Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi welcomed UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Cairo on Thursday, marking a significant diplomatic visit amidst rising Middle Eastern tensions. The leaders met at Cairo airport as Israel escalated its bombing campaign in Lebanon, while Egypt, alongside the U.S., struggled to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza. The visit also comes at a time when the UAE faces international scrutiny over alleged support for Sudanese rebels accused of war crimes. The Emirati delegation included key ministers in industry, investment, defense, and national security.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced on Thursday the resumption of full oil production at its key Sharara and El-Feel oil fields, as well as exports from the Es Sider port, following a nearly two-month halt due to political unrest. In August, the NOC invoked “force majeure” to cease operations, citing disruptions caused by the Fezzan Movement protests. The halt occurred amidst a broader political conflict over control of the central bank, which manages oil revenues.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Friday accused Ethiopia of deliberately releasing water from upstream dams to cause flooding in Somalia, further straining the relationship between the two Horn of Africa nations. In an interview with *The Economist*, he presented evidence of flooded areas. Also, he alleged that Ethiopia is supplying arms to Somali militias near their shared border, raising concerns about these weapons falling into al-Shabab’s hands. These tensions are exacerbated by Ethiopia’s opposition to the potential deployment of Egyptian troops in Somalia, amidst a broader conflict involving Somali clans and Egypt’s growing military aid to Somalia.
Russia is planning to establish visa-free regimes with nine African and Middle Eastern countries, as stated by Alexei Klimov, head of the Consular Department of Russian diplomacy. While the exact timeline for these agreements is unclear due to varying stages of negotiations, formal updates are expected once finalized. This initiative follows earlier announcements from the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding visa simplifications with several African nations, including Zimbabwe. Russia already maintains visa-free arrangements with countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Tunisia, and Morocco, as part of its growing diplomatic and economic influence, particularly in Africa’s Sahel region.
This week, the British government agreed to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of Diego Garcia for 99 years to safeguard its U.K.-U.S. military base. The agreement, announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, aims to resolve long-standing disputes, secure global security operations, and prevent illegal migration routes. It also paves the way for potential resettlement of displaced Chagossians, although their exclusion from negotiations has sparked criticism. Mauritius’ Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth hailed the deal as the completion of decolonization.
The opposition coalition, Takku Wallu Senegal this week positioned former President Macky Sall as its lead candidate in Senegal’s upcoming legislative elections on November 17, 2024, while the ruling Pastef party is backing Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. This high-stakes contest pits two of Senegal’s most influential figures against each other.
Marburg hemorrhagic fever has resulted in 11 fatalities in Rwanda, with 36 confirmed cases reported as health authorities seek the outbreak’s source, traced to patients in health facilities. The outbreak was declared on September 27, 2024, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled the national risk as very high due to Kigali’s international airport and regional connections. Many affected individuals are healthcare workers in six districts, with contact tracing identifying over 300 people for isolation. Strict measures, including suspending school and hospital visits and limiting funeral attendees, have been implemented to contain the virus’s spread.
The U.N. this week revealed that the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo generates approximately $300,000 monthly by controlling the Rubaya mining area, which is rich in tantalum, a mineral essential for smartphones and computers. Seized in April, Rubaya contributes over 15% of the world’s tantalum supply, raising concerns about the humanitarian crisis in a region plagued by conflict. Bintou Keita, head of the U.N. mission, emphasized that international sanctions are necessary to curb the criminal trade sustaining such violence, which has displaced over 6 million people and led to severe human rights violations, including mass killings and sexual violence.
The Sudanese army this week denied allegations from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) claiming that its forces bombed the UAE ambassador’s residence in Khartoum, instead attributing the attack to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The UAE condemned the incident as a “heinous attack” by Sudanese military aircraft, prompting a swift denial from Sudan’s foreign ministry, which labeled the claims as “false allegations.” The Sudanese army accused the RSF of conducting “shameful and cowardly acts” and has previously accused the UAE of supplying weapons to the RSF, a claim the Gulf state denies.
The United Nations on Tuesday reported that over 350,000 Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers have sought protection in North Africa this year, with approximately 97,000 migrants entering Libya since April. Sivanka Dhanapala, the director of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, emphasized the need for a comprehensive cross-regional approach to address the root causes of migration, stating that challenges begin before individuals reach North Africa. Between January and August 2024, it is estimated that over 134,000 refugees and migrants departed by sea from North and West Africa towards Europe, marking a slight decrease from the previous year.
Writer and researcher at Alafarika for Studies and Consultancy.