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🇲🇷Mauritania to Launch Its First Uranium Mine
Australian company Aura Energy plans to launch Mauritania’s first-ever uranium mine at the Tiris site by 2027, with construction expected to begin before the end of 2025.
The project is designed to produce 1,000 tons of uranium annually for 10 years. Aura aims to secure $150 million in development financing — half of the estimated $300 million needed.
The uranium is located close to the surface, making extraction cheaper than in countries like Niger. However, Mauritania currently lacks infrastructure to transport or handle radioactive materials, and logistics must be developed to move the ore to the port of Nouakchott.
Analysts suggest Aura Energy may eventually look to sell the project to a larger operator once initial phases are complete.
#Mauritania
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🇸🇸Urgent Airdrops: South Sudan's Struggle Against Hunger
In South Sudan's Upper Nile region, the humanitarian situation has reached a critical point as fierce conflict disrupts lives. The World Food Programme (WFP) has sprung into action with urgent food airdrops targeting over 40,000 individuals trapped by the ongoing conflict and cut off from vital resources. This emergency aid delivery breaks a four-month long gap in assistance, underscoring the severity of the crisis exacerbated by clashes between government forces and militias opposing President Salva Kiir.
According to WFP's Mary-Ellen McGroarty, there's a “real risk of famine” due to the inaccessibility brought about by constant fighting and impassable roads. With over 32,000 people in the Upper Nile experiencing the harshest level of hunger and millions across Africa facing extreme food insecurity, it highlights a worrying trend across the continent. The challenges faced by aid workers and the necessity of such costly operations emphasize the dire need for peacebuilding and long-term stability to curb recurring humanitarian emergencies.
#SouthSudan
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🇰🇪 Media: Kenyan Police Open Fire on Protesters in Nairobi
On July 7, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters marching along a key road in Nairobi. Some demonstrators in Kangemi, a northwestern district of the capital, blew whistles.
Clashes later erupted between protesters and police, prompting officers to fire into the crowd. One person was killed.
"We’re not going home—who will fight for our rights? We’ll stay here until evening," said one protester.
Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen stated on X (July 6) that the government is committed to protecting lives and property.
"Our security forces are on high alert to deal with criminals and malicious elements attempting to hijack peaceful protests to cause chaos," he said.
#Kenya
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🇦🇴🇨🇩 U.S. to Invest $1.5 Billion in Angola–DR Congo Power Link
The American company HYDRO-LINK will construct a 1,150-kilometre power transmission line between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Scheduled for completion by 2029, the project aims to address chronic electricity shortages in the DRC’s Copperbelt, a vital mining region.
The energy corridor will connect surplus hydropower from Angola’s dams to DRC’s industrial hubs, supplying both factories and households.
💬 “This project will strengthen regional energy security and unlock new industrial potential,” said HYDRO-LINK CEO Paul Hinks.
#Angola #DRC
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🇧🇫 Burkina Faso Expands Its Defense Fund
Burkina Faso’s Patriotic Support Fund (FSP) raised over 101.8 billion CFA francs in the first half of 2025, moving closer to its annual defense funding goal of 150 billion CFA francs.
Since the beginning of the year, contributions have come from various sources:
🔹 Over 56 billion CFA from corporate taxes and levies,
🔹 Nearly 18 billion from personal income tax on civil servants,
🔹 More than 8 billion from customs duties,
🔹 4.2 billion from private sector salary deductions,
🔹 Around 1.7 billion from voluntary donations by citizens, employees, and organizations.
The funds are primarily used for social support to volunteer fighters — including food, medical care, and compensation — as well as for equipment procurement. By the end of June, over 70 billion CFA francs had already been spent, nearly 80% of the planned budget.
These figures highlight strong public and private sector commitment and indicate that the fund is operating with stability and transparency.
#BurkinaFaso
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🇸🇩🇦🇪 Sudan Accuses UAE of Backing RSF Internationally
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry has accused the United Arab Emirates of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on international platforms and shielding the group from condemnation.
"The Abu Dhabi regime continues its hostile efforts as a regional sponsor of the terrorist RSF, targeting Sudan across global forums. This is part of the ongoing aggression against the Sudanese people and their national sovereignty"
During Non-Aligned Movement meetings in New York, the UAE delegation allegedly tried to remove language expressing solidarity with Sudan’s government and blocked condemnation of the RSF in the final resolution.
The UAE also reportedly pushed to include a reference to a parallel government created by rebels — a move Sudan says violates diplomatic norms.
#Sudan #UAE
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🇹🇬 Togo Opposition Urges Postponement of July Municipal Elections
A coalition of opposition parties and civil society groups in Togo has called for an indefinite postponement of the municipal elections scheduled for July 17, 2025. The demand was issued in a joint statement by the National Alliance for Change (ANC), the Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR), and two civic organizations, Novation Internationale and the Togolese Citizens’ Front Debout.
The groups argue that the current political climate is unsuitable for free and fair elections, citing recent protests sparked by what they describe as the illegitimate creation of a Fifth Republic. According to the statement, the government unilaterally amended the 1992 Constitution without public consultation, a move seen by the opposition as an attempt to consolidate President Faure Gnassingbé’s hold on power. Gnassingbé has led the country since 2005.
The statement also calls for an independent international investigation into the violent suppression of protests held in late June. The opposition demands that those responsible — including members of the security forces and unidentified armed actors — be identified and held accountable in court, along with those who directed or enabled them.
The coalition reports that the protests resulted in significant violence:
“At least seven people were killed, many remain missing, hundreds were injured, and numerous arrests were made. Under such conditions, organizing an election is unrealistic — the atmosphere necessary for peaceful and credible voting simply does not exist"
“The July 17 elections must be delayed to allow time for meaningful political dialogue and reform,” the statement concludes. “Only then can transparency, fairness, and public trust be restored”
🇧🇪Alice Harris and her photographs of Belgian colonial crimes
The history of Belgium's presence in Africa rarely resonates as loudly in public memory as British or French colonialism. But in terms of the scale of violence and cynicism, it was the Belgian model in the Congo that became one of the most brutal in colonial history.
It remained in the shadows for a long time, largely because it was controlled not by the state, but by one man: King Leopold II. Two Europeans played a crucial role in exposing these crimes: Alice Harris.
Alice Harris arrived in the Congo at the beginning of the 20th century with her husband, a missionary. With her photography skills, she began to document the consequences of the atrocities she encountered in the villages. Her photographs show men, women and children who suffered at the hands of local agents of the royal administration. Her most famous work shows a Congolese man named Nsala sitting on the veranda of the mission, with the severed arm and leg of his five-year-old daughter in front of him, who was killed by ABIR guards for failing to meet her rubber quota (photo 1).
"Collage of the Mutilated" (photo 2). This was a series of portraits showing men and boys with amputated limbs, photographed around 1904–1905 at the missionary station in Baringa.
“Enslaved men in chains”(photo 3). The photograph shows two men shackled by iron collars and chains, a common punishment for resistance or debt during the Leopoldian era (c. 1903–1905).
#ColonialCrimes
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🌴⚡️A Brief Insight into Africa’s Energy Landscape Amid Growing Debates on Green Energy Development
Against the backdrop of lively public discussions about the expansion of green energy across the continent, here’s a small snapshot of Africa’s energy sector. As always, the data falls into the "questionably reliable" category—but this time, there are ten mini-maps of Africa on a single slide, which certainly grabs attention.
One interesting note: while the map likely couldn’t clearly mark the potential for electricity generation from ocean currents, such discussions are indeed taking place.
#Africa
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🇧🇮Mob Kills ‘Witches’ in Burundi After Mysterious Deaths
A brutal mob attack took place in Burundi’s Bujumbura Province, where villagers accused of witchcraft were lynched by a group of armed youths. The violence erupted in the hilltop village of Gasarara after several unexplained deaths. Unable to find a cause, locals blamed neighbors they suspected of practicing magic.
Eyewitnesses say attackers dragged about ten people from their homes and beat them with clubs, pelted them with stones, and in some cases, burned them alive. Six people were killed, two of them from severe burns. Three others survived thanks to a police intervention.
Governor Désiré Nsengiyumva condemned the killings as "unacceptable vigilante justice" and confirmed that 12 suspects have been arrested. He emphasized that the victims had no proven link to the recent deaths. Police reportedly arrived late due to the area's difficult terrain.
Such witchcraft-related violence remains common in parts of Africa, often fueled by fear, superstition, and weak state institutions. In Tanzania, attacks on albinos and so-called “witches” occur regularly. In South Africa, seven people accused of “vampirism” were killed in 2022, and in Malawi, elderly people suspected of witchcraft often fall victim to vigilante justice.
#Burundi
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🇪🇹 Ethiopia's Monumental Milestone: GERD Completion
Ethiopia has marked a historic achievement with the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a project that has redefined energy and development dynamics in Africa. Standing tall on the Blue Nile, GERD is now the largest hydroelectric dam on the continent, boasting an impressive capacity of 5,000 megawatts. The promising output is set to more than double the nation’s energy production, paving the way for Ethiopia to become a powerhouse in Africa's energy sector.
While heralded as a triumph for Ethiopian aspirations, the GERD completion brings critical considerations for regional water security. Neighboring nations Egypt and Sudan have expressed concerns regarding Nile water flow reductions, underlying the importance of diplomacy in forging lasting agreements. Ethiopia's leadership underscores a vision of shared growth and cooperation across the Nile Basin, a testament to potential unified progress in the region.
#Ethiopia #Egypt #Sudan
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🇧🇫Burkina Faso Expands Number of Regions and Provinces
The government of Burkina Faso has revised the country’s administrative structure, increasing the number of regions from 13 to 17 and the number of provinces from 45 to 47.
According to Minister of Territorial Administration Émile Zerbo, the reorganization was driven by security considerations and focused on three large regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, the East, and the Sahel—which together make up 43% of the national territory. As a result, four new regions and two new provinces have been established.
New Provinces:
• Diamongou (administrative center: Kantchari)
• Karo-Péli (administrative center: Arbinda)
New Regions:
• Soum (capital: Djibo)
• Sirba (capital: Bogandé)
• Tapoa (capital: Diapaga)
• Sourou (capital: Tougan)
Minister Zerbo also stated that a six-month transitional phase will be implemented to facilitate the full rollout of this administrative reform.
#BurkinaFaso
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The UAE's Neo-Venetian Empire
The appealing work of American essayist Brad Pearce, devoted to a comprehensive overview of the UAE's influence in Africa, deserves attention. In a world where traditional empires have faded, the United Arab Emirates is quietly building something new — an empire without colonies, armies, or ideology.
Over the past decade — and especially in 2024 — the UAE has emerged as Africa’s largest foreign investor, pouring billions into port infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and carbon credit markets. Unlike Western powers, the UAE does not interfere politically. It simply buys access, influence, and leverage — and offers stability in return.
One of the most striking aspects of this new imperial model is the global land grab. Emirati sovereign wealth funds have acquired or leased nearly a million hectares of farmland across Africa and Asia. In places like Sudan and Egypt, these projects serve both to ensure food security at home and to generate profits abroad.
There is little point in summarizing the essay, as it is too lengthy, but the maps presented in it clearly illustrate the essence of the issue.
#UAE #Africa
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🇪🇹 IMF Unlocks $262M for Ethiopia as Debt Deal Advances
The International Monetary Fund has greenlit a $262 million disbursement to Ethiopia following the third review of the country's $3.4 billion loan program. The decision signals confidence in the nation’s economic reform efforts and comes amid crucial progress on restructuring billions in debt.
The IMF praised Ethiopia's "strong results" in the first year of the program, including resilient economic growth and falling inflation, even as the country grapples with a default declared in December 2023. A key milestone was the finalization of a debt restructuring Memorandum of Understanding with official creditors, led by China and France, covering $8.4 billion and aiming to deliver $2.5 billion in relief through 2028.
Despite headway with official lenders, negotiations with private bondholders remain strained. Investors have pushed back against calls for a haircut on Ethiopia’s $1 billion Eurobond, citing liquidity challenges rather than long-term insolvency.
The IMF insists that Ethiopia must reduce its debt service obligations by $3.5 billion to restore sustainability, placing continued pressure on both Addis Ababa and its creditors to strike a broader agreement.
#Ethiopia
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🇿🇦South Africa Challenges U.S. Tariff Hike
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized the U.S. decision to impose a 30% tariff on imports from South Africa starting next month, calling it a misinterpretation of trade data. He said talks with the U.S. would continue.
The tariff is part of President Trump's broader move to raise "reciprocal" duties on 14 countries from August 1.
Ramaphosa stated that South Africa’s average import tariff is just 7.6%, with 77% of U.S. goods entering duty-free. He welcomed Trump's openness to adjusting the tariff based on negotiations and urged South African exporters to diversify.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen noted that finding new markets will take time and said the U.S. wanted “more ambition” from South Africa’s proposals.
#SouthAfrica
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🇿🇦 Transformative Year Ahead: Africa's 2025 Leadership and Economic Shifts
Africa is gearing up for a pivotal 2025, with significant leadership transitions in the African Union, African Development Bank, and Afreximbank. Notable figures from East Africa, including Raila Odinga (Kenya), Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (Djibouti), and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar), compete for the AU chairship, emphasizing economic resilience and regional cooperation. These changes promise a more transparent electoral process, engaging citizens and the international community.
Economic forecasts project an acceleration in growth, with Africa outpacing global averages despite geopolitical challenges. East Africa leads with 5.9% growth, while West Africa benefits from new oil and gas developments. However, the need for urgent economic reforms to harness Africa's demographic dividend is critical. Calls to deepen intra-African trade, improve infrastructure, and enhance resource mobilization aim to reduce reliance on foreign capital and meet burgeoning domestic aspirations.
#Africa2025 #AUElections #EconomicGrowth #IntraAfricanTrade
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🇫🇷 We now have a French version of the channel. Subscribe!
Nous avons maintenant une version française de la chaîne. S'abonner !
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🇰🇪Kenya on the Brink: Tax Burden, Protests and a Crisis of Trust
In 2022, William Ruto rose to power as the self-proclaimed defender of the “hustler nation” — millions of working-class Kenyans left out of the political elite. Backed by evangelical churches and often seen with a Bible in hand, Ruto promised opportunity, dignity, and economic reform from the bottom up.
But just months into office, he imposed sweeping tax hikes, eliminated fuel subsidies, and began negotiating with the IMF for new loans. Ruto claimed the country needed a broader tax base to function — but for many, this felt like betrayal. Costs soared, incomes dropped, and the working poor bore the brunt.
Protests erupted in 2024, driven largely by youth and middle-class frustration. The peak came when demonstrators stormed and attempted to burn down the parliament in Nairobi. At least 22 people were killed, possibly as many as 60. Around 20 more went missing.
In 2025, unrest reignited after a blogger died in police custody. Demonstrators demanded justice, an end to corruption, and accountability for state violence. Online, Ruto is mocked as “Zaccao” — a nod to the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus — or simply called mwizi, Swahili for “thief.” At least 16 more people have died during recent protests.
Public anger also targets controversial deals. In 2024, Ruto unilaterally canceled a $2 billion contract that would have handed Nairobi’s main airport to India’s Adani Group, fueling suspicions of backroom politics. Meanwhile, his officials live in luxury, deepening the perception of a disconnected elite.
Yet Ruto remains defiant. “If there’s no Kenya for me,” he warned, “there will be none for others.” As protests grow and opposition solidifies, Kenya’s fragile political stability is increasingly at risk.
#Kenya
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🇳🇬🇧🇯🇹🇬 Benin and Togo Owe Nigeria $11 Million for Electricity
Benin and Togo have accumulated a combined debt of $11 million to Nigeria for electricity supplied during the first quarter of 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Togo reportedly made no payments during this period, while Benin paid only a portion of its outstanding balance. The only country to fully meet its obligations was Niger, which paid $3.03 million.
Overall, the payment rate for cross-border electricity supply stood at 34%, with just $5.8 million received out of a total $17.24 million billed.
#Benin #Togo #Nigeria
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🇳🇪 Niger Air Force Strikes Militants
Niger’s Ministry of Defense has released footage of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones striking militant positions following coordinated attacks by the JNIM group on July 4 against security forces in Boulangou and Samira.
As a result of the assaults, at least 10 soldiers were killed, and another 15 were airlifted by helicopter to Niamey for urgent medical treatment.
According to the Ministry of Defense, more than 40 militants were eliminated during the retaliatory operation.
#Niger
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🇸🇸🇩🇯Eight Men Deported to South Sudan After Legal Dispute and Detour Through Djibouti
The United States has deported eight men to South Sudan, ending a prolonged legal dispute that had left them stranded in Djibouti for several weeks.
The group included individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, and robbery. According to U.S. officials, most had either completed their prison terms or were nearing release.
Notably, only one of the eight men is a South Sudanese national. The others are citizens of Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico. U.S. authorities stated that these individuals were sent to South Sudan because their countries of origin declined to take them back.
The move comes amid efforts by the Trump administration to broaden deportation policies, including the practice of sending individuals to third countries when repatriation is blocked.
#SouthSudan #Djiboti
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🇲🇱 Mali’s Transitional Parliament Grants Military Leader Five-Year Renewable Term
Mali’s transitional parliament has approved a five-year presidential term for military leader General Assimi Goïta, with the possibility of indefinite renewal without elections.
The newly passed bill states that Goïta’s mandate can be extended "as many times as necessary" until the country achieves full stability and "pacification."
The 41-year-old general, who first seized power in a 2021 coup, was named transitional president following the ouster of the previous civilian-led government.
#Mali
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🇷🇼🇨🇩Rwanda’s Kagame Expresses Doubts Over U.S.-Brokered Congo Peace Deal, Vows to Counter “Tricks”
Rwandan President Paul Kagame cast doubt on Friday on whether a U.S.-mediated peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would succeed, warning that Rwanda would respond firmly to any deceptive moves by its neighbor.
The deal, signed last week, requires Rwandan troops to withdraw from eastern Congo within 90 days. The UN alleges these forces back the M23 rebels, who seized the region’s two largest cities earlier this year. Rwanda denies supporting M23, insisting its military presence is defensive—aimed at countering Congo’s army and Hutu militias tied to the 1994 genocide, including the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda).
Kagame told reporters in Kigali that while Rwanda remains committed to the agreement, its success hinges on Congo disarming the FDLR.
"If the side we’re working with plays tricks and revives the problem, we’ll handle it as we have before”
"If it doesn't work, they aren't the ones to blame”
🇸🇩 Sudan Appoints Three New Ministers for the "Government of Hope"
Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamal Idris has signed a decree appointing three new cabinet members as part of forming the "Government of Hope."
Ismat Gurashi Abdalla Mohamed has been appointed as Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Ahmed Mudawi Musa Mohamed as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Muaz Omar Bahit Al-Awad as Minister of Health.
With these appointments, the total number of cabinet members now stands at five. In June, the Prime Minister approved the heads of the Interior and Defense Ministries—Lieutenant General Hassan Daoud Kayan and Lieutenant General Babiker Samra Mustafa, respectively.
The remaining ministers of the "Government of Hope" are expected to be appointed gradually.
#Sudan
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🇿🇦African Development Bank Grants South Africa $475 Million for Green Reforms
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $474.6 million loan to South Africa to support reforms under its Infrastructure Governance and Green Growth Program (IGGGP). The funding will be used to advance the country’s energy transition, improve transportation systems, and boost the green economy.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana welcomed the support, saying it will help address the country’s energy shortages and infrastructure challenges.
Our government is fully committed to moving forward with these critical energy and transport reforms, while also honoring our climate commitments and the goals of a Just Energy Transition
#SouthAfrica
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🇲🇱Photos of Foreign Hostages Emerge After Al-Qaeda-Linked Attack in Mali
Photos have surfaced online showing foreign nationals captured by militants from Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group operating in Mali.
The hostages were taken during a series of coordinated attacks on several towns and industrial sites in the Kayes region. In the town of Karaga, militants stormed a lime production facility owned by Carrieres et Chaux du Mali, which supplies agricultural lime. The attackers destroyed equipment and machinery, and took four hostages — three Indian nationals and one Chinese citizen.
So far, the group has issued no demands for their release.
#Mali #JNIM
@africaintel
🇳🇬Nigeria’s Top Opposition Leaders Unite Ahead of 2027 Election
In a major shake-up of Nigerian politics, opposition heavyweights Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have joined forces to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next general election.
The two former rivals have left their parties — Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi from the Labour Party (LP) — and aligned themselves with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a smaller party now gaining big-name momentum. Some members of Tinubu’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are reportedly supporting the move as well.
This alliance is the result of months of behind-the-scenes talks aimed at presenting a united front in 2027. In the 2023 election, Tinubu won with only 37% of the vote, while Abubakar and Obi split the opposition support with 29% and 25%, respectively.
At the announcement, ADC interim chairman David Mark called the merger a bid to “save democracy” and prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state.
#Nigeria
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🇸🇩 Sudan’s RSF-Led Alliance “Taasis” Names Leadership, Exposes Deep Rifts
Sudan’s powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has officially launched the long-delayed “Taasis” alliance, naming its top brass in a move seen as both a show of unity and a reflection of internal cracks.
RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, has been appointed leader of the coalition, with Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) chief Abdelaziz al-Hilu as his deputy. Makien Hamid Tirab will serve as the alliance’s speaker — a key position in the emerging political structure.
First announced in February 2025 during a charter signing in Nairobi, Taasis brings together the RSF, SPLM-N, and a group of RSF-aligned political factions, aiming to form a parallel government. But infighting over leadership roles delayed its official formation, nearly tearing the alliance apart before it even took off.
Analysts say the bitter power struggle, especially the sidelining of Hemedti’s brother Abdelrahim Dagalo, underscores the fragility of the new bloc. The RSF hopes the alliance will boost its international legitimacy, help unlock legal arms procurement, and strengthen its hand against the Sudanese army, which has recently scored key battlefield gains.
Yet the creation of a joint political-military front could also escalate the conflict further, potentially drawing in previously untouched regions and deepening Sudan’s civil war.
#Sudan
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🇨🇩 Part 3. Lumumba’s Legacy: Between Myth and Reality
His death transformed Lumumba into a martyr of the anti-colonial movement. His name became synonymous with resistance—revered by figures like Fidel Castro, Kwame Nkrumah, and Nelson Mandela. Even decades later, his image remains a potent political symbol: in the DRC, he is hailed as the "father of independence," while his assassination is still seen as an act of neocolonialism.
Yet Lumumba’s legacy is complex. He never had the chance to implement his vision, and his radicalism and clashes with the West turned Congo into a Cold War battleground. Today, his ideas of Pan-Africanism and social justice remain relevant, but his tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how quickly dreams of liberation can be crushed by geopolitical forces.
A century after his birth, Lumumba is more than a historical figure—he is an enduring symbol of struggle and Africa’s unfulfilled promises.
#PatriceLumumba #DRC
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