Tana Forum Emerges as Key Platform for African Security Dialogue: Organizers

Addis Ababa, October 8, 2026 (ENA) — The Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa has continued to produce remarkable diplomatic value by creating an open platform for African leaders and policymakers to engage in frank discussions on the continent’s peace and security challenges, organizers said.

The 12th Tana High-Level Forum is scheduled to take place in Bahir Dar, on the shores of Lake Tana, from October 23 to 25 under the theme “Pathways to Peace in Africa: Economic Sovereignty and Geopolitical Transformation.”

Briefing journalists today, Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fitsum Girma, said preparations are well underway for the successful hosting of the Forum.

 He said the Forum has generated numerous intangible outcomes by creating opportunities for bilateral engagements among leaders alongside its formal sessions.

According to Fitsum, the Forum provides an informal setting where heads of state and other senior officials can engage openly, exchange perspectives and explore policy options on pressing regional security issues.

He underscored that Ethiopia has actively participated in the Forum as part of its diplomatic engagement and efforts to advance dialogue on peace and security in Africa.

The upcoming Forum is expected to bring together leaders from various countries, heads of regional and international institutions, former leaders and senior policymakers. Special attention will be given to discussions among Horn of Africa special envoys and bilateral engagements between leaders.

Head of the Tana Forum Secretariat and Director of the Africa Peace and Security Programme, Lettie T. Longwe, said the Forum will focus on peace and security challenges in East Africa while providing space for bilateral discussions among participating leaders.

 She said a consultation involving Pan-African scholars will also be held in collaboration with Bahir Dar University, while more than 250 participants are expected to attend the Forum.

Director of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies at Addis Ababa University, Mercy Fekadu, said the Forum will address pressing African security issues through both formal deliberations and informal engagements.

 “Beyond the formal platform, Tana Forum creates an open space where leaders can engage in in-depth dialogue on security issues in the region,” she said.

Established as an annual platform for African-led dialogue on peace, security and development, the Tana Forum has positioned itself as a space where decision-makers, experts and other stakeholders can engage beyond conventional diplomatic settings.

The 12th edition comes as African countries confront increasingly interconnected security, economic and geopolitical challenges, with this year’s agenda placing economic sovereignty and geopolitical transformation at the center of discussions.

South Africa's Border Authority Rejects Claims of Illegal Deportee Crossings from Eswatini

Source: Xinhua| 2026-10-09 01:00:45|Editor: huaxia

JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Border Management Authority (BMA) has strongly defended the country's land borders with neighboring Eswatini as "secure," dismissing reports that U.S. deportees are being smuggled into South Africa.

The statement followed local news reports alleging that Eswatini was secretly releasing individuals deported from the United States at night, allowing them to cross into South Africa illegally.

"It is imperative to understand that any person who is in transit through South African airports goes through international transfers without entering the Republic. Therefore, any attempt to circumvent formal ports of entry is subject to detection and enforcement action," the BMA said in a statement.

After local media reported that the kingdom received over 5 million U.S. dollars from the United States to accept up to 160 convicted criminals, Eswatini subsequently admitted to releasing three third-country nationals.

According to acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli, these "voluntary" departures began on Sept. 8 with the release of the Yemeni national. A Belizean national followed on Sept. 30, and the third individual departed on Oct. 4 en route to Laos.

In August 2025, South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) formally raised concerns with Eswatini regarding the deportation agreement with Washington.

While respecting Eswatini's sovereignty, DIRCO expressed grave reservations about the potential impact on South Africa's national security, given the close geographical proximity and shared borders between the two Southern African neighbors.

The controversy stems from a bilateral agreement signed in May 2025 between Eswatini and the U.S. government.

Under the deal, the United States transfers foreign nationals who have completed prison sentences, including those convicted of violent crimes, to third countries like Eswatini when their home nations refuse to repatriate them.

Afrophobic Protests Spark Violence, Arson in South African Cities

Source: Xinhua| 2026-10-09 03:17:30|Editor: huaxia

JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Anti-migrant protests turned violent in South Africa on Thursday, with mobs torching vehicles, looting foreign-owned businesses, and exchanging gunfire in both the coastal hub of Durban and Johannesburg's iconic Soweto township, according to local authorities and police.

The fresh wave of unrest marks a sharp escalation in months-long anti-immigrant demonstrations that have drawn widespread international scrutiny over xenophobic violence in Africa's most industrialized economy.

In downtown Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, a chaotic rally demanding the immediate closure of a local refugee processing center descended into rioting. Fire crews reported at least seven vehicles set ablaze along Dr Pixley KaSeme Street and Park Lane, while crowds vandalized and looted nearby shops belonging to foreign nationals.

Police intervened with riot units to disperse the crowd and safely evacuate asylum seekers trapped inside the facility.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said tensions erupted after a South African protester was allegedly assaulted by a foreign national, leaving the victim with a severe leg fracture.

"Unplanned marches create volatile situations like this," Netshiunda told reporters, confirming that three foreign nationals were arrested over the assault. He added that a lodge and a warehouse were partially destroyed by arson before emergency crews contained the blazes, and heavy police patrols remain deployed.

Meanwhile, in Soweto, South Africa's largest township, nine vehicles were torched outside the Department of Home Affairs office following intense violent clashes between local residents and foreign traders.

Xolani Fihla, spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, confirmed officers are investigating reports that live ammunition was fired at local demonstrators. While no casualties were reported in Soweto, police cautioned that the atmosphere remains highly explosive.

Tensions have been stoked in part by vigilante grassroots groups, such as Operation Dudula, which have mobilized local youth to forcibly close foreign-owned corner shops, known locally as spaza shops, and demand the deportation of undocumented migrants.

Socioeconomic analysts attribute the recurring waves of xenophobic turmoil to South Africa's staggering unemployment rate, which sits above 32 percent, and widespread poverty. Foreign nationals, largely hailing from other African countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Nigeria, are frequently scapegoated by local communities for straining township housing, public healthcare, and informal retail sectors.

The latest flare-up follows a landmark Constitutional Court ruling that mandated the Department of Home Affairs to process asylum applications from all foreign arrivals, regardless of whether they entered the country legally. A subsequent Sept. 28 official circular directing local refugee centers to implement the court mandate sparked intense public anger among anti-migrant groups.

Addressing the civil turbulence, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, emphasized that the judiciary's decision "must not be interpreted as legalising unlawful migration," as the government seeks to balance constitutional human rights obligations with border control concerns.

Xenophobic outbreaks have historically strained Pretoria's diplomatic ties with regional allies across the African Union, while threatening regional trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

New Ebola Vaccine Trials Begin in Uganda Amid Deadly DR Congo Outbreak

Source: Xinhua| 2026-10-08 22:12:15|Editor: huaxia

KINSHASA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A candidate vaccine against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus has entered a new phase of clinical trials in Uganda, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Thursday, as efforts accelerate to develop vaccines against the virus driving the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Wessam Mankoula, an Africa CDC official, said during an online press briefing that Phase Ib trials of the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, began in Uganda on Oct. 6, following the launch of Phase Ia trials in Britain in July.

Another candidate vaccine developed by Moderna received ethical approval for Phase Ib trials in Uganda on Oct. 7, after its Phase Ia trials began in Canada in early August, he said.

The ongoing outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, for which no specifically approved vaccine or treatment is currently available.

Meanwhile, the Africa CDC said the DRC had received 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which is approved for use against the Zaire Ebola virus but has not been proven effective against the Bundibugyo virus.

Under a protocol-governed compassionate-use program, 7,775 healthcare and other frontline workers had been vaccinated as of Oct. 7. Another 848 frontline workers had received the vaccine under a separate research protocol known as BRAVO, although vaccination under that program has been suspended due to supply shortages.

According to the latest figures released by the DRC health authorities, the outbreak had recorded 8,728 confirmed cases and 4,205 deaths as of Oct. 6, with a case fatality rate of 48.2 percent. A total of 2,269 patients had recovered. 

Where the Long March Began, China's New Journey Unfolds

Source: XinhuaEditor: huaxia2026-10-08 23:09:15

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 18, 2026 shows a view of Yudu County, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

NANCHANG, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The former ferry crossing is about half an hour's walk from the home of Sun Guanfa, 77, in Yudu, a hilly county in east China's Jiangxi Province.

For his father, the journey from this riverbank more than nine decades ago was part of an epic.

In October 1934, some 86,000 soldiers of the Red Army crossed the Yudu River to embark on what later came to be known as the Long March.

In a country beset by foreign invasion, social turmoil and destitution, the fledgling Red Army, led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), was fighting for national independence and the liberation of the Chinese people. But at the time, it was encircled by the overwhelming and much better-armed Kuomintang forces.

What followed was an epic military maneuver: from Yudu, Red Army troops trekked roughly 12,500 kilometers across China, crossing snow-covered mountains and treacherous marshlands, all the while battling enemy forces. They eventually reached the country's northwest, where, in 1936, they were joined by several other Red Army branches, marking the victorious conclusion of the Long March.

This military maneuver preserved the Red Army. It also gave the CPC a new foothold in northwest China, from which it built up its strength, fought back against invading Japanese troops and eventually toppled the corrupt Kuomintang regime, leading to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

In Yudu, the Long March is not simply a chapter in a history book. It is a family story.

More than 17,000 residents joined the departing army. Only 277 were recorded as eventually returning home, said Zhong Min, a guide at a museum built beside the river to commemorate the departure.

Her voice still catches when she says that number.

Her maternal great-grandfather died fighting the encirclement campaigns. Her husband's grandfather marched away with the troops and was never heard from again. Sun's father fell in a battle that saw the forces of the Red Army reduced to just over 30,000.

"We are not telling other people's stories," Zhong said. "We are telling our own families'."

Here, the Long March is measured not only in kilometers and battles, but in the people who left home knowing they might never return.

For Sun, the legacy of that generation is deeply personal. Under a local tradition, Sun was adopted as the son of the soldier who left the riverbank and never returned, so that the soldier's family line could continue.

"People of my father's generation were willing to give their lives so ordinary people could be liberated," Sun said.

On the same riverbank in 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke of what had enabled the Party and the Red Army to come back from the brink of destruction time and again: firm ideals and convictions, and strong willpower.

"We must not forget our Party's original aspiration and founding mission," said Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. The Party's long-stated mission, dating to its founding in 1921, is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.

During the visit, Xi placed a flower basket at a monument commemorating the Red Army's departure and bowed in tribute. He then walked behind the monument to a railing overlooking the river and stood there for a long while.

The river remains. For Xi, it was also a place from which to look ahead to China's future.

"We came to this place to revisit what it was like when the Red Army set out," he told local people gathered nearby. "Today we are on a new journey -- to build a modern socialist country. We must carry on the work of those who came before us, gear up anew, and set out once more."

That new journey was unfolding against a vastly changed backdrop. When Xi visited Yudu, the nationwide campaign he had launched to combat poverty was entering its final stage.

It would culminate in the elimination of absolute poverty in a nation of 1.4 billion. Nearly 100 million rural residents were lifted out of poverty under Xi's "targeted poverty alleviation" campaign, which mobilized the entire Party and the nation.

Xi announced the victory, as a key part of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, in 2021 when the CPC marked its centenary.

During his 2019 visit, Xi saw for himself whether the former revolutionary base areas were on track to meet their poverty-reduction targets.

At Sun's home, he walked through the main hall to the backyard and checked the kitchen and the bedrooms. There was rice and cooking oil in the kitchen, and the bathroom was clean.

Xi asked about the family's income and how Sun's son and daughter-in-law made a living, where their children went to school, and what the school meals were like.

"By the time they grow up, we will have achieved the rejuvenation of our nation," Xi said, pointing to Sun's two grandchildren.

China aims to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035 and build a great modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century, according to the vision set by the Party.

Earlier, at the museum where Zhong served as a guide, Xi had stopped before a map of China made from straw sandals.

The display recalled how local people worked through the night to make straw sandals for the soldiers, many of whom fought barefoot. They also dismantled doors, bed boards, roof beams and even timber intended for coffins to build pontoon bridges, helping the soldiers cross the Yudu River.

"The country has developed and people's lives have improved, but we must remember where it all came from," Xi said. "We must not forget our revolutionary forefathers and those who died for the revolution, or the people of the old revolutionary base areas."

Nowadays, golden waves of selenium-rich rice ripple around the 700-year-old village, and rows of modern vegetable greenhouses stand nearby. In the residential area, white-walled houses with gray-tiled roofs sit amid trees, while pavilions nestle between them.

"Now we have wages from working, rent from our guesthouses and dividends from our shares," Sun said. "Our annual income has tripled to more than 200,000 yuan (around 29,000 U.S. dollars)."

The transformation extends well beyond Yudu.

Much of southern Jiangxi, once cut off from the outside world by rugged mountains, is far more connected. High-speed rail links it with the city of Shenzhen, the country's economic powerhouse close to Hong Kong. Expressways also reach every county, and paved roads now extend into villages.

For local business owners, it no longer means spending two days and two nights on the road to source a critical part. Now they can hop on a high-speed train, pick up what they need in the morning and return that afternoon, drastically speeding up the development of a prototype.

The change is not only about getting around. Industries such as non-ferrous metals and advanced materials, electronics and information technology, and textiles and apparel have taken root here. For ordinary people, the changes are closer to home. Housing has improved, drinking water is safer, and schools and medical care are more accessible.

More people can now earn a living without leaving their hometowns. In March, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University launched a facility dedicated to research into smart wearables and smart clothing in Xingguo, a county next to Yudu.

This summer, Yudu welcomed students from more than 170 universities across China who came to retrace the Long March at the places where it began. Many realized that the Red Army soldiers who set out were their age.

"Standing where those young soldiers began their journey gave me a deeper understanding of what they accomplished," said Liu Fanshuo, an undergraduate studying automation.

Today, five modern bridges span the Yudu River near the crossings where local people once built pontoon bridges to help the Red Army cross.

On the banks, Sun pours hot tea for tourists whose lives might have been very different had those soldiers never crossed. 

China’s ‘Token Going Global’ is Helping African Livestreamers Reach American Shoppers While Narrowing Digital Divide Intelligent Services Delivered from 8000 km Away

By Huang Lanlan

Oct 08, 2026 11:03 PM

Photo: VCG

In the evening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, the building housing an e-commerce livestreaming hub was brightly lit. In front of the camera, an Ethiopian host spoke briskly: "If you have been watching this little guy for 10 minutes and you still cannot stop thinking about him - that is your answer."

On the other side of the screen, consumers in New York heard a line that sounded like a native expression, delivered with just the right ease and conversational rhythm.

Few would have imagined that the sentence was generated by a large language model running in a machine room in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province, more than 8,000 kilometers away.

This is one vivid scene in China's recent practice of "token going global." In the world of large models, tokens are the smallest computational units used to process information, and they are increasingly becoming the new "containers" of digital trade. The electricity never left China's power grid, and the computing power never left its data centers, yet the value of intelligent services was delivered across borders.

In August, Xiamen's first "token going global" project began officially serving an Ethiopian cross-border e-commerce livestreaming company. Within just one week of going live, token usage surpassed 10 billion. From Xiamen to Addis Ababa and then to the smartphone screens of US consumers, a new digital trade channel is taking shape.

"The first time we used it, the team's feeling was: this is fantastic," recalled Etsubdink Akede, deputy general manager of an Ethiopian e-commerce company and the client behind China's "token going global" service. Her voice still carried the excitement of that moment. "Finally, we didn't have to start from a blank sheet of paper."

From Xiamen to Addis Ababa

Akede's company runs cross-border e-commerce livestreaming in Addis Ababa, targeting the US market. Ethiopia's labor costs are relatively low, the capital's education level is fairly solid and English is one of the country's official languages. Together, these factors are helping the city emerge as a hub for cross-border e-commerce livestreaming.

But the pain points are just as real: the language and cultural gap. While Ethiopian hosts speak English, many of their incomes are only a fraction of those of US consumers, making it difficult for them to truly grasp US preferences, context and idiomatic expression, said Lu Yang, president of the Fujian Artificial Intelligence Association and head of the "AI Magic" project at Xiamen-based company Unisound, which provides Akede's company with "token" services. 

"If you have to hire Americans to write scripts for every livestream, the cost will be high and the efficiency low," Lu said.

Lu recalled that, months ago, some Chinese cross-border e-commerce companies recommended Ethiopian clients to his team because "they knew very clearly where the pain points [of Ethiopian e-commerce companies] were." Lu's team then built an AI agent using a self-developed large language model that imitates American expressions and lifestyle habits, generating an entire livestream script in seconds.

"Just give the large model any product, and it will generate a full set of livestream content in the American style. The host only needs to get familiar with it, train according to the script and can go live soon," Lu told the Global Times.

The results were immediate. Akede recalled that the first time her company used this Chinese large language model, it was to prepare scripts for a batch of plush toys. After they entered the product information into the system, "it almost immediately produced a complete script - how to hook viewers at the opening, how long to talk about each product, when to drop the promotions - and it even generated the multilingual versions all at once," she said.

Previously, preparing a livestream script took two to three days, said Akede. Now, the time needed for the first draft has been cut to a few hours, with overall turnaround reduced by 70-80 percent.

The time saved is used to study trending products from competitors, negotiate new items with suppliers and get more rest, Akede said. "AI allows the colleagues on the night shift to get more rest, and that in itself is a very valuable improvement," she told the Global Times. "When the team is well rested, what they deliver the next day is different."

From China to Ethiopia, latency across the entire large-model pipeline is around 300 milliseconds, or 0.3 seconds - "hardly affecting daily work," Lu said. More importantly, the process is fully compliant: the self-developed large model is deployed in a compliant data center, overseas data is processed without being retained in China, and services are delivered via dedicated overseas lines. "Customers' privacy is well protected," he said.

A blooming industry

What exactly is meant by "token going global"?

"Put simply, 'token going global' means exporting China's AI capabilities overseas to help unlock cultural exchange and the exchange of smart-economy services," said industry insider Chen Duo, a guest professor at School of Overseas Education of Xiamen-based Jimei University, and founder of AI creator community "AINext."

Chen summarized the current landscape of China's "token going global" as two main models: one is the export of computing power to foreign countries such as Ethiopia; the other is what he called "incoming-data processing," in which overseas clients place orders while China handles data and content production before distributing the output back abroad. AI short dramas are a classic example of the second kind, he introduced.

Chen observed that this year, "token going global" has gradually evolved from fragmented efforts into a more structured system under official support. In Xiamen, he mentioned, the local government has identified eight major scenarios for token going global, including e-commerce, AI short dramas, gaming, healthcare and education, along with supporting policies. "When local governments are willing to pilot new approaches first, the boost to the market will be very significant," he told the Global Times.

For those on the front lines, policy support is felt most directly. Lu said Xiamen has introduced cost subsidies and support for overseas market expansion. "For companies setting up sites overseas, especially in BRICS countries, the government will also provide corresponding support."

Xiamen is not alone. In Shantou, South China's Guangdong Province,  the city reportedly completed a full-chain closed-loop validation of "token going global" at the end of April. Daily token usage surged from 100 million to 100 billion, and the number of approved enterprises engaged in "incoming-data processing" rose to 132, and overseas-oriented computing capacity achieved a 1000-fold scale expansion, local media outlet Shantou Daily reported on September 28. On September 24, Shantou unveiled a series of policies to support "token going global," offering subsidy of up to 1 million yuan ($149,000) per company.

Open, inclusive, mutually beneficial

China's AI is becoming increasingly accessible, and that promise of inclusiveness is being felt by more and more users overseas. At the start of 2024, China's average daily token usage stood at 100 billion; by the end of 2025, it had surged to 100 trillion, and in March 2026, it had climbed past 140 trillion - an increase of more than a thousandfold in just two years, the People's Daily reported on March 24.

At this year's World Artificial Intelligence Conference in July, China stressed the need to help Global South countries with capacity building to bridge the AI and digital divides, promote sustainable development, and prevent creating new historical injustice in AI.

"China's AI is not locked away in a treasure chest," Lu said. Chinese AI, he added, is both high-quality and relatively affordable, making it highly competitive in the international market. "Our Chinese AI may have 70 to 80 percent of the capabilities of the most advanced AI in the US, but it may cost only a third as much," he said. "And unlike the US' AI, ours comes with far fewer restrictions. It is more open."

This sense of accessibility and usefulness takes concrete form in Akede's day-to-day work. She pointed to one especially memorable word that came from a livestreaming script written by the Chinese large model: "huggable."

"When it was describing the material, the AI used 'huggable' instead of the 'soft' or 'cute' we normally default to," she told the Global Times. "'Soft' and 'cute' describe how it looks; 'huggable' describes what you would do with it. Just one word shifted the audience from simply looking at the product to wanting to own it." The word was later used in the livestream itself, and, she said, "the comments were noticeably warmer."

As a frontline user of Chinese tokens, Akede strongly agrees that China's AI is open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial. She laid out two main reasons.

First, it is genuinely useful. "We're a small and medium-sized company. We had used other international large models before; they performed well, but they were simply too expensive for us, and getting customized service was very difficult. The Chinese solution has made advanced AI affordable - and truly usable - for us for the first time," Akede explained to the Global Times.

Second, the barrier to entry is low. "We access it through an API (application programming interface) and pay as we go, so what we use is completely transparent. There is no need to build a data center first or sign a big contract. A small team can start right away," she said. 

The night closed in. In Akede's team, the hosts were preparing product selections for the next livestream. On the computer screen was a first draft of a script generated moments earlier by the model. One colleague kept reading, then paused and said to the screen, "Add another section: focus on the product's size and feel. American audiences care about that." Seconds later, the revised paragraph appeared in the document. Several people leaned in to read it, then nodded in approval.

"This collaboration doesn't feel like we bought a tool," Akede told the Global Times. "It feels like we found a partner who genuinely wants to get things done together."

In a livestream room in Addis Ababa, the lights come on again. The host adjusts the headset and smiles into the camera. More than 8,000 kilometers away, indicator lights in a data center in Xiamen blink quietly. Between these moments, the width of the digital divide narrows - just a little, and then a little more.

GT Voice: 'Overcapacity' Must Not Become a New Pretext for Trade Protectionism

By Global Times

Oct 08, 2026 10:01 PM

China trade economy File photo: VCG

On the sidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Trade Committee meeting, trade ministers from a dozen economies signed on to a US-led statement calling for actions to address structural excess capacity and production, the Office of the US Trade Representative said on Wednesday.

While the joint statement does not name any specific country, it nonetheless signals a rising tide of trade protectionism that deserves high vigilance from the international community.

Specifically, the statement identified sectors of concern as including but not limited to: autos and electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, chemicals, foundational semiconductors, and solar panels. The list itself is telling: It targets precisely the core sectors driving the ongoing global energy transition and technological upgrading. By singling out these industries as areas of "overcapacity" concern, the statement makes clear that its real purpose is not to resolve any genuine market imbalance but to provide a pretext for policies aimed at restricting specific industries.

The rise of these industries stems from breakthrough advances in the relevant technologies. Technological breakthroughs tend to give rise to new industries, which in turn generate strong market demand for emerging products - most directly reflected in the sustained surge and continuous expansion of global demand for green and intelligent products. 

Take the photovoltaic (PV) industry as an example. According to a report by the International Energy Agency in 2025, the amount of installed renewable power is predicted to more than double by 2030, and solar PV will account for about 80 percent of the global increase in renewable power capacity. Clearly, the global green industry is far from saturated - so how could it possibly be suffering from "overcapacity"? Likewise, the penetration of EVs remains in the single digits across most regions worldwide. Demand for energy storage batteries continues to surge alongside the rapid expansion of renewable energy deployment, and structural supply gaps persist across multiple downstream semiconductor sectors. To judge the capacity of these industries from such a narrow perspective is to ignore entirely the broader trend of growing global demand.

In recent decades, the global division of labor has deepened along the lines of comparative advantage. Drawing on their respective resource endowments, technological accumulation and market needs, different economies have gradually formed industrial layouts with different emphases. The large-scale concentrated production of certain industries in specific regions is itself a product of natural market competition. The cost reductions, efficiency gains and technological iteration delivered by economies of scale have ultimately benefited consumers in virtually every market through global trade networks. 

Yet some economies now disregard this basic fact entirely, judging the situation solely by short-term supply-demand conditions in localized markets and by competitive pressure on domestic industries - arbitrarily slapping the "overcapacity" label on other countries' advantageous industries. Such a standard is fundamentally untenable and runs counter to the long-standing core logic of the free trade system.

More worrying still, "overcapacity" is gradually becoming a new pretext for trade protectionism in some economies. In recent years, the global economic recovery has been fraught with twists and turns, as geopolitical conflicts, inflationary volatility and shrinking demand compound one another. Faced with declining industrial competitiveness and prominent structural difficulties at home, some economies are unwilling to address their own problems through deeper reform, industrial upgrading and technological innovation. Instead, they externalize domestic economic pressures by redefining normal outcomes of market competition as structural problems that require policy intervention. 

The danger of such conceptual manipulation is profound: Once "overcapacity" becomes a policy tool that can be arbitrarily defined, any industry with enjoying advantages in cost, technology or scale can be targeted at will. Such a trend could systematically undermine the rules-based foundation of global trade.

This approach - using capacity governance as a pretext for trade protection — may appear to safeguard domestic industrial interests, but it will ultimately backfire on the global economy and severely damage the stability and resilience of global industrial and supply chains. 

The World Economic Forum has said that fragmentation is already costing the global economy $213 billion to $307 billion annually, while adding 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points to global inflation. Ultimately, consumers worldwide would face higher prices and fewer choices, while industries that could otherwise achieve large-scale, efficient production would be less motivated to keep investing in research and upgrading, as their market space is artificially compressed.

In this sense, labeling competitive industries as examples of "overcapacity" may sound sophisticated, but it essentially erodes the foundation for long-term global economic growth. Such a path leads nowhere and should never be taken.

Respect is Earned, Not Demanded – Japan’s Fuss Over a Diplomatic Title Rings Hollow

By Global Times

Oct 08, 2026 08:25 PM

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raises her hand to answer a question during a session of the House of Councillors Budget Committee at the National Diet in Tokyo, Japan on November 12, 2025. Photo: VCG

In a news briefing on Wednesday, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Toshihiro Kitamura said that Tokyo had relayed its concerns to Beijing after the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun referred to the Japanese prime minister only as "Sanae Takaichi" at a recent press conference. Showing "appropriate respect to the leader of another country" is a matter of "international protocol," said Kitamura.

The news provoked irony. The international community sees clearly: The one that has truly wantonly trampled on international etiquette, undermined basic diplomatic principles, and challenged the post-war international order has always been certain Japanese politicians.

After all, diplomatic etiquette goes far beyond mere titles and addresses. For some time now, the Japanese right-wing forces, led by Sanae Takaichi, have been constantly crossing diplomatic red lines and trampling on the boundaries of international relations, with a series of provocations against China. When the Takaichi cabinet repeatedly tests the waters on historical accountability, remains obstinate on the Taiwan question, refuses to retract erroneous remarks, and accelerates constitutional revision and military expansion - breaking free from the constraints of its pacifist constitution - they are violating international ethics, diplomatic etiquette, and the post-war order. 

While Japan recklessly harms the interests of other countries and crosses the bottom line of international relations, it nitpicks at minor details of diplomatic titles, demanding that other countries grant it so-called "appropriate respect." Doesn't this sophisticated self-serving double standard completely deviate from the essence of international etiquette? 

A look at the trajectory of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's recent rhetoric over Tokyo reveals a clear logic: from "Japanese prime minister" to "the incumbent leader of Japan," and finally to addressing her simply by name. This shift underscores a simple truth: Respect has always been mutual; the bottom line must not be crossed, and restraint does not equal indulgence. 

Since Tokyo often tries to conflate Takaichi and her cabinet with the entirety of Japan to muddy the waters, Chinese observers have noted that Beijing's wording achieves a precise political distinction - separating the reckless agenda of Sanae Takaichi and her likes from the rational elements of the Japanese nation and its people. It signals that China's stern warning is directed not at the Japanese public, but strictly at the radical Japanese right-wing politicians led by Takaichi.

On the other hand, Beijing has not slammed the door shut and continues to engage with Japanese friendly figures, economic groups, and rational voices from civil society, striving to steer bilateral relations back onto the right track.

Instead of obsessing over a title, Japanese politicians need to reflect on how to act as a good neighbor to regional countries, including China. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, "He who tied the bell on the tiger must untie it." Rather than nursing a fragile ego over whether a spokesperson uttered the word "prime minister," Tokyo should put its energy where it matters - rectifying its damaging actions against China-Japan relations and figuring out what it actually takes to build a "constructive and stable relationship" with China.

At the end of the day, respect is earned, not demanded. 

Chinese Mission to EU Firmly Opposes European Parliament Report, Urges Respect for China's Core Interests

By Global Times

Oct 09, 2026 10:53 AM

China EU Photo:VCG

A spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU) on Friday expressed strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the European Parliament's October 7 report on EU-China political relations, urging the EU to respect China's core interests and major concerns and stop interfering in China's internal affairs.

The EU report is rife with ideological bias against China and contains erroneous claims, making unwarranted accusations regarding issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Xinjiang, Xizang, and human rights, while grossly interfering in China's internal affairs, the spokesperson said in a statement.

The EU report also advocates for the politicization of economic and trade issues and the overstretching of the concept of security in such matters. China has lodged solemn representations with the EU, according to the spokesperson.

Noting that China-EU relations are at an important stage of development, the spokesperson said maintaining the sound and stable development of bilateral relations serves the common interests of both sides.

China urges the EU to uphold its commitment to treating China as a partner, keep cooperation as the defining feature of bilateral relations, earnestly respect China's core interests and major concerns, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, refrain from inciting confrontation, and take concrete actions to safeguard the overall China-EU relationship, the spokesperson noted.

Global Times

China's Space Station to Become Global Research Platform: China's First Astronaut

By Xinhua

Oct 09, 2026 08:03 AM

An exhibition booth of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is pictured at the 77th International Astronautical Congress, in Antalya, Türkiye, Oct. 5, 2026. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut and deputy chief designer of the China Manned Space Agency, has said here that the country's space station will become a global research platform for scientists worldwide.

Yang made the remarks at the ongoing 77th International Astronautical Congress in Türkiye's Mediterranean city of Antalya, noting that China hopes to actively engage in exchanges and seek cooperation with other countries in areas such as scientific research, astronaut training, providing flight opportunities, and science education.

According to Yang, the two Pakistani astronaut candidates, who are currently undergoing joint training with their Chinese counterparts, have performed exceptionally well throughout the training process.

Yang said that the Chinese space station will welcome its first foreign astronaut on board in the second half of this year, during which one Pakistani astronaut will carry out a short-duration flight mission as a payload specialist.

Regarding China's crewed lunar landing program, Yang said China looks forward to greater cooperation and exchanges with other countries and welcomes all parties to participate in the construction of an international lunar scientific research station.

The five-day congress, which will wrap up on Friday, has drawn space agency officials, astronauts, scientists, engineers and industry representatives worldwide. 

The China National Space Administration, research institutions, and Chinese commercial space companies presented technologies and discussed international cooperation.

Jinlin Chen, founder and CEO of Beijing-based space technology company Final Frontier, said China's commercial aerospace industry had developed rapidly over the past decade.

"Aerospace in China's private sector has gone from zero to one," Chen told Xinhua, citing reusable rocket progress as a key milestone that could lower launch costs and enable wider deployment of affordable satellites.

Final Frontier is developing next-generation computing satellites, seeking to apply advances in semiconductor design and manufacturing to space technology.

"We are happy to work with Turkish companies on any fronts," Chen said, adding that discussions with potential customers and partners had already begun during the congress.

The growing Chinese presence at the event has attracted attention from Türkiye's space authorities, the host nation who also harbors lunar and space ambitions.

Yusuf Kirac, head of the Turkish Space Agency, hailed the participation of Chinese institutions and companies at the congress.

"We have very good relations with China, and we are working closely with our Chinese partners," Kirac told Xinhua.

Ethiopia, Nigeria Must Harness Economic and Population Potential for Africa's Dev't, Says DPM Temesgen

Addis Ababa, October 7, 2026 (ENA)— Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh has emphasized that Ethiopia and Nigeria must leverage their combined economic weight and large populations to drive broader development across the African continent.

Writing on his official X page following a bilateral meeting with Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima in Addis Ababa, DPM Temesgen emphasized that Africa's two most populous nations share significant potential to influence continental growth. 

Discussions between the two leaders centered on deepening strategic cooperation in key areas, notably food security, nutrition, bilateral investment, and diplomatic relations. 

By exploring avenues to enhance cross-border commercial partnerships and agricultural resilience, the leaders highlighted how collaborative efforts can better contribute to sustainable development and progress across Africa.

 “Today, we held discussions with H.E. Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on potential areas of bilateral cooperation between Ethiopia and Nigeria,” Temesgen noted. 

Food security and nutrition featured prominently in the discussions, with Ethiopia sharing its experience in implementing the Seqota Declaration, a national initiative aimed at reducing child stunting and transforming food and nutrition systems through coordinated action across sectors.

DPM Temesgen welcomed Nigeria’s decision to send a high level delegation to Ethiopia to learn from the country’s experience and results under the initiative.

“I express my appreciation to Nigeria for sending a high-level delegation to learn from the tangible results achieved through the Seqota Declaration,” he said.

He also commended Vice President Shettima’s efforts to advance nutrition and food security in Nigeria, describing his commitment as “exemplary leadership for our continent.”

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that stronger cooperation between the two countries could generate broader benefits for Africa, given their large populations and significant economic potential.

“Ethiopia and Nigeria are bound by a strategic partnership. When the two countries’ significant population and economic potential are mobilized in a coordinated manner, they further strengthen the capacity to shape Africa’s future positively,” he said.

The two sides also discussed measures to facilitate travel and strengthen people to people relations. Ethiopia has improved diplomatic and service passport procedures for Nigerian nationals and introduced visa free travel for Nigerian citizens holding diplomatic and service passports.

Investment was another key area of discussion, with Temesgen highlighting the contribution of Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote to Ethiopia’s economy and development.

He encouraged more Nigerian investors to explore opportunities in Ethiopia and expand business engagement between the two countries.

The discussions reflect efforts by Ethiopia and Nigeria to deepen bilateral relations by expanding cooperation beyond political and diplomatic ties into food security, investment, trade and people to people exchanges.

No Entity Can Prevent Ethiopia from Securing Sea Access, Says Abadula Gemeda

Addis Ababa, October 7, 2026 (ENA)—No entity can prevent Ethiopia from securing access to the sea, Former Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR) Abadula Gemeda told ENA.

Abadula added that the country’s loss of its maritime outlet resulted from decisions made by a limited number of individuals without broader national consultation.

Ethiopia was deprived of sea access through decisions that were not subjected to adequate national discussion or deliberation within a formal legal framework, the former speaker noted. 

He argued that Ethiopia’s historical adversaries had long sought to prevent the country from securing access to the sea, including by supporting forces operating from within Ethiopia.

According to Abadula, after repeated attempts to defeat Ethiopia militarily failed, its adversaries shifted their strategy toward supporting what he described as internal collaborators. He cited Egypt’s alleged role in supporting the formation of the Eritrean Shabia movement and the TPLF as examples of such efforts.

He said these developments eventually contributed to decisions that undermined Ethiopia’s national interests, including the loss of its access to the sea.

Abadula particularly questioned the process through which Ethiopia lost its maritime outlet, arguing that the matter was not subjected to sufficient national debate or formal legal deliberation.

“There was no decision reached regarding the issue of sea access through discussions held or agreements concluded in a formal, legal forum,” he said.

He also questioned the constitutional authority of the transitional government at the time to make decisions of such magnitude before the adoption of the Constitution.

According to him, despite the absence of a fully established constitutional order, decisions with far reaching implications for Ethiopia’s national interests were made by a limited number of individuals without broad public consultation.

He described the loss of sea access as a major historical setback for Ethiopia, given the importance of maritime access to the country’s economic and strategic interests.

Abadula admired the government’s current efforts to secure sea access through peaceful negotiations, mutual interests and a give and take approach.

He stressed that Ethiopia’s aspiration to secure access to the sea is a long-term national issue that cannot simply be set aside.

“It is impossible to keep Ethiopia cut off from the sea,” Abadula said.

PM Abiy Highlights Ethiopia-Nigeria Cooperation and Mutual Learning

Addis Ababa, October 7, 2026 (ENA)—Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he held talks with Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is in Ethiopia for a three-day working visit as part of the Ethiopia–Nigeria leadership exchange.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Ethiopia and Nigeria, two of Africa’s most populous and diverse nations, have valuable opportunities to learn from each other and share experiences.

In a social media post, PM Abiy said the exchange would further strengthen bilateral cooperation while enabling the two countries to draw on their respective experiences in addressing shared development challenges.

The high-level engagement comes as Ethiopia and Nigeria seek to deepen strategic cooperation and leverage their demographic and economic potential for broader African development.

Eritrea Has Officially Invaded Ethiopia, Says Government Communication

Ethiopian Government Formally Condemns Eritrean Territorial Incursion as Its Forces Reach Deeper into Tigray

Reports emerged today of Eritrean troops advancing deeper into Tigray, reaching as far as Adigrat, the region’s second-largest city after the capital, Mekelle. The Ethiopian government has responded with an official statement condemning the invasion. Enatalem Melese, Minister of the Government Communication Service, speaking to Bloomberg, confirmed the position, stating that “Eritrean forces operating in Tigray must leave Ethiopian territory without delay.”

The presence of Eritrean forces inside Tigray has been known and evidenced for some time, and senior Ethiopian politicians and army officials have spoken of it publicly. The minister’s words nevertheless carry a different weight. They amount to official confirmation that Eritrea has embarked on an invasion by committing its troops directly.

The escalation follows an offensive launched by the TPLF on the 23rd September, which had grown increasingly at odds with the Ethiopian government since the conclusion of the Tigray conflict. The front moved after forming an alliance with six other rebel groups in the country, a coalition that includes the AFNM in Amhara and the OLA in Oromia.

Eritrea has backed this coalition. Asmara itself had been moving into gradually closer alignment with the rebel groups, the TPLF in particular, over roughly the same period. In effect, it was building a proxy strategy against the Ethiopian government, whose military capabilities far exceed those of Eritrea. Working through the coalition allowed Asmara to pressure and destabilise Ethiopia without committing its own forces.

The TPLF offensive, however, was completely reversed. The ENDF and its allies captured the Tigray regional capital, Mekelle, on 3 October, and the TPLF leadership fled Mekelle, reportedly, to Eritrean territory. That development in effect, has undermined Eritrea’s buffer zone strategy, which relied on proxies to keep the Ethiopian security forces bogged down in civil conflict. With the regional capital lost and the ENDF making advances, the proxy arrangement is increasingly losing its depth inside Ethiopia.

Asmara, it seems, has responded by moving its troops into the fighting and engaging Ethiopian forces directly.

The country now faces the question of securing its borders and defending its sovereignty. The question has become acute with Eritrean defence forces reaching deep into Ethiopian territory. The presence of a foreign army this far inside the country turns a long-standing concern into an immediate one.

Eritrea, in taking this step, has brought the possibility of war with Ethiopia much closer to reality.

By Mahder Nesibu, Researcher, Horn Review

Russia-backed Traoré Hits Out at Global War Court Saying it Serves a Western Agenda as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Cut Ties with International Criminal Court

Awogbemila Temitope

06 October 2026 07:00 PM

The President of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, has launched a firm critique against the International Criminal Court (ICC) during a press interview. His statements follow a coordinated decision by the Alliance of Sahel States consisting of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to withdraw from the Rome Statute that established the international tribunal.

President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged Western bias.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have formally withdrawn from the Rome Statute, viewing the ICC as an 'instrument of neocolonial repression.'

Traoré questioned the ICC's impartiality, highlighting that the court disproportionately targets African leaders while ignoring Western actors' alleged crimes.

This ICC departure is part of a broader shift, with Burkina Faso and its allies cutting ties with regional and international organizations they see as Western-aligned.

About four months ago, Niger notified the United Nations Secretary-General of its withdrawal decision on June 18, 2026, with Burkina Faso and Mali submitting their official notices six days later.

All three notifications were registered by the United Nations on June 30, 2026.

As reported by La Nouvelle Tribune, government officials from the three nations justified their exit by describing the ICC as an instrument of neocolonial repression.

Traoré accuses the court of Western bias as Burkina Faso deepens its diplomatic rift

Critiquing the tribunal's track record, Traoré argued that the court enforces an unbalanced form of justice that heavily targets African figures while overlooking actions by Western nations.

As published by La Nouvelle Tribune, the Burkinabè leader declared, "The ICC is an organ of imperialism".

Challenging the court's impartiality, Traoré asked, "Since its inception, how many Africans have been brought before the ICC? And how many Westerners have been brought before the ICC?".

To illustrate his arguments, Traoré cited foreign interventions in Iraq and Libya, alongside the 2010–2011 post-election crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, pointing specifically to the eventual acquittal of former President Laurent Gbagbo.

This departure from the ICC reflects a wider geopolitical move across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which together form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

President Traoré has prioritised calls for a fair share of Africa’s resources and the industrialisation of the continent without waiting to be spoon-fed by the West.

In recent times, Burkina Faso’s military government has mandated that 80% of aid must be spent within the country, arguing that administrative costs should not take the lion’s share.

He has also launched a soldier-uniform factory and an armoured-vehicle manufacturing industry, which has produced several military vehicles that were recently displayed to the public.

Burkina Faso and the neighboring states have progressively severed ties with several regional and international bodies they consider overly aligned with Western powers, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Despite this, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali continue to strengthen their trade and security cooperation with Russia.

Mali Says Its Forces Have Retaken the Northern Rebel Stronghold of Kidal

Gold panners break stones in Kidal, Mali, on Jan. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Baba Ahmed, File)

4:20 AM EDT, October 7, 2026

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Malian armed forces have recaptured the northern city of Kidal five months after it was seized by separatist rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam, an armed group linked to al-Qaida, the West African country’ s transitional government said Tuesday.

The capture of the Tuareg stronghold, carried out by air and ground forces, was assisted by Russia’s Africa Corps paramilitary group, according to a statement by government spokesman Brig. Gen. Issa Ousmane Coulibaly read on state television.

But according to the armed groups that controlled the city, the Malian army entered Kidal on Tuesday without a fight. Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front, said in a news release that its withdrawal stemmed in part from what he called “the disproportionate use of aerial assets by Russian mercenaries from the Africa Corps.”

Mali has been plagued for over a decade by militants affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, as well as a Tuareg separatist rebellion in the north.

West Africa’s vast Sahel region has become the deadliest place in the world for extremism. The military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in recent years have turned from Western allies to Russia for help combating the fighters affiliated with al-Qaida or the Islamic State group.

The Africa Corps is a Russian military unit that has replaced the Wagner mercenary group and has teamed up with Mali’s military to hunt down extremists.

The Malian army withdrew from Kidal in April following a series of attacks across the country that resulted in the death of Defense Minister General Sadio Camara.

Rida Lyammouri, a Sahel expert at the Morocco-based Policy Center for the New South, said recapturing Kidal “represents a major symbolic victory to the central government.”

Russia-backed Mali Retakes Rebel Stronghold as Tuareg Fighters Withdraw Under Air Pressure

Ayodeji Adegboyega

07 October 2026 07:25 AM

Mali’s military government says its forces have retaken Kidal with Russian support, reclaiming a northern rebel stronghold after separatist fighters withdrew under pressure from aerial operations.

Mali says its forces entered Kidal on 6 October with support from Russia’s Africa Corps.

Tuareg separatists confirmed their withdrawal, citing pressure from aerial operations.

The advance reverses the government’s loss of the northern stronghold earlier this year.

Holding the city will test whether the military gain can translate into lasting control.

The announcement on 6 October gives Bamako a territorial gain in its campaign to restore control over the north, while placing Russia’s Africa Corps at the centre of the operation.

The Azawad Liberation Front, known by its French acronym FLA, acknowledged leaving the city. It described the move as a “strategic and controlled withdrawal” intended to preserve its military capabilities.

The separatists attributed their retreat partly to the aerial strength deployed by Malian forces and their Russian partners. Their account presents the withdrawal as a tactical decision rather than the destruction of their fighting force.

According to AFP’s report, two Malian officers said troops entered ahead of schedule without encountering resistance. The army described the advance as part of broader operations in the region.

A city with political weight

Kidal’s importance extends beyond its size. As a longstanding Tuareg separatist stronghold, its control is closely associated with the central government’s ability to assert authority in northern Mali.

Government forces had withdrawn from the city in April following coordinated attacks. The latest advance reverses that setback, although entering Kidal does not establish control over the wider territory surrounding it.

Government spokesman Brigadier General Issa Ousmane Coulibaly said air and ground forces carried out the operation with Africa Corps assistance. Sahel researcher Rida Lyammouri described the recapture to the Associated Press as “a major symbolic victory to the central government.”

The distinction between territorial and military victory matters. A force that withdraws while preserving personnel and equipment can continue operating outside a city, challenge supply routes or attempt a later return.

The separatists’ own explanation suggests that their departure should not be treated as a surrender.

Russia’s partnership faces a practical test

The operation also gives Moscow a concrete result from its security partnership with Bamako.

Mali shifted towards Russia after its relationship with France deteriorated. Russian involvement initially centred on Wagner; Africa Corps subsequently became the principal Russian formation supporting Malian operations, under the Russian defence ministry’s control.

For the military government, restoring its presence in Kidal supports its argument that the Russian partnership can deliver gains against armed opponents. For Moscow, the operation demonstrates a role extending beyond training and equipment supply.

Mali’s Army Says it Has Taken Kidal from Tuareg Rebels, with Russia’s Help

Announcement comes after Azawad Liberation Front said it was carrying out a ‘controlled withdrawal’ from strategic northern town.

By AFP and Reuters

6 Oct 2026

Mali’s armed forces have entered the strategic northern city of Kidal, five months after separatist rebels seized it, following an air and ground campaign backed by Russia’s Africa Corps.

In a statement carried by state television on Tuesday, Mali’s transitional government said troops had “consolidated their positions” in the city, “supported by their Russian partners”.

It said the return followed “intense air-ground neutralization operations”.

But according to the armed groups that controlled the city, the Malian army entered Kidal on Tuesday without a fight.

The Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) movement announced earlier in the day that it had carried out a “strategic and controlled withdrawal” from Kidal. It cited the “disproportionate use of aerial assets by Russian mercenaries from Africa Corps”.

The group said the move was intended to “preserve human lives” and was a temporary measure.

The separatists seized Kidal, a Tuareg stronghold, in April, during coordinated attacks across the country with Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the regional affiliate of al-Qaeda. The attacks, which also killed Mali’s defence minister, posed the biggest test yet for the military leaders who took power in coups in 2020 and 2021.

Mali has been racked by a security crisis since 2012, fuelled by fighters allied with various armed groups, including al-Qaeda, the ISIL (ISIS) group and Tuareg separatists. After the coups, the military government turned away from Western allies and towards Russia for help in combating the groups.

It first relied on the Wagner mercenary group, which was replaced in June 2025 by Africa Corps, a force under the direct control of Russia’s Defence Ministry.

Malian troops and Wagner fighters had retaken Kidal from armed groups in November 2023, only to lose it again in April.

“A successful recapture… affirms the military-led government’s authority and boosts ⁠the army’s morale, particularly after several high-profile setbacks, both in the north and the central regions in recent weeks,” said Beverly Ochieng, associate director of Control Risks.

“This is also an opportunity for Africa Corps to reprise its role as the Malian government’s security guarantor after appearing to lose significant ground, including in ‌Kidal, since April,” she told the Reuters news agency.

But the change of control in Kidal is still largely “symbolic” and not “decisive” in Mali’s campaign against rebel groups, Ochieng added.

Malian Army and Russian Fighters Retake Key City of Kidal, Abandoned by Rebels

06/10 - 17:34

Wagner

The Malian army said it has entered the strategic northern city of Kidal, which was captured in April by Tuareg separatists who announced their withdrawal earlier Tuesday as the military advanced.

"We have just arrived in Kidal ahead of schedule," a staff officer told AFP, with a second officer confirming the arrival.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the general staff claimed for the first time to have "engaged in large-scale air-land operations in the Kidal region" with its " Russian partners" in order to " neutralize armed terrorist groups," "destroyed their sanctuaries" and "sustainably restored the security of the population" and their "freedom of movement."

Retaking the city would be a powerful symbol in favor of the transitional authorities, who had been humiliated by last April's defeat.

Meanwhile, the Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) said in a statement it had "decided to carry out a strategic and controlled withdrawal of its forces from the city of Kidal", after capturing it during April attacks alongside allied jihadists who aimed to weaken Mali's junta rulers.

Starting in late April, the JNIM and the FLA launched a series of assaults, capturing the northern city of Kidal and killing Mali's defence minister. They also briefly captured the town of Anefis in fierce fighting in early July, among other assaults.

Mali has been gripped by a security crisis since 2012, fuelled notably by violence from groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State jihadist group, as well as local criminal gangs and separatists.

Since two successive coups in 2020 and 2021, the country has been ruled by the military, which came to power on the promise of restoring security, so far without success.

Mali Armed Forces Retake Strategic Town of Kidal

Adrien Lefevre / Sahel Press Agency

A military pickup carrying armed fighters drives past the iconic painted boulder marking the entrance to Kidal, a remote desert town in northern Mali long at the heart of the country's decade-long conflict between government forces, Tuareg movements, and armed groups operating across the Sahara.

7 October 2026

Deutsche Welle (Bonn)

By Shakeel Sobhan AFP, AP, Reuters

Mali's military regained control of the strategic town of Kidal after forcing Tuareg separatists and al-Qaeda-linked jihadists to withdraw following an offensive backed by Russia's Africa Corps.

Mali's army, supported by Russian paramilitary forces, has re-entered the northern town of Kidal, forcing the Tuareg separatists to withdraw from the strategic hold, in a symbolic boost for the country's military government and its Russian allies.

The Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) said in a statement it had "decided to carry out a strategic and controlled withdrawal of its forces from the town of Kidal." It said the withdrawal took place without direct fighting.

This followed the "disproportionate use of aerial assets by Russian mercenaries from the Africa Corps," according to an FLA spokesperson.

How did Kidal fall earlier this year?

The FLA and al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) seized Kidal during a series of attacks earlier this year in April that also killed Mali's defense minister.

Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front have been fighting for years to create an independent state in northern Mali.

Mali's junta, which came to power in back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, has increasingly relied on Russian paramilitary support against fighters linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

What does Kidal's recapture mean for Mali's junta?

Analysts say the latest advance is largely a symbolic victory for Mali's junta.

"A successful recapture... affirms the military-led government's authority and boosts the army's morale, particularly after several high-profile setbacks both in the north and the central regions in recent weeks," Beverly Ochieng, associate director of Control Risks, told Reuters.

Ochieng, however, added the retaking of Kidal is largely "symbolic" and not "decisive" in Mali's campaign against jihadist and separatist groups.

Human rights organizations have often accused the Malian army and Russian paramilitaries of killing civilians during military operations, with all sides also accused of committing war crimes.

Edited by: Rana Taha

Djibouti’s Guelleh Congratulates PM Abiy on Re-election, Reaffirms Strong Ethiopia Ties

Addis Ababa, October 6, 2026 (ENA)—Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has congratulated Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on his re-election, hailing Ethiopia’s economic rise and reaffirming his country’s commitment to deepening the longstanding friendship, solidarity, and strategic ties between the two sister nations.

President Guelleh emphasized the close bonds between Ethiopia and Djibouti, underscoring his country’s continued commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation as Ethiopia advances on its development path.

NRC Calls on Militants in Tigray Region to Hand Over Arms, Enter Rehabilitation Centers

Addis Ababa, October 7, 2026 (ENA)—The National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC) has called on militants in Tigray Region to hand over their arms to Ethiopian Defense Force units near their vicinities.  

The Commission has also declared its full operational readiness to accelerate the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process for combatants in the region.

 Speaking to journalists, NRC Deputy Commissioner Brigadier General Derbie Mekuriaw said the DDE framework established under the Pretoria Peace Agreement remains intact and fully funded.

 He confirmed that the commission, established pursuant to the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement, has been actively implementing DDR activities in collaboration with the Tigray Interim Regional Administration since 2024. 

The government, bolstered by strong support from the international community, has allocated budgets for these operations in order to ensure that Tigrayan youth can transition into peaceful civilian life.

As a testament to this, the Deputy Commissioner cited the recent successful reception and rehabilitation of fighters associated with the "Army 70" group in Sudan. 

Brigadier General Derbie urged the militants in the region to similarly surrender their weapons and report to defense units immediately, noting that most of the youth choose peace.

“By exiting this chaotic life and stepping out from the fire of war and reporting to the Defense Force, you can enter the demobilization centers prepared. There is a demobilization center prepared around Mekelle,” he elaborated.

The Deputy Commissioner stressed that the path to peace is open and organized, calling on the militants not to lose hope or perish for the ambitions of extremists.

 The NRC has established demobilization centers in and around Mekelle to handle the ex-combatants. 

 Brigadier General Derbie outlined a clear procedure: militants should present themselves and hand over firearms to locally stationed defense units, either individually or in organized groups, to access rehabilitation services.

 Emphasizing the human cost of continued conflict, the Deputy Commissioner called on all youth—members of army units or forcibly conscripted—to recognize the government’s alternative.

 “As these youth are asset to themselves, their family, the Tigray Region, and the country, the government and the National Rehabilitation Commission call on them to return to peace. Starting tomorrow, it is possible to enter the rehabilitation center prepared in the Mekelle area,” Brigadier General Derbie said.

 The Deputy Commissioner further added that parallel DDR operations are continuing to reintegrate ex-combatants, viewing the successful transition of fighters as critical to Ethiopia’s long-term peace and development.

Ethiopian Commander Reports Drone Strikes in Tigray as Markets Reopen in Regional Capital

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

10:22 AM EDT, October 6, 2026

MEKELLE, Ethiopia (AP) — Government-allied forces fought to reclaim more territory in Ethiopia’s Tigray region with support from drone strikes on Tuesday, a commander said, as markets reopened in the regional capital following the withdrawal of anti-government forces.

Ermiyas Ababu, a Tigray Peace Force commander in the zone containing regional capital Mekelle, said his group was working with the Ethiopian National Defense Force to expand its control after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF, announced its pullout from Mekelle over the weekend.

The front joined six other opposition groups last month in an alliance seeking to oust Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Fighting between that alliance and government forces escalated late last month, undermining a November 2022 peace agreement that ended a two-year war.

Ermiyas said his group’s “mission is to control the state of Tigray and free it from the TPLF rebels.” He said his side was conducting drone strikes, without specifying whether he meant Tigray Peace Force personnel or federal forces. Ermiyas also alleged that Eritrean troops were present in northern Tigray.

The AP could not independently verify his account of the drone strikes or the alleged Eritrean military presence.

Eritrea has denied Ethiopia’s allegations that the neighboring country is supporting the TPLF, saying Ethiopia is trying to find a scapegoat for its internal conflict. Last week, Eritrea announced it was severing diplomatic ties after Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara.

In Mekelle, Ermiyas said his group and federal troops had established control and that his fighters were policing the city to prevent looting. Government-allied fighters entered Mekelle on Sunday after the TPLF announced its withdrawal. The Tigray Peace Force includes former members of the TPLF’s armed wing.

Residents described a tentative revival of commerce, with pedestrians returning to the streets and motorized rickshaws carrying passengers again. But limited supplies and a shortage of cash continued to hamper daily life.

“The market has resumed, but for everyone to gain confidence, all markets need to open fully,” Mekelle resident Ahmedin Mohammed said.

“There are only limited essential groceries available,” he said, adding that motorized rickshaws, known locally as bajajs, had made local travel easier at affordable fares.

Birhanu Araya, another resident, said access to money remained a pressing concern after he bought household supplies.

“The main issue for the public right now is the lack of cash. If there were cash, business activity would pick up even more,” he said. “People were staying home out of fear, but now there is some movement.”

The hardships also weighed on some of the fighters who entered the city. Speaking to the AP in Mekelle on Sunday, Tigray Peace Force member Alemat Solomon described little cause for celebration.

“The youth of Tigray have been left behind compared to the rest of Ethiopia. They have been set back. We weren’t building and developing. We were at war,” he said in Tigrinya.

The renewed conflict has threatened the 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating two-year war. TPLF fighters seized Mekelle’s airport on Sept. 23, prompting Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire. Federal forces subsequently retook the airport.

——-

Filmon Equar Hailu in Mekelle and Amir Aman Kiyaro in Hamburg, Germany, contributed to this report.

Kenya Confirms its First Ebola Case and Death in a Man Who Traveled from DR Congo

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI

9:19 PM EDT, October 6, 2026

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan citizen who had been living in Congo before returning to Nairobi over the weekend became Kenya’s first confirmed case of Ebola and the country’s first death from the disease in the fast-moving outbreak, authorities said Tuesday, sparking urgent contact-tracing efforts to try to contain the spread of the virus.

The man had been residing in Congo for the past seven years and fell ill about a month ago. He was treated at various hospitals before traveling by road to Kampala, Uganda, where he boarded a flight to the Kenyan capital, arriving on Saturday afternoon, Health Minister Aden Duale said.

Health authorities in Kenya have placed the country’s border points on high alert and are monitoring for possible additional cases.

Duale said that the man had been isolated and treated at Nairobi Hospital, where he tested positive for the Ebola virus and died late Monday.

Ebola is highly contagious and spreads in the human population through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen, and with contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing.

The current outbreak was declared in mid-May, months after it had been spreading in a remote part of eastern Congo. At least 8,400 cases have been recorded, including more than 4,000 deaths, according to government data, making it the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history.

Kenya has never had an outbreak of Ebola, according to the Kenya Medical Research Institute.

The country hosts a United States-funded isolation center for American citizens exposed to Ebola to quarantine for 21 days before traveling back to the U.S. The isolation facility faced legal battles and deadly protests by locals who feared it was exposing them to the virus.

Dozens of contacts have either been identified or are being traced

Kenya is the fourth country to record an Ebola case in the current outbreak, which was declared in eastern Congo in mid-May. Uganda has recorded 20 cases and France one. Before Kenya reported its case, there had been no active cases outside Congo since Uganda declared its outbreak over in late August.

Duale said that 28 contacts of the man who had returned on Saturday, including family members and health workers who cared for the patient, had been identified. Another 23 passengers on the flight and four crew members, who traveled on the same plane from Uganda, were being traced.

The contacts will remain in isolation for 21 days and will be released after testing negative for the virus, said the ministry’s director-general, Dr. Patrick Amoth.

After the man arrived in Nairobi, his relatives took him in a private vehicle to Nairobi Hospital, where he was immediately isolated. He was buried on Tuesday afternoon in accordance with recommended public safety protocols.

The minister said that Kenya had tested 267 samples at five laboratories across the country since May before this first case was detected.

The World Health Organization on Tuesday said that it was working with Kenya to prevent the spread of the virus.

“WHO has also delivered about 1,000 Ebola tests and 1,000 personal protective equipment kits to high-risk counties in Kenya,” a WHO statement said.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday commended the “rapid identification, isolation and testing of the patient” and said a high-level team had been dispatched to Kenya to offer support.

Ebola outbreak in Congo is spreading quickly in difficult conditions

In Congo, where the outbreak has spread to seven provinces, conditions are difficult. Responders have faced attacks on health teams, misinformation about the virus, a failure by locals to report symptoms and rebel violence that has limited access to treatment centers.

While cases have slowed in Ituri province, the epicenter, the outbreak is spreading in emerging hot spots in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

“It is like fighting a megafire. Multiple outbreaks are developing at the same time, with varying intensity and in different locations,” Stéphanie Hoffmann with Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said in a statement.

The World Health Organization has warned that it could surpass the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which erupted more than a decade ago and killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa.

___

Chinedu Asadu contributed to this report from Abuja, Nigeria.