Hamas Hails Arab Summit, Calls for Sanctions on 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English

17 May 2025 21:38

Hamas calls on the Arab League and global community to impose sanctions on "Israel" and stop the Gaza genocide, while praising the Baghdad summit’s support for Palestinian rights.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas called on the Arab League and the broader international community to urgently intervene to halt the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip and to impose sanctions on the fascist Israeli occupation.

In a statement issued on Saturday, coinciding with the 34th session of the Arab League summit held in Baghdad, Hamas condemned the “brutal and systematic campaign of extermination” carried out by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.

The group warned that hundreds of civilians had been martyred or wounded as a result of intensified bombardment on residential areas and shelters, amid a suffocating blockade and total disruption of humanitarian aid.

Hamas highlighted the escalation in northern Gaza, where aerial and artillery strikes have forced hundreds of families into displacement, fleeing in search of safety as “death and shells rain down on them.”

Hamas urges Arab League for action

The movement urged the Arab summit to assume its “historic responsibility” by adopting practical measures to stop the aggression, lift the blockade, and implement the resolutions of the 2023 Riyadh summit that called for the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It also demanded urgent Arab and international sanctions on "Israel" and accountability for its leaders as war criminals.

Later, Hamas welcomed the outcomes of the Baghdad summit, praising the unified Arab stance expressed in the leaders' speeches, which called for an end to the war on Gaza, the opening of border crossings, and the delivery of aid.

The movement also commended the summit’s final declaration, which included a clear condemnation of the aggression, a firm rejection of forced displacement, and a strong reaffirmation of the centrality of the Palestinian cause and the right of return, freedom, and statehood with Al-Quds as the capital.

Demanding support for Gaza

Hamas called for translating these stances into “concrete, urgent actions” including activating the Arab-Islamic recovery plan, rebuilding Gaza, supporting orphans and the wounded, and implementing the resolutions of the Riyadh Arab-Islamic Summit held in November 2023.

Finally, Hamas reiterated its support for any responsible national unity initiative rooted in a unified resistance project that reflects the will of the Palestinian people and advances their goals of liberation, return, and self-determination.

Palestine at the heart of the Arab consensus

The summit’s closing statement reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause as the cause of the Arab nation and a cornerstone of regional stability. The Arab leaders expressed absolute support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to freedom, self-determination, and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.

Participants called for an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and demanded intensified efforts to pressure for the opening of crossings and the delivery of humanitarian aid to all Palestinian territories. The statement also emphasized the need to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions issued since the onset of the aggression.

The leaders rejected any form of forced displacement of Palestinians from their land under any pretext and welcomed international recognition of the State of Palestine. The statement particularly commended Spain, Norway, and Ireland for their recent recognition and urged other nations to follow suit.

Support was also expressed for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s call to convene an international peace conference aimed at resolving the Palestinian issue on the basis of international legitimacy.

Arab Summit Reaffirms Centrality of Palestine, Joint Arab Action

By Al Mayadeen English

17 May 2025 20:04

At the Arab Summit 2025 in Baghdad, leaders rejected Palestinian displacement, urged Gaza aid, condemned Israeli aggression, and advanced food and economic strategies.

The Arab Summit held in Baghdad concluded with a comprehensive closing statement underscoring the collective stance of Arab states on key regional issues, with particular emphasis on Palestine, regional security, and coordinated political action.

Palestine at the heart of the Arab consensus

The summit’s closing statement reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause as the cause of the Arab nation and a cornerstone of regional stability. The Arab leaders expressed absolute support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to freedom, self-determination, and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.

Participants called for an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and demanded intensified efforts to pressure for the opening of crossings and the delivery of humanitarian aid to all Palestinian territories. The statement also emphasized the need to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions issued since the onset of the aggression.

The leaders rejected any form of forced displacement of Palestinians from their land under any pretext and welcomed international recognition of the State of Palestine. The statement particularly commended Spain, Norway, and Ireland for their recent recognition and urged other nations to follow suit.

Support was also expressed for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s call to convene an international peace conference aimed at resolving the Palestinian issue on the basis of international legitimacy.

Calls for end to occupation, foreign aggression

The statement demanded an end to the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan and South Lebanon, as part of a broader call for respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity across the region.

The summit also reiterated respect for the choices of the Syrian people and affirmed that Syria’s security and stability are essential to the region's overall stability.

Support for regional stability, diplomacy

Arab leaders expressed full support for Lebanon in its efforts to overcome challenges and maintain security and unity. The summit also voiced solidarity with Sudan in its attempts to protect its resources and territory amid ongoing conflict and reaffirmed support for Libya through national dialogue and political reconciliation.

The summit appreciated Oman’s diplomatic mediation between Iran and the United States, framing it as a positive example of Arab diplomacy in action.

In addition, the leaders called for the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, and condemned all forms of terrorism and its ideological roots.

Security, cyber cooperation, deterrence of hate speech

The summit welcomed Iraq’s efforts to combat terrorism and emphasized the importance of enhancing cybersecurity as part of joint Arab cooperation. The final statement also stressed the need to activate deterrent mechanisms against hate speech and affirmed that rising global tensions reflect a dangerous shift away from diplomacy toward militarized solutions.

The Baghdad Arab Summit closed with a unified message: regional challenges require solidarity, coordinated action, and firm positions rooted in justice, peace, and the collective interests of the Arab peoples.

Baghdad hosts fifth Arab development, economic, and social summit

Following the main summit, Baghdad hosted the Fifth Arab Development, Economic, and Social Summit, focused on revitalizing regional economic cooperation and integration. The summit aimed to align national and regional development goals for mutual benefit.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit presented a comprehensive Arab food security strategy during the summit. He emphasized that Arab national security is an integrated whole, requiring parallel attention to food, social, cyber, and other sectors of security.

“Concrete solutions must be found for Arab food security,” he said, citing the strategy proposed in Baghdad as a roadmap for future resilience.

Aboul Gheit also addressed the impact of the global economic slowdown, noting its implications for food and social stability across the Arab region.

Commitment to economic integration, stability

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa voiced support for implementing the summit’s development initiatives, stressing the importance of working with regional and international partners to ensure stability and end ongoing wars.

Speaking on behalf of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf reinforced the call for meaningful economic unity. “Achieving economic integration must not remain a dream," he said. 

Yemen Reopens Sanaa International Airport After Israeli Aggression

By Al Mayadeen English

Sanaa International Airport resumes operations just 11 days after "Israel" bombed key infrastructure, as the Yemeni Armed Forces strike back in support of Gaza.

The Yemeni Civil Aviation Authority in Sanaa confirmed that 575 passengers have arrived at and departed from Sanaa International Airport, marking a significant recovery after recent airstrikes carried out by the Israeli occupation.

The reopening of the airport comes just 11 days after “Israel” launched a wave of aggressive airstrikes targeting the airport and surrounding infrastructure in northern Sanaa, aiming to disable aviation activity and damage critical civilian facilities. Despite the attack, Yemen has rapidly moved to restore the airport, reflecting its resolve to resist Israeli escalation.

Yemeni missile strikes Ben Gurion Airport

Earlier this week, the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) responded with a hypersonic ballistic missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Palestine. According to YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the operation was successful, forcing millions of settlers into shelters and suspending airport operations for nearly an hour on Thursday.

Yemeni officials framed the missile strike as a direct response to the ongoing genocide perpetrated by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip, where daily massacres and famine have intensified under a tight siege.

YAF stresses moral obligation of supporting Gaza

General Saree emphasized that the Yemeni military action was part of a broader commitment shared by "all free peoples of the Ummah" to stand against Israeli crimes in Gaza. He stressed the religious, moral, and humanitarian responsibility driving the YAF's operations, especially in light of what he described as betrayal and silence from Arab and Islamic governments.

The missile launch, which caused sirens to sound across occupied territories, triggered chaos at events in locations such as Beit Shims in occupied al-Quds, according to Israeli outlet Yedioth Ahronoth. The report noted that the missile “sent millions into shelters,” further demonstrating the reach and intent behind Yemen’s retaliation.

US deterrence falters as Yemen escalates support for Gaza

The strike on May 4 marked a turning point, exposing gaps in US-led regional deterrence. Despite Washington’s earlier naval campaign aimed at halting Yemeni operations, the United States has since withdrawn from direct confrontation after limited success. In contrast, Sanaa has reiterated its commitment to continue attacking Israeli targets in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Since the missile strike, the Israeli occupation has carried out several airstrikes on Yemeni infrastructure, targeting civilian sites under the pretext of military deterrence. Nonetheless, the Yemeni Armed Forces have maintained their course, asserting that their operations are aimed at supporting Gaza and resisting aggression.

Protesters Demand Resignation of Libya PM Amid Political Turmoil

By Al Mayadeen English

Hundreds protest in Tripoli demanding Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh’s resignation amid political unrest, ministerial resignations, and deadly clashes in Libya.

For the second consecutive day, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Tripoli, demanding the resignation of Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, amid a worsening political crisis and the aftermath of deadly armed clashes.

Saturday’s protest, involving approximately 500 people, followed larger demonstrations on Friday at Martyrs’ Square, where thousands gathered before marching toward the prime minister’s office. The Tripoli demonstrations reflect growing public discontent following recent violence that left at least eight people dead, according to the United Nations.

Tensions rise after clashes, resignations

The Libyan political crisis intensified after armed groups engaged in deadly confrontations earlier in the week. Despite a return to partial normalcy, flights resumed, shops reopened, and workers returned, Tripoli remains on edge.

The government reported that a police officer was killed by unknown assailants while guarding Dbeibah’s office during the protests. Meanwhile, local media revealed that six ministers and deputy ministers from Dbeibah’s cabinet had submitted resignations, though only two have confirmed their departure publicly.

Several municipal councils in western Tripoli declared their support for the protestors’ demands. Khaled al-Mishri, head of the High Council of State, announced he had begun discussions with the eastern-based parliament to select a national figure to form a new government, indicating potential cross-regional cooperation.

Libya remains divided between two rival administrations: the UN-recognized government in Tripoli led by Dbeibah, and a parallel authority based in the east, dominated by the family of military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Dbeibah seeks tribal support 

In his first public appearance since Monday’s violence, Dbeibah met with tribal elders in Tripoli and called for unified efforts to prevent a return to "chaos and the rule of armed groups." He also held talks with a delegation from Misrata, his hometown, located roughly 200 kilometers east of Tripoli.

The government issued a statement saying the Misrata delegation “expressed firm and unwavering support” for Dbeibah’s efforts to restore state authority and reduce the influence of armed factions.

Turkiye repatriates citizens as uncertainty persists

Amid the uncertainty, Turkiye, a key backer of Dbeibeh’s administration, repatriated 82 Turkish nationals late Friday as a precautionary measure.

As calls for Abdulhamid Dbeibeh’s resignation grow louder, the political future of Libya remains uncertain, with widespread concerns that the current instability could once again spiral into open conflict.

South Sudan Quashes Salva Kiir 'Death' Reports

Cia Pak / UN Photo

Salva Kiir.

16 May 2025

Deutsche Welle (Bonn)

By Kieran Burke

The country's Foreign Ministry dismissed rumors spreading on social media that President Salva Kiir had passed away.

South Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Thursday moved to dispel reports that President Salva Kiir had passed away.

While there has been online speculation regarding the health of the 73-year-old leader, the foreign ministry said Kiir "is alive, well and fully engaging in the service of the nation."

'False and malicious reports' condemned

The ministry "categorically and strongly denies the false and malicious reports circulating on social media claiming that His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit has passed away," it said in a statement issued on Facebook.

According to the ministry statement Kiir "continues to carry out his presidential duties with vigor, commitment, sound health and complete fitness."

It went on to condemn what it called the "deliberate spread of misinformation aimed at creating unnecessary panic, confusion and instability."

Late on Wednesday, reports began circulating on social media that Kiir had died, with a Kenyan politician even writing on the platform X that he had heard Kiir had "kicked the bucket."

"These are entirely baseless and irresponsible rumors fabricated by enemies of peace, development, nation building and stability in South Sudan," the Foreign Ministry said.

South Sudan insecurity

The claims come as South Sudan faces a bout of insecurity, with clashes between forces aligned with Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar breaking out in several areas around the country.

The UN has warned that the country was teetering on the brink of renewed civil war.

A peace agreement was signed in 2018 and ended a five-year conflict that killed 400,000 people.

That agreement led to a power-sharing scheme in which Machar was one of five vice presidents working alongside President Salva Kiir in a unity government.

Kieran Burke with AFP and South Sudan government source

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah

Guinean Troops Trigger Panic in Renewed Sierra Leone Border Standoff

16 May 2025

Radio France Internationale

A long-running border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea has flared again, after a military incident forced villagers to flee and reignited diplomatic tensions between the two West African neighbours.

On 28 April, Guinean soldiers fired three shots in the air as they attempted to enter the village of Sokoma, near Yenga - a mineral-rich settlement that has been contested for more than two decades.

The gunfire caused panic in nearby communities and sent residents fleeing south towards the town of Koindu.

"We heard three gunshots," local resident Daniel Makundu told RFI. "People got scared and fled towards Koindu. The next day, the Guinean military prevented any return to Yenga."

Although calm has returned, local authorities say the situation on the ground remains unstable.

Legacy of war

The dispute over Yenga dates back to the 1990s, during Sierra Leone's civil war.

At the time, the government in Freetown invited Guinean troops to help secure the eastern border. Guinean forces moved into the region but did not fully withdraw after the war ended.

Their continued presence has triggered repeated standoffs and failed diplomatic efforts.

"Every time we engage in dialogue at the highest level, they agree to leave," Sierra Leone's foreign minister, Timothy Kabba, said.

"But once the diplomats return to their capitals, they come back. But this time, we are [applying] maximum pressure. They must understand that Yenga belongs to Sierra Leone and we will protect our borders."

Freetown has warned it may escalate the matter to the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), the African Union or the International Court of Justice if Guinean forces do not withdraw.

EU observers flag voting problems that 'stain' Sierra Leone election

Impact on locals

While the two governments consider their next moves, civilians are left to deal with the consequences. Makundu, who used to farm the wetlands near Yenga, said the loss of access to his land has left him with nothing.

"I lived off the land, off my swamps," he told RFI. "Now I've lost everything. It's very, very discouraging. I call on the government to settle this once and for all."

In response to the incursion, Sierra Leonean authorities deployed a security cordon around Sokoma and delivered aid to displaced families. But villagers say that without a lasting agreement, the risk of new clashes remains high.

Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.

Children Die as USAID Aid Cuts Snap a Lifeline for the World’s Most Malnourished

By TAIWO ADEBAYO

12:15 AM EDT, May 16, 2025

DIKWA, Nigeria (AP) — Under the dappled light of a thatched shelter, Yagana Bulama cradles her surviving infant. The other twin is gone, a casualty of malnutrition and the international funding cuts that are snapping the lifeline for displaced communities in Nigeria’s insurgency-ravaged Borno state.

“Feeding is severely difficult,” said Bulama, 40, who was a farmer before Boko Haram militants swept through her village, forcing her to flee. She and about 400,000 other people at the humanitarian hub of Dikwa — virtually the entire population — rely on assistance. The military restricts their movements to a designated “safe zone,” which severely limits farming.

For years, the United States Agency for International Development had been the backbone of the humanitarian response in northeastern Nigeria, helping non-government organizations provide food, shelter and healthcare to millions of people. But this year, the Trump administration cut more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall assistance around the world.

Programs serving children were hit hard.

Bulama previously lost young triplets to hunger before reaching therapeutic feeding centers in Dikwa. When she gave birth to twins last August, both were severely underweight. Workers from Mercy Corps enrolled them in a program to receive a calorie-dense paste used to treat severe acute malnutrition.

But in February, Mercy Corps abruptly ended the program that was entirely financed by USAID. Two weeks later, one of the twins died, Bulama said.

She has no more tears, only dread for what may come next.

“I don’t want to bury another child,” she said.

‘Very traumatic’

Globally, 50% of the therapeutic foods for treating malnutrition in children were funded by USAID, and 40% of the supplies were produced in the U.S., according to Shawn Baker, chief program officer at Helen Keller Intl and former chief nutritionist at USAID.

He said the consequence could be 1 million children not receiving treatment for severe malnutrition, resulting in 163,500 additional deaths per year. For Helen Keller Intl, its programs in Bangladesh, Nepal and Nigeria have been terminated.

“It is very traumatic,” said Trond Jensen, the head of the United Nations humanitarian office in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, of the funding cuts, noting that other donors, including the European Union, have taken similar steps this year. “One of the things is the threat to the lives of children.”

UNICEF still runs a therapeutic feeding center nearby, which now supports Bulama’s surviving baby, but its capacity is stretched. It is turning away many people previously served by other aid groups that have pulled out due to funding cuts.

Intersos, an Italian humanitarian organization, has the only remaining facility providing in-patient services for malnutrition in Dikwa, treating the most perilous cases. Its workers say they are overwhelmed, with at least 10 new admissions of seriously malnourished children daily.

“Before the USAID cut, we made a lot of progress,” said Ayuba Kauji, a health and nutrition supervisor. “Now my biggest worry is high mortality. We don’t have enough resources to keep up.”

Intersos was forced to reduce its staff from 30 to 11 in Dikwa after the USAID freeze. Its nutrition and health facilities now operate solely on support from the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund, a smaller pot of money contributed by a few European countries. That funding will be finished in June.

The crisis is equally acute in Maiduguri, where the economy is reeling from massive terminations of aid workers. At another Intersos-run facility, 10 of the 12 doctors have left and four nurses remain, with 50 new admissions of malnourished children per week.

“It used to be far less,” said Emmanuel Ali, one of the remaining doctors.

Beyond nutrition

The effects of the funding cuts extend far beyond nutrition. At the International Organization for Migration’s reception center in Dikwa, thousands of displaced families and those escaping Boko Haram captivity are stranded. There are no new shelters being built and no support for relocation.

“Before, organizations like Mercy Corps built mud-brick homes and rehabilitated damaged shelters to absorb people from the IOM reception center,” said one official at the center, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the situation. “Now, that has stopped.”

Jensen, the U.N. humanitarian head in Maiduguri, said, “sadly, we are not seeing additional funding to make up for the U.S. cuts.” He warned that vulnerable people could turn to risky ways of coping, including joining violent groups.

A global problem

The crisis in Nigeria is part of a larger reckoning. According to Kate Phillips-Barrasso, Mercy Corps’ vice president for policy and advocacy, 40 of its 62 U.S.-funded programs with the potential to reach 3.5 million people in Nigeria, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Somalia, Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, Kenya, Lebanon and Gaza have been terminated.

In Mozambique, where jihadist violence in the north has displaced over a million people since 2017, humanitarian organizations face steep shortfalls with “devastating” effects on the needy, said Frederico João, chairman of the forum of NGOs in the region.

More widely, the USAID funding cut compromises Mozambique’s health sector, especially in HIV/AIDS care, said Inocêncio Impissa, cabinet spokesman. The government now seeks alternative funding to prevent total collapse of health systems.

Charles Mangwiro in Maputo, Mozambique, contributed to this story.

South Africa Says Trump’s Aid Cuts Stripped More Than 8,000 Health Workers From its HIV Program

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

12:13 PM EDT, May 15, 2025

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID has put more than 8,000 health workers in South Africa’s national HIV program out of work, the country’s health minister said Thursday, as he outlined the impact of U.S. funding cuts on the biggest AIDS treatment project in the world.

The cuts have also closed down 12 specialized HIV clinics that were run by non-governmental organizations in South Africa and funded by the United States Agency for International Development through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told reporters.

He said health authorities are now registering the more than 60,000 patients who were served by those clinics at state health facilities to continue their life-saving treatment.

South Africa has nearly six million people on HIV medication, more than any other country in the world.

The clinics that were defunded by the U.S. were largely treating what are known as “key populations,” Motsoaledi said. They include gay men and sex workers who are considered at higher risk of HIV infection and who sometimes face stigma at public health facilities.

Motsoaledi said the Trump administration had terminated around $436 million annually in funding for HIV treatment and prevention in South Africa, which made up part of the $2.5 billion a year program. The South African government and other donors fund the rest.

Viral load testing — which measures how much the HIV virus is present in the blood of patients on treatment — had decreased by 21% since the aid cuts began to take effect in February, the health minister said. He didn’t give figures on how the testing program to find those who are HIV positive had been affected.

Dr. Linda-Gail Bekker, the CEO of the at Desmond Tutu Health Foundation. said medical professionals are deeply concerned about the possibility of undoing the progress gained in HIV treatment and the loss of healthcare worker jobs.

“We know these services have stopped and we are starting to see worrying signs that testing rates are down and other early warning signs that there are gaps,” said Bekker. “It would be really helpful if the ministry acknowledged the gaps created and articulated a plan to ensure the gap will be filled at least partially.”

HIV treatment and prevention is one of the areas that has been impacted most by the termination of U.S. foreign aid, especially in sub-Sahara Africa.

The head of the United Nations AIDS agency told The Associated Press in February that the number of new HIV infections globally could jump more than six times by 2029 because of the funding cuts.

Motsoaledi denied South Africa’s national program was on the brink of collapse, but outlined significant problems like personnel shortages, funding shortfalls, and the difficulties in locating HIV positive persons that need to start treatment.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to terminate more than 90% of foreign aid through the USAID agency has undermined a near 20-year effort to stop HIV deaths in the country worst-hit by the disease. U.S. funding has been critical for South Africa’s efforts to stop people dying of AIDS, largely through helping provide free antiretroviral medication that stops the virus replicating in the body.

“We must put it categorically clear that under no circumstances will we allow this massive work performed over a period of more than a decade and a half to collapse and go up in smoke because President Trump has decided to do what he has done,” Motsoaledi said.

South Africa has around 7.7 million people living with HIV, according to the U.N. AIDS agency. Not all of them are on treatment despite it being free. South Africa has recently embarked on a drive to get 1 million more people on treatment.

The 8,061 health workers who lost their jobs make up more than half of the health workers funded by USAID through PEPFAR, Motsoaledi said. He said South Africa still has more than 250,000 health workers in the HIV program paid by the government and other donors.

While South Africa still has donors like the Global Fund providing financial assistance for its HIV program, Motsoaledi said it was lobbying other governments and aid agencies for assistance, but no new funding had been secured.

Trump’s Stance Against South Africa is Not Just About White Farmers. It’s Also About Hamas and Iran

By GERALD IMRAY

3:39 PM EDT, May 15, 2025

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim this week that there is an unreported “genocide” happening against white farmers in South Africa was his harshest accusation yet against a country he moved to punish over a range of issues soon after returning to office.

Trump’s criticism has focused mostly on his allegations that South Africa’s government is fueling anti-white racism in the majority Black country, leading to the killing of white farmers. That has been denied by the South African government.

But Trump has also strongly criticized South Africa’s foreign policy, and especially its decision to take Israel to the United Nations’ top court and accuse it of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Trump has cited that case against a U.S. ally as an example of what he referred to as a larger anti-American position from South Africa. The U.S. president has now accused South Africa, once a key partner in Africa, of the same crime of genocide.

Israel and Hamas

South Africa launched its highly contentious genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in early 2024, putting a developing nation that’s not a diplomatic heavyweight at the forefront of the pro-Palestinian movement at an especially divisive time. South Africa’s decision caused tensions with the U.S. under the Biden administration and other Western countries, which rejected the accusation that Israel was committing genocide.

But Trump’s reaction has been much stronger, citing the case against Israel in an executive order on Feb. 7 that sanctioned South Africa and stopped all U.S. aid and assistance. The order said South Africa had taken “aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies” and the case showed its support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The U.S. government under Trump has also cracked down on pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel protests at home.

South Africa has long been a supporter of the Palestinian people and a critic of Israel. But while the government has attempted to draw a line between that and any support for Hamas, the distinctions have become blurred, like when the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela hosted Hamas officials on a visit to South Africa in 2023.

Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union, the U.K. and others.

Ties with Iran

Trump’s executive order also accused South Africa of strengthening its ties with Iran through commercial, military and nuclear arrangements. South Africa holds diplomatic ties with Iran but said it does not have any agreements with Iran over nuclear weapons, though it is allowing Iran to bid, alongside other countries, for a commercial contract to build a nuclear reactor to provide electricity.

South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies, a nonprofit research institute, said that Trump was “overreacting” to South Africa’s relationship with Iran, but South Africa “also shouldn’t be surprised if they are judged by the company they keep.”

Boycotting South Africa’s G20 presidency

The U.S. has decided to effectively boycott South Africa’s presidency of the Group of 20 developed and developing nations this year, the first time an African nation has held the rotating presidency.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped a G20 foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg in February, saying South Africa’s theme of “solidarity, equality and sustainability” was effectively DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and climate change and he wouldn’t waste American taxpayer money on it. The Trump administration has moved to dismantle DEI programs in the U.S.

Shortly after Rubio skipped the meeting, the Trump administration suspended all cooperation with South Africa related to its hosting of G20 events, according to a U.S. official.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said the decision was because Trump does not support South Africa’s G20 agenda. The official said the move would not affect the U.S.'s presidency of the G20 next year.

The rebuff by the U.S. will likely undermine South Africa’s efforts to make progress on issues it has prioritized for its presidency.

White farmers

The Trump administration brought more than 50 white South Africans to the U.S. this week as refugees, saying they are members of the minority Afrikaner group and are being persecuted by their Black-led government and exposed to race-based violence.

South Africa says it condemns the relatively small number of killings of white farmers, but the cause is being mischaracterized and they are a result of its problems with violent crime and not racially motivated.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has not criticized Trump directly but said the U.S. president is being fed false information by some Afrikaner lobby groups in South Africa and some conservative commentators in the U.S. who have elevated the issue.

Ramaphosa’s office said he will meet with Trump at the White House next week in an attempt to “reset” the countries’ relationship.

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Lee contributed to this story from Washington.

Overthrown Gabon President Bongo and His Family Arrive in Angola, Officials Say

5:42 AM EDT, May 16, 2025

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The former president of Gabon, who was ousted in a 2023 coup, has been allowed to leave the country and has flown to Angola with his family, the Angolan leader’s office said Friday.

The Angolan presidency posted photos on its official Facebook page of Ali Bongo Ondimba arriving in the Angolan capital, Luanda.

It said the release of Bongo, his wife and their son came after an agreement between Angolan President Joao Lourenco and new Gabon leader Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema, who overthrew Bongo nearly two years ago and was declared the winner of an election last month.

Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, the former prime minister of Gabon and a spokesperson for Bongo, said the Bongo family had been detained illegally and were released after “international demands.”

The African Union had called for the Bongo family’s release and Angola’s Lourenco was acting in his capacity as the chairperson of the AU when he facilitated the agreement, his office said.

Bongo was placed under house arrest after the coup in August 2023, but was freed a week later due to health concerns, according to Gabon authorities. His supporters denied he was free and said his movements were still being restricted.

His wife Sylvia Bongo and son Noureddin Bongo Valentin had been detained in a prison in the capital, Libreville since 2023 on money laundering and corruption charges. Ali Bongo himself was not charged.

The coup by Oligui Nguema, the former head of the country’s Republican Guard, ended 54 years of Bongo family rule in Gabon, a nation of 2.3 million people on the Atlantic coast in central Africa. Ali Bongo’s father Omar Bongo Ondimba was president from 1967 until his death in 2009. Ali Bongo succeeded him.

Chinese Chargé d'Affaires Affirms Strengthening Cooperation With Sudan

16 May 2025

Sudan News Agency (Khartoum)

Port Sudan May 16, 2025 (SUNA) - Minister of Culture and Information and Government Spokesperson Khalid Al-Aiser met in his office on Friday with the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to Sudan, Ambassador Zhang Xianghua. The meeting discussed overall bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to activate and strengthen them, particularly cooperation in the media sector.

In press statements following the meeting, Ambassador Xianghua expressed his country's appreciation for the relations that bind it to Sudan, stressing China's readiness to strengthen and expand this cooperation to serve the joint interests of both countries. He added, "We have agreed to enhance communication and exchange in the media field to ensure extensive media coverage of all prominent and important events, whether in China or Sudan."

The Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to Sudan expressed his appreciation for Sudan's efforts in achieving security and peace in the country, indicating that Sudan has the wisdom to address and confront all challenges. He expressed his country's appreciation for Sudan's steadfastness in the face of these developments, hoping that security, stability, and peace will be achieved in Sudan nationwide.

Read the original article on SNA.

Sudan Calls On China to Intervene to Stop Abu Dhabi's Arms Contracts and Violations Against Civilians

15 May 2025

Sudan News Agency (Khartoum)

Minister of Culture and Information and government spokesman Khalid Al-Aiser called on the People's Republic of China, a friendly country with which Sudan shares historical ties and mutual strategic interests, to urgently intervene with the Abu Dhabi regime to stop its violations of arms purchase contracts and end-user certificates (EUCs). These violations have enabled the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia to possess Chinese-made suicide and strategic drones.

Al-Aiser explained, in a post on his official Facebook page, that the Abu Dhabi regime's involvement in fueling the war and committing massacres against the Sudanese people requires the Chinese government to take a firm and urgent stance, including disabling the technologies used to operate these drones, to preserve its international credibility and maintain the deep historical ties that bind it to Sudan and its people.

The minister pointed out that the Abu Dhabi-backed militia is using these weapons to threaten Sudanese national security by targeting and destroying vital facilities, including hospitals, electricity and water stations, and fuel depots. The RSF militia is also committing crimes against humanity and serious violations of international humanitarian law by bombing defenseless civilians, hotels, and health facilities, and killing women and children.

Al-Aiser said that the Abu Dhabi regime's provision of Chinese-made weapons to the rebel militia clearly contradicts China's historical positions and the depth of its ties with Sudan. He pointed to the symbolism of prominent landmarks such as the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, which have also been targeted by the militia.

Read the original article on SNA. 

Chad’s Former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Arrested for 'Inciting Hatred'

Masra supporters in a photo on the Transformers' X account

By Africa News with Joel Kouam

Chad’s former prime minister and opposition leader, Succès Masra, was arrested early on Friday morning at his home in Gassi, a district of the capital, N’Djamena.

Surveillance footage shows the leader of the Transformers political party being taken away by a squad of armed men.

He has been accused of inciting hatred in connection with deadly clashes in the south-west of the country.

In a press conference, his party said he had been kidnapped and demanded his unconditional release.

“The Transformers, a party has always advocated peaceful civic engagement, wishes to express its deep concern over this brutal action,” said its secretary general, Dr Tog-Yeum Nagorngar.

“It was carried out outside of any known legal procedure and in blatant violation of civil and political rights guaranteed by the constitution.”

Prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye later said Masra had been detained in connection with a clash on Wednesday in the south-western region of Logone-Occidental.

He said investigations carried out by the judicial police had revealed Masra’s alleged involved in the incident.

“Messages were circulated, particularly on social media, calling on people to arm themselves against fellow citizens,” he said.

The prosecutor gave no details on the content of these message or if Masra had been behind them.

Wednesday’s violent clashes are believed to have been triggered by a land dispute between herders and local communities.

At least 41 people were killed and more than 80 others have been detained.

Masra, a fierce critic of President Mahamat Déby who came second in last year’s elections, has called on his supporters to remain calm.

Republic of Congo's Opposition Leader Kidnapped in Brazzaville

President Denis Sassou N'Guesso of Brazzaville, Congo.

Africa News and AP

Lassy Mbouity, leader of the opposition party Les Socialistes Congolais and a candidate in Congo’s March 2026 presidential election, was abducted last Sunday in Brazzaville by armed and masked men — just days after surviving an assassination attempt.

His party blame the government. “We are convinced it’s Brazzaville’s dictatorial regime behind this. It’s not the first time. He’s been arrested before, and the people who came to his home were masked, armed, and using a vehicle without a number plate. That’s why we believe it's a kidnapping. We plan to continue mobilizing — not just among socialists but across the Congolese population and diaspora.” Martial Mbourangon Pa’nucci, party spokesperson for Les Socialistes Congolais, said.

A number of opposition parties joined the Les Socialistes Congolais to issue a joint statement on Thursday condemning the Kidnapping and demanding Mbouity’s unconditional release.

“This cowardly act is part of a worrying escalation of terror, intimidation, and systematic human rights violations in the Republic of Congo. It’s a serious breach of personal freedom and a direct violation of Article 9 of the October 25, 2015 Constitution. We demand Lassy Mbouity’s immediate release.” Clément Mierassa, head of the Congolese Social Democratic Party, said.

Congo's Human Rights Organization has also joined the chorus of alarm, it has issued an urgent appeal for help from diplomats and international bodies.

The government has yet to respond the accusations of kidnapping.

Global Hunger Worsened in 2024, Affecting 295 Million People: UN Report

Women sit with malnourished children at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia.

By Africa News and AP

Global food insecurity and malnutrition continued to worsen in 2024, with 295 million people suffering from acute hunger across 53 countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its partners said in a report released on Friday.

The figure represents an increase of 13.7 million compared to 2023, marking the sixth consecutive annual rise in acute food insecurity in the world's most fragile regions.

The findings were published in the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), an international alliance comprising the FAO, the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and various governmental and non-governmental organizations.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the figures as "another unflinching indictment of a world dangerously off course."

In the report's foreword, he warned that "hunger and malnutrition are spreading faster than our ability to respond, yet globally, a third of all food produced is lost or wasted."

He added that long-standing crises are now being compounded by a more recent one: a dramatic reduction in lifesaving humanitarian funding.

While acute food insecurity typically stems from a combination of factors - such as poverty, economic shocks, and extreme weather, the report emphasized that conflicts remained the primary driver in many of the worst-hit regions. Some populations face conditions beyond acute hunger.

Famine was confirmed in parts of Sudan in 2024, while catastrophic levels of food insecurity were recorded in the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.

In Gaza, famine was narrowly averted thanks to stepped-up humanitarian aid, but the report warned that the risk could return between May and September 2025 if the large-scale military operation and blockade continue.

The report also highlighted the severe impact of forced displacement. Of the 128 million people forcibly displaced in 2024, nearly 95 million - including internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, and refugees - were living in countries already grappling with food crises.

In addition, economic shocks triggered food insecurity in 15 countries, affecting 59.4 million people, including Afghanistan, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Also, extreme weather events pushed 18 countries into crisis, impacting more than 96 million people, particularly in Southern Asia, Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa.

Ramaphosa: ANC Has a Lot of Work to Do to Restore Faith in Party Ahead of Local Government Polls

Ramaphosa wants ANC members to focus on restoring faith in the party among the general population, as the ANC has experienced a decline in voters recently.

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa addressed party officials in the Northern Cape on Friday during their provincial executive committee induction. Picture: @MYANC/X

JOHANNESBURG - ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has hinted that the party has a lot of work to do ahead of next year's local government elections.

Ramaphosa wants ANC members to focus on restoring faith in the party among the general population, as the ANC has experienced a decline in voters recently.

He addressed party officials in the Northern Cape on Friday during their provincial executive committee induction.

The ANC president is of the view that ANC branch leaders need to be deeply rooted in their communities to understand the needs of citizens.

Ramaphosa said this was the only way the party would be able to restore faith among the population as the country gears up for next year's local government elections. 

"We are going to the local government elections next year and comrades, let's face it, because this is what often happens. We will appoint and elect people because so and so does not have a job and has no clue whatsoever about what should happen in local government. And we just take this person, him or her, like you would take me to go and play in the World Cup, knowing that I will fail," said Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa warned party officials that those who failed to toe the line will be held accountable.

Ramaphosa Eyes Direct Appeal to ConCourt Over NHI Act Challenge

Ramaphosa on Friday filed notice to appeal the Pretoria High Court’s earlier decision that also gave him ten days to provide the record of his decision to sign the highly contentious NHI Act in 2024.

President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke at the launch of Operation Vulindlela Phase II at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 7 May 2025. Picture: @GovernmentZA/X

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa is seeking to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court after a high court found that his decision to sign the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act into law could be reviewed.

Ramaphosa on Friday filed notice to appeal the Pretoria High Court’s earlier decision that also gave him ten days to provide the record of his decision to sign into law the highly contentious NHI Act in 2024.

Ramaphosa’s decision was challenged by the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), which contends that the legislation is "vague, unaffordable, and ultimately unworkable".

In court papers, Ramaphosa pointed to inconsistencies in the court’s decision and how the president could exercise his powers.

Ramaphosa also said that the role played by the president in assenting to and signing a bill was not that of legislating.

"If it were, that would constitute a demonstrable incursion into the terrain of the legislature and breach the separation of powers," argued Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa listed several grounds for leave to appeal, including how the court erred in failing to take into account the discretion enjoyed by the president.

Ramaphosa said by permitting this kind of review, the court had potentially allowed a "pre-enactment challenge to a bill, which is a severe threat to the legislative authority of Parliament," which he said the Constitution had already warned against.

He said that previous court decisions had found that the president and the president alone assented and signed bills into law.

Zionist Envoy Wants to Enhance Security Ties with Ethiopia

May 17, 2025

ADDIS ABABA – Zionist Ambassador to Ethiopia, Avraham Neguise (PhD), has underscored the growing importance of enhanced security cooperation between Ethiopia and Israel.

As both nations confront persistent threats from terrorism , he said the two sides strive to foster lasting peace in the region.

In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Ambassador Neguise highlighted that terrorism remains a major global challenge that undermines peace, development, and stability. “Terrorism is the enemy of peace, prosperity, and civilization,” he said. “All peace-loving, development-oriented nations must unite against it—and Ethiopia and Israel are no exception.”

The Ambassador drew attention to the fragile security landscape in the Horn of Africa(HoA), where extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda continue to pose serious threats. These groups not only destabilize the region but also jeopardize international trade routes, especially along the vital Red Sea Corridor.

“Terrorist organizations in this region threaten global commerce and economic security by targeting maritime infrastructure and creating cross-border instability,” he noted.

Against this backdrop, Neguise emphasized Ethiopia’s strategic importance in the HoA and Israel’s advanced expertise in security and counter-terrorism as a strong foundation for deeper cooperation. “Our two countries enjoy a long-standing and unique relationship—diplomatically, economically, and politically. Strengthening our security partnership is the natural next step.”

Israel, he said, offers decades of experience in combating terrorism. “Since its founding in 1948, Israel has faced constant security threats. In response, we have developed sophisticated intelligence systems, cutting-edge technologies, and robust counter-terrorism strategies.”

Amb. Neguise expressed Israel’s readiness to share this expertise with Ethiopia. “Depending on Ethiopia’s needs and interests, we are prepared to provide support through knowledge transfer, joint training, and capacity building.”

He also emphasized the potential for the two nations to collaborate on intelligence sharing, technological innovation, and best practices, helping to build more resilient and responsive security structures. “This cooperation is not only about protecting our own citizens but also about contributing to broader regional peace and stability.”

“Security is the cornerstone of sustainable development,” the Ambassador added. “Without it, economic growth is severely hindered. By working together, Ethiopia and Israel can enhance not only their mutual security but also help promote peace and prosperity throughout East Africa.”

His remarks come at a time when Ethiopia is intensifying its engagement with international partners to address complex security challenges and safeguard national stability.

As terrorism evolves and transcends borders, the deepening partnership between Ethiopia and Israel signals a forward-looking alliance—grounded in shared values, historical ties, and a mutual commitment to peace, resilience, and regional development.

BY WAKUMAN KUDAMA

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 17 MAY 2025

Ethiopia Sets Sights on Becoming Africa’s Next Tech Powerhouse

May 17, 2025

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia is accelerating its digital transformation with the ambition of becoming a leading technology and innovation hub in Africa, President Taye Atske Selassie announced.

Speaking at the official opening of the Ethiopian Technology Expo (ETEX 2025) held yesterday at the Addis International Convention Center (AICC) under the theme: “Shaping Ethiopia’s Digital Future”, the president said Ethiopia is leveraging digital technologies as a catalyst for sustainable development and inclusive prosperity.

“Our vision is clear—Ethiopia is committed to building a digitally empowered nation,” he emphasized. “ETEX 2025 is not just a showcase of technology; it is a dynamic platform for innovation, collaboration, and action. It reflects Ethiopia’s rising profile as a frontrunner in Africa’s digital renaissance.”

Highlighting major strides in artificial intelligence, he noted that the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII) is spearheading cutting-edge research tailored to address local challenges. From AI-powered tools enhancing agricultural productivity to healthcare innovations improving diagnostics, Ethiopia’s AI efforts are already transforming lives.

The president also underscored the role of the Information Network Security Administration (INSA) in laying the groundwork for a secure digital future.

“INSA’s cyber security framework has positioned Ethiopia as a regional leader in secure digital governance,” he said.

With a strong emphasis on youth empowerment and education, Ethiopia’s Digital Strategy 2025 places technological skills and digital literacy at the forefront. “Our young generation is the cornerstone of tomorrow’s digital Ethiopia,” he said. “Through initiatives like Digital Ethiopia 2025, we are ensuring they are equipped to lead the future.”

Reaffirming Ethiopia’s continental ambitions, he said: “We envision becoming the epicenter of Africa’s technological renaissance, aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. ETEX 2025 symbolizes that ambition by bringing together African innovators, policymakers, and global experts to forge impactful partnerships.”

INSA Director General Tigist Hamid echoed the sentiment, describing ETEX 2025 as “East Africa’s largest and most transformative tech showcase.” She emphasized that the country’s digital agenda is built around five core pillars: cyber security, artificial intelligence, FinTech, smart cities, and ICT development.

“Our roadmap, Ethiopia 2030: The Pathway to Prosperity, puts digital innovation at the heart of our nation’s development,” she said. “Through strategic collaborations, awareness campaigns, and robust policy frameworks, we are building a cyber-resilient Ethiopia.”

International participants also acknowledged Ethiopia’s growing digital influence. The UAE Cyber Security Council Head Mohamed Al Kuwaiti (PhD) praised the ongoing collaboration between Ethiopia and the UAE, especially in cyber security.

“Partnerships like ours are essential for advancing regional cyber resilience and driving sustainable digital growth,” he remarked.

As Ethiopia takes center stage in East Africa’s digital scene, ETEX 2025 marks a defining moment in its journey toward becoming a beacon of innovation and digital transformation on the continent.

BY MENGESHA AMARE

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 17 MAY 2025

Ethiopian Tech Expo 2025 Kicks Off to Fast-track Tech-driven Development

Source: Xinhua| 2025-05-17 19:22:30|Editor: huaxia

ADDIS ABABA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia has made a major stride in building a relatively robust, secure and inclusive digital ecosystem, with artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions transforming payment systems across the country, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie has said.

Atske Selassie made the remarks while attending the opening ceremony of the Ethiopian Tech Expo 2025 on Friday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, which brings together global industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, and investors.

He said Ethiopia is fast-tracking its AI ecosystem to help address local challenges and strengthen initiatives such as AI-assisted agricultural tools and healthcare diagnostic devices to support food security and improve medical services.

Digital payment systems such as TeleBirr have markedly improved access to financial services, particularly in rural areas, enhancing financial inclusion and broader economic participation, he said.

Acknowledging the encouraging achievements in the digital transformation of Ethiopia, the president pointed out that the government is scaling up cybersecurity programs to nurture homegrown experts and prepare a new generation of defenders of the digital realm.

Atske Selassie further stressed that Ethiopia is committed to playing a meaningful role in Africa's technological progress, given its strategic location, young workforce and growing digital infrastructure.

Under the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, the Ethiopian government has prioritized equipping young people with cutting-edge skills in coding, AI, cybersecurity and data science.

The three-day expo, which runs until Sunday, showcases Ethiopia's tech-driven transformation and highlights strides in AI, cybersecurity, smart city development and technology innovation, among others.  

Child Mortality Drops Despite Worsening Malnutrition in Angola

Source: Xinhua| 2025-05-17 16:46:15|Editor: huaxia

LUANDA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Angola has reported declining child mortality rates, though child malnutrition remains a pressing concern, a senior official said Friday.

Neonatal mortality dropped from 24 to 16 deaths per 1,000 live births in the southern African country, while under-five mortality fell from 68 to 52, according to data released by Secretary of State for Planning Luis Epalanga.

Epalanga said the data demonstrates significant progress in the health sector since the previous survey in 2016.

The figures, based on the latest national health survey, also show falling fertility rates and rising contraceptive use. However, chronic malnutrition among children under five increased from 38 to 40 percent, he said.

The data will help guide national policy and track progress toward international development goals, he added.

Protest Erupts in Libya's Tripoli, Senior Officials Resign

Source: Xinhua| 2025-05-17 04:37:30|Editor: huaxia

TRIPOLI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A massive protest against the Government of National Unity (GNU) erupted here on Friday amid the resignation of several senior government officials, local media reported.

Local TV Alwasat reported that the protesters demand the GNU headed by Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah to step down, following the recent violent clashes in Tripoli.

According to the report, the GNU's senior officials, including deputy prime minister, and ministers of local governance, trade and industry, higher education, housing, and water resources, have officially announced their resignation. But the GNU denied the resignation, saying all senior government officials are "working normally."

The GNU called for peaceful protests "with complete freedom within legal frameworks and with respect for state institutions," said the report.

Fighting erupted earlier this week after Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, also known as Ghaniwa, a senior commander in the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) -- a powerful armed group aligned with the Presidency Council -- was killed in a facility controlled by the 444 Brigade, a militia loyal to Dbeibah.

Security sources said the killing triggered fierce retaliatory clashes between the SSA and the 444 Brigade, spreading into central and residential districts and leaving at least six people dead until a ceasefire was announced on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the GNU said the security situation in the capital had returned to stability.

Libya has remained fractured since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country is split between rival administrations: the UN-recognized GNU in Tripoli and an eastern-based government backed by the Libyan National Army under commander Khalifa Haftar.

Within Tripoli and other areas under GNU control, armed factions continue to compete for influence, often violently, despite repeated calls for disarmament and unification of security institutions.

Zoom Africa: China-Senegal Trade Ties Forge Path to Shared Growth

Source: Xinhua| 2025-05-16 23:49:30|Editor: huaxia

This photo taken on May 3, 2025 shows Chinese-made products at Rachid Cham's appliance store in Dakar, Senegal. (Xinhua/Zhang Jian)

DAKAR, May 16 (Xinhua) -- In Dakar, Senegal's capital, customers crowd Rachid Cham's appliance store, browsing shelves lined with Chinese-made products. Nearly 10,000 km away in Yiwu city in eastern China, Senegalese businessman Ababacar Niang navigates warehouses and showrooms, preparing shipments to Africa.

Though their paths differ, both men are drawn to China, not just as a supplier, but as a partner in development. In today's vibrant trade between Dakar and Yiwu, African entrepreneurs like Cham and Niang are tapping into a vast industrial ecosystem that fuels shared progress.

Cham, a veteran of Senegal's home appliance market for 35 years, has seen consumer expectations evolve. "Ten years ago, Chinese products were rare. Today, when customers see 'Made in China,' they feel confident," he said. "They know they are getting good quality at affordable prices."

He gestured to a newly installed light fixture, "We order 15 at a time. They sell out in under a month." Now, nearly half his inventory comes from China. "Modern design, fast delivery, competitive prices. That is a game-changer for us."

Cham frequently travels to China to visit factories and is impressed by their efficiency. "Some deliver within a week. That speed is essential for a businessman like me," he said.

He also points to deeper cooperation. At the Diamniadio industrial zone near Dakar, a key project under the Emerging Senegal Plan, Chinese firms are building factories, warehouses, and logistics hubs. "China is not just exporting; it is helping build our future."

Niang's story began in 2013, when he arrived in Yiwu for a sports equipment contract that ultimately fell through. "I found myself alone in an unfamiliar city, without money, with a canceled contract. I had two choices: go home or start over. I chose to stay," he recalled.

What kept him in Yiwu was a sense of partnership. "I was not treated just as a buyer, but as a partner," Niang said. Now a successful trader, he often returns to Senegal to share his lessons. "What I have learned in China is respect for time, for education, for work, for contracts. These are the values I want to pass on to the youth back home."

Cheikh Tidiane Ndiaye, former editor-in-chief of the Senegalese Press Agency, sees their experiences as signs of deeper change. "What businessmen like Cham and Niang are experiencing today reflects a structural transformation. Behind Chinese products is an industrial logic, a partnership vision, and a drive for knowledge transfer," he said.

"China is no longer just a supplier. It is becoming a catalyst for change and a development partner. That makes it a strategic partner for Africa," he said.

For Niang, the relationship is personal. "Chinese products are more than goods. They are bridges to the future. I am not just doing business; I am witnessing history," he said. "One day, if someone asks why Africa and China are so close, I will say: because we worked together, built together, and dreamed together."

Russian Troops Liberate Six Communities in Ukraine Operation Over Week — Top Brass

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 3,040 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 26 enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week

© Alexey Konovalov/TASS

MOSCOW, May 16. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated six communities in the Donetsk region over the week of May 10-16 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"Battlegroup West units liberated the settlement of Torskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic through active operations… Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlements of Kotlyarovka, Mirolyubovka, Mikhailovka and Novoaleksandrovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations… Battlegroup East units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlement of Volnoye Pole in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia delivers six precision strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial sites over week

Russian troops delivered six precision strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial sites, including a Neptune missile components enterprise over the week, the ministry reported.

"On May 10-16 this year, the Russian Armed Forces delivered six combined strikes by precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, hitting a Ukrainian military-industrial enterprise producing Neptune anti-ship missile components and uncrewed boats, infrastructure facilities of military airfields, armament and military hardware assembly and repair workshops, sites for storing attack unmanned aerial vehicles and uncrewed boats and preparing them for use, ammunition depots and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries," the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 1,330 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 1,330 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy tanks and 20 armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on massed manpower and equipment of a tank brigade, five mechanized brigades, two air assault brigades, four assault regiments of the Ukrainian army and four territorial defense brigades in the Sumy and Kharkov Regions," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,330 personnel, five tanks, 20 armored combat vehicles and 81 motor vehicles in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed a US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher, 36 field artillery guns, two radars, nine electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations and seven ammunition, fuel and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 1,490 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 1,490 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy tanks and 12 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

Over the week, Battlegroup West units "inflicted losses on formations of five mechanized brigades, an airmobile brigade, two assault brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army, four territorial defense brigades, a National Guard brigade and the Stugna special operations detachment," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,490 personnel, three tanks, 12 armored combat vehicles and 64 motor vehicles in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed two multiple rocket launchers, 18 field artillery guns, including five Western-made weapons, four electronic warfare stations and 13 ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 1,400 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 1,400 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and 23 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of six mechanized brigades, an assault brigade, a mountain assault brigade, an airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,400 personnel, a tank, 23 armored combat vehicles, 50 motor vehicles, 23 field artillery guns and 11 electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed 12 ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 3,040 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 3,040 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 26 enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

Over the week, Battlegroup Center units "inflicted losses on formations of eight mechanized brigades, two jaeger brigades, two assault brigades of the Ukrainian army, two marine infantry brigades and four National Guard brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 3,040 personnel, 26 armored combat vehicles, 66 motor vehicles and 14 field artillery guns in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 1,130 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 1,130 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 15 enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

Over the week, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades, a jaeger brigade, an airmobile brigade and an air assault brigade of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade, two territorial defense brigades and a National Guard brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,130 personnel, 15 armored combat vehicles, 41 motor vehicles, 22 artillery guns and five electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr destroys 380 Ukrainian troops over week

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr destroyed roughly 380 Ukrainian troops and eight enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on formations of three mechanized brigades, an infantry brigade, a mountain assault brigade, three coastal defense brigades of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and three territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.

"As many as 380 [Ukrainian] military personnel, 39 motor vehicles, eight field artillery guns, seven electronic warfare stations and five ammunition and materiel depots were destroyed," it said.

Russian air defenses destroy 930 Ukrainian UAVs, 35 JDAM smart bombs over week

Russian air defense forces shot down 930 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 35 American-made JDAM smart bombs over the week, the ministry reported.

"Over the week, air defense capabilities shot down 35 JDAM guided aerial bombs and five rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system of US manufacture and 930 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 662 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 57,436 unmanned aerial vehicles, 605 surface-to-air missile systems, 23,354 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,563 multiple rocket launchers, 24,950 field artillery guns and mortars and 35,545 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

Ukraine Loses Up to 1,345 Troops in Special Op Zone Over Past Day

In the responsibility zone of the Battlegroup North, Ukrainian forces lost an armored combat vehicle, six automobiles, and five field artillery guns

© Alexandr Reka/TASS

MOSCOW, May 17. /TASS/. Ukraine’s daily losses in the special military operation zone have reached up to 1,345 servicemen, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

In the responsibility zone of the Battlegroup North, Ukrainian forces lost 140 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, six automobiles, and five field artillery guns. The Battlegroup West inflicted losses of over 225 troops, a tank, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, 13 automobiles, and five artillery guns on enemy.

The actions of the Battlegroup South resulted in the loss of up to 265 Ukrainian servicemen, a tank, an armored combat vehicle, four pickup trucks, a field artillery gun, and three radio-electronic warfare stations. In the Battlegroup Center’s area of responsibility, Ukraine lost over 490 servicemen, a tank, two armored combat vehicles, including a Turkish-made Kirpi, 14 automobiles, an artillery gun, and an ammunition depot. The Battlegroup East made Ukraine lose more than 160 servicemen, three armored combat vehicles, six automobiles, two field artillery guns, and two radio-electronic warfare stations. The Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, and destroyed an armored combat vehicle, three automobiles, two field artillery guns, and two electronic warfare systems.

The Defense Ministry also noted that the Battlegroup North’s decisive actions led to the defeat of manpower and equipment belonging to two mechanized brigades, an airborne assault brigade, an assault regiment, and two territorial defense brigades in the areas of Khatnoye in the Kharkov Region, as well as Bessalovka, Ryzhevka, Alekseyevka, Sadki, Yunakovka, and Atinskoye in the Sumy Region. Fuel and ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Battlegroup West improved its tactical position and defeated formations of three mechanized brigades, an airmobile brigade, an assault brigade, and a territorial defense brigade near Podliman, Druzhelyubovka, Glushenkovo, Andreyevka, Kupyansk in the Kharkov Region, and Karpovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Two radio-electronic warfare stations and four ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Battlegroup South took more favorable lines and positions, defeating two mechanized and motorized infantry brigades near Seversk, Novodmitrivka, Semyonovka, Ivanopolye, Zarya, Chasov Yar, and Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

The Battlegroup Center engaged and defeated formations of four mechanized brigades, a jaeger brigade, an assault brigade, a marine brigade, and a National Guard brigade in the areas of Shevchenko-Pervoye, Popov Yar, Novoekonomicheskoye, Dimitrov, and Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

The Battlegroup East continued its advance deep into Ukrainian defenses, defeating the manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades and a territorial defense brigade near Bogatyr, Otradnoye, Zelenoye Polye, and Komar in the DPR.

The Battlegroup Dnepr struck formations of a mechanized brigade, two coastal defense brigades, and three territorial defense brigades near Kamenskoye and Malaya Tokmachka in the Zaporozhye Region, as well as Osokorovka, Berislav, Poniatovka, and Antonovka in the Kherson Region.