Victims were members of a community security group who were ambushed while returning from a condolence earlier this week

The UN estimates that 3.2 million Sudanese children under the age of 5 will face acute malnutrition in 2025, with over 700,000 at risk of severe malnutrition due to ongoing conflict.

More than 100,000 people in eastern Congo have been displaced this year due to escalating violence by M23 rebels, adding to an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

In a statement issued on Friday, the party condemned the sanctions, arguing that they undermine efforts to resolve Sudan’s war

The conflict has devastated the country, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis marked by widespread displacement and food insecurity

Investigations are currently underway, and the suspects will face court proceedings once the inquiry is concluded

Kenya’s high court has ruled that treating suicide attempts as a crime is unconstitutional, signaling a shift towards mental health awareness and decriminalization.

The United States will return $52.88 million in forfeited assets linked to former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, which will support renewable energy and counter-terrorism initiatives in Africa.

Bandits struck Charanci, Safana, Kurfi, and Kaita in Katsina State, leaving 30 dead and several people missing amid the destruction.

In recent years, both Benin and its neighbour Togo have faced mounting threats from militants affiliated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda

Rwandan President Paul Kagame dismissed reports claiming that his country supports the M23 rebel group, which recently seized key towns in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Kagame told reporters in the capital Kigali on Thursday that Rwanda has nothing to do with the rebel group and it does not make sense to blame Rwanda for the conflict in the DR Congo. “These leaders of M23 and the majority of their fighters came from Uganda, where they had been refugees,” he said, adding that M23 rebels are not Rwandans but speak the Rwandan language, Kinyarwanda. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim that Kagame has frequently denied. A recent report by the United Nations Group of Experts claimed that Rwandan forces were helping the rebels in DR Congo. Kagame said M23 fighters are Congolese, and even the past and present leaders admit it.  ‘‘Why do we have over 100,000 refugees here in Rwanda originating for eastern Congo?” he said. He said the Rwandan government disarmed M23 fighters who crossed into Rwanda in 2012-13 and gave back their arms to the authorities in DR Congo. Kagame urged Congolese authorities to address the root causes of the conflict and negotiate with the rebel group to find a solution to end it. Angolan President Joao Lourenco had been mediating between Tshisekedi and Kagame, but talks hit a deadlock last month.

US President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is being set up. “He (Putin) wants to meet, and we’re setting it up,” Trump told reporters ahead of a meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. He did not provide further details about the possible meeting. “President Putin wants to meet. He said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over. That’s a bloody mess,” he said, referring to the Russia-Ukraine war. Turning to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said they have had “a lot of” communication. “We have a lot of meetings set up with a lot of people. Some have come, but I’d rather wait till after the 20th,” he said, referring to Jan. 20, the date of his inauguration.

Nigeria plans to include illegal and hidden activities, such as prostitution, in its GDP calculations to provide a more accurate representation of its economy.

A high-level meeting between Ethiopian and Turkish officials highlighted growing bilateral ties and investment opportunities. Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Misganu Arega met Turkey’s Ambassador to Addis Ababa, Berk Baran, on Thursday, underscoring Ethiopia’s macroeconomic reforms as key to attracting Turkish investors. Arega pointed to recent policy changes, such as floating Ethiopia’s foreign exchange rate and welcoming foreign banks, as transformative steps. He emphasized the potential for Turkish companies to capitalize on Ethiopia’s improving investment climate. State media reported that Arega also highlighted the Ankara Declaration, a Turkish-mediated agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia. This pact ensures Ethiopia’s access to the sea while preserving Somalia’s territorial sovereignty. Baran praised the Ankara Declaration as a testament to regional collaboration. He reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to deepening economic and diplomatic ties with both Ethiopia and Somalia. In a separate development, Mustafa Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow, Somalia’s Director General of Immigration Affairs, met with Turkey’s Ambassador to Mogadishu, Alper Aktas. Dhuhulow expressed gratitude for Turkey’s unwavering support in Somalia’s rebuilding efforts. The discussions underscored Turkey’s role as a strategic partner in East Africa, fostering economic and political stability in the region. Ethiopia’s recent reforms signal a new era of economic liberalization, with officials hoping to attract diverse global investors, especially from Turkey. This meeting marks a significant step in enhancing the relationship between Ethiopia and Turkey, built on mutual interests and shared regional goals.

Mozambique’s main opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane who has been in self-imposed exile returned to country on Thursday

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged China’s support to help Africa build a rapid response force to address the continent’s growing security challenges, including providing military assistance and training.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has urged Congolese authorities to negotiate with the M23 rebels after they seized key towns in eastern Congo, increasing their territorial control.

Mozambique opposition leader Venancio Mondlane returned from exile to claim election victory, sparking clashes that left one dead and several injured as supporters and police clashed.

Sandal also argued that the sanctions sent a damaging message to those exacerbating the violence

At least 19 people have died following a violent confrontation in Chad, where security forces intervened to thwart an armed attack on the presidential complex in N’Djamena. The government reported that 18 of the 24 assailants were killed during the failed raid on Wednesday evening, while one security officer also lost his life. Chad’s Foreign Minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, reassured the public, stating that the president’s safety was secured and that the situation was under control. Residents in N’Djamena reported hearing sustained gunfire near the presidential compound during the attack. Koulamallah confirmed that 18 attackers were killed, six others were wounded, and the security forces had suffered one fatality along with three injuries, one of which was serious. In a video appearance shortly after the violence, Koulamallah, flanked by armed soldiers, declared, “The situation is entirely under control… the attempt to destabilize the government has been thwarted.” This assault took place during an official visit by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who had just met with President Mahamat Idriss Deby and other senior officials hours before the attack. Koulamallah confirmed that Deby was inside the presidential complex when the violence erupted. Local resident Zakaria Daoud expressed concerns about the region’s security, especially given its history of political instability and coups. Footage from the scene showed military vehicles and heavily armed troops securing the streets around the presidential palace. Koulamallah, in a live broadcast, reassured the public again, saying, “The situation is completely under control, there is no fear,” and emphasized the military’s commitment to protecting the president. The attack occurred just days after parliamentary elections, which were intended to restore democracy but were boycotted by major opposition groups. The election results are still pending, but analysts believe the outcome could further consolidate President Deby Itno’s hold on power. Deby Itno assumed leadership in 2021 after the death of his father, who had ruled for three decades. He was later elected president in 2023, though international observers raised concerns about the credibility of the election.

China on Thursday confirmed an mpox outbreak traced to an individual with a travel history to the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  The center said the outbreak was caused by a source “traced to a foreign individual with a travel history in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”  “Four related cases were identified among close contacts, all of whom were infected after intimate contact,” it added, noting that there were no such infections among the general population.  The infected individuals are receiving medical treatment and remain under observation. “The outbreak has been effectively controlled,” said the center, advising people to avoid contact with wild or unidentified rodents as well as primates, such as monkeys and apes. Mpox cases have been rising in Africa since early 2024, prompting urgent measures at the continental level.  Congo remains the worst-hit country, with the World Health Organization declaring mpox a public health emergency of global concern last August.  More than 1,300 suspected mpox-related deaths have been reported in Africa.

A UN report reveals that Congo rebels illegally exported coltan to Rwanda, contaminating the mineral supply chain and causing significant issues for technology manufacturers.

The RSF also criticized the U.S. for targeting them under an executive order aimed at stabilizing Sudan’s political process, while exempting General al-Burhan’s forces SAF from similar measures

Six soldiers and 34 extremists were killed in a clash in Nigeria’s Borno state, where the rebels launched a surprise attack on troops.