North Africa

Sudan's Ongoing Conflict: Rejected Cease-Fire Proposal Deepens Crisis Efforts to halt Sudan's devastating 30-month war suffered a blow as General Abdel-Fattah Burhan dismissed a U.S.-mediated cease-fire proposal. This rejection poses challenges to mediators striving to end hostilities that have transformed the nation into a humanitarian catastrophe. General Burhan labeled the proposal as biased and unacceptable. The war has resulted in over 40,000 fatalities and displaced millions. The mediators, known as the…

Escalating Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan The conflict in Sudan has reached a critical point, with ongoing violence driving massive displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The intense clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are forcing thousands to flee. Violence reported in North and West Kordofan, including el-Obeid and Babnousa. Al Jazeera reports drone and artillery attacks by RSF on army positions. Over 2 million displaced persons in White Nile…

Kampala, Uganda — Uganda has halted the granting of refugee status to asylum seekers from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia, citing an absence of active armed conflict in those countries and a steep decline in donor support that officials say is straining the country’s capacity to assist new arrivals. Hilary Onek, Uganda’s minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, said he has instructed officials to stop processing new claims from citizens of the three countries. The move comes even as Uganda continues to receive…

Somali prime minister heads to Morocco for Medays International Forum MOGADISHU — Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre departed Tuesday morning for Morocco to attend the 17th Medays International Forum, where he is expected to outline Somalia’s priorities and the government’s agenda on security and governance as the annual gathering convenes leaders and experts from more than 120 countries. Hosted under the patronage of the King of Morocco, Medays will run Nov. 26–29 under the theme “Fractures and Polarization: Reinventing…

Sudan's RSF Declares Unilateral Cease-fire Amid Ongoing Conflict In response to international appeals, Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced a unilateral three-month humanitarian cease-fire. This move aims to facilitate humanitarian aid and reduce violence in the ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army. RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo announced a cease-fire to halt hostilities. Aim to secure aid movement and protect humanitarian operations. Creation of field monitoring and additional oversight…

Puntland State arrests senior immigration official in Garowe over alleged youth-smuggling passports Garowe, Somalia — Puntland State security forces on Sunday arrested a senior official with the Immigration and Nationality Authority in Garowe on allegations he facilitated youth smuggling networks by illegally issuing Somali passports, authorities said. The official, identified by local sources as the deputy head of the Garowe Immigration Office, is accused of producing travel documents for large numbers of young people who…

Sudan’s Complex Civil War Dynamics As Sudan's civil conflict stretches into its third year, it has evolved into a multifaceted proxy war. This battle is driven not just by local factions but by international interests vying for the nation’s rich resources. The conflict involves the regular Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Key external players include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Türkiye, and the UAE. Resources such as gold, farmland, and strategic coastlines are central to…

Mogadishu — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been named the CAF Best Male Referee for 2025, a landmark honor announced Wednesday evening at a ceremony at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat, Morocco. The award marks a historic breakthrough for Somali football and its match officials, drawing swift congratulations from the nation’s top leadership. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called the accolade “historic” and said Artan’s rise reflects the talent and professionalism of a new generation of Somali officials…

CAF Awards 2025: Somalia’s Omar Abdulkadir Artan named Best Male Referee Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was named CAF Best Male Referee for 2025 on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco, underscoring a landmark year for officiating in the Horn of Africa. The honor was announced at the CAF Awards ceremony hosted at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. Uganda’s Nabadda was also recognized, taking the CAF Best Female Referee award. The awards spotlight the continent’s top football officiating talent. Artan’s win highlights…

Sovereign debt crisis imperils developing economies as G20 gathers in Johannesburg Global economic experts are raising the alarm: sovereign debt in many developing countries, especially across Africa, has reached a critical stage and risks triggering wider instability if left unaddressed. With G20 leaders preparing to meet in Johannesburg this month, analysts say the summit is an urgent opportunity for coordinated action on debt sustainability and finance for development. The warning follows reporting that many low- and…