An Egyptian warship this week delivered a second major arms shipment to Somalia, including anti-aircraft guns and artillery, further strengthening military ties between the two nations. The move follows a joint security pact signed in August, deepening cooperation amid shared tensions with Ethiopia. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry emphasized its ongoing support for Somalia’s security and development efforts. The shipment has heightened concerns with Ethiopia, which angered Somalia by signing a preliminary deal with Somaliland for port access, seen by Mogadishu as an attack on its sovereignty.
Russia has pledged its support for Africa’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Speaking ahead of the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov described Africa’s aspiration as “legitimate” and reiterated support for the inclusion of India and Brazil as well. Lavrov argued that Africa’s admission would amplify the voices of developing countries, a long-standing demand from African nations. This comes after the U.S. expressed support for Africa’s bid but without granting veto power, a stance that drew criticism.
On Thursday, September 26, Algeria announced the reintroduction of visas for Moroccan passport holders, citing “destabilization actions” involving drug trafficking, espionage, and Zionist agents as reasons. The move marks a further decline in relations between the neighboring countries, which severed diplomatic ties in 2021. Algeria initially refrained from imposing a visa to respect family ties between the two populations. The primary source of tension remains Morocco’s push for international recognition of its autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a territory Algeria supports through the Polisario Front, advocating for Sahrawi self-determination. Morocco has gained support from countries like Spain and the U.S. for its stance.
Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday thanked the U.S. for its substantial support to Africa during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York. Ruto highlighted U.S. assistance in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and discussed enhancing their partnership. He also noted progress from his recent trip to Haiti, where Kenya has sent 400 police officers as part of a U.N. peacekeeping mission. Despite improvements in infrastructure, Ruto emphasized the need for more resources to address Haiti’s instability, as gangs control 80% of Port-au-Prince.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday met with Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema in Moscow, where they discussed their successful collaboration within the Gas Exporting Countries Forum and OPEC+. Putin emphasized the partnership, stating, “Your country is our partner… We have also been successfully cooperating with Equatorial Guinea in OPEC+ for a long time. Our common task… is to stabilize world energy markets.” The leaders also planned to address bilateral relations and various international and regional issues during their discussions.
Tunisia’s parliament amended an election law on Friday, reducing judicial power over decisions made by the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), which is appointed by President Kais Saied. This change comes just nine days before the presidential election and has drawn criticism from opposition and civil society groups, who allege that ISIE is colluding with Saied to limit electoral competition. Protests erupted outside parliament against the law. The ISIE has faced scrutiny for excluding three candidates from the ballot, dismissing a court ruling demanding their reinstatement due to alleged incomplete campaign filings.
A regional court in East Africa commenced proceedings on Thursday in a lawsuit filed by Congo against Rwanda, accusing it of violating Congo’s sovereignty by deploying troops to support rebels in eastern Congo. The area has been plagued by violence from over 120 armed groups competing for power and resources, with allegations of war crimes against Rwandan forces collaborating with the M23 rebel group. The East African Court of Justice, based in Arusha, Tanzania, is set to hear the case, which seeks accountability for civilian atrocities and reparations. Rwanda challenged the court’s jurisdiction, citing procedural errors. The court will evaluate the arguments and issue a ruling on the objections later.
Prosecutors in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have initiated investigations against French journalist Wassim Nasr, accusing him of “apology of terrorism” and “complicity” in alleged terrorist acts following his report on a recent jihadi attack in Mali. Nasr, who works for France 24, was accused of communicating with the attackers regarding their actions during the September 17 incident. He condemned the investigations as intimidation tactics against journalists. The ruling juntas in these countries have increasingly targeted media freedoms, with local journalists facing heightened security risks amid ongoing insurgencies. France 24’s operations have also been suspended in the three nations for its coverage of the conflict.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) this week announced over $800 million in pledges to combat a growing mpox outbreak, surpassing the initial target of $600 million after the disease was declared a global health emergency in mid-August. With more than 32,000 suspected cases and 840 deaths reported this year, the U.S. is a major contributor, providing $500 million and 1 million vaccine doses. Additionally, a mpox fund has raised around $314 million from member states and partners. Africa CDC plans to redistribute funding to support all affected and high-risk countries as the outbreak expands.
On Thursday, Uganda inaugurated its largest electricity generation facility, the 600 megawatt (MW) Karuma Hydropower Project (KHP), built on the River Nile at a cost of $1.7 billion, primarily financed by a loan from China. Constructed by Sinohydro Corporation, the plant boosts Uganda’s power generation capacity to over 2,000 MW. Although construction, which began in 2013, faced delays due to various logistical challenges, including COVID-19, the project is expected to provide affordable electricity to millions and support sustainable energy development in East Africa. Additionally, a 400 kV transmission line was launched to enhance electricity export capabilities to neighboring countries.
Writer and researcher at Alafarika for Studies and Consultancy.