A surge in politically linked abuses gripped Zimbabwe in April, with 145 human rights violations impacting 3,675 people, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) reported. The watchdog highlighted a pattern of political intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and curbs on freedoms of expression and association among the most pressing issues. According to the report, those affected included 1,887 women and 1,788 men. ZPP warned that the human rights climate is deteriorating, citing an escalation in intimidation, violence, and the misuse…

Tuesday May 19, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro took a congratulatory call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, as the self-declared republic marked 35 years since it broke away from Somalia. According to the North Western State of Somalia presidency, Netanyahu called to mark the May 18 anniversary and the two leaders reiterated their intention to deepen ties between North Western State of Somalia and Israel. The conversation came less than…

A Federal High Court has mandated the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to compensate two officials from the Department of State Services (DSS) with $72,000 in damages. Additionally, the court has instructed SERAP to publish public apologies and cover the associated litigation costs. This decision arises from SERAP's accusations in 2024 that DSS personnel conducted an unlawful raid on its office in Abuja. These allegations followed SERAP's critique of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company's fuel…

Tuesday May 19, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s electoral commission on Monday put off the election of the speaker of Southwest State’s House of Representatives, saying it must first wait for the Supreme Court to review the region’s election results. The vote for speaker had been set for May 18, 2026. In a statement, the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission said it would not proceed with forming the new regional assembly leadership until the court had issued its decision. “Although the election schedule…

Monday May 18, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Cabinet on Sunday examined a roadmap for putting the country’s new federal constitution into effect from 2026 to 2029, even as the government pushed ahead with reforms that prominent opposition figures have rejected. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre chaired the meeting in Mogadishu, where ministers discussed constitutional implementation, one-person, one-vote elections, government regulations, international agreements and the approval of national policy measures. The Ministry of…

Rania AbushamalaMonday May 18, 2026 Saudi Arabia said on Sunday evening that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed three drones after they crossed into the kingdom’s airspace from Iraq. Defense Ministry spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the drones were downed on Sunday morning after entering Saudi airspace from Iraqi territory. Maliki stressed that the kingdom “reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place.” Saudi Arabia “will take and implement all necessary operational measures to respond to any…

Felicien Kabuga, long branded one of the world’s most-wanted fugitives and a central suspect in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, has died in custody at 93, the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals confirmed. Prosecutors accused Kabuga of using his wealth and influence to encourage and finance the killings that swept Rwanda between April and June 1994, when Hutu extremists murdered more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in just 100 days. After more than two decades on the run, he was arrested in France…

U.S. and Nigerian forces have intensified their counterterrorism efforts in northeastern Nigeria, conducting a second wave of strategic airstrikes against Daesh terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin. This escalation follows a high-profile joint operation that successfully eliminated a senior leader of the group, according to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) on Monday. On Sunday, targeted airstrikes hit confirmed Daesh West Africa Province positions. AFRICOM stated that the targets were identified through thorough intelligence…

In a significant escalation of military efforts, the U.S. and Nigerian forces have launched new airstrikes against militant groups in northern Nigeria, occurring shortly after the announcement regarding the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a prominent figure within these insurgent factions. According to a recent statement from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the airstrikes were executed on Sunday and specifically targeted ISIS militants. Notably, there were no reported casualties among either U.S. or Nigerian military…

Monday May 18, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia on Monday marked 35 years since it broke away from Somalia, staging military parades, public festivities and fresh calls for wider international recognition. Tens of thousands turned out in Hargeisa and other major cities, including Burco and Borama, to observe May 18, the date North Western State of Somalia says represents its 1991 declaration of independence after the collapse of Somalia’s central government in Mogadishu. The main ceremony took place in…