In Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, health teams are working tirelessly to identify monkeypox cases as the number of infections in the city continues to rise daily. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreaks in Congo and across Africa a global emergency. Confirmed cases have now been reported in children and adults across more than a dozen countries, with a new, more virulent strain of the virus emerging. Earlier this week, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labeled the mpox outbreaks a public health emergency, citing over 500 deaths and calling for international assistance to curb the virus’s spread. “Since Friday (August 9), we have confirmed nine cases of monkeypox. We first isolate individuals with suspicious lesions and then collect samples,” said Dr. Rachel Maguru, General Practitioner at Goma Provincial Hospital and Head of the Multi-Epidemic Center. Dr. Maguru expressed concern that individuals with symptoms might avoid visiting the hospital to escape isolation, which could lead to further infections spreading within communities. Recent reports have highlighted the emergence of a more lethal form of mpox in a Congolese mining town, which has a mortality rate of up to 10% and may spread more easily. This new variant is more difficult to detect as it causes milder symptoms and lesions primarily on the genitals, making it easier for people to unknowingly transmit the virus. “We are seeing a rising number of cases, with a mortality rate higher than acceptable. New countries are now reporting cases that hadn’t in recent years, with several of them identifying the variant of mpox currently spreading in the DRC,” stated Prof. Salim Abdool Karim, chair of the Emergency Consultative Group for the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As the death toll rises in Sudan, international powers are engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts to end the violence and provide relief to millions of people.

The attacks targeted multiple villages near the Burkina Faso border, forcing residents to flee their homes.

The move is seen as a significant diplomatic victory for Morocco, as it gains support from an increasing number of African and Arab nations.

The Tuareg rebel group in Mali has dismissed allegations of Ukrainian support in their recent victory over the Malian army and its Wagner mercenaries, asserting they fought alone.

Urgent action is needed to protect vulnerable children from the escalating climate crisis, the global body has said.

The mpox crisis in Africa has reached a critical point, leading the WHO to declare a global public health emergency.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) documented 408 incidents of violence affecting 1,727 civilians, including 157 women and 184 children

The suspects are linked to a terrorist group aiming to disrupt upcoming elections, authorities say.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which currently control significant portions of Sudan, have sent a delegation to the talks

By Sunday, the confirmed death toll was 21

The agreement also includes plans for increased economic cooperation between the two nations.

The conflict between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed thousands of lives and displaced approximately 10 million people from their homes

Qatar demonstrates its commitment to Sudan by delivering 27 tons of relief aid and shelter supplies to those affected by devastating floods.

Rising to an elevation of 2,829 meters (9,281 feet), Mount Fogo dominates the island’s skyline

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.