Uganda’s high court International Crimes Division on Tuesday convicted a former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group. The Gulu high court circuit convicted Thomas Kwoyelo of 78 out of 93 charges including murder, crimes against humanity including torture, rape, and enslavement, and kidnapping with intent to murder among others committed during the rebellion against Uganda of 1992-2005, but did not immediately sentence him. Kwoyelo’s trial began in September 2018, and he has been in custody at Luzira Maximum Prison since 2009 after being captured by the Ugandan Army in the Democratic Republic of Congo that March. He is the first top-level LRA commander to face a domestic court on crimes committed in northern Uganda. It is also the first time Uganda tried an LRA member under a special division of the High Court that focuses on international crimes.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov held talks Tuesday with his Southeast Asian and African counterparts in Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry said Belousov held talks with his counterparts from Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Mali and the Central African Republic on the sidelines of the Army-2024 International Military-Technical Forum. “Belousov discussed the current state and prospects for developing bilateral military cooperation,” it said. It also said that an exchange of views took place on the “most challenging issues of the international situation and regional security.” “Following the talks with the Minister of Defense of Laos, the parties signed an updated bilateral agreement on military cooperation,” it added.

Algeria and Niger have agreed to “revive” their bilateral relations based on the principles of “good neighborliness, brotherhood, and friendship.” According to the official Algerian news agency, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune met with a delegation led by Niger’s Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine. The delegation was sent by Niger’s President, General Abdurrahmane Tchiani, head of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), and conveyed an important message to President Tebboune. Following their discussions, Algeria and Niger committed to restoring their relations on the foundation of “good neighborliness, brotherhood, and friendship.” Prime Minister Zeine highlighted that the relationship between the two countries had suffered due to the military coup that ousted former Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023. He remarked, “The relations, which were harmed by these events, needed to be revived. Niger regards Algeria as a brotherly, neighboring, and friendly nation, and it should have supported us from the very beginning of the threat. We felt the absence of this brother and neighbor.” Zeine also noted that the two nations have reaffirmed their commitment to each other’s sovereignty by addressing any issues in their relationship. After the coup, Algeria had called for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger but opposed the West African Economic Community’s (ECOWAS) proposed military intervention. Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf had previously visited Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana, urging them to “avoid using force against Niger.” Algerian state radio reported that on the day of the coup, Algeria refused to allow French warplanes to use its airspace for a potential military operation against Niger. The military regime, which took power under General Abdurrahmane Tchiani on July 26, 2023, announced in August 2023 that Bazoum would be tried for “high treason,” “financing terrorism,” and “conspiring against the state.” Bazoum and his wife Hadiza have been under house arrest since the coup.

 Rwandan President Paul Kagame reappointed Edouard Ngirente as the East African country’s prime minister Tuesday, the president’s office announced. The appointment came days after Kagame was inaugurated for a new five-year term on Sunday. Ngirente, an economist, was first appointed to the position in August 2017. Prior to his first appointment as prime minister, Ngirente worked with the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. as a senior advisor to the executive director in charge of African countries. Prior to joining the World Bank, he served in various positions in Rwanda’s Finance Ministry. Ngirente, 51, holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) in Belgium. He is expected to help the president form a new Cabinet in the coming days.

On Tuesday, the African Union’s health authority declared a public health emergency in response to a rising outbreak of mpox, which has been increasing since July. In an online briefing, Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), emphasized the need for urgent and robust measures to combat the outbreak. As of August 4, the Africa CDC reported 38,465 mpox cases and 1,456 deaths across the continent since January 2022. The outbreak has affected multiple African nations, with significant impacts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and cases have now been confirmed in nearly all East and Central African countries. Mpox is transmitted through close contact and can cause rashes, flu-like symptoms, and pus-filled lesions. While most cases are mild, there have been confirmed fatalities. Additionally, the World Health Organization will convene its emergency committee on Wednesday to consider whether to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

The floods currently impacting Central and West Africa have already affected more than 700,000 individuals, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This severe situation follows torrential rains that have struck the region just two months into the rainy season. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, expressed concern during a press conference: “The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is troubled by the flooding in the region, which has impacted over 700,000 people across the Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, and Togo.” In response to the disaster, the United Nations, in partnership with various organizations, has ramped up aid to the affected countries. This support includes food distribution, shelter, and water and sanitation services. Additionally, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund has allocated $10 million this year to Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Niger to help mitigate the impacts of climate-related shocks, including ongoing floods threatening millions across sub-Saharan Africa.

East Libya-based cabinet of Osama Hammad as the official government while Aguila Saleh takes over as commander of the armed forces.

The press in Senegal is facing a crisis as the new government’s economic measures are putting media organizations out of business.

Conflict, displacement, and hunger are plaguing Sudan, and the IOM says the situation is critical.

Five million children have fled their homes, and the situation is deteriorating rapidly.

Rescue efforts have ended as authorities grapple with the aftermath of the devastating disaster.

Uganda’s high court convicted former LRA commander Thomas Kwoyelo of 78 charges including crimes against humanity.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced significant progress in mediating the dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia over Somaliland.

The Geneva Peace Talks are set to tackle the worsening situation in Sudan

Mines Minister Lefoko Moagi informed parliament that the weakened diamond market has also affected HB Antwerp’s valuation, providing Botswana with an opportunity to adjust the terms of its investment

Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive facing money laundering charges, is experiencing a severe decline in health, according to his wife. Gambaryan, who is a U.S. citizen and the head of financial crime compliance at Binance, is being held in a Nigerian prison where he faces allegations of laundering over $35 million. Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, along with Gambaryan and another executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who has since fled Nigeria, are charged with these offenses. Binance is also under investigation for tax evasion. Both Binance and Gambaryan deny the allegations. Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, reported that his condition has deteriorated significantly, with a herniated disc worsening to a point that it may cause permanent damage and affect his mobility. She also stated that he has been denied access to legal representation since July 26. The Nigerian Correctional Service has not responded to inquiries about Gambaryan’s treatment. Binance had previously ceased all transactions and trading in Nigeria’s local currency due to regulatory actions targeting crypto exchanges. Judge Emeka Nwite ordered Gambaryan to be admitted to a hospital for 24 hours for medical assessment and treatment after he appeared in court in a wheelchair last month. The trial has been postponed to October 11.

The Sudanese government, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declined to join the negotiations hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland in Geneva

The record for the highest temperature ever recorded was set in the town of Al Aziziyah, Libya

Nearly 150,000 people have been displaced in various parts of Somalia in clan conflicts since January, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Monday. This includes around 42,000 people, mostly women, children and the elderly, who were displaced by violence in the town of Luuq in the Gedo region in early July, including 12,000 who fled to hard-to-reach locations outside the town, it said. The violence is believed to have been triggered by a dispute over land ownership that also resulted in the burning of the biggest market in the town. Clan conflicts in the Mudug region from June 26 to July 2 forced over 26,000 people to abandon their homes in the remote areas of Galdogob and Jariiban districts, according to a statement by OCHA. Conflicts in Galmudug killed more than 55 people and wounded more than 60 others. The conflict paralyzed humanitarian service delivery, including the health, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions in the area, according to the UN. “Those displaced are particularly vulnerable, with women, children and the elderly making up the majority. An estimated 30% of the displaced people are livestock herders who managed to flee with their livestock,” OCHA said in the statement. Khalid Abdullahi, a humanitarian expert in the capital Mogadishu, told Anadolu the internal fighting among communities in Somalia is not new, but it seems that the clashes between rival clans have been increasing this year. He said the federal government should work with the federal member states to scale up efforts to resolve repeated clan conflicts “that hinder peace in the brotherly communities in the country.” Humanitarian needs will remain high in Somalia in 2024 due to recurrent shocks, including climatic events such as drought and floods, conflict and insecurity, widespread poverty and disease outbreaks. 6.9 million people in Somalia need humanitarian assistance in 2024 OCHA said $1.6 billion in funding is required for the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan (HNRP) in Somalia but only $507 million had been received as of Aug. 2.

Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar expressed support Monday for all efforts to ensure security in Libya. Ammar received US Ambassador to Tunisia Joey Hood and US special envoy for Libya Ambassador Richard Norland to discuss strengthening ties between Tunisia and the US and also Libya’s political future. Regarding the political process in Libya, Ammar said the political solution for the country must be Libyan-Libyan in a framework of consensus and a Libyan leadership under the auspices of the UN, according to the Tunisian Foreign Ministry. He also reiterated Tunisia’s support for all efforts aimed at reaching a “comprehensive and lasting” settlement that would guarantee Libya’s security, stability, unity and sovereignty, the ministry said. Norland paid tribute to Tunisia’s “positive and constructive “role in bridging the gap between the Libyan interlocutors. He reiterated the US’s refusal to impose solutions by force from any party and expressed his country’s willingness to coordinate with Tunisia to move towards a political settlement based on dialogue and negotiation. Libya has been plagued by sporadic security issues amid ongoing political division since 2022. The country is currently governed by two rival administrations: the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh based in Tripoli, which controls the western part of the country, and the government of Osama Hammad, appointed by the House of Representatives, which operates out of Benghazi and governs the eastern region and parts of the south. Efforts led by the UN to hold parliamentary and presidential elections have repeatedly stalled, prolonging the country’s political deadlock and exacerbating the security situation in the oil-rich nation.

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko made his first visit to Mali since taking office in March 2024. This visit is part of Senegal’s diplomatic push to reintegrate Mali, along with Niger and Burkina Faso, into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after the countries left the regional bloc following military takeovers. Sonko’s meeting with Mali’s interim president, Colonel Assimi Goita, emphasized the need for West African nations to overcome their differences and rebuild a united regional entity. Sonko envisioned a “Malian empire” connecting Mali with Senegal, Ghana, and beyond. In January, the juntas of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso criticized ECOWAS for imposing what they called “illegitimate, inhumane, and irresponsible” sanctions instead of supporting their fight against security threats. ECOWAS has been applying pressure through sanctions and rejecting extended transition periods to restore civilian rule. This situation marks the first time in nearly 50 years that ECOWAS members have withdrawn in such a manner. The three nations have since formed their own alliance, The Alliance of Sahel States. Senegalese President Basirou Diomaye Faye, who also visited Mali in May, faces the challenge of reuniting the fractured regional bloc.

Kenyan pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 94 others are on trial for manslaughter over the deaths of more than 400 followers in the Shakahola Forest massacre.

Eastern Congo faces increased militant attacks with 12 dead in North Kivu villages.

After a brief closure due to a trade dispute, Zambia and Congo have reopened their shared border.