Western Sahara: UN ‘Stands Ready’ to Keep Supporting Peace Efforts as MINURSO Mission Ends

Three UN peacekeepers prepare for a practical training on UXO marking in a desert landscape, with UN vehicles in the background.

1 November 2026 

Peace and Security

The UN remains committed to supporting a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution in Western Sahara that provides for the self-determination of its people, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Sunday, as the UN peacekeeping mission there began to wind down.

The departure of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) “does not abrogate” the people’s “inalienable right to self-determination”, his statement said, delivered by his Spokesperson. 

It called on all parties “to respect and promote the rights of the people of Western Sahara.”

The mission’s mandate expired at midnight on Saturday, after the Security Council failed on Friday to agree on its future. 

A draft resolution from the United States was vetoed by Russia, while a rival Russian text failed to win the nine votes needed for adoption.

Although MINURSO’s operations have now ended, the UN will keep working towards a peaceful resolution through the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura.

Orderly withdrawal

Mr. Guterres recognized the “central role” MINURSO has played since 1991 in helping to monitor the ceasefire and in creating conditions for the pursuit of a political solution.

He expressed his “deepest gratitude” to the mission’s personnel, including the Special Representative for Western Sahara, Alexander Ivanko. Mr. Ivanko led the mission through a “particularly challenging period" after hostilities resumed in 2020.

The UN chief also paid tribute to the 20 MINURSO personnel who lost their lives during the mission’s 35 years in the territory.

When its mandate ended, the mission was headquartered in Laayoune, with nine team sites – four west of the berm and five east of it – and a liaison office in Tindouf. 

It had some 160 military observers and around 180 civilian and affiliated personnel, as well as a dedicated mine action capability.

Sunday marks the start of a liquidation period. A smaller team reporting to the UN Department of Operational Support will oversee the disposal of UN equipment.

Mr. Guterres called for the full cooperation of the parties so the process can be completed in an orderly way as soon as possible.

‘Maximum restraint’

The Secretary-General said he remains concerned about the security situation throughout the territory and the risk of hostilities escalating.

He urged all concerned “to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from actions that could further increase tensions or undermine regional stability.”

Divided council

The US delegate in the council on Friday said his country’s draft would have supported the principle of self-determination and “moved the 50-year conflict forward”, calling the status quo unacceptable.

Explaining the veto, the Russian delegate said the text would have imposed one-sided solutions, describing his vote as “a life-saving veto, so to speak”.

Russia’s alternative, a one-year extension of the mandate to 31 October 2027, failed to attract enough support from the 15-nation body.

MINURSO was established under Council resolution 690 (1991), in line with UN-Organization of African Unity settlement proposals accepted in 1988 by Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO. 

These provided for a referendum in which the people of Western Sahara would choose between independence and integration with Morocco. While the referendum never took place, MINURSO continued to carry out the tasks entrusted to it by the council.

In 2007, Morocco put forward an Autonomy Proposal as a basis for negotiations. It envisages the territory as self-governing under Moroccan sovereignty.

In closing, the statement said that while MINURSO’s peacekeeping operations had concluded, “the United Nations stands ready to continue supporting efforts to advance dialogue and pursue a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”

Why a US-Russia Showdown Left Morocco Celebrating

Basma El Atti

Morocco claims Western Sahara as part of its territory

Morocco has welcomed the end of a decades-long UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, after a diplomatic showdown between the US and Russia left the Security Council unable to agree on its future.

The council failed on Friday to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso) after Russia vetoed a US-backed proposal. A rival Russian draft to extend the mission also failed to secure enough votes.

The decision raises questions about the future of Africa's longest territorial dispute and the fragile ceasefire between Morocco, which claims Western Sahara, and the Polisario Front which has been fighting for the territory's independence for more than 50 years.

Here is what you need to know.

Why is Western Sahara disputed?

Western Sahara, on Africa's north-west coast, was a Spanish colony until 1975. It has significant phosphate reserves and valuable fishing grounds along its Atlantic coast.

As Spain prepared to withdraw, both Morocco and Mauritania claimed the territory.

The International Court of Justice found historical ties of allegiance but no territorial sovereignty that overrode the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.

Morocco's then King Hassan II responded by organising the Green March. On 6 November 1975 about 350,000 Moroccan civilians entered the territory in a mass demonstration intended to put pressure on Spain.

Days later, Spain signed the Madrid Accords with Morocco and Mauritania, agreeing to transfer administrative control. Morocco took the northern two-thirds and Mauritania the southern third. The agreement did not settle the question of sovereignty.

The Polisario Front, an independence movement founded in 1973, opposed the deal. It saw it as replacing Spanish colonial rule with Moroccan and Mauritanian control.

Mauritania renounced its claim in 1979, but Morocco continued fighting Polisario.

Map showing the sand wall or "berm"

Algeria became Polisario's main regional ally, providing military support and hosting its leadership and thousands of Sahrawi refugees in camps near the city of Tindouf.

The North African country says its position is based on the right to self-determination, while Morocco sees Western Sahara as an integral part of its territory.

Morocco and Algeria fought a brief border war in 1963 over disagreements about territory inherited from French colonial rule. Their relationship has remained tense, with Western Sahara at the centre of their dispute.

What was the UN's mission role?

After 16 years of fighting, Morocco and Polisario agreed to a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991, with the territory divided by a sand wall, or berm, to keep the rival forces apart.

The UN established Minurso to monitor the ceasefire and organise a referendum on the territory's future. Sahrawis were meant to choose between independence and integration with Morocco.

The vote was scheduled for 1992 but never took place. The two sides could not agree on who would be eligible to participate, with disputes over voter identification becoming a major obstacle.

In 2007, Morocco put forward a proposal for autonomy, which would see Sahrawis managing their internal affairs, while Rabat retained control over defence and foreign relations.

The Polisario Front and Algeria rejected the plan, insisting on a referendum that included independence as an option.

Years of UN-sponsored negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough.

The ceasefire broke down in November 2020, when Polisario said it was resuming armed struggle.

But following a long diplomatic campaign by Morocco, the UN Security Council voted in 2025 in favour of a resolution backing the autonomy plan as the "most feasible" solution for the disputed territory.

While most Sahrawis live in the part of Western Sahara controlled by Morocco, tens of thousands are estimated to be in refugee camps in Algeria.

What happened at the UN?

The US proposed extending Minurso's mandate for another year, but its draft went beyond the usual renewal.

It would have removed the word "referendum" from the mission's name and made Morocco's autonomy proposal the sole basis for further negotiations.

The draft received the support of 11 of the Security Council's 15 members, including France and the UK but Russia vetoed it, arguing that it was too favourable to Morocco.

Russia then proposed extending Minurso's mandate without changing its terms. That draft also failed, receiving only two votes in favour.

Minurso's mandate expired at the end of Saturday, 31 October. The UN said the following day that the mission had entered a liquidation period, with a reduced team overseeing the transfer of military equipment and other assets.

The UN mission has been in Western Sahara since 1991

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination must be respected and warned of the risk of renewed hostilities.

The Polisario Front condemned the US proposal. Its representative, Sidi Omar, thanked Russia for vetoing it, saying it would "torpedo the foundations of the UN peace process" and threaten regional and international peace.

Morocco, meanwhile, said the mission's personnel and equipment should leave the territory in the coming days, arguing that Western Sahara issue should no longer be considered by the Security Council.

Minurso had 155 military personnel and was expected to cost $62m (£46m) in the financial year beginning in June, according to a UN report.

Why is Morocco celebrating the end of the UN mission?

Morocco's royal palace welcomed the failure to renew Minurso's mandate.

In Laayoune, the territory's largest city, footage showed people celebrating, waving Moroccan flags and displaying portraits of King Mohammed VI.

"The decision is an opportunity for Rabat to challenge what it sees as an international mechanism that has failed to resolve the dispute," Issam Laaroussi, a Moroccan expert in international relations, tells the BBC.

He said Morocco would now have more room to push its autonomy proposal and shift negotiations away from a referendum on independence towards autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.

The decision does not, however, change Western Sahara's legal status or amount to international recognition of Moroccan sovereignty.

Western Sahara remains on the UN list of non-self-governing territories, while the African Union officially recognises its independence, as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

But the decision comes after several countries backed the position of Morocco, which in recent years has made securing international support for its claim a central part of its foreign policy.

In 2020, the US recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara as part of an agreement to establish diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel.

France also backed Morocco's autonomy plan as the basis for resolving the dispute in 2024.

Thousands of Sahrawis live in refugee camps in Algeria

Morocco rejoined the African Union in 2017, more than three decades after leaving its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity, in protest at the SADR's admission.

Since returning, Rabat has sought to build support for its position from within the organisation. At least 10 African countries have opened diplomatic missions in the territory in support of Rabat.

"Morocco is not necessarily seeking to abandon the UN process, but to change the framework for negotiations and draw greater support from regional organisations," says Laaroussi.

Addressing a special joint session of parliament on Monday, House of Representatives Speaker Ahmed Touizi hailed the end of Minurso as a victory for the country's diplomacy.

He said the country should now move from "managing the dispute to implementing its autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty, while pressing ahead with development projects in the territory."

Could this lead to a renewed war?

The fear is that Minurso's departure could lead to renewed fighting.

The mission has monitored military developments and helped reduce the risk of escalation.

Aid organisation Oxfam warned that losing its monitoring and de-escalation role could undermine stability, with serious consequences for civilians.

Laaroussi admits that the mission's departure could create security gaps.

"Minurso's departure does not create the original conflict, because the conflict is already there, but it could aggravate an already fragile security environment," he says.

The UN decision has also fuelled nationalist rhetoric online.

Several Moroccan users have shared AI-generated images of themselves in military uniform, declaring their readiness to fight for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.

In Morocco, Western Sahara is widely regarded as a national cause. Political parties that are often divided on other issues are united in supporting the country's claim to sovereignty over the territory.

Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita has said the end of the mission does not mean the end of the ceasefire, and that Rabat remains committed to it "within respect of its security and sovereignty."

Polisario has not said what it will do next.

And resumption of fighting could well draw in Algeria, as tensions with Morocco remain high.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), both countries significantly increased military spending last year, with SIPRI citing their dispute over Western Sahara as a key driver.

Algeria spent an estimated $25.4bn, more than four time Morocco's $6.3bn.

After 35 Years, UN Pulls the Plug on Western Sahara Mission

By Al Mayadeen English

2 Nov 2026 10:32

The UN’s MINURSO mission in Western Sahara ends after 35 years as the Security Council fails to renew its mandate.

The United Nations will wind down its long-running peacekeeping presence in Western Sahara, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced Sunday, after the Security Council did not extend the operation’s mandate.

Western Sahara, a vast and mineral-rich territory once colonized by Spain, has long been contested between Morocco, which controls most of the region, and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks full independence.

Morocco, which regards the disputed territory as its own, praised the outcome. The Polisario Front expressed concerns.

Background

The force, called MINURSO, was deployed in 1991 to oversee a UN-negotiated ceasefire. The Polisario has campaigned for an independent state in the territory ever since Spain, the colonial ruler, pulled out in 1976.

According to Guterres, the mission’s “liquidation phase” began on November 1, and its equipment will be shipped back to the countries that supplied troops.

How the mandate lapsed

The decision follows a Security Council vote a year earlier, when members approved a US-written resolution describing Rabat’s proposal of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the “most feasible” path to resolving the dispute.

Russia held back from voting on that measure. This time, it used its veto against a new American-backed text that would have reinforced the preference for Morocco’s plan while shrinking the peacekeeping contingent. A rival draft submitted by Russia was then voted down, so the mission’s authorization simply ran out.

MINURSO’s responsibilities went beyond watching over the truce. It was also meant to arrange a referendum on the territory’s future, but that vote never happened because the parties could not agree on who should be allowed to take part.

Reactions

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita told state media that the “R” in the mission’s name, which stands for referendum, was outdated, calling it an “anachronism”.

He said Morocco had been warned in advance that Russia would block the American draft and viewed the situation as a chance to “review certain rules of the game.”

Morocco’s royal palace described the lapse as a “significant development” that moves the issue closer to being taken off the Security Council’s agenda.

On its part, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry voiced “deep regret” on Saturday, accusing Washington of “excessive bias” in favor of Morocco.

The Polisario said it was “concerned at the deadlock in the Security Council meeting.”

US-led push and international reactions

The resolution marks the latest step in Washington’s backing of Morocco’s sovereignty claim. In 2020, during his first term, Trump formally recognized Moroccan control over Western Sahara after Rabat agreed to normalize relations with “Israel”, an arrangement that advanced strategic goals for both sides.

Since then, several European powers, including Spain, France, Britain, and Germany, have voiced support for Morocco’s stance on the territory.

Libya’s East and West Army Chiefs Set for Paris Talks

Martyred Pan-Africanist Leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi assassinated by imperialism in 2011.

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Anadolu Agency

4 Nov 2026 16:42

The planned meeting would follow talks in Luanda in June and Sirte in July, as efforts to unify Libya’s divided military institution continue.

Libyan military sources have told Türkiye’s Anadolu Agency that an unannounced meeting is expected between the chiefs of staff of western and eastern Libya, under French sponsorship, to discuss the latest developments in efforts to unify the country’s military institutions.

In further detail, Salah al-Din al-Namroush, Chief of the General Staff of Libya’s Government of National Unity, and Khaled Haftar, Chief of Staff of the forces of the General Command in the east of the country, have reportedly arrived in France, with talks between them expected under French sponsorship on unifying the divided military institution.

Meeting to discuss several files

The Government of National Unity said in a statement on Tuesday that French Chief of the Defense Staff Fabien Mandon received al-Namroush, in the presence of a number of officials and officers, at the start of an official visit to France.

The statement said the visit falls within the framework of consultations between the two countries and the discussion of several files and issues of mutual interest, reflecting the importance of communication and coordination between the two sides.

At the same time, Haftar arrived in the French capital on an official visit, during which he is expected to meet the French chief of the defence staff, according to Benghazi TV, which is close to the General Command in eastern Libya.

The channel said the planned meeting would address military cooperation and ways to strengthen coordination and exchange expertise in defense fields, as well as security issues of mutual concern amid the challenges facing the region.

Both Chiefs arrive in France ahead of expected talks

Libyan military sources also told Anadolu that talks between al-Namroush and Haftar are expected in Paris, under French sponsorship and with Mandon in attendance.

The sources said the meeting would review the latest developments in the file on unifying Libya’s divided military institution and follow up on practical steps taken to that end. They stressed that the meeting would not be official, giving no details on when it would take place.

Al-Namroush and Haftar have met twice already this year. The first meeting took place in Luanda last June, on the sidelines of the African Chiefs of Defense Staff Conference, where they also held a meeting with the commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), Dagvin Anderson.

A push to unify Libya’s military

The second meeting was held in the Libyan city of Sirte last July, with the participation of members of the Joint Military Commission (5+5) and the (3+3) committee, to discuss steps to unify the military institution and strengthen security coordination.

Efforts to unify the military institution are being conducted under the auspices of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, through the 5+5 Joint Military Commission, which comprises five military representatives, each from eastern and western Libya.

It is worth noting that the UN mission is reportedly leading efforts to end the political division and hold long-delayed elections, with the aim of renewing the legitimacy of institutions and unifying them.

Libya Political Settlement Faces Hurdles Over UN-backed Dialogue

By Al Mayadeen English

2 Nov 2026 19:46

Libya's Mohamed al-Menfi and Mohamed Takala discuss efforts to reach a political settlement and hold elections amid disputes over the UN-backed 4+4 agreement and US warnings.

Libya's Presidential Council head Mohamed al-Menfi met with High Council of State President Mohamed Takala to discuss efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement that would pave the way for presidential and parliamentary elections, amid continued disagreements over a UN-backed dialogue committee agreement and US warnings against obstructing the political process.

In a statement issued Sunday, the Presidential Council said the meeting addressed political developments and efforts to create conditions for reviving the political process, with the aim of reaching a national settlement that would end institutional divisions and enable elections.

Al-Menfi and Takala stressed the importance of protecting the judiciary and preserving its independence from political interference and alignments, describing it as a constitutional pillar of state stability and a safeguard for rights, freedoms and the rule of law.

The two officials also emphasized the need to preserve the unity and independence of sovereign institutions and respect their legally defined responsibilities to prevent competing decisions and the use of state institutions in political disputes.

Disagreements persist over '4+4' agreement

The meeting comes as disagreements continue among Libyan institutions over an agreement reached by the UN-sponsored "4+4" mini-dialogue committee on August 30, aimed at overcoming the political deadlock and establishing arrangements for elections.

Al-Menfi previously expressed reservations about the committee's working mechanisms and the level of representation of Libyan institutions within it. The High Council of State, under Takala's leadership, rejected the agreement on October 5, arguing that it bypassed the constitutional, legal and consensus-based frameworks governing the political process.

Under the agreement, the committee proposed restructuring the board of the High National Elections Commission and addressing disagreements over the constitutional and legal framework for elections. It also set out a plan to hold presidential and parliamentary elections within no more than 24 months, under a single executive authority and unified institutions.

At its latest meeting in London last week, the committee agreed to expand consultations with various components of the judicial institution to address divisions and safeguard the judiciary's independence and role in facilitating elections.

Committee members also agreed to maintain contacts with political parties to broaden support for the August agreement, with another meeting scheduled in two weeks.

Security Council extends UN mission mandate

The latest political discussions follow the UN Security Council's adoption on Friday of Resolution 2835, extending the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) until October 31, 2027. Thirteen members supported the resolution, while Russia and Greece abstained.

The resolution reaffirmed support for UN Secretary-General's Special Representative Hanna Tetteh in leading an inclusive political process. It called on Libyan parties to participate in negotiations without preconditions, work toward unifying state institutions and establish a unified executive authority to prepare for nationwide elections.

Al-Menfi welcomed the extension, stressing that the political process must remain Libyan-led and Libyan-owned and rest on broad national consensus involving all relevant institutions and political forces.

He warned that agreements reached without national consensus would not ensure a sustainable political settlement, rejecting efforts to restrict negotiations to a limited group of parties.

Washington warns against obstructing political process

US President Donald Trump's adviser Massad Boulos warned that Washington would not hesitate to take strong measures against parties deliberately obstructing initiatives aimed at resolving Libya's crisis.

Speaking on Saturday, Boulos said the extension of UNSMIL's mandate complemented the US initiative to unify the executive authority and strengthen the sovereignty of the Libyan state.

He also pointed to measures outlined in Security Council Resolution 2174, which provides for sanctions against individuals and entities involved in obstructing or undermining Libya's political transition.

Libya continues to face political and institutional divisions, with two rival governments operating in the country. The Government of National Unity, headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, is based in Tripoli, while a rival administration led by Osama Hammad operates in Benghazi under an appointment by the House of Representatives.

Third Russia-Africa Summit Concludes with the Signing of Key Joint Agreements

The three-day meeting brought together members of the African Union and the Russian Federation pledging to enhance their cooperation in the areas of economic development, communications and technological advancement

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

November 3, 2026

Geostrategic Analysis

A third Russia-Africa Summit was held at the end of October where representatives from the African Union (AU) and the Russian Federation held discussions on the mutual interests between Moscow and the governments which represent 55 member-states on the continent.

Africa has a population of nearly 1.6 billion people spread out over 11.7 million square miles encompassing the land mass and several islands representing the second largest Continent on earth. 

The Russian Federation has a population of 143 million with a land mass of 6.6 million square miles. It is the largest single nation-state in the world, bordering 14 other countries in Eastern Europe and North Asia. Russia has 11 different time zones. 

The First Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi during October 2019 was the largest high-profile international gathering in the Federation. The second gathering took place in St. Petersburg in July 2023.

When the second summit occurred, it was convened amid the backdrop of the Russian Special Military Operations in Ukraine. Most African states endorsed and encouraged a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine-Russian war which began during February of 2022.

In the aftermath of the start of the intensified fighting between Russia and Ukraine, African leaders suggested a grain deal which could address the negative impact of the war on the supply of agricultural products among the AU member-states among others in the international community. However, the Black Sea Grain deal, as it was called, collapsed as a result of the failure of Ukraine and its allies to uphold its side of the agreement. Attacks continued on the battlefield and at sea leading to its termination by July 2023.

International Context of the Gathering

The most recent summit took place as international tensions escalated surrounding the unprovoked war launched by the State of Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28, 2026. Despite the purported acceptance of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington on April 9, the administration of President Donald Trump has refused to implement the brokered MoU while the White House has continued to engage in sporadic bombing attacks against Iran over the last six months.

The blockade of the strategic shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz has compounded the agriculture crisis, food deficits and prompted a sharp rise in energy costs including petroleum. The inflationary spiral triggered by the war against Iran has become a major source of uncertainty and unrest throughout the world.

At the conclusion of the latest convening of the Russia-Africa Summit there were positive remarks made during a press conference involving President Vladimir Putin and the AU Chairperson President Evariste Ndayishimiye of the Republic of Burundi at the Kremlin. The summit was attended by delegations from 48 African countries of which 21 were represented by heads-of-state.

President Putin noted during his statements at the closing press conference that:

“The 3rd Russia–Africa Summit has just concluded, and on behalf of its participants, President of the Republic of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye – representing the nation that currently chairs the African Union – and I would like to present our assessments of the joint work undertaken and the decisions adopted today. I would like to emphasize that this is already the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit. Holding such large-scale events has become a good tradition and clearly demonstrates the firm determination of both Russia and African states to further strengthen and develop multifaceted ties in the spirit of genuine partnership and mutual respect for the sake of universal growth and prosperity. It is deeply gratifying that twenty-one African leaders, high-level delegations from the overwhelming majority of the continent’s states, and the heads of virtually all leading African integration bodies took part in the Moscow summit.” (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/81114)

The convening of the summit illustrates the necessity of building broader levels of discussion and cooperation among various states and regional groupings. This approach to international affairs can be contrasted with the foreign policy character of the US, the largest capitalist and imperialist state in the world. 

At present Washington and its allies in Western Europe are still seeking to dominate world affairs through military prowess and economic exploitation. Yet, despite this posture towards the majority of peoples and states around the globe, the political turmoil engendered by war and economic strife has negatively impacted the working class and nationally oppressed within the imperialist states. 

Violent clashes have erupted throughout Western Europe and Albania largely due to the role of the US and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partners. The Trump administration has demanded that other NATO states substantially raise the level of military expenditures while imposing tariffs which have lowered the standards of living among the majority of people living within these countries. 

According to the Kremlin, the Russia-Africa Summit has agreed to measures which could improve the overall conditions of people living on the continent and within the Russian Federation, notably:

“A substantial package of approximately 150 bilateral and multilateral documents was signed on the sidelines of the summit. These included agreements on the establishment of intergovernmental commissions with the Republic of Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Senegal, and the Republic of South Sudan. Additionally, intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in various fields were signed with the Republic of Mali, the Republic of Namibia, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Uganda, the Central African Republic and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. In addition, cooperation documents were signed between the Russian Government and several African regional integration organizations, such as the East African Community, the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the African Union Commission, the Economic Community of Central African States and the Southern African Development Community.” (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/81113)

During the period known as the Cold War, which occurred in the aftermath of the second imperialist conflagration between 1939-1945, the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and its allies in Eastern Europe and Asia gave unconditional support to the anti-colonial struggles along with efforts to build viable and independent states in Africa. During the last half of the 20th century more than 50 African states gained their independence from European colonialism and settler-colonialism. 

The Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, among others also supported the aspirations of African Americans during the so-called Cold War period. There were expressions of political and material support for the movements for civil rights, self-determination and revolutionary transformation. 

Today, during the third decade of the 21st century, the US is attempting to reverse the gains of the political movements of the previous years and eras. Hundreds of thousands of African American women, whose elders and ancestors played a pioneering role during the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements of the post-World War II era, have been purged from government jobs and payrolls.

Voting districts within the southern US where the majority of African Americans still reside, electoral maps have been redrawn by right-wing dominated state legislatures aimed at disenfranchising Black people. By examining the international as well as domestic policies of Washington and Wall Street the need for criticism and corrective measures from foreign entities including governments could be effective in the current period. 

Therefore, AU member-states are well within their rights to seek productive partnerships with the Russian Federation and other countries and regional organizations. After coming to office for the second non-consecutive term, Trump almost immediately began to detain and deport African migrants, impose tariffs on all African states and eliminated assistance programs in the areas of science, medicine, agriculture and manufacturing development. 

These policy shifts indicate a worsening contradiction within US-Africa relations. Africa and its regional organizations starting with the AU, must embark upon an independent program for genuine independence and qualitative development. 

What’s at Stake in the Current Period

The discussions between the delegations at the Third Russia-Africa Summit were centered around enhancing cooperation between the Russian Federation and the AU member states. This effort on the part of Moscow and African states has as its most significant objective the lessening of dependence upon the US-dominated system of trade and financial exchange.

One source which analyzed the recent gathering in Moscow says of the present situation:

“Russia wants to increase exports of grain, fertilizers, industrial products, and energy to African markets, where demand for Russian expertise in nuclear energy, electricity, mining, and infrastructure is growing. This supports Moscow’s ambition to shift from exporting goods to exporting services, as part of its wider strategy to reduce any remaining dependence on the West, including dollar-based payment channels. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in December that rouble settlements accounted for 84% of Russia-Africa trade during the first ten months of 2025, but efforts to expand these mechanisms continue to face challenges, including limited banking infrastructure, the risk of secondary sanctions, and difficulties in converting certain local currencies. The success of this approach therefore depends not only on agreeing on which currencies to use for settlements, but also on establishing reliable, sustainable banking channels to process trade payments.” (https://en.majalla.com/node/333842/business-economy/russia-africa-summit-ambitions-and-challenges)

These global dynamics make clear the crisis in US imperialism that has exhausted its tactics within the arenas of economic and military affairs. The present domestic and foreign policy of the US is only worsening the social conditions of working and oppressed people internationally. 

There is the imperative of building alliances and enhancing the existing struggles for full equality, self-determination and social emancipation. The well-being of the overwhelming majority of humanity depends upon the outcomes of the unfolding global situation.

Ethiopia, China Pledge to Deepen Military and Strategic Cooperation

Addis Ababa, November 3, 2026 (ENA)— Ethiopia and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their longstanding military and strategic partnership.

Minister of Defense, Mohamed Idris made the remarks during talks with Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai in Addis Ababa today, where the two sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in the defense industry, technology transfer, and military training.

The also  agreed to further consolidate their longstanding and productive military ties and elevate bilateral strategic cooperation to a higher level.

Minister Mohamed emphasized the importance of sustaining the historic military partnership between the two countries while exploring expanded areas of collaboration, particularly in defense industrial development, technology transfer, and capacity-building through training opportunities.

He also underscored that Ethiopia's efforts to safeguard its national interests contribute to regional and international peace and stability, calling on China to continue standing alongside Ethiopia.

On his part, Ambassador Chen Hai reaffirmed China's interest in further deepening military and strategic ties with Ethiopia, ENA learned. 

The Ambassador also expressed China's readiness to expand cooperation in the defense industry, highlighting the positive outcomes already achieved through investment and bilateral engagement.

Trump Administration Will Cut South Africa and Rwanda From the AGOA Trade Program

By MICHELLE GUMEDE and GERALD IMRAY

4:05 PM EST, November 2, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump will cut South Africa and Rwanda from a quarter-century-old Africa trade agreement at the end of the year as punishment for not meeting certain criteria, including policies on trade barriers and alignment with U.S. foreign policy, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said Monday.

In South Africa’s case, it’s another sanction against Africa’s biggest economy by the Trump administration. Last week, the U.S. excluded South Africa from a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of 20 countries in Atlanta.

The trade deal under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, was introduced by former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2000 to give some African nations duty-free access to the American market for some of their goods.

Countries have to meet requirements to be members, like establishing a market-based economy, the rule of law, political pluralism and the right to due process while also eliminating barriers to U.S. trade and investment. Countries’ memberships are reviewed each year. More than 30 African nations are currently members of AGOA and view duty-free access to the U.S. market for some of their exports as a crucial economic boost.

The suspensions take effect on Jan. 1, 2027

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement that Trump had informed Congress and the governments of South Africa and Rwanda that they would be removed from AGOA from Jan. 1 next year.

Greer said that the two countries were removed because of policies that “include, but are not limited to, barriers that undermine American trade and investment and practices that pose a threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests in the region.”

The statement did not give any specific examples of trade barriers or security and foreign policy issues.

U.S.-South Africa relations have plummeted during Trump’s second term, with his administration accusing South Africa’s Black-led government of being anti-white over some of its domestic affirmative action policies, and anti-American for its criticism of Israel and diplomatic ties with Iran.

The U.S. last week sanctioned Rwanda’s defense ministry over its support of the M23 rebel group fighting government forces in mineral-rich eastern Congo.

There was no immediate reaction from the South African or Rwandan governments, though South African officials said last week they were expecting to be removed from the program.

Several countries have previously been removed from AGOA

The U.S. under former President Joe Biden cut several nations from AGOA for failing to meet democratic or human rights standards. They included Burkina Faso, Gabon and Niger for coups that overthrew their governments, and Uganda for introducing a strict anti-gay law.

Countries can be reinstated to AGOA and Greer said of South Africa and Rwanda that “the Trump administration is working to ensure our African partners take the necessary steps to meet the eligibility criteria.”

Trump has pushed for policy changes in South Africa

The Trump administration has been fiercely critical of South Africa and has baselessly accused its government of allowing widespread violence against minority white farmers. It has also said that South Africa’s affirmative action laws that promote Black business ownership are a barrier to U.S. investment.

The U.S. has pressed South Africa to enact specific policy changes, including making crime against farmers a priority crime, dropping affirmative action requirements for U.S. businesses operating in the country, and repealing a land law that allows for the expropriation of private land without compensation in some circumstances.

The South African government has denied it is anti-white and has said the U.S. criticism is a result of misinformation. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said last month that the country was preparing for the “worst-case scenario” on AGOA but would not “surrender its sovereignty” to U.S. demands.

U.S. Ambassador to South Africa L. Brent Bozell III said in a post on X on Monday that the AGOA suspension was because of South Africa’s failure to enact those policy changes.

“This was a predictable and preventable outcome resulting from the rejection by South Africa’s government of real concerns raised by the U.S. Government,” the ambassador wrote.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, said in a statement that the administration’s move against South Africa, the top exporter to the U.S. in the program, could cause chaos to the U.S. economy and that the administration needs to give a clear explanation of how South Africa can be reinstated.

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Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa.

Uganda Arrests a Former Military Chief Accused of Engaging in Subversive Activities

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA

4:48 AM EST, November 3, 2026

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A former deputy military chief in Uganda has been arrested over allegations of planning to destabilize parts of the country, according to the military.

Peter Elwelu, a three-star general who served as the deputy chief of defense forces between 2021 and 2024, was taken into custody Monday, according to military spokesman Col. Chris Magezi.

Elwelu was “on the run over involvement in subversive activities and plans to destabilize” a remote part of eastern Uganda where he was born and raised, Magezi said. “The security forces recently recovered 15 guns in his possession, military fatigues, and two pickup trucks.”

Elwelu could not be reached for comment. He was being held by military authorities at an unknown location. The government has yet to substantiate the allegations against him.

Ahead of Elwelu’s arrest, Ugandan military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba accused him of engaging in treacherous activities after his retirement from active duty last year. Kainerugaba said he had ordered the search party to capture Elwelu alive.

Elwelu, a previous commander of the land forces, once disagreed with Kainerugaba over military operations, leading to an urgent meeting mediated by President Yoweri Museveni.

Kainerugaba is Museveni’s son and seen as his likely successor. Just months after Museveni was sworn in in May of this year for a seventh consecutive term, Kainerugaba launched a presidential bid for 2031, the next scheduled elections in this East African country that has never had a peaceful transfer of power.

Uganda enjoys relative peace and stability under Museveni, who turned 82 in September. But some analysts worry the transition to another leader is likely to be volatile if not violent. Museveni has no rivals within the ruling party, and many believe the military will have a say in choosing his successor.

Museveni’s main rival in the last two elections, the musician and activist known as Bobi Wine, is in exile in the U.S. Kizza Besigye, the opposition figure who ran against Museveni four times previously, is in jail on treason charges he says are politically motivated. Besigye’s wife, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima, says her husband is in failing health.

Museveni first took power by force in 1986 as the leader of a guerrilla force whose goal was to democratize Uganda after years of chaos and civil war. He said at the time that Africa’s problem was leaders who overstayed their welcome.

Much later, Museveni changed his stance to say his criticism was of leaders who prolonged their rule without an electoral mandate. Constitutional term limits and age restrictions have been scrapped over the years.

How Key Demographic Groups Voted in the 2026 Midterms, According to The AP Voter Poll

President Donald Trump has repeatedly encouraged voters to pretend he’s on the ballot this Election Day. He’s not, but there’s reason to believe Tuesday’s midterms will be a referendum on his performance over the last two years. (AP video by Emily Wang and Mary Conlon)

By LINLEY SANDERS and HUMERA LODHI

9:45 PM EST, November 3, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans in Tuesday’s midterm races were hoping their candidates could hold onto the winning coalition that President Donald Trump assembled in the 2024 presidential election, but The AP Voter Poll suggests the GOP has lost ground with at least one key group.

The poll, an expansive survey of about 80,000 voters in all 50 states, suggests young voters were less likely to back House Republicans this year than they were to support Trump in 2024. Young voters — those under 30 — were also more likely than older voters to say their vote for the U.S. House was cast to express opposition to Trump.

Most voters say the economy or the state of democracy is the top issue facing the country, with the cost of living and government corruption weighing heavily on many Americans’ minds as they cast a ballot in Tuesday’s midterm elections. The poll also signals a strong desire for Congress to take a more forceful role in checking the presidency.

But the survey also found that while Democrats have at least a slight advantage on several major issues, including the economy and government corruption, the Democratic Party is not much more popular among U.S. voters than the Republican Party.

Young voters appear to shift away from Republicans

After moving toward Trump in the 2024 election, young voters appear to have swung away from the Republican Party in this year’s midterms.

The AP Voter Poll shows about 7 in 10 voters under 30 nationally say they supported the Democratic candidate in their local U.S. House race, while about 3 in 10 say they voted for the Republican. That’s a shift from 2024, when the youngest voters were roughly split between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Young voters make up a fairly small share of voters. Only about 1 in 10 voters in the 2026 midterms are under 30, which limits the impact of the shift.

But their displeasure with the country and its leadership is clear: About half of young voters say they are “angry” about the way things were going in the country today, compared with about one-third of voters ages 65 and older.

Many voters were driven by opposition to Trump

While Trump was not on the ballot, many voters had him on their minds.

The AP Voter Poll finds about 4 in 10 voters report wanting “to express opposition” to Trump with their vote for Congress. Just under 2 in 10 voters wanted “to express support” for the president, and roughly 4 in 10 say Trump was not a factor in their decision.

Most young voters — those under 30 — said their vote was cast to express opposition to Trump. Older voters, who tend to be more conservative in general, were less likely to say they were trying to signal their dissatisfaction with the president.

The survey highlighted voters’ unhappiness with Trump’s leadership. About 6 in 10 disapprove of how he’s handling the presidency. Views of Trump’s priorities were also mostly negative. About 6 in 10 voters say Trump places a higher priority on his personal interests than the country’s interests.

Voters think Congress isn’t doing enough to check an unpopular president

Most voters nationally want to see Congress provide more checks and balances on the presidency, and they overwhelmingly disapprove of how Congress is handling its job.

The survey suggests voters want to see Congress take on a stronger role as a co-equal branch of government. Roughly 7 in 10 voters say Congress is doing “not enough” to provide checks and balances on the presidency. Only about 2 in 10 say it’s doing “about the right amount,” and about 1 in 10 say Congress is doing “too much.”

That dissatisfaction with Congress’s role wasn’t confined to Democrats, the poll found: The vast majority of independents and about 4 in 10 Republicans say Congress is not doing enough.

The survey reflects deep unhappiness with the president and Congress. About 6 in 10 voters disapprove of how Trump is handling the presidency, while about three-quarters of voters disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job.

Concerns about democracy and corruption rival the economy for voters

The economy was a clear concern for voters, who expressed alarm over the high cost of gasoline and food.

But the survey found many voters are also deeply worried about the state of democracy and government corruption.

About 4 in 10 voters say the economy is the top issue facing the country, and roughly 3 in 10 say the state of democracy is the top issue. Only about 1 in 10 say the same about immigration or healthcare, and few named foreign policy or crime.

Roughly half of U.S. voters said government corruption and the cost of living were “crucial” to their vote for Congress, higher than the share that said that about immigration enforcement policies, the war in Iran or AI data centers.

Most voters who said government corruption was “crucial” for their vote for Congress supported the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House, while about 4 in 10 said they voted for the Republican. About 8 in 10 voters who said “the state of democracy” was the top issue facing the country supported the Democrat, while about 2 in 10 supported the Republican.

Democrats have an an advantage on handling issues

Democrats have at least a small advantage in their perceived handling of several major issues, although a significant share of voters say they don’t trust either party.

Voters are slightly more likely to say Democrats would handle the economy and government corruption better than Republicans, two issues that emerged as highly important to voters in this election. Democrats also have a small edge on foreign policy and a wider advantage on their handling of transgender issues and healthcare. Voters split on which party would better handle artificial intelligence and taxes, while Republicans have a small advantage on immigration.

Despite Democrats’ relative advantage on issues, though, the Democratic Party is not much more popular with voters than the Republicans. Just under half of voters have a “somewhat” or “strongly” favorable view of the Democratic Party, while about 4 in 10 view the GOP positively.

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METHODOLOGY

The AP Voter Poll is a survey of the American electorate conducted by SSRS for The Associated Press, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, FOX News Media, NBC News and Versant. The survey blends probability-based and non probability-based interviews with registered voters in all 50 states conducted from Oct. 19 to Nov. 3 in Alaska and Oct. 22 to Nov. 3 in all other states. A detailed methodology statement is available here. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 0.6 percentage points for the full sample.

Takeaways: Voters Punishing Trump as Hispanics and Young People Turn Away from GOP

By  STEVE PEOPLES, BILL BARROW and LINLEY SANDERS

11:03 PM EST, November 3, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump repeatedly encouraged voters to pretend he was on the midterm ballot. They did. And it went very badly for him and his Republican Party.

Voters punished Trump’s allies in swing states and Republican strongholds alike on Tuesday, giving Democrats key victories across Ohio, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Florida and even South Carolina. Trump’s controversial mid-decade redistricting plan appeared to backfire. And in Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history.

Voters nationwide were in the mood for change, according to The AP Voter Poll, which found that roughly three-quarters of voters feel “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the direction of the country.

Among the voters who had Trump in mind when they cast their vote, about twice as many wanted to express opposition to the Republican president as those who wanted to support him. Most also blamed the Trump administration for high costs: about 6 in 10 say higher than usual prices are “more because of Trump’s policies.”

Trump’s coalition was also fraying: Young voters and Hispanics appear to have shifted away from the GOP after warming to Trump in 2024.

With undeniable momentum, Democrats were eyeing majorities in the House and Senate, which would curb Trump’s power after he’s faced few limits from a compliant Republican-controlled Congress.

Here are some takeaways from Tuesday’s midterms:

The end of the Trump era may be beginning

Tuesday’s electoral beating appeared to be a direct repudiation of Trump, who demanded loyalty across his party and brought Republicans to the midterms saddled by his dismal approval ratings, an unpopular war with Iran, and surging costs for millions of frustrated Americans.

Indeed, Trump’s political strength is hitting a new low roughly two years before his final term ends.

The AP Voter Poll confirms that voters are deeply unhappy with the Republican president, with roughly 6 in 10 saying they disapprove of his job performance. About 70% of voters want Congress to provide more checks and balances on the presidency.

As gas prices soar, about 4 in 10 say the economy is the most important issue facing the country, while roughly 3 in 10 say the state of democracy is the top issue, according to the poll, well above the number who said the same about crime, healthcare and immigration. At the same time, about 6 in 10 voters said Trump places a higher priority on his personal interests than the country’s interests.

Trump was betting that his base of white working-class voters — and an increased share of young people and voters of color — which fueled his presidential victory in 2024 could save his Republican allies if they show up in great numbers.

He was wrong.

The AP Voter Poll indicates a substantial shift in young people and Hispanics moving away from Republicans compared to Trump’s victory just two years ago.

Voters under 30 were about evenly split between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. But in this election, about 7 in 10 voters in that same age nationally say they supported the Democratic House candidate in their area.

Young voters only make up about 10% of the electorate, according to the poll, which limits the impact of the shift. But it nonetheless makes it harder for the GOP to win.

Meanwhile, only about one-third of Hispanic voters say they backed the Republican in their local U.S. House race, while roughly 4 in 10 voted for Trump two years ago. About 6 in 10 Hispanic voters nationally say they voted for the Democratic candidate in their local House race. That’s as about 7 in 10 Hispanic voters say Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions in the U.S.

Democrats gaining in bid to flip control of Congress

A party doesn’t flip both chambers of Congress very often.

Since World War II, the House and Senate have flipped from one party to the other in the same midterm just three times: 1946, 1994 and 2006. The common thread when it does happen is an electorate clamoring for change or broad frustration with the sitting president.

This year has both, and Democrats are capitalizing on the opportunity.

Democrats were winning virtually everywhere.

Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper won North Carolina’s Senate contest, giving his party one of the minimum four flips it needs. Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff and New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas won their respective states’ high-profile Senate contests. Ossoff was once viewed as Democrats’ most vulnerable incumbent and the only Democratic senator running in a state Trump won in 2024.

The most painful blow for Trump may have come in South Carolina, where his handpicked candidate to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, his sister Darline Graham, was defeated by Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician making her first run for office. The Republican loss marked Democrats’ second Senate pickup and was a seismic defeat in a state that hadn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998.

Republicans currently have a 53-47 advantage in the Senate. To take control, Democrats must win states that Trump won. Among their targets beyond North Carolina and South Carolina: Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Texas and Alaska.

Strategists in both parties believe Democrats are on track to win a majority in the House, where Republicans began the current Congress with a slim margin of 220-215.

Democrats are targeting more than 60 House districts, including many where Trump won by double digits. But between redistricting and the deep partisan divide between metropolitan and rural America, there simply aren’t as many competitive races as there were in some previous years when the House flipped, including 2018, when Democrats netted 40 more seats.

The Democratic brand still needs work

While Trump’s standing has cratered in 2026, Democrats’ brand as a whole isn’t much to brag about. That leaves the party’s major factions — the progressive left flank and the liberal-to-moderate establishment — parsing Tuesday’s outcomes to claim any advantage in Democrats’ tug-of-war over party identity.

The party’s moderate wing was having a good night early on as high-profile leaders like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore won reelection. Both are considered 2028 presidential prospects.

At the same time, Florida Democrat Angie Nixon, the only self-identified democratic socialist on a Senate ballot, was defeated, despite a much stronger-than-expected showing.

Still, the progressive movement would have a feather in its cap should Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed defeat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan. El-Sayed is progressives’ highest-profile candidate, although he does not identify as a DSA member nor is he endorsed by the organization.

It’s one thing for New Yorkers to elect Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, as mayor. It’s quite another for an unabashed progressive like El-Sayed to carry a perennial battleground state that helped elect Trump twice.

The Democratic brand needs help no matter how well the party does on Tuesday.

The AP Voter Poll shows that about 6 in 10 voters have a “very” or “somewhat” unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Party, which is about the same as the Republican Party.

Trump’s gerrymandering may backfire

The Trump-backed gerrymandering push is not going as planned for Republicans.

In Florida, Rep. Jared Moskowitz won the state’s 25th District; Democrat Pia Dandiya, a first-time candidate, won the 22nd District and Rep. Kathy Castor won reelection in the 14th District. Republicans had redrawn all three districts this spring with the intent of ensuring GOP victories this fall.

That’s bad news for Republicans in other districts in Florida and potentially in Texas — states where the Republican plan counted on getting votes from Latino voters and other nonwhites who backed Trump in 2024. The early results show that has not happened.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom answered by persuading his state’s voters to respond in kind. Democratic and Republican states followed. Along the way, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted part of the Voting Rights Act, allowing several Southern states to redraw districts that had been majority- or near-majority-Black.

On paper, the results suggest a net shift of nine seats to Republicans. But the gerrymandering meant spreading conservative supporters across more districts. In Florida and Texas, especially, the Republican plan counted on getting help from Latinos and other nonwhite voters who backed Trump in 2024 — and that may not happen.

Democrats Win in South Carolina and North Carolina as They Aim to Retake Senate

By  JILL COLVIN, MARY CLARE JALONICK and WILL WEISSERT

10:53 PM EST, November 3, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Annie Andrews has won an upset victory over Republican Darline Graham for a Senate seat in South Carolina, a sign that dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump has seeped into even some of the most conservative states.

Andrews’ victory is a defeat for Trump, who backed Graham despite doubts within his party, and it puts Democrats one seat closer to the net four they need to retake control of the chamber. Democrats have also flipped a seat in North Carolina and won key races in Georgia and New Hampshire on Tuesday as they tried to recapture majorities in Congress and break Republicans’ unified grip on power in Washington.

In the House, Democrats were marching toward control after defeating six Republicans in key battleground races. Republican Reps. Tom Kean of New Jersey and three Republicans in Pennsylvania, Ryan Mackenzie, Scott Perry and Rob Bresnahan, lost reelection and Democrats won open seats in North Carolina and Kentucky. Democrats need a net gain of three seats for a majority.

Graham was appointed to the Senate in July after her brother, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, died unexpectedly, and she decided to run for a full term of her own. Andrews, a doctor, will be the first woman elected to the Senate from South Carolina. She’s the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the state in more than 20 years.

Democrats who once saw the political map as an almost impossible lift are now hopeful that a Senate majority is within reach, even though their path runs through several more conservative states.

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff won reelection in Georgia, defeating Rep. Mike Collins and denying Republicans a seat they had once seen as a top pickup opportunity. Rep. Chris Pappas won a Senate race in New Hampshire, defeating former Sen. John Sununu to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

Polls are still open in some states across the country as voters — angry over high prices and the war in Iran and concerned about government corruption — cast their ballots in midterm elections that will serve as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term.

The elections could drastically shift power in Washington. Democrats had been cautiously optimistic heading into Tuesday as they watched Republicans spend the campaign’s final stretch pumping tens of millions of dollars into states and districts that Trump won handily two years ago, and watched Trump campaign across some of the reddest states. They had bet that discontent over Trump’s failure to stop inflation and perceptions that he’s focused more on gilding the nation’s capital than easing their pain at the pump will turn the tide in their favor.

Republicans had held out hope their money advantage would help stem the tide, but they were bracing to lose control of the U.S. House and fighting to hang onto the U.S. Senate — an outcome that seemed unlikely earlier this year, given a map widely seen as favoring their party.

Several Democratic senators easily won reelection, including Sens. Cory Booker in New Jersey, Ed Markey in Massachusetts and John Hickenlooper in Colorado. Democrat Juliana Stratton was elected to replace Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.

On the Republican side, Sen. Ashley Moody won a special election in Florida to finish the term of Marco Rubio, who became Trump’s secretary of state in 2025. Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman won a Senate seat in Wyoming, replacing retiring Sen. Cynthia Lummis.

In the House, Democrat Jamie Ager beat Republican Jennifer Capps Balkcom in North Carolina to give the party its first House flip. Another Democratic flip came in New Jersey, where former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett defeated Rep. Tom Kean, who missed four months of votes in Washington this year as he underwent treatment for depression, a diagnosis he did not disclose until his return.

Control of Congress is up for grabs

Democrats need a net gain of four seats in the Senate to win the majority. They need three in the House.

More than 59 million people had already cast ballots before Tuesday, according to an Associated Press analysis, surpassing early-voter turnout from 2022.

Trump, whose party has struggled when he’s not running to turn out the low-propensity voters who have fueled his victories, told voters to act as though he’s on the ballot, even as many Republican candidates kept their distance.

But as Democrats racked up victories. Trump rushed to duck blame for his party’s losses before polls on the west coast had even closed. “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” he wrote on his social media site.

The electorate is frustrated and unhappy

Voters were sour heading into Tuesday, with the midterm electorate deeply unhappy with the country’s direction and pessimistic about the future, according to The AP Voter Poll.

Most said they feel frustrated, with about three-quarters saying they feel “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the country’s current trajectory. Dissatisfaction was particularly high in blue states, but even in red states, a majority of voters were at least “dissatisfied.”

The economy helped key Trump’s White House comeback. But the poll found that three-quarters of voters say the economy is “not so good” or “poor.” About 8 in 10 say inflation has caused a “severe” or “moderate” financial hardship for their households.

Government corruption was also a big issue with voters. Roughly half cited it and the cost of living as “crucial” to their vote for Congress — higher than immigration enforcement policies, the war in Iran and artificial intelligence data centers. About 6 in 10 voters said Trump prioritizes his own personal interests more than the country’s interests.

Despite their relative advantage on issues, the Democratic Party is not much more popular with voters than the Republicans. Just under half of voters have a “somewhat” or “strongly” favorable view of the Democratic Party, while about 4 in 10 view the GOP positively.

Trump choices could prove costly

Republicans tried to buck historical precedent — a president’s party almost always loses seats during the midterms — with an aggressive redistricting effort aimed at creating a more favorable congressional map.

But in Florida, where Republicans hoped to pick up as many as four new seats, the plan looked to be falling short. Republicans moved Democratic Reps. Jared Moskowitz and Debbie Wasserman Schultz into the same district — only to have them run in different territories and win. Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor won in metro Tampa, while others were holding their own as early returns were being counted across Florida.

Other Trump choices could prove costly. In Texas, Trump worked to oust longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in favor of scandal-plagued Attorney General Ken Paxton, setting the stage for an expensive race against Democratic nominee James Talarico, who Democrats hope may help them finally flip the state.

In North Carolina, Sen. Thom Tillis retired after clashing with Trump. Then Whatley, Trump’s chosen replacement, struggled to gain traction against Cooper.

The Senate and the House are in play

Other outstanding Senate battlegrounds include Ohio, where Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown is challenging Republican Sen. Jon Husted, and Alaska, where the Trump administration filed a lawsuit to block certification of Senate results if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses the race, citing the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.

Republicans hope they can hold seats in Iowa, Kansas and Maine and pick up Michigan, where Mike Rogers faces progressive Abdul El-Sayed — one of a crop of left-wing candidates who prevailed in Democratic primaries. El-Sayed’s former primary opponent, Haley Stevens, upended the race by endorsing Rogers, renewing focus on tensions over Israel and the party’s direction.

In the House, Republicans are trying to hang on to their narrow majority, as Democrats aim to flip seats in states Trump repeatedly carried, from Florida to Texas to Iowa.

Beyond Washington, 36 states are electing governors. In early results, Democrats Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, JB Pritzker in Illinois, Wes Moore in Maryland, Maura Healey in Massachusetts and Kathy Hochul in New York all won reelection.

In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy lost to Democrat Amy Acton after his campaign faced backlash for an ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother, who lost custody of Acton decades ago after her husband, Acton’s stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton as a child.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia will be the first Black female governor of any state. In neighboring Florida, Byron Donalds became the first Black Republican to be elected governor in the nation.

The results will shape the final two years of Trump’s second term. The Republican-controlled Congress acted as a rubber stamp to much of his agenda. While Trump has proven adept at steamrolling efforts to rein him in, Democrats taking control of even one chamber would open the floodgates to investigations and possible impeachments. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and tech titan Elon Musk, a former top Trump adviser, are among possible targets.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, in line to make history as the nation’s first Black speaker of the House if his party sweeps to power, has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on lowering the cost of living and aggressively overseeing the Trump administration.

An especially strong showing for Democrats could boost the party’s large crop of potential presidential candidates. It could also complicate the paths of Vice President JD Vance and other Republicans who may be looking to turn their loyalty to Trump into momentum.

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Associated Press journalists Linley Sanders, Aaron Kessler and Ali Swenson in Washington; Cody Jackson in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and Allen Breed in Raleigh, N.C., contributed.

Midterms May Bring in Wave of Historic Firsts for Some States and the Country

This combination of photos shows Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds, left, on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Fort Myers, Fla., and Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, right, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, in Smyrna, Ga. (AP Photo)

By  TERRY TANG

10:28 PM EST, November 3, 2026

Featuring one of the most diverse slates of both Democratic and Republican candidates in recent years, this midterm election is shaping up to be a wave of historic leadership firsts across the country.

Voters on Tuesday night elected the first Black female governor and the first openly gay male U.S. senator. They could still propel into office the first Native American female governor and Native women senators, and the first Muslim U.S. senator, among other milestones. Most are Democrats, but the GOP could also break ground.

While some of these candidates have avoided focusing on the inherent historic value of their race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, some voters’ rights advocates are celebrating how the electorate has expanded.

“These firsts show how our country is changing,” Alexis Anderson-Reed, president and CEO of State Voices, a network of advocates for civic engagement and equity in democracy, said via e-mail.

“For years, people of color and LGBTQ+ communities have organized, knocked on doors, talked to voters, held conversations, and done the hard work of saving our democracy,” Anderson-Reed said. “These wins are because of them.”

Here are some of the races where history could be made.

First Native American female governor

Democrat Deb Haaland already broke barriers in 2018 as one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. Then she became the first Native American Cabinet secretary, running President Joe Biden’s Department of the Interior. Charles Curtis, from the Kaw Nation, was President Herbert Hoover’s vice president.

Now the Laguna Pueblo citizen is poised to add first Native American woman governor to the list if she beats Republican Gregg Hull, a former mayor, in New Mexico.

Oklahoma is the only state to elect a tribal citizen for governor — Democrat Johnston Murray in the 1950s and current Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Haaland shrugged off a question about her various political identities in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

“I mean, somebody has to be the first,” she said. “I just don’t want to be the last, right?”

But she says she’s proud to see how Indigenous people care about representation as other Native women run. “It truly does matter,” Haaland said. “It’s not just a slogan.”

First Native woman senators

Mary Peltola, who is Yup’ik and a Democrat, was considered a trailblazer in 2022 when she became the first Alaska Native elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Now the former congresswoman is trying to do the same in the Senate by unseating Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.

The honor could also go to Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a progressive Democrat and a citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe who faces Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter.

And if Tafoya wins, she too would make history — as the first Republican of Latina heritage to sit in the U.S. Senate.

First Black female governor

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms was declared the winner Tuesday night in the Georgia governor’s race, ending 250 years of U.S. history without a Black woman serving as a state’s governor. The former Atlanta mayor was running against Republican Rick Jackson, a billionaire businessman.

She will also be Georgia’s first governor of color. All 83 of Georgia’s previous governors have been white men.

Demuth, the former Minnesota House speaker, could also be one of the first Black female governors. She is going up against longtime Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Whatever the outcome, Minnesota will get its first female governor.

Stacey Abrams is the only Black woman to come close to winning a governor’s race when she got the Georgia Democratic Party’s nomination in 2018 and 2022.

First Muslim US senator

Abdul El-Sayed could be the first Muslim American to serve in the U.S. Senate.

The progressive Michigan Democrat needs to defeat Republican Mike Rogers in what has been a very tight and contentious race.

El-Sayed has had to contend with Republicans all the way up to Trump implying or overtly stating that the Michigan-born epidemiologist is not American and supports terrorism. Trump has called him “dangerously radical,” “too extreme” and referred to him as “Mohammed.” El-Sayed and his supporters have denounced the attacks as Islamophobic or racist affronts to religious freedom.

First openly gay male US senator

Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas has won his U.S. Senate race in New Hampshire and becomes the country’s first openly gay male senator. He defeated former Republican U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, who previously served in both chambers of Congress.

This new benchmark is not something Pappas has dwelled on while campaigning, saying “I’m not running to make history.” But he also applauded the fact that his sexual orientation was not a huge source of discussion among potential voters.

First Black governors

The U.S. could go from having only three elected Black governors in its 250-year history to gaining seven more overnight.

On Tuesday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the third one in the U.S. and the only current Black governor, won reelection, while Republican Byron Donalds was elected Florida’s first Black governor. With Bottoms’ victory in Georgia, two Deep South states will be governed by a Black leader for the first time. Besides Minnesota, the trio could have new peers in Wisconsin, Nevada, South Carolina and Michigan.

Moore, chair of the National Governors Association, has called the presence of so many Black gubernatorial contenders “a unique moment.” It’s not “an applause line” but a challenge to make diverse gubernatorial nominees more common, he said.

Record year of women running for governor and Congress

This midterm has been a record-breaker for women vying for state and federal offices. Democrats increased their 2022 number of women candidates to 19 running for governor, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. The Republican Party has seven women setting their sights on governor.

Like Minnesota, Tennessee will elect its first female governor. The main candidates are Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Jerri Green, a Memphis city councilwoman.

The election of the first Democratic Asian American woman as governor could happen in Vermont with Amanda Janoo, who is half Malaysian, or Oklahoma with Cyndi Munson, a former state lawmaker of Korean descent. Former Republican Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, who is of Indian heritage, was the first Asian American female governor.

Nearly 300 women, including incumbents, are running for the U.S. Senate and House, as documented by Rutgers’ Center for American Women and Politics.

Among them is Democrat Juliana Stratton in Illinois, who defeated Republican Don Tracy on Tuesday. Stratton, the current lieutenant governor, will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin. With fellow Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who is of Thai heritage, the pair will make Illinois the first state to be represented by two female senators of color. Stratton’s win also means there will be three Black women serving in the Senate.

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Associated Press writers Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, and Savannah Peters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this report.

Democrats Flip GOP Seats as Party Pushes for House Control

Jamie Ager defeated Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom in North Carolina, NBC News projects.

Nov. 3, 2026, 9:59 PM EST

By Scott Wong

Democrats have flipped at least three GOP-held seats, inching closer to retaking control of the House of Representatives.

In North Carolina, farmer Jamie Ager defeated GOP state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom in a district President Donald Trump won two years ago by more than 9 percentage points.

Balkcom took over as the GOP nominee after Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards dropped his bid for re-election following harassment allegations.

Democrats also flipped a second GOP-held seat, when Paige Cognetti defeated Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. And in Colorado, Democratic state Rep. Manny Rutinel unseated GOP Rep. Gabe Evans, NBC News projected.

Trump also won those two districts in Pennsylvania and Colorado.

The Democratic victories came as a handful of other House Republican incumbents were caught up in tough races in other districts Trump carried in 2024 — more encouraging signs for Democrats as they fight to retake the majority.

With 99% of the vote counted, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., held a narrow lead over her Democratic challenger, Army veteran Leela Gray, in a district Trump won by more than 13 points two years ago.

Similarly, Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., narrowly won over Democratic challenger LaShonda “L.J.” Holloway, a former Environmental Protection Agency employee, in a Jacksonville district that Trump won by nearly 12 points two years ago.

Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP-controlled Legislature redrew congressional districts to pick up as many as four additional House seats. But two of the targeted Democrats, Reps. Kathy Castor and Jared Moskowitz, were re-elected in those redrawn districts, according to NBC News’ Decision Desk. Another Democrat, Pia Dandiya, held an open, redrawn Democratic seat in South Florida.

In Indiana, Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., was behind Democratic challenger J.D. Ford by 3 points with more than 90% of the vote counted. Trump won the district in the suburbs north of Indianapolis by nearly 17 points two years ago.

The outcome of Tuesday’s election will set the tone and sway the direction of the final two years of Trump’s tenure in the White House, with Democrats vowing to aggressively investigate his administration if they win control of the House. And while Republicans were able to advance signature Trump priorities on party-line votes over the last two years, Democrats would have a say in any major congressional action if the House flips.

Democrats must flip a net of three seats to win the 218 needed for a majority. Republicans tried to give themselves some cushion by redrawing congressional maps around the country over the past year and a half.

But historical trends are working against them, as the president’s party typically loses seats in a midterm year. And the NBC News Exit Poll showed deep voter dissatisfaction with Trump overall and across a range of issues, most notably his handling of the economy and the cost of living amid the Iran war and the administration’s tariff agenda.

The exit poll found that 62% of voters said they disapprove of Trump’s job performance, while 38% approve. Trump’s approval rating is the worst of any president in office since 2008, when Republican George W. Bush’s approval plunged to 27% at the end of his two terms in office.

Three in four voters said the economy is in rough shape, and 65% said Trump’s policies had made it worse.

Midterm voters also said the GOP-controlled Congress was not doing enough to check Trump. More than 70% of those polled — including 41% of Republican voters — said there is not enough congressional oversight of the presidency.

Democrats hammered Republicans on the campaign trail on the issue of corruption, pledging to investigate Trump, his family and his business ventures. According to the exit poll, 9 in 10 midterm voters said corruption was a crucial or major factor in their votes for Congress.

The issue harked back to the midterms in 2006, when Democrats swept into power after they attacked Bush’s war in Iraq. In that election, the party ran heavily against what it called a “culture of corruption,” highlighting a number of Republican scandals at the time.

While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who could become the first Black speaker if Democrats win control of the chamber, has tried to tamp down expectations of a blue wave, he has predicted his party will emerge from the election with a majority.

“I also refer to Nov. 3 not simply as Election Day, but as judgment day,” Jeffries said at a weekend campaign rally for former Rep. Elaine Luria, who is trying to win back her old seat from GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia. “The American people are going to judge these MAGA extremists and run them out of town for what they’ve done to our economy, to our military, to our families, our farmers and to the American people all across the country.”

Still, Democrats have had to navigate challenging terrain in an unpredictable election cycle. In addition to Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting efforts, which Democrats were able to partially counter with a redrawn map in California, many of the seats Democrats are targeting are in districts Trump won in 2024. After those redistricting changes, just eight Republicans represent districts that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried two years ago, while 21 Democrats sit in seats in districts that Trump won.

Yet, in the closing stretch of the campaign, top Republican outside groups threw in the towel in a handful of once-competitive races.

In mid-October, Republicans nixed millions of dollars in ad reservations meant to support vulnerable Reps. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, who represent battleground districts that Trump carried in 2024. Instead, they shifted the money to other races.

GOP groups also slashed hundreds of thousands of dollars in ads last month from Nebraska’s 2nd District, which Harris carried two years ago. Moderate Republican Rep. Don Bacon represents the district but announced his retirement, making it difficult for the GOP to hold the seat.

Down the homestretch, Jeffries crisscrossed the country, stumping with candidates in California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., trying to protect his paper-thin majority, campaigned in many of the same battleground districts.

Johnson, a close Trump ally, warned that a Democratic victory would lead to nonstop investigations and a rollback of the signature piece of legislation the Republicans passed during the first two years of Trump’s second term, the “big, beautiful bill.”

“If this crazy group of Marxist Democrats took over, you can kiss your freedom goodbye. ... They would spend every waking hour for the next two years investigating the president, the Cabinet, leaders in business and industry. It would be retribution,” Johnson said at a campaign event for Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., one of the cycle’s most vulnerable Republicans who represents a Harris-won district.

“We cannot go down that road,” Johnson added.