Eritrea’s independence in 1991, which left Ethiopia landlocked and without direct access to the sea. In January 2020, Ethiopia officially reestablished its naval force, though the location of its bases remained unclear due to the country’s landlocked status. France provided some training and expertise, and in early 2024, however the partnership with France faltered, leaving Ethiopia to seek alternative allies. The new agreement with Russia not only provides Ethiopia with a fresh source of expertise but also aligns with Russia’s strategic interests…it offers Russia a foothold in the Horn of Africa, potentially strengthening its position amid shifting global alliances.
KENYA
Kenya hosts Dutch royals as allegations of rights abuses mount in the East African nation
Kenya is hosting the Dutch king and queen as allegations of human rights abuses are mounting in the East African country, with Kenyans writing hundreds of emails and petitioning the royals to cancel their visit. Kenya’s government has been accused of arresting and detaining critics, especially after the June anti-government protests, during which demonstrators stormed parliament and torched a section of the building because they were angry over new taxes passed by legislators. Along with cracking down on demonstrators and curbing free speech, the country also saw state-linked abductions of young men for social media posts deemed offensive to the president. In December, during protests against widespread kidnappings and abductions, dozens of peaceful protesters were arrested. More than 20,000 Kenyans signed the petition on Change.org asking Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to reconsider their visit. There was little excitement from Kenyans on the streets during the first day of the royal visit.
Dutch King ‘challenges’ Ruto on respect for human rights
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands Tuesday urged President William Ruto to ensure rights and freedoms of Kenyans are respected, challenging him to uphold “human rights, good governance and accountability.” The Dutch royal, who arrived in the country Monday evening alongside Queen Máxima, said he would give attention to discussing the issues during his three-day state visit. “The people of Kenya, like those of the Netherlands, want their rights as free citizens to be respected, and their voices be heard,” King Willem-Alexander said at State House, Nairobi, moments after a 21-gun salute rang out in his honour. Willem-Alexander met young Kenyans Tuesday morning at the Dutch ambassador’s residence over human rights issues, with the king saying he was hoping to “hear their views on recent developments”… Willem-Alexander’s discussions with the young Kenyans likely featured the state’s clampdown on last year’s youth-led protests over proposals to hike taxes for basic commodities. The monarch’s remarks follow a futile push by significant sections of Kenyans urging the Dutch Head of State against visiting Kenya.
Govt seeks new IMF deal after abandoning latest review
Kenya and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will discuss a new lending programme and abandon the current one, as the country struggles to get its economy back on track after a borrowing spree led to a surge in debt-servicing costs. The government needs continued financial support from the Fund to keep up with debt repayments that have accumulated as a result of heavy spending in recent years… The government has been scrambling to secure new sources of financing, including efforts to boost domestic revenue collection, to keep up with the debt servicing burden and pay for critical expenditures such as climate change adaptation. Kenya’s total debt-to-GDP stood at 65.7% as of June last year, finance ministry data showed, well above the 55% level considered a sustainable threshold. Last month, it joined a fast-growing club of African nations that have gone to the market in recent months, to borrow cash to pay off maturing debts in a bid to smooth out liabilities and ring-fence critical expenditures like health.
Death in moderation
Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi was a Nigerian working in Kenya, for Teleperformance – a massive French multinational outsourcing company that does work for clients including Google, Meta and TikTok. Her job was as brutal as it was tedious: she watched out for unsavoury content posted to a social media site and removed it if it violated the platform’s standards. Former content moderators have said that the job often involves watching extremely violent posts like beheadings, rape and child pornography. Contractors have to move through such clips at speed for hours on end, getting only short breaks and minimal mental health support.
For Olubunmi, the trauma inherent in the job had been compounded by homesickness. It was neighbours who found her decomposing body in her residence. Olubunmi’s passing has re-ignited a conversation about a Big Tech problem that is just as insidious and prevalent: the poor working conditions of workers who feed the machine through outsourcing firms like Teleperformance. They execute tasks under sweatshop conditions.
RWANDA
Kigali severs relations with Brussels
Rwanda says it has cut diplomatic ties with Belgium and ordered all of their country’s diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, drawing a swift response from Brussels. In a statement on Monday, the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation accused Belgium of “consistently” undermining Kigali “during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo” (DRC)…In turn, Belgium said Rwandan diplomats were no longer welcome in the country…Rwanda’s move came a day after President Paul Kagame accused Belgium of advocating for international sanctions against his country over the conflict in eastern DRC.
SOMALIA
Somali army with ‘foreign’ forces strike Al-Shabaab HQ
The Somali National Army (SNA) destroyed several bases occupied by the Al-Shabaab militants within Jilib town — the official headquarters of the group, and perhaps the only remaining stronghold within Middle Jubba. State media reports that the SNA, with the help of international partners, launched strategic airstrikes within Middle Jubba, targeting the group’s fighters. The region is partially under the control of the Al-Shabaab with minimal government control. “The operation targeted critical sites, including the district headquarters, a guerrilla command center, training camps, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) manufacturing facility, and the residences of senior leaders Hassan Yaqub and Amin,” the statement read. Amin and Hassan Yakub are believed to be senior coordinators of the al-Shabaab activities and have been on the run for several years…In the last two months, the local forces with the help of the international partners, have targeted militants in central and southern regions, killing dozens in the process.
Al-Shabaab targets President’s convoy in Mogadishu
Al Shabaab militants targeted Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a bomb attack on his motorcade as it was travelling through the capital Mogadishu today, the Islamist group said. Two senior government and military officials reported that Mohamud was safe following the attack, and presidential adviser Zakariye Hussein wrote in a post on X that he was “good and well on his way to the front lines.” Soldiers and local residents who witnessed the attack confirmed that the president’s convoy had been hit. A journalist at the scene saw the bodies of four people killed in the assault near the presidential palace. “Our fighters targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as they were leaving the presidential palace and heading to the airport,” Al Shabaab said in a statement posted on the group’s Telegram channel.
Pirates hijack Yemeni ship – again
Suspected Somali pirates have hijacked a Yemeni-flagged fishing boat off the semi-autonomous Puntland region in northeast Somalia, the European Union’s anti-piracy naval force said, the second such incident in as many months. Seven pirates boarded the vessel, which was carrying eight Somali crew members, EU NAVFOR said in a statement on Monday…In February, another Yemeni-flagged fishing vessel was hijacked in the same waters, the naval force said, before it was abandoned by alleged pirates. Somali pirates caused havoc in the waters off the Horn of Africa nation’s long coastline between 2008 and 2018. They had been dormant until late 2023, when pirate activity started to pick up again
SOMALILAND
US considering recognition of Somaliland in exchange for military base
The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the partial recognition of Somaliland in exchange for permission to establish a naval base, according to the Financial Times. An American official who told the FT about the new administration’s first contacts with the leadership of Somaliland shared that discussions have begun on a possible agreement to recognize the de facto state in exchange for creating a military base near the port of Berbera on the Red Sea coast. According to the official, the Trump administration’s African team is still in the early stages of formation, and these “very preliminary, initial contacts” are ongoing. Somaliland, the northern region of Somalia, formed on the territory of the former British protectorate of British Somaliland, separated from Somalia in 1991. This happened after the fall of the regime of dictator Siad Barre, which plunged the country into civil war.
SOUTH SUDAN
Why South Sudan’s crisis poses a dilemma for Riek Machar
As tensions rise in South Sudan over the conflict in Nasir in Upper Nile, in the east of the country, First Vice President Dr Riek Machar may also be considering how this could affect his political relevance. The authorities in Juba have carried out a series of arrests of senior military and cabinet members of Dr Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), accusing them of being in “conflict with the law.” The government in Juba has defended the arrests, saying the individuals were fueling violence by the White Army militia in Nasir against South Sudanese troops. Dr Machar himself remains outside of the dragnet, but his movement has been restricted, technically placing him under house arrest in Juba. Officials say the White Army are troops from the SPLA-IO, the armed wing of Machar’s party. The bigger question, however, is whether Dr Machar and his party will last in the coalition government known as the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU). Dr Machar is also in danger of losing his clout as one of the country’s leading political figures after President Kiir also targeted members of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF,) who are allied to Dr Machar.
Explainer: How South Sudan Returned to the Brink of War
The world’s youngest nation faces the threat of war yet again. This month, a United Nations helicopter was attacked during an evacuation mission in a remote area in South Sudan, with one member of its crew killed. The attack underscored the shaky stability of the East African nation, almost a decade and a half after it gained independence amid hope and fanfare. The latest clashes, and the preceding political tensions, have regional observers fearing the collapse of a peace deal that was agreed on seven years ago. Key questions in South Sudan: Who’s fighting? What led to the latest escalation? Have U.S. aid cuts affected the situation? What role does Uganda play? What happens next?
Juba acknowledges Ugandan deployment
Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters in Juba that Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) “technical and support units” are currently operating in South Sudan under a military agreement between the two nations, originally forged to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The announcement follows a week of government denials after Uganda’s military publicly acknowledged its deployment in Juba to “protect” President Salva Kiir amid rising insecurity. The UPDF’s presence in South Sudan revives memories of Uganda’s controversial military intervention during the 2013-2016 conflict, which drew international scrutiny…“Any civilian in a military zone refusing to leave will be treated accordingly,” [Lueth] said, confirming government airstrikes on Nasir County but denying civilian targeting.
21 killed in South Sudan aerial bombing
At least 21 civilians, including two women and two children, were killed in an aerial bombardment in Nasir town, Upper Nile state, on Sunday night, local officials and residents told Radio Tamazuj. One survivor remains in critical condition… After the attack on Sunday, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba—son of President Yoweri Museveni—announced on social media that Ugandan troops had begun operations in South Sudan to “support” President Salva Kiir’s government amid rising instability. Witnesses accused the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) of carrying out the attack, which they said targeted residential areas and destroyed homes. Last week, Uganda confirmed deploying forces to South Sudan, citing security concerns. The bombing has heightened tensions in Nasir, a strategic border town with Ethiopia, which was seized by the White Army on 4 March. The militia is accused by Kiir’s government of ties to his rival, First Vice President Riek Machar. The two leaders’ forces fought a brutal civil war from 2013 to 2018, killing an estimated 400,000 people.
SUDAN
Army advances into central Khartoum
The Sudanese army advanced in central Khartoum on Sunday, tightening its siege on paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters stationed in the presidential palace and nearby government buildings, the army and witnesses said. On Friday, the commander of the army’s Armoured Corps, Nasr al-Din Abdel Fattah, said the military was nearing the completion of the third phase of its operations to retake the remaining parts of Khartoum state. Early Sunday, Armoured Corps soldiers moved from positions at Al-Hurriya Bridge, which links southern Khartoum to the city centre, and took control of key locations previously held by the RSF, according to pro-army sources…The Armoured Corps media office said the army had taken full control of the Sharoni bus station, the El Nilein Towers, and the Al-Musallamiya Bridge, all located near the presidential palace. Pro-army social media accounts reported that Armoured Corps troops had linked up with forces at the army’s General Command headquarters, cutting off the last remaining route used by the RSF.
RSF Chief vows to fight on in Khartoum
The commander of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) vowed on Saturday to continue fighting and threatened new offensives, signalling a further escalation in the nearly two-year-old conflict. In a video statement, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemetti, said his forces would not withdraw from the presidential palace or the capital, Khartoum… The army has tightened its control around RSF elements in the presidential palace and Al-Mogran after regaining control of most of Khartoum Bahri and large parts of southern Khartoum and Omdurman…Hemetti said countries supporting the Sudanese army, including those providing food supplies, would “pay the price.”…He threatened to invade Port Sudan, a city in eastern Sudan used by the army as an administrative centre and a base for UN agencies and diplomatic missions.
UN warns of deepening humanitarian crisis
United Nations warned on Monday of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, citing a deepening famine, widespread malnutrition, and increasing disease outbreaks amid ongoing fighting and severe aid restrictions. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the siege on Zamzam camp, outside El Fasher in North Darfur was exacerbating the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians. Food shortages have become more severe during Ramadan, with prices of essential goods soaring beyond the reach of most families, OCHA said…There are also growing concerns about improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inside the camp, a partner at Zamzam warned.
WEST AFRICA
BENIN
President rules out 3rd term
Benin President Patrice Talon on Friday said he would not stand for an unconstitutional third term in office but would be watching the choice of his successor closely. The former businessman has been in charge of the small west African nation since 2016 and his second term of office comes to end next year…The question over his succession was revived in September last year when one of his close friends, Olivier Boko, was arrested on suspicion of attempting a coup with the former sports minister Oswald Homeky. The two men were sentenced to 20 years in prison in January for “plotting against the authority of the state”…He said he would also be “careful” about the choice of his successor and intended to ensure that whoever took over does not want to reverse what he said was a decade of reforms…Talon went on to criticise “deteriorating” relations with Benin’s Sahelien neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso and the lack of security cooperation.
BURKINA FASO
Massacre video appears to implicate Govt allies says Rights group
Video footage circulating on social networks of a recent civilian massacre in Burkina Faso appears to implicate government-allied militia, Human Rights Watch said, calling on authorities to investigate and prosecute all those responsible. According to testimonies collected by the watchdog, security forces and allied militias carried out large-scale operations in the Solenzo countryside on Monday and Tuesday, and targeted displaced Fulani in apparent retaliatory attacks against the community, which the government has long accused of supporting Muslim militants…[Burkina Faso] has been shaken by violence from extremist groups and the government forces fighting them, much of it spilling over the border with Mali, and by two ensuing military coups. The military junta, which took power in 2022, failed to provide the stability it promised.
GHANA
President Mahama’s X account restored after hack
President John Mahama’s verified X account was hacked for 48 hours, with cybercriminals using it to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency project, his spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
The breach, which began on Saturday, was first noticed on Sunday when the compromised account started posting endorsements for Solanafrica, falsely claiming to be “led by Ghana’s President John Mahama to make payments across Africa free using the Solana blockchain.”
The hackers urged Mahama’s followers to invest in the scheme, claiming it was an initative to revolutionize financial transactions on the continent. The fraudulent posts were deleted after the President’s team noticed the breach, but the account continued sharing crypto-related content, including hints about the launch of a new meme coin. In July 2023, South African opposition leader Julius Malema’s X account was hacked and used to promote a fraudulent token project. Similarly, in 2022, Nigerian businessman Tony Elumelu’s account was compromised, flooding his timeline with bogus crypto giveaways. Cybersecurity experts warn that high-profile figures must tighten security measures to prevent such breaches.
OpEd: Ghana’s poor are the ones who suffer most from corruption: history offers some ideas about fighting back
GUINEA
Fmr President decries muzzling of opposition
Former Guinean President Alpha Conde, who was overthrown in a 2021 coup, said Saturday that the ruling junta was trying to “subjugate” the opposition after the military suspended his party. The military government led by General Mamadi Doumbouya said Friday it was suspending 28 political parties for three months, including two of the country’s leading formations: Conde’s Rally of the People of Guinea (RPG) and the Union of Republican Forces (UFR) party of Sidya Toure, who like Conde is living abroad. The military government claims these parties failed to meet their obligations to provide bank accounts or hold a congress over the past three months. The military also dissolved 27 parties and placed four other political groups under observation. It authorised 75 parties to continue political activities, including that of exiled opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, on the condition that they hold a congress within the next 45 days. These decisions come amid a tense climate marked by the disappearance of several opposition leaders and severe restrictions on freedoms.
MALI
Mali follows Niger and Burkina Faso in quitting group of French-speaking nations
Mali, which has broken off ties with France, announced Tuesday, March 18, it was quitting an international group of French-speaking countries, a day after its allies Niger and Burkina Faso did the same. “Mali cannot remain a member of an organization whose actions are incompatible with constitutional principles (…) based on the sovereignty of the state,” the foreign ministry said in a letter to its French counterpart, referring to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). Mali was suspended from the organization – a post-colonial entity that resembles the Commonwealth – in August 2020 after a military coup, which toppled its president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. On Monday, fellow junta-led states Burkina Faso and Niger, which have also turned their backs on former colonial power France announced their withdrawal from the OIF. The three have also left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form their own Sahel confederation. Niger was also suspended from the OIF after a military coup toppled its elected president Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023. The OIF is based in Paris and seeks to promote the French language and political, educational, economic and cultural cooperation among its 93 member countries.
NIGER
Relentless* rights abuses since 2023 says Amnesty
Rights abuses and breaches of civil liberties have been “relentless” since Niger’s junta took power two years ago pledging to uphold them while fighting jihadists, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. Niger’s deposed president Mohamed Bazoum has been detained in the west African country with his wife since his ouster in a July 2023 military coup…”Arbitrary detentions have become common and court rulings are not respected,” Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s interim regional director for west and central Africa, said. Amnesty said the constitution had been suspended, the activities of political parties and journalists severely curtailed and prison sentences for defamation reinstated….”If you criticize the government, be sure that you risk being arrested,” the rights monitor said, quoting a civil society member. Amnesty said it had shared the findings with the Niger government on February 13 but there had been no response so far.
NIGERIA
Nigeria finally buys into Africa Free Trade, sees windfall for ports
The AfCTA is touted as world’s largest free trade zone, when fully implemented, designed to open robust economic growth through facilitation of trade among the 55 countries in Africa. But Nigeria is a late entrant, initially reserved about the idea of collapsing barriers to trade, which it saw as potentially killing local industries. Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, the managing director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), says the country now sees itself as a future maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services under AfCFTA. At the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) maritime and logistics sector forum in Lagos on March 4, Dantsoho said AfCFTA was viewed by many as a threat to Nigerian ports because it sought to collapse all trade barriers within the continent. He, however, stated [last] week that for a seaport to maintain its market position, it should improve its competitive edge to stay ahead of its rivals and should respond to new requirements of shipping lines and adapt to the dynamics of port operations.
The Sahel states are taking on foreign mining companies – and winning
Military rulers in the Sahel have turned to more robust approaches to negotiations with the international mining companies that dominate their economies. In 2023, the Burkina Faso government seized 200kg of gold mined by Canadian company, Endeavour Mining, for “public necessity”. Last year it nationalised two gold mines from the same company, paying them $80-million in compensation. The company had previously agreed to sell the mines to another company for $300-million. Last November, the Malian government arrested the chief executive of Resolute Mining, an Australian firm, demanding the company pay a $160-million tax bill. After its boss had spent 10 days enjoying the hospitality of Mali’s military rulers, the company paid up in full…It was the liberalization of the mining sector in the late 2000s that allowed the region to become a major producer. Mining companies got a sweet deal in the form of wide-ranging tax exemptions. Highly profitable mining operations began even as the countries themselves fell apart amid insurgencies and coups. Mali and Burkina Faso are now the second and fourth largest gold producers in Africa.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
MOZAMBIQUE
Civilians reportedly killed by insurgents in the north
Insurgents have carried out new attacks in a gas-rich area of northern Mozambique plagued for years by jihadist violence, killing several villagers and causing others to flee, locals said Monday. Insurgents raided a village in the Meluco district of the Cabo Delgado province early Monday and killed at least one person, they said…A military source confirmed the attack, also on condition of anonymity, and said it caused locals to flee to nearby areas. In another strike blamed on insurgents, three villagers were killed on March 14 in the nearby district of Macomia, a local said. The attackers, who burned down houses and stole supplies, were confronted by a local militia and around five militants were reportedly killed, the villager said.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa committed to US ties after ‘regrettable’ expulsion of envoy
South Africa has said the decision of the United States to expel Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool is “regrettable”, but the country “remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship” with Washington. South Africa’s presidency urged “all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter” in a statement issued on Saturday morning, just hours after US State Secretary Marco Rubio called Rasool a “race-baiting politician” who hates the US and President Donald Trump. But South African political analyst Sandile Swana explains that the “core of the dispute” was Pretoria’s decision to form a genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Israel, a close US ally, over its war on Gaza. In February, Rasool, an anti-apartheid campaigner, told the Zeteo news site that what South Africans experienced during apartheid rule “is on steroids in Palestine”.
ANC veteran is frontrunner for South Africa’s US ambassador role
veteran politician in South Africa’s African National Congress has emerged as the leading candidate to be the country’s next ambassador to the US after the expulsion of its top diplomat in Washington deepened tensions between the nations. Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Carl Nel has emerged as an early favorite, according to three people familiar with the matter. Nel, who is said to be widely respected within the coalition government’s largest party, has been a deputy minister since 2009. South Africa is scrambling to appoint a new ambassador to the United States after Ebrahim Rasool was booted out of Washington last week. Government leaders in Pretoria felt embarrassed after what they described as Rasool’s “indefensible” criticism of US President Donald Trump at a webinar on Tuesday, said the three senior members of the ruling ANC.
Unpacking 2025 budget speech — challenges, dynamics and implications
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ZAMBIA
Rivers of acid
An estimated 2% of all the world’s copper reserves can be found in Zambia. For more than a century, foreign mining companies have flocked to its Copperbelt region to extract this precious resource – often leaving environmental devastation in their wake. The latest disaster happened in the mining town of Chambishi, on 18 February, when a waste storage dam at a Chinese-run copper operation collapsed. The broken dam discharged over 50-million litres of acidic sludge, about three-quarters of what it held, into the Mwambashi River. This made the water so acidic that entire schools of fish began dying within a day of the disaster, their bodies floating onto the riverbanks…The Mwambashi pours into the Kafue River, which runs through five Zambian provinces and is a key water source for millions of people and wildlife. Within two days, water companies as far downstream as Kitwe – 50km from the disaster site – had cut supply to their customers, fearing the contamination of the river system.
Zambians dissatisfied with their economy and the country’s overall direction – poll
An Afrobarometer poll of Zambians found that what they most wanted was the government to address the increasing cost of living. Key findings include: Two-thirds (66%) of Zambians say the country is heading in the wrong direction, a 20- percentage-point increase from 2022; Economic considerations dominate the reasons that Zambians consider emigrating from their country; Nearly three-quarters (73%) of citizens describe the country’s economic condition as “fairly bad” or “very bad’; the poor, less educated, and urban respondents are particularly likely to see the country’s economic condition as bad; Citizens give the government mixed marks on key economic indicators; Ratings are somewhat more positive on improving the living standards of the poor (50%) and creating jobs (56%); Only 36% think the economic situation will get better during the coming year; Two-thirds (66%) of Zambians describe their personal living conditions as “fairly bad” or “very bad”; Roughly four in 10 citizens say they went without enough food (43%) and/or went without enough clean water (39%) at least “several times” during the past year; Almost half (48%) report going without needed medical care.
NORTH AFRICA
ALGERIA
France and Algeria feud over expulsion policy as tensions flare between the two countries
A dispute over the fate of 60 Algerians that France hopes to deport has deepened a rupture between the countries that has approached a historic low over the past year. Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday rejected a French list of Algerians “with a dangerous profile” set for deportation. It said the list from France’s Interior Ministry bypassed traditional diplomatic channels for such expulsions and denied the Algerians their rightful trials. The ministry statement rejected “threats and intimidation attempts, as well as injunctions, ultimatums, and any coercive language.” France’s right-wing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who had previously threatened that France could terminate decades-old immigration and visa accords, on Tuesday pledged to retaliate in a post on X. As conservative forces have risen in France in recent months, officials including Retailleau have pushed for stricter immigration controls, and the government has intensified its efforts to expel Algerians.
EGYPT
Solitary confinement can last for years in Egypt’s prisons
Hundreds of opposition figures, academics, human rights defenders and journalists are held in solitary confinement in Egyptian prisons, detained on politically-motivated charges, with no clear timeline for their release. Solitary confinement has been employed systematically as a disciplinary measure against leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, members of the April 6 Movement, and other liberal and leftist activists. Under UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, solitary confinement should be an exceptional disciplinary measure and must not exceed 15 days. However, the Egyptian authorities frequently impose solitary confinement arbitrarily and without judicial oversight…Among the most prominent political figures in solitary confinement is Dr Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, 74, a former presidential candidate and leader of the Strong Egypt Party. Aboul Fotouh has been in solitary confinement for more than seven years since his arrest on 14 February, 2018. The conditions are even more severe for Islamic scholar Hazem Abu Ismail, 64, who has spent 12 consecutive years in solitary confinement since his arrest on 5 July, 2013.
LIBYA
Libya deports dozens of women, children back to Nigeria
Libyan authorities deported more than 150 Nigerian women and children on Tuesday under a UN-affiliated “voluntary return” scheme for irregular migrants, an immigration official and UN sources said. Libya is a key departure point on North Africa’s Mediterranean coast for migrants, mainly from other parts of Africa, risking dangerous sea voyages in the hope of reaching Europe. Mohamad Baredaa of Libya’s migration agency said that the migrants deported on Tuesday were all Nigerian “women accompanied by children.” According to the IOM, there are more than 700,000 migrants in Libya. Libyan authorities, however, say the actual figure is much higher.
TUNISIA
Coast Guard rescues 612 migrants, recovers 18 bodies in overnight operations
Tunisia’s coast guard said on Monday its forces had rescued 612 migrants and recovered the bodies of 18 others in several operations overnight off the country’s Mediterranean coast. Sharing images of some of those rescued, including women and children, after their boats capsized, the force said they were all migrants from sub-Saharan African countries attempting to cross the sea to Europe. The survivors were rescued in several operations in the Sfax region to the east of the centre of the country after their boats capsized or broke down, according to the national guard.
UNITED NATIONS & RELATED
8 countries could run out of HIV treatments due to USAID cuts
The Trump administration’s decision to pause U.S. foreign aid has “substantially disrupted” supply of HIV treatments in eight countries, which could soon run out of these life-saving medicines, the World Health Organization said on Monday. The global health agency said that Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria and Ukraine could exhaust their supply of HIV treatments in the coming months. “The disruptions to HIV programs could undo 20 years of progress,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference. He added that this could lead to over 10 million additional HIV cases and three million HIV-related deaths. As of March 4, 167 health facilities had shut down due to funding shortages, and without urgent intervention, over 220 more facilities could close by June.
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
US Colonel may be tapped as Trump’s NSC Africa chief
A US Air Force colonel with roots on the continent is expected to be appointed President Donald Trump’s senior Africa director, two people familiar with the matter told Semafor.
Col. Jean-Philippe Peltier, a career intelligence officer, was born in Chad and raised across Francophone Africa, wrote a PhD on sub-Saharan African politics, and served as director of the sub-Saharan African Orientation Course at the US Air Force Special Operations School. He would lead the White House’s Africa team at the White House’s National Security Council, which includes two Africa directors who have military experience, Brendan McNamara and Dan Dunham. It comes as reports suggest that Trump is considering folding US-Africa Command (Africom) into its European counterpart. Some US-Africa policy watchers have said that Trump might have held off on its controversial offer of asylum to Afrikaners in South Africa and responded quicker to M23 rebel attacks in DR Congo if Africa experts had been in place sooner.
Chinese firms are stakeholders in more than a quarter of Africa’s ports
Chinese firms are active stakeholders in an estimated 78 of 231 African commercial ports, according to a new tally by the Washington-based African Center for Strategic Studies.
“This is a significantly greater presence than anywhere else in the world,” noted the academic institution, which sits within the US Department of Defense. By comparison, it said, Latin America and the Caribbean host 10 Chinese-built or operated ports, while Asian countries host 24. Nearly half of the Chinese firms in Africa — which operate as builders, financiers, or operators of the ports — are in the west, with the rest spread across the continent. In some cases, like the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Nigeria, Chinese companies dominate the whole port development enterprise. Beyond the financial benefit to the firms, access to African ports gives China the opportunity to establish strategic maritime and military operations on the continent, ACSS’s analysis said.
THIS WEEK AHEAD
Mar. 18: Peace talks between DR Congo and M23 rebels will be held in Angola. – Cancelled
Mar. 18: Angola announces its interest rate decision.
Mar. 19: South Africa publishes consumer price index data for February.
Mar. 20: The South African Reserve Bank announces its interest rate decision.
Mar. 21: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will be sworn in as Namibia’s president.
The Africa Edition ©️ 
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