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HIGHLIGHTS
Qatar presents draft peace proposal for DRC conflict
Ivory Coast debuts West African commodities exchange
Family and Govt tussle over Lungu’s remains
Sisi refuses call from Starmer over jailed activist
Central Africa at a crossroads
Russia ramps up its military footprint in Africa
Ugandan-born shakes up New York mayor’s race
UN reform worries.
Breaking News: England 1-3 Senegal
TOP NEWS
AFRICA-WIDE ISSUES
AFRICAN DIASPORA
UN-AFFAIRS
THE WEEK AHEAD
EASTERN AFRICA
DRCongo War & Crisis
Qatar Presents Draft Peace Proposal to Congo and M23 Rebels
Qatar has presented a draft peace proposal to Congo and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels after months of mediation in Doha, and the two sides will consult their leaders before resuming talks, a source briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on Thursday…Sources from both the Congolese government and M23 camps told Reuters on Thursday that some members of the delegations had left Doha but cast doubt on whether there had been significant progress in the talks so far. “The draft is not recent and has not been updated for over a month. The draft has nothing to do with what we proposed and takes more into account Kinshasa’s expectations,” said an M23 source who insisted on anonymity to discuss ongoing diplomacy…The source briefed on the negotiations had a more positive take, saying the talks had “entered a deeper phase, with both sides engaging on the core issues underlying the conflict.” Qatar successfully brokered a surprise meeting in March between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Both leaders called for a ceasefire after the meeting.
Kinshasa orders Kigali to share Lake Kivu geological findings
The Congolese government is demanding that Rwanda provide it with the full exploration report and data collected on oil and gas resources in Lake Kivu. Through Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka and Hydrocarbons Minister Aimé Molendo Sakombi, the Congolese government instructed Parisian law firm Jeantet to give formal notice to the Rwandan Environment Minister Valentine Uwamariya. Sent on 16 May by Thierry Lauriol and with CEO of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) Francis Kamanzi in copy, the letter has not yet seen any reaction from Rwanda.
Congo bans media from covering Kabila and his party
Congolese authorities have banned local media from covering former president Joseph Kabila and his party PPRD, categorizing the two in the same pool as the M23 rebel group. The decision was announced by Christian Bosembe, chairperson of the supervising council for media and communications, known in French as Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel et de la communication (CSAC). The Council has sweeping powers to license media outlets and accredit journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Journalists covering activities or comments by Kabila or his Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie (PPRD), or relaying statements or interviews with the former president risk losing their licenses. Bosembe explained that this was a precautionary measure to curtail the moves of Kabila, who has recently aligned with the M23 and its political grouping, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC). Kinshasa had already tagged M23 a terrorist movement and forbade media outlets from reporting on their activites. But the government has gone on to accept peace talks with the M23, mediated by Qatar, an about-turn from months ago, when officials said they wouldn’t negotiate with terror merchants. The latest CSAC decision is causing uproar, with journalists denouncing it as censorship. The former president’s immunity has been lifted by the Senate, so he could face a trial by military court. His party has also been suspended.
Video: DR Congo’s Goma faces severe cash crunch
Banks in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Goma city, have been closed for over four months due to insecurity, crippling the local economy and leaving residents in dire straits. A thriving black-market currency exchange is now driving price speculation and volatility.
KENYA
Kenyan blogger was hit and assaulted to death, autopsy reveals
A Kenyan blogger who died in police custody was hit on the head and his death was likely to have been caused by assault, a post-mortem has revealed. This contradicts police claims that Albert Ojwang “sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall”. His death has sparked widespread outrage in Kenya, with rights groups demanding that police be held accountable. Mr Ojwang, 31, was detained following a complaint by the deputy police chief, who accused him of tarnishing his name on social media. “The cause of death is very clear; head injury, neck compression and other injuries spread all over the body that are pointing towards assault,” state pathologist Bernard Midia said. Mr Ojwang, a digital creator who microblogged on X and Facebook on topical political and social issues, was arrested in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, on Friday. He was detained over a post on X that was allegedly critical of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat. He was subsequently transferred over 350km (220 miles) to the capital, Nairobi, and booked into the Central Police Station on Saturday. Police said he was later found unconscious in his cell with self-inflicted injuries… Mr Ojwang’s father, Meshack Ojwang, has appealed to President William Ruto to help him get justice for his son.
British soldier accused of rape sent back to UK
A British soldier accused of raping a woman near a controversial army camp in Kenya has been sent back to the UK, as investigations continue. The alleged rape happened last month close to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) near the town of Nanyuki, 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi. The man was arrested by the UK military and questioned following the alleged incident, which occurred after a group of soldiers visited a bar in the town. An investigation is being carried out by UK military police from the Defence Serious Crime Unit, which looks into crimes allegedly committed by British service personnel in the UK and overseas. The alleged rape involving a soldier from the British base in Kenya follows previous allegations that a soldier stationed in Kenya was involved in the murder of a local woman in 2012. The UK military has an agreement with Kenya under which it can deploy up to six army battalions a year for periods of training at the site. But the British army has faced a string of allegations about the conduct of some UK personnel at the camp.
Gold refineries in Nairobi are fuelling smuggling from neighbouring countries
The large number of gold refineries operating in Nairobi and its surroundings is fuelling smuggling across the region, a new report by the development organisation SWISSAID claims. According to SWISSAID, significant quantities of gold are being smuggled every year into Kenya from countries in the region, more particularly South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (in some cases through Tanzania), Ethiopia and possibly Sudan. This gold does not remain in Kenya; it is re-exported to destinations such as the UAE and India. “These refineries might even act as a key driver of illicit gold flows into Kenya. If the National Assembly passes the Gold Processing Bill, a Gold Processing Corporation will be created to oversee the activities of Kenya’s numerous refineries. Whether or not this will effectively reduce the illegal gold trade remains to be seen,” the organisation says in the report.
RWANDA
No issues for Rwanda cycling competition over DR Congo: Federation chief
Rwanda’s cycling federation has so far suffered no commercial fallout from pressure over Kigali’s involvement in fighting between DR Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, the head of the federation said. The federation is in talks with carmaker Volkswagen to agree a sponsorship deal ahead of this year’s cycling Road World Championships, which are set to be held in Kigali in September, Samson Ndayishimiye told reporters at a briefing in London. It earlier reached an agreement with France’s TotalEnergies, he noted. Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK Johnston Busingye, who also took part in the briefing, acknowledged that his country was in “a very rough neighbourhood,” but said that because of unrest in DR Congo, authorities in Kigali “work harder than other countries” in order to ensure security for events such as September’s championships. But while the conflict has exacted a heavy toll on DR Congo, the spillover into Rwanda has been limited, and both cycling and tourism authorities have high hopes for September’s event… The country has increasingly prioritized hosting major sporting competitions in order to increase its visibility and boost its tourism sector.
OpEd: Rwanda’s exit from ECCAS is a wake-up call for regional blocs
SOMALILAND
Trump Taps Anderson for AFRICOM as Langley plans Somaliland Visit
The Trump administration has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson to replace Marine Gen. Michael Langley at Africa Command, setting the stage for a leadership transition as Langley prepares for what sources say will be a long-awaited visit to Somaliland in June. Anderson’s nomination, announced by the Pentagon on Wednesday, comes at a particularly awkward moment. Just days ago, Langley publicly admitted that Al-Shabaab remains “entrenched, wealthy and large” in Somalia despite billions in U.S. assistance. The admission represents a reversal from his earlier optimism—and raises questions about Anderson’s own track record of assessments. A senior Somaliland government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that discussions about Langley’s visit have been ongoing for months, although no firm dates have been finalized. The visit preparations have reportedly intensified following President Cirro’s inauguration. The visit would mark the highest-level AFRICOM engagement with Somaliland since Gen. Stephen Townsend toured Berbera’s strategic facilities in 2022. For Hargeisa, which has lobbied intensively for greater U.S. military cooperation, Langley’s trip represents a potential breakthrough—especially given his newfound skepticism about Mogadishu’s capabilities… The Trump administration’s decision to cut funding for Somali forces, including canceling $400 monthly salary supplements for Danab soldiers, followed damning audits revealing widespread corruption. Officials discovered padded fuel requisitions, phantom soldiers on payrolls, and food rations being sold on the black market. These revelations supported longstanding Somaliland arguments about international aid effectiveness in Mogadishu. The international community has invested heavily in Somalia for decades with limited improvement.
SOUTH SUDAN
South Sudan’s military sets deadline for voluntary disarmament in conflict zones
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has ordered armed youth in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State to voluntarily surrender their weapons within the next week, lest they be disarmed forcibly. The development comes amid a recent six-month state of emergency declared in the two states by President Salva Kiir due to rising cases of violent communal clashes in the areas. SSPDF spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang announced the one-week disarmament ultimatum in a statement to newsrooms on Monday [9 June], noting that military personnel have already been deployed to the two states.
MSF permanently closes hospital, ends support to 13 facilities in Ulang County
Citing safety and security concerns, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said it has decided to permanently close its hospital in Ulang, Upper Nile State, as well as withdraw its support to 13 primary health facilities in the county. According to a press statement extended to this publication, MSF suspended all its medical services on 14 April 2025 after armed individuals forced their way into the hospital and its offices, threatened both staff and patients, and violently looted and destroyed property throughout the facility. “The hospital infrastructure, in which MSF had invested millions of euros, was completely destroyed. In addition, intruders looted medicines worth €135,000—enough to run the hospital for months and care for thousands of patients,” the statement reads in part. According to the medical charity, this has left the hospital in ruins and unable to function. This was the second attack on MSF in the area in less than three months. In January, two clearly marked MSF boats on their way to Ulang after delivering medical supplies to Nasir County Hospital were shot at by unknown gunmen, forcing everyone on board to jump into the water and swim to safety. Less than a month after the looting, another MSF hospital was bombed in Old Fangak, forcing MSF to suspend activities.
SUDAN
Some areas south of Sudan capital at risk of famine, says WFP
Several areas south of Sudan’s capital Khartoum are at risk of famine, the World Food Programme said on Tuesday, with need on the ground outstripping resources amidst a food aid funding shortfall for war-ravaged Sudanese regions. “The level of hunger and destitution and desperation that was found (is) severe and confirmed the risk of famine in those areas,” Laurent Bukera, WFP Country Director in Sudan, told reporters in Geneva via video link from Port Sudan. The U.N. food agency said it had reached one million people in seven localities in Khartoum, after gaining access to the capital. Sudan’s conflict between the army and rival Rapid Support Forces has displaced millions and split the country into rival zones of control with the RSF still deeply embedded in western Sudan. In late March the army took control of the capital from the RSF — which had blocked aid access to the city — following two years of devastating conflict.
RSF and allied rebels seize town from army in Sudan’s South Kordofan
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and an allied rebel group have seized the town of Um Dehilib in Sudan’s South Kordofan state from the army, as the military continues to lose ground in the region. The capture comes amid reports from a local rights group of escalating attacks by the RSF on civilians in the neighbouring state of West Kordofan. Since February, the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, has been fighting in a coalition with the RSF against the Sudanese Armed Forces. RSF soldiers announced the capture of Um Dehilib, an area east of the main SPLM-N stronghold of Kauda, in a video posted on Saturday…The Sudanese army and its allies have been ceding territory in South and West Kordofan to the RSF coalition since late May. Separately, the Dar Hamar Emergency Room, a local advocacy group, said on Saturday that RSF troops had attacked the village of Bani Badr in West Kordofan, beating civilians, looting, and seizing fuel for water stations.
Aid convoy hit in deadly strike
Two years into the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), more than half of the country’s population needs humanitarian support. Yet this week, one of the belligerents attacked a 15-truck food aid convoy heading to besieged El Fasher, setting the vehicles on fire, incinerating the food on board, and killing five United Nations workers, says a joint statement from Unicef and the World Food Programme. Several more people were injured. The SAF claims that the RSF did it with “criminal drone attacks”. In turn, the paramilitary group says the trucks were attacked in airstrikes by Sudan’s army… Prior to the current war, El Fasher had become home to hundreds of thousands of people who fled the earlier Darfur genocide by the Janjaweed militia which later became RSF. El Fasher’s population grew from 200,000 before that genocide to over 500,000 by 2009. Many of these people didn’t return to the outlying areas. They are now at high risk of starvation, according to the UN. The year-long siege initially triggered massive price inflation on the food that was in El Fasher and as the blockade went on, those supplies ran out, while new supplies were restricted by RSF presence along the routes into the town. The UN estimates that three out of every five people living in Sudan need humanitarian support, the highest figure on record in the history of modern humanitarian responses, according to charity Concern Worldwide. It has increased by 23% in the last year.
Over 100 New Mass Graves Found in Sudan’s Capital, Official Says
At least 117 new mass graves have been discovered across Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, a state government official said, as the country’s 14-month conflict leaves thousands dead and cemeteries overflowing. The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to the burial of bodies in makeshift sites, including homes and streets, the Khartoum state government source told Reuters on condition of anonymity…Earlier this year, authorities began exhuming bodies from informal graves in Omdurman to move them to official cemeteries, the state official said. The remains of military personnel from both warring factions were among those exhumed and reburied in recognized graveyards. According to the official, the newly found burial sites differ in capacity, with some holding dozens of bodies and others as few as three or four.
Why Sudan’s War Is Landing on Britain’s Doorstep
A coalition of Sudanese refugees, human rights defenders and civil society groups has called on the UK to investigate Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces for genocide and war crimes, following the submission of a harrowing 142-page dossier to Scotland Yard on Tuesday…The letter, signed by more than 100 individuals and organisations, calls on the UK to investigate RSF leaders under universal jurisdiction laws, share the evidence with the International Criminal Court (ICC), and support global accountability measures…The dossier was submitted to the UK’s War Crimes Unit, part of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, which has the power to investigate serious international crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction. This legal doctrine allows the UK to investigate and prosecute crimes such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, even if committed outside its borders, where there is a connection to the UK through victims, suspects or territory. The UK is home to a significant Sudanese diaspora, including survivors of the current conflict and past atrocities in Darfur. Some have provided testimony or evidence in support of the submission. Campaigners also warn that RSF commanders or their affiliates could seek haven in the UK or elsewhere in Europe if no action is taken…If the UK launches an investigation or pursues charges, it would signal a major step in the international accountability process and could help pressure other governments to act. The legal push comes months after the US formally designated atrocities by the RSF as genocide in late 2024. Yet despite what campaigners describe as “mounting evidence,” the International Criminal Court has not indicted any senior RSF leaders to date.
WEST AFRICA
IVORY COAST
Côte d’Ivoire debuts West African commodities exchange
Côte d’Ivoire opened West Africa’s first agricultural commodities exchange last week. Around $54,000 of raw cashews, kola nuts, and maize were traded in the first 10 minutes of launch. Seven years in the making, the exchange seeks to replace informal trading practices in eight countries in the region with a regulated platform that adjusts to supply-and-demand changes. “Such markets allow buyers and sellers to hedge against time fluctuations of prices,” Finn Ole Semrau, a researcher at German think tank the Kiel Institute, told Semafor, saying that hedging was of “special importance given the high volatility in prices of these crops.” Cashew nuts in particular face a short production season, while maize is key for Côte d’Ivoire’s food security. Cocoa — Côte d’Ivoire’s main agricultural export — is due to be added to the exchange at a later date.
Ivory Coast former Minister Billon seeks to lead opposition in October vote
Ivory Coast former trade minister Jean-Louis Billon said he is seeking to represent the opposition PDCI party in October’s presidential election after former Credit Suisse chief Tidjane Thiam was excluded from the final list of candidates last week…In an interview with Reuters in the commercial capital Abidjan, Billon, 60, blamed party officials for the handling of legal challenges to Thiam’s candidacy and did not rule out the possibility of representing another party, though he said it was too early to make such a move…He said it was time for Ouattara and other politicians of his generation to leave the scene. “Ivory Coast will change. I think our elders have had their day,” he said.
MALI
Mali military withdraws from base after second deadly attack in days
The Malian military withdrew from a major base in the centre of the country Friday after it came under a second deadly attack in less than a week, according to multiple sources, as the country faces an uptick in jihadist assaults. At least 30 soldiers were killed at the Boulkessi army base in central Mali on Sunday in an attack claimed by the Al-Qaeda affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). On Friday, a religious holiday in Mali, soldiers left the post after a new deadly assault, locals and a military source said, affirming there had been multiple deaths in a Thursday attack.
NIGERIA
Nigerian drone maker beats Israeli firm to security contract
Nigerian drone startup Terra Industries beat out a rival bid from an Israeli consortium to provide security for two hydropower plants in a $1.2 million contract. Terra Industries, earlier called TerraHaptix, will supply a dozen drones and more than 35 towers for a local security company to boost surveillance of the plants, announced the company’s 22-year-old chief executive Nathan Nwachuku. The plants, the location of which was not shared, “have been used as hideouts by bandits and even some terrorists,” Nwachuku said. The first drone deployments are set to begin in a few weeks. The deal comes amid growing drone adoption across Africa in sectors spanning the military to health care delivery. Terra began producing drones in Abuja in April 2024, banking more than $1 million in revenue from commercial customers in the oil, mining, and agriculture industries in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. “Right now, our fastest growing market is the power sector,” added Nwachuku.
Dangote, Otedola, Rabiu, Ovia… the ‘four wise men’ of Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has named some prominent Nigerian entrepreneurs as four “wise men”. On the list are Jim Ovia, Femi Otedola, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and Aliko Dangote. While Tinubu’s list of “wise men” may come across as another example of his wit and deep connection with the private sector, it recognizes individuals who are critical to the country’s economy. Each of the four persons is also central to the president’s dream of a $1 trillion gross domestic product (GDP). Dangote is Africa’s richest person and the founder and chairman of Dangote Group, the continent’s largest industrial conglomerate. Otedola known as the “strong man” of Nigeria’s money and capital markets for his strategic investments. Rabiu is the founder and executive chairman of BUA Group, a conglomerate with interests in cement production, sugar refining, real estate, and ports. Ovia is an entrepreneur, and philanthropist and founder and chairman of Zenith Bank, one of the largest commercial banks in Nigeria.
Dangote Oil Refinery Is Buying Ever More US Crude
Where does a giant refinery in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, go to source the raw materials it needs to make fuels for the nation of 228 million people? Try crude fields around Midland in West Texas, about 6,500 miles away. This year, the mega plant Dangote, near the commercial capital Lagos, bought a third of its crude from the US — the lion’s share of it being the grade West Texas Intermediate – Midland, ship tracking compiled by Bloomberg shows. The proportion has been almost double what it was in 2024, the ramp-up year. The cargo purchases matter because they could just as easily have been sent tankers to Europe, helping to determine the world’s most important physical oil price, Dated Brent. The fact they’re not means fewer are available for purchase in the North Sea, slightly limiting availability of benchmark barrels. They also underscore Nigeria’s longstanding challenges to boost output in line with the country’s ambitions.
TOGO
Togo releases dozens detained in anti-government protests
More than 50 people detained during anti-government protests in Togo last week have been released, while others remain in custody, the public prosecutor said. Dozens of protesters were dispersed with tear gas overnight from June 5 to 6 in several parts of the capital Lome, including near the presidential palace. They had gathered in response to a call by a popular rapper, Aamron, to denounce arrests of dissenting voices, rising electricity prices and constitutional changes by the government of President Faure Gnassingbe, in power since 2005. Protests have been banned in Togo since 2022, following a deadly attack at Lome’s main market, though public meetings are still allowed.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
Coal belt town split over green transition
The country wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions without destroying livelihoods, but progress is slow – and the residents of a small town are in the crosshairs. Smoke hasn’t billowed from the vast concrete chimneys of the South African town’s power station since it stopped burning coal in 2022, 61 years after its inauguration. While the state power company Eskom didn’t fire any permanent employees, the end of coal generation and earlier job losses in nearby mines have fuelled doubts in the small town and wider coal belt that there are any benefits to South Africa’s “just energy transition” to renewable power…South Africa was the world’s 15th highest emitter of carbon dioxide in 2023, according to the World Bank. Coal power accounted for 82% of electricity generation last year, according to the energy thinktank Ember, down from 90% in 2014…”just transition” has come to represent decarbonising economies without destroying livelihoods that depend on fossil fuels. However, the transition has hit multiple roadblocks. One has been the prospect of job losses in a country where unemployment has risen from 36% to 43% since 2015. Approximately 400,000 jobs, 80,000 in coal mining, are at risk in Mpumalanga province, the site of most of the power stations and mines…
Poachers’ partners — when the Kruger National Park’s rangers turn rogue
Despite integrity tests and modern surveillance technology, insiders at the Kruger National Park reveal that corruption persists systemically, fuelled by poverty-level wages, predatory debt cycles and communal ties binding rogue rangers to syndicates…The syndicates don’t randomly recruit collaborators, [a mid-level Kruger manager involved in anti-poaching operations and coordination] said. “They monitor you. They track your social media and follow your movements. A beer at a soccer match turns into a recruitment attempt. And if you say no? Your wife gets a call. Your brother’s goats get slaughtered. That’s the level of coercion we’re dealing with.” …Some rangers were co-opted because of their familial relations with rhino poaching syndicate members, [a former SANParks ranger said]…Hendrick Sithembiso, a former field ranger trainer at the Southern Africa Wildlife College within the Kruger National Park, advocates for a rotational system among anti-poaching teams to prevent infiltration…Thobile Zulu-Molobi, the spokesperson for the minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment, Dion George, responded that the Kruger National Park was rolling out a Ranger Services Integrity Management Plan to address drivers of misconduct, including corruption.
Report: How the 0.1% controls almost one third of South Africa’s wealth
South Africa is a land of contrasts. It’s an economic powerhouse in Africa which boasts of the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the continent in 2025 at US$418bn, according to the IMF World Economic Outlook, which translates to an impressive GDP per capita of US$6,520 for the country’s 60 million people. Yet, beneath this veneer of economic success lies a deeply fractured society. The top 0.1% of the population controls almost one-third of the nation’s wealth. The country also has the second highest unemployment in the world, at 33%, according to The World Bank. It’s a paradox that’s hard to ignore: a country rich in resources and potential, yet struggling to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots. South Africa’s story is not just one of contrasts but a cautionary tale of what happens when prosperity and inequality coexist on such a dramatic scale. How can a country so rich in resources and economic potential fail to uplift the majority of its people? What does it mean for a nation to thrive on paper while its citizens struggle to survive? Can this land of promise bridge the chasm between the haves and the have-nots, or will the weight of its disparities hold it back from realizing its true potential?
Severe cold front bringing snow in South Africa causes fatal accident, power outages
A severe cold front sweeping across South Africa since the weekend brought heavy snowfall which has led to road closures, power outages and a fatal road accident, officials said. Five people were killed in a road accident along the N2 highway due to the adverse weather, Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose told local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika on Tuesday. The South African Weather Service warned citizens late last week there would be a big drop in temperatures this week across the country, accompanied by disruptive rain, damaging winds, and snow over eastern areas. South Africa regularly receives snowfall during its winter months from June through August, with temperatures diving below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
ZAMBIA
Dispute between Lungu’s family and Govt over his body’s repatriation from SA
As tributes continue to pour in for former Zambian president Edgar Lungu, a spat over the repatriation of his remains from South Africa is now playing out publicly. This after Lungu’s family announced it would independently repatriate the former head of state, despite an earlier announcement by the Zambian government that it would spearhead the process. The family believes it would be a dishonour if it followed the government’s lead, accusing the current government of mistreating Lungu after his political rival, President Hakainde Hichilema, took office. The 68-year-old, who became Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 until 2021, died while receiving specialized medical treatment at a clinic in Pretoria. The Patriotic Front, which Lungu belonged to, said it respects the wishes of the family to limit the government’s involvement in the repatriation process. In 2023, the Zambian government withdrew Lungu’s retirement benefits, including his security detail, a diplomatic passport, a furnished house, medical insurance and funeral benefits, following a decision to return to active politics after the 2021 loss. Since his passing, the Zambian government has already hosted a vigil to mark the first day of a week-long national mourning period, with the Patriotic Front hosting an event of their own.
Zambian court blocks film investigating Chinese businesses
The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed concern over a Zambian court’s issuance of an interim injunction to prevent the airing of a documentary on Chinese investment in the southern Africa country, pending a June 12 hearing. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia sued privately owned News Diggers after the outlet shared a May 20 teaser on Facebook for its film, “Chinese Investment in Zambia: The Good, The Bad and The Dangerous,” according to a copy of the court order, reviewed by CPJ, and News Diggers Editor-in-Chief Joseph Mwenda, who spoke to CPJ. The Lusaka High Court issued the gag order on May 22, the day before the film was due to be broadcast. The film’s trailer included images of alleged labor abuses and violence. In a letter to News Diggers, reviewed by CPJ, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce said the teaser was aimed at “disparaging, demeaning and tainting” the image of Chinese investments and asked to have its formal response included in the film. The court said the outlet could be guilty of contempt of court if it aired the documentary in breach of the injunction, which carries a penalty of a six-month jail term or a fine of up to 300 kwacha (US$12).
ZIMBABWE
Authorities to cull 50 elephants, distribute meat to locals
Elephants are a national treasure and tourism magnet in Zimbabwe. But the population of the majestic creatures has grown too numerous in recent years. Many of the country’s national parks and reserves are out of capacity – at Savé Valley Conservancy, the number of elephants exceeds three times the sustainable population level. Faced with the increasing pressure on natural resources, Zimbabwe has now decidedd to cull 50 elephants at Savé Valley Conservancy. The animals’ meat will then be distributed to the local population near the reserve. Zimbabwe previously tried to tackle the problem by relocating several hundred animals to other parks or using GPS tracking schemes to monitor the elephant population and warn locals when herds came too close to their villages. Last year, Zimbabwe killed 200 elephants when a drought struck the country and led to food shortages. This year, the number of elephants to be culled remains at 50 – for now.
NORTH AFRICA
EGYPT
Sisi refuses call from Starmer over jailed activist
Egyptian parliamentarian and media figure Mustafa Bakri revealed an escalating diplomatic crisis between Egypt and the United Kingdom which culminated in President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s refusal to answer a phone call from the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. According to Bakri, Egypt categorically refused “interference in internal affairs” including London’s use of “arm-twisting” policy to demand the release of Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah. Bakri claimed Al-Sisi took this position after learning of the potential content of his call with Starmer, which was linked to British “pressure” to release the British-Egyptian activist who rose to prominence in the Arab Spring uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Bakri described Abdel Fattah as a “terrorist” for inciting violence against Egyptian security forces and insulting the military establishment. He went on to describe the British demands to release the activist as “cheap blackmail” that Egypt rejects, stressing that Cairo will not accept “threats or intimidation” and will not surrender its national sovereignty.
Jailed Egyptian-UK activist looks ‘very thin’ after 98 days on hunger strike
Jailed Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah has lost nearly a third of his body weight after spending 98 days on hunger strike, his sister said Friday following a brief Eid visit to his prison outside Cairo…Abdel-Fattah, 43, began refusing food in March in solidarity with his mother, Laila Soueif, a renowned academic who has herself been on hunger strike for 250 days to demand her son’s release…In May, a United Nations panel of experts said his detention was arbitrary and called for his immediate release…Abdel-Fattah, a leading voice during Egypt’s 2011 uprising, has spent most of the past decade behind bars under successive governments. He was most recently arrested in 2019 and sentenced to five years for “spreading false news” after reposting a Facebook post about police brutality.
LIBYA
UN Welcomes New Libya Safety and Rights Committees
The United Nations mission in Libya on Saturday welcomed the formation of two committees by the Libyan presidential council to address safety and human rights after recent deadly clashes in Tripoli…Last month, [Libya’s] capital was rocked by days of deadly fighting between rival armed groups that left at least eight people dead, according to the UN. The violence was sparked by the killing of Abdelghani al-Kikli, the leader of the Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA) armed group, by the government-backed 444 Brigade, which later took on another rival faction, Radaa…The safety committee was tasked with drafting a plan to disarm non-state actors in Tripoli and strengthen the control of official security forces, the council said. And the human rights committee will monitor conditions in detention centres and review cases of people detained without judicial oversight. This came after UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk raised alarm over “gross human rights violations uncovered at official and unofficial detention facilities” run by the SSA group. UNSMIL said it was “committed to providing technical support” to the newly formed committees.
54 Migrants Rescued from Mediterranean Oil Platform
Over 50 migrants were headed to the Italian island of Lampedusa Sunday after a charity ship rescued them from an abandoned oil platform in the Mediterranean, where one woman gave birth. The vessel Astral, operated by the Spain-based NGO Open Arms, rescued the 54 people overnight, the group said in a statement. The migrants had been trapped on the oil platform for three days after their rubber boat shipwrecked following their departure from Libya on Tuesday, Open Arms said. On Friday, one of the migrants gave birth to a boy, while another woman had given birth days before. Two other young children were among the group, Open Arms said. Later Sunday, the charity said that, following the rescue of those on the oil platform, the Astral came upon another 109 people, including four people in the water. That group, which included 10 children, had also departed from Libya, it said.
CENTRAL AFRICA
CENTRAL AFRICA
Central Africa at a crossroads amid rising tensions and instability
Despite its wealth of natural resources and potential, Central Africa continues to face serious challenges, from political instability to growing humanitarian needs. With violence worsening in both the Lake Chad Basin and the Great Lakes, the Security Council met on Monday to examine the threats confronting the wider region. “Central Africa remains rich in potential, but the challenges are still significant,” said Abdou Abarry, Head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA). While countries such as Chad and Gabon have made progress in terms of political development, newly elected authorities must capitalise on this momentum to implement key democratic reforms, said Mr Abarry. In Chad and Gabon, recent elections and reforms have promoted greater participation of women in the democratic process. Today, women represent 34 per cent of Chad’s National Assembly, while Gabon’s new electoral code mandates that women must account for at least 30 per cent of electoral lists provided to voters. Two major centres of insecurity persist, with violence escalating in both the Lake Chad Basin and the Great Lakes region. Around Lake Chad, groups affiliated with Boko Haram extremists and other armed insurgencies have demonstrated “their resilience and their ability to adapt and respond to the coordinated operations of the defence and security forces” of the region, said Mr Abarry. Notably, on the night of 24 March, drones carrying explosives killed at least 19 Cameroonian soldiers in southern Nigeria. Meanwhile, growing tensions between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have led to large-scale displacement in eastern DRC, where the humanitarian crisis is further compounded by conflict in neighbouring Sudan
AFRICA-WIDE ISSUES
Russia skirts western sanctions to ramp up its military footprint in Africa
Even as it pounds Ukraine, Russia is expanding its military footprint in Africa, delivering sophisticated weaponry to sub-Saharan conflict zones where a Kremlin-controlled armed force is on the rise. Skirting sanctions imposed by Western nations, Moscow is using cargo ships to send tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and other high-value equipment to West Africa. Relying on satellite imagery and radio signals, AP tracked a convoy of Russian-flagged cargo ships as they made a nearly one-month journey from the Baltic Sea. The ships carried howitzers, radio jamming equipment and other military hardware, according to military officials in Europe who closely monitored them. The deliveries could strengthen Russia’s fledgling Africa Corps as Moscow competes with the United States, Europe and China for greater influence across the continent…Researchers and military officials say the flow of weapons from Russia appears to be speeding Africa Corps’ ascendancy over Wagner, helping it win over mercenaries that have remained loyal to the group. Africa Corps is also is recruiting in Russia, offering payments of up to 2.1 million rubles ($26,500), and even plots of land, for signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense, plus more on deployment. Within days of the latest equipment delivery, Wagner announced its withdrawal from Mali, declaring “mission accomplished” in a Telegram post. Africa Corps said in a separate post that it would remain.
Russia hopes to strengthen defense cooperation with African countries following Wagner’s departure from Mali.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized at a press conference on Monday that “Russian presence in Africa is growing” and that the goal is to increase cooperation with African countries in “sensitive” areas related to security, according to the TASS news agency. Wagner, which was reorganized and became the Africa Corps, under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defense, after the June 2023 rebellion and the subsequent death of Yevgeni Prigozhin in a plane crash north of Moscow, also has a presence in the Central African Republic. The United States and its allies have denounced Wagner’s activities in Africa after reporting allegations of human rights abuses and violations, including indiscriminate attacks against civilians. Russia denies these accusations and claims that the mercenaries collaborate with authorities to train national armed forces in their fight against terrorism.
Africa’s continued disappointment with western credit agencies
The downgrade of the African Export-Import Bank last week spotlights one of the most fraught discussions in pan-African finance circles: The so-called African risk premium. The Big Three ratings agencies — Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s, all based in New York — are coming under growing criticism for having limited or no operations on the continent even while making decisions that impact the lives of millions of Africans every day. Differing perceptions of risk feel like a Global South versus North debate. Fitch Ratings has been urged by an African Union-backed panel to review its downgrade of Afreximbank. The credit ratings agency last week cut Afreximbank’s long-term issuer default rating to BBB- from BBB, one step from junk, citing a higher credit risk from “the rise in the bank’s non-performing loans ratio.” The decision was in large part due to the Cairo-based multilateral bank’s classification of loans to three countries: Ghana, South Sudan, and Malawi. The African Peer Review Mechanism, the AU panel, argued that the ratings agency had misclassified the lender’s sovereign exposure to the governments of those countries as non-performing loans. Afreximbank is yet to issue a statement in response to the downgrade.
APRM: Fitch’s downgrade of Afreximbank’s rating is based on flawed loan classification”
Trump tax will cost some African senders 10% of remittance
American legislators passed President Donald Trump’s so-called “big beautiful bill” with a provision that non-citizens who send money out of the United States will pay a 3.5% tax on their remittances. New analysis shows that in at least eight African countries, the tax will push transaction costs to 9% or more of the amount moved, especially for people sending and receiving small amounts. This tax rate goes against every goal that multilateral groups have been working towards on remittance costs. The United Nations has asked countries to reduce the cost of cross-border remittances to 3% of the amount sent. G20 countries initially agreed to work towards reducing it to 5% and later adopted the UN’s more ambitious goal. For Africa, this goal is important because remittances – which amounted to $90-billion last year – are a crucial alternative to dwindling and top-down foreign aid ($73-billion in 2023), and expensive loans. Yet, high transaction costs still form a kind of “African premium” even on this source of funding. According to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the average cost of sending remittances to Africa is 7.4%, even before the Trump tax kicks in.
Gulf countries expand their footprint in Africa
Gulf countries are expanding their footprint in Africa — moving beyond traditional sectors like mining, logistics, and agriculture — as they seek to deepen their commercial and diplomatic ties to the continent. The UAE is backing a new economic zone and digital incubator in Ghana, while Qatari businesses have been in talks over possible investments in construction and infrastructure projects in Tanzania. The African Export-Import Bank estimates Gulf countries invested more than $100 billion in Africa in the decade to 2022. Much more has followed since then, and the UAE now outpaces China, France, and the UK when it comes to investment in the continent. Gulf companies are still pouring capital into traditional sectors: Emirates Global Aluminium is planning a major investment in a bauxite project in Ghana, and Abu Dhabi’s International Resources Holding agreed to buy a majority stake in a Democratic Republic of Congo tin producer for $367 million.
Africa can unlock $4 trillion to finance vital infrastructure: Report
Africa can boost the pace of its much-needed infrastructure drive by unlocking at least $4 trillion from a wide range of fragmented and under-utilized domestic sources, new research by one of the continent’s leading investors said. The Africa Finance Corporation, a financier of the Lobito Corridor rail project that aims to link mining regions between Angola, Zambia, and DR Congo, estimates that Africa’s domestic capital base includes $2.5 trillion in commercial banking assets and about $1.5 trillion across the non-banking sector. While foreign reserves make up the majority of the non-bank segment, about 28% is domiciled in pensions alone, the Lagos-based AFC said. Insurance firms, development banks, sovereign wealth funds, and remittances are also sources that could be tapped to finance Africa’s infrastructure, the bank said in its report. “We think there’s no debate anymore as to whether Africa has a lot of savings — there’s a lot of money on the continent,” Rita Babihuga-Nsanze, chief economist and head of research at AFC told Semafor, adding that the $4 trillion estimate is “super conservative” due to data gaps in some countries. The question for Africa is how to deploy the money it has, she said.
Top 10 African countries with the highest cumulative debt to China (2000–2023)
China’s financial involvement in Africa has grown significantly, focusing on infrastructure-oriented loans. These loans have helped build roads, railways, power plants in several African countries, but they have also raised questions about debt sustainability, repayment risks, and the long-term autonomy of African economies. Angola leads as the top borrower, repaying loans through oil-backed mechanisms for reconstruction needs. Boston University’s Chinese Loans to Africa Database tracks loan agreements from 2000 to 2023, showing trends in lending amounts and loan dynamics. After several years of decline, Chinese lending to Africa increased in 2023 the first rise since 2016. This recent uptick shows a shift in Beijing’s strategy toward projects with clearer financial viability, as China becomes more selective with its lending. The ranking of the ten African countries with the highest total debt to China, based on the cumulative loan amounts and the number of loans recorded from 2000 to 2023 : Angola $46.0 billion; Ethiopia $14.5 billion; Egypt $9.7 billion; Kenya $9.6 billion; Nigeria $9.6 billion; Zambia $9.5 billion; South Africa $6.9 billion; Sudan $6.3 billion; Ghana $6.1 billion; Cameroon $5.9 billion.
French diplomacy: 10 ambassadors in Africa to be replaced
According to information from Jeune Afrique published in early June 2025, the Élysée Palace has approved the replacement of around ten French ambassadors serving in Africa. The renewal process is expected to take shape this summer, through official appointments at the Council of Ministers. The posts concerned would include the embassies in Kigali (Rwanda), Yaoundé (Cameroon), but also Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Kinshasa (DR Congo), Libreville (Gabon) and Dakar (Senegal). The names of the future incumbents are not all known, but several seasoned diplomats are circulating the corridors of the Quai d’Orsay… Alongside the changes in African chancelleries, internal reorganizations are also expected within the Africa Directorate of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The strategic position of Africa Director, sometimes nicknamed “Mr. Africa,” could be subject to renewal or a team adjustment. This decision would be part of a desire to redefine the France-Africa relationship, in a context of heightened diplomatic tensions with several Sahel states and France’s repositioning on the continent. Since his second term, Emmanuel Macron has affirmed his desire to “rebuild” France’s relations with African countries, moving away from the guardianship logic inherited from Françafrique. This renewal of ambassadors is part of this rebalancing strategy, in favor of “uninhibited” bilateral relations more focused on youth, the economy, culture, and security.
Sound recordings of African prisoners in German camps during World War I
During World War I (1914-1918), thousands of African men enlisted to fight for France and Britain were captured and held prisoner in Germany. Their stories and songs were recorded and archived by German linguists, who often understood nothing they were saying. Now, a recent book titled Knowing by Ear listens to these recordings alongside written sources, photographs, and artwork to uncover the lives and political views of these colonized Africans from present-day Senegal, Somalia, Togo, and Congo. About 450 recordings with African speakers were made with linguists of the so-called Royal Prussian Phonographic Commission. Their project was opportunistic. They made use of the presence of prisoners of war to further their research. The recordings were archived as language samples, yet most were never used, translated, or even listened to for decades. The European prisoners the linguists recorded were often asked to tell the same Bible story (the parable of the prodigal son). But because of language barriers, African prisoners were often simply asked to speak, tell a story or sing a song. One can hear some men repeating monotonous word lists or counting, but mostly they spoke of the war, of imprisonment and of the families they hadn’t seen for years. In the process we hear speakers offer commentary. Senegalese prisoner Abdoulaye Niang, for example, calls Europe’s battlefields an abattoir for the soldiers from Africa. Others sang of the war of the whites, or speak of other forms of colonial exploitation… Other African men got caught up in the war and were interned as civilian prisoners, like Mohamed Nur from Somalia, who had lived in Germany from 1911. Nur left a rich audio-visual trace in Germany, which speaks of the exploitation of men of colour in German academia as well as by artists. One of his songs comments on the poor treatment of travellers and gives a plea for more hospitality to strangers.
OpEd: Africa Needs American Generosity
AFRICAN DIASPORA
Ugandan-born Mamdani shakes up New York mayor’s race
A Ugandan-born candidate is now at the center of America’s most-watched mayoral race. Zohran Kwame Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York State Assemblymember born in Kampala to renowned intellectual Mahmood Mamdani and celebrated filmmaker Mira Nair, has emerged as the main challenger to former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City, scheduled for June 24. Long seen as an underdog, Mamdani’s grassroots momentum is now undeniable. Two internal polls released this week show a tightening contest between the self-described democratic socialist and the scandal-scarred Cuomo. A survey by Data for Progress shows Cuomo edging Mamdani by a narrow 51-49 margin in the final round of ranked-choice voting — within the poll’s margin of error.
From the Bronx to Queens, Mamdani’s message of tackling New York’s affordability crisis — from soaring rents to faltering transit — is striking a chord with working-class voters. Mamdani, who represents Queens in the State Assembly, has built a reputation as an unrelenting advocate for economic justice.
UN-AFFAIRS
Guyana empowers an Afro-Caribbean alliance through A3+
The Guyana delegation to the United Nations is building a strong alliance with Africa through the country’s two-year term on the Security Council. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s permanent representative to the UN, counted enhancing the Afro-Caribbean alliance as one of her country’s proudest diplomatic accomplishments during its tenure, which ends on Dec. 31, 2025. The A3+ is a coalition of the three elected African members that sit every year in the Council, known as the A3, plus an additional like-minded country, traditionally from the Latin American-Caribbean region. Since taking its seat in the Council in January 2023, Guyana has joined the A3 as the “plus,” working this year with Algeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia to align on key issues, particularly those affecting Africa and the global South. The “plus” element was introduced with St. Vincent and the Grenadines becoming the first Caribbean country to join the A3 during its 2020–2021 Council term (teaming up then with Niger, South Africa and Tunisia). Guyana currently represents the Latin American-Caribbean region in the Council, and its alliance with the three African countries reflects a growing trend of Afro-Caribbean diplomatic alignment in the broader UN system. (Colombia is most likely to be voted into the Council on June 3 by the General Assembly to succeed Guyana.)
Results of survey on major UN agenda reform ideas
A readers’ survey on United Nations reforms offers insights into many of the choices being proposed in the official UN80 initiative. The reform effort, introduced in mid-March by Secretary-General António Guterres, aims to reshape the UN system to be more efficient and useful. The survey, conducted from May 18 to May 24, 2025, gauged readers’ responses to seven key proposals from the UN80 management task force, using a sliding scale from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” The most popular proposals include: merging peace and security departments, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the Department of Peace Operations (DPO); creating a Unified Human Rights Department; Reducing high-level UN Posts: 44.6; merging UN Development Program (UNDP) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS); merging UN Women and UN Population Fund (UNFPA). The least popular proposals appear to include relocating UN Jobs; and creating a UN Humanitarian Response and Protection Organization.
UN80 plan spells doom for the Organization’s core work, insiders say
The UN80 initiative proposed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has sparked concerns over the effect it could have on the core work of the organization, including its gender equality ambitions, according to about a half-dozen UN insiders and experts who spoke to media on the reform agenda underway. Guterres announced the initiative on March 12, appointing an internal task force led by Under-Secretary-General Guy Ryder to propose strategies on how to make the 80-year-old institution more useful, cost-efficient and fit for the 21st century. Although he said that the UN80 plan was not related to the continuing massive cuts by the United States to international multilateral organizations and the aid sectors, the timing is not coincidental. Since the announcement, the UN secretariat has struggled to manage communications about the reform. There have been a series of media leaks that some people in UN circles say reflect internal dissent against the proposed reforms.
OpEd: can the UN’s migration and refugee agencies become one?
OpEd: Finally, the moment to reshape the UN Development System is here
THE WEEK AHEAD
June 10: Kenya’s central bank announces its interest rate decision.
June 11-12: The Africa Impact Summit takes place in Accra.
June 12: Kenya’s budget for 2025/26 is expected to be presented to parliament.
June 12: Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day.
June 12-13: Innovators and investors gather for Fintech Festival Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.
June 13: South Africa and the World Health Organization hold an event for the sustainable financing of tuberculosis vaccines in Johannesburg.
(Courtesy Semafor Africa)
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