Regional Perspectives

The UN human rights chief has called for an immediate halt to fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This follows intensified clashses between the army and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia in South Kivu.

The government on Wednesday delivered 22 tonnes of emergency food aid, comprising 13 tonnes of maize and nine tonnes of beans, to the sub-counties in Kaabong District.

Participants also called for an inclusive political dialogue involving all signatories to the peace agreement, warning that excluding key stakeholders would undermine the transition.

The Dr Workneh Gebeyehu Scholarship Programme in Forensic Science will be offered through the Crime Investigation Academy at the Ethiopian Police University's Sandafa campus.

The society also instructed advocates to abandon the practice of bowing before judicial officers.

Kurmuk’s proximity to Ethiopia has made the area strategically significant, with the conflict raising fears of cross-border security risks and further displacement in the border region.

Authorities also urged the public to refrain from sharing online messages that promote violence or whose origins cannot be verified.

Though she did not name the leaders linked to the crimes or the time frames for their prosecution, the remarks are a welcome development in the wake of a resurgence in attacks in the North Kordofan region.

A new analysis warns the African Union mission in Somalia is unlikely to survive beyond December 2026 after the US opposed continued UN logistical support, citing persistent security and governance failures.

According to the Society, the reforms are intended to dismantle colonial traditions that portray judicial officers as superior to the citizens they serve.

Tensions are rising in DR Congo over plans to introduce a new constitution. The opposition accuses President Tshisekedi of using it to seek a third term but has postponed planned protests following an AU mediation offer.

A new study reveals that despite years of unpaid salaries and economic collapse, many South Sudanese civil servants remained in government for status, opportunity and hope for a stronger future state.

According to UNICEF, the majority were victims of drone strikes targeting areas occupied by civilians.

Al-Kurmuk, located near the Ethiopian border, is considered strategically important because of its location and access routes connecting Sudan with Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The affected workers include medical teams, disease surveillance officers, community outreach workers, security personnel and those responsible for safely burying Ebola victims, roles considered essential in preventing further transmission.

Once a deeply rooted cultural staple, khat has transformed into a lucrative national revenue source that now fuels profound social and economic adversity across the country. Traditionally, chewing khat was confined to communal settings, sacred religious ceremonies, social gatherings, and as a stimulant for labour endurance.

Describing what he called the gravest of the current challenges, the Prime Minister alleged that Tigrayan youth are being forcibly taken to Sudan to fight in the country’s ongoing civil war.

President Paul Kagame is one of 44 founding members of the commission, which was established under the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Catnip, a herb from the mint family, contains nepetalactone, a compound known for triggering a response in cats but also found to have insect-repelling properties.

Participants are also reviewing regional initiatives linked to the protocol, including the IGAD Interoperable Identification System and the proposed IGAD Single Visa, which are expected to support the movement of people across member states.

The Somali nationals also informed the court that they had remained in judicial custody for nearly two years since their arrests and had struggled to adapt to life in India.

A doctor at Jabrat al-Sheikh Hospital, who requested anonymity, told Xinhua that the hospital received 13 bodies and seven injured people on Monday following the strike on the civilian vehicle.

The project, backed by French energy firm TotalEnergies, is expected to serve as Uganda’s main route for shipping crude oil to international markets.

The report notes that Ethiopia had been included in the 2025 edition, representing more than 27 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity in 2024 alongside four other countries and territories, but “no updated estimates were available for 2025”.

One of the key issues raised by PS Sing’Oei was the case of Kenyan citizen Timothy Maina Nderi, who has reportedly remained under detention for months without being taken through a formal judicial process.

The World Health Organisation said Thursday that a clinical trial had begun enrolling patients in the DRC to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Darfur and Kordofan states continued to record the highest levels of child casualties, the agency said, adding that the situation in and around El Obeid, and more broadly across North Kordofan, is particularly alarming.

The workshop comes as Uganda continues to respond to an outbreak of Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD), prompting renewed calls for stronger regional surveillance and cooperation to prevent the disease from spreading across borders.

The European Union has nominated Andreas Peschke as the next EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Kenya.

The discussions focused on ongoing reforms, efforts to strengthen state institutions, and the steps being taken to expand democratic governance.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organisation has started consultations with key partners to assess the possible effects of the decision before the current funding arrangement comes to an end.

As of Wednesday, the DRC had reported 1,460 confirmed Ebola cases, including 432 deaths, with a case fatality rate of about 31 per cent, Akilimali said, adding that the cases have been recorded across 36 health zones in three provinces.

Rwandan High Commissioner Ernest Rwamucyo thanked Kenya for standing alongside Rwanda throughout its transformation, saying the two countries’ relationship is grounded in mutual respect, shared goals, and a common commitment to Pan-African unity and cooperation.

Priority within the programme is being given to vulnerable individuals, particularly the sick and elderly. Some of the cases will be transported by air due to health considerations.

According to NISA, the operation dealt a significant blow to the network accused of planning and carrying out mortar attacks, even though intelligence reports later indicated that the group removed the bodies of its killed leaders from the site and secretly buried them in another location.

Sudan has been engulfed in war since 2023, when fighting erupted between the formerly allied Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. 

President Daniel Chapo expressed his gratitude to the government of Rwanda, particularly to the President of the Republic of Rwanda, for the "unwavering support provided to Mozambique in combating terrorism in Cabo Delgado”.

The report says as many as 200 Ethiopian nationals are currently on death row in Saudi Arabia, with dozens reportedly facing imminent execution after trials that detainees and human rights organizations say failed to meet basic due process standards.

The latest offensive follows months of intensified military operations in Sudan’s Blue Nile region after the RSF and their allied militia, SPLM-N, captured Kurmuk in March this year, raising concerns over the conflict’s spillover into neighbouring Ethiopia.

A devastating mix of escalating local conflict, mass displacement, severe access constraints, and total market collapse has pushed these communities to the brink.

The sector accounts for about a third of Ethiopia’s total export earnings and supports millions of households involved in farming, processing and related supply chains.

The incident is linked to a wider rabies outbreak in the area, where health officials have said more than 80 people were hospitalised following suspected dog bites.

Under the agreement, the company will supply about 20 tonnes of meat products every month to Ethiopia’s Diamond Hotel and Restaurant Group, marking the start of a structured cross-border supply arrangement.

According to DRC health authorities, more than 1,400 cases of the disease have been confirmed since the outbreak began in mid-May, with nearly 440 deaths and about 210 recoveries.

Türk warned of patterns of violence, including attacks on civilians, summary executions, torture, sexual violence and forced displacement, mirroring atrocities previously documented in El Fasher.

Several Member States are warning that an increasing number of deadly airstrikes have destroyed basic services, causing severe fuel and water shortages.

The evacuation programme follows a directive by President Yoweri Museveni to safeguard the welfare and safety of Ugandans following recent anti-migrant violence attacks in South Africa.

According to the latest situation update released by the Congolese government late Wednesday, the DRC had reported 1,406 confirmed Ebola cases, including 438 deaths, as of June 30.

Long before Sudan's civil war, music helped unite protesters, challenge dictatorship and shape the 2019 revolution—offering lessons for rebuilding the country when the fighting ends.

Medical charity MSF says dwindling donor funding has forced humanitarian agencies to scale back operations, leaving thousands of Ethiopian refugees and vulnerable Sudanese families without adequate healthcare, food, clean water and protection.

Fetlework Gebregziabher, a member of the TPLF Executive Committee and head of the party’s office, said the federal government was actively repositioning troops around Tigray.