Regional Perspectives

The virtual session followed a regional summit held last week and co-chaired by Ruto, who chairs the EAC, and Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the current SADC chairperson.

Relations between the two countries have been deteriorating steadily in 2025. In February, Rwanda suspended a five-year (2024-2029) €95 million (US$102.8 million) deal. This was one of the largest aid deals between the two countries.

The Americans were among some 50 people, including US, British, Canadian, Belgian and Congolese citizens, who stood trial last year following the botched attempt to overthrow the government in May.

Mudavadi also acknowledged that the ongoing crises, including the South Sudan conflict, Al-Shabaab threats, and instability in Marsabit, have delayed the progress of the government’s Shirika Plan.

The report further estimates that over 230,000 new IDPs will be displaced between April and June, with conflict and drought being the primary drivers.

The airstrike conducted today by AFRICOM focused on ISIS members and leaders who were congregating in the Southeastern area of Bosasso, Puntland.

This marks the first meeting between the two sides in the competition, with both teams aiming for a strong start in what promises to be a competitive group.

The decision to hold bi-weekly auctions followed discussions between NBE regulators and commercial bank executives on 31 March 2025 regarding foreign currency management reforms.

Throughout the commemoration period, various activities are held to honour the victims, with the recurring message being a commitment to peace and tolerance.

The formation of the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR) by Thomas Lubanga comes as Congo's army faces an unprecedented advance by M23 rebels elsewhere in eastern Congo.

Qatar hosted a second round of talks between the two countries beginning on Friday and met separately with M23 representatives. Congolese officials and M23 have not yet met, sources said.

The De Havilland Dash 8 (DH8D) aircraft operated by the UNSOS was departing from Somalia to a yet-to-be-disclosed location when the incident happened.

Despite maintaining its stance on the trade ban, the Sudanese Embassy affirmed its commitment to regional cooperation and dialogue guided by the principles of mutual respect and non-interference.

The explanatory note attached to the amendment argues that this timeframe “does not align with the current reality,” emphasizing that resolving “extremely complex security and political problems” requires flexibility.

The deteriorating health situation has been exacerbated by escalating political tension in South Sudan, which has driven thousands of displaced people—many in need of medical care—across the border into Ethiopia.

Besides the refinery deal, Uganda and UAE investors also signed five other agreements in various sectors.

Military operations alone will not defeat Al-Shabaab. A comprehensive strategy must include political engagement with local communities, clan elders, and civil society to weaken Al-Shabaab’s grip at the grassroots level.

As questions swirl over the clarity and coordination of Odinga's special envoy role, one thing remains clear—Juba is not amused.

In a statement issued from Addis Ababa on Monday, the AUC chief expressed "solidarity with the Government and people of South Sudan," reaffirming the African Union's "unwavering commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and lasting peace."

The International Criminal Court secured its first conviction against Lubanga in 2012 on charges of recruiting child soldiers and sentenced him to 14 years in prison.

Chadema remains adamant that the election cannot go ahead without substantial electoral reforms.

The plane, which was reportedly expected to land at Kavumu Airport in Bukavu to transport Red Cross International staff to Entebbe, came under attack as it approached its destination.

Turkey pledged to enhance military training for Somali forces and boost intelligence-sharing to weaken Al-Shabaab’s networks.

This discovery will likely encourage researchers to pay closer attention to the subtle signs of bone knapping in fossil assemblages. This way we will learn more about the evolution of human technology and behaviour.

The directive takes effect immediately and affects all collaborations, partnerships and financial engagements with Belgian institutions, agencies, and programmes.

The RSF leader conceded in an audio message on Telegram that his forces had left the capital last week as the army consolidated its gains.

The conflict between the army and the RSF has unleashed waves of ethnic violence, created what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis

Throughout his career, Mwapachu made notable contributions in law, banking, rural development, diplomacy, and private enterprise.

The report from OCHA comes amid renewed fighting in the restive Amhara region under the name “Unity Campaign,” the latest escalation since the militarised conflict began in the summer of 2023, claiming civilian lives and displacing many.

He warned that the Horn of Africa is already in turmoil and cannot withstand another conflict, urging immediate de-escalation.

The war has also triggered a massive displacement crisis, with more than 14 million people forced to flee their homes. Many have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, while others remain trapped in dangerous conditions within Sudan.

Now a decade on, Kiir's administration has detained Machar, his longtime rival, threatening once again to ignite conflict in an impoverished country in the middle of an increasingly fragile region.

Congolese and Rwandan officials held talks on Friday, while M23 representatives met separately with Qatari mediators, said two sources from the Congolese government and two from the rebels.

The offer could give the United States a firmer military presence in the Horn of Africa region as it looks to counter the threat from militants in Somalia and across the region.

Tuti island, with its green landscape overlooking the majestic Nile waters, was once one of Sudan's most soothing spots, offering relaxation in a nation with a long history of war.

The experts warned that children are increasingly becoming victims of indiscriminate attacks, sexual violence, and recruitment by armed groups amid the worsening conflict.

Reports that Machar – a long-time rival of President Salva Kiir – was arrested on Wednesday prompted international calls for restraint. Kenya sent its former prime minister, Raila Odinga, to defuse tensions.

AFC/M23 will also coordinate the freedom of movement for the withdrawing troops according to the agreed principles.

At an event organised by Amnesty International, experts from Human Rights Watch, and other organisations exposed the dire situation, calling for more action to highlight the plight of the affected population.

First Vice President Riek Machar was put under house arrest in the capital Juba on Wednesday, in effect voiding a 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year civil war.

It is understood that Raila is set to travel to South Sudan on Friday to help prevent further conflict in the country.

This support comes at a critical moment as Somalia strengthens its institutions and prepares to assume full security responsibility in the future.

Machar rejoined the SPLA in 2002, and after a 2005 peace deal that ended civil war and established southern autonomy, he became vice-president of the South, retaining the position after South Sudan's independence in 2011 until his sacking in 2013.

Those facing acute hunger are classified as Phase 3 or higher in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Of the 28 million in Congo, 3.9 million are Phase 4, meaning they are experiencing emergency levels of hunger.

Foreign governments have warned that civil war could break out again in South Sudan following weeks of escalating tensions that originated in fighting between government troops and a militia that has historically been close to Machar's forces.

Dr Machar and his wife, Angelina Teny, were placed under house arrest on Wednesday night, an action that now threatens peace in the fragile nation.

IGAD's Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, said such developments undermine the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

President William Ruto on Thursday said he had called President Kiir to discuss the situation leading to Machar’s arrest and detention.

It also accused the federal government of neglecting rehabilitation efforts in Tigray and hindering the delivery of essential commodities.

Civil society activists, the United Nations, and the United States have called for restraint and the reversal of the action following reports of the arrest.

It also puts hundreds of thousands of people in the western region of Darfur at greater risk of starvation - many of them displaced in previous rounds of conflict.

Leaders from the main Southern and Eastern Africa political blocs had met on Monday to advance a plan aimed at securing a ceasefire in a conflict rooted in the long fallout from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and competition for control of mineral riches.

With the army now re-establishing its position in the capital, it is making a new push to cement its control in the centre of Sudan.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, has been allocated the deputy leadership position.

The army had long been on the back foot in a conflict that threatens to partition the country and has caused a humanitarian disaster

Youssouf pledged to engage with Somalia's international partners and emphasised the importance of sustained support for Somalia in its battle with the militant group al-Shabaab.

According to UNICEF, 40,000 cases of cholera were reported from late September to March 18, 2025 making it the worst outbreak the country has faced in 20 years.

The expanded panel will support former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in navigating the complex and volatile conflict that has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.

Health officials said in February that the condition was suspected to be either malaria or food poisoning.

In a letter addressed to the U.N., African Union and the IGAD regional bloc, Machar said Uganda's military intervention in South Sudan had violated a 2018 peace deal, which ended a brutal five-year civil war.

The medical humanitarian organisation called on all state and non-state armed groups in Ituri to spare civilians as well as healthcare facilities, which are sanctuaries essential to the survival of local communities.

Chad condemned threats made against it by the same senior military official that claimed that N'Djamena and Amdjarass were legitimate military targets and said they amounted to a declaration of war which they would respond to in a "firm and proportionate" manner.

The head of state also claimed that Rwanda led by President Paul Kagame had tried to organise a coup 10 years ago in Burundi, comparing it to the crisis that is currently ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Despite Chad's and South Sudan's efforts at mediation, Sudanese military leaders have increasingly accused them of aiding the RSF.

As Dar es Salaam port strengthens its role as a hub for regional trade, it is expected to become increasingly important in Africa’s economic future.

Angola's presidency announced it would "free itself from the responsibility of mediator" in order to focus more on broader African Union priorities.

The prospect of a ceasefire in the strategic town of Walikale, which the M23 rebels captured last week, had briefly fuelled hopes of reviving stalled diplomatic efforts to resolve eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's biggest conflict in decades.

The Somalia National News Agency (SONNA) later said the two leaders discussed counterterrorism, regional stability, and Somalia’s commitment to AU reforms.

Qatar's mediation efforts have brought Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the table, leveraging strong economic ties to facilitate crucial peace negotiations.

The mineral-rich eastern DRC remains a focal point of conflict, with various armed groups vying for control over resources such as coltan, tin, tantalum, and gold.

The Sudanese Doctors Network said on X that the RSF carried out "mass executions" of 48 people from the Al-Malha area, while 63 others were injured during the attack.

The aircraft, operated by Trident Aviation Ltd, had departed from Dhobley and was heading to Aden Abdulle International Airport when it went down.

South Sudan's United Nations peacekeeping chief, Nicholas Haysom, has also said he is concerned the country is "on the brink of relapse into civil war".

It would have been their first direct engagement with DR Congo's government after President Felix Tshisekedi reversed his longstanding refusal to speak to the rebels.

Walikale is the farthest west the rebels have reached in an advance that has already overrun eastern Congo's two largest cities since January.

Uganda military spokesperson Chris Magezi said hundreds of CODECO fighters attacked a Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) military post in the Congo locality of Fataki, in the province of Ituri, on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been internally displaced, while more than 100,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries in less than three months due to fighting between the M23 group and the Congolese army, according to the UNHCR.

The Fano militia fought alongside the army and Eritrean forces in a two-year civil war that pitted Addis Ababa against the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which controls the northern region of Tigray.

Burundi has received nearly 66,000 Congolese refugees, with the number of new arrivals doubling in recent weeks.

UNICEF said the loss of these supplies puts over 2,000 children at risk, worsening an already dire situation for families trapped in conflict.

The takeover came a day after it seized full control of the presidential palace in what would be a major gain in a two-year-old conflict with the RSF that has threatened to partition the country.

The newly licensed institutions include CBE Capital S.C. and Wegagen Capital Investment Bank S.C., both designated as investment banks.

PM Abiy emphasized that Ethiopia’s role in the region has been to promote “peace and development,” citing its involvement in Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

The Angolan Government says the meeting was not part of the agreed peace mediation agenda.

The Sudanese army said on Friday it had gained full control of the Presidential Palace in Khartoum, in one of the most symbolic gains in its fight with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

If Mogadishu falls, the consequences will reverberate far beyond Somalia’s borders.

One of the main topics will be AFC/M23’s demand for direct talks with the Congolese government.

Mahmoud said the Luanda process has contributed significantly to creating conditions for dialogue and regional and international engagement.

The army was conducting search operations in areas around the palace in pursuit of members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the sources said.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame had called on Tuesday for an immediate ceasefire after a surprise meeting in Qatar's capital Doha, their first direct talks this year.