Regional Perspectives

The signing marks the formal creation of a national body that will be responsible for promoting and protecting human rights across the country.

"We confirm that the city of Uvira is now liberated," M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka posted on X, urging residents to resume their activities calmly.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the situation in South Kivu province has deteriorated sharply since December 2 due to heavy fighting across multiple territories, including Uvira, Walungu, Mwenga, Shabunda, Kabare, Fizi and Kalehe.

Tanzania’s Chadema party has rejected October 29, 2025 elections, demanding a UN‑backed transitional government, new polls, rights reforms and accountability for alleged mass abuses.

Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali said the ministry wants to gather reliable information that will help shape future planning and guide the distribution of resources.

Within Ethiopia, political narratives have distorted collective memory. Reports highlight growing disillusionment among Tigrayan civilians, who feel neither Addis Ababa nor regional elites adequately represent their interests.

M23 rebels have captured Uvira in eastern DR Congo, prompting Burundi to seal its border and tens of thousands to flee. Regional tensions are rising despite a recent US-brokered peace deal.

Ottawa, which has provided about $3.4 billion in development assistance to Tanzania since independence, had long regarded the country as one of East Africa's more stable partners.

Rwanda and DR Congo are accusing each other of violating a new US-brokered ceasefire, as Burundi alleges Rwandan destabilisation, raising doubts over the fragile Washington accord.

The police recalled an update shared shortly after midnight on December 9, in which they assured citizens that joint security and defence teams would continue strengthening national security.

Tanzania’s Legal and Human Rights Centre reports rising 2025 abuses, including over 40 enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and treason charges, warning that October election crackdowns threaten democratic freedoms.

Sudan's livestock sector, once a pillar of the national economy that contributed over 20 per cent of GDP with an estimated 140 million animals, has been devastated since the fighting erupted in April 2023.

Sudan is in the midst of the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis, since the conflict erupted 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which now controls North Darfur’s devastated capital, El Fasher, after more than 500 days of siege.

Tanzania’s Independence Day saw Dar es Salaam streets largely empty as police and soldiers blocked planned anti-government protests after disputed October elections and a deadly post-poll crackdown.

Reports from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, and Dodoma indicate an unusually heavy presence of police and military units, with armoured vehicles stationed at key intersections and government buildings.

Security presence was heightened in several cities. In Dar es Salaam, police and army personnel patrolled major streets.

Abd-Al-Rahman, 76, also known as Ali Kushayb, was convicted in October of 27 counts, including murder, rape, torture and attacks against civilians in western Darfur between 2003 and 2004.

Rwanda Automobile Club has been admitted to the global motorcycle body FIM, giving Rwanda access to sanctioned events, competitions and technical support, as FIM membership rises to 125 federations.

At least 30 people were killed and 20 injured in a bomb blast in Sange, South Kivu, after clashes between DR Congo’s army and a pro-government militia, days after a US-brokered peace deal.

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces have seized the Heglig oilfield in South Kordofan, the country’s largest oil hub, in a major setback for the army amid a war that has displaced millions.

Kenya is hosting Silent Warriors 2025 in Nairobi, uniting Special Operations leaders from over 40 African states and US SOCAF to address terrorism, cyber threats and emerging security challenges.

For many years, Ilko Case held a central place in Somali music. His songs were played in homes, events, and gatherings across East Africa, and many people linked important moments in their lives to his work.

Tanzania Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba slammed the alleged financiers, saying the funds could have been used to improve essential public services instead of fueling chaos.

The remarks follow a weekend of tension in Gulu, where opposition leader and presidential candidate Bobi Wine and his team came under attack during a campaign mobilisation event.

Human Rights Watch urges Tanzania to free detained opposition supporters and activists ahead of independence day, end online censorship, and widen the post-election violence inquiry for accountability.

WHO confirms drone strikes in Sudan’s South Kordofan killed 114 people, including 63 children, hitting a kindergarten and hospital. The agency urges a ceasefire and greater humanitarian access.

Government spokesperson Mussa Azzan Zungu said the directive is aimed at balancing national celebration with public order.

Sudan has frozen plans for a Russian naval base on the Red Sea, a senior military official says, contradicting reports of progress as the war-torn country prioritises its internal conflict.

Wetang’ula called on legislators across the region to enact laws that remove barriers to the free movement of people and trade, stressing that unity among member states is essential for regional prosperity.

Drone strikes on the army-held town of Kalogi in Sudan’s South Kordofan killed 79 people, including 43 children, hitting a kindergarten and hospital as the wider humanitarian crisis deepens.

The decision, which was arrived at on December 4, was announced on Friday in a statement published by its Embassy in Tanzania.

In a statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended US President Donald Trump for his efforts and congratulated Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda on what he called an “important milestone”.

Somalia qualified for the relief after demonstrating strong macroeconomic reforms and improvements in governance, public financial management and domestic revenue mobilisation.

The Kenya High Commission in Dar es Salaam has issued a safety advisory to Kenyans in Tanzania ahead of December 9 Independence Day, amid fears of illegal protests and possible unrest.

As Uganda heads toward its 2026 elections, the prospect of restricting online platforms highlights growing fears over political stability, freedom of information, and public safety during sensitive periods.

Tanzanian authorities have banned December 9 protests, calling them illegal amid post-election unrest, disputed death tolls and international pressure over rights and security.

Tanzania has pushed back against foreign criticism over the October 29, 2025 elections, highlighting a Commission of Inquiry as the Commonwealth places the country on its Formal Agenda.

Tanzania's response has been predictable. Officials describe the criticism as foreign interference and insist that the country will not be 'lectured by outsiders on democracy'.

Washington hails a "historic" US-brokered Rwanda-DR Congo peace deal, but renewed clashes, mistrust between leaders, and warnings of US mineral ambitions reveal a fragile reality on the ground.

In a statement shared from Addis Ababa on December 5, the firm explained that the application, built to operate smoothly on all networks, was suddenly blocked on mobile data provided by Ethio Telecom.

Tanzania’s regulator asked Meta to restrict three Instagram accounts over election-related content, warning of possible platform blocks, as Meta confirms targeted limits on activist accounts.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame says the new Washington Accord offers a real chance for long-term peace, crediting Donald Trump’s mediation and urging African nations to protect the fragile gains.

Rwanda and the DR Congo have signed the Washington Accords for Peace, backed by African leaders and the US, pledging a permanent ceasefire, disarmament of militias and a new regional economic framework.

17 diplomatic missions and UN experts are pressing Tanzania to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings after the October 29 elections, release political detainees and ensure an independent, transparent inquiry.

Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and DRC’s Félix Tshisekedi signed a US-brokered peace deal in Washington while barely acknowledging each other, underscoring unresolved tensions and the mineral-fuelled conflicts still destabilising eastern Congo.

The DRC and Rwanda are launching a US-backed Regional Economic Integration Framework to secure mineral supply chains, deepen cross-border trade, and support long-term peace across the Great Lakes region.

DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his counterpart from Rwanda, Paul Kagame, signed a deal to end the conflict in eastern Congo.

The Sudan conflict has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with some 30 million people needing assistance.

The M23 rebels are negotiating separately under Qatar's mediation and will not participate in the Washington ceremony.

Meanwhile, the situation in and around El Fasher – which UN relief chief Tom Fletcher called a “potential crime scene” following its capture by militia fighters, during his visit last month — remains dire. Civilians attempting to escape continue to face grave risks along unsafe routes.