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SECURITY & CONFLICT
Mozambique: Insurgents Return to Mocímboa da Praia, Killing Six
Insurgents launched a deadly assault on the Filipe Nyusi neighbourhood of Mocímboa da Praia on Sunday night, killing at least six people. This marks the first attack inside the town since it was retaken from militants in August 2021. Previously occupied multiple times since 2017, the town lies in Cabo Delgado province—home to multibillion-dollar gas projects. The resurgence raises alarms over regional stability, despite ongoing Mozambican and Rwandan military deployments.
Mali: Military Launches Airstrikes After Fuel Blockade by Jihadists
The Malian army conducted airstrikes in Kayes after al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM imposed a fuel blockade and restricted movement near Senegal’s border. Trucking routes to Bamako and Dakar have been disrupted. Analysts warn the blockade aims to pressure civilians and destabilize the transitional military government.
Mali: Jihadists Target Chinese-Run Gold Sites
JNIM has attacked seven foreign-run sites in Mali, six operated by Chinese companies in Kayes. At least 11 Chinese nationals were abducted. The attacks are viewed as economically motivated attempts to cripple Mali’s mining-dependent economy, rather than a shift in ideological targeting.
Somalia: ISIS Financing Network Exposed via Digital Hawala App
Counter-terrorism forces in Puntland uncovered ISIS-Somalia’s use of a little-known hawala platform, Sifalo Pay, to launder millions across the Horn of Africa and Europe. Intelligence suggests the group’s funds support operations beyond Somalia, including in Kenya, South Africa, and the DRC. Their shadow economy reportedly spans extortion, arms trading, crypto, and piracy.
HUMANITARIAN & HEALTH
Sudan: El Fasher Hospitals Using Mosquito Nets as Bandages
Besieged by the RSF since April, hospitals in El Fasher face extreme shortages. Mosquito nets are being used in place of surgical gauze, and over 300 amputations have occurred due to infected wounds. With only one surgeon remaining and humanitarian airdrops halted, the city’s healthcare system is collapsing.
Sudan: UN Migration Agency Reopens Office in Khartoum
The IOM has reopened its Khartoum office, becoming the first UN agency to return since conflict erupted in 2023. With the Sudanese army back in control of the capital, efforts are underway to restore basic services and encourage the return of displaced populations.
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Nigeria: President Tinubu Orders Military Strategy Overhaul
Following a deadly militant attack in Borno, President Bola Tinubu has instructed the armed forces to review their operational tactics. This includes deploying surveillance drones and acquiring advanced equipment. The administration is also exploring state-level policing to improve grassroots intelligence and security coordination.
Ivory Coast: Presidential Race Bars Tidjane Thiam and Laurent Gbagbo
Ivory Coast’s Constitutional Council has disqualified Tidjane Thiam and ex-President Laurent Gbagbo from October’s presidential race. Thiam, once French-nationalized, and Gbagbo, due to his criminal record, were excluded. The decision clears the path for President Alassane Ouattara to seek a fourth term, heightening tensions in a country with a history of election-related unrest.
Egypt: President Considers Pardon for Detained Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ordered a legal review of a petition seeking a pardon for Alaa Abdel Fattah, a key figure in the 2011 uprising. Jailed since 2019, Abdel Fattah has been on hunger strike since early September. His case has drawn international criticism, with the UN declaring his detention arbitrary.
INFRASTRUCTURE & ENERGY
Ethiopia: Africa’s Largest Hydropower Dam Fully Operational
Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), now operating at full 5,150MW capacity. The $5bn project aims to power national development but has escalated tensions with Egypt, which fears reduced Nile water flows. Egypt continues to seek binding agreements on dam operations, while Sudan weighs both benefits and risks.
JUSTICE & ACCOUNTABILITY
Uganda: ICC Holds First In-Absentia Hearing for Joseph Kony
The International Criminal Court has opened its first confirmation of charges hearing in absentia against Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army. Charged with 36 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Kony remains at large. While a trial cannot proceed without his presence, the ICC move marks a legal milestone in accountability for atrocities committed in northern Uganda.
