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In Search of Justice: The Trial of Roger Lumbala Tshitenga As a tangible symbol of hope for accountability, the trial of former Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala Tshitenga opened its doors in Paris recently. It signifies a pivotal moment not only for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) but also for the global fight against impunity for war crimes. Amidst the shadow of past atrocities from the Second Congo War (1998-2003), this courtroom drama unfolds with reverberations that could transcend borders and resonate deeply…

TotalEnergies’ $4.5 billion demand tests Mozambique’s post-conflict recovery When the French energy giant TotalEnergies pressed Mozambican authorities this month to cover U.S.$4.5 billion in “costs of closure” as a precondition for returning to its troubled northern operations, it handed a politically combustible problem to a country still wrestling with violence, displacement and fragile state finances. The demand — disclosed in a letter to the presidency and reported by Mozambican sources — bundles several company…

Isaias Afwerki’s rebuke of the UN exposes deep fault lines in Horn of Africa diplomacy When Eritrea’s longtime president, Isaias Afwerki, told the new United Nations special envoy for the Horn of Africa that the world body has “not been effective,” he did more than deliver a familiar rebuke. The comments — relayed by Eritrea’s information minister, Yemane Meskel — crystallize a growing regional narrative: international institutions, however well-intentioned, are increasingly seen as instruments that fall short of producing…

Farmaajo Returns to a Changed Mogadishu — And a High-Stakes 2026 Race Begins MOGADISHU — The political weather in Somalia shifted on Thursday with the return of former president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, widely known as Farmaajo, after more than two years abroad. He arrived to a rousing welcome at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport — lawmakers, veteran politicians, and clusters of supporters waving flags and phone cameras — and immediately became the most consequential opposition figure in the capital. His timing…

Remembering the Ogoni Nine: A Struggle for Justice in the Niger Delta The echoes of anguish from the Niger Delta reverberate once again as we mark the 30th anniversary of the execution of the Ogoni Nine. These nine gallant voices were silenced on November 10, 1995, after courageously leading protests against the environmental devastation wrought by oil giant Shell and the Nigerian government. As activists continue to demand justice, this anniversary serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing battle for human rights and…

Conflict, poverty and collapsing services: why cholera is surging again "Peace is health," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus repeats in briefings, a blunt reminder that infectious disease is not merely a biological problem but a political and social one. In late August 2025, WHO warned the world that cholera is resurging — and that the drivers are familiar: armed conflict, broken water and sanitation systems, deepening poverty and strained vaccine supplies. The warning is not abstract.…

Thailand Suspends Enhanced Ceasefire With Cambodia After New Blast, Halts Return of POWs Thailand announced on Thursday that it would pause implementation of an enhanced ceasefire agreement with Cambodia and delay the return of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war after a landmine blast injured four Thai soldiers, in a fresh sign that a fragile truce between the neighbours is fraying. Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit told reporters the government in Bangkok would not proceed with elements of the October accord — signed last…

East Africa’s integration at a crossroads as landlocked states push for ocean access NAIROBI — Tensions over access to the sea are testing the fragile architecture of East African integration, exposing a fault line between landlocked ambitions and coastal sovereignty that could reshape politics, security and commerce across the region. Recent months have seen a flurry of diplomatic rivalries and public statements — from Ethiopia’s short‑lived overture to North Western State of Somalia to Uganda’s president declaring a…

Healthcare Crisis Deepens in Nigeria Amid Ongoing Doctors' Strike As Nigeria grapples with a healthcare crisis, the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has entered its tenth day, leaving countless patients stranded and desperate for care. Over 11,000 resident doctors are participating in this industrial action, which has effectively paralyzed medical services across the country. The line between life and death has become uncomfortably thin as hospitals reduce their operations due to the…

Cameroon’s President Biya Sworn In Amidst Chaos: A Nation at a Crossroads In a significant yet tumultuous moment for Cameroon, President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest sitting leader, has been sworn in for an unprecedented eighth consecutive term. This ceremony, fraught with tension and marked by the echoes of recent unrest, paints a vivid picture of a nation struggling with deep-seated divisions and yearning for stability. The Somber Inauguration As the sun peeked through the clouds over Yaoundé, the capital city, Biya…