Egypt Condemns Attacks on Khartoum Airport, Warns of Regional Escalation

5 May 2026

Smoke near Khartoum airport after a drone attack on May 1, 2026

May 5, 2026 (CAIRO) – Egypt on Tuesday condemned attacks on Khartoum International Airport, describing them as a flagrant violation of Sudanese sovereignty and a dangerous escalation of the country’s security and humanitarian crisis.

The airport and nearby residential areas were hit by drones on Monday. The strikes also targeted the Signal Corps base in Khartoum North and the Al-Markhiyat training camp in Omdurman in an unprecedented aerial escalation.

The Sudanese government has directly accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates of involvement in the strikes.

Egypt’s foreign ministry said in a statement it condemned the shelling in the strongest terms, noting it threatened civilian infrastructure and the well-being of the Sudanese people.

The ministry said the escalation would complicate humanitarian conditions and obstruct efforts to reach a truce.

The statement expressed alarm over attacks reportedly launched from a neighbouring country, warning the conflict could spread across the region.

Cairo said such actions undermine U.S.-led efforts within the international Quad to secure a ceasefire and launch a Sudanese-led political process free from foreign interference.

Sudanese officials and a military spokesperson said earlier on Tuesday they had “definitive evidence” that the attacks were facilitated by Ethiopia.

The officials also alleged that UAE drones had operated out of Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport to carry out strikes this year.

Egypt affirmed its rejection of foreign interference in Sudan and called for respect for Sudan’s territorial integrity and international law.

The statement concluded by reaffirming Egypt’s support for regional and international efforts to contain the crisis and reach a peaceful solution.

Ethiopia Rejects Sudanese Accusations of Involvement in Khartoum Drone Strikes

5 May 2026

General al-Burhan shakes hands with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa on Nov 15, 2023

May 5, 2026 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia on Tuesday rejected accusations by the Sudanese government that it was involved in drone strikes targeting strategic sites in Khartoum, including the international airport.

The Ethiopian foreign ministry said in a statement that the allegations were “baseless.”

Sudanese government officials and a military spokesperson said earlier on Tuesday they had “definitive evidence” that the attacks were facilitated by Ethiopia. They also alleged that United Arab Emirates drones had operated out of Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport to carry out strikes this year.

Following the developments, Khartoum recalled its ambassador to Addis Ababa for consultations, a diplomatic move that often precedes further escalation.

Addis Ababa said it had exercised maximum restraint and refrained from disclosing “gross violations” of its national security and territorial integrity committed by parties to the Sudanese war.

The Ethiopian statement claimed the Sudanese Armed Forces provided weapons and financial support to “Tigray People’s Liberation Front” mercenaries, facilitating their incursions across Ethiopia’s western border.

The ministry said there was “ample evidence” that Sudan has become a hub for forces hostile to Ethiopia. It added that these “hostile acts” and repeated allegations were being carried out at the instigation of “external parties” seeking to advance “malicious agendas.”

Ethiopia reaffirmed its solidarity with the Sudanese people and maintained its position that there is no military solution to the crisis.

The statement called for an immediate humanitarian truce followed by a sustainable ceasefire and a civilian-led political transition to restore civil rule and lasting peace.

Sudan Recalls Ambassador to Ethiopia Over Drone Attack on Khartoum Airport

Khartoum International Airport ground workers greet the first domestic Sudan Airways flight landing from Port Sudan, in Khartoum, Sudan, on Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File)

11:42 AM EDT, May 5, 2026

CAIRO (AP) — The Sudanese government accused Ethiopia of being behind recent drone attacks on sites including Khartoum airport and recalled its ambassador on Tuesday.

In response, Ethiopia’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying it “rejects (the) baseless accusations.”

A military spokesperson in Sudan said the government has evidence of four drone strikes since March 1 originating from neighboring Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport. It also accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the drones.

An attack on Monday targeted the airport in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. Previous attacks were launched toward the Sudanese states of Kordofan, Blue Nile and White Nile.

Sudan’s military has been at war with a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, when the RSF stormed the capital. The battles have now shifted toward more drone warfare concentrating in the Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

Sudan has long accused the UAE of supporting the RSF, and U.N. experts and rights groups have also accused it of providing arms to the group. The UAE has rejected the accusation.

Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Asim Awad Abdelwahab told a press conference on Tuesday that the government had analyzed data and evidence from a drone that entered Sudanese airspace heading for El-Obeid in Kordofan state on March 17 and found that it had originated from the UAE and took off from Ethiopia.

“We do not want to initiate aggression against any country, but whoever attacks us will be met with a response,” Sudan’s Foreign Minister Mohi al-Din Salem said.

The Ethiopian foreign ministry statement accused Sudan of violating its territorial integrity by supporting rebels in the northern Tigray region, but said it had exercised restraint from publicizing the violations due to the ties between the two countries.

“It is evident that these hostile actions, as well as the recent and earlier series of allegations by officials of Sudanese armed forces, are undertaken at the behest of external patrons seeking to advance their own nefarious agenda,” the statement said.

The gradual reopening last year of Sudan’s airport marked a key step in efforts to restore normal life in Khartoum, with ministries and millions of people starting their return back to the capital and surrounding states. The U.N migration agency said that around 4 million people have returned back to Sudan.

Drone attacks have occurred frequently in the war, but Khartoum was considered largely safe until a string of attacks shattered the sense of calm in the capital and central Sudan.

A drone strike on Saturday in Omdurman, the capital’s sister city, killed five people in a civilian bus, while another strike the following day in central Sudan state of Al Jazirah killed relatives of Abu Agla Kaikal, a commander with the Sudan Shield Forces, a group allied with the Sudanese military, who defected from the RSF earlier in the war.

In a post on X, the nonprofit Norwegian Refugee Council said more than 700 people have been killed by drone strikes across Sudan since the start of this year, many of which targeted humanitarian convoys and civilian infrastructure.

At least 59,000 people have been killed in the war, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, an independent conflict-monitoring body. Aid groups say the true toll could be much higher as access to areas of fighting across the vast country remains limited.

Burkina Faso Rejects Allegation Over Detention of Journalist

6:44 AM EDT, May 6, 2026

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Burkina Faso’s authorities secretly held and abused a prominent investigative journalist and dozens of others in a makeshift detention facility in the capital, an international advocacy group said Wednesday, in the latest crackdown on political dissent in the West African nation.

Reporters Without Borders said Atiana Serge Oulon, editor of the newspaper L’Evenement, was taken from his home in June 2024 by several armed men in civilian clothes. Burkina Faso’s military junta later said he had been conscripted into military service.

Instead, according to the advocacy group, former detainees said Oulon and up to 40 other people were being held in a heavily guarded house in the capital, Ouagadougou, as of late 2025, contradicting the government’s claim. They reported sleeping on bare floors, having to drink toilet water and being beaten by guards wielding ropes and tree branches.

Oulon’s current location is unknown. Reporters Without Borders said it had shared its findings with Burkina Faso’s government, which didn’t respond.

The group said Oulon had been in the junta’s crosshairs since 2022, when he released an investigation accusing an army captain of embezzlement. The group called for the journalist’s immediate release.

The advocacy group said the junta’s inner circle appears directly involved in the detentions, with a security officer for junta leader Capt. Ibrahim Traoré personally briefing detainees before their release and warning them not to speak out.

Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, Burkina Faso’s junta has cracked down on political dissent and journalists, shutting down independent media outlets and forcibly conscripting dissidents into the army to fight Islamic militants.

Human Rights Watch said in an April report that under Traoré, the junta has carried out a broad crackdown, fostering “an atmosphere of terror and severely restricting the flow of information.”

Boko Haram Militants Kill 23 Soldiers in an Attack on a Military Post, Chad Says

By MOUTA ALI

10:34 AM EDT, May 5, 2026

N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Boko Haram militants have killed 23 soldiers in an attack on a military post in the Lake Chad region, Chad’s armed forces said Tuesday.

The region has long been threatened by the Nigeria-based Boko Haram militant group, which is known for carrying out attacks in neighboring countries.

Chad’s military said another 26 soldiers were injured in Monday night’s attack on Barka Tolorom island. In a statement, it said “a significant number of sect members were neutralized” and the attackers eventually were repelled.

President Mahamat Idriss Deby in a separate statement called the attack “cowardly.”

A number of armed groups compete in the resource-rich, four-country Lake Chad region to fund their operations by imposing what they call taxes on local communities.

Boko Haram in the past decade and a half has killed several thousand people and displaced millions, according to the United Nations, and continues to carry out operations across parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Foreign Visitors Return to Jewish Pilgrimage in Tunisia Under Tight Security

By KHALED NASRAOUI and GHAYA BEN MBAREK

4:34 AM EDT, May 6, 2026

DJERBA, Tunisia (AP) — The annual Jewish pilgrimage to the 26-century-old El-Ghriba Synagogue in Tunisia drew a modest but notable return of international visitors this year, worshipping together under tight security after a deadly 2023 attack disrupted the festival.

Visitors came from France, China, Ivory Coast and Italy, including France’s ambassador to Tunisia, a symbolic gesture after two French citizens were among those killed in the 2023 attack. A national guardsman shot and killed five people at the El-Ghriba synagogue soon after the festival that year, spreading fear among the local Jewish population and international pilgrims.

Participants said about 500 people have attended this year’s pilgrimage, held on the Mediterranean island of Djerba from April 30 to May 6 to celebrate the Lag B’Omer Jewish holiday. Jews have lived in Tunisia since Roman times, and the pilgrimage remains central to the country’s small but long-standing Jewish community.

Inside the synagogue, the atmosphere was calm and devotional, while also buzzing with conversations and social exchanges. Worshippers lit candles, read sacred texts and wrote wishes on eggs later placed in a sacred cave within the complex, a tradition believed to bring blessings.

Among them was Redj Cahen, a Tunisian-Italian pilgrim who returned after missing last year’s gathering. “We are back, and we are proud to be Tunisian Jews,” he said. “It is a feeling you cannot explain. Only those who come here understand.”

The gathering draws both local worshippers and members of the diaspora returning to their ancestral roots and has long been seen as a symbol of coexistence, attracting Muslim visitors alongside Jewish pilgrims.

A visible but contained security presence surrounded the synagogue, while heavier measures were deployed at access points to the island, where police checkpoints and barricades controlled entry. Vehicles were searched and identification documents carefully inspected. Within Djerba, security was especially concentrated in Hara Seghira and Hara Kebira, the island’s main Jewish quarters.

Despite security worries, the traditional “Minara” procession took place for the first time since the 2023 attack, signaling a cautious easing of restrictions.

The Minara, a pyramid-shaped tower of gold and silver, is placed at the center of the synagogue. Women drape it with colorful scarves in a gesture associated with good fortune, fertility and marriage. A symbolic auction of paintings and Jewish religious items follows as part of a traditional fundraiser for the synagogue’s maintenance, after which the scarf-laden Minara is placed on a cart and paraded outside to the sounds of the traditional darbuka drum, singing and throwing of candy. It is later brought back into the synagogue, concluding one of the event’s pillar traditions.

The pilgrimage, one of the oldest in Africa, has historically drawn thousands from around the world. Attendance dropped sharply after the 2023 shooting outside the synagogue that killed two pilgrims and three security officers. The synagogue was also targeted by a 2002 truck bombing by al-Qaida that killed about 20 people.

“This year’s Ghriba pilgrimage marks a gradual return,” said former Tourism Minister René Trabelsi. “We are returning little by little.’'

Trabelsi said Tunisian authorities had pushed to maintain the pilgrimage despite the challenges. The event plays an important role in supporting the local economy.

Khedir Hnaia, who has worked at the synagogue for more than three decades, welcomed the return of longtime visitors. “We would like to reflect a good image to the world, to bring back the glory of Ghriba and make it even better than how it used to be,” he said.

“We need to stand up for our country, we love Tunisia very much and in the same way our country stood up for us we will always stand up for it,” said Haim Haddad, a member of the pilgrimage organizing committee from Zarzis.

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Ben Mbarek reported from Tunis, Tunisia.

Antarctica’s Tourism Boom Raises Concerns About Contamination and Disease

By SAM McNEIL

1:17 AM EDT, May 6, 2026

BRUSSELS (AP) — Driven in part by fears that the frozen landscapes of Antarctica may be irreversibly melting away because of climate change, tourism to the bottom of the world is soaring. And experts warn that with more visitors comes an increased risk of contamination, illness and other damage to the continent.

While visitor numbers are still small — in part due to the high costs and time it can take — they are growing so fast that scientists and environmentalists are sounding alarms.

A deadly outbreak of the rare hantavirus aboard a Dutch ship on a weekslong polar cruise has brought attention to the growing tourism trend.

Most expeditions head to the Antarctic Peninsula, one of the fastest-warming places in the world. From 2002 to 2020, roughly 149 billion metric tons (164 billion tons) of Antarctic ice melted per year, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

A common route is to voyage south from Argentina toward Antarctica before heading north up the coast of Africa — the same route taken by the cruise ship MV Hondius.

“The sites you will see in Antarctica are extremely unique and not replicable anywhere else on the planet — the whales, the seals, the penguins, the icebergs — it’s all really stunning and it makes a huge impression on people,” said Claire Christian, executive director of the environmental group Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition.

Explosive growth of trips to the southern continent

In 2024, more than 80,000 tourists touched down on the vast ice-cloaked continent and 36,000 viewed from the safety of ships, according to data collected by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.

The International Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that tourism to Antarctica has grown tenfold in the past 30 years.

That number could rise further in the next decade as costs fall with more ice-capable hulls hitting the water and technological advances, said Hanne Nielsen, a senior lecturer of Antarctic law at the University of Tasmania. Her colleagues at the university estimate the annual figure could triple or quadruple to over 400,000 visits in that time.

Some tourists come to Antarctica for “last chance tourism,” knowing the melting landscape is rapidly changing, Nielsen said.

Risks of contamination

Officials have not indicated any evidence of contamination from the MV Hondius.

However, flocks of migratory birds brought avian flu from South America to Antarctica in recent years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That outbreak prompted the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and others to harden rules for tourists’ conduct and hygiene to protect visitors from being contaminated. To protect the fragile ecosystem from invasive species large and microscopic, visitors are told to stay away from animals and to avoid touching the ground with anything but their feet.

“There are rules that people are bound by when they’re heading south,” Nielsen said, describing her five voyages as a former guide. Crews and passengers use vacuums, disinfectants and brushes to scrub shoes and equipment clear of bugs, feathers, seeds and microbe-carrying dirt.

“Between the tongues and the laces of the boots you can find a lot of things,” she said.

Cruise ships have been struck by outbreaks of diseases like norovirus, which can spread quickly in a ship’s close quarters. In 2020, a COVID-19 outbreak on the Diamond Princess turned the cruise ship into an incubator for the then-mysterious virus.

Hantavirus usually spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings.

The Hondius’ island hopping cruise

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that MV Hondius left Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and visited Antarctica and several isolated islands.

WHO is investigating possible human-to-human transmission on the cruise ship, said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness. Officials suspect the first infected person likely contracted the virus before boarding, she said, and officials have been told there are no rats on board.

Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, which in 1959 enshrined the territory as a scientific preserve used only for peaceful purposes. A series of rules that followed “aim to ensure that all visits, regardless of location, do not adversely impact the Antarctic environment or its scientific and aesthetic values,” according to the treaty’s secretariat.

Companies and scientific ventures voluntarily comply with biosecurity guidelines and submit environmental impact assessments for Antarctic operations.

The treaty was written when tourism numbers were much lower, Christian said.

“Activity needs to be regulated appropriately, as you would with any of the world’s sensitive and precious ecological sites,” Christian said from Hiroshima, Japan, where she was preparing for an Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. There she’ll join calls to strengthen protections for Antarctica’s penguins, whales, seabirds, seals and krill — tiny creatures at the base of the food chain.

For now, the lure of the frozen frontier continues to draw visitors.

“You can put a footprint in Antarctica and it’s still there 50 years later,” Christian said.

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Associated Press writer Mike Corder contributed from The Hague, Netherlands.

3 Patients Evacuated from Cruise Ship with Hantavirus Outbreak, New Case Confirmed in Switzerland

By JAMEY KEATEN, CHINEDU ASADU and GERALD IMRAY

7:14 AM EDT, May 6, 2026

GENEVA (AP) — The cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak and which is stuck off the coast of Cape Verde with nearly 150 people on board was waiting Wednesday to head to Spain’s Canary Islands. Meanwhile, health authorities in South Africa and Switzerland identified a strain of the virus that can be transmitted between humans in rare cases.

Three passengers have died and several others have been sickened by hantavirus on board the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise ship. Hantavirus usually spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings.

The ship left Argentina on April 1 on an Atlantic cruise and was scheduled to include stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and other locations. However, the itinerary appears to have changed because of the situation on board.

The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said three patients with suspected hantavirus cases have been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to the Netherlands.

He said the U.N. health agency is working with the operators of the cruise ship to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew.

“At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low,” he wrote on his X account.

Among the patients is the ship’s doctor, Spain’s health ministry has said. The ministry said on Wednesday that the doctor, who was initially scheduled to be flown to the Canary Islands, is now being evacuated directly home to the Netherlands “after his health had improved.”

Authorities in Switzerland also announced Wednesday that a man who returned from a trip to South America and traveled on the cruise ship has tested positive for the virus and is receiving treatment.

Spain’s health ministry said in a statement late Tuesday that it would receive the MV Hondius vessel in the Canary Islands after a request from the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Despite some opposition from leaders in the region, the government insisted that it would ultimately make the call.

For now the luxury cruise ship remains marooned off the coast of Cape Verde, an island nation off West Africa in the Atlantic. The World Health Organization said passengers are isolating in their cabins.

South African tests first confirm the Andes virus

South African health authorities said they identified the Andes strain of hantavirus in two passengers who were on the ship, and Swiss authorities said they identified the same virus in their affected patient.

The World Health Organization says the Andes virus, a specific species of hantavirus, is found in South America, primarily in Argentina and Chile.

The Andes virus can be spread between people, though this is rare and the spread of the disease is typically contained because it would spread only through close contact, such as by sharing a bed or sharing food, experts say.

The South African Department of Health said its results came from tests performed on the passengers after they were removed from the ship and flown to South Africa.

One of the passengers, a British man, is in intensive care in a South African hospital. Tests were performed on the other passenger posthumously after she died in South Africa.

A Swiss man is infected

A statement from the Federal Office of Public Health said that the man “returned to Switzerland after traveling on the cruise ship on which there were a number of hantavirus cases.” It said his case also involved the Andes virus.

The Swiss health office initially said the patient hospitalized in Zurich had “returned from a trip to South America” with his wife at the end of April, without specifying. Simon Ming, a spokesperson for the office, clarified in an email that the patient got off during its stop in St. Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean.

It was not immediately clear when that was or how he was returned to Switzerland.

The patient’s wife hasn’t shown any symptoms but is self-isolating as a precaution, the statement said.

The public health office said that “there is currently no risk to the Swiss public.”

The WHO said in a social media post that the man responded to “an email from the ship’s operator informing the passengers of the health event” and went to the hospital.

The cruise ship is waiting to sail to Spain

The cruise ship will be welcomed to Spain’s Canary Islands, according to Spanish authorities, as the vessel waited off the coast of West Africa for a third day Wednesday for sick passengers to be evacuated.

The regional president of Spain’s Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, said Wednesday that he was worried the arrival of the ship could put the local population at risk and demanded an urgent meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

“Neither the populace nor the government of the Canary Islands can rest assured because it is clear that the danger to the population is real,” Clavijo told Onda Cero radio.

An altered journey

The World Health Organization has said the ship had an itinerary that included stops across the South Atlantic Ocean, including mainland Antarctica and the remote islands of South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena and Ascension.

The cruise company has only announced some details of two stops: at St. Helena, where the body of the Dutch man suspected to be the first hantavirus case on board was taken off the ship. His wife also left the ship at St. Helena and flew to South Africa, where she died.

The company said a British man was later evacuated from the ship at Ascension Island and taken to South Africa, where he is in an intensive care unit.

The company has not said if other people left the cruise ship at those or other locations.

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Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria, and Imray from Cape Town, South Africa. Renata Brito and Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Geir Moulson in Berlin, and Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, contributed to this report.

Inside the Cruise Ship at the Center of a Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak

By CHINEDU ASADU and ANNIE RISEMBERG

12:32 AM EDT, May 6, 2026

PRAIA, Cape Verde (AP) — Footage obtained by The Associated Press of a cruise ship at the center of a rare-virus outbreak shows deserted decks and gathering areas, medical teams in protective gear, and a still landscape ahead as the vessel and its nearly 150 passengers and crew waited another day off the coast of West Africa.

Three passengers have died and at least four people have been sick in what health officials say is an outbreak of hantavirus, which usually spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings. The World Health Organization said passengers are isolating in their cabins.

The company that operates the vessel — currently anchored in the Atlantic off Cape Verde — said it plans to move to Spain’s Canary Islands once three people have been medically evacuated and put on specially equipped planes to the Netherlands. Earlier Tuesday, Spanish officials said that they were monitoring the situation and hadn’t made a decision.

The MV Hondius, a Dutch ship on a weekslong polar cruise, departed April 1 from Argentina for Antarctica and several isolated islands in the South Atlantic.

“Our days have been close to normal, just waiting for authorities to find a solution,” passenger Qasem Elhato, 31 — who sent AP the video footage — said via WhatsApp. “But morale on the ship is high and we’re keeping ourselves busy with reading, watching movies, having hot drinks and that kind of things.”

Helene Goessaert, another passenger, told Belgian broadcaster VRT that everyone on board is “in the same boat, literally.”

“You don’t embark on a trip with the idea that one of your fellow passengers won’t make it,” she said.

“We receive information at regular intervals. It is accurate. For the rest, it is a waiting game,” she added. “Today we received fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. That was very important to us.”

Evacuation plans are still unclear

Authorities in Cape Verde have said they sent teams of doctors, surgeons, nurses and laboratory specialists to the Hondius. They were seen in Elhato’s video footage — wearing white overalls, boots and face masks as they disembarked to a smaller vessel.

Officials in Cape Verde’s capital of Praia, a city of less than 200,000 people, said they have stepped up safety protocols, particularly near the port, as a precautionary measure against the rodent-borne illness — which doesn’t usually spread person to person, though health authorities say it might be possible.

Elhato said passengers were wearing masks and social distancing — practices that became hallmarks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions said it had implemented its highest level of response, with isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring.

Oceanwide Expeditions said Tuesday evening that two specialized aircraft were flying to Cape Verde to evacuate two people who need urgent medical care and one person who was traveling with a German woman who died on board Saturday. They were to be taken to the Netherlands, though exactly when that would happen was not immediately clear.

Once the medical evacuation happens, the ship plans to sail to the Canary Islands, either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, a voyage of some three days, the company said in its statement, adding that “discussions are ongoing with relevant authorities.”

Spanish health officials had said in an earlier statement that they were monitoring and that “the most appropriate port of call will be decided. Until then, the Ministry of Health will not adopt any decision, as we have informed the World Health Organization.”

WHO notes 7 cases in all in its latest update

WHO said Tuesday that it’s looking at seven cases in all — three people who have died, one critically ill passenger who was previously taken off the ship, and three on board reporting mild symptoms.

Two of the cases — a woman who died and the evacuated man — tested positive for hantavirus.

A Dutch man was the first death, on April 11. His body was taken off the vessel nearly two weeks later, on the British territory of St. Helena, some 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) off the African coast, according to South Africa’s Department of Health.

His wife traveled by plane from St. Helena to South Africa; she collapsed at a Johannesburg airport and died at a hospital on April 26, according to WHO and the South African Department of Health.

The ship sailed on to Ascension Island, an isolated Atlantic outpost about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) to the north, where a sick British man was taken off the ship and evacuated first to Ascension Island and then to South Africa by plane. He is in intensive care in a South African hospital, according to WHO.

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, said the organization is investigating possible human-to-human transmission on the ship, and that officials suspect the first infected person likely contracted the virus before boarding. She said officials have been told there are no rats on board.

Officials in Argentina — where hantavirus led to 28 deaths nationwide last year, according to the health ministry — said they confirmed no passengers had symptoms when the Hondius departed. Symptoms can appear up to eight weeks after exposure, officials have said.

In South Africa, authorities said they have started contact tracing — another practice used extensively in the coronavirus pandemic. But officials have emphasized that the chance of a major public health threat is low.

How a Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak Unfolded on a Cruise Ship for Weeks Before it Was Identified

By GERALD IMRAY

4:52 PM EDT, May 5, 2026

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A deadly outbreak of the rare hantavirus unfolded over the course of weeks on a cruise ship that sailed from Argentina toward Antarctica and then across the Atlantic Ocean, stopping at or near remote islands on the way as passengers and crew members fell sick, according to information from the cruise operator, the World Health Organization and ship tracking data.

It shows nearly a month passed between when an elderly Dutch man fell sick and died in the South Atlantic and laboratory tests in South Africa — more than 3,500 kilometers (2,174 miles) away — confirmed hantavirus infections.

Three passengers in total have died, one is in intensive care in a South African hospital, and three other people still on the cruise ship have shown symptoms and were waiting for evacuations. Nearly 150 passengers and crew members from 23 countries were on the ship, which is waiting off the coast of West Africa.

Hantavirus is spread by rodents. People can get it through contact with infected rodents’ saliva, urine or droppings. It doesn’t usually spread from person to person, but some health authorities say such transmission could be possible.

While only two hantavirus cases related to the ship have been confirmed through tests, WHO suspects the others also are hantavirus and is treating it as an outbreak. It is still investigating the source.

What happened on the ship

The Dutch company that operates the ship, the MV Hondius, offers “expedition cruises” that involve trips to the Antarctic and several islands in the South Atlantic to see some of the remotest places on earth.

The cruises can last a month or more and cost between $6,000 and $25,000, depending on the cabin.

The MV Hondius set off from southern Argentina on April 1.

On April 6, the 70-year-old Dutch man fell ill with fever, headache and mild diarrhea, WHO said.

He died on board on April 11, after developing respiratory distress. The ship was between the British island territories of South Georgia and St. Helena in the middle of the South Atlantic, according to data from the ship tracking website MarineTraffic. The cause of death could not be determined, according to the cruise company, Oceanwide Expeditions.

The ship sailed on for nearly two weeks, stopping near the island of Tristan da Cunha before it reached St. Helena, where the Dutch man’s body was taken off the ship on April 24. His 69-year-old wife disembarked with his body and flew to South Africa, while the man’s body remained behind.

The woman, who already had symptoms, became sicker during the April 25 flight and collapsed at an airport in South Africa. She died at a hospital on April 26, WHO said.

Another passenger, a British man, became sick on the ship after it left St. Helena and sailed to tiny Ascension Island, some 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) north. He had a high fever, shortness of breath and signs of pneumonia, according to WHO, and was evacuated from Ascension Island to South Africa on April 27. He is in an intensive care unit in a South African hospital.

The third fatality, a German woman, died on the ship on Saturday, again after it had set sail for a new destination — this time Cape Verde. She died four days after falling ill and also had signs of pneumonia, WHO said, which can be caused by hantavirus. Her body is still on the ship.

When authorities first knew hantavirus was on the ship

Health officials in South Africa ultimately tested the British man in intensive care for hantavirus after other extensive tests on him were negative. They received a positive result for hantavirus on Saturday, some 21 days after the first passenger died.

On Sunday, WHO announced it was investigating a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the ship, which had by that time reached Cape Verde waters.

The British man’s positive test prompted South African health authorities to also test the Dutch woman’s body posthumously for hantavirus. That test came back positive on Monday.

WHO said the outbreak on the ship was being managed and the global risk was low as hantavirus is not easily spread between people, though it added it was tracing people who were on a passenger plane between St. Helena and Johannesburg, South Africa, with the Dutch woman.

What the plan is for the people still on board

Oceanwide Expeditions said Tuesday that aircraft were flying to Cape Verde to evacuate two people needing urgent medical care and one passenger who was traveling with the German woman who died Saturday. They were to be taken to the Netherlands, but a timeline for arrival wasn’t clear.

The ship then would sail to Spain’s Canary Islands, a voyage of about three days, the company said.

Spanish officials had said they were monitoring and hadn’t confirmed any plans as of Tuesday evening.

Passengers and crew have been isolated in cabins with “maximal physical distancing,” WHO said, in a lockdown reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The source of the infections

WHO says it is still investigating how a virus that is relatively rare in people got on board the ship. It said the Dutch man and his wife — who it called cases one and two — had traveled in Argentina and elsewhere in South America before they boarded.

WHO says Andes virus, a specific species of hantavirus, is found in South America, primarily in Argentina and Chile.

US Military Behind UAE Oil Zone Strike: IRIB

By Al Mayadeen English

Iran denied responsibility for a fire at a UAE oil zone in Fujairah, with state media blaming US military forces seeking to open passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported Monday, quoting a military source, that the US military was responsible for a fire at an oil facility in the UAE, carried out to open a route for ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The unnamed source denied Iranian involvement, telling state television that the incident was the result of US military "adventurism" intended to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and that Washington, not Tehran, must be held accountable.

"Iran had no plan to attack oil facilities [in the UAE]. What happened was the result of adventurism by US military forces, aimed at creating a passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. It is the US military that must bear responsibility for what happened," the source said.

Earlier Monday, UAE authorities attributed the attack on the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone to Iran, describing it as a "dangerous escalation," and said they reserve the right to respond.

UAE 'sitting in a fragile glass house'

Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported Monday, citing an Iranian military source, that if the United Arab Emirates takes any "unwise action," all of its interests would become targets for Iran.

The source warned that if the UAE becomes a "tool in the hands of Israel" and makes any miscalculation, it would receive "a lesson it will never forget." He added that the UAE is fully aware it is "sitting in a fragile glass house," stressing that insecurity would pose a potentially fatal threat.

The source further stated that if the UAE were to repeat the "mistake of the Forty-Day War," Iran would abandon all restraint and treat the country as it would any part of the Israeli entity. 

Maritime incidents mount off UAE coast

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported three separate incidents in UAE waters on Monday.

An oil tanker, later identified as the MV Barakah, an empty crude carrier operated by ADNOC Logistics and Services, was struck by a projectile around 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah, with all crew confirmed safe.

A cargo ship engine room fire was reported 36 nautical miles north of Dubai, and a third vessel fire was flagged approximately 14 nautical miles west of Saqr Port.

No environmental damage was reported across the three incidents.

Araghchi Calls Project Freedom in Hormuz 'Ineffective'

By Al Mayadeen English

Iran’s FM Abbas Araqchi warns the US against escalation, dismisses “Project Freedom” as ineffective, and highlights progress in Pakistan-mediated talks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi dismissed Trump's “Project Freedom” initiative in the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a “project of stagnation” that fails to address the root causes of the crisis.

Speaking to Reuters, Araghchi said that ongoing negotiations mediated by Pakistan are making progress, urging Washington to exercise caution and avoid being drawn back into escalation.

Araghchi warned that the United States risks being “dragged once again into the quagmire” by actors with “malicious intentions,” adding that regional states, including the UAE, should also remain vigilant.

Araghchi emphasized that recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz have demonstrated that there is no military solution to the issue, stressing that diplomatic efforts remain the only viable path forward.

Trump earlier announced that Washington will begin a naval operation to escort foreign vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, framing the move as a humanitarian initiative amid ongoing regional tensions.

He alleged that multiple countries had asked the United States for assistance in "freeing" ships that remain unable to transit the strategic waterway, adding that the initiative would begin Monday with US representatives tasked with guiding vessels and their crews safely out of the restricted area.

Iran rejects Trump’s 'Project Freedom,' warns US over Hormuz role

Trump emphasized that many of the affected ships belong to countries not involved in the ongoing war, describing them as “neutral and innocent bystanders” caught in the crisis.

Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian Parliament, Ebrahim Azizi, issued a sharp warning to Washington,  saying that any US interference in the emerging maritime arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz would breach ceasefire understandings.

Azizi stressed that Iran would not accept external control over one of the world’s most strategic waterways, amid ongoing tensions following months of confrontation in the region.

Azizi directly dismissed Trump’s “Project Freedom” initiative, stating that the management of the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region “would not be dictated by Trump’s delusional posts.”

His remarks reflect Tehran’s firm rejection of US attempts to position itself as an arbiter of maritime movement in the area.

Global Shipping Drops Suez Canal, Goes Around Africa in Record Traffic

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Financial Times

1 May 2026 11:11

A growing number of international shipping companies are bypassing the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, opting instead for the longer passage around southern Africa.

Tanker traffic near the Cape of Good Hope hit an all-time high of 24 million deadweight tonnes during the week of April 1, the Financial Times reported, citing new data. Industry analysts describe this as evidence of a fundamental and lasting transformation in global shipping patterns.

The detour adds a minimum of two weeks to voyages connecting Asia with Europe. Heightened security concerns following recent military exchanges involving Iran, the United States, and "Israel" have driven the shift, as shipping lines prioritize safety over speed and cost.

Red Sea route had already been under pressure since 2023

Shipping through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea has faced significant disruptions since 2023, when Yemeni Armed Forces began targeting commercial vessels in response to the genocide in Gaza. A ceasefire last October briefly encouraged some operators to reconsider the shorter passage, but renewed hostilities in the Gulf have reversed that trend entirely.

Major shipping firms now indicate that a return to the Suez route is unlikely in the near future. Rolf Habben Jansen, chief executive of Hapag-Lloyd, said the company made "first cautious attempts" to resume Red Sea transits but halted those plans as regional instability worsened.

"If you look at everything that is happening in the region, that certainly will not accelerate the return to Suez," he warned.

Freight costs rise as ports see record activity

The shift has driven up container rates along the Cape route. According to logistics platform Freightos, container rates along the longer Cape route rose from about $2,500 per forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU) to approximately $3,000 in mid-March, before easing slightly to around $2,700 per FEU in recent weeks.

Beyond pricing, the rerouting has significantly boosted port activity across southern Africa. A report by Project44 indicates that container arrivals at key regional hubs, including Durban, Cape Town, and Walvis Bay, increased by 21 percent since late February. The week of April 6 recorded a 71 percent spike above pre-war averages.

Walvis Bay has emerged as a particular beneficiary. Shipping executives point to its deep-water harbour and expanded fuel supply capacity as critical advantages. Ian Rosario, operations director for South Africa at Mediterranean Shipping Company, noted that the port is "thriving", partly because it can supply multiple grades of marine fuel.

Other ports have also seen rising demand, though infrastructure gaps remain a challenge. South Africa's Port Elizabeth has experienced a near doubling of bunker fuel traffic compared with early 2024, while Port Louis Harbour reported a 42 percent increase in refuelling activity during March, handling 294 vessels.

Customers prioritize reliability over speed

Despite higher fuel costs and longer transit times associated with the Cape route, shipping companies say their customers now prioritize supply chain stability over rapid delivery. Industry leaders warn that unless security conditions in the Red Sea improve dramatically, the Africa diversion may become a permanent feature of global trade.

The Suez Canal had already been losing traffic since the Yemeni Armed Forces campaign began in late 2023. A brief recovery following the October ceasefire proved short-lived, as the US-Israeli war on Iran triggered retaliatory operations and caused the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, further disrupting energy shipments and container flows.

Iran has repeatedly stated that its actions are defensive, responding to unprovoked US-Israeli aggression. Tehran has also emphasized that its control over the Strait of Hormuz is a legitimate measure to protect national security, and that responsibility for the global economic fallout lies with the aggressors.

South Africa Law Firms Sue Over Updated BEE Ownership Targets

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: News websites

4 May 2026 15:31

Four South African law firms are suing over Black Economic Empowerment targets, amid rising discrimination allegations and disputes over transformation policies.

Four major law firms in South Africa have launched a legal challenge against the government over new Black Economic Empowerment targets, arguing that requirements on Black ownership and employment are “irrational” and unworkable within the proposed timeframe.

The firms, Deneys Reitz, Webber Wentzel, Werksmans Attorneys, and Bowmans, filed a case against the government over revised transformation targets in the legal sector, which aim to increase Black ownership and representation as part of post-apartheid redress policies.

The case is set to be heard on Monday at the Pretoria High Court, with the firms seeking to overturn the updated regulations. The challenge focuses on a requirement that large law firms reach 50% Black ownership within five years, alongside 25% Black women ownership targets.

The firms argue that the timeline is unrealistic given the structure of legal partnership progression, which they say requires long-term career development and cannot be accelerated without undermining merit-based advancement. They also object to broader changes in the sector’s compliance scoring system used to measure Black economic empowerment.

The dispute comes amid ongoing scrutiny of South Africa’s employment equity framework, which was introduced to address inequalities created during decades of apartheid rule that ended in 1994. The issue has also drawn international attention, including criticism from US President Donald Trump and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, who have both questioned aspects of such policies.

Allegations of discrimination inside law firms

At the same time, allegations of discrimination within parts of the legal profession have intensified. According to interviews cited by Reuters with 13 current and former employees at Deneys Reitz, Webber Wentzel, and Bowmans, Black lawyers described systemic barriers to advancement, including unequal access to high-profile cases, favoritism in work allocation, and being overlooked for promotions.

One former associate, Inga Dyantyi, who left Deneys Reitz in 2024, said discrimination was both “subtle and overt,” alleging that her working environment became so intolerable that she was forced to resign. She has filed a separate labour court case alleging misconduct by a senior manager, while the firm has not publicly responded to the specific claims.

Another Black female lawyer has also filed a discrimination claim against Webber Wentzel, alleging that her working conditions were made untenable. She requested anonymity, citing fears over future employment prospects. Two additional Black female lawyers said they had filed complaints with South Africa’s Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration; one case was dismissed on procedural grounds after resignation, while another was settled.

Despite these allegations, the firms say they have made progress in transformation. Webber Wentzel reported Black partners rising from 25% in 2019 to 38% in 2026, while Werksmans Attorneys said the figure increased from 20% to 31% over the same period. Bowmans said Black ownership has remained between 25% and 29% over the past decade, while Deneys Reitz declined to disclose its figures.

The firms argue that reaching 50% Black ownership within five years is not feasible due to the long-term nature of partnership structures and performance-based advancement. They also challenge revisions to the legal sector’s compliance scorecard system used to measure empowerment.

South Africa’s Justice Minister Mamoloko Kubayi has defended the legislation, saying the government is “not prepared to compromise” on transformation goals.

Sector data shows that while Black lawyers make up a majority at junior levels in large firms, their representation drops significantly at partnership level. The Legal Practice Council reported in 2024 that Black professionals accounted for about 59% of junior lawyers in major firms, but only around a quarter of partners.

The Johannesburg Attorneys Association found that two-thirds of junior lawyers who left the profession in recent years were Black, underscoring concerns over retention and progression.

Critics from the Legal Sector Charter Council argue that structural barriers continue to limit advancement, warning that without intervention, inequality patterns rooted in the post-apartheid transition could persist for another generation.

2,600 Flee North Kordofan as Insecurity Worsens, UN Reports

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM3 May 2026 23:01

Around 2,600 civilians fled Abu Haraz and Kazgil in Sudan’s North Kordofan over two days due to worsening insecurity.

A new wave of displacement has been recorded in Sudan’s North Kordofan state, where escalating insecurity forced approximately 2,600 civilians to leave the towns of Abu Haraz and Kazgil within a two-day period, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In a statement issued Sunday, the agency said the movements took place between April 29 and 30, driven by deteriorating security conditions in the area. Those displaced have reportedly sought refuge in the Sheikan district, also within North Kordofan.

“The situation remains highly tense and volatile,” the IOM warned.

Expanding frontlines in Kordofan

The latest displacement reflects intensifying fighting across the Kordofan region, which has emerged as a key battleground in the war in Sudan. The area lies between Darfur, where the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) maintains strong influence, and central Sudan, making it strategically significant for supply routes and territorial control.

Recent months have seen increased clashes as forces push into new areas, with towns such as Kazgil caught in shifting frontlines. Civilians in these regions are frequently forced to flee as fighting approaches or control changes hands.

Repeated displacement and mounting pressure

The movement of 2,600 people adds to a broader pattern of repeated displacement across Kordofan. Tens of thousands have already been uprooted in the region in recent months, with many families displaced multiple times as violence spreads.

North Kordofan has also become a destination for those fleeing other areas, placing additional strain on host communities such as Sheikan, where resources and services are already limited.

Crisis at national scale

The developments come within the context of a nationwide collapse driven by the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced around 13 million people, creating what is widely considered the world’s largest displacement crisis.

Across the country, nearly two-thirds of the population now requires humanitarian assistance, while millions face acute food insecurity. In some regions, hunger levels have reached catastrophic thresholds, with famine conditions already confirmed and at risk of spreading further.

The crisis is compounded by the breakdown of essential services. Large parts of the healthcare system are no longer functioning, while disease outbreaks, including cholera and measles, are spreading in overcrowded and underserved areas. Aid agencies warn that limited access and severe funding shortfalls are preventing an adequate response, leaving many communities without basic support.

Dozens Killed or Displaced as Drone Strikes, Fighting Escalate Across Sudan’s War Zones

04/05/2026 12:46 

BLUE NILE / WHITE NILE / OMDURMAN / KURMUK / KORDOFAN

Displaced people arrive in Qaysan, Blue Nile - March 2026 (File photo: Blue Nile Emergency Room)

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Blue Nile region and Omdurman has left civilians dead, injured, and displaced, amid intensifying drone strikes and ongoing clashes between rival forces. Humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate as aid access remains limited and calls grow for urgent international intervention.

30 people killed and injured in a drone strike on the Balila area in Blue Nile

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North led by El Hilu (SPLM-N El Hilu) said that 10 civilians were killed and 20 others, mostly women and children, were injured in a drone strike by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on the Balila area in Kurmuk locality of Blue Nile state (New Fung) on Saturday.

In a statement seen by Radio Dabanga, the movement said the bombing caused fires in shops at the Balila market, destroyed water sources, and killed an estimated number of livestock. It noted that the area had previously been subjected to aerial bombardment targeting civilians and the local market.

The Blue Nile region is witnessing an escalation in military operations and drone strikes. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and SPLM-N El Hilu announced control over the El Kili area, 30 kilometres north of Kurmuk, while the armed forces said they had repelled an attack on the Sali area, 27 kilometres north of Kurmuk.

Fighting ongoing for more than four months has displaced about 30,000 people, mainly from Kurmuk, its surroundings, and Qaysan, to Damazin and other areas. The Blue Nile Civil Society Initiative has issued an urgent appeal for regional and international intervention to address the worsening humanitarian situation.

Displacement and harsh humanitarian conditions

Ali Hajo, a member of the initiative, said areas affected by heavy military operations are experiencing extremely difficult humanitarian conditions, with drone strikes claiming lives daily, particularly in southern Kurmuk, Balila, and Yabous. He added that women and children are the primary victims, while markets, water stations, infrastructure, and homes are frequently targeted.

He reported that more than 100,000 civilians have been displaced from Kurmuk province to Damazin and other areas, including El Rusayris, Qunays Sharq, Wad El Mahi, and Qaysan, where services remain insufficient. Others are stranded along the Ethiopian border in areas such as Kurmuk and Beisan, living in valleys and ravines under dire conditions.

Urgent demands and appeals

The initiative called on regional and international organisations to urgently provide humanitarian assistance, particularly to border areas. It also urged immediate intervention to protect civilians, stressing that daily fighting in South Blue Nile has created a catastrophic situation.

Ali Hajo appealed for pressure on all parties to halt violations against civilians and called for an immediate and comprehensive humanitarian truce to alleviate suffering.

Drone attacks on Kenana and Omdurman

Multiple sources reported that two drones, believed to belong to the RSF, targeted a fuel station and depot in the Kenana area of White Nile state on Sunday, causing material damage but no reported casualties.

In Omdurman, Sudanese Armed Forces’ air defences repelled a drone attack early Sunday morning. Another drone spotted on Saturday evening was also shot down.

The Emergency Lawyers Group condemned the killing of five civilians in recent days in a drone strike by the RSF targeting a vehicle south of Omdurman.

Three soldiers killed and wounded

Sabreen market in Omdurman witnessed panic as merchants closed shops following an exchange of gunfire. One member of the regular forces was killed and two policemen were injured.

Police spokesman Brigadier General Fath El Rahman El Tom said a soldier returning from operations was arrested while carrying a weapon inside the market in violation of regulations. When instructed to comply, he opened fire on the patrol, injuring two officers before being killed.

IOM: Hundreds displaced from the Kili area in Blue Nile

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that 745 people were displaced last week from the village of El Kili in Kurmuk province due to worsening insecurity. The displaced moved to other areas within Kurmuk and to Damazin.

The RSF and SPLM-N El Hilu recently announced control over El Kili, while the armed forces said they had repelled an attack on Sali. Since January, the Blue Nile region has seen continuous fighting between the armed forces and allied groups on one side, and the RSF and SPLM-N El Hilu on the other.

The conflict has displaced around 30,000 people from Kurmuk and Qaysan amid worsening humanitarian conditions.

Movement of displaced people from the villages of Kazqil and Abu Haraz in North Kordofan – April 29 and 30, 2026 – (Map: International Organization for Migration)

3,550 displaced in Kordofan

In a separate statement, the IOM says that 3,550 people were displaced from three villages in North and South Kordofan states last Wednesday and Thursday.

The organisation said in a report seen by Radio Dabanga that 2,600 people were displaced from the villages of Abu Haraz and Kazqil in the Sheikan locality of North Kordofan on Wednesday and Thursday due to escalating insecurity. It noted that the displaced people had reached other areas within the Sheikan locality.

In South Kordofan, the organisation say that 950 people were displaced from the village of Dbeiker in Al-Qouz locality on Thursday, noting that the displaced people headed towards Sheikan locality.

North and South Kordofan states are witnessing ongoing battles, the latest of which were the clashes that took place in the Kazqil and Hamadi areas on April 18, where the RSF announced that they had repelled the attacks.

Recently, the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Yasser Al-Atta, vowed to escalate operations on all fronts.

Condemnation of drone strike

The Emergency Lawyers Group condemned the army drone strike on Balila market and a nearby civilian gathering at a water source, which killed 10 civilians and injured dozens, most of them women and children. It described the attack as a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

The group said the strike was the second on the area following a March 31, 2026, incident that caused a large fire and looting of civilian property. It called for accountability, an immediate cessation of hostilities, and unrestricted humanitarian access, warning that continued restrictions threaten aid delivery and further endanger civilians.

Sudan Doctors Network: ‘RSF Shelling Devastates Health Services in South Kordofan’

03/05/2026 19:56 

DELLING

Sudan Doctors Network logo (Photo: Social media)

Health facilities in Delling, South Kordofan, have come under repeated shelling, pushing the city’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse, the Sudan Doctors Network reported on Sunday.

In a statement today, the network said the systematic targeting of medical facilities by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied force, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North led by Abdelaziz El Hilu (SPLM-N) has crippled services and left civilians without access to essential care.

Dr Tasnim Al Amin, spokesperson for the network, said the attacks have forced many medical facilities out of service. She reported that Delling Teaching Hospital sustained severe damage and now operates only partially, while other hospitals have been out of service for some time.

According to the network, at least 10 health centres have also shut down, including those offering nutrition and reproductive health services.

The network said four hospitals are now fully or partially out of service, alongside the closure of most primary healthcare centres.

They added in their statement, that the continued shelling has led to the near total collapse of the city’s health system. It cited acute shortages of medical staff, medicines, equipment, and essential supplies, as well as the breakdown of X ray machines and the urgent need for repairs.

Their statement warned of the increasingly difficult nature for health facilities in the region to provide care, placing thousands of civilians, especially women and children, at serious risk.

The network called for an immediate halt to attacks on medical facilities and urged the opening of safe humanitarian corridors to allow the delivery of medical supplies and the deployment of health workers.

It also appealed to international, regional, and humanitarian organisations to take urgent action to support and rehabilitate the city’s health sector, warning that swift intervention is needed to prevent further loss of life and worsening humanitarian conditions.

Sudanese Mining Firm to Fund Return of 5,000 Refugees from Egypt

3 May 2026

Over a million Sudanese have returned to areas where “pockets of relative safety” have emerged, including Khartoum, Sennar, and Al Jazirah, UN says. 

May 3, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC) has committed to facilitating the return of 5,000 Sudanese refugees from Egypt as part of a growing voluntary repatriation program.

The state-owned mining regulator signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday with the “Amal Committee for Voluntary Return,” a private sector initiative formed in March by Sudanese businessmen to provide free air and land transport for citizens wishing to return home.

Under the agreement, 5,000 citizens will be transported from Egypt to Sudan via a fleet of 60 luxury buses. The SMRC stated that the move is part of its efforts to support the voluntary return of Sudanese nationals currently abroad.

SMRC Director General Mohamed Taher Omer said the initiative follows state directives and reflects the company’s social and national responsibility toward citizens forced abroad by the conflict. He affirmed the company’s commitment to family reunification and national reconstruction, and expressed gratitude to the Egyptian government and people for hosting Sudanese refugees.

The company will cover the full cost of the trips, including all services, from Cairo to the land port in Khartoum.

Mohamed Wadaa, head of the Amal Committee, announced that the bus convoys would depart Cairo for Khartoum shortly. He praised the SMRC management’s responsiveness, noting that the initiative fulfils the aspirations of Sudanese nationals seeking to return.

Last week, the Amal Committee successfully organized free trips for approximately 1,610 returnees from Cairo, Alexandria, and Aswan using 34 buses.

The United Nations reports that nearly 4 million people have voluntarily returned to their homes in Sudan despite the ongoing war, though they face severe challenges upon arrival.

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, now in its fourth year, has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 12 million people internally. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 4 million people have fled to neighbouring countries.

The IOM is seeking $170 million for its 2026 Sudan crisis response plan, but the appeal remains underfunded by approximately $97.2 million.

Sudanese Journalists Warn Against Media Militarization Amid Rising Attacks

4 May 2026

Journalists protest in defence of the press freedom in Khartoum (file photo)

May 3, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese media organizations issued a joint condemnation on Sunday against the systemic “militarization” of the country’s information space, warning that escalating violence and censorship are undermining prospects for national reconciliation.

Marking World Press Freedom Day, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, the Sudan Media Forum, and the Sudanese Female Journalists Network highlighted a surge in targeted attacks that have left dozens of media professionals dead and pushed Sudan further down global press freedom rankings.

The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, which recently won the 2026 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize, stated that attempts to control the media through intimidation or propaganda prolong the ongoing conflict.

The Syndicate argued that freedom of expression is a fundamental requirement for a democratic society rather than a “postponed luxury,” and demanded the immediate release of all detained journalists.

The Sudan Media Forum reported that 34 journalists, including five women, have been killed since the war began in April 2023.

The forum documented approximately 680 total violations, including enforced disappearances and the looting of equipment. These conditions contributed to Sudan falling five places in the World Press Freedom Index to rank 161 out of 180 countries.

The Sudanese Female Journalists Network called for immediate accountability for gender-based violence and inflammatory campaigns targeting women in the field.

The network urged media institutions to provide professional support and fair working conditions for women covering the crisis.

The three organizations urged the United Nations and the African Union to pressure warring parties to allow independent investigations into the killing of journalists. The groups maintained that media independence must remain at the centre of any future democratic transition to ensure transparency and combat hate speech.

Sudan Accuses UAE and Ethiopia of Involvement in Khartoum Airport Drone Strikes

5 May 2026

Asim Awad Abd al-Wahab, Sudanese army spokesman speaks to reporters on May 4, 2026

MAY 5, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan has accused the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia of orchestrating a drone strike on Khartoum International Airport, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions.

The accusations follow a series of aerial attacks on Monday that targeted the capital’s main airport, residential districts, and several military installations, including the Signal Corps base in Khartoum North and the al-Markhiyat training centre in Omdurman.

During a joint press conference in the early hours of Tuesday, Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem and military spokesperson Asim Awad Abd al-Wahab stated they had “conclusive evidence” that the drones involved in the operation were launched from Bahir Dar airport in Ethiopia.

“We formally announce the involvement of the UAE and Ethiopia in the bombing of Khartoum airport,” the officials said in a statement carried by the state news agency. They added that the government reserves the right to respond “at a time and place of its choosing.”

Military officials provided technical data alleging that a drone with the serial number S88, identified as Emirati property, was tracked entering Sudanese airspace from Ethiopia. According to the military, this specific aircraft was involved in strikes across the Blue Nile and Kordofan regions before being intercepted and downed near El Obeid in March.

The military spokesperson further alleged that a separate drone launched from the same Ethiopian facility breached the airspace on May 1, targeting the capital’s airport before being repelled by air defences.

Sudanese authorities have recalled their ambassador to Addis Ababa for consultations following the incident. The Ethiopian government has previously denied similar allegations, describing them as “false claims” during a diplomatic summons in March.

Foreign Minister Salem warned that Sudan is prepared for “all scenarios,” including direct military confrontation, to defend its sovereignty and national security against continued aerial incursions.

At Least 25 Killed by Landmines in Sudan This Year, UN Says

5 May 2026

The Sudanese army destroyed a collection of shells, landmines, and other munitions at the Wadi Seidna military base near Khartoum, August 16, 2025.

MAY 4, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Landmines and unexploded ordnance have killed 25 people and injured 52 others in Sudan since the beginning of the year, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) said on Monday, warning that the actual toll is likely significantly higher.

The casualties, recorded between January and March, include 35 children. The spike in incidents comes as displaced residents begin returning to conflict zones, particularly in Khartoum, where approximately 1.8 million of the 4 million people who fled have returned to their homes.

UNMAS reported that it has cleared 18,768 explosive items and restored 2.8 million square meters of land for safe use since fighting began. Despite these efforts, new minefields are still being discovered in central Khartoum, including at a bridge rehabilitation site connecting Omdurman and Khartoum North.

Both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have planted hundreds of anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines across conflict zones since the outbreak of hostilities on April 15, 2023, to obstruct enemy advances.

Recent clearing operations have focused on critical infrastructure to facilitate aid. Teams removed more than 800 explosive hazards from Khartoum International Airport, allowing the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service to resume flights on February 26 following a three-year hiatus.

Specialized teams have also cleared over 1 million square meters of vital facilities, including residential homes, schools, hospitals, and farms.

To support these ongoing safety efforts, the European Union provided $1.7 million in funding to UNMAS on April 27. The grant aims to improve safety for 700,000 civilians directly affected by the conflict, with an estimated 1 million additional individuals expected to benefit indirectly.

UNMAS continues to work with the National Mine Action Center to survey hazardous areas and provide safety training, which has reached approximately 295,000 civilians and 2,625 humanitarian workers so far this year.

Sudanese Military Downs Drone Launched by Paramilitary Forces at the Main Airport, Officials Say

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

By YASSIR ABDALLA

3:23 PM EDT, May 4, 2026

SHENDI, Sudan (AP) — A drone launched by Sudan ‘s paramilitary forces targeted the airport in the capital of Khartoum on Monday but was shot down before it could hit the target, airport officials said. It was the latest attack in the deadly war in Sudan, now in its fourth year, which has pushed the country to the brink.

The attack came just days after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces killed at least five people in a drone attack that hit a civilian vehicle on the outskirts of Khartoum on Saturday.

The airport officials said the drone launched on Monday was shot down by Sudan’s air defenses as it approached the airport from the south and caused no damage or casualties. The military government confirmed the drone was intercepted.

A military official told The Associated Press the drone was launched from a neighboring country but provided no further details. All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

At Khartoum International Airport, flights stopped briefly but authorities said they would resume after routine checks. The airport’s gradual reopening last year marked a key step in efforts to restore normal life in Khartoum, which was the epicenter of the war that broke out between the army and the RSF in April 2023.

In February, a commercial flight landed in the airport for the second time since the war began.

Khartoum has largely been spared attacks by the RSF since it was recaptured by the army last year, but it has recently seen sporadic strikes.

Since the war started, at least 59,000 people have been killed, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, an independent conflict-monitoring body. Aid groups, however, say the true toll could be much higher, as access to areas of fighting across the vast country remains limited.

The war has also displaced 12 million people, according to the United Nations, and pushed parts of Sudan into famine.

___

Associated Press writer Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed to this report.

Paramilitary Forces Drone Strike Kills 5 Near Sudan Capital, Rights Group Says

4:11 AM EDT, May 3, 2026

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killed at least five people in a drone attack that hit a civilian vehicle on the outskirts of Khartoum, a local Sudanese rights group said.

The attack on Saturday morning hit a vehicle that was traveling from the White Nile province to Omdurman, the sister city of the capital, Emergency Lawyers, a rights group tracking violence against civilians, said in a statement. It added that the attack reflects continued targeting of civilians on public roads and in populated areas.

Khartoum has largely been spared attacks by the RSF since it was recaptured by the Sudanese Armed Forces last year, but the capital has recently seen sporadic strikes.

The Rapid Support Forces, which have been at war with the Sudanese Army for over three years, did not immediately claim the attack.

Emergency Lawyers condemned the attack and held the RSF responsible. “What happened was a brazen violation of international humanitarian law,” it said.

At least 59,000 people have been killed in the war that broke out in April 2023, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, an independent conflict-monitoring body. Aid groups, however, say the true toll could be much higher, as access to areas of fighting across the vast country remains limited.

130 Nigerians Seek Repatriation After Latest Anti-immigration Protests in South Africa

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN

2:36 PM EDT, May 4, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria will repatriate 130 Nigerians living in South Africa after a new wave of anti-immigration protests in that country, according to the foreign minister, who summoned South Africa’s top representative there on Monday to express concern.

Nigeria’s foreign minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the repatriation effort as voluntary and said more people were expected to sign up.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu was meeting with South Africa’s acting high commissioner to convey the Nigerian government’s “profound concern.”

No Nigerians were killed in last week’s protests against migrants in South Africa, who have been targeted over the years and accused of taking jobs in a country with high unemployment.

South African officials have condemned the violence and promised to crack down on “xenophobic acts.”

Separately, South Africa’s foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, said he had a phone conversation with his Nigerian counterpart to reflect on the “challenges posed by irregular migration” and work to address the causes and find solutions.

Two Nigerians were killed in separate incidents with South African security operatives last month. After Monday’s meeting, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the West African nation has requested an investigation into their deaths and seeks cooperation “in providing autopsy reports” for the families of the deceased.