Eritrean authorities have suspended all Ethiopian Airlines flights to their airspace starting September 30. A letter from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority accuses the airline of malicious trading practices, systemic passenger luggage theft, prolonged delays, and unjustified price hikes. Ethiopian Airlines confirmed receipt of the notice and is seeking clarification, expressing a commitment to resolving the issues amicably. The suspension follows repeated calls for the airline to address these concerns. Eritrean officials advised travelers to adjust their plans accordingly. Turkish, Saudi, and Egyptian airlines continue to operate regular flights to Eritrea.
South African police arrested 95 Libyan nationals at a suspected secret military training camp in White River, Mpumalanga province, on Friday. The farm, located 360 kilometers northeast of Johannesburg, was allegedly used for military training under the guise of security guard training, as stated by national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe. The arrests followed an investigation into the illegal camp, which revealed large green and khaki tents and men in civilian clothing. Authorities are probing the existence of additional illegal camps in Mpumalanga, which borders Mozambique and Swaziland, raising concerns over illegal immigration. Investigations are ongoing to determine the purpose and connections of these camps, with local government official Jackie Macie noting potential links to recent crimes, including rape and armed robberies. The Libyan nationals, in South Africa since April, are currently being questioned. The police described the camp as a “military base,” noting the advanced nature of the training conducted there.
On Tuesday, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces leader, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, announced plans to attend ceasefire talks in Switzerland next month, organized by the United States and Saudi Arabia. These talks aim to end 15 months of fierce fighting between the paramilitary group and the army. The US State Department emphasized the importance of these talks, highlighting that a military solution is not viable and that international backing is crucial to ending the conflict. Dagalo expressed hope that the talks would lead to peace, stability, and a new state founded on justice and equality. However, the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, has not confirmed its participation. The talks are scheduled to begin on August 14.
Kenya’s President William Ruto has included four ministers from the main opposition party in his new Cabinet, aiming to form a broad-based government to address governance issues raised in recent deadly protests. Among the appointees are the minority leader in parliament and the chairman of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s party, despite a split in the opposition coalition. The protests, driven by widespread rejection of a proposed tax bill amid rising prices, have resulted in dozens of deaths and calls for Ruto’s resignation. Ruto praised political parties for prioritizing national transformation over partisan interests. Odinga, who has supported the protests, denied allegations of being bribed to join Ruto and stated that dialogue would only occur if the president meets demonstrators’ demands. The opposition coalition supports the protesters’ grievances but is not leading the protests, which are driven by young activists using social media. The unrest has claimed at least 50 lives and injured 413 since June 18.
Morocco is grappling with an intense heatwave, leading to over 20 deaths in Beni Mellal as of Friday, 27th July, according to the health ministry. Temperatures reached up to 48 degrees Celsius between Monday and Wednesday, with most victims being elderly or chronically ill. Authorities urge citizens to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activities during peak heat. Beni Mellal saw temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius on Thursday, though a cooling trend is expected, with Marrakesh temperatures predicted to drop by 10 degrees on Sunday. This heatwave marks Morocco’s sixth consecutive year of drought and record heat, severely impacting reservoir levels and the farming sector.
The death toll from three successive landslides in South Ethiopia has risen to 257 as of Wednesday, July 24, according to local authorities. The previous day’s count was 157 deaths. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the government is finalizing an evacuation plan for over 15,000 affected people, including 1,320 children under 5 and 5,293 pregnant and breastfeeding women. The Ethiopian Red Cross arrived on July 23 with four trucks of life-saving supplies, while the Regional Health Bureau sent medical supplies and personnel. Agencies are mobilizing resources for emergency response, with ongoing search and rescue operations supported by the Ethiopian Red Cross Society. The death toll could potentially rise to 500, OCHA warned, citing local authorities. The landslides followed heavy rains on July 21 and 22.
Ugandan security forces arrested dozens on Tuesday as they attempted to walk to the parliament to protest high-level corruption. Police and military heavily deployed in Kampala, forcefully dispersing small groups of demonstrators and detaining campaigners. The protests, inspired by recent Kenyan demonstrations leading to a cabinet reshuffle, were declared illegal by authorities. The unrest was sparked by allegations of corruption against Parliament Speaker Anita Among, who faces accusations of irregular expenditures and has been sanctioned by the U.S. and the U.K. Despite denying wrongdoing, she is under investigation for misuse of resources and the source of her wealth. President Yoweri Museveni condemned the protests and warned organizers.
The European Union imposed sanctions on nine individuals and one entity on Friday for human rights violations and their roles in perpetuating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The sanctioned individuals include leaders from the M23 rebel group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, the Allied Democratic Forces, and the Rwanda Defence Force, as well as members of the Collectif des Mouvements pour le Changement-Forces de Défense du Peuple. The EU Council stated these groups incite violence and are responsible for serious human rights abuses, such as killings, sexual violence, attacks on civilians, and child recruitment. The entity sanctioned is the Alliance Fleuve Congo, a politico-military movement operating in eastern Congo. Sanctions include travel bans, asset freezes, and a prohibition on EU citizens and companies from providing funds to those on the list.
On Thursday, Algeria expressed “great regret and strong denunciation” regarding France’s decision to recognize Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region. Algeria’s foreign ministry stated that the French government informed them of the decision recently and declared that France would be held fully responsible. Algeria’s stance is that the Western Sahara conflict should be resolved through a United Nations plan involving a self-determination referendum, viewing Morocco’s presence in the region as an occupation. Morocco, which took over Western Sahara from colonial Spain in 1975, considers it part of its territory, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks independence. The UN brokered a ceasefire in 1991 and aimed to organize a referendum, but negotiations have since stalled.
Meta Platforms announced on Wednesday the removal of around 63,000 accounts in Nigeria engaged in financial sexual extortion scams targeting primarily adult men in the U.S. These scammers, known as “Yahoo boys,” are infamous for fraudulent schemes, including posing as people in need or fake Nigerian princes. Meta also deleted 7,200 Facebook accounts, pages, and groups dedicated to scam tactics and dismantled a smaller network of about 2,500 accounts linked to 20 individuals. The scams involved “sextortion,” threatening to release compromising photos unless paid. While most attempts failed, some targeted minors, which Meta reported to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Writer and researcher at Alafarika for Studies and Consultancy.