insert_link Africa M23 Rebels Seize Bukavu, Escalating Congo Conflict Residents of Bukavu, eastern Congo’s second-largest city, are assessing the damage after widespread looting followed the arrival of Rwandan-backed M23 rebels according to Reuters. The rebel group, which took control of the city on Sunday, has pledged to restore order. Their capture of Bukavu and its strategic airport in Kavumu marks a major advance, further weakening Kinshasa’s authority and raising concerns of a broader regional war. today18 February, 2025
insert_link Africa M23 Rebels Threaten Advance on Bukavu Amid Rising Tensions The Rwandan-backed M23 armed group has warned of a possible advance on Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, citing a worsening security situation. And according to Reuters, this comes as the Democratic Republic of Congo's government refuses to engage in direct talks with the rebels. Capturing Bukavu would mark a significant expansion of M23's control, further weakening Kinshasa’s authority in eastern Congo following the fall of Goma in late […] today12 February, 2025
insert_link Africa SANDF Chief Reaffirms Peacekeeping Role in DRC Amid Kagame’s Claims South African Defence Force chief, Rudzani Maphwanya, has reaffirmed that SANDF troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo are on a peacekeeping mission, countering Rwandan president Paul Kagame’s claims. He stated their mandate is to neutralise armed groups and restore stability. Maphwanya confirmed that plans are underway to repatriate the bodies of the 13 fallen soldiers to their families: today31 January, 2025
insert_link Africa Sudan Faces Collapse Amid Armed Group Proliferation Sudan is at risk of becoming a failed state as civil society collapses due to a rise in armed groups, according to Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council as reported by BBC Africa. Alongside the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, smaller ethnic groups are looting and attacking civilians. Egeland described the conflict as parties "tearing down their own houses" and massacring their people. The 19-month power […] today25 November, 2024
insert_link Africa Violence at the Kenya-Ethiopia border: what’s driving insecurity in the region By Oscar Gakuo Mwangi, University of Rwanda Communal conflict is endemic in the vast arid region on both sides of the Kenya-Ethiopia border. Fresh alarm has been sparked in both countries following a kidnapping and armed attacks on police and civilians in Kenya’s Marsabit county, in the extreme north of the country. Oscar Mwangi Gakuo, who has studied the roots of conflict in the border region, sets […] today13 September, 2024
insert_link Africa UK charity convoy attacked in DR Congo conflict zone A convoy of a UK charity organization was attacked by angry youths in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo as it was heading to deliver aid to displaced people in a conflict zone. Local authorities say 5 vehicles belonging to the charity known as Tearfund were burnt and two people were killed in the attack in North Kivu province. The North Kivu province has been racked by […] today2 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Nigerian bandits strategically target school children for kidnappings – here’s why By Oluwole Ojewale, Institute for Security Studies It is every parent’s worst nightmare: armed criminals attacking their child’s school, kidnapping students and teachers. In some parts of Nigeria, this scenario is not just the stuff of nightmares – it has become all too common in the past 10 years. The most famous incident was the mass abduction of 276 students from a girls’ school in Chibok, a […] today27 March, 2024
insert_link Africa South Africa to deploy troops to DRC South Africa will deploy 2,900 troops to help fight armed groups east of the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a Southern African Development Community initiative. Reuters reports that the one-year deployment will cover the period between 15 December 2023 and 15 December 2024, and will cost around 2 billion rand. The SADC force has an offensive mandate to support Congo's army fight armed groups. It will include troops […] today14 February, 2024
