North Africa

The International Crisis Group (ICG) has highlighted three critical conflicts in Africa that are poised to carry into 2026, following a tumultuous year marred by violence and instability. The ICG's "conflicts to watch" report names Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the volatile situation in Mali and Burkina Faso as focal points that require immediate international attention. Having faced a devastating escalation in violence throughout 2025, these regions find themselves at a pivotal juncture. Sudan, under the shadow of a…

Assessing the Aftermath of RSF's Takeover in El-Fasher For the first time in months, a United Nations team has entered el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, to evaluate the extensive damage caused by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This visit highlights the dire humanitarian conditions after a violent year-long siege. The UN team found the city nearly emptied due to fear and destruction. Residents face shortages of food, medicine, and shelter. Reports indicate mass casualties and possible war…

Gabon National Football Team Suspended Following Disappointing AFCON Exit Gabon's government has announced sweeping changes to its national football setup following the team's dismal performance in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The measures include suspending the national team, dismissing head coach Thierry Mouyouma, and imposing a ban on star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The decision was conveyed by Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula after Gabon's early exit from the tournament, culminating in a 3-2 loss…

Red Sea flashpoint: Israel’s North Western State of Somalia recognition collides with Türkiye’s long game in Somalia In the strategic waters that link the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, two storylines are converging with destabilizing force. Israel’s December 2025 recognition of North Western State of Somalia, the breakaway region abutting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, has injected a new geopolitical shock into a corridor already strained by Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes in Yemen. The…

Impact of Conflict on El-Fasher Residents The capture of el-Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces has left its residents in dire conditions, highlighting a severe humanitarian crisis. U.N. aid coordinator Denise Brown provides insights into the ongoing challenges faced by those left behind. El-Fasher captured by RSF in October after more than 500 days of siege. Residents struggle with lack of water, sanitation, and reliable food supplies. Reports of mass atrocities and evidence of mass graves reviewed by AFP.…

Sudan Faces Dire Malnutrition Crisis Amid Ongoing Conflict Children in Sudan's North Darfur region are experiencing an acute hunger crisis, with many lives hanging in the balance. Recent assessments reveal alarming malnutrition rates, requiring urgent international attention and aid. Over 50% of children in Um Baru suffer from acute malnutrition. 18% face severe, life-threatening malnutrition. Current levels exceed the WHO emergency threshold by over threefold. Devastating Statistics from Recent Nutrition…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned that Israel’s decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia could destabilize the Horn of Africa and carry implications for Palestinians in Gaza, calling the move “unexpected and strange” after three decades of nonrecognition by any country. In an interview with Al Jazeera from Istanbul, Türkiye, on Tuesday, Mohamud said Somali intelligence indicates North Western State of Somalia agreed to three Israeli conditions in exchange for recognition: accepting the resettlement of…

African bloc on UN Security Council condemns Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, urges reversal UNITED NATIONS — The three African members of the UN Security Council — Algeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia — joined by Guyana, sharply condemned Israel’s decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, calling the move a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability. In a joint statement delivered at an emergency Security Council session on Monday, Somalia’s…

Somalia to take Israel’s ‘North Western State of Somalia’ recognition to U.N., warns of Red Sea militarization MOGADISHU — Somalia will bring Israel’s announcement recognizing the self-declared “North Western State of Somalia” to the U.N. Security Council, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said, calling the move illegal and warning it could enable military basing, heighten Red Sea security risks and undermine Africa’s borders. In an interview with Egypt’s AlQahera News, Barre thanked Cairo for backing Somalia’s sovereignty and…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will travel to Ankara on Tuesday to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a high-stakes visit that comes days after Israel said it would recognize North Western State of Somalia and as Turkey and Somalia weigh the next steps in offshore energy exploration. Two people familiar with the plans said Erdogan is expected to address Israel’s unilateral move during talks with Mohamud. The Somali leader also plans to brief Ankara on a seismic survey completed in October off Somalia’s…