1. Ethiopia Sets Record in Coffee Exports
Ethiopia’s coffee export revenues reached a historic high over the past 10 months, exceeding government targets by 142%, according to East African Agrinews. The surge follows a global rise in arabica bean prices, driven by poor yields in Brazil, the world’s top producer. Government efforts — including support for smallholder farmers, improved irrigation systems, and better infrastructure — have played a key role. Analysts suggest U.S. tariffs on Vietnam may further boost Ethiopia’s export potential.
2. Torture Claims After Tanzanian Arrest of Ugandan Activist
Ugandan journalist and activist Agather Atuhaire, detained in Tanzania after attending a court hearing for opposition leader Tundu Lissu, was found at the Ugandan border showing signs of torture, according to rights group Agora Discourse. Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, also detained, was discovered near the Kenyan border, stating both were “treated worse than dogs,” chained and blindfolded. Tanzanian authorities initially claimed they would deport the pair by air.
3. Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The UN reports a worsening crisis in Sudan, with mass displacement, cholera outbreaks, and power outages crippling access to water and healthcare. Fighting has displaced tens of thousands, and North Darfur alone hosts 1.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). Attacks on power infrastructure in Khartoum have further compounded the suffering, raising fears of a larger public health disaster.
4. DR Congo: Barter Economy in Goma
In Goma, eastern DR Congo, a cash shortage has forced residents to barter goods like palm oil to pay school fees. After the city’s capture by the M23 rebel group, cash supply stopped, banks shut down, and criminality surged. The barter system, though innovative, reflects the region’s fragile financial and humanitarian state.
5. Mali Political Parties Challenge Junta Decree
Malian political parties have filed legal appeals to six district courts and the Supreme Court in response to the military junta’s recent ban on political activity. The ban is seen as a violation of the right to free association. Mali’s junta, in power since successive coups in 2020 and 2021, faces growing domestic and international criticism.
6. Sudan Discovers Mass Graves
The Sudanese army has uncovered mass graves in Omdurman, containing 465 bodies reportedly linked to Rapid Support Forces (RSF) atrocities. This follows a previous discovery of 550 bodies in northern Khartoum. Victims are said to have died from neglect and inhumane detention conditions. These findings add to mounting war crime accusations amid the country’s spiraling conflict.
7. South Sudanese Refugees in Ethiopia at Risk
MSF warns of a looming health catastrophe as up to 85,000 South Sudanese refugees crowd into the Ethiopian border town of Mattar. Waterborne diseases like cholera are spreading, and health infrastructure is overwhelmed. Ongoing border clashes have forced the relocation of medical services, raising alarm over the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
8. Ethiopia, South Sudan Bolster Border Security
Military officials from Ethiopia and South Sudan met in Pagak to coordinate security efforts against “illegal elements” and cross-border crime. This follows recent clashes near Nasir, involving South Sudanese forces and opposition-aligned militias. Both sides aim to stabilize border regions and enhance community cooperation.
9. Kabila Loses Immunity Over Rebel Ties
The DR Congo Senate voted to lift former President Joseph Kabila’s immunity, paving the way for prosecution over alleged links to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. Kabila could face charges for treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, amid rising tensions and conflict in the mineral-rich east of the country.
10. Boko Haram Attacks Resurge in Cameroon
Boko Haram attacks have intensified in Cameroon’s Far North, killing a soldier and injuring three others in Kerawa. The group has deployed more sophisticated weapons since March. Damaged infrastructure and rising insecurity threaten regional stability, especially in areas recently resettled by displaced populations.
11. Somalia Faces Military Setbacks
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Somalia’s Defense Ministry following Al-Shabaab’s capture of Aadan Yabaal, a strategic town. The government is reassessing its approach as militants gain ground in central and southern regions. Coordination with clan militias and the army is being prioritized to regain lost territory.
12. Kenya Convicts Two in DusitD2 Terror Case
Two men have been convicted in Nairobi for aiding the 2019 DusitD2 hotel attack, which killed 21 people. The court found them guilty of financing and supplying fake IDs to Al-Shabaab attackers. Sentencing is set for June 19. The attack remains one of Kenya’s most significant urban terror incidents since Westgate in 2013.
13. UK-Mauritius Deal Over Chagos Islands
The UK has signed a deal with Mauritius agreeing to hand over the Chagos Islands, while continuing to support the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia with over £100 million annually. The agreement ends a long-standing territorial dispute rooted in colonial-era displacement.
