conflict

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…

Morocco declares “Unity Day” after UN backs autonomy plan — but the Western Sahara question remains unresolved Morocco has named Oct. 31 a national holiday, calling it Unity Day, to mark the United Nations Security Council’s recent endorsement of an autonomy plan for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. The announcement was billed in Rabat as a celebration of national unity and territorial integrity — a symbolic capstone to a long campaign to secure international backing for a solution many Moroccans consider a matter…

Seventeen South Africans trapped in Donbas spotlight a growing, ugly global trade in fighters Seventeen South African men — sixteen reportedly from KwaZulu‑Natal and one from the Eastern Cape — have been left stranded in Ukraine’s embattled Donbas region after answering offers that promised steady pay and work abroad. The men say they were recruited for what they believed would be lucrative civilian jobs, only to discover they were expected to join armed units in one of the war’s most dangerous theaters. The episode,…

The Tragic Death of Mariam Cisse: A Social Media Star’s Call for Stability in a Turbulent Mali In the heart of Mali’s tumultuous northern region, a young woman’s vibrant life has been extinguished, leaving behind a wake of grief and outrage. Mariam Cisse, a digital content creator known for her passionate support of the military, was brutally abducted and executed by armed assailants, shocking a nation already reeling from a decade of insecurity and violence. A Voice for the People Only in her 20s, Cisse had garnered over…

The Fragile Peace in Eastern DR Congo: Voices from the Ground In the lush, green hills of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the echo of gunfire and the palpable tension in the air create a stark contrast to the paper agreements made months prior. Residents in towns like Goma and Bukavu, once bustling with life, are now haunted by a pervasive uncertainty. The much-publicized peace agreements inked in Doha, Qatar, in June—which involved intricate negotiations among international powers—were meant to restore…

After years of silence, Mozambique’s gas dream restarts — but who will pick up the tab? When French energy major TotalEnergies announced it had lifted the force majeure on its liquefied natural gas project off Mozambique’s northern coast, the message was outwardly simple: long-dormant gas operations in the Rovuma Basin are ready to resume. The subtext, however, is far murkier. The four-and-a-half-year pause — driven by an insurgency that convulsed Cabo Delgado — has transformed what was a marquee energy project into a…

US aircraft carrier's arrival in the Caribbean sharpens tensions with Venezuela The USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States Navy's largest aircraft carrier, steamed into the Western Hemisphere this week, joining a collection of U.S. warships, forward-deployed F-35 stealth jets in Puerto Rico and a broader maritime operation that Washington says is aimed at disrupting drug trafficking. Caracas responded with alarm, announcing its own “massive” nationwide military deployments and warning that the show of force could spark a…

A Turning Point in Sudan: The Battle for Al-Fashir In the heart of a conflict-ridden Sudan, the recent fall of Al-Fashir marks yet another tragic chapter in a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions since its eruption in April 2023. As the city, formerly the army's last stronghold in Darfur, succumbs to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the international community scrambles to respond. The Global Response On Tuesday, the White House emphasized its commitment to ending the ongoing…

Raid on Northern Mozambican Mine Leaves Police Missing, Operations Halted An attack on a mining site in Mozambique’s volatile Cabo Delgado province has forced miners to flee, left equipment ablaze and an unspecified number of police officers missing, authorities and local sources said Friday. The assault — blamed on Islamist militants — interrupted operations at the site and prompted fear among communities already traumatised by years of violence. What happened Raiders struck the extraction site in the north of the…

Struggle for Stability: The Ongoing Conflict in Nigeria's Borno State In the early hours of a recent morning, a deadly pre-dawn raid shook the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno, reminding the world of the ongoing turmoil that characterizes this region. Fighters affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched an audacious assault on army positions in two strategically important towns, a move that highlights both the vulnerability of state forces and the ever-present threat posed by these militants.…