Author: Abdihakim Kalale

More than 1,000 Ugandan soldiers have been deployed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically in Ituri province’s Bunia, Mahagi, and Djugu territories, according to a recent report by United Nations experts. The deployment, not formally authorized by the Congolese government, comes under the stated aim of countering the activities of the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO), an armed group operating in the region. Ugandan officials say the move is intended to neutralize security threats near Lake Albert, where some of Uganda’s vital oil infrastructure is located. However, the UN report suggests the real motive may…

Burkina Faso has revoked the licenses of four foreign NGOs and suspended two others for a period of three months, citing legal and data-related violations, according to official decrees dated mid-June. Authorities did not publicly elaborate on the exact nature of the breaches, but emphasized that the move aligns with ongoing national security and regulatory efforts. One of the suspended organizations was reportedly involved in unauthorized handling of sensitive information. The decision comes amid growing domestic initiatives aimed at enhancing sovereignty, strengthening internal governance structures, and limiting external interference, especially in the face of escalating insecurity linked to armed groups…

At least 10 soldiers were killed and 15 others injured following a double attack on Friday near Niger’s western border with Burkina Faso, the military reported. The assault, carried out by several hundred armed men, struck the areas of Bouloundjounga and Samira, located in the Gotheye department, a region frequently targeted by armed insurgent groups. According to Defence Minister General Salifou Modi, the attackers were successfully repelled, with 41 militants killed in response operations. The announcement was made via national television. Gotheye department lies in a volatile tri-border zone shared with Mali and Burkina Faso, where attacks by groups affiliated…

The governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have unveiled a new joint initiative — the Alliance of Agricultural Seed Producers of the Sahel (APSA-Sahel) — aimed at strengthening local food systems and reducing reliance on foreign seed imports. The alliance, formed under the broader framework of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), seeks to promote seed sovereignty by developing and distributing climate-resilient seeds tailored to the region’s harsh environmental conditions. Officials say the move represents a significant step toward economic and agricultural independence in the Sahel. Announced by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Agriculture Denis Ouédraogo, the APSA-Sahel initiative will…

The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea, rejecting a proposal by the Eritrean government to terminate the role. The decision renews international scrutiny of the country for another year. In the vote, 25 countries—including neighboring Ethiopia—opposed Eritrea’s attempt, while 16 abstained and only 4 voted in support. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the outcome sends a strong message that the global community “is not misled by Eritrea’s efforts to divert attention and discredit independent human rights reporting.” Eritrea had argued that rights violations in…

A recent opinion article published by The Jerusalem Post alleges that Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, is playing a key role in enabling Iranian influence and the presence of armed groups in the region. The piece argues that Sudan under al-Burhan is becoming a base for Tehran-linked activities and a transit point for weapons and technology that may threaten Israel and regional allies. The article claims that Iranian weapons and intelligence agents are operating inside Sudan, with drone components being shipped and assembled covertly. It further states that Sudan has quietly become a haven for members of Hamas,…

Sudan’s brutal civil war has entered its third year, leaving over 150,000 people dead and triggering what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The power struggle between Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the army, and Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as “Hemedti”, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continues to devastate the country. War Roots: A Failed Transition and Military Rivalry The conflict began in April 2023, following a deep rift between the army and the RSF, two forces that had jointly seized power in 2021. Tensions escalated when efforts to integrate the…

A major milestone in Africa’s tech evolution has been reached as Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa and Jensen Huang, CEO of U.S.-based Nvidia and one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, launch the continent’s first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) factory. The initiative is spearheaded by Masiyiwa’s Cassava Technologies in partnership with Nvidia, the global leader in graphics processing and AI computing. The new facility will feature thousands of Nvidia’s advanced GPUs, making it a core hub for African AI innovation and digital infrastructure. Initial GPU installations have begun in South Africa, with plans to expand to Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, and Egypt in the…

A confidential United Nations investigation seen by Africa Independent News alleges that Kigali-based Boss Mining Solution has been purchasing coltan siphoned out of rebel-held territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, indirectly channelling revenue to the M23 movement. Key findings Unprecedented volumes of contrabandUN experts say shipments leaving the Rubaya mining zone – now under M23 control – are being trucked overnight across the Bukavu and Congo border posts into Rwanda, where they are blended with legitimate output before export. The panel recorded almost 200 tonnes entering Rwanda in the final week of March alone. Corporate trailBoss Mining, managed by…

Mali’s transitional parliament has approved a new bill granting military leader Assimi Goïta a renewable five-year presidential term, extending his mandate through at least 2030. The law was unanimously backed by 131 of the 147 members of the transitional council. It states that the transition period will continue “as long as necessary” until national stability is achieved. General Goïta, a senior army officer, first came to power in August 2020 following a military takeover that removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. In May 2021, he assumed full leadership after another power reshuffle within the transitional government, and was subsequently appointed interim…

Ethiopia has officially shelved its long-anticipated natural gas pipeline project linking the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia to Djibouti, citing financial hurdles and shifting development priorities. Initially envisioned in 2028 as a 767-kilometer corridor for transporting natural gas to an LNG terminal for export, the project has now been discontinued, according to the recently released Ethiopia Energy Outlook 2025. The pipeline, which had attracted early-stage discussions involving Black Rhino—a former Blackstone portfolio firm—was seen as a game-changing infrastructure for East Africa. The company had conducted a preliminary feasibility study and showed interest in establishing a refined petroleum products pipeline as…

Presidents from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal are expected to participate in the high-level gathering, which observers see as a potential turning point in U.S.–Africa relations. While the WhiTrump to Host 5 African Presidents in Washington Summitte House has not issued an official statement, media outlets close to the administration suggest the summit will focus on trade, investment, and security cooperation. A Shift in U.S. Africa Policy The Trump administration is signaling a sharp departure from past aid-driven approaches, instead promoting what officials call a “self-reliance model.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that future partnerships will prioritize…

The assailants, whose identities remain unknown, opened fire on residents of Kwallaijiya village, causing panic and mass casualties. Authorities say the attack occurred late Tuesday night, and emergency services are still responding to the aftermath. No group has claimed responsibility for the violence. Northern Nigeria has faced growing insecurity in recent years, with various armed gangs — commonly referred to as “bandits” — frequently launching attacks on rural communities. In addition to criminal networks, terror groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to operate across the region. Security forces have been deployed to…

Senegal has officially taken control of a French military communication base located near the capital Dakar, marking another key step in France’s phased military exit from the West African nation. The facility in Rufisque, historically used by the French armed forces for communication across the South Atlantic since 1960, was formally transferred to Senegalese authorities as part of an agreed drawdown of French troops and infrastructure in the country. The move aligns with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s earlier declaration that all French military presence must end by 2025. The withdrawal process began in March with the first base handovers…

Angola and Türkiye have announced plans to significantly expand bilateral trade, setting an ambitious goal of reaching $500 million in the coming years. The announcement came during the third Türkiye-Angola Joint Economic Commission session held in Ankara, where high-level officials from both nations emphasized mutual commitment to deepening ties in energy, trade, and development cooperation. Angolan Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, met with Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar to explore opportunities in sectors such as oil, natural gas, agriculture, transportation, education, and investment. “We seek a sustainable, long-term partnership with Türkiye,” said Azevedo,…

South Africa’s year-old Government of National Unity (GNU) is showing deeper cracks, as disputes between President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) and its largest coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), intensify. Once hailed as a stabilizing force to prevent a radical coalition with opposition parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), the ANC-DA alliance is now grappling with trust issues, policy disagreements, and growing frustration on both sides. The latest flashpoint emerged after President Ramaphosa dismissed DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield, who had undertaken an unsanctioned trip to the United States to lobby for South…