Sudanese Paramilitary Group RSF Killed More Than 1,000 Civilians in Zamzam Camp in April, UN Says

By FAY ABUELGASIM

10:35 AM EST, December 18, 2025

CAIRO (AP) — More than 1,000 civilians were killed in a three-day attack by the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group earlier this year on the largest displacement camp in western Sudan, the U.N. Human Rights Office said in a report released Thursday.

RSF stormed Zamzam camp in April as part of its siege of the city of el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur province.

In the attack, hundreds of people were summarily executed, according to the report. People were killed in house-to-house raids and the main market, as well as in schools and health facilities. The report detailed patterns of sexual violence, “including rape and gang rape, and sexual slavery.”

The report called it “a consistent pattern of serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross abuses of international human rights law.” It comes a few weeks after Amnesty International accused the RSF of committing war crimes in their attack of the camp.

Zamzam was the largest displacement camp in Sudan with more than 500,000 people there prior to the April attacks. RSF blocked entry of food and other essential goods to the Zamzam camp for months prior to the attack, the U.N. report says.

Zamzam camp was established in 2004 to house people driven from their homes by attacks by the Sudanese Janjaweed militia. Located just south of el-Fasher, it swelled over the years to cover an area 8 kilometers (5 miles) long by about 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide.

RSF has been at war with the Sudanese military since April 2023. The conflict has killed 40,000 people — though some rights groups say the death toll is significantly higher — and has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with more than 14 million people displaced. Many areas have experienced famine, including at the Zamzam camp.

“The findings contained in this report are yet another stark reminder of the need for prompt action to end the cycles of atrocities and violence, and to ensure accountability and reparations for victims,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said.

Türk warned that the patterns of violence in Zamzam are now being repeated in el-Fasher as RSF took over the city.

“These horrific patterns of violations — committed with impunity — are consistent with what my office has repeatedly documented, including during the RSF takeover of el-Fasher in late October,” Türk said.

Separately, Sudan’s top general met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo Thursday amid growing pressure to resolve the war in Sudan.

Burhan’s meeting with el-Sissi came after the Sudanese general held talks with Saudi officials in Riyadh earlier this week. U.S. envoy Massad Boulos was also in Riyadh at the same time and met with Saudi officials. There was no public announcement that Burhan met with the American official.

Boulos said on X Wednesday after meeting with Saudi officials, including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, there was an agreement with Saudi Arabia on practical steps “toward a humanitarian truce, durable stability, and expanded humanitarian access and assistance for the Sudanese people.”

Both the United States and Saudi Arabia are mediators, part of a group known as the Quad along with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Burhan had previously rejected a ceasefire proposal in November, calling it unacceptable and “the worst yet” — and accused the mediators of being “biased” in their efforts to end the war.

In a statement after the meeting, the Egyptian presidency affirmed its support for Sudan, but also rejected “the establishment of any parallel entities or their recognition, considering this a violation of Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity,” adding that there are “red lines” that can’t be crossed. RSF announced a parallel government in July called the Tasis Alliance.

The statement also said that Egypt affirms “its full right to take all necessary measures and actions guaranteed by international law and the Joint Defense Agreement between the two brotherly countries to ensure that these red lines are not violated or crossed.”

The fighting is now concentrated in the south, mostly in the oil-rich Kordofan states. The Sudan Doctors’ Network, a group of medical professionals tracking the war, said Thursday that 16 people have been killed in the last 48 hours by artillery shelling of the besieged town of Dilling, South Kordofan, where there is now risk of famine. The group blames RSF and allied groups for the attack, calling it a flagrant violation of international law and called for international on the group to stop the attacks.

Kenya’s Environment Court to Consider a Claim that a Lux Safari Camp Was Harming Wildebeests Routes

Umbrella acacia trees, one of the most recognizable trees of the African Savanna, appear in the Masai Mara national reserve in southern Kenya, May 27, 2025. (John Dowling via AP)

Umbrella acacia trees, one of the most recognizable trees of the African Savanna, appear in the Masai Mara national reserve in southern Kenya, May 27, 2025. (John Dowling via AP)

11:55 AM EST, December 18, 2025

NAROK, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s environment court said Thursday it will consider a case challenging the operations of a luxury safari camp in the Maasai Mara reserve amid claims it was infringing on the annual wildebeest migration corridor.

The decision came after a local conservationist, who had initially filed the suit, moved to withdraw it. The court dismissed the motion for withdrawal said it would take up the case again on Feb. 10 and decide how to proceed.

The case was filed in August following local and international condemnation over claims the location of the Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara Camp was blocking the annual wildebeest migration, which draws thousands of tourists from around the world.

The luxury camp, operated by Marriott International, is expected to be among Kenya’s most expensive destinations, charging guests up to $3,500 per night.

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to several other luxury camps that provide tourists with an opportunity to be up close with wildebeests during their annual migration to the neighboring Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

Judge Lucy Gacheru of the Environment and Land Court said that although the law allows a petitioner to withdraw a case, it is at the judiciary’s discretion whether the case should be thrown out and that, in this instance, the serious environmental impact issues raised were of significant public interest.

The Kenyan conservationist, Joel Meitamei Olol Dapash, filed the withdrawal motion on Wednesday, stating that his concerns had been addressed after consultation with the parties involved.

However, the project developers, Lazizi Mara Limited, asked the court to reject the withdrawal, stating that despite their compliance with all regulatory and statutory requirements, the developer had been portrayed negatively and should be allowed a fair hearing in a court of law.

Maryland to Consider Slavery Reparations After Gov. Wes Moore’s Veto is Overridden

By BRIAN WITTE

5:32 PM EST, December 16, 2025

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland will create a commission to study potential reparations for slavery after lawmakers voted Tuesday to override a veto by Gov. Wes Moore — currently the nation’s only Black governor — that disappointed many fellow Democrats.

Moore said in his veto letter in May that it was a difficult decision to veto the bill, which was a priority of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. But he wrote there has been enough study of the legacy of slavery, and it was now time to “focus on the work itself” to address it.

But Democrats who control both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly decided the commission was needed to better examine how to do that.

“This topic isn’t easy, but, again, without formal study, reparations risk being dismissed as symbolic or unconstitutional, regardless of moral merit,” said Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Democrat.

After his veto was overridden, Moore said that while he disagrees with the legislature’s decision, “I am eager to move forward in partnership on the work of repair that we all agree is an urgent and pressing need.”

“I believe the time for action is now -– and we must continue moving forward with the work of repair immediately,” Moore said in a statement. “That mission is especially vital given the immediate and ongoing effects of this federal administration on our constituents, including communities that have been historically left behind.”

Potential reparations outlined in the bill include official statements of apology, monetary compensation, property tax rebates, social service assistance, as well as licensing and permit fee waivers and reimbursement. Reparations also could include assistance with making a down payment on a home, business incentives, childcare, debt forgiveness and tuition payment waivers for higher education.

Maryland’s Black population is about 30%, the highest percentage of any state outside of the Deep South.

Support for reparations gained momentum in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. However, the issue has been a difficult one, particularly for high-profile Democrats, and comes amid a broader conservative backlash over how race, history and inequality are handled in public institutions.

“At a time of growing attacks on diversity and equity, today’s action reaffirms our shared commitment to truth-telling, accountability, and meaningful progress for Black Marylanders,” the state’s Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement.

In October, California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered a mixed bag for proponents of bills aimed at addressing racist and discriminatory policies against African Americans. He signed a law authorizing $6 million for California State University to study how to confirm an individual’s status as a descendant of an enslaved person. But he vetoed other bills the California Legislative Black Caucus championed as tools to atone for the state’s history.

Newsom, who is considering running for president in 2028, signed a law last year to formally apologize for slavery and its lingering effects on Black Californians.

Moore has said he is not planning to run for president in 2028, but he has continued to cultivate a national profile that has drawn pundits’ attention as a potential White House contender.

New York City lawmakers approved legislation last year to study the city’s significant role in slavery and consider reparations to descendants of enslaved people.

In 2021, Evanston, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, became the first U.S. city to create a reparations plan for its Black residents, using tax revenue from the sale of recreational marijuana.

As recently as a few years ago, Americans viewed the prospect of reparations mostly negatively. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2021 found that only about 3 in 10 U.S. adults said descendants of people enslaved in the U.S. should be repaid in some way, such as given land or money. About 7 in 10 said these descendants should not be repaid.

Maryland lawmakers did not take up congressional redistricting in their one-day special session. Moore has expressed interest in pursuing a new map, which could come up when lawmakers convene in January for their annual 90-day session. However, the state Senate president has said he doesn’t support moving forward with a new map. Democrats hold a 7-1 advantage over Republicans in the state’s eight congressional districts.

Western Military Presence in Ukraine in Any Format Unacceptable for Russia — MFA

Maria Zakharova stated that such pseudo-peacekeepers would become legitimate targets for the Russian army

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

© Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. The deployment of Western military personnel in Ukraine "under any guise and in any format" is unacceptable for Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated at a briefing.

Earlier, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the so-called coalition of the willing has completed preparations for plans to deploy troops in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

"The deployment of Western troops on Ukrainian territory under any guise and in any format remains unacceptable for us. We have repeatedly stated that such pseudo-peacekeepers will become legitimate targets for the Russian army," the diplomat noted.

Zakharova referred to the corresponding group of individuals as a "coalition of warmongers," whose activities only cause bewilderment. "Instead of focusing on finding options for settling the crisis, given that they were all talking about peace, and doing so while taking into account the interests of all parties involved in the conflict, the countries belonging to this very coalition are essentially developing plans for the occupation of Ukraine," she concluded.

Russian Troops Strike Ukrainian Army’s Energy Infrastructure Over Past Day

According to the latest figures, Kiev loses 1,405 troops along engagement line in past day

© Alexander Reka/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russian troops struck energy infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army and enemy deployment areas over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck energy infrastructure facilities used to support the Ukrainian army’s operations, workshops for the assembly of long-range attack unmanned aerial vehicles and their storage sites, and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 149 locations," the ministry said in a statement.

Kiev loses 1,405 troops along engagement line in past day - latest figures

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,405 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The latest figures show that the Ukrainian army lost roughly 150 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, about 200 troops, a US-made armored personnel carrier and two Turkish-made armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and over 195 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup South.

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army also lost over 545 troops and five armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, roughly 245 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East and about 70 troops and two artillery systems in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup Dnepr, the latest figures show.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 150 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 150 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of a jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian army and a National Guard regiment in areas near the settlements of Alekseyevka, Ryzhevka, Varachino and Shostka in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Prilipka, Vilcha, Stary Saltov, Veliky Burluk and Volchanskiye Khutora in the Kharkov Region, the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 150 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, eight motor vehicles, two artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations and an Israeli-made RADA radar station in those frontline areas over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts 200 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 200 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a US-made armored personnel carrier and two Turkish-made armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and a National Guard brigade in areas near the settlements of Blagodatovka, Podoly, Kovsharovka, Boguslavka, Kupyansk-Uzlovoi and Nechvolodovka in the Kharkov Region and Krasny Liman in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 200 personnel, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, two Turkish-made Cobra armored combat vehicles, 13 motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed two ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 195 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 195 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades, an airmobile brigade, two mountain assault brigades of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and a National Guard brigade in areas near the settlements of Reznikovka, Zakotnoye, Kirovo, Minkovka, Konstantinovka and Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 195 personnel, four armored combat vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, among them two US-made 155mm M777 howitzers and two electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed three ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Battlegroup Center units thwart Ukrainian army’s attempt to break through to Krasnoarmeysk

Russia’s Battlegroup Center units thwarted the Ukrainian army’s attempt to break through towards Krasnoarmeysk and continued destroying enemy forces in Dimitrov in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units continued destroying the surrounded enemy in the neighborhoods Vostochny and Zapadny in the city of Dimitrov in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They kept mopping up the settlements of Rodinskoye and Svetloye in the Donetsk People’s Republic of scattered Ukrainian army groups," the ministry said.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup Center units "thwarted attempts by Ukrainian assault groups to break through to the northern outskirts of the industrial zone of Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People’s Republic from Shevchenko across forest belts. A total of 42 militants and 14 items of military equipment were destroyed," the ministry reported.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 545 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 545 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade, an airmobile brigade, an infantry brigade, an air assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade, two National Guard brigades and the Azov special operations brigade [outlawed as a terrorist group in Russia] in areas near the settlements of Kutuzovka, Sergeyevka, Grishino, Volnoye, Toretskoye and Belitskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Novopavlovka and Novopodgorodnoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 545 personnel, five armored combat vehicles, 10 motor vehicles and two artillery guns in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts 245 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 245 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup East units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of an assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Andreyevka and Gavrilovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Gulyaipole and Kosovtsevo in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 245 personnel, four armored combat vehicles, 12 motor vehicles and three materiel depots in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminates 70 Ukrainian troops in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated roughly 70 Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy artillery systems in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on formations of a mountain assault brigade and a coastal defense brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Tyaginka, Nikolskoye and Dneprovskoye in the Kherson Region," the ministry said.

"Up to 70 Ukrainian military personnel, 21 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, including a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer and two materiel depots were destroyed," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses intercept 216 Ukrainian UAVs over past day

Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 216 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down 216 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 669 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 283 helicopters, 103,758 unmanned aerial vehicles, 640 surface-to-air missile systems, 26,591 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,633 multiple rocket launchers, 31,994 field artillery guns and mortars and 49,358 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

Euro Democracy in US Crosshairs, Meddling Threat in Russian Elections: Lavrov Statements

The Russian foreign minister said that the US had sent a strong signal to Europe criticizing the democracy "that is practiced in Europe"

© Sergey Karpukhin/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. The West may try to influence the 2026 elections to the State Duma, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a meeting of the United Russia general council commission on international cooperation, according to the speech published on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

He also said that the US had sent a strong signal to Europe criticizing the democracy "that is practiced in Europe."

TASS collected the main statements of the foreign Minister.

On possible elections in Ukraine

The statement by American leader Donald Trump about the need for presidential elections in Ukraine raises the question of how the West will "orchestrate" them: "Just a a reminder: the people have already elected you for a certain term, don’t overstay your welcome, it’s the people who should decide on this via election."

On democracy as it exists in Europe

The fact that the United States is no longer on board with democracy "as it is understood in Europe" is a "strong signal."

The statements by chief of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas that the EU will help Armenia in the same way "it did in Moldova" are a "confession": "A sincere confession, full confession."

The "directness" of the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who called on the United States not to interfere in "European democracy" is striking, especially against the background of what is happening in Romania and Moldova.

On the threat of meddling in the elections to the State Duma

The West may try to influence the 2026 elections to the State Duma: "We should have no illusions, and we must be prepared for this. And, of course, we will be ready."

Russia is "the special target" of Western geopolitical "engineers" wanting to sway the electoral process.

The West used artificial intelligence against Russia in the presidential elections: "Since they're not so smart themselves, they probably have to rely on the achievements of modern technology in such matters."

Resuming Nuclear Tests, NATO Threat: What Russia's Military Chief of Staff Said

The North Atlantic Alliance, under the pretext of a so-called Russian military threat, has "significantly increased" its military presence near Russia’s borders

Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Russia’s First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

© Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russia strictly adheres to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, but it will take appropriate action if the United States resumes testing, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Army General Valery Gerasimov told a briefing for foreign military attaches.

He also said that the North Atlantic Alliance, under the pretext of the so-called Russian military threat, has "significantly increased" its military presence near Russian borders.

TASS has compiled the key statements by the head of the General Staff.

On the situation in the free zone

The Russian army "has seized and firmly holds the strategic initiative."

The Russian army in Ukraine is "up against the economic and military might of the collective West."

On the NATO threat

The North Atlantic Alliance, under the pretext of a so-called Russian military threat, has "significantly increased" its military presence near Russia’s borders.

During the Defender Europe military exercises, NATO deployed "significant contingents of troops" to the Russian frontier.

It’s the collective West which is taking a threatening position, as it keeps on with its goal of "inflicting strategic defeat on Russia during its special military operation through comprehensive support for Ukraine's military potential."

The growing NATO military potential and its activity near Russian borders poses a "long-term challenge" to the interests of the country.

On the nuclear sphere

The share of modern weapons in the strategic nuclear forces currently stands at 92%.

Russia strictly adheres to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, but if the United States resumes testing, "appropriate retaliatory measures will follow."

On global security

The "complete collapse of the arms control system" would certainly have an impact on global security.

The United States has not yet responded to Russia's initiative to adhere to the limitations of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START Treaty) for a year after its completion.

The New START Treaty is nominally in effect, and after its expiration in February "there will be no restrictions in this area."

On the failure of attempts to make Russia a pariah

The West has again failed to isolate Russia: "More and more states share Russia's views on the formation of a multipolar architecture of international relations, and they also understand the true causes and goals of the special military operation.".

Intelligence Services Remain ‘Almost Sole’ Link Between Russia, Europe — SVR

Responding to a question about whether the Russian side observes more common sense in the approaches of European countries’ intelligence services than in the activities of their politicians, Sergey Naryshkin noted that "the approaches of intelligence services generally align with the policies of their states"

Director of Russian Foreign Intelligence Service of Sergey Naryshkin Valeria Kalugina/TASS

© Valeria Kalugina/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. These days, nearly the only communication Russia and Europe have is between intelligence services, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin said in an interview with TASS.

Responding to a question about whether the Russian side observes more common sense in the approaches of European countries’ intelligence services than in the activities of their politicians, Naryshkin noted that "the approaches of intelligence services generally align with the policies of their states."

"But given the non-existent state of diplomatic relations due to current circumstances, the partner channel is almost the sole link of interaction between states," he emphasized.

Naryshkin added that the corresponding channel "operates with different countries, with different intelligence services, to varying extents, depending on the level of interstate relations, depending on the tasks facing each special service.".

Kremlin Warns About Consequences for Masterminds, Perpetrators of Russian Asset Seizure

"Those who made decisions collectively, those who made decisions individually and those who put them into practice will all bear responsibility," Dmitry Peskov said

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS

© Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS

MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. Expropriation of Russian assets will not be left unpunished for its masterminds and perpetrators, and Moscow will use all the available international law mechanisms to punish them, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

"We have repeatedly said that all actions, related to expropriations of Russian assets, will not be left unanswered. Those who made decisions collectively, those who made decisions individually and those who put them into practice will all bear responsibility," he said.

"To that end, all possible legal mechanisms will be used," the Kremlin spokesman added.

Seven Killed in SPLM-N Shelling on Dilling, South Kordofan

17 December 2025

A building destroyed by shelling in Dilling, South Kordofan, Sudan, October 11, 2025.

December 17, 2025 (DILLING) – At least seven people were killed and dozens injured on Wednesday when the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) launched heavy artillery fire at Dilling in South Kordofan state, local sources said.

The shelling, described as the most intense in recent months, targeted western neighbourhoods of South Kordofan’s second-largest city, sparking widespread panic. In response, local authorities closed the main market, schools, and government offices, and banned public gatherings until further notice.

Dilling has been under a dual siege since the early stages of Sudan’s conflict. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) control access from the north and east, blocking aid and trade convoys. To the west and south, the Abdel Aziz al-Hilu-led SPLM-N enforces a blockade, restricting the movement of essential goods such as maize and flour, which it classifies as strategic materials.

The escalation follows a pattern of increased artillery and drone strikes by both the RSF and SPLM-N against the city, worsening a precarious humanitarian situation.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, an RSF drone strike killed at least six displaced people on the outskirts of al-Kargal, a source said. The victims were part of a group travelling from the state capital, Kadugli, toward Dilling.

Intelligence reports suggest the SPLM-N is mobilizing fighters near the towns of Al-Samasim and Al-Kargal. The movements indicate an attempt to sever the road connecting Kadugli and Dilling, which the Sudanese army had reopened in February. Such a move would further isolate the state’s main urban centres.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported a new wave of displacement across South Kordofan due to the fighting. According to the IOM, 825 people have fled Gadeer, 455 have left Dilling, and hundreds more have escaped Kadugli and Al-Kuweik. Many of the displaced are heading toward North Kordofan, White Nile state, and Khartoum.

Sudan Political Groups, Rebel Faction Sign Anti-war Declaration in Nairobi

17 December 2025

The signatories of the anti-war declaration hold a press conference in Nairobi on Dec 16, 2025

December 16, 2025 (NAIROBI) – Sudanese political groups and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur signed a declaration in Nairobi on Tuesday outlining shared principles to end the war and rebuild the country, organisers said.

The document, titled the Declaration of Principles for Building a New Homeland, also aligns the signatories behind a separate memorandum calling for the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Islamic Movement to be designated as terrorist organisations.

Signatories to the declaration include the Sudan Liberation Movement, the Sudanese Congress Party, the Federal Gathering, the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party (Original), the National Umma Party, the SPLM – Democratic Revolutionary Current, the National Ba’ath Party, the Sudanese Alliance and the Republican Party.

Several civilian groups also signed the declaration and memorandum, including the Coordination of the Displaced and Refugees, the Darfur Bar Association, the Alliance of Civilian Forces for Eastern Sudan, and the Coordination of Professionals and Trade Unions. Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and journalist al-Haj Warraq were among the prominent individuals who endorsed the documents.

The declaration stresses Sudan’s unity and sovereignty, rejects a military solution to the conflict and calls for an immediate three-month ceasefire linked to humanitarian and political tracks. It also calls for excluding the Islamic Movement and its allies from the political process, rebuilding state institutions and establishing a single professional national army.

The document further calls for Sudan to contribute to regional security, ensure the safety of the Red Sea and combat terrorism.

Wagdi Salih, a senior figure in the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, said at a press conference that the declaration and the memorandum were intended to unify civil and political forces behind demands for a ceasefire and an end to the war.

Asked why the memorandum did not call for designating the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organisation, Salih told Al Jazeera TV that the RSF was not a political party, while the NCP bore responsibility for decades of abuses during its rule.

Mohamed al-Nayer, a spokesman for the SLM, said the declaration was an important step at a critical moment for the country. He told Sudan Tribune that the move could help unify anti-war civilian forces and mobilise pressure at local, regional and international levels against the NCP and the Islamic Movement.

He said the Islamic Movement should be designated a terrorist organisation based on what he described as decades of criminal practices, adding that such a designation could help end the war by weakening its influence.

NCP reaction

The National Congress Party dismissed the Nairobi declaration.

In comments to Al Jazeera Mubasher, the party’s political secretary, al-Nu’man Abd al-Halim, said the NCP did not attach importance to the signatories, accusing them of supporting the RSF. He said the party stood with Sudan’s armed forces and alleged that the United Arab Emirates influenced the signatories’ positions.

Sudan Teachers Demand Probe After Two Colleagues ‘Tortured to Death’ in Army Cell

17 December 2025

Sudanese soldiers hold a drone captured in Dilling on June 25, 2025

December 17, 2025 (DILLING) – The Sudanese Teachers’ Committee called on Wednesday for an investigation into the deaths of two teachers allegedly tortured to death at a military base in Dilling, South Kordofan.

Emergency laws in most Sudanese states have granted the military broad powers to detain and interrogate civilians. Human rights groups have reported several instances of detainees dying under torture within these military facilities.

The committee identified the deceased as Al-Imam Al-Daye, a primary school teacher from Al-Farshaya village, and his cousin and colleague, Tartur Al-Daye.

“Al-Imam Al-Daye died on Monday from injuries sustained during torture at the 54th Brigade Military Intelligence detention center in Dilling,” the committee said in a statement. “Tartur Al-Daye died in November following similar brutal treatment.”

The group demanded a criminal inquiry supervised by neutral judicial authorities to identify those responsible, including those who issued the orders. They also called for the immediate release of all teachers currently held in arbitrary detention.

According to family testimonies cited by the committee, the two men were summoned to the Dilling Education Department under the guise of collecting their salaries. They were arrested by Military Intelligence upon arrival.

The committee stated the men were held for months without judicial warrants or formal charges. It held the Military Intelligence in Dilling legally responsible for what it described as a “complete crime” and a grave violation of the right to life.

Sudanese authorities have detained thousands of individuals on suspicion of collaborating with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). While some have been acquitted, others have faced trial, resulting in prison sentences or the death penalty.

Three Million Sudanese Return Home, Cutting Displaced Total by a Fifth – IOM

18 December 2025

Sudanese returning to Sudan before taking the train in Cairo, heading to the border area, in April 2025

December 17, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – The number of people returning to their homes in Sudan has surpassed three million, leading to a 19% decline in the country’s total displaced population, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday.

In its latest Sudan Displacement and Return Overview, which surveyed over 12,000 locations across all 18 states, the IOM reported that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has fallen to 9.33 million from a peak of 11.5 million.

Of the 3,027,446 total returnees, 81% returned from internal displacement, while 19% returned from abroad. The agency noted that returnee numbers surged by 16% over the past month alone, driven largely by the military regaining control of key areas in Sennar, Aj Jazirah, and Khartoum.

Despite the rising return rate, the IOM warned that many are moving back out of necessity due to a lack of jobs and poor conditions in displacement sites, rather than a sustainable improvement in security or services at home. A significant percentage of returning families reported going home despite ongoing security and service challenges, and the report noted that children under 18 make up over half of both the displaced and returnee populations.

The report highlighted severe humanitarian gaps and a lack of access to basic necessities. Regarding food security, 32% of displaced households and 20% of returnee households reported going a full day and night without eating in the last month.

Healthcare remains a major challenge, with 46% of displaced families and 20% of returnees unable to access necessary medical care. Additionally, sanitation problems were reported by 87% of displaced households and 36% of returnees.

While displacement decreased in 12 states, it continued to rise in North, West, East, and Central Darfur, as well as parts of Kordofan. Khartoum saw the highest influx of returnees, with over 1.09 million recorded.

Since the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023, more than 4.3 million people have fled to neighbouring countries. However, the IOM observed that cross-border movement slowed in the second half of 2025 as neighbouring nations tightened entry restrictions and economic conditions for refugees deteriorated.

The report concluded that while 89% of returnees intend to stay in their current locations, the humanitarian situation remains fragile, with high risks of gender-based violence and child labor persisting in informal settlements and camps.

Over 1,600 People Have Been Killed in Attacks on Health Centers in Sudan This Year, WHO Chief Says

FILE- Sudanese families displaced from El-Fasher reach out as aid workers distribute food supplies at the newly established El-Afadh camp in Al Dabbah, in Sudan’s Northern State, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali,File)

By SAMY MAGDY

11:43 AM EST, December 17, 2025

CAIRO (AP) — More than 1,600 people have been killed in attacks on medical facilities and health care centers in war-torn Sudan so far this year, the United Nations health chief said Wednesday — the latest daunting statistic in the devastating conflict in the African nation.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, said the agency has documented 65 attacks on health facilities since January. The attacks also left 276 people wounded.

The most recent was a drone attack on Sunday on a military hospital in Diling, the capital of South Kordofan province, which in recent months became a flashpoint in the fighting between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Ghebreyesus said the attack killed nine people and wounded 17. “Every attack deprives more people from health services and medicines – needs that do not pause while facilities are rebuilt and services restored,” he said in a post on X.

The Sudan Doctor’s Network, a group of medical professionals tracking the war, blamed the paramilitary forces for the drone attack that targeted the miliary hospital in Diling.

The causalities in Diling were among at least 104 people killed in attacks across Kordofan region since Dec. 4, according to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

The attacks on healthcare facilities included an RSF offensive on the Saudi Hospital in the Darfur city of el-Fasher in October. The WHO said gunmen killed at least 460 people at the hospital, and abducted doctors and nurses.

Sudan plunge into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere in the country.

The war, now in its third year, has killed more than 40,000 people, according to U.N. figures, though aid groups say that is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher.

The conflict has also created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with over 14 million people forced to flee their homes, disease outbreaks and famine spreading in parts of the country.

AFC/M23 Rebels Agree to US Request for Withdrawal From City in DR Congo

AFC/M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, on Tuesday agreed to withdraw from the city of Uvira in eastern DRC following a request from US mediators. The group said its withdrawal was a gesture to give the ongoing peace process between Rwanda and DRC a chance to succeed.

16/12/2025 - 10:14

FRANCE 24

The AFC/M23 armed group said Tuesday it had agreed to a request from the United States to withdraw from the city of Uvira in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Rwanda-backed militia seized the city near the border with Burundi last week, days after the Congolese and Rwandan governments signed a road map towards a peace agreement in Washington – whose future has been cast in doubt by the AFC/M23 advance, raising fears of a wider regional war.

The group "will unilaterally withdraw its forces from the city of Uvira, as requested by the US mediators", it said in a statement signed by its coordinator, Corneil Nangaa.

The AFC/M23 called for "adequate measures" to be put in place to manage the city, including "demilitarisation, protecting its population and infrastructure, and monitoring the ceasefire with a neutral force".

It called for implementation of a framework ceasefire deal reached in a parallel peace process negotiated in the Qatari capital Doha, which was agreed in November but never respected on the ground.

The M23 said it was withdrawing as a gesture "to instil trust in order to give the Doha peace process every chance to succeed".

The DRC's mineral-rich east has been ravaged by three decades of conflict.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Rwanda-backed M23 Rebels Claim Withdrawal from Uvira as Peace Talks Struggle

By RUTH ALONGA and WILSON MCMAKIN

3:41 PM EST, December 17, 2025

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Rwanda-backed M23 rebels claimed to have begun a withdrawal from the city of Uvira in eastern Congo late Wednesday night, according the leader of the rebel group and local authorities.

Bertrand Bisimwa, leader of the M23, spoke to The Associated Press via telephone and said the withdrawal would be complete by Thursday morning.

“We said we’re going to withdraw. Our statement is clear. And that’s what we’re doing,” said Bisimwa.

M23 took control of the city last week following a rapid offensive launched at the start of the month. More than 400 people have been killed, and about 200,000 displaced, regional officials say.

The rebels’ latest offensive comes despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed earlier this month by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington.

Residents shared conflicting reports on the status of the withdrawal.

Kelvin Bwija, coordinator of the Congolese civil society in Uvira, said M23 troops were heading north toward the town of Kamanyola.

Bwija also claimed that pro-government militias know as Wazelendo have begun to approach the city but the AP was unable to confirm this.

When asked who would take control of the city following his forces withdrawal, Bisimwa said the responsibility fell to the mediators and that M23 had “requested a neutral force, and we believe that those who asked us to withdraw will be able to deploy them very quickly.”

A spokesperson for the governor of South Kivu said he was unable to confirm the withdrawal late Wednesday night.

The U.S. last week accused Rwanda of violating the agreement by backing the new rebel advance in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, and warned that the Trump administration will take action against “spoilers” of the deal.

The accord didn’t include the rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and agreed earlier this year to a ceasefire that both sides accuse the other of violating. However, the accord obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups like M23 and work to end hostilities.

The rebel push into Uvira brought the conflict to the doorstep of neighboring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years, heightening fears of a broader regional spillover.

Around 64,000 refugees from Congo have arrived in Burundi since the start of the month, according to the U.N. refugee agency. There have also been reports of shells falling in the town of Rugombo, on the Burundian side of the border.

Congo, the U.S. and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing M23, which has grown from hundreds of members in 2021 to around 6,500 fighters, according to the U.N.

More than 100 armed groups are vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, near the border with Rwanda, most prominently M23. The conflict has created one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced, according to the U.N. agency for refugees.

Refugee Firefighters in Mauritania Battle Bushfires to Give Back to the Community That Took Them In

By MONIKA PRONCZUK and CAITLIN KELLY

12:19 AM EST, December 18, 2025

MBERA, Mauritania (AP) — The men move in rhythm, swaying in line and beating the ground with spindly tree branches as the sun sets over the barren and hostile Mauritanian desert. The crack of the wood against dry grass lands in unison, a technique perfected by more than a decade of fighting bushfires.

There is no fire today but the men — volunteer firefighters backed by the U.N. refugee agency — keep on training.

In this region of West Africa, bushfires are deadly. They can break out in the blink of an eye and last for days. The impoverished, vast territory is shared by Mauritanians and more than 250,000 refugees from neighboring Mali, who rely on the scarce vegetation to feed their livestock.

For the refugee firefighters, battling the blazes is a way of giving back to the community that took them in when they fled violence and instability at home in Mali.

Newcomers with an old tradition

Hantam Ag Ahmedou was 11 years old when his family left Mali in 2012 to settle in the Mbera refugee camp in Mauritania, 48 kilometers (30 miles) from the Malian border. Like most refugees and locals, his family are herders and once in Mbera, they saw how quickly bushfires spread and how devastating they can be.

“We said to ourselves: There is this amazing generosity of the host community. These people share with us everything they have,” he told The Associated Press. “We needed to do something to lessen the burden.”

His father started organizing volunteer firefighters, at the time around 200 refugees. The Mauritanians had been fighting bushfires for decades, Ag Ahmedou said, but the Malian refugees brought know-how that gave them an advantage.

“You cannot stop bushfires with water,” Ag Ahmedou said. “That’s impossible, fires sometimes break out a hundred kilometers from the nearest water source.”

Instead they use tree branches, he said, to smother the fire.

“That’s the only way to do it,” he said.

The volunteer ‘brigade’

Since 2018, the firefighters have been under the patronage of the UNHCR. The European Union finances their training and equipment, as well as the clearing of firebreak strips to stop the fires from spreading. The volunteers today count over 360 refugees who work with the region’s authorities and firefighters.

When a bushfire breaks out and the alert comes in, the firefighters jump into their pickup trucks and drive out. Once at the site of a fire, a 20-member team spreads out and starts pounding the ground at the edge of the blaze with acacia branches — a rare tree that has a high resistance to heat.

Usually, three other teams stand by in case the first team needs replacing.

Ag Ahmedou started going out with the firefighters when he was 13, carrying water and food supplies for the men. He helped put out his first fire when he was 18, and has since beaten hundreds of blazes.

He knows how dangerous the task is but he doesn’t let the fear control him.

“Someone has to do it,” he said. “If the fire is not stopped, it can penetrate the refugee camp and the villages, kill animals, kill humans, and devastate the economy of the whole region.”

A climate-vulnerable nation

About 90% of Mauritania is covered by the Sahara Desert. Climate change has accelerated desertification and increased the pressure on natural resources, especially water, experts say. The United Nations says tensions between locals and refugees over grazing areas is a key threat to peace.

Tayyar Sukru Cansizoglu, the UNHCR chief in Mauritania, said that with the effects of climate change, even Mauritanians in the area cannot find enough grazing land for their own cows and goats — so a “single bushfire” becomes life-threatening for everyone.

When the first refugees arrived in 2012, authorities cleared a large chunk of land for the Mbera camp, which today has more than 150,000 Malian refugees. Another 150,000 live in villages scattered across the vast territory, sometimes outnumbering the locals 10 to one.

Chejna Abdallah, the mayor of the border town of Fassala, said because of “high pressure on natural resources, especially access to water,” tensions are rising between the locals and the Malians.

Giving back

Abderrahmane Maiga, a 52-year-old member of the “Mbera Fire Brigade,” as the firefighters call themselves, presses soil around a young seedling and carefully pours water at its base.

To make up for the vegetation losses, the firefighters have started setting up tree and plant nurseries across the desert — including acacias. This year, they also planted the first lemon and mango trees.

“It’s only right that we stand up to help people,” Maiga said.

He recalls one of the worst fires he faced in 2014, which dozens of men — both refugees and host community members — spent 48 hours battling. By the time it was over, some of the volunteers had collapsed from exhaustion.

Ag Ahmedou said he was aware of the tensions, especially as violence in Mali intensifies and going back is not an option for most of the refugees.

He said this was the life he was born into — a life in the desert, a life of food scarcity and “degraded land” — and that there is nowhere else for him to go. Fighting for survival is the only option.

“We cannot go to Europe and abandon our home,” he said. “So we have to resist. We have to fight.”

Trump’s Expanded Travel Ban Hits Africa the Hardest But Reactions Are Muted

By Farai Mutsaka

5:52 PM EST, December 17, 2025

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Africa has been the hardest hit by the Trump administration’s decision to add 20 countries to a list of travel restrictions but reactions on the continent of some 1.5 billion people were largely muted on Wednesday as affected nations mulled the implications of the measure and their next moves.

The new restrictions expand on the list from June and are broader and more punitive than those during Trump’s first presidency, which largely targeted Muslim-majority countries and which were reversed in 2021.

The African Union urged the United States to protect its borders in “a manner that is balanced, evidence-based, and reflective of the long-standing ties and partnership” between the U.S. and Africa, the bloc’s spokesman Nuur Mohamu said.

The stance was a repeat of the statement by the bloc in June, when U.S. President Donald Trump revived the travel restrictions from his first term in office.

The expanded ban

Of the five countries whose citizens joined the list on Tuesday of those banned from entering the United States, four are in Africa — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and South Sudan, which was already facing significant travel restrictions. Also on the list are Syria and people with travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority, which runs the West Bank.

Some other countries — including Sierra Leone in Africa and Laos in Asia — were subject to partial restrictions during Trump’s first presidency and also in June, and were now moved to the full restrictions list.

Twelve of the 15 countries that face partial restrictions are also in Africa. They include Angola, Benin, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The rest are two Caribbean nations — Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica — and Tonga in the South Pacific.

Trump’s expanded measures also link entry limits to security, documentation and visa-overstay concerns.

The 55-nation African Union warned of the “potential negative impact of such measures on people-to-people ties, educational exchanges, commercial engagement, and the broader diplomatic relations” built over decades.

Sierra Leone, now moved to the full ban list, said in a statement Wednesday that it hoped to engage Washington and get it to review the decision. The impoverished West African country said it would “remain committed to strengthening international cooperation and addressing immigration concerns raised by the U.S. government,” adding that officials are “actively engaged in ongoing, constructive dialogue with U.S authorities.”

In Mali, which was added to the full ban list on Tuesday, foreign ministry press officer Samuel Saye said it was “too early for us to comment” — something many other officials across Africa echoed.

An unfair measure, many say

Several analysts and activists described the measures as unfair, a sign of incoherent U.S.–Africa relations and an opportunity for Washington’s rivals such as Russia and China to further entrench ties with Africa.

Some ordinary citizens expressed their unease and concerns.

“I believe this position is unfair because it paints all Nigerians with the same brush,” said Ramlah Ibrahim Nok, a business lawyer in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. Nigeria is on the list of partial restrictions.

Many Nigerians travel for “education, business and tourism,” she said and added that authorities in her own country should also do their part in confronting issues such as visa overstays by Nigerians who travel to the U.S.

Beverly Ochieng, an analyst at Control Risks Group in Dakar, Senegal’s capital, predicted that Trump’s ban will likely make relations between the U.S. and various African countries “incoherent, unpredictable and challenging.”

The measure also reduces prospects for cooperation and may push some governments to look elsewhere to build strong partnerships.

“It’s very unfortunate,” said Mohamed Keita, a 45-year-old Malian resident, adding that Washington’s “decision may penalize Malians who do business with the United States.”

Also in Mali, Abdoulaye Fofana, 31, said he feared retaliation if Malian authorities “apply the principle of reciprocity, it is the bi-national Malians who will be affected.”

Bad timing

Sports enthusiasts are also worried, especially those hoping to travel to the 2026 soccer World Cup matches in the U.S., which is co-hosting the competition with Canada and Mexico.

Pape Seye, a taxi driver in Dakar, said he heard of “FIFA exemptions for the players and staff of the qualified teams” but was concerned whether “fans will be able to go as well” under the new measure.

In South Sudan, which was added to the full ban list, human rights activist Rajab Mohandis said the measure is “an open expression of increasing frustration of the Trump administration with the government” in the African country.

He added that the ban is “a way of invoking diplomatic consequences” following U.S. concerns over the slow implementation of a peace agreement signed in 2018 to end five years of conflict in South Sudan that left more than 400,000 people dead.

___

Associated Press writers from across Africa contributed to this report.

South African Authorities Raid a US Refugee Processing Center and Washington Protests

By MICHELLE GUMEDE and GERALD IMRAY

9:19 AM EST, December 17, 2025

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African immigration authorities raided a United States refugee processing center in Johannesburg and seven Kenyans working there illegally were arrested and given deportation orders, South Africa’s Home Affairs Ministry said Wednesday, as the U.S. called the action “unacceptable.”

Tuesday’s raid occurred at a center that processes applications by white South Africans who have been given priority for refugee status in the U.S. by the Trump administration. It was bound to increase tensions between the countries, whose relations have cooled dramatically since President Donald Trump returned to office.

The Trump administration’s claim that members of South Africa’s Afrikaner white minority group are being persecuted by the Black-led government has been widely rejected, but it has been central to the deterioration of ties between the U.S. and Africa’s most advanced economy.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the Kenyans were in the country on tourist visas which did not allow them to work, adding that U.S. officials’ work with them at the refugee processing center “raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol.”

It was not immediately clear whether the U.S. had known about the Kenyans’ status.

The ministry said no U.S. officials were arrested in the raid and that the site was not a diplomatic one. It said South Africa’s Foreign Ministry has started “formal diplomatic engagements with both the United States and Kenya to resolve this matter.”

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said “interfering in our refugee operations is unacceptable,” adding that they were seeking “immediate clarification from the South African government and expect full cooperation and accountability.”

The U.S. Embassy in a statement last month said the U.S. government had contracted a Kenya-based company, RSC Africa, to process refugee applications by white South Africans. RSC Africa is operated by Church World Service, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization that offers refugee assistance and works with the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the Kenyans were working at the U.S. refugee processing site “despite the fact that earlier visa applications for Kenyan nationals to perform this work had been lawfully declined.” The seven Kenyans were given deportation orders and banned from entering South Africa for a five-year period.

Trump has singled out South Africa for criticism on a range of issues, claiming without evidence that Afrikaners are being killed and having their land seized and that South Africa is pursuing an anti-U.S. foreign policy through its diplomatic relations with Palestinian authorities and Iran.

The U.S. boycotted last month’s Group of 20 world leaders summit in South Africa, and Trump said it will exclude South Africa from the group when it hosts the annual summit next year. Trump also issued an executive order in February that said the U.S. would stop aid and assistance to South Africa over what it called its “egregious actions.”

South Africa’s government has said the U.S. claims over the persecution of Afrikaners are based on misinformation and that white South Africans don’t meet the criteria for refugee status because there is no persecution, although it said it wouldn’t stop anyone applying. Afrikaners are white South Africans descended from mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers who first came to the country in the 17th century.

The Trump administration announced in October it was dramatically cutting the annual quota for refugees allowed in the U.S. to 7,500 from a previous limit of 125,000 and white South Africans would be given most of the places. A first group of white South African refugees had already arrived in the U.S. under the new program for them in May. It’s not clear how many have been relocated since then.

___

Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Featured on Spotlight Discussing the Situation in Ukraine

To watch this program go to the following link: THE STATUS OF UKRAINE WAR

Watch this worldwide satellite news segment Spotlight featuring Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, discussing the current situation surrounding the Ukraine war and the role of Russia, Europe and the United States. 

The program aired live on Dec. 16, 2025. "Northern and eastern EU leaders have met in Helsinki to coordinate their defense strategy", the promotional language for the episode reads: "The Ukrainian President says a US-backed peace proposal could be offered to Moscow soon. That's while European leaders, left out of the process, warn that Russia remains a long-term threat to the continent's security. Abayomi Azikiwe Editor, Pan-African News Wire Detroit, and Syed Mohsin Abbas, Journalist and Political Commentator in London are featured as analysts."

Rwanda-backed M23 Rebels Say They Will Withdraw From Seized City in Eastern DR Congo

By MARK BANCHEREAU

11:22 AM EST, December 16, 2025

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Rwanda-backed M23 rebels said Tuesday they will withdraw from Uvira, the strategic city in eastern Congo seized last week, as fighting in the region escalated despite a U.S.-mediated peace deal.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, which includes M23, said the withdrawal was requested by the U.S. and is a “unilateral trust-building measure” to facilitate the peace process.

The statement also called for the demilitarization of Uvira, the protection of its population and infrastructure, and the monitoring of the ceasefire through the deployment of a neutral force. It did not say whether M23’s withdrawal is contingent on implementing these measures.

Uvira residents said Tuesday that the rebels were still in the town.

M23 took control of the city last week following a rapid offensive launched at the start of the month. More than 400 people have been killed about 200,000 displaced, regional officials say.

The rebels’ latest offensive comes despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed earlier this month by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington.

The U.S. last week accused Rwanda of violating the agreement by backing the new rebel advance in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, and warned that the Trump administration will take action against “spoilers” of the deal.

The accord didn’t include the rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and agreed earlier this year to a ceasefire that both sides accuse the other of violating. However, the accord obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups like M23 and work to end hostilities.

The rebel push into Uvira brought the conflict to the doorstep of neighboring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years, heightening fears of a broader regional spillover.

Around 64,000 refugees from Congo have arrived in Burundi since the start of the month, according to the U.N. refugee agency. There have also been reports of shells falling in the town of Rugombo, on the Burundian side of the border.

Congo, the U.S. and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing M23, which has grown from hundreds of members in 2021 to around 6,500 fighters, according to the U.N.

More than 100 armed groups are vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, near the border with Rwanda, most prominently M23. The conflict has created one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced, according to the U.N. agency for refugees.

In Senegal, Climate Change is Adding to Historic Tension Between Farmers and Herders

By ANDREA FERRO

9:05 PM EST, December 16, 2025

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Cheikh Diouf and his father had just delivered a load of manure to the family’s fields near their village in January when Diouf, returning home for a second load, got an urgent phone call from his sister-in-law: His father, she said, was arguing with a group of herders. By the time Diouf raced to the field, his father was dead, struck down by machete blows.

There was no trace of the attackers, but Diouf and his family blame herders whose animals had grazed into the cassava fields that Moussa Diouf was cultivating. The elder Diouf, in his 60s, spent most of his time in the fields or at a mosque where he served as muezzin, performing the daily call to prayer.

“It hurts so much,” Diouf, 18, said. “If only I had been there, he wouldn’t have died. Either I or the herder would have died — but not my father. If I ever meet that herder, I will avenge him, that’s for sure.”

Tension between farmers and herders has long been a fact of life in West Africa, but climate change is ramping it up. Declining rainfall and rising temperatures have dried up pasture land at the same time agricultural use has expanded. And that’s meant more frequent conflict as nomadic herders, and their cattle, sheep and goats, range through the region searching for grazing.

Changing weather patterns in Senegal breed conflict

Senegal has averaged about 27% less annual rainfall in the past 30 years than it did from 1951 to 1980, according to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Meanwhile, farmers also complain that it’s become impossible to determine when the rains will begin and end — sometimes delaying seeding or damaging crops.

The Peul, or Fulani, are herders who have traditionally raised animals across a vast territory from Senegal to Nigeria. Their nomadic movements are essential in a region that doesn’t produce enough vegetation to feed a large number of animals in one place all year long. They also supply two-thirds or more of the meat and milk sold in the region’s markets, according to a United Nations study.

In Senegal, the approach of the dry season in October and November typically sees them moving their herds southward from the semi-desert northern region along centuries-old routes. But in recent decades, that southward journey has become longer as they’ve had to search for more favorable land, and it’s during this migration — which overlaps with harvest — when disputes between the two groups are worst.

Animals can struggle to find grazing because grass has often been cut to sell as forage. That can lead shepherds to cut branches from trees to feed their animals, contributing to deforestation and desertification. And when the animals pass near crops, which typically aren’t fenced or monitored, they are attracted to the food.

It’s difficult to get accurate data on violent incidents because Senegal doesn’t have a specific investigation system in place and most aren’t officially recorded. They’re often mediated locally with village chiefs overseeing. But Senegalese media have reported numerous instances since 2024, including a death in Amdalah and serious injuries in Diounto, both in January 2025.

Everyday tools become weapons

Both shepherds and farmers use cutting tools in their daily work and in disputes they can easily be weapons. That’s the case with the diassi, a small machete that can cut tall grass or wood to build a hut, cut branches to feed an animal or serve as protection against wild animals or cattle thieves.

Dr. Yawma Fall, deputy head of the Ndofane medical center in the Kaolack region, said in the past 18 months she has seen wounds from clashes between farmers and herders. She described a shepherd about 12 years old struck in the shoulder with an ax by a man apparently angered because the boy’s livestock entered his field. She described another shepherd who lost fingers when he was struck with a blade.

In the Saint-Louis region, near the Mauritanian border, an ordinary day in the fields in 2022 turned into a confrontation that cost Mamadou Gueye, a 39-year-old farmer, his left hand. He described a fight with a herder over cattle that included a motorbike chase.

“As soon as they saw us coming, they drew their machetes to scare us. That’s when I was struck — I saw my blood flowing fast,” he said. He added: “The relationship between us and the herders is very tense; we mistrust each other. There’s no friendship between them and me.”

What farmers and herders say

On the outskirts of the village of Ndofane, 45-year-old Fode Diome sits beneath a tree where he spends most of his days watching over his fields.

Problems between herders and farmers have existed for a long time, he said.

“It’s normal that animals need to eat, I agree, but there are specific times when transhumance is allowed,” he said, using the term for moving livestock to new grazing areas.

“Unfortunately, most herders don’t respect this rule, and that causes damage. They’re allowed to come only after the harvest, when all fieldwork is done, usually in January and not before. Sometimes the nomads stay here until the next rains, and we ask them to leave because we need to prepare the fields for the new season.”

For herders, finding pasture is a major concern, complicated by the gradual expansion of land under cultivation. They also have the burden of nurturing their animals through winter, as well as costs of veterinary care and feed that are difficult for the average herder.

“There’s no grass left for the livestock. Everywhere you go, there are fields. It has become very difficult,” says Alioune Sow, a 61-year-old herder from Linguere. “Especially after the rainy season: if you don’t move with your animals in search of pasture, you’re forced to buy feed. There are no cattle paths. Since fields are almost everywhere, the animals wander into them and sometimes they get poisoned.”

Sitting on a worn wooden platform in the shade of a large, low canopy, he keeps watch over his goats, gathered inside a small enclosure within Dakar’s sprawling livestock market. He said he hasn’t had major disputes with farmers, but some of his relatives have.

He said one possible solution would be to designate land specifically for farmers and other areas reserved for herders.

What’s being done to manage the problem

Senegal doesn’t have a national entity that manages conflict between agriculture and herding. Mediation falls mainly to local communities, helped out by associations and other nongovernmental bodies.

Labgar, a village in the Louga region, has managed to defuse some of the tensions between farmers and herders, said Papa Khokhane Seydou Faye, the village’s agricultural and rural adviser since 2017. Many longtime nomadic routes pass through the village.

With help from NGO workers, the village organizes periodic meetings with members of both groups on sensitive issues such as fires, deforestation and grazing conflict, to talk about possible solutions. In one workshop, the solutions discussed for grazing conflict included more clearly marking grazing trails as well as field boundaries.

JetBlue Passenger Jet Nearly Clashes with US Military Plane in Curaçao off the Coast of Venezuela

December 15, 2025 

A JetBlue Airbus climbs sharply after takeoff. Photo: O'Meara/AP/file photo.

On Friday, a flight from the US airline JetBlue departing from the small Caribbean island of Curaçao, heading toward John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City, halted its ascent to avoid colliding with an unresponsive US Air Force refueling aircraft. The commercial pilot blamed the military plane for crossing its path. Curaçao is situated 35 miles off the coast of Venezuela.

“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said in a recording of his conversation with air traffic control. “They went directly into our flight path… They do not have their transponder on; it is outrageous.”

“We just saw the airborne traffic directly in front of us at less than five miles from us—maybe two or three miles—but it was a US Air Force air-to-air refueling plane, and it was at our altitude,” the pilot said. He added, “We had to stop our climb.”

The pilot noted that the US Air Force plane then headed toward Venezuelan airspace. According to the air traffic recording, the controller responded: “It has been outrageous with the [US] unidentified aircraft inside our airspace.”

Derek Dombrowski, a JetBlue spokesperson, said on Sunday, “We have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation.” He added, “Our crewmembers are trained on the proper procedures for a variety of in-flight situations, and we appreciate our crew quickly reporting this situation to our leadership team”

The Pentagon referred mainstream media to the Air Force for comment. According to Al Jazeera, the Air Force had not responded to the requests as of Sunday

Analysts claim the incident is part of ongoing US attempts to isolate and intimidate Venezuela, as the US Air Force is becoming more comfortable intruding in foreign airspace surrounding the country. They say it evidences the continuous commercial air traffic operations in countries surrounding Venezuela, despite US attempts to disrupt air traffic in the country and as airlines claim their suspension of flights to Venezuela is in response to security concerns. Commercial flights in Venezuela have continued despite US imperialist pressure, although several international flights, mostly on European routes, have been affected.

Since September, the US military has launched a controversial military operation in the region, dubbed Southern Spear, with 22 airstrikes that have killed 87 civilians on small boats reported so far. International, United Nations, and US human rights and military experts have labeled the strikes as extrajudicial executions.

On November 21, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice advising commercial airlines to practice extreme caution while flying within and around the Venezuelan air traffic region. Days later, US ruler Donald Trump posted a controversial and unofficial message on social media claiming that Venezuelan airspace was closed. For many, this is further evidence of the regime change operation against Venezuela that, in a new desperate move, tries to disrupt air traffic in the country while fueling psychological operations against the Venezuelan people.

Analysts claim a tragedy caused by the unprecedented US military deployment in the region—aiming at regime change in Venezuela but justified under the pretext of a new US “war on drugs”—is a real possibility. This deployment is affecting air traffic not only in Venezuela but all over the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. They clarify that the ultimate goal of US imperialism is to intensify the unconventional war being waged against Venezuela over the last year, which shows signs of waning by not achieving its goals.

Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff

Venezuela Terminates Gas Supply to Trinidad and Tobago Over Complicity in US Crimes

December 16, 2025 

Oil tanker in the Caribbean sea. Photo: EFE.

Caracas accuses the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago of maintaining a hostile agenda against Venezuela since taking office and of being criminally complicit in US military massacres of civilians in the Caribbean.

The government of Venezuela announced the immediate termination of any contract, agreement, or negotiation for the supply of natural gas to Trinidad and Tobago following the direct complicity of that country’s government in the theft of Venezuelan oil carried out by the US administration on December 10 through the seizure of an oil tanker.

In an official statement dated December 15, 2025, in Caracas, the Venezuelan Executive reported that it has full knowledge of the participation of the Trinidadian government in this operation, described as an act of international piracy that constitutes a serious violation of international law, as well as of the principles of free navigation and free trade.

The document directly points to the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, whom it accuses of maintaining a hostile agenda against Venezuela since assuming office. Persad-Bissessar’s administration has presided over the installation of US military radar systems on Trinidadian territory with the aim of harassing and intercepting vessels transporting Venezuelan oil.

According to the statement, these actions have turned Trinidad and Tobago into an advanced US military platform in the Caribbean that is used to attack Venezuela and facilitate operations to strip it of its energy resources—what Caracas defines as an unequivocal act of vassalage.

In the face of this escalation of hostilities, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro recalled that Venezuela had already previously withdrawn from the Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation signed between the two countries and that this new episode represents a definitive breaking point in the bilateral energy relationship.

The statement concludes with a political and sovereign warning, in which the Venezuelan State reaffirms that it will not allow any colonial entity or its allies to undermine its sovereignty, its right to development, or control over its strategic resources.

As such, the statement by Venezuela’s government clearly frames its decision within a doctrine of comprehensive defense against what Caracas considers a coordinated imperial offensive aimed at suffocating the country’s economy and energy resources.