Russia’s ties to Africa are primarily military and its Wagner mercenaries’ presence is unlikely to silence the guns
As the world marks the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, it has been suggested that Africa needs a common approach to the war. So far Russia’s aggression has elicited contrary responses across the continent, as evidenced by the equivocal votes on numerous resolutions at the...
Fighting flares up in troubled eastern DR Congo hours after EAC called for pullback by armed groups
Fighting flared on Monday between the DR Congo’s army and M23 rebels in the country’s troubled east, just days after African leaders called for a ceasefire and a pullback by armed groups. “There have been clashes since 5:00 am with the M23” in the Kitshanga area, northwest of the main...
Africa’s more democratic than other regions relative to its development, but still needs quality leadership
Do recent coups in Chad, Mali, Guinea and Sudan mean that democracy in Africa is failing? This notion is fuelled by internet shutdowns, muzzling of the opposition and rising third termism. But evidence suggests that while there are pockets of concern, a robust democratic culture is in fact growing in...
Children soldiers, some aged 5, among fighters rescued from Islamist militia captivity in Mozambique
The UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) added its voice to that of Human Right Watch regarding “worrying reports” of child soldiers in Mozambique. “Unverified video material secured by armed forces in an abandoned training camp apparently shows abducted children as young as five handling weapons and being indoctrinated to fight,” Unicef...
New UN report details crimes against humanity against Black African migrants in Libyan prisons
A UN report by human rights investigators in Libya details a number of possible war crimes and crimes against humanity against detainees and migrants in Libyan prisons. The investigators said that they now have a confidential list of suspects. “The investigations indicated that several parties to the conflicts violated [international...
Nigeria bolsters military hardware with 100 APCs in response to deepening Boko Haram threat
The Nigerian army is facing a crisis. National and regional security dangers posed by the al Qaeda-supported terror group Bolo Haram has forced the West African economic giant to reinforce in defence infrastructure in preparation to repulse the militia group that has forced more than one million children out of...
Islamic States militia taking advantage of ethnic hostilities to fan atrocities in Niger Delta – reports
Niger government officials have sought to downplay the ethnic colouration of recent massacres in Niger Delta. Although Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) has recruited mostly from Fulani groups, officials point out that ethnic Zarma and members of other communities have also joined them. Still, local analysts and residents...
Bracing for Boko Haram militia threat: New aircraft for Nigerian Air Force is finally home The final batch of six A-29 Super Tucanos destined for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have left the United States, and arrived in Nigeria on Friday. The six aircraft, out of an order for 12,...
Confirmed resistance to front-line malaria drugs in Africa, may put a damper on rising vaccine hopes
Scientists have confirmed that malaria parasites in Africa have developed resistance to a key family of drugs used to protect against them. “We’ve all been expecting and dreading this for quite some time,” says Leann Tilley, a biochemist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, who researches the molecular basis...
Chinese greed: Red alert out on the damage illegal fishing is doing to Africa’s ‘blue economy’
Maritime security experts warn that illegal fishing is undermining Africa’s “blue economy” that covers the continent’s fisheries, tourism, aquaculture, transport, ports and oil drilling. The African Union Development Agency (AUDA) says development of blue economy is critical to the continent’s prosperity. “Africa is one of the most blessed continents in...
