Trump Attacks His Own Supreme Court Over Decision Upholding Mail-in Ballots

President Trump says the ruling was a personal betrayal of his objectives to limit access to the franchise while opinion polls reveal that the “Make America Great Again” Republican tendency has proven to be extremely unpopular

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Wednesday September 16, 2026

Political Review

It has become quite obvious that there is massive opposition to the domestic and foreign policies of the current White House, House of Representatives and the Senate.

Compounding this alienation from the MAGA Republican establishment is what is perceived by many within the public that the nine-member United States Supreme Court serves as a mechanism to “rubber stamp” the program of President Donald Trump. 

There have been rulings in recent years which have struck down Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) within the higher educational system along with the 2022 decision which reversed Roe v. Wade making it much more difficult for women to control their reproductive rights. Another ruling on tariffs imposed by the White House says they were illegally enacted yet, utilizing other methods, the president continues to slap these measures on Canada and other states.

In the most recent decision related to the rules governing the distribution and collection of mail-in ballots, the Supreme Court rejected the executive order handed down by Trump which could have resulted in the nullification of millions of votes in the upcoming midterm elections in early November. The MAGA grouping has over the last decade made unsubstantiated claims that there is massive voter fraud in the US.

Trump and his MAGA base disputed the outcomes of the 2020 elections fostering false accusations that the election of former President Joe Biden and the Democratic majority in the House and Senate was the direct result of corruption. The administration and its backers have repeatedly suggested that undocumented people are being allowed to vote in congressional and presidential elections.

The accusations of widespread voter fraud in 2020 outraged and energized the MAGA constituency to the level of igniting an insurrection on January 6, 2021. On that fateful day where several thousands Trump supporters sought to seize control of Capitol Hill demanding that the Congress and Vice-President Mike Pence refuse to certify the electoral votes which would bring about a Biden presidency. 

This effort inevitably failed although it was reported that five law-enforcement officers died and 174 were injured, including 15 being hospitalized. Four of the insurrectionists died during the attacks which lasted several hours. In the aftermath of the failed coup, over 1,500 of the insurrectionists were charged and convicted of federal crimes. Nonetheless, those convicted of crimes related to January 6 were pardoned by Trump in the immediate aftermath of being sworn in for his second non-consecutive term in January 2025.

In the months leading up to the January 6 incident, the Trump campaign hired former lawyer and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to go around the US seeking to discredit electors committed to vote for the Democratic contender Joe Biden. There were efforts made to spread slander and falsehoods about election commissioners and volunteers to make it appear as if they were either incompetent or corrupt.

Consequently, it is not surprising that the MAGA President and his allies would repeat similar shenanigans in 2026 in light of the abysmal performance of the administration since January 2025. There has been a precipitous decline in the economy while the launching of an unprovoked war along with Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran has further damaged the potential for the Republican lawmakers to maintain control of the House of Representatives and Senate in the aftermath of November 3. 

The Supreme Court Decision on Mail-in Voting

Although millions of people of all races, classes and ages vote by mail, it is clear that the motivation for these attacks on this long-held method of casting ballots is to create the conditions for the disenfranchisement of millions of people. Therefore, in any threat to the dominance of MAGA in the Congress can be prevented by simply tossing out the votes of those individuals who are deemed to be unqualified. 

These are by no means new tactics in voter suppression. During the period of Federal Reconstruction in the aftermath of the Civil War (1861-1865), the formerly enslaved Africans won the right to the franchise through several bills and measures enacted by the Congress. The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution along with several Civil Acts passed between 1865-1875 were designed to prevent the resurrection of the Confederacy in the South.

Yet by 1877, Federal Reconstruction had been abandoned and the same political forces which had led the insurrection beginning in 1860-1861 to maintain African enslavement reemerged as the dominant authorities in the former Confederate states. It would take nearly another 90 years to force the government to pass legislation that would guarantee African Americans the right to the franchise. 

During the 1950s and 1960s mass struggles to end Jim Crow segregation and the suppression of voting rights were waged by the African American people and their allies. These popular and legal movements won the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1964-1965. 

Nonetheless, these political gains have never been accepted as legitimate by large sections of the US population. The emergence of several white supremacist tendencies has levelled attacks on the rights of African Americans and other nationally oppressed groups over the decades since the 1970s. 

The MAGA grouping now controlling the White House and Congress have been instrumental in this suppression of the political rights of the oppressed. However, people have been utilizing various tactics to overcome these attempted reversals of the advancements made over the last seven decades. 

As the SCOTUS has handed down rulings which facilitate the redrawing Congressional maps during early 2026 in several key states within the South, African Americans have mobilized to challenge these undemocratic measures. This arbitrary redistricting is aimed at the further disempowerment of the oppressed peoples. 

As it relates to the latest SCOTUS decision, the Washington Post wrote on September 15 that it was not clear what the count was among members of the court. This can be the situation when it involves an “emergency docket.” 

In a report written by Isaac Arnsdorf and Laura Meckler for the Washington Post, noted that:

“President Donald Trump on Tuesday blasted the Supreme Court justices he appointed after they ruled against him on mail ballots, tariffs and birthright citizenship, portraying their decisions as a personal betrayal…. Although Trump blamed all three of his appointees for ruling against him, the court’s ruling did not specify a vote count, leaving some question about precisely how many justices were in the majority…. Meanwhile, voting rights groups — who have warned for months about the chaos Trump’s new mail ballot rules would bring — celebrated the Supreme Court ruling. But many also pointed out the legal fight will likely leave some voters confused about whether it is possible or safe to vote by mail.” (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/15/trump-slams-supreme-court-ruling-mail-ballots-personal-betrayal/)

The actions of the Court on September 15 still left more than six weeks until the election day on November 3. Whether this issue is settled for the midterms will largely depend upon the administration which will continue its efforts to secure a continued majority in Congress. 

A Pattern of Repression

The suppression of voting rights for African Americans and other constituencies which may not agree with the MAGA project is just one aspect of repressive policies of the current administration. Attacks on migrants which have created the conditions for a police state in many cities, towns and rural areas of the US have implications on a much broader level within society.

There has also been the targeted prosecution of activists that strongly disagree with the Trump program within the areas of immigration enforcement, Palestine solidarity and imperialist wars in various geopolitical regions of the world. Judging from the MAGA attempts to overturn the 2020 national elections, it would not be out of character to witness another push in the same direction before or after November 3. 

People committed to bourgeois democratic principles in the US will remain vigilant during the remaining two years of the current administration. Although the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution restricts presidents to two terms, Trump and his supporters have broached the notion of another four years for the administration. 

Therefore, there are calls for mass demonstrations and days of action leading up to the November 3 vote. Another “No Kings Day” is scheduled for late October to bring out millions across the country to protest against the dictatorial policies of the Trump White House and Congress. 

If the administration continues its present political trajectory, more militant and sustainable efforts could be required. Many have raised the prospects for a nationwide general strike to prevent a coup directed by the White House and Pentagon. 

Irrespective of the outcome of the elections, the underlying crisis of US capitalism will not be resolved. Discussions, debates and organizing activities need to occur aimed at building a movement aimed at the total transformation of society which would bring about the complete emancipation of oppressed and working people in the US.

Niger Thwarts Attempted Coup Amid Ongoing Threats to the Alliance of Sahel States

Algeria and Russia played an important role in upholding the revolutionary government

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Tuesday September 14, 2026

Geostrategic Analysis

For several years three landlocked West African states have undergone political transformations designed to turn the page on French neo-colonialism.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States in September 2023 after signing the Liptako-Gourma Charter in the area where the three landlocked states meet geographically.

All three of these governments were prompted to form a firm alliance after suffering years of destabilization and domination by imperialism and its agents. Rebel groupings which are said to be supported by several western capitals have carried out terrorist actions aimed at providing a rationale for the continuing interventions by France, the United States and other NATO countries.

All three of the AES members were occupied by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) which was officially formed in early 2008. In addition to AFRICOM, the French established two military structures which encompassed five Sahel states. There was Operation Barkhane along with the G5 Sahel which claimed to combine concerns for security as well as economic development.

The five countries involved were Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Chad. The G5 Sahel was formed in the capital of Mauritania, Nouakchott, in 2014. Operation Barkhane was said to be specifically focused upon counterinsurgency operations against rebels who were carrying out attacks against government infrastructure and civilian communities. 

After the shifts in domestic and foreign policies in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger between 2020-2023, both the G5 Sahel and Operation Barkhane collapsed leaving the French military without viable African partners to implement its objectives in the Sahel region of West Africa. In the aftermath of the developments in Burkina Faso and Niger in 2022-2023, the AFRICOM forces were asked to leave these states. 

Mali and Niger, both of which have substantial deposit of uranium, requested the departure of AFRICOM troops. The revolutionary governments which formed the AES questioned the actual role of the French and US troops in their territories.

The western troops said they were in the Sahel region to reverse the course of destabilization brought on largely after the CIA-Pentagon-NATO destruction of the North Africa state of Libya during 2011. Imperialist propaganda against the Jamahiriya system in Libya under the Pan-Africanist leader and statesman, Col. Mummar Gaddafi, creating a false justification for the deployment of mercenaries functioning as ground troops while the US, France, Britain, Turkey, Canada and other NATO states and their allies carried out aerial bombing operations between March 19 and October 31 across the country which had been designated as the most prosperous state in Africa. 

Nonetheless, many of the rebels which were utilized in Libya against the Gaddafi government were later deployed in neighboring Mali. From 2012 to 2020, a series of coups based upon the interests of France and the US took place.

In subsequent years, the military administrations which came to power realized that the longer the AFRICOM, Operation Barkhane and G5 Sahel forces remained in these states the worse the security situation became. Therefore, the leaders of Mali and later Burkina Faso and Niger looked to the Russian Federation for security and economic assistance much to the chagrin of both Paris and Washington.

The Latest Threats to the AES 

On August 29 there were reports emerging from the Niger capital of Niamey that a military mutiny was underway. Nonetheless, the attempt to remove the Committee for the Defense of the Homeland (CNSP) government was crushed within twenty-four hours.

The attempted coup was put down by the combined forces of the Niger military and the Russian-based Africa Corps. All of the AES governments have developed close security, diplomatic and economic ties to the Russian Federation.

In a report published by Business Insider Africa it describes the situation as it unfolded in late August, noting:

“The uprising began on August 29, when soldiers attacked strategic sites in Niamey, including Air Base 101 at Diori Hamani International Airport and areas around the presidential palace. The state broadcaster was also targeted before loyalist forces regained control. Business Insider Africa also gathered that some of those involved in the failed uprising had trained at the Upper Barracks, an institution with longstanding French influence before Paris was forced to scale back its military presence in Niger. However, there is no verified evidence linking France to the latest coup attempt. Russia subsequently confirmed its involvement in suppressing the uprising, with its Africa Corps providing ground and aerial support to Nigerien forces. Nigerien forces had repelled the attack ‘with the assistance of servicemen of the African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defense’, the foreign ministry in Moscow said on Sunday. The ministry also said it would continue to support Niger in its fight against ‘extremists’, but that the situation was now under the control of the ‘legitimate authorities headed by President [Gen Abdourahmane] Tiani’.” (https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/niger-fights-off-latest-coup-plot-with-support-from-russia-algeria-and-sahel-bloc/60shdd6)

Similar situations have occurred in both Burkina Faso and Mali over the last year. In Mali, the rebel groupings of the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliated organization, and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) launched an offensive which temporarily seized control of several cities and towns in the north and central regions of the country.

There was also the imposition of a fuel blockade by the JNIM against the capital of Bamako in the south of the country. All of these actions are designed to weaken and overthrow the government headed by Col. Assimi Goita, who seized power twice under the banner of National Committee for the Salvation of the People. 

Also in Burkina Faso, there was a coup plot uncovered in early January where the government of Capt. Ibrahim Traore was threatened with destabilization. This plan, according to the government, was designed to assassinate Traore and remove the existing Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR). 

These attacks against the AES come during a period of economic growth and increasing political consolidation. Business Insider Africa reported on the progress being made in the AES states saying:

“The data show that the Sahel bloc's economy remains resilient, with each nation benefiting from strong performance in agriculture, mining, energy, and services despite ongoing security and political concerns. Niger's GDP grew at the quickest rate of the three, with a 6.9% increase projected for 2025. While this was a drop from the spectacular 10.3% growth registered in 2024, the rate remained one of the fastest in West Africa, placing third among the region's 15 economies…. Burkina Faso achieved an economic growth rate of 5.0%, up from 4.8% the previous year, as the West African country benefited from a broad-based resurgence across various sectors. According to the study, excellent weather conditions and government-backed agricultural programs helped keep farm output stable, while the services sector expanded. Mining activities, aided by higher world gold prices, also boosted total GDP, considering that mining in the country since the military government took over has been a debacle.” (https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/the-african-bloc-born-from-military-coups-is-showing-surprising-economic-resilience/lmbjr9q)

Since 2024 there have been reports of Ukrainian assistance to the Malian rebels of the FLA and JNIM. Bamako and Niamey have since then broken diplomatic relations with Kyiv. Due to the AES cooperation with Moscow, the imperialist-backed Ukrainian government views the assistance to the rebels as a means to damaging Russian influence in West Africa. (https://thearabweekly.com/ukraine-russia-war-tactics-seep-malis-desert-tuareg-get-help-kiev)

AES leaders have traveled to Russia for high-level discussions with the government of President Vladimir Putin. These states continue to strengthen economic and security ties as a means of stifling the influence of France and the US.

These agreements with the AES countries are worrisome for the former colonial and neo-colonial powers which have devastated the African continent for centuries. Events in the AES have drawn international attention to development processes being initiated in the Sahel region.

The Role of Algeria in Halting the Niger Coup

In addition to the assistance by the Russian Federation in the economic plans and security framework of Niger, the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria came to the rescue of Niamey and its government as well. These developments are significant due to the close proximity of Algeria to the AES and the fact they are all former French colonies.

Business Insider Africa emphasized that during the period of the most recent destabilization efforts, that:

“Alongside Russia’s direct intervention, Algeria has also strengthened Niger’s military capabilities in recent weeks. Earlier in August, Algiers donated four military helicopters to Niger, comprising two Mi-24V attack helicopters and two Mi-171 multirole helicopters. The package also included ammunition, spare parts, maintenance equipment and logistical support. The Mi-24Vs were pictured with launch racks for Ingwe anti-tank missiles, while other equipment included pods for S-5 air-to-surface rockets. Following the latest unrest, Algerian Su-30 fighter jets and an aerial-refueling tanker were also reported in Niger.” (https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/niger-fights-off-latest-coup-plot-with-support-from-russia-algeria-and-sahel-bloc/60shdd6)

These forms of assistance and solidarity are key in building genuine operational unity on the African continent. The African Union (AU) Commission based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia should take serious note of the burgeoning cooperation between the AES governments and Algiers. 

The US, France and other NATO states are desperately seeking to undermine the renewed movement towards genuine independence and sovereignty in Africa. Only the broadening of the anti-imperialist efforts across the continent can lead to qualitative growth and development among the 55-member AU states.

Iran Struck 'US-contracted Vessel', US Personnel Injured: Fox News

By Al Mayadeen English

16 Sep 2026 23:29

A US-contracted vessel was hit by Iranian drones and at least one missile near the Strait of Hormuz, causing minor injuries, sources told Fox News.

A US-contracted vessel was hit during an Iranian attack earlier this week, two sources told Fox News on Wednesday.

The incident occurred around the Strait of Hormuz, and involved four Iranian drones and at least one missile. One of the projectiles struck the vessel and caused minor injuries, including smoke inhalation, which are being treated in a Gulf country, and some US personnel were onboard.

The belated disclosure raises serious questions about why the incident was concealed and what US personnel were doing aboard a vessel presented as a civilian oil tanker.

The ship’s US contract, the personnel’s roles and the nature of its mission remain unexplained, fueling suspicions that ostensibly civilian shipping was being used to support American military or intelligence operations near the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, Iran told the United States that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until seven conditions approved by the country's top officials are met, Tasnim News Agency reported on September 12, citing an informed source.

"Until these seven conditions, which have been approved by Iran's top officials, are met, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed," the source told Tasnim.

Supertanker hits mines in Strait of Hormuz

Earlier on September 14, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that a supertanker struck mines in the Strait of Hormuz after it decided to travel via illegal routes.

"The supertanker Algaya, IMO number 9325336, which was attempting to cross the prohibited zone south of the Strait of Hormuz, exploded after striking naval mines," the IRGC Navy said in a statement.

The IRGC Navy added that the tanker was set ablaze after hitting the mine, noting that "efforts to contain the fire have been unsuccessful, and the entire tanker is engulfed in flames."

It added that warnings had been repeatedly issued before the Algaya incident about using these illegal passageways.

The IRGC Navy reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and continues to be under the authority of the Islamic Republic.

YAF Release Footage of F-15 Downing, Announce Wing Loong Interception

By Al Mayadeen English

16 Sep 2026 18:19

The Yemeni Armed Forces have released footage showing the downing of the Saudi F-15 fighter jet and its wreckage in Marib, while announcing another operation targeting a Wing Loong II drone.

The Yemeni Military Media released footage of the downing of a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib Governorate, as the Saudi aggression against Yemen continues while the Yemeni Armed Forces respond with top-tier operations targeting hostile aircraft and enemy ground forces. 

The wreckage of the F-15SA fighter jet was documented where it had fallen over the governorate. 

The aircraft downed by the Yemeni Armed Forces, tail number 5529, was Saudi Arabia’s most advanced F-15 variant, surpassing the older F-15C/D in radar, ground-attack capability, flight controls, countermeasures, and several other systems, and costing up to $110 million or more.

Only Qatar’s F-15QA and the newer F-15EX, which has yet to enter service in significant numbers, are more modern.

Earlier today, spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the aircraft was targeted and brought down using a homegrown surface-to-air missile, marking a successful operation against Saudi aerial aggression.

Saree said the operation comes in response to Saudi aerial aggression after Saudi warplanes carried out more than 450 airstrikes during the past week using F-15 and Typhoon aircraft launched from the Khamis Mushait and Taif air bases.

YAF down Wing Loong II over Marib

In another operation, spokesperson Yahya Saree announced that the armed forces had intercepted and successfully shot down a Saudi-operated Wing Loong II drone over Marib. 

According to Saree, the aircraft was downed while carrying hostile missions over the governorate using the appropriate weapons. 

Earlier, the YAF carried out two top-tier military operations against targets in Saudi Arabia in response to continued Saudi aggression and an intensified air campaign against Yemen.

The first operation targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones, according to the statement. Saree said the strikes directly hit their targets, causing major fires and extensive damage.

The second operation targeted the Khamis Mushait airbase with several ballistic missiles. The statement said the attack also achieved a direct hit.

Sudanese Pound Slide Paralyses Khartoum Markets as Traders Halt Sales

16 September 2026

Sudanese trader holds a pile of Sudanese pound banknotes in his shop in Port Sudan, on June 22, 2026 , Photo Adrian Sameli

September 16, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Markets across the Sudanese capital ground to a halt on Wednesday as a sharp depreciation of the pound forced traders to suspend sales, fearing they would be unable to replenish depleted inventories.

The paralysis followed fresh losses for the local currency on the parallel market, where rapid volatility has directly chained retail shelf prices to daily exchange rate fluctuations.

The U.S. dollar traded at roughly 8,800 Sudanese pounds on Wednesday, down sharply from between 7,200 and 7,300 pounds at the start of the week.

Prices for essential staples jumped in tandem. A 50-kilogramme bag of sugar rose above 420,000 pounds, while flour reached 116,000 pounds.

A 20-kilogramme sack of lentils traded at 165,000 pounds, rice climbed to around 230,000 pounds, and broad beans reached 310,000 pounds.

Hussein Abdullah, a local merchant, told Sudan Tribune that many shopkeepers shuttered premises to avoid selling at a loss as the greenback appreciated.

Abdullah said revenue generated from existing stock was no longer sufficient to fund wholesale replacement orders, rapidly eroding working capital.

He added that vendors could not establish stable retail quotes, requiring continuous repricing based on replacement costs.

Critics accused authorities of neglecting the market deterioration and failing to rein in currency speculation.

Ibrahim Ali, a local consumer, said most retail outlets had halted transactions because vendors could not calculate prices for goods heavily reliant on imports.

Ali warned closures would continue as the exchange rate breached 8,000 pounds, severely disrupting supply lines and working capital.

Rahma Abdullah, a resident in the Halfaya district, said the market shutdowns and surging costs hit low-income households disproportionately as real purchasing power collapsed.

She said the retail standstill restricted access to basic provisions, calling for urgent fiscal intervention.

Kamal Karrar, an independent economist, said Sudan’s economy faced a deepening contraction compounded by falling output, rising freight fees, tariffs, and unanchored currency depreciation.

Karrar described the situation as a byproduct of a war economy, pointing to military expenditures financed largely via import tariffs, taxes, and monetary expansion amid depressed domestic output.

He noted that real household incomes were deteriorating rapidly, adding that fiscal stopgaps would fail to stabilize the market absent an end to the conflict.

The civil war that erupted in April 2023 has shattered domestic supply chains and transport links, driving up operating overheads and worsening consumer price inflation.

Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Kills at Least 67 in West Kordofan

16 September 2026

Gold miners at a mining area in Abu Jubayhah county in South Kordofan

September 16, 2026 (AL-NUHUD) – At least 67 people were killed when a gold mine collapsed in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, a medical group said on Wednesday.

The disaster occurred at the Al-Zar’a mine near Al-Nuhud, a territory held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese Doctors Network said in a statement.

Rescue workers were searching for survivors trapped beneath the debris, though casualties were expected to rise due to the lack of safety measures at the site.

Local sources told Sudan Tribune that dozens of artisanal miners had been trapped since Tuesday morning, with recovery teams relying on basic hand tools to reach them.

The sources said the collapse was likely triggered by unstable ground loosened by recent heavy rains.

Collapses at unregulated gold shafts are common across northern and eastern Sudan, where millions rely on informal mining to survive amid economic devastation. In July, about 15 miners were killed in a similar cave-in in Northern State.

Al-Nuhud, the largest city in West Kordofan, and its surrounding gold deposits are under RSF control and have drawn waves of prospectors since civil war broke out in April 2023.

The medical group denounced the neglect of basic safety standards, warning that mining in RSF-administered zones without emergency rescue services or protective equipment leaves civilians facing extreme danger.

It urged the controlling authorities to halt unregulated digging, protect workers, and supply urgent medical and logistical aid to the site.

Sudan’s artisanal gold sector employs more than two million people and accounts for upwards of 80% of national production. Authorities have repeatedly pledged to regulate the informal trade, though state oversight has collapsed across conflict-affected regions.

Rights Monitor Says 1,900 Sudanese Detained in Libya, Alleges Abuse and Extortion

16 September 2026

Migrants and refugees are detained in violent mass arrests in Tripoli, Libya. MSF file photo

September 16, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Around 1,900 Sudanese migrants and refugees, including women and children, are being held in detention centres across Libya amid allegations of torture, extortion, and human trafficking, a Sudanese rights group said on Wednesday.

Libya hosts an estimated 590,000 Sudanese displaced since conflict broke out in April 2023, while authorities in the divided North African country conduct periodic security sweeps against foreign nationals and undocumented migrants.

The Gezira Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement that authorities were holding more than 1,200 people of various nationalities, including Sudanese women and minors, at the Qanfouda detention centre in the eastern city of Benghazi.

The rights group documented what it described as degrading conditions at Qanfouda, including severe shortages of food, drinking water, and medical care amid outbreaks of communicable diseases. It said detainees were subjected to prolonged confinement without legal basis or access to judicial authorities.

Between 600 and 700 people were also being held at the “Prison 71” facility in Tobruk, the group said, adding that most had been picked up at land borders or intercepted while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Detainees there face unsanitary conditions and lack adequate healthcare, the monitor said.

The group reported allegations of unlawful confiscation of personal property, including cash, mobile phones, and identity papers, at the Tajoura and Bir al-Ghanam centres in western Libya.

Witness testimonies gathered from the Osama and Al-Assa detention sites described physical torture, degrading treatment, and financial extortion, with guards demanding ransoms from detainees’ families in exchange for release, according to the group.

The monitor called on Libyan authorities to open independent criminal investigations into the abuse claims, hold those responsible to account, and release anyone held without charge. Libyan authorities could not immediately be reached for comment on the allegations.

Young people constitute the majority of those detained, having fled targeted attacks and armed clashes in Sudan only to face unlawful confinement and exploitation en route, the group added.

Under international refugee conventions, states are prohibited from expelling or returning individuals to territories where their lives or freedom are threatened.

Libyan authorities have previously deported groups of Sudanese, including those diagnosed with infectious diseases, to the desert border area where Sudan meets Libya and Egypt. That border zone is currently held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leaving it without official Sudanese state representation.

Sudanese Politician Warns International Community Failing to Address Core Conflict

17 September 2026

Yasir Arman, SPLM-RDC leader (L) shakes nads with Vittorio Di Trapani, President of the Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana in Rome on September 16, 2026

September 16, 2026 (ROME) – The head of the SPLM-Democratic Revolutionary Current, Yasir Arman, on Wednesday directed sharp criticism at international institutions over their handling of the situation in Sudan, accusing them of focusing on narrow issues rather than pressuring them to end the war.

Arman held meetings with officials at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on the sidelines of its 63rd session, which runs through next October. He met with representatives of international organizations and governments from among the council’s 47 member states, in addition to holding talks with the chair of the fact-finding mission, Mohamed Chande Othman.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune, Arman said: “The Sudan agenda was present at a high level in the Human Rights Council, but this alone is not enough, as the main focus was not placed on ending the war and securing a humanitarian ceasefire to address the humanitarian catastrophe.”

He explained that the issues raised at the council represent the consequences of the war, including displacement, sexual violence, and extending the arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, stressing that these issues “cannot be addressed except by ending the war.”

Arman also pointed to discussions about expanding the arms embargo to cover all of Sudan instead of Darfur, noting that the same measure was tested in Darfur for more than 20 years “without leading to the protection of civilians.”

“The broader and deeper issue is how to end the war and address the humanitarian catastrophe spreading across all of Sudan,” he added. “There are millions of displaced persons and refugees as a result of the war, the strategic infrastructure has been destroyed, and cultural memory has been wiped out through the looting of museums, the National Records Office, and many documents representing a shared Sudanese identity.”

Arman explained that he spoke with the chair of the fact-finding mission, Mohamed Chande Othman, and his team about the importance of utilizing the unprecedented mandate granted to the investigation committee, namely, addressing the root causes of the Sudanese crisis. “In order for this war to be the last war and to bring sustainable peace, the root causes of the war crises that began in 1955 must be addressed,” he said.

Warning over expanding crisis

Arman noted emerging trends in the Human Rights Council that treat the state and legitimacy as the primary issue while sidelining the civilian agenda, emphasizing that this prolongs the war.

He criticized the council’s failure to focus on resolving Sudan’s crisis definitively, citing regional alliances that he said stand with one warring side or the other.

He explained that during his meetings with international actors, he pointed out that the Sudanese crisis has taken a regional turn. He warned that this is harmful given the country’s location across vital geopolitical belts, such as the Red Sea, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel, as well as its links to Africa, the Arab world, and the Mediterranean.

Arman, who arrived in Rome on Tuesday, plans to meet with Italian legislative and executive institutions before continuing his European tour.

He said that upon his arrival, he held a press conference at the headquarters of the National Federation of the Italian Press (FNSI), in which he called on the Holy See and the Italian government to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan while working to achieve peace and democracy.

He said anti-war forces appreciate the role Italy can play in efforts to bring peace and democracy to Sudan.

Arman noted that the conflict carries geopolitical repercussions because of Sudan’s geographic position on the Red Sea, the Horn of Africa, the Sahel region, and its proximity to the Mediterranean.

He pointed out that the war has affected the lives of more than 25 million people, severely damaging major cities and strategic infrastructure, alongside vast areas producing agricultural crops and livestock.

“Today, Sudan faces the risk of imminent famine without serious attention from the region and the international community,” he added. “To date, the World Food Programme has received only half of the funding required to meet urgent food and nutrition needs.”

Arman stressed that Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries will seek migration, especially toward European nations, if they “do not find the right to remain in their homeland.”

Fragile alliances

The head of the Democratic Revolutionary Current stressed their ongoing pursuit to build a substantial, organic alliance and a solid post-war front to rebuild and rehabilitate Sudan, tackle post-war tasks, and deepen democracy, development, and citizenship without discrimination.

“Fragile alliances lead to fragile solutions, and fragile solutions will reproduce the crisis,” he said. “Therefore, we stand against any fragile alliances and against any fragile visions.”

He added: “We clearly observe that the Quintet and its recent trip to Khartoum indicate and warn that these issues are not being taken seriously enough by the mediators. We call for a deeper dialogue with the Quintet on these issues and on how to achieve sustainable peace in Sudan.”

The Quintet group, which includes representatives of the United Nations, the African Union, IGAD, the European Union, and the Arab League, held extensive meetings in Khartoum last week with senior government officials, the dialogue committee, and political blocs to discuss ways to push toward a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue that paves the way for a political process guaranteeing a return to democratic civilian rule.

Commenting on calls for internal dialogue, Arman said dialogue remains a central issue, emphasizing that they advocate for talks between the parties waging the war and civilian forces within the anti-war front. He renewed his warnings against the return of the Islamists, stating: “They will return with their wars, repression, totalitarianism, and tyranny, and they will repeat their past course by bringing the Sudanese state to the brink of collapse.”

Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Kills at Least 82 People with Many More Missing

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

By YASIR ABDALLAH and SAMY MAGDY

2:48 PM EDT, September 16, 2026

SHENDI, Sudan (AP) — The death toll from the collapse of an informal gold mine in a remote area of Sudan has risen to 82, according to local officials and activists, as rescuers struggled on Wednesday to search for the missing with limited equipment.

It’s the latest tragedy in a nation mired in a devastating war.

Survivors said that the collapse happened at the al-Zara gold mine, in Nuhud, a town in West Kordofan province, which is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. The group has been fighting against the Sudanese military for more than three years.

Suleiman Abu Hmeida, a member of the Emergency Response Rooms, said that rescuers pulled out 82 bodies by Wednesday afternoon. “But dozens remain unaccounted for,” Abu Hmeida told The Associated Press.

The Emergency Response Rooms is a grassroots network that monitors the conflict and provides support for communities across war-torn Sudan.

A local administration official also said that 82 bodies were recovered.

The official said that the collapse began on Sunday in one of the mine shafts and spread to the other interconnected shafts. He said that only one privately owned forklift is available for the rescue efforts, complicating the search for survivors.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.

“The collapse is massive and the situation is very dire,” Khairal-Sayed Gabara, one of the survivors, told the AP when reached by phone. He said that the machinery needed to remove the collapsed soil and rubble wasn’t available.

“We do not have the machinery to lift dirt and stones and search for survivors at depths of more than 30 meters (around 100 feet),” he said. “There were dozens of people working in the mine.”

The al-Zara gold mine is one of thousands of small-scale and informal mines scattered across Sudan, which has been engulfed in a war that has at times pushed parts of the country into famine.

Despite being a major gold producer, deadly mine collapses in Sudan aren’t uncommon in a country where safety standards aren’t widely applied. A 2023 collapse killed 14 miners and one in 2021 claimed 38 lives.

Al-Amin Suliman, another survivor, said that 60 bodies had been recovered as of Wednesday morning.

“There are still people stuck inside,” he said.

The Sudan Doctors Network, a medical group tracking the war in Sudan, reported earlier that 67 bodies were pulled from the rubble, predicting that the death toll could increase as rescuers continued their search. The group said that the mine — an informal site that employs unregulated workers — lacked basic safety and protective measures.

Earlier, survivors reached by phone and the physicians network said that the tragedy took place on Tuesday evening.

The Kordofan Observatory monitoring group said that at least 70 miners were killed or missing at the site, which stretches more than a kilometer (around a half-mile) across a wide swath of fragile, sandy soil. It described the miners as unregulated and informal workers.

Large quantities of gold have been smuggled out of the country to finance the RSF, which controls gold-producing areas in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, according to experts commissioned by the United Nations.

Sudan plunged into an all-out war in April 2023 as fighting erupted between the RSF and the Sudanese military in the country.

The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a monitoring group. Aid organizations say that the figure is an undercount, and the true number could be many times higher.

___

Samy Magdy contributed to this report from Cairo.

South Sudan President Fires Head of Electoral Body Months Before Country’s First Election

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir arrives at Juba's Presidential Palace, South Sudan, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)

By DENG MACHOL

8:25 AM EDT, September 16, 2026

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Tuesday night announced the removal of the head of the East African country’s electoral body only three months before the country’s first election.

Abednego Akok Kacuol was fired from his position as chairperson of the National Elections Commission without a reason being given publicly by Kiir. He will be replaced by Gabriel Bol Deng Majok, who served as the electoral commission’s secretary general.

Akok, 71, was appointed as chairperson of the electoral body in August 2012 and reappointed in November 2023 after the commission was reconstituted under a 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war. South Sudan has repeatedly postponed elections since gaining independence in 2011, citing delays in implementing the peace deal.

The transitional period and implementation of the 2018 peace agreement has been extended several times. Under the current road map, the transitional government is expected to be dissolved on Sept. 22 and elections are set for Dec. 22, ahead of the transitional period expiring in February.

Experts say the leadership change in the electoral body could impact the elections.

Political analyst Abraham Kuol Nyuon, dean of the University of Juba graduate college, said the leadership change could further complicate preparations, including voter registration.

“This is a delay tactic,” Kuol told The Associated Press, adding that “the people of South Sudan should forget about the Dec. 22 polls.”

The new chairperson will need time to become familiar with the position and make decisions needed to complete preparations, Kuol said.

The move also has raised questions over the legal process for the removal of an electoral body chairperson. The National Elections Act sets out a specific procedure and lists grounds for removal including proven partiality, inability to perform duties and gross misconduct.

Policy analyst Boboya James Edmond said the decision failed to meet legal requirements.

“The president has no sole authority under the law in South Sudan to remove the chairperson of the National Electoral Commission unless the detailed procedures are followed,” said Boboya, the chief executive officer of the Institute of Social Policy Research in South Sudan.

He warned the decision could add uncertainty to the electoral process.

“The president is acting now as a referee rather than as a player and participant in the electoral process,” Boboya said.

The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned last week that elections without safeguards and inclusive political dialogue could fuel renewed conflict.

“The country can move toward elections in a way that deepens division and conflict, or it can use this moment to restore political dialogue, protect civilians and put in place the safeguards needed for a peaceful and credible transition,” said the commission’s chairperson, Yasmin Sooka.

Trump Administration Hits South Africa with New Sanctions over Alleged Discrimination Against Whites

By GERALD IMRAY

9:51 AM EDT, September 16, 2026

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The Trump administration has announced that it will impose travel bans on officials it claims are responsible for discrimination against whites and other minority groups in South Africa.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday he would revoke U.S. visas or reject visa applications from foreign nationals found to be responsible for, or complicit in, enacting or enforcing laws and policies that allow for uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination and the incitement of violence against minority ethnic and racial groups in South Africa.

“The United States will not allow such behavior to go unchecked,” Rubio said in a statement. “These actions directly undermine peace, economic stability, and the rule of law, and they are incompatible with the pillars of America’s foreign policy.”

The South African government has strongly rejected U.S. allegations of discrimination against whites, calling the claims made by the administration since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office last year baseless and a result of misinformation.

It’s the latest U.S. move to sanction South Africa

Rubio did not identify any officials who would be targeted with the travel restrictions, though a lobby group for minority whites in South Africa has previously called for the U.S. to sanction officials of the African National Congress party, the party of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the largest in South Africa’s Parliament.

It’s the latest move by the Trump administration to sanction South Africa over its claims that whites, and especially the Afrikaner group, are being discriminated against by their Black-led government. Afrikaners are descended from mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers who first came to South Africa in the 17th century. They were at the heart of South Africa’s previous apartheid system of racial segregation.

There are approximately 4.5 million white people in South Africa’s population of 62 million, which also includes whites with British or other heritage.

The Trump administration casts South Africa as anti-white

The U.S. has cited a contentious South African law that allows for the expropriation of unused private land without compensation in some circumstances, affirmative action policies that advance opportunities for Blacks and others, and a small number of violent crimes against white farmers as evidence of a larger anti-white stance in South Africa.

The Trump administration has also strongly criticized South Africa’s move to accuse U.S. ally Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a highly emotive case at the United Nations’ top court. Israel vehemently denies that allegation.

South Africa asks the U.S. to respect its sovereignty

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Wednesday that some of the domestic policies that the U.S. had branded as discriminatory were designed to address the injustices of apartheid and hundreds of years of colonial rule before that, when Black people were stripped of their rights.

“South Africa respects that the United States may hold differing views on certain policy measures and their implementation. ... The people of South Africa likewise respect the right of the American people to develop legislation that addresses their own circumstances,” Lamola said in a statement. “We expect that the same respect will be accorded to the people of South Africa, as the principle of sovereignty requires.”

The U.S. says more sanctions will follow

The U.S. has enforced a series of other sanctions against South Africa during Trump’s second term for purported anti-white and anti-American policies. They include barring South African officials from meetings of the Group of 20 economic bloc this year in the U.S., and phasing out aid for South Africa’s HIV treatment program.

The U.S. has also launched a refugee program for Afrikaners and other whites, claiming baselessly that they are victims of a humanitarian emergency in South Africa.

The U.S. says the sanctions are because South Africa has not changed its policies, and warned of more to follow.

“This visa restriction policy is only the first step in a series of escalatory measures that will show America’s firm resolve in this matter,” the official U.S. Ambassador to South Africa account posted on X, referring to Rubio’s visa announcement.

___

AP writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

What to Know About the Deaths of 8 Women in South Africa that Have Sparked Fear and Anger

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME

10:50 AM EDT, September 16, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The bodies of eight women have been discovered by South African police in the Kempton Park area, east of Johannesburg, in the last two months.

The discoveries have sent shock waves around the country, sparked a high-level investigation and highlighted the scourge of femicide and high levels of violent crime.

Here’s what to know about the grim discoveries and the police investigation:

Police looking into whether a serial killer was responsible

The Gauteng provincial commissioner Fred Kekana said police are examining whether the cases are linked, but warned against prematurely describing the deaths as the work of one perpetrator or a serial killer.

“Investigators are considering all possibilities, including the possibility of multiple suspects or separate perpetrators,” he said. “Police are comparing the evidence, timelines, locations, victim profiles and circumstances of each case before reaching conclusions.

However, he pointed out that the similarities and proximity of the locations where they were found was concerning.

Some of the bodies discovered more recently were in Olifantsfontein and Kwa-Thema areas, respectively about 25 kilometers (15 miles) and 34 kilometers (21 miles) from Kempton Park, where the first five bodies were discovered.

“While investigations are still underway and SAPS has not, at this stage, confirmed that the deaths are linked to a serial killer, the similarities are sufficiently concerning for the police to issue a public warning and intensify investigations,” said Kekana.

The victims were all young women

By Wednesday, police said there were a total of eight victims. All were women between the ages of 20 and 38, and all were found either naked or partially clothed with bruises on their bodies, according to the police.

The first body was discovered on 17 July, naked and restrained with cable ties. A suspect believed to have been the victim’s boyfriend was arrested and remains in custody, according to the police.

One of the victims was identified as 38-year-old runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who went missing last week.

She was reported missing after her 8-year-old daughter alerted family members that she had not returned from her daily afternoon jog, and was found dead several days later.

The body that was recovered in Olifantsfontein on Tuesday was found naked and in an advanced stage of decomposition.

The youngest victim has been identified as a 20-year-old woman.

High rates of femicide and violent crime

The recent deaths have highlighted high rates of femicide and violent crime in the country and sparked an outcry over the safety of women.

Between April and July this year, the country recorded 5,427 murders, which is an average of about 45 murders per day, according to the latest crime statistics.

Femicide rates in South Africa are among the highest in the world, according to the United Nations’ agency for gender equality.

A study in 2022 by a South African think tank found that more than 35% of South African adult women had experienced physical or sexual violence at some point.

Police have offered a cash reward for any information to related to the murders.

MOGOMOTSI MAGOME

Magome is an Associated Press reporter based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He covers a range of topics including general news, politics, and enterprise stories from across the Southern Africa region.

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Yemeni Forces Release 26-min Footage from al-Jawf Battles

By Al Mayadeen English

15 Sep 2026 19:04

Yemen’s Military Media released footage from a wide-scale military operation in al-Jawf, showing their advance through the province, the targeting of enemy concentrations, and the capture of Saudi-backed forces.

The Yemeni Military Media released footage of strikes against concentrations of Saudi-backed forces and their military vehicles east of al-Jawf, alongside the advance of Yemeni Armed Forces' vanguards through the governorate, across its mountainous and desert terrain.

The footage shows the vanguards outflanking Saudi-backed forces in al-Jawf and direct engagement from point-blank range, before the Saudi forces retreated under sustained fire. 

Saudi warplanes were seen intervening for aerial support, but "mistakenly bombed its own forces" on the ground, the Yemeni statement said. 

The footage also showed the Yemeni Armed Forces capturing Saudi-backed personnel, as well as the destruction of dozens of enemy military vehicles. Armored vehicles and equipment were also seized during the battle in al-Jawf. 

In numbers: Al-Jawf gains 

Meanwhile, a military source told Al-Masirah that the losses among Saudi-backed forces on the Al-Jawf front over the past four days have reached approximately 275 killed, wounded, or captured.

The source said 85 military and armored vehicles belonging to the Saudi-backed forces were destroyed or disabled during the clashes.

It added that seven enemy drones of various types were shot down during the confrontations.

Saudi Arabia Cancels Crude Shipments to European Customers

By Al Mayadeen English

15 Sep 2026 19:56

Saudi Arabia cancels some crude oil shipments to European customers amid disruptions to its East-West pipeline and shipping routes.

Saudi Arabia has informed its European customers of the cancellation of some crude oil shipments scheduled for loading in late September, Reuters reported citing three informed sources.

The world's largest crude oil exporter closed its East-West pipeline following a strike targeting it last week, and faces challenges from the Yemeni Armed Forces' advance in Yemen in the Red Sea area and continued shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, a Yemeni military source told al-Masirah TV that the Yemeni Armed Forces had carried out a targeted operation against Saudi troop concentrations, buildups, and reinforcements in the al-Jawf desert, north of the al-Kanais area.

The source said the operation followed sustained monitoring of Saudi forces and affiliated armed groups along the border and desert fronts, and that the strikes achieved direct hits after the targeted formations' movements had been tracked and intelligence reconnaissance completed.

YAF continues to monitor, strike Saudi mobilizations

According to the source, several members of the Saudi-backed forces were killed or wounded, and several military vehicles and equipment were destroyed or disabled at the targeted positions.

The source added that the desert region had seen extensive Saudi troop movements and repeated attempts to establish new military positions, but that continued field surveillance, precision strikes, and preemptive operations had disrupted "the enemy's" plans and inflicted successive losses in personnel and equipment.

Over the past 24 hours, Saudi warplanes carried out 54 attacks against Yemen, launching F-15 and Typhoon jets from the Khamis Mushait and Taif bases to hit Taiz, Lahj, al-Jawf, Marib, and Hajjah provinces.

Escalation timeline

The developments come as Yemeni forces engage Saudi-backed forces across several governorates after launching preemptive strikes against their military buildups, while Saudi Arabia has carried out attacks on Marib, al-Jawf, Taiz, and Hodeidah.

Earlier Monday, the Yemeni Armed Forces struck King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait using dozens of ballistic missiles and drones, targeting aircraft hangars, radars, runways, and ammunition depots. YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the operation came in response to more than 300 Saudi airstrikes launched over the previous five days from the Khamis Mushait and Taif air bases, and warned that the armed forces would continue operations inside Saudi Arabia "as long as its unjust aggression against our people continues."

Last week, Yemeni forces completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, captured Mayyun Island, and advanced into Dhubab district.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have maintained the equation of "blockade for blockade and escalation for escalation" in response to the Saudi aggression and the years-long blockade imposed on the country.

CENTCOM Hosts Secret Israeli-Arab Military Meeting on Iran, Yemen

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Axios

15 Sep 2026 23:06

According to a source familiar with the discussions, Saudi Arabia and the Israeli occupation are examining, with CENTCOM's assistance, ways in which "Israel" could support Saudi military operations against Yemen.

Senior military commanders from the United States, the Israeli occupation, and several Arab states reportedly held a secret meeting in Germany last week to discuss the ongoing war on Iran and deepen regional military coordination, including possible Israeli support for Saudi operations against Yemen, Axios reported on Tuesday.

Citing two Israeli officials, the outlet said the gathering was organized by US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper and attended by the military chiefs of staff of the Israeli occupation, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt.

The meeting was not publicly announced by any of the participating governments and marked the first such gathering since the United States and "Israel" launched their war on Iran more than six months ago.

While similar meetings have taken place in previous years, the latest gathering was particularly notable for bringing together the Israeli military chief with senior commanders from Arab countries that do not maintain formal diplomatic relations with the occupation.

According to Axios, the meeting offered an opportunity for senior military officials from "Israel" and Arab Gulf states to exchange assessments on the war and discuss broader regional security arrangements under Washington's supervision.

“Israel” Begins Providing Saudi Arabia Intelligence on Yemen

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, citing sources, reported that “Israel” is passing intelligence on Sanaa forces to Saudi Arabia after Riyadh requested assistance from the United States.

According to the report, Washington referred the Saudi request to “Israel,” which subsequently began providing Riyadh with intelligence gathered in Yemen.

Israeli Channel 15 separately quoted an Israeli security official confirming that intelligence assistance had begun, while dismissing Erdogan’s defense alliance with Saudi Arabia as “not worth the paper it was written on”.

US vows to maintain regional military presence

During the meeting, Cooper reportedly sought to reassure the participating commanders that the United States does not intend to withdraw its military forces from the region amid Iranian retaliations on US bases.

He also briefed the military chiefs on Washington's plans to expand ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The report did not provide further details regarding the measures Washington intends to take to increase maritime traffic through the strait.

The Israeli occupation's Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, meanwhile, reportedly briefed the participants on Israeli military operations across several regional fronts.

CENTCOM later confirmed that the gathering had taken place, describing it as a "scheduled conference" involving senior military leaders from eight countries.

"The leaders discussed opportunities for enhancing security cooperation in the Middle East," CENTCOM said, without publicly disclosing details of the discussions.

CENTCOM deepens Israeli-Arab military coordination

The meeting sheds further light on the regional military architecture Washington has been developing around the Israeli occupation regime since the signing of the so-called "Abraham Accords" in 2020.

Shortly after the normalization agreements between "Israel", the UAE, and Bahrain were signed, Washington transferred the Israeli occupation from the area of responsibility of US European Command to that of CENTCOM.

The move placed the Israeli military within the same US command structure overseeing Arab militaries across West Asia, facilitating direct coordination in areas such as air and missile defense, intelligence sharing, and military planning.

According to Axios, cooperation between the Israeli occupation and several Arab states has accelerated significantly during the war on Iran.

The report said "Israel" has worked closely with both the United States and the UAE on defensive and offensive military operations.

Israeli occupation forces reportedly deployed the Iron Dome air defense system to the UAE, along with personnel tasked with operating it, while also providing Abu Dhabi with real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support.

Intelligence sharing between the Israeli occupation and other Arab countries has also expanded during the confrontation, according to Israeli officials cited by Axios.

The growing cooperation comes despite the absence of official diplomatic relations between "Israel" and several of the states represented at the Germany meeting, indicating that military coordination under the CENTCOM umbrella has advanced beyond publicly declared normalization arrangements.

Saudi Arabia, 'Israel' discuss cooperation against Yemen

One of the most significant elements of the meeting concerned Yemen, where Sanaa has intensified military pressure against Saudi Arabia while consolidating its control over strategic areas surrounding the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

According to a source familiar with the discussions, Saudi Arabia and the Israeli occupation are examining, with CENTCOM's assistance, ways in which "Israel" could support Saudi military operations against Yemen.

The discussions reportedly include the possibility of providing Riyadh with Israeli intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assistance modeled on the support already extended to the UAE.

Such cooperation would represent a further expansion of undeclared Israeli-Saudi military ties at a time when Riyadh has yet to establish formal diplomatic relations with the occupation.

Axios said the discussions have gained importance as Ansar Allah escalates its military operations against Saudi Arabia and makes advances on the ground, while strengthening its influence over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The strategic passage connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and represents one of the world's most important maritime trade routes.

UN Says It’s Too Early to Say Ebola in DR Congo Has Peaked

Stephanie Soucheray

Ebola Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

European Commission DG ECHO/Flickr CC

On social media posts in the past 24 hours, some government officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have said there are signs the nation’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak has peaked and transmission is slowing, but United Nations (UN) officials urge caution in expressing optimism just yet. 

Daily fatalities linked to the Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, has fallen from a peak of around 50 deaths per day to nearly 30 currently, said the Minister of Public Health, Roger Kamba, in a video posted X.

“The daily number of new infections is also declining: we have gone from about 120 cases per day at the epidemic's peak to nearly 80 today. For me, these figures represent a positive signal. They show that the efforts deployed on the ground are producing results and that our response strategy is beginning to bend the transmission curve,” said Kamba, who also noted 10 of the 62 affected health zones have recorded no new cases for more than 22 days.

The United Nations (UN) however, is more cautious in its assessment of the outbreak, which officially began on May 15 but likely started weeks earlier in the area around Bunia, DRC. So far there have been 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths across seven provinces.

Officials from both the UN and World Health Organization, which is a UN agency, told reporters today it’s too early to determine if transmission has peaked or had a meaningful slowdown. 

There ‌are some areas of progress, but nonetheless, in other areas, we continue to see growth in cases.

"It remains a deadly and a massive epidemic. There ‌are some areas of progress, but nonetheless, in other areas, we continue to see growth in cases," Julien Harneis, MBA, the UN special Ebola coordinator, said at a Geneva press briefing, according to Reuters.

The WHO’s Olivier le Polain, MD, PhD, said: "It's too early to confidently say we have passed a peak."

While cases have dropped off in Ituri province, transmission in North Kivu is still happening at an alarming pace, with most new cases still occurring outside of known transmission chains. 

Cases outpacing West Africa’s 2014-16 outbreak

The current outbreak is the largest in the DRC’s history, and second in size only to the West African Ebola outbreak in 2014 through 2016.  Research published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report says the first 100 days in DRC show an outbreak that’s expanding faster than any previously documented Ebola outbreak.

In the first 100 days after initial detection, there were seven times more Ebola cases in the DRC than in the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. 

During the outbreak’s first 100 days (May 14 to August 21, 2026), 5,458 confirmed cases and 2,606 deaths (48% case-fatality rate [CFR]) were reported across 57 of DRC’s 519 health zones, compared to 759 suspected, probable, or confirmed cases and 467 deaths (62% CFR) reported from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in 2014.

“This outbreak is occurring in areas affected by a protracted complex humanitarian emergency, including ongoing conflict involving armed groups, limited health care and other basic infrastructure, attacks on health workers, and community mistrust,” said the report, written by scientists from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Latin American Migrants Deported by ICE to West Africa Describe Being Stranded "on the Other Side of the World"

By Camilo Montoya-Galvez

September 15, 2026 

8:09 AM EDT / CBS News

Monrovia, Liberia — None of the deported men and women placed in a three-story hotel in a remote, coastal area of this West African country are Liberian citizens. Many are not even from Africa.

Instead, they hail from countries throughout Latin America — including Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Venezuela — as well as other African countries, like Cameroon and Eritrea.

They were deported to Liberia, Africa's oldest republic, last month by U.S. immigration officials as part of an intensifying tactic in President Trump's aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration: sending some deportees to far-flung places where they have no ties.

CBS News tracked down the deportees in Liberia, becoming the first U.S. television network to speak to them in person. They described being in limbo and feeling stateless, unable to return to the U.S., where many have spouses and children, and scared of being persecuted if they go back to their homelands.

"I'm concerned," Honduran native Elvis Rodriguez Venturas told CBS News. "I feel far away, on the other side of the world."

Rodriguez Venturas said his four children, two of whom are U.S. citizens, ask him every day when he's coming back to Texas, where he worked in construction. His wife is also in the U.S. Rodriguez Venturas entered the U.S. illegally, but his deportation to Honduras was barred by an immigration judge who found he could be harmed there. He said he had been using that protection to work in the U.S. legally before his detention.

In fact, most of the deportees who agreed to be interviewed won legal protections in American immigration courts, preventing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from deporting them to their home countries because of concerns they could be persecuted or tortured there.

But under the Trump administration's zero-tolerance posture to illegal immigration, those with such cases are being targeted for deportation to third countries, as they still lack a valid permanent immigration status, despite their limited legal protections.

The deportees said they were not notified by ICE that they would be removed to Liberia, or given the chance to challenge their deportation to West Africa.

"Honestly, I had never heard of Liberia," Colombian immigrant Arin Garcia Yepes told CBS News.

"I didn't even know it existed," said Rodriguez Venturas, the Honduran deportee.

Brazilian immigrant Paola Ferreira Dos Santos, the only woman among the Latin American deportees in Liberia, said she only learned where she had been deported to when the deportation flight landed in Monrovia on Aug. 20.

"I was the first to get off the plane, and they said, 'Welcome to Liberia. You're in Africa,'" the 21-year-old told CBS News in Portuguese.

While Trump administration officials often say their deportation blitz is primarily focused on hardened criminals they call the "worst of the worst," CBS News obtained the names of those sent to Liberia last month, and could not find a criminal charge or conviction for the vast majority, beyond immigration violations like entering the U.S. illegally. 

In a statement to CBS News, the Department of Homeland Security said those in the U.S. illegally could opt to self-deport and receive a $3,000 stipend the administration has been offering.

"The Trump Administration is utilizing all lawful options to carry out the largest deportation operation in history, just as President Trump promised," the department added.

The State Department has repeatedly declined to provide detailed information on the "third-country" deportation deals, saying in a statement that it had "no comment on the details of our diplomatic communications with other governments." 

"I could be in danger"

Liberia is a relatively small country bordering the North Atlantic that is roughly the size of Tennessee and home to more than 5 million people. It was founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves. Its capital, Monrovia, is named after U.S. President James Monroe. 

In August, Liberia's government revealed it had agreed to receive up to 1,200 "third-country" deportees from the U.S., framing it as a humanitarian gesture. So far, it has only received one group of deportees under the agreement, the Aug. 20 flight that brought 15 non-Liberians to Liberia.

The West African country joined more than 30 nations around the globe that have now agreed to such "third-country" deportations under pressure from the Trump administration. Many of the agreements have been brokered with African countries, including those beset by armed conflict, political crises and widespread poverty, like the Central African Republic and South Sudan.

While the Liberian government has said the "third-country" deportees can claim asylum in Liberia, none of the ones interviewed by CBS News expressed interest in staying in the West African nation permanently, citing poverty, the different culture there and their lack of work visas.

Unlike some African countries, such as the small kingdom of Eswatini, Liberia is not detaining the deportees it receives from the U.S. While they've been told not to venture too far outside the hotel for their own safety, the deportees are technically free to leave. The United Nations' migration agency, the International Organization for Migration, has been providing the group with basic necessities.

But many still feel trapped. Some are contemplating returning to their home countries or hoping that another third country agrees to welcome them.

Venezuelan deportee Carlos Tellez Sanchez, who was selling cars and delivering food in the Dallas area before he was detained by ICE late last year, said he's stuck for now in Africa. His wife and their American-born baby remain in Texas.

"Returning to Venezuela is not an option for me," he said. "I feel I could be in danger if I return to my home country."

Haitham Moussa, Jane Greeley and Sam Brolan contributed reporting.

Ebola Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

On 14 September 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported a total of 7 258 confirmed cases, including 3 510 related deaths (from data up until 13 September).  A total of 905 patients are hospitalised in isolation. This represents an increase of 58 new confirmed cases and 35 deaths since the previous report on 13 September (reporting data up until 12 September). The 58 new cases have been reported from Ituri (44 cases), North Kivu (12 cases), and Haut Uélé (two cases). Among the individuals who tested positive for Bundibugyo virus, 1 726 have recovered. In total, 78.6 % of identified case contacts are under follow-up in the affected provinces. 

Ituri province remains the most affected, with 5 659 cases, including 2 583 deaths, reported from 28 of 36 health zones. In North Kivu, 1 281 cases, including 797 deaths, have been reported from 16 of 34 health zones. In South Kivu, three cases, including one death, have been reported from one of 34 health zones. In Haut-Uélé, 281 cases, including 115 deaths, have been reported from six of 13 health zones. In Tshopo, 28 cases, including 10 deaths, have been reported from seven of 23 health zones. In Bas-Uélé, five cases, including three deaths, have been reported from three of 11 health zones. In Sud Ubangi, one case and one death have been reported from one of 16 health zones. Overall, 62 of 167 health zones are currently affected across the seven provinces.

Data reported by DRC on confirmed cases and deaths are under continuous review and harmonisation. 

In Uganda, a total of 20 cases were reported between May and June 2026 by the Ministry of Health. On 25 August, WHO declared the end of the outbreak following 42 days without a new confirmed case being reported.

In May 2026, there was an imported case in a US citizen who was medically evacuated to Germany for treatment, and on 24 June 2026 a further imported case was reported in France by the Ministry of Health. Both cases were imported from areas affected by the ongoing outbreak in DRC. On 10 July 2026, the US CDC reported that a US citizen working for a humanitarian organisation in DRC had tested positive for Bundibugyo virus. The patient was medically evacuated to Germany on 13 July 2026. 

The risk of importation into the EU/EEA from the outbreak area remains very low, according to ECDC modelling calculations. While sporadic importations cannot be excluded, the probability of multiple independent importations is very low, even in a pessimistic scenario in which incidence continues to rise in the affected regions. These results are consistent with ECDC’s June report.

ECDC’s modelling focuses on the general population of the Ituri and North Kivu provinces in DRC and does not take into account healthcare workers and other professionals returning from the affected region. These groups have a substantially greater risk of exposure, while simultaneously they are subject to infection control measures and monitoring protocols. As a result, the probability of infection and of travel may differ considerably to the general population. 

The risk of importation depends on outbreak size, travel behaviour, and travel volume. Due to limited information, assumptions are made on all three factors based on the best available information. 

A weekly update on this outbreak is available in the Communicable disease threats report.