– Week of June 16, 2025
Compiled from multiple verified sources (Reuters, AFP, AP, UN, Sudan Tribune)
The news from the continent this new week is discouraging and seems to be full of unrest, hopefully this will change as the week progresses.
🔶 Health Crisis: Cholera Outbreak in Sudan Threatens Regional Spillover
- The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a worsening cholera outbreak in Sudan, now affecting 13 states, including North and South Darfur, bordering Chad.
- 1,854 deaths have been reported; conditions are deteriorating due to ongoing civil war, collapsed health systems, and disrupted water and power in Khartoum.
- WHO fears the spread to Chadian refugee camps, housing 1.2 million Sudanese, and urges humanitarian corridors and ceasefires to enable vaccinations against cholera, dengue, and malaria.
🔶 Refugee Surge: Eastern Chad Overwhelmed by Sudanese Exodus
- Continued violence in Darfur has led to a daily influx of 740 refugees into eastern Chad, tripling the refugee population since April 2023.
- UNHCR plans to relocate 130,000 people, but progress is hampered by flooding risks and fragile security near the border.
- Chad’s government is urging faster relocations and is working with OCHA to implement a national flood contingency plan.
🔶 Nigeria: Deadly Violence in Benue State
- Amnesty International reports at least 100 deaths in an attack on Yelewata, Benue State (June 14–15).
- Hundreds injured and dozens missing; attacks are part of ongoing violence involving herder-farmer conflicts in north-central Nigeria.
- This marks one of the deadliest incidents in recent months, following similar attacks in Gwer West and Plateau States.
🔶 Niger: Jihadist Attack and Press Crackdown
- Nine civilians, including a teacher, were killed in a jihadist attack near Torodi, southwestern Niger (June 13).
- The region lies within the volatile “Three Borders” zone (Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso), frequently targeted by ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliates.
- Separately, two journalists jailed in Niger for allegedly “plotting against state authority”; part of a growing pattern of press repression since the 2023 coup.
🔶 Guinea: Controversial New Electoral Authority
- Guinea’s junta has created a new elections body under the Interior Ministry to oversee a September 21 constitutional referendum.
- Critics, including former Bar President Mohamed Traoré, warn of a lack of independence, suggesting the move compromises electoral integrity.
- Civil society and opposition groups fear a return to authoritarian rule under General Mamadi Doumbouya.
🔶 Tanzania: Opposition Leader Faces Treason Charge
- Tundu Lissu, leader of the Chadema opposition, is facing treason charges, claiming denial of legal rights and being placed in death row custody before sentencing.
- His party was barred from the October elections, prompting allegations of political repression.
- Rights groups call the charges a crackdown on dissent amid increasing authoritarianism.
🔶 Mozambique: Post-Election Unrest and Dialogue
- President Daniel Chapo launched a national dialogue after deadly protests following the disputed October elections.
- Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, a key protest figure, is excluded from the process, raising concerns over legitimacy.
- Analysts warn of risks to peace and democratic credibility if the process remains non-inclusive.
🔶 Somalia: Federal Tensions Persist
- Puntland President Said Deni calls for inclusive political talks, accusing Mogadishu of marginalising regional leaders.
- Talks in Mogadishu collapsed amid disputes over election models and fears of term extensions for federal leaders.
- Puntland and Jubaland continue to oppose the one-man-one-vote plan without adequate electoral infrastructure.
🔶 Ivory Coast: Electoral Disputes Escalate
- Thousands protested in Abidjan after four opposition candidates, including Tidjane Thiam (PDCI), were disqualified from the October presidential election.
- Supporters of President Alassane Ouattara gathered to endorse his expected fourth-term candidacy, increasing political tensions.
- Critics cite democratic backsliding amid concerns over voter exclusion and shrinking political space.
🔶 Ethiopia: Press Freedom Under Scrutiny
- Journalist Tesfalem Waldyes was released after being detained despite three bail approvals.
- Arrested for allegedly spreading “false information” at a football event, his case highlights misuse of Ethiopia’s Hate Speech and Disinformation law.
- Rights groups note a pattern of judicial defiance by police in high-profile cases.
🔎 Summary Themes:
- Public health and displacement crises linked to conflict in Sudan and neighbouring states.
- Rising authoritarian practices in Niger, Guinea, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
- Increasing political instability and contested elections in Ivory Coast, Mozambique, and Somalia.
- Jihadist violence and ethnic clashes continue to challenge peace and security across the Sahel and Nigeria.
