No Real Aid Has Entered the Gaza Strip: Media Office

By Al Mayadeen English

19 May 2025 22:20

The Gaza government media office says only nine trucks of limited aid have entered in 80 days, blaming "Israel" for a deliberate starvation policy amid a worsening famine crisis.

The Gaza government media office stated that despite "Israel's" claims of allowing nine aid trucks into the territory, no substantial humanitarian assistance has reached the strip in over 80 days due to the ongoing siege and worsening famine conditions.

In a statement issued on Monday, the media office clarified that these nine trucks, which carried only limited nutritional supplements for children, represent a fraction of the 44,000 aid trucks that should have entered Gaza over the past 80 days, reiterating that the besieged enclave requires at least 500 aid trucks and 50 fuel trucks daily to meet its urgent humanitarian needs.

'Nothing more than a drop in the ocean'

While a total of 44,000 trucks should have entered Gaza over 80 days, the few allowed in on Monday amount to less than 0.02% of that number, prompting the media office to emphasize that these trucks "are nothing more than a drop in the ocean of urgent needs and fail to meet even the bare minimum requirements for survival" in the besieged enclave.

The media office further noted in its statement that Israeli authorities have completely shut down all crossings, "blocking even a single grain of wheat from entering for nearly three months, a deliberate starvation policy targeting 2.4 million people."

The office held both the Israeli occupation and the international community fully responsible for this ongoing humanitarian crime, demanding immediate global action to open the crossings without restrictions or conditions and allow the complete entry of humanitarian needs before it's too late.

The Gaza government media office had previously warned in an earlier Monday statement about worsening famine indicators and humanitarian collapse, stressing that this situation is "a direct result of systematic policies implemented by the occupation against civilians in their livelihoods and their very bodies."

'Israel' permits heavily limited entry of aid to Gaza

On May 18, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed plans for the restricted and prompt delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, a move prompted by escalating pressure from the US and growing global condemnation regarding the severe famine crisis in the besieged region.

The announcement came during a session of the Israeli occupation’s security cabinet, though it was made without an official vote, a decision reportedly intended to circumvent the likely lack of majority support within the far-right-leaning body.

Israeli media reported that the meeting was quickly adjourned following Netanyahu's announcement, with ministers expressing their views but no formal vote taking place, despite far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's insistence on holding a vote, a request that was ultimately rejected.

UN, aid agencies warn of imminent famine

On Monday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a UN-backed mechanism, declared that famine was imminent in Gaza. The report warned that if "Israel" proceeds with its planned military escalation, “the vast majority of people in the Gaza Strip would not have access to food, water, shelter, and medicine.”

Most bakeries have closed, charity kitchens are shutting down, and the World Food Programme has already exhausted its food stocks.

As The New York Times detailed, the Trump administration is working with "Israel" on a plan to resume limited aid distribution via private organizations at centralized hubs inside Gaza. These sites, each expected to serve hundreds of thousands of people, would be surrounded by the Israeli military and patrolled internally by private security.

But the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs rejected the plan, warning it would put civilians at greater risk by forcing them to traverse longer distances through potentially dangerous zones. According to UN agencies, the proposal “drastically reduces operational reach,” shrinking the number of distribution points from 400 to just a few.

Trump Alleges ‘Genocide’ in South Africa. At an Agricultural Fair, Even Boer Farmers Scoff

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME

10:49 PM EDT, May 19, 2025

BOTHAVILLE, South Africa (AP) — Days before South Africa’s president meets with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House this week, Afrikaner farmers at the center of an extraordinary new U.S. refugee policy roamed a memorial to farm attacks in their country’s agricultural heartland, some touching the names of the dead — both Black and white.

Here in Bothaville, where thousands of farmers gathered for a lively agricultural fair with everything from grains to guns on display, even some conservative white Afrikaner groups debunked the Trump administration’s “genocide” and land seizure claims that led it to cut all financial aid to South Africa.

The bustling scene was business as usual, with milkshakes and burgers and tow-headed children pulled in wagons.

The late President Nelson Mandela — South Africa’s first Black leader — stood in Bothaville over a quarter-century ago and acknowledged the increasing violent attacks on farmers in the first years following the decades-long racial system of apartheid. “But the complex problem of crime on our farms, as elsewhere, demand long-term solutions,” he said.

Some at the agricultural fair said fleeing the country isn’t one of them.

“I really hope that during the upcoming visit to Washington, (President Cyril Ramaphosa) is going to be able to put the facts before his counterpart and to demonstrate that there is no mass expropriation of land taking place in South Africa, and there is no genocide taking place,” John Steenhuisen, minister of agriculture, told The Associated Press. He will be part of the delegation for Wednesday’s meeting.

The minority white Afrikaner community is in the spotlight after the U.S. granted refugee status to at least 49 of them claiming to flee racial and violent persecution and widespread seizures of white-owned land — despite evidence that such claims are untrue.

While many at the agricultural fair raised serious concerns about the safety of farmers and farm workers, others were quick to point out that crime targeted both Black and white farmers and farm workers, as shown by South Africa’s crime statistics.

Thobani Ntonga, a Black farmer from Eastern Cape province, told the AP he had been attacked on his farm by criminals and almost kidnapped but a Black neighbor intervened.

“Crime affects both Black and white. ... It’s an issue of vulnerability,” he said. “Farmers are separated from your general public. We’re not near towns, we are in the rural areas. And I think it’s exactly that. So, perpetrators, they thrive on that, on the fact that farms are isolated.”

Other farmers echoed his thoughts and called for more resources and policing.

“Crime especially hits small-scale farmers worse because they don’t have resources for private security,” said Afrikaner farmer Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt. He and other farmers wondered why they would leave the land where they have been rooted for decades.

Ramaphosa, himself a cattle farmer, also visited the agricultural fair for the first time in about 20 years — to buy equipment but also do outreach as many in South Africa puzzle over the Trump administration’s focus on their country.

“We must not run away from our problems,” the president said during his visit. “When you run away, you’re a coward.”

Applying to be a refugee

The fast-tracking of the Afrikaners’ refugee applications has raised questions about a system where many seeking asylum in the U.S. can languish for years, waiting.

The State Department has not made details of the process public, but one person who has applied to be resettled told the AP the online application process was “rigorous.”

Katia Beeden, a member of an advocacy group established to assist white South Africans seeking resettlement, said applicants have to go through at least three online interviews and answer questions about their health and criminal background.

They are also required to submit information or proof of being persecuted in South Africa, she said. She said she has been robbed in her house, with robbers locking her in her bedroom.

“They’ve already warned that you can’t lie or hide anything from them. So it’s quite a thorough process and not everyone is guaranteed,” she said.

By the numbers

Violent crime is rife in South Africa, but experts say the vast majority of victims are Black and poor. Police statistics show that up to 75 people are killed daily across the country.

Afrikaner agriculture union TLU SA says it believes farmers are more susceptible to such attacks because of their isolation.

Twelve murders occurred on farms in 2024, police statistics show. One of those killed was a farmer. The rest were farm workers, people staying on farms and a security guard. The data don’t reflect the victims’ race.

Overall across South Africa last year, 6,953 people were killed.

Government data also show that white farmers own the vast majority of South Africa’s farmland — 80% of it, according to the 2017 census of commercial agriculture, which recorded over 40,000 white farmers.

That data, however, only reflects farmers who have revenue of $55,396 a year, which excludes many small-scale farmers, the majority of them Black.

Overall, the white minority — just 7% of the population is white — still owns the vast majority of the land in South Africa, which the World Bank has called “the most unequal country in the world.”

According to the 2017 government land audit, white South Africans hold about 72% of individually owned land — while Black South Africans own 15%.

___

Associated Press writer Michelle Gumede in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

Sudanese Displacement to Egypt Reshapes Views on FGM

16/05/2025 18:53 

CAIRO / BEIRUT

Displaced women in North Darfur (File photo: Albert González Farran / UNAMID)

Dr Dima Dabbous, MENA Director at Equality Now, a global rights group focused on women and girls, discusses the findings of a newly released report on changing attitudes towards female genital mutilation (FGM) among Sudanese communities in Egypt in an interview with Radio Dabanga. Dr Dabbous highlights how FGM continues to affect Sudanese families displaced to Egypt and outlines the complex interplay between forced migration, cultural identity, and shifting social norms.

The outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023 has driven many to seek refuge in neighbouring Egypt. The newly released report, published by Equality Now in collaboration with Tadwein for Gender Studies, investigates how displacement is influencing FGM practices among Sudanese women. One of the few studies of its kind in the region, it sheds light on the persistence of the practice and evolving attitudes within the broader Sudanese diaspora.

Sudan continues to record some of the highest rates of FGM globally. The report draws on the 2014 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, which found that 86.6 per cent of Sudanese women aged 15 to 49 had undergone FGM. Among girls aged 0 to 14, the figure remained a deeply concerning 66.3 per cent.

The practice is tightly interwoven with cultural and social expectations. “The practice is so normalised that it often continues despite the law,” says Dr Dabbous. She explains that FGM is tied to ideas of family honour, purity, and marriageability. For many, uncut daughters are seen as a source of shame or at risk of remaining unmarried, while religious misconceptions further reinforce the tradition.

Even when families understand the harm caused, the pressure to conform within closely bonded communities remains powerful. “In Sudan, the fear of legal consequences is less strong than in Egypt,” she adds.

Legal changes

Sudan criminalised FGM in 2020, a milestone moment after years of sustained advocacy. Yet campaigners argue that enforcement is weak, and the law has not stopped the practice.

According to Dr Dabbous, tradition continues to hold sway. “The legal reforms were crucial,” she says, “but laws must be accompanied by robust public education, local advocacy, and community dialogue to create real change.”

‘Power of grandmothers’

Migration plays a complicated role in either entrenching or challenging FGM. “Those who rejected the practice back in Sudan typically carry that belief with them,” Dr Dabbous explains. Yet tight-knit migrant networks can also preserve the tradition. “Small Sudan networks play an interesting role in sustaining FGM practices among migrants. These communities are close-knit because migrants often feel ostracised by Egyptians. They support each other within their networks and, if they decide to practise FGM, they tend to rely on Sudanese midwives within these communities.”

Education emerges as one of the strongest indicators of change. Families with higher levels of education are far less likely to continue the practice. Intergenerational dialogue also proves critical.

“Grandmothers are key influencers in the decision to practise FGM,” says Dr Dabbous. “Fathers, by contrast, tend to have less influence on the matter.” Some men object to the practice, she notes, but their views are often overridden. “Some fathers complain that FGM affects their intimate relationships, but they usually defer to the grandmothers and mothers.”

To drive change, she believes campaigners must look beyond the obvious: “If we want to end FGM, we must target grandmothers and elderly family members because they are often the ones who decide whether FGM is performed or not.”

Looking ahead

With Sudan’s crisis deepening, the issue of FGM cannot be separated from broader concerns about health, rights, and rebuilding fractured communities. For Dr Dabbous, understanding is the starting point.

“The first step is always to understand the problem fully. If we don’t understand why FGM continues or stops, we can’t develop effective campaigns to address it. The more we know, the better we can plan our advocacy.”

She points to youth engagement, stronger legal enforcement, the involvement of religious and community leaders, and improved access to education, especially for girls, as crucial tools in changing minds.

“Understanding why FGM persists, or ends, is an important part of developing effective responses,” Dr Dabbous says. “That understanding should be informed by the lived experiences of Sudanese families themselves.”

Sudanese Photojournalist Assaulted in Egypt

15/05/2025 18:00 CAIRO

Sudanese photographer Ibrahim Nagdalla (Photo: Social Media)

A Sudanese photojournalist has been seriously injured after he was brutally assaulted by a group of Sudanese nationals in Egypt’s capital of Cairo in the early hours of Wednesday morning, in what press advocates have described as a politically motivated attack.

Ibrahim Nagdalla, a member of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS), was left with deep wounds and extensive bruising following the incident. According to a statement obtained by Radio Dabanga, the attack was allegedly led by a former roommate and fellow protester from Sudan who has since shifted to supporting the war, in stark contrast to Nagdalla’s ongoing civil opposition to the conflict.

The Syndicate condemned “the use of violence to settle political or ideological differences”, warning that the assault “reflects a broader propaganda campaign by pro-war groups”.

“These groups seek to vilify civilians who oppose the conflict by falsely accusing them of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), thereby attempting to legitimise violence against dissenters,” the statement said.

The Syndicate expressed deep concern, linking the incident to increasing political and social polarisation caused by the war. “The conflict has severely frayed the social fabric of Sudanese society, posing an unprecedented threat to national cohesion.”

It called on Sudanese community leaders and stakeholders to confront the social consequences of the war and prevent further violence. It also urged international organisations concerned with press freedom and human rights, particularly the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), to take concrete action to safeguard Sudanese journalists and protect them from intimidation.

The Syndicate concluded by holding the assailant and his collaborators fully accountable for the attack and vowed to pursue all available legal measures to ensure justice.

Earlier this month, the SJS raised the alarm over escalating risks facing Sudanese journalists, many of whom have been targeted for their reporting. Several have been shot, detained, or killed since the war began, transforming journalism in Sudan into an increasingly perilous profession.

Sudan now ranks 156th out of 180 countries on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders. The Paris-based watchdog cited a rise in physical threats, arbitrary arrests, and smear campaigns, describing Sudan’s media landscape as one of the most dangerous in the world.

Sudan Timeline January-March 2025: Power Shifts as Army Wins Major Battle Grounds in Destructive War

20/05/2025 00:36

Following a year of “record violence” in Sudan in 2024, the start of the new year sees new bouts of violence inflicted on civilians, especially by the SAF in Wad Madani, a strategic point on the map and capital city of El Gezira. A flailing RSF loses significant ground outside of the Darfur region. The United Nations asks for more aid for Sudan, an appeal made even more difficult after the US pauses international aid overnight. Famine is present in five areas of North Darfur, and is projected to hit a further five by mid-May, amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation, cash shortages, water scarcity, and harvest crises.

From mid-February, the Sudanese army begins to make strategic gains in Khartoum, White Nile state, and North Kordofan. Following AU calls for civil and democratic transition in Sudan, the RSF and allies begin to forge plans for a parallel government to the de facto transitional government in Port Sudan. The plans face staunch criticism, and civilian political actors call for international intervention.

Fighting intensifies around El Fasher in March, killing hundreds of civilians in the fight to control a strategic position. The SAF gains further ground in Khartoum, kicking the RSF out of the Presidential Palace and central bank, bolstering the Sudanese army and prompting pundits to ask if this could be a decisive moment in the war.

Evidence of war crimes rack up on both sides of the war, including reports of summary executions, torture, detention, ethnically motivated killings, rape, and targeted attacks on hospitals and mosques. Further sanctions and calls by international actors for accountability and peace are drowned out by fresh reports of displacement and violence as the war approaches the end of its second year.

January 1: On Sudan’s Independence Day from joint British and Egyptian colonial administration, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) spokesperson Mohamed Zakaria calls for the RSF’s designation as a terrorist organisation. The Sudanese Joint Forces (SJF) report heavy RSF losses in recent clashes near Mellit and El Malha in North Darfur.

January 2: The United Nations launches an appeal for $4.2bn for 2025 Sudan humanitarian plan, and displaced in Zamzam camp, ​​located in North Darfur capital El Fasher, denounce El Burhan’s famine denial. The Sudanese Embassy in Libya resumes issuing electronic passports.

January 5: Farmers in El Gedaref tell Radio Dabanga that they face a harvest crisis due to cash shortages. ​​North Darfur is rocked by renewed clashes and aerial bombardments. El Fasher Saudi Hospital is attacked for the 14th time since the war began.

January 6: As a severe drinking water crisis is reported in Tongori refugee camp in eastern Chad and disease and hunger ravage Mayerno in Sennar, Sudan’s crisis is described as “man-made” and unprecedented in scale at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting. The Sudanese de-facto government lifts a nearly year-long force majeure on oil to Port Sudan.

January 7: A series of earthquakes and aftershocks in Ethiopia raises concerns for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Sudanese water security. The US concludes that members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan, and slaps new sanctions on RSF Commander Mohamed ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo.

January 8: The Sudanese army gains in Khartoum as civilian evacuations continue. US Envoy Tom Perriello tells Radio Dabanga that the latest RSF sanctions are part of a “continuing and escalating international effort”, while the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) calls famine reports “inaccurate”. An AU commission seeks urgent reports of human rights violations in Sudan.

January 9: As the Khartoum offensive continues, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) advance in El Gezira. A video of an “extrajudicial killing” by the Sudanese army sparks outrage on social media. Stories of life and death are told from El Fasher, where famine is predicted to continue until May.

January 10: Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders / MSF) calls ongoing attacks on hospitals and ambulances “despicable”. The SAF storms Taiba village in El Gezira, killing 17 civilians.

January 11: “Rape and physical enslavement of women is a tool of criminal war in Sudan,” says psychotherapist.

January 12: Following the SAF recapture of Wad Madani, Hemedti vows a “counterattack.” Malik Agar, deputy chairperson of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, urges armed movements in Sudan to “avoid creating a parallel army.”

January 13: Drone attacks on the hydroelectric Merowe Dam in Sudan’s Northern State cause power cuts across northern Sudan.

January 14: Reports emanate from Wad Madani of widespread violations against civilians and ethnic targeting by the SAF, including alarming footage of torture, extrajudicial killings, and widespread destruction. SAF ally Sudan Shield Forces vows “to enter Khartoum within 48 hours.”

January 15: Pressure mounts on the Port Sudan government to take legal action to prevent further war crimes and to punish the perpetrators of violence throughout the April 15th war. Nine people are reported killed in an attack on Abu Gouta, El Gezira, marking the latest in a series of violent ethnic killings in the state, which have prompted “deep concern” from the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami.

January 16: The US imposes sanctions on Abdelfattah El Burhan, SAF commander-in-chief and chairperson of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council. A Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) report identifies drones at RSF-controlled Nyala Airport, in the capital of South Darfur.

January 17: Sudanese businesses are targeted in Juba, capital of South Sudan, in retaliation for SAF attacks, which reportedly targeted South Sudanese and Dafuri people in Wad Madani earlier that week.

January 18: Experts warn of more flooding along the White Nile, due to poor maintenance of the Jebel Aulia dam located south of Khartoum. The RSF launches an attack on the village of Jebel Halla near Burush, killing 40 civilians.

January 19: Within one week, over 90 civilian deaths are reported to and corroborated by Radio Dabanga, as violence between the SAF and RSF intensifies, spreading from Khartoum to North Darfur and White Nile states.

January 20: World Food Programme (WFP) aid trucks reach Wad Madani for the first time in a year.

January 21: The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR report that more than one million people have fled from Sudan to South Sudan in the last 21 months.

January 22: A lack of medical services increases maternal and foetal mortality rates in Sharg El Nil (East Nile) area in Khartoum. The SAF and allies capture the Jebel Jarri area, 15 kilometres north of El Jeili oil refinery in Khartoum, as the RSF continues to lose ground in Khartoum Bahri.

January 23: An El ​​Jeili oil refinery fire engulfs Khartoum in smoke, with the SAF and RSF pointing fingers over who is responsible. Elsewhere in the capital, medical and labour staff at Bashair Hospital begin an open-ended strike after an RSF member opens fire inside the surgical emergency department.

January 24: The US State Department orders an immediate halt to all existing US foreign assistance and a pause to new aid. Saudi Hospital in El Fasher reports further “horrific” bombing, which kills 70 people and injures dozens. At least 70 civilians are killed in an RSF attack on the headquarters of the administrative unit of Burush, 17 kilometres east of Umm Keddada locality. The SAF retakes its headquarters in Khartoum after nearly two years of RSF siege.

January 27: The US “does not support either side in this war,” says US Chargé d ’Affaires ad interim Ambassador Dorothy Shea at the ICC briefing to the UNSC. Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Khan says that they believe they know where Ahmed Haroun is, and calls on the Sudanese government for “concrete action.” The Central Bank of Sudan restricts the flow of foreign currency, in a bid to contain the deterioration of the Sudanese Pound against foreign currencies. 

January 28: RSF attacks displace 3,960 families in North Darfur within three days, according to the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).

January 29: Sudan’s cash crisis threatens El Gedaref, putting millions of hectares of vital sorghum and millet crops at risk.

January 30: SAF claims that they took control of the area of Um Rawaba, North Kordofan. 23 humanitarian organisations operating in eastern Chad appeal to the international community to “urgently ramp up its efforts” to match the immediate halt of US foreign assistance funding.

February 1: At least 60 people are killed and 250 injured in an RSF strike on Sabreen Market in Omdurman, Khartoum state. The Arkwet Youth Initiative in El Gedaref explains the process of providing necessary support to over 1,500 households in shelters around the city.

February 3: The UN condemns the deadly shelling of Sabreen Market, and Nkweta-Salami calls the attack a “serious violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law.” Pundits warn that the SAF could lose El Fasher to the RSF, as the paramilitary force begins to surround the capital of North Darfur.

February 4: Six people are reported killed and 38 injured in an RSF strike on a hospital in Omdurman.

February 5: The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North under the leadership of Abdelaziz El Hilu has fiercely denied statements by the South Kordofan government accusing rebel combatants of launching attacks on army bases in the state capital of Kadugli over the weekend. SPLM-N El Hilu, in turn, condemns the SAF for attacking their sites.

February 6: Aid workers in Khartoum fear a new wave of reprisals against civilians and humanitarian workers, as the SAF regains control of nearly all of Khartoum North.

February 9: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that it will form a “new transitional government” ahead of elections, after regaining Khartoum military headquarters in January. A performer at the US Super Bowl raises the flags of Sudan and Palestine.

February 11: The United Arab Emirates calls for a ceasefire in Sudan during the upcoming month of Ramadan, which is rejected by the SAF. As SAF-RSF fighting in the North Darfur capital continues, the state’s Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, Abbas Yousef, announces a UN World Food Programme (WFP) cash support project targeting five localities.

February 12: The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) applauds El Burhan for instructing the Passports and Immigration Department of the Interior Ministry to ensure that no Sudanese citizen is denied a passport and identification documents. Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yousef says that a Russian Red Sea base deal is “still on the table”, after meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow.

February 13: As the world marks World Radio Day 2025, Sudan marks 22 months of war. 445 journalists were killed, arrested, or tortured in the last 18 months in the country, and 20 journalists face charges for alleged links to the RSF. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that a record number of journalists were killed in 2024.

February 14: African heads of state convene at the AU summit in Addis Ababa to discuss the Sudan conflict. The RSF denies its presence in Zamzam camp, despite verified video footage which shows them storming the camp earlier in the week.

February 15: The SAF retakes strategic bridges and roads in Khartoum from the RSF. Residents and medics confirm that the RSF has attacked Zamzam camp; according to MSF, seven people were killed.

February 16: AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye says that the resumption of Sudan’s activities within the AU is conditional on “taking clear steps towards a constitutional and democratic transformation in Sudan.”

February 17: The government confirms that aid agencies are allowed to continue to use the Sudan-Chad Adré border crossing for a further three months. The UN seeks $6 billion “to ease hunger and catastrophe” in Sudan.

February 18: Sudanese Emergency Lawyers Group report that the RSF carried out a three-day assault on El Geteina in White Nile state, killing over 200 people. El Burhan denies ongoing communication with the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC). The Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadom) are allegedly set to sign a political charter with Sudanese political groups and the RSF.

February 19: A political conference in Nairobi, aimed at forming a civilian government in areas controlled by the paramilitary RSF, sparks strong reactions.

February 20: UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, warns that any attempt by the RSF and allied groups to establish a parallel government would escalate Sudan’s crisis and deepen divisions.

February 21: Airstrikes and shelling in Darfur kill at least 11 people. The SAF reports advances in Khartoum, White Nile state, and North Kordofan.

February 23: The RSF, SPLM-N El Hilu, 22 smaller rebel movements, and political and civil society groups sign the founding charter for a parallel Sudanese government.

February 24: The MSF suspends work in Zamzam camp due to an increase in violent attacks. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) temporarily pauses the distribution of life-saving food and nutrition assistance in the famine-hit camp for displaced people. Sudanese legal expert Moez Hadra says constitutional amendments will make the new government a “dictatorial regime par excellence.”

February 25: Human Rights Watch says SAF-allied groups have been intentionally targeting civilians, committing acts that may amount to war crimes.

February 26: Death toll from SAF plane crash, attributed by sources to technical reasons, rises to 46.

February 27: More than 600,000 people in Sudan are “on the brink of starvation,” warns UN human rights chief Volker Türk. Delegates at an event at the 58th session of the UNHRC hear from several speakers of the profound importance of independent media as a vital lifeline to millions of people in Sudan.

February 28: On the first day of Ramadan, Nkweta-Salami expresses her deep concerns about recent reports of Sudanese unable to leave the beleaguered Zamzam camp. A Sudanese army ally claims major interception of RSF military supplies.

March 2: Seven civilians are reported killed as SAF and RSF clash in the town of Umm Kuraydim, north of El Obeid in North Kordofan.

March 3: The SAF and SAF-aligned SJF are accused of “turning camps for the displaced into battlefields”, while the RSF hold ground in sieges and attacks on the camps.

March 4: UNICEF reports that more than 200 children, some as young as one, have been raped in Sudan since the start of 2024. The RSF and allied groups sign a transitional constitution for a parallel Sudanese government, as the SAF gains further ground in Khartoum. El Burhan says that he is “ready to cease hostilities under specific conditions.”

March 5: Civilian Democratic Alliance of Revolutionary Forces (SOMOUD) leader Abdalla Hamdok appeals for an urgent UN-AU meeting; meanwhile, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Revolutionary Democratic Current (SPLM-RDC) leader Yassir Arman is detained by Kenyan authorities. “About 80 percent of the 1,460 community kitchens across Sudan were shut down [when USAID paused all funding],” Hajooj Kuka tells Al Jazeera.

March 6: Sudan files a case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the UAE, accusing the country of giving “direct support” to the RSF. Canada announces new sanctions on seven individuals and three entities associated with the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Nine Egyptian people are released from 19 months of detention by the RSF, as a new UN report highlights a widespread pattern of arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment of detainees by the RSF and SAF in Sudan.

March 10: The 6th Infantry Division of the SAF claims to have shot down over 100 drones in 10 days.

March 11: The UN announces that it has only 6.3 per cent of the funding it needs to reach 21 million vulnerable people with life-saving aid and protection in 2025.

March 12: Over 200 health facilities in the North Darfur capital El Fasher are not functioning, and there is an acute shortage of medical staff, essential medicines and life-saving supplies, reports the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

March 12: The Sudanese Human Rights and Development Organisation (HUDO) accuses SPLM-N El Hilu of bombarding Kadugli, the South Kordofan capital, in response to an SAF attack. “Five children among 10 dead in El Fasher RSF shelling,” claims the SAF, as fighting intensifies around the state capital.

March 13: Sudanese refugees in Chad and Egypt face Ramadan under dire humanitarian conditions, an almost complete absence of humanitarian aid, and skyrocketing food prices.

March 14: As SAF-RSF fighting intensifies, thousands of civilians leave Khartoum, heading to already overcrowded camps in places like El Geneina, Nyala in South Darfur, and El Fula in West Kordofan.

March 15: Hemedti says that his forces will not withdraw from key positions in Khartoum, including the Presidential Palace.

Frontline workers at a women-led organisation working on gender-based violence and child protection in Sudan (File photo: UNICEF / Tess Ingram)

March 17: Red Crescent volunteers in hazmat suits and masks pull bodies out of a well and put them in black bags in Sharg El Nil. The UNSC condemns the RSF for abducting UN staff and looting a logistics convoy in Kadugli.

March 18: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) says that, in February, the annual inflation rate in Sudan rose 142.34 per cent higher than the corresponding month last year, with rural areas impacted hardest. International civil society organisations appeal to SAF to “end ethnically motivated killings, enforced disappearances, and destruction of agricultural camps” in El Gezira state.

March 20: Fierce battles continue across Sudan as the SAF pushes deeper into Khartoum, closing in on the Presidential Palace, amid clashes in North Darfur and North Kordofan. Civilians remain caught in the crossfire.

March 21: The SAF recaptures Khartoum’s Presidential Palace, marking a significant shift in its battle against the RSF. Former SAF Chief of Staff Hashim Abdelmutalib says the victory shows that “the end is near.” The RSF kill three state TV journalists and their driver in a drone strike, allegedly directly targeted for their coverage of the SAF’s advance into Khartoum.

March 22: The Sudanese army seizes control over the main headquarters of the central bank in Khartoum. In Libya, Sudan’s national football team retains its position at the top of Group B of the African Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

March 23: A criminal court in El Gezira starts hearings against 950 individuals accused of working with the RSF, causing deep concern from the state’s Observatory for Human Rights.

March 24: The SAF bombs RSF positions in Omdurman’s El Sawra, Khartoum’s El Bageir near Soba Bridge, and other neighbourhoods south of Khartoum. An RSF drone strike on a mosque kills 11 people in Sharg El Nile. An SAF airstrike on the village of Tora, 40 kilometres north of El Fasher, kills dozens.

March 25: The UN accuses the RSF of squeezing relief supplies as famine spreads.

March 26: El Burhan declares Khartoum “free” of the RSF. The WFP calls for greater focus and action to prevent ‘wasting’ – the deadliest form of malnutrition – before its life-threatening impacts are felt in children. South Sudan is “on the brink of war,” according to UN Mission in South Sudan.

March 27: The Sudanese army clears the last pockets of RSF from Khartoum, and claims to be working to create conditions for an elected civilian government. A picture by Mosab Abushama is selected as a finalist in the ‘Singles Africa’ category of the World Press Photo contest.

March 29: In El Burhan’s Eid El Fitr speech, he says that “there will be no negotiations or compromise with those who violated the sanctity of the Sudanese people.”

March 30: Hemedti acknowledges the RSF retreat from Khartoum, vowing that the paramilitary force will return stronger. In El Fasher, RSF shelling kills at least nine civilians and injures 17. Reports confirm that 90 per cent of media, including TV, radio, and newspaper facilities have been completely destroyed as the SAF slowly regained control over much of Khartoum.March 31: At least seven people are killed and nine injured when indiscriminate RSF shelling strikes Abu Shouk camp for the displaced in El Fasher, as famine “takes hold” at the camp and other locations, affecting 640,000 people.

Deadly Attacks Across Sudan Raise Fears of Wider Collapse

19/05/2025 19:24 

EL HAMADI / DELLING / DIBEBAD / BUTANA / PORT SUDAN / ATBARA / OMDURMAN/ EL MALHA / MELLIT / EL FASHER

Market in Kassab camp for the displaced in Kutum, North Darfur (File photo: Albert González Farran / UNAMID)

At least 18 civilians, including six women and children, were reportedly killed and 13 others injured on Thursday morning after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and aligned militias attacked the village of El Hamadi in South Kordofan, according to the Emergency Lawyers Group. The assault on El Hamadi, described as a key step in the army’s push to break the months long siege of Delling, a city in northern South Kordofan, marks a significant escalation in the conflict.

In the lawyer’s statement, they described the attack as a brutal assault involving widespread looting of homes and the local market, alongside arbitrary arrests of activists. It claimed that dozens of residents fled on foot to neighbouring villages and towns under “extreme humanitarian conditions.”

Field reports cited by the group indicate that El Hamadi had no visible military presence at the time of the attack. The raid reportedly followed clashes in the nearby areas.

Following the assault, the attacking forces remained in the village, where they allegedly intimidated civilians, pursued fleeing residents, and seized the village’s only means of communication, Starlink, further compounding the population’s isolation.

Condemning the “brutal crimes,” the Emergency Lawyers Group called for an immediate halt to all forms of violence, intimidation, and displacement. It urged the international community to impose deterrents to prevent the recurrence of such violations.

Both the National Umma Party and the Sudan Constituent Alliance issued separate statements condemning the attack and holding what they called “armed lawlessness” responsible.

On Tuesday, the SAF announced they had taken control of El Hamadi, a village located 30 kilometres from Dibebad, the administrative capital of El Goz locality in South Kordofan.

Deadly airstrike hits Sudan Shield camp

Nine people, including seven military personnel, were killed and 14 others injured when a drone attacked a camp belonging to the Sudan Shield Forces in the Butana plain area in El Gezira on Sunday, according to a statement by the group.

Sources stated that the strike targeted their camp in Jabal El Abaytor, located in the central part of the Butana plain.

The strike reportedly hit several facilities within the camp. The Sudan Shield Forces, a breakaway group formed by paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) defector Abu Agla Keikil, has aligned itself with the SAF and has been active in military operations against the RSF across El Gezira, East Nile, Khartoum, White Nile, and more recently Kordofan.

Port Sudan drone attacks continue

In the east of the country, Port Sudan came under renewed drone bombardment for a third consecutive week. One person was injured in the El Qadisiya neighbourhood after debris from intercepted drones fell onto civilian areas, residents told Radio Dabanga.

The strikes have repeatedly targeted key infrastructure in the Red Sea state capital. Radio Dabanga has not independently verified the full extent of the damage.

MSF warns of health system collapse in Omdurman

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned on Sunday that vital healthcare services in Omdurman have been severely disrupted following drone strikes on three power stations on 14 May. The strikes, allegedly carried out by the RSF, have plunged the city into its fourth major blackout this year.

MSF said that El Nau Hospital in northern Omdurman, one of the only remaining functional hospitals in the area, and another facility it supports are now operating without electricity, water or oxygen. The organisation said it has been forced to truck water to hospitals and transport oxygen supplies from Atbara in River Nile state.

The disruption of the water supply network, the statement warned, may lead to a rise in cholera cases. MSF reiterated its condemnation of all attacks on civilian infrastructure and demanded an end to violations of international humanitarian law.

Joint Forces seize El Atrun in North Darfur

The Joint Forces announced on Sunday morning that it had taken control of the El Atrun area in El Malha locality, North Darfur, in coordination with SAF.

In a statement seen by Radio Dabanga, Joint Force spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Mustafa described the seizure as a “decisive step towards restoring security and stability in the Darfur region.” Field commanders vowed to continue their campaign until they reclaim control over Mellit locality and surrounding areas.

Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minawi welcomed the development, posting on Facebook that “great victories” had been achieved by “our heroes in the armed and joint forces,” adding: “Victory is imminent… One army, one people.”

The RSF previously claimed control of El Atrun in April.

Civilian casualties mount in El Fasher

At least 15 civilians have been killed in North Darfur’s capital of El Fasher over the weekend amid intensifying RSF shelling, local resistance committees report. On Sunday, the Coordination of the El Fasher Resistance Committees said 14 people died after artillery shells struck a market in the Abu Shouk camp.

The shelling also hit residential areas in the city’s north, injuring an unconfirmed number of people. A day earlier, one civilian was reportedly killed and 11 others wounded in similar shelling, despite the absence of ground fighting.

The RSF’s use of suicide drones has also been observed over the city in recent days.

Sudan's Women 'Bear the Brunt of War As Maternal Deaths Surge'

Hamid Abdulsalam / UNAMID/

A group of women in North Darfur (file photo).

18 May 2025

Dabanga (Port Sudan)

Khartoum — Sudan's brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now entering its third year, has exacted a devastating toll on women, whose suffering is deepening amid a near-total collapse of the country's health system. Maternal mortality has surged, with pregnant women and new mothers among the most vulnerable in a country plagued by displacement, hunger and poverty.

The maternal mortality rate has climbed to 295 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to figures from the Federal Ministry of Health. Health Minister Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim stated that "the number of pregnant deaths observed between June 2023 and July 2024 reached 870 deaths, including 350 deaths that occurred inside hospitals and health facilities."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than 1.1 million pregnant women in Sudan now lack access to basic services such as antenatal care, safe delivery and postpartum care.

'A mother's loss'

Nora, a grieving mother from Gereida in South Darfur, knows this suffering all too well. Her pregnant daughter, critically ill in her final months, was transferred to Merowe Hospital in Sudan's Northern State after a journey of thousands of kilometres. She died shortly after giving birth.

With sorrow etched on her face and her newborn granddaughter tied to her back, Nora was seen praying as she waited for transport in Ed Debba in North Darfur, beginning the painful return to Gereida alone with the infant. She had spent five months stranded due to a lack of funds, sheltering overnight in the Housh Melit camp in North Darfur before continuing her journey.

Locals told Radio Dabanga that health services in Gereida are virtually non-existent. The area's three administrative units share a single rural hospital, one without essential equipment, medical staff or even an X-ray machine, forcing residents to make arduous trips to Nyala in South Darfur, for basic medical tests.

'War exacerbates health crisis'

"The issue of maternal deaths due to war is one of the most concerning files for all those working in health and human rights," said Health Minister Ibrahim. He confirmed a child mortality rate of 51 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The UN had previously estimated Sudan's maternal mortality rate at 270 deaths per 100,000 live births. Since the war, the Federal Ministry of Health now reports a staggering figure of 100 deaths per 10,000 births, a number echoed by the WHO and UNICEF.

Dr Adiba Ibrahim, a member of the Sudanese Medical Association, warned that 90 percent of the country's health institutions have collapsed. "This has worsened the health care situation, especially in conflict zones," she said.

According to her, the Organisation for the Fight Against Violence Against Women and Children recorded more than 316,000 deaths from cholera and 576,000 from dengue fever. She also cited 176,000 pregnant women suffering from malnutrition, 850,000 lactating women dead, and 45,000 children who died due to malnutrition.

Speaking to Madaniya News, Dr Adiba reported 679 cases of sexual assault, including 256 cases involving children aged between 5 and 16 years.

'Lives in limbo'

For displaced families, the struggle to access even the most basic care continues. In the northern town of Tanqasi, a village situated on the western bank of the River Nile, around 17 kilometres downstream from Merowe, 70-year-old Radia from North Darfur now sleeps on the ground in front of a hospital with her injured daughter and young son. They fled an aerial bombardment in Melit, North Darfur, but the trauma did not end with displacement.

Her daughter lies on a rented bed, suffering from an untreated foot injury. The family cannot afford the hospital's daily fee of SDG25,000, let alone the SDG500,000 operation cost. "We share meals with other patients," Radia said, "but at night, I endure the cold alone, praying for enough to save my daughter."

Radia's story mirrors those of thousands of Sudanese who have lost their homes, livelihoods and dignity amid relentless fighting between the SAF and the RSF.

The war has devastated women's access to healthcare, leaving them to traverse long distances under dangerous conditions, often with tragic outcomes.

The Sudan Media Forum calls attention to the escalating crisis and urges stakeholders to address the health emergency affecting women and children.

This report is part of the Sudan Media Forum's wider efforts to highlight the human cost of Sudan's war, and the urgent need for humanitarian and medical intervention, particularly for women who continue to bear the brunt of this ongoing conflict.

#SilenceKills #lلصمت_ىقتل #NoTimeToWasteForSudan #lلوضع_فى_lلسودlن_لlىحتمل_lلتlٴجىل #StandWithSudan #سlندوl_lلسودlن #SudanMediaForum

Read the original article on Dabanga.

Sudan’s Army Chief Appoints the First Prime Minister Since War Began in 2023

This is a locator map for Sudan with its capital, Khartoum. (AP Photo)

12:00 PM EDT, May 19, 2025

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s army chief on Monday appointed the country’s first prime minister since it plunged into civil war two years ago and following months of steady advances by the military against its paramilitary rival.

Kamil al-Taib Idris will be tasked with forming the country’s transitional government, a move long touted by military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, particularly after the army regained control of Khartoum in March and ousted the Rapid Support Forces from the capital.

The war in Sudan broke out in April 2023 when the military and the RSF turned against each other in a struggle for power. Their battles spread from Khartoum to around the country. At least 20,000 people have been killed, but the real toll is probably far higher. Nearly 13 million people have fled their homes, 4 million of them streaming into neighboring countries. Half the population of 50 million faces hunger.

The last prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, resigned in 2022 during a political deadlock and widespread pro-democracy protests.

Journalist and political analyst Osman Mirghani said that appointing Idris marks an important step toward restoring civilian-led rule and addressing Sudan’s political crisis.

“His chances of being accepted by various communities of the Sudanese society seems higher, even among those who support the RSF, because he has no political affiliations,” he said.

The RSF and its allies signed a charter in February in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, to establish a parallel government. The charter calls for “a secular, democratic and decentralized state,” in a nod to growing calls by Sudan’s many communities for autonomy from Khartoum.

Idris had previously worked as Sudan’s legal adviser at its U.N. mission and is a member of the U.N. International Law Commission, according to his social media profile.

Tanzania’s Most Prominent Opposition Leader Appears in Court on Charges of Treason

3:39 PM EDT, May 19, 2025

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) — Tanzania’s most prominent opposition leader appeared in court Monday to face treason charges after calling for electoral reforms ahead of October’s general election.

A conviction for treason carries a death penalty. But a high-spirited Tundu Lissu wore a T-shirt reading “no reforms, no election” — echoing the call that led to his April 9 arrest after addressing a public rally.

Lissu had embarked on a hunger strike to protest making a virtual court appearance instead of being allowed to show up in person.

The politician, chair of the opposition Chadema party, survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and has spent part of his time in exile since then over threats to his life.

Lissu during his court appearance encouraged supporters not to be afraid, and made victory gestures.

Investigators asked for two more weeks to complete investigations. The trial will proceed on June 2.

Supporters of Lissu have faced a crackdown. A Kenyan opposition politician, Martha Karua, who arrived in Tanzania ahead of the hearing, was deported. A former Kenyan chief justice, Willy Mutunga, and three Kenyan activists were detained.

Kenya’s foreign ministry secretary Korir Sing’oei on Monday called for the release of Mutunga and his delegation.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said on Monday she would not allow foreign activists to destabilize her country.

Her administration has been accused by human rights activists of using heavy-handed tactics against the opposition. The government denies these claims.

Hassan will be running for another term in the October election, which also will choose members of parliament. The Chadema party has been critical of the absence of an independent electoral commission and laws that it says favor the ruling party, CCM, which has been in power since Tanzania’s independence in 1961.

Equatorial Guinea Prevails in Dispute with Neighboring Gabon Over Oil-rich Islands

By MOLLY QUELL

11:29 AM EDT, May 19, 2025

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Judges at the top U.N. court sided with the West African country of Equatorial Guinea in a fight with neighboring Gabon over which treaty settled the ownership of three largely uninhabited oil-rich islands.

The decision effectively hands the islands to Equatorial Guinea.

The countries brought their dispute to The International Court of Justice in 2021, asking judges to determine what legal agreement settles the possession of the oil-rich islands.

The 15-judge panel found a 1900 treaty between Spain and France, which divided up colonial holdings, to be the ultimate authority.

A later agreement, known as the 1974 Bata Convention, which gives the islands to Gabon, was dismissed as “not a treaty having the force of law,” Judge Julia Sebutinde said.

The document was contested by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon did not produce an original copy for the court.

Equatorial Guinea had control of the territory until 1972, when Gabon took over the largest island, Mbanie, in a military skirmish. When oil was discovered in coastal waters, the dispute reignited.

The economies of both countries are highly dependent on oil, but production from existing areas has been in decline in recent years.

The countries asked the court to settle the ownership question after repeatedly failing in efforts to find a diplomatic solution.

Gaza Genocide Worsens: Hospitals Shut Down, 150+ Martyrs in 24H

By Al Mayadeen English

18 May 2025 21:26

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens as over 150 are martyred, hospitals in northern Gaza go out of service, and "Israel" escalates ground and air assaults on civilians and infrastructure.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels as "Israel" intensifies its ground and aerial aggression across the northern and southern parts of the besieged enclave.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, told Al Mayadeen that the situation in the Gaza Strip is “catastrophic”, confirming that more than 150 Palestinians were martyred since dawn.

Basal said the assaults have been heavily focused on the north, particularly in areas already struggling with massive displacement and destruction, adding that Israeli drones directly targeted displaced civilians, further worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Gaza’s ambulance system on verge of collapse

The ambulance system in Gaza is rapidly collapsing, according to Basal, who further stressed that 75% of emergency vehicles are no longer operable due to the ongoing fuel crisis, leaving thousands without access to emergency medical care.

He also described worsening conditions on the ground, saying, "The starvation strategy continues, and thousands of citizens sleep without being able to eat even a small piece of bread."

Three massacres in hours, death toll expected to rise

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza reported that the toll of three massacres carried out by the IOF could reach 150 martyrs and others injured.

According to our correspondent, Israeli forces are directly targeting hospitals in Gaza City, in clear violation of international humanitarian norms.

Hospitals in northern Gaza forced out of service

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia is now completely out of service, following the IOF siege.

This development marks a critical point in the ongoing Gaza hospital shutdown, as all public hospitals in northern Gaza are now non-operational. The ministry stated that continuous shelling around the hospital, as well as blocking access to patients, medical teams, and supplies, forced its closure.

With the destruction of Beit Hanoun Hospital, the shutdown of Kamal Adwan Hospital, and now the Indonesian Hospital, the healthcare system in northern Gaza has completely collapsed.

Earlier on Sunday, the Ministry revealed that the Israeli military was surrounding the Indonesian Hospital and firing live rounds at anyone moving within its vicinity.

Civilian exodus as airstrikes target homes, displaced

Airstrikes also targeted al-Manshiyah Street in Beit Lahia, killing one woman and injuring others after a residential home was bombed in al-Faluja in Jabalia refugee camp.

Meanwhile, northern areas of the Gaza Strip are witnessing mass displacement, as residents flee intensified bombardments.

In the southern Gaza Strip, one Palestinian was martyred in an airstrike on al-Fukhari, southeast of Khan Younis, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent.

This surge in violence comes just as the IOF announced the beginning of a ground offensive on both northern and southern Gaza, further escalating an already dire humanitarian disaster.

Under US Pressure, Netanyahu Allows Limited Gaza Aid, Bypasses Cabinet

By Al Mayadeen English

18 May 2025 23:52

Facing US pressure, Netanyahu ordered immediate Gaza aid entry without a cabinet vote, fearing opposition. Far-right ministers voiced dissent but were overruled.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday evening the limited and immediate entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, a decision made amid intensifying pressure from the United States and mounting international criticism over widespread famine in the besieged territory.

The announcement was delivered during a meeting of the Israeli occupation’s security cabinet but was made without a formal vote, a move reportedly aimed at avoiding a likely failure to secure majority approval within the far-right-dominated forum.

According to Israeli media, the meeting was promptly adjourned after Netanyahu made the declaration. Although ministers voiced their positions, no vote was held. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded a vote on the decision, but his request was denied.

Following the announcement, Netanyahu, Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs, and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir abruptly exited the meeting. The military had presented an operational report, and ministers were allowed brief commentary before the session was sealed off.

'You are rebelling'

When Ben Gvir reiterated his demand for a vote, National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi sharply rebuked him, reportedly stating: “You are rebelling.”

The decision comes as international outcry intensifies over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where over a million Palestinians face starvation under a blockade enforced by the Israeli occupation for months. Washington has reportedly made direct appeals to Netanyahu’s office to facilitate immediate aid access, warning of deteriorating diplomatic fallout.

Legal scholars are raising concerns that the continued restriction of aid may constitute a war crime. Janina Dill, co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, told The New York Times, “Enforcing a military blockade with the knowledge that it will starve the civilian population is a violation of international law.”

Dill added that if Israeli leaders acknowledge that the blockade is meant to force political and military concessions, “it clearly constitutes a war crime.”

Specialist officers from COGAT, the "Israeli" agency managing aid into Gaza, have privately agreed with aid groups’ assessments, confirming to The New York Times that many in the enclave are just weeks away from starvation. Their internal updates rely on real-time reports from Gaza, including humanitarian inventories, aid truck contents, and contact with residents.

UN, aid agencies warn of imminent famine

The United Nations has reinforced these concerns. On Monday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a UN-backed mechanism, declared that famine was imminent in Gaza. The report warned that if "Israel" proceeds with its planned military escalation, “the vast majority of people in the Gaza Strip would not have access to food, water, shelter, and medicine.”

Most bakeries have closed, charity kitchens are shutting down, and the World Food Programme has already exhausted its food stocks.

As The New York Times detailed, the Trump administration is working with "Israel" on a plan to resume limited aid distribution via private organizations at centralized hubs inside Gaza. These sites, each expected to serve hundreds of thousands of people, would be surrounded by Israeli military and patrolled internally by private security.

But the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs rejected the plan, warning it would put civilians at greater risk by forcing them to traverse longer distances through potentially dangerous zones. According to UN agencies, the proposal “drastically reduces operational reach,” shrinking the number of distribution points from 400 to just a few.

Somalia Faces Setback in Anti-Al-Shabaab Offensive Amid Political Distractions

17/05/20250

MOGADISHU, May 17 – Somalia’s federal government has come under criticism for a slowdown in its military offensive against the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militant group, following the recapture of Aadan Yabaal town in Middle Shabelle region by Somali National Army (SNA) forces in April 2025.

According to sources cited by Shabelle Media, planned follow-up operations against the insurgent group have stalled as the government in Villa Somalia becomes increasingly preoccupied with political maneuvering and preparations for upcoming national elections.

The slowdown comes amid reports that international support—particularly from the United States, which has played a key role in backing Somalia’s counter-insurgency efforts—has diminished in recent months, affecting both funding and logistical assistance.

In addition, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which succeeded ATMIS, is reportedly facing significant financial constraints. The mission has yet to secure adequate funding necessary for sustained peacekeeping and military support operations across the country.

The setback comes at a critical time, as Al-Shabaab has intensified its attacks on military bases and recently liberated areas, raising fears among civilians and international observers about a possible resurgence.

Security analysts are urging a rapid reassessment of Somalia’s anti-insurgency strategy, stressing the need for consistent political commitment, international backing, and operational funding to prevent militants from regaining lost ground.

Somalia Army Brigadier General Killed in Frontline Shooting

17/05/20250

Moqokori, Hiiraan Region – Somali Army’s 26th Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Abdirahman Hujale, was shot and killed on Saturday on the frontlines near Moqokori, in the Hiiraan region.

The shooting was carried out by a soldier named Abdullahi Hassan Ahmed, who was subsequently gunned down by fellow troops at the scene, according to security officials.

The bodies of both the commander and the assailant were airlifted to Mogadishu for further investigation, according to security sources, who spoke to Shabelle Radio.

This marks the second high-profile assassination of a senior military officer this year. Last month, Colonel Nur Farey was also killed near Afgoye, 30 kilometers from Somalia’s capital, in a similar attack by an individual in military uniform.

The killing of Brigadier General Hujale raises concerns about internal security within the Somali military and the potential for ongoing threats within the ranks.

The government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the killing of Commander Hujale.

Heavy Fighting Enters Second Day on Border Between Somalia Regions

18/05/20250

EL HARERI, Somalia, May 18 – Fierce clashes between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab fighters entered a second day Saturday along the border between the Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions, with both sides sustaining heavy casualties.

The fighting is centered around the village of Ceel Hareeri, located between the strategic towns of Adan Yabal in Middle Shabelle and Moqokori in Hiiraan. Government troops, backed by local militias known as Macawiisley, are battling Al-Qaeda-linked militants from Al-Shabaab in what observers say is one of the fiercest confrontations in recent weeks.

“Fighting is intense and has escalated since yesterday,” a local resident told Radio Shabelle by phone. “Both sides are receiving reinforcements, and the sound of heavy weapons has been ongoing since morning.”

Unofficial reports suggest that over 20 people may have been killed or wounded, but the exact toll remains unclear as the area is inaccessible to independent observers.

Al-Shabaab is reportedly attempting to seize control of key routes connecting Adan Yabal and Moqokori, which could allow the group to launch further operations in central Somalia. Meanwhile, government forces and allied militias are defending territory and aiming to retake ground lost in previous counter-offensives.

“The village is of high strategic value to both sides,” said a security source in Mogadishu. “For Al-Shabaab, it offers a potential launch point into Hiiraan. For the government, it could serve as a base for operations to pressure Adan Yabal.”

The fighting comes amid renewed efforts by the Somali government to push Al-Shabaab out of Hirshabelle state, where the group has recently regained control of several areas, including the town of Abooreey.

Somalian Government Confirms Suicide Attack at Mogadishu Recruitment Camp

18/05/20250

MOGADISHU, May 18 – A suicide bomber targeted a military recruitment centre in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday, the government said, as unconfirmed reports indicated significant casualties among army hopefuls.

The blast occurred around 9:20 am outside the Damaanyo military camp, where large crowds of young men had gathered to enlist in the Somali National Army. The Ministry of Information confirmed the attack in an official statement but did not provide a casualty figure.

Unverified reports suggest that more than 11 people may have been killed, with some sources placing the death toll as high as 20. Dozens more were reportedly injured, though this could not be independently confirmed.

According to the government, the attacker was intercepted by security forces before reaching his intended target within the facility.

“The assailant failed to reach his objective of inflicting mass civilian casualties,” the ministry said, adding that security agencies are still assessing the full impact of the explosion. Authorities urged the public to await official information from relevant government institutions.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, which comes amid persistent security challenges in the Horn of Africa nation, where al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab militants regularly launch attacks on government and military targets.

Suicide Attacker in Somalian Capital Kills 13 at a Military Recruitment Center

By OMAR FARUK

12:12 PM EDT, May 18, 2025

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A suicide bomber in the Somali capital on Sunday targeted young recruits waiting to register at a military camp, killing at least 13 and wounding 21 others, witnesses said.

Mogadishu has been repeatedly targeted by the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group, which has waged an insurgency for over a decade. The group frequently attacks military and government sites as part of its effort to impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

“There was a loud explosion, and immediately people began running in all directions. Bodies were everywhere,” said Abdulkadir Hassan Mohamed, a tuk-tuk driver who witnessed the blast.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

A soldier identified only as Hussein, who was part of the camp’s guard unit, told The Associated Press that many young recruits were waiting patiently in line.

“The explosion was devastating. I saw many casualties. The attacker disguised himself as a recruit before blowing himself up,” he said.

He said the dead included five civilian passers-by.

A similar attack in July 2023 at the Jaalle Siyaad Military Academy in Mogadishu killed 25 soldiers and wounded 70. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for that attack.

Hundreds of Rwandans Who Fled to DR Congo After the 1994 Genocide Return in UN Repatriation

By RUTH ALONGA

8:50 PM EDT, May 17, 2025

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Hundreds of Rwandan refugees who were living in eastern Congo since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda were repatriated on Saturday, the U.N. refugee agency said, after Rwandan-backed rebels seized key parts of the region.

Most of the refugees were women and children, and 360 of them crossed the border in buses provided by Rwandan authorities and were escorted by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, and aid group Save the Children, local authorities said. The goal is to repatriate 2,000 people, UNHCR said.

“We are happy to welcome our compatriots. They are a valuable workforce for the country’s development,” said Prosper Mulindwa, the Rwandan mayor of Rubavu, during a brief ceremony at the border.

The returnees were transported to a transit center where they will receive emergency assistance and support for reintegration.

They were among the hundreds of thousands of Hutus who fled Rwanda after the state-sponsored 1994 genocide that left up to a million minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead. Most had returned when Tutsi-led Rwandan troops first invaded Congo in 1996. But Rwandan authorities said thousands of Hutu militiamen and ex-soldiers had stayed and joined Congo’s army to destabilize Rwanda.

For decades, mineral-rich eastern Congo has been ripped apart by violence from government forces and different armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23, whose recent resurgence has escalated the conflict and worsened an already acute humanitarian crisis.

The rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts.

Among the Rwandan returnees, personal testimonies highlighted journeys marked by exile and a deep connection to a homeland some have never known.

Nyirakajumba Twizere was born in 1996 in Congo and had never seen Rwanda.

“I never thought this day would come,” he said. “I’m finally going back to the land of my ancestors.”

The repatriation is based on a tripartite agreement between Rwanda, Congo and UNHCR that has been in place for more than a decade. According to Rwandan authorities, more than 101,000 refugees have already been repatriated, including 1,500 since the beginning of 2025.

DR Congo’s Coltan Miners Dig for World’s Tech — and Struggle Regardless of Who is in Charge

By DAVID YUSUFU KIBINGILA and MONIKA PRONCZUK

2:04 AM EDT, May 18, 2025

RUBAYA, Congo (AP) — Nestled in the green hills of Masisi territory in Congo, the artisanal Rubaya mining site hums with the sound of generators, as hundreds of men labor by hand to extract coltan, a key mineral crucial for producing modern electronics and defense technology — and fiercely sought after worldwide.

Rubaya lies in the heart of eastern Congo, a mineral-rich part of the Central African nation which for decades has been ripped apart by violence from government forces and different armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23, whose recent resurgence has escalated the conflict, worsening an already acute humanitarian crisis.

As the U.S. spearheads peace talks between Congo and Rwanda, Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi has sought out a deal with the Trump administration, offering mineral access in return for American support in quelling the insurgency and boosting security.

While details of the deal remain unclear, analysts said Rubaya might be one of the mining sites which fall under its scope.

Eastern Congo has been in and out of crisis for decades. The conflict has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises with more than 7 million people displaced, including 100,000 who fled homes this year.

The Rubaya mines have been at the center of the fighting, changing hands between the Congolese government and rebel groups. For over a year now, it has been controlled by the M23 rebels, who earlier this year advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma and Bukavu in a major escalation of the conflict.

Despite the country’s exceptional mineral wealth, over 70% of Congolese live on less than $2.15 a day.

Metals for ‘modern life and military preparedness’

For the men working in the Rubaya’s mines, who rely on the mining for their livelihoods, little has changed over decades of violence.

One of them is Jean Baptiste Bigirimana, who has worked in the mines for seven years.

“I earn $40 a month, but that’s not enough,” he said. “Children need clothes, education and food. When I divide up the money to see how I will take care of my children, I realize it’s not enough,” he said, adding that he doesn’t know where the minerals he mines go once they leave Rubaya.

The mines produce coltan — short for columbite-tantalite — an ore from which the metals tantalum and niobium are extracted. Both are considered critical raw materials by the United States, the European Union, China and Japan. Tantalum is used in mobile phones, computers and automotive electronics, as well as in aircraft engines, missile components and GPS systems. Niobium is used in pipelines, rockets and jet engines.

Congo produced about 40% of the world’s coltan in 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, with Australia, Canada and Brazil being other major suppliers.

The National Energy Emergency executive order, issued by Trump, highlighted the significance of critical minerals — including tantalum and niobium — and called for securing U.S. access to ensure both “modern life and military preparedness.”

A ‘murky’ global supply chain

According to a U.N. report, since seizing Rubaya in April last year, the M23 has imposed taxes on the monthly trade and transport of 120 tonnes of coltan, generating at least $800,000 a month. The coltan then is exported to Rwanda, U.N. experts said. But even before M23 seized control of the mine, analysts said that the mineral was sold to Rwanda, the only difference being it was done through Congolese intermediaries.

Experts say that it is not easy to trace how coltan arrives in Western countries.

“The global coltan supply chain is pretty murky,” said Guillaume de Brier, a natural resources researcher at the Antwerp-based International Peace Information Service. “From eastern DRC, coltan is bought by traders, mostly Lebanese or Chinese, who will sell it to exporters based in Rwanda. Exporters will then ship it to the UAE or China, where it will be refined into tantalum and niobium, and sold to Western countries as metals from UAE or China.”

The M23 has previously controlled Rubaya for periods of time, and the U.N. asserted that, even before the takeover of Goma, the group was facilitating the smuggling of these minerals to Rwanda. Since M23 took control of the mine, Rwanda’s official coltan exports have doubled, according to Rwandan official figures.

At times the mines were also under control of the Wazalendo, a militia allied with the Congolese army.

Alexis Twagira said he feels some things have improved under M23. “I’ve been working in this mine for 13 years, and I’ve worked under the Wazalendo. When they were here, they would harass us, sometimes taking our minerals and demanding money,” he said.

The U.N. has accused both the Congolese army and the M23 rebels of human rights abuses.

‘We can’t continue like this’

Congo is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a mineral used to make lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and other products, but U.S. access is complicated by the fact that Chinese companies control 80% of its Congolese production. Congo also produces gold.

In recent weeks, two U.S. companies opened doors to production in the region. Nathan Trotter, a U.S. firm, signed a letter of intent with Rwanda-based Trinity Metals, which owns Rwanda’s largest tin mine. And KoBold Metals, which uses Artificial Intelligence to further energy transition and is backed by billionaire Bill Gates, brokered a deal to buy Australia’s AVZ Minerals’ interest in Congo’s Manono lithium deposits.

Analysts warn that the implementation of a minerals deal in eastern Congo, if one was to materialize, will face many hurdles — especially with U.S. investors largely abandoning Congo in the last two decades.

“Turning a headline announcement into sustainable progress will require resolving deep suspicions between Rwanda and the DRC,” Chatham House, a research institute, said in a recent report. “A deal will also need to account for complex local political problems of land access and identity, wider security challenges in a region that hosts myriad non-state armed groups, and issues of asset scarcity.”

If the deal were to include Rubaya, where all mining is currently done manually, U.S. companies would have to contend with both security concerns and a severe lack of infrastructure.

“With coltan, you’re dealing with hundreds of thousands of miners, and not just M23, but other so-called auto-defense armed groups and individuals who rely on mining for survival,” said de Brier from the International Peace Information Service. “You have to build all the infrastructure, you have to start from scratch. You will even have to build the roads.”

Bahati Moïse, a trader who resells coltan from Rubaya’s mines, hopes that, regardless who controls the mines, the workers who labor to extract the minerals will finally be valued as much as the resources themselves.

“The whole country, the whole world knows that phones are made from the coltan mined here, but look at the life we live,” he said. “We can’t continue like this.”

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Pronczuk reported from Dakar, Senegal.

DRC: M23 Rebels Expel Civilians to Rwanda

Former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and police officers who allegedly surrendered to M23 rebels arrive in Goma, Congo, Feb. 23, 2025

By Michael Oduor

Thousands of people believed to be illegals from Rwanda were expelled by the M23 from the key major town of Goma on Saturday.

On Monday, the M23 spokesperson, Willy Ngoma, presented 181 individuals claiming they were Rwandan subjects who were illegally in Goma.

Also presented were thousands of women and children believed to be family members of the culprits. According to witnesses, they were carried in trucks and their documents, issued by the Congolese authorities, were burned to ashes. The group claimed that the documents were bogus.

The majority of the families are from the Karenga region, located in North Kivu, which had been under the control of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

Both Kigalia and M23 accuse the Congo government of supporting the FDLR, which has also committed numerous atrocities in the region.

According to some sources, most families lived in a displacement camp in Sake, a few kilometers from Goma.

Some 360 people were repatriated on Saturday into Rwanda, according to Eujin Byun, a spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR].

For decades, mineral-rich eastern Congo has been ripped apart by violence from government forces and different armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23, whose recent resurgence has escalated the conflict and worsened an already acute humanitarian crisis.

The rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts.