Sudan Says It Does Not Want War With Ethiopia Amid Rising Tensions

A map showing Sudan and its neighbouring countries.

17 September 2026

Addis Standard (Addis Ababa)

Addis Ababa — Sudan does not want to go to war with Ethiopia despite what it describes as an increasingly "hostile position from Addis Abeba", Gen. Malik Agar, deputy head of Sudan's Sovereignty Council, said on Wednesday.

His remarks come amid heightened tensions along the Sudan-Ethiopia border and allegations from Sudanese military officials that Ethiopia has allowed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied forces to launch drones from its territory. Ethiopia has previously rejected such accusations as baseless.

Ethiopian election 2026 On Monday, Sudan's army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Yasser al-Atta, accused Ethiopia of seeking to exploit Sudan's war to seize border territory and allowing RSF drones to operate from Ethiopian territory. The allegations followed drone attacks in Sudan's Blue Nile state, which borders Ethiopia.

The two countries have longstanding tensions over their border, including the disputed al-Fashaga agricultural area.

Amnesty International reports Agar said Sudan does not want the conflict, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, to develop into a wider regional war. He stressed that preserving Sudan's territorial integrity and national unity remained a "red line."

He also said Sudan's war requires both political and military approaches, while reiterating the army-aligned government's position that the country should have a single national army.

Political commentary subscription Addis Standard has reported repeated accusations by Sudanese officials that Ethiopia has provided support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), allegations Addis Ababa has previously denied. Separate investigations by Reuters and the Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) have also reported evidence pointing to alleged Ethiopian support for the paramilitary group.

On 3 September 2026, Addis Standard reported, citing Sudan Tribune, that Abdelati Mohamed El Faki, commissioner of Kurmuk, accused the RSF of operating four training camps inside Ethiopian territory, allegedly with backing from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). El Faki claimed the camps were being used to train RSF fighters and foreign mercenaries, as well as support drone operations and logistical activities.

Ethiopian news updates Sudan Tribune said it could not independently verify the allegations. Ethiopia has previously rejected accusations that it facilitates arms transfers or training for the RSF, while the UAE has repeatedly denied providing military support to the group.

On 24 August, Addis Standard reported that Sudan's Defense Ministry said it had shot down a "hostile" drone over the Kurmuk area of Blue Nile State, near the Ethiopian border, alleging that it had been launched from Ethiopian territory. Ethiopian authorities did not immediately respond to the allegation at the time.

Ethiopian election 2026 The reports come amid intensified fighting across Sudan, including in Blue Nile, Darfur and Kordofan, as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) continue their conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Sudanese authorities have repeatedly accused the RSF of carrying out drone attacks against military positions and civilian infrastructure. The RSF has generally rejected such accusations, saying its forces are acting to protect civilians.

Amnesty International reports The Blue Nile region, particularly areas around Kurmuk near the Ethiopian border, has witnessed renewed fighting as the conflict spreads across Sudan. The latest allegation also adds to previous claims by Sudanese officials linking alleged RSF drone operations to Ethiopian territory.

Earlier, on 9 April 2026, Addis Standard reported on findings by Yale HRL alleging Ethiopian military support to the RSF. The report, published on 8 April and based on satellite imagery and open-source data collected between late December 2025 and late March 2026, said it had found "high confidence" evidence of activity consistent with military assistance by Ethiopia to the RSF at an Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) base in Asosa, Benishangul-Gumuz.

Ethiopian news updates According to Yale HRL, the findings constituted visual evidence that the RSF was basing attacks on Sudan's Blue Nile State from inside Ethiopian sovereign territory. The report also said the alleged activity was taking place within an active ENDF installation and involved an armed group it described as being credibly accused of genocide, raising concerns over possible violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1591, which imposes an arms embargo in relation to the Darfur conflict.

Ethiopian election 2026 In February 2026, Reuters reported that Ethiopia was allegedly hosting a training camp for fighters linked to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), citing multiple diplomatic, security, and government sources--claims that pointed to a possible deepening of regional involvement in Sudan's ongoing civil war. Ethiopian authorities have not publicly responded to the allegations.

The Reuters investigation based on interviews with 15 sources--including Ethiopian officials, diplomats, and security personnel--as well as satellite imagery analysis, said the camp was located in the remote Benishangul-Gumuz region near the Sudan border. According to the report, the facility could serve as a recruitment and training site for RSF fighters as hostilities continue in Sudan.

Reuters further reported that eight sources, including a senior Ethiopian government official, alleged that the United Arab Emirates financed the construction of the site and provided logistical and training support. However, the news agency said it could not independently verify the UAE's involvement. In response, the UAE's foreign ministry denied any role in the conflict, stating that it was not a party to hostilities in Sudan.

Read the original article on Addis Standard.

Congo-Brazzaville: Congo's Ebola Epidemic May Have Gone Undetected for Months

WHO Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo declares Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province

18 September 2026

Deutsche Welle (Bonn)

By Jean-Michel Bos

The deadliest Ebola outbreak on record in the Democratic Republic of Congo may have begun months before it was first declared in May.

The Democratic Republic of Congo officially declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo variant on May 15. However, the first infections likely occurred much earlier.

Just how far back the start of the epidemic actually goes is still a matter of debate. But one thing is certain: Congolese authorities did not respond in the best possible way, with several international organizations highlighting delays in the initial response.

Congo is no stranger to crisis response. The country experiences Ebola outbreaks on a regular basis, and has in the past been praised for its expertise in combating the disease.

Early warnings came from WHO, Africa CDC 

A good starting point for tracing the origins of the outbreak is the timeline provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

According to their data, the first known case, identified retrospectively, was a health worker from Mongbwalu in northeastern Ituri Province. The person, sources said, developed symptoms characteristic of Ebola around April 24 or 25.

They died at a medical center in Bunia, the capital of Ituri. To date, 80% of all cases have been reported in the province.

It wasn't until May 5 that the WHO said  it had been informed of "an unknown illness with high mortality reported in Mongbwalu Health Zone." The global health body then issued its first warning.

Congo's delayed response questioned as Ebola spread

Ten days later, on May 15, the Congolese government announced the Ebola outbreak.

Tests conducted by the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa had confirmed the presence of the rare Bundibugyo type of Ebola.

Three days later, the Africa CDC raised concerns about the speed of Congo's response.

About three weeks had passed between the onset of the first symptoms in the suspected index case and the laboratory confirmation — even though the fatality was a health worker.

"This significant delay [...] highlights a critically low initial index of clinical suspicion among local healthcare providers, which facilitated wider geographic spread prior to the initiation of containment efforts," the Africa CDC concluded.

According to reports gathered by DW, residents of Mongbwalu had already reported suspicious deaths as early as the end of April.

"Several deaths were reported following high fevers, and the victims often showed traces of blood around various body orifices," said Dieudonne Lossa Dekhana, the provincial coordinator for civil society in Ituri.

Red Cross reported 'widespread' public fear 'since March 30'

There were other indications that Ebola was already circulating long before the emergence of this first confirmed case.

A May 16 report by the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo stated: "Since March 30, 2026, there has been widespread fear among the population of the Mongbwalu Health Zone following a series of deaths."

Here, too, the symptoms matched those of Ebola: high fever, chest pain, severe exhaustion, persistent cough, nosebleeds, vomiting, loss of consciousness, a comatose state and ultimately death.

The Red Cross report said the trigger was believed to have been the body of a Mongbwalu resident "who died and was placed in a coffin purchased in Bunia, which was then replaced by another in Mongbwalu."

US researchers: February outbreak is plausible

The funeral that brought various people into direct contact with the body and the contaminated coffin is believed to have been the cause of a rising number of infections and deaths that were subsequently observed in Mongbwalu and Bunia.

But from the data available, it is not possible to confirm without doubt that these deaths were related to the Bundibugyo virus. However, they show that an unusual health phenomenon had already been observed more than six weeks before the outbreak was officially declared on May 15.

In addition, investigations since May 15 have come to support the thesis that Ebola might have been circulating even earlier than that.

In a study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on June 11, a team of researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reconstructed the early course of the epidemic.

An initial transmission from an animal to a human, or spillover, between mid- and late February is "plausible," the researchers concluded.  A late-April spillover, on the other hand, would be difficult to reconcile with the scale the epidemic had already reached at the time of the study.

WHO: Genome sequencing suggests February outbreak

On August 10, Mohamed Janabi, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said genome sequencing analyses suggested the outbreak likely began "as early as February 2026."

Several early infections were mistakenly attributed to diseases that were far more common in the region, particularly malaria and typhus, he said.

In an August interview, Janabi told DW that there was a significant gap in case reporting. "The Ebola situation is catastrophic... In three months, we only had access to one-third of the patients," he said.

Could 'pig Ebola' shed some light on the matter?

Jules Villa, a researcher in the anthropology and ecology of disease emergence at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, points to a phenomenon observed in the connection with previous Ebola epidemics.

Villa's study does not encompass the 2026 outbreak, but takes stock of local reports collected during earlier Ebola outbreaks in northeastern Congo.

Villa shows that livestock farmers, veterinarians and residents had reported unusually high animal mortality even before the outbreak of at least two Ebola epidemics in humans.

In 2017, several witnesses reported on what they called "pig Ebola" — a high mortality among pigs, which was ultimately attributed to swine fever.

According to Villa's research, monitoring livestock in the general population could provide the first useful warning signs long before an outbreak is confirmed by a laboratory.

This article was originally written in French.

Russia Immediately Declared in 2022 That Events in Bucha Were Provocations — MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recalled that after the falsification, Bucha became a "place of pilgrimage" for Western leaders, heads of international organizations and Western journalists

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Sergey Bulkin/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

© Sergey Bulkin/TASS

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Russia in 2022 immediately declared that the events in Bucha were a provocation and disinformation, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

She recalled that after the falsification, Bucha became a "place of pilgrimage" for Western leaders, heads of international organizations and Western journalists.

"Russia immediately stated that this is a provocation, that this is a false, misleading story, when obvious fakes are being spread," she said at a TASS press conference devoted to the presentation of the report of the International Public Tribunal on the crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, which exposes the falsification of events in Bucha.

As Zakharova noted, Moscow immediately contacted international organizations to report the provocation and to state outright that it was clearly orchestrated and was evolving into a full-blown information campaign.

On March 30, 2022, as a gesture of goodwill amidst negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, the Russian Armed Forces withdrew from the area around Kiev, including Bucha. The head of the local administration confirmed this on camera on March 31. Several days later, though, Western television outlets released footage showing – in contrast to earlier recordings – bodies lying on the streets, allegedly of people killed by Russian troops. In Russia, a criminal case has been opened regarding the provocation, specifically concerning the dissemination of knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces.

Russian diplomatic missions do everything to ensure security at polling stations abroad

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, staff are in contact "literally in real time" with "the center and, first and foremost, the Central Election Commission"

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Russian foreign Ministry press service/TASS

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. Staff at Russian diplomatic missions are doing everything necessary to ensure security at polling stations abroad, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS.

"Our teams abroad are currently doing everything to organize the work of the headquarters set up at our diplomatic missions, including the security component. They have received all the relevant instructions," the diplomat said.

According to her, staff are in contact "literally in real time" with "the center and, first and foremost, the Central Election Commission." "Therefore, we are doing everything to ensure that Russian citizens have the opportunity to exercise their right, as well as their duty," Zakharova stressed.

US, Allies Boost Potential for Nuclear War — North Korea’s Deputy Defense Minister

Kim Kang Il made this statement during the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on security

© South Korea Defense Ministry via AP, archive

BEIJING, September 17. /TASS/. Together with its allies, the United States is gradually building up potential for a nuclear war, North Korea's Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il said.

"The main reason why the situation on the Korean Peninsula remains stuck in the vicious circle of confrontation and escalation lies in the reckless political and military provocations on the part of the United States and its henchmen, who have pursued a hostile policy toward the DPRK for 80 years, gradually building up potential for a nuclear war," he told the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on security.

Kim Kang Il went on to say that such actions on the part of the United States and its allies, who continue to boost their nuclear potential, give North Korea "enough reason to create a strong nuclear shield."

"Our nuclear strategy has been adopted on the basis of a precise analysis of national security threats, both existing and potential," the North Korean official added.

The Beijing Xiangshan Forum has been held regularly since 2006 and is organized by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences. The annual event in Beijing focuses on security cooperation both in the Asia-Pacific region and on a global scale. The main principles of this important platform for promoting military dialogue are equality, transparency, tolerance, and exchange of experience. This year, the forum brings together around 2,000 delegates representing around 100 countries, regions and international organizations.

Russia Viewed Positively by 95% of Participants in International Festival of Youth

According to Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration and chairman of the festival’s organizing committee, almost 70% speak about their attitude in excellent terms

© Sofya Sandurskaya/TASS Photo Hosting Agency for the International Festival of Youth

YEKATERINBURG, September 17. /TASS/. As many as 95% of participants in the International Festival of Youth have a positive view of Russia after participating in the event in the country, Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration and chairman of the festival’s organizing committee, said.

"After taking part in the festival, 95% are positive about Russia, while almost 70% speak about their attitude in excellent terms, that is, are very or extremely positive or as positive as possible. Notably, the share of those who express a ‘very positive’ attitude rose by 25% in the past five years," he pointed out at a press conference summing up the festival.

Top Russian Diplomat on West Preparing for War, Moscow’s Response to Challenges

Europe’s support for the Nazi regime in Kiev is a disgrace, Sergey Lavrov said

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Western countries are actively preparing for a war against Moscow while spreading the myth of an alleged Russian threat, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the opening session of the Sixth Congress of the International Russophile Movement.

He also stressed that Russia will find ways to adequately respond to external security challenges.

TASS has compiled the key statements by the top Russian diplomat.

West preparing for war with Russia

Western countries are actively preparing for a war against Moscow while spreading the myth of an alleged Russian threat: "Today, ruling elites in most Western countries seek to spread the myth of a threat coming from Russia as they are actively preparing for a war against our countries. They also accuse us of undermining European values, but we can see what these values really are."

The so-called "European values" meant only one thing: "Europe once again stands ready to support Nazism."

Russia’s response to challenges

Russia will adequately respond to external security challenges: "Russia will undoubtedly find a way <…> to provide an adequate response to external challenges facing security, development, and the well-being of its citizens."

"Their initiators will, of course, bear responsibility for the consequences of reckless anti-Russian actions."

‘Metastases of Nazism’ in Europe

"Metastases of Nazism" are visible in Europe itself, including Germany: "The fact that, in addition to supporting the openly Nazi regime in Ukraine, the metastases of Nazism are already visible in Europe itself, including Germany, is, of course, a very serious warning."

Europe’s support for the Nazi regime in Kiev is a disgrace: "The fact that the West proudly speaks about European values defended by Ukraine is a disgrace for the West."

Dialogue with the US

Representatives of the United States are ready to talk: "The United States differs significantly from European elites. They are willing to talk. Even with positions that are radically opposed, that is always important."

"We always talk to those who want to do so seriously. [It is worth coming] not for the sake of repeating into a microphone what they [in the West] say publicly every day condemning Russia. There is no need to come just to condemn. But we are always open to serious dialogue. And this is exactly how the United States deals with us."

Despite the existence of a dialogue between Russia and the US, "there has been and is not expected any material effect in terms of restoring ties between our countries."

Information offensive against Russia

Moscow is countering a major wave of aggressive Western propaganda due to the upcoming State Duma elections: "A massive wave of primitive aggressive propaganda is currently being directed at us in connection with the upcoming State Duma elections."

Rights of Russian-speaking people

A settlement of the Ukrainian crisis cannot involve any bargaining over the rights of Russian-speaking people: ‘There can be no bargaining over the obligations that everyone has undertaken and is obliged to fulfil. But the West forgives the Kiev regime for everything."

In addition to the principle of territorial integrity, which "is the only one supported by the West from the United Nations Charter, there is much more, including the right to self-determination": "And including, in the very first article, the guarantees that all members of the United Nations must provide when signing the Charter: respect for human rights, regardless of race, sex, language and religion."

Putin Outlines Russia's 2027 Federal Budget Priorities

"An absolute priority for the federal budget must be the fulfillment of the state's social obligations, ensuring the safety of citizens, and strengthening Russia's defense capabilities," the Russia leader noted

© Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Fulfilling social obligations, ensuring citizen safety, and strengthening national defense capabilities must remain the absolute priorities for Russia's 2027 federal budget, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Speaking at a meeting on economic issues, the head of state emphasized that the upcoming budget must also continue to serve as the primary instrument for achieving the country's national development goals.

"An absolute priority for the federal budget must be the fulfillment of the state's social obligations, ensuring the safety of citizens, and strengthening Russia's defense capabilities," Putin noted. "Today, we will discuss certain issues, decisions, and approaches in this regard."

Ukraine Loses About 1,260 Troops in Special Military Op Zone in Past Day — Top Brass

The Russian army struck three dry cargo ships and a ferry used to deliver military cargo to Ukrainian troops in the port of Chernomorsk in the Odessa Region, the Defense Ministry reported

© Alexander Reka/TASS

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Ukraine lost about 1,260 troops in the special military operation zone in the past day, according to Russian Defense Ministry data.

In particular, the Ukrainian army lost up to 220 troops in the area of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North, over 200 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup West, up to 170 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup South, more than 400 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup Center, over 240 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup East, and up to 30 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup Dnepr.

Russian forces strike metallurgical enterprises, Ukraine’s energy facilities

Russian forces launched a massive overnight strike on enterprises of Ukraine’s metallurgical and radio-electronics industries, the country’s defense industry, and energy infrastructure facilities in Kiev, Zaporozhye and the Odessa Region, the Defense Ministry said.

"Tonight, Russian forces, in a massive strike using high-precision weapons based on land, sea and air, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, hit enterprises of the metallurgical and radio-electronics industries, Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, and energy and transport infrastructure facilities in Kiev, Zaporozhye and the Odessa Region," the ministry said. Vessels being used in the interests of the Ukrainian military were also hit.

Russian forces hit three Ukrainian dry cargo ships, ferry at Chernomorsk port

The Russian army struck three dry cargo ships and a ferry used to deliver military cargo to Ukrainian troops in the port of Chernomorsk in the Odessa Region, the Defense Ministry reported.

"Footage shows Russian forces striking three dry cargo ships and a ro-ro ferry used to deliver military cargo to the Ukrainian army with Geran-4 Seeker drones at the port of Chernomorsk in the Odessa Region," the report reads.

Russian aviation destroys Ukrainian troop positions in Kharkov Region, DPR

Russian forces struck temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian units in the Kharkov Region and the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) with guided aerial bombs, the Defense Ministry said.

"Video footage shows strikes on the temporary deployment site of the 4th Border Guard Detachment in the settlement of Fyodorovka in the Kharkov Region, using four FAB-500 aerial bombs equipped with a universal glide and guidance module, and on the temporary deployment site of the Ukrainian army’s 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade in the settlement of Druzhkovka in the DPR, using five FAB-500 aerial bombs equipped with a universal glide and guidance module. All targets were destroyed," the ministry said.

Russian forces strike major data center supporting Ukraine’s military

The Russian Armed Forces have struck Ukraine’s major data center, which supported servers used for military purposes, the Defense Ministry reported.

"The strike targeted the De Novo Data Center, a major facility supporting server equipment used for military purposes, as well as for the processing, transmission, and storage of data, including intelligence data, for the Ukrainian armed forces," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian forces hit drone production facilities in Kiev, surrounding region

Russian forces struck facilities used to produce and store drones in Kiev and the surrounding region, the Defense Ministry said.

"The strike hit the following facilities in Kiev and the Kiev Region: a facility for producing and storing various types of unmanned aerial vehicles, including RAX-2X medium-range UAVs; a facility operated by Pegasus Arms LLC for producing and storing long-and medium-range fixed-wing UAVs; and an industrial facility producing components for long-and medium-range UAVs and preparing ground-based robotic systems for deployment," the ministry said.

Russian forces strike dry cargo ship with cargo for Ukrainian military at Chernomorsk port

Russian forces struck a dry cargo ship delivering military supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces troops at the port of Chernomorsk, Odessa Region, the Defense Ministry reported.

"In the Odessa Region, a dry cargo ship carrying military supplies was struck at the Chernomorsk port, the Artsiz electrical substation, powering the Izmail port, was hit, and two road bridges across the Dniester River in the area of Mayaki, used for the transit of military cargo from Romania and the port of Izmail, were also struck," the ministry stated.

Russian forces hit Brovary energy storage facility supplying military sites in Kiev Region

Russian forces struck the Brovary energy storage facility, which supplied electricity to military sites in the Kiev Region, the Defense Ministry said.

"The strike hit the Brovary energy storage facility, which ensures uninterrupted operation of military sites in the Kiev Region," the Defense Ministry said.

Russian forces strike two road bridges across Dniester River in Odessa Region

Russian forces have struck two road bridges across the Dniester River in the Odessa Region that were used to transport military supplies, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"Two road bridges across the Dniester River, which were used to transport military supplies from Romania and the port of Izmail, [were hit in the Odessa Region] near Mayaki," the statement reads.

Russian Armed Forces strike Zaporozhstal metallurgical complex in Ukraine

The Russian Armed Forces have struck the Zaporozhstal steel mill in the Zaporozhye Region, which produces steel for defense enterprises in Ukraine and Europe, as well as an electronic industry assembly facility, the Defense Ministry reported.

"In the Zaporozhye Region [the following have been struck]: the Zaporozhstal steel mill, a key enterprise of Ukraine’s metallurgical industry that produces cast iron and rolled steel used by defense enterprises in Ukraine and Europe; the Zaporozhye electronic assembly facility (the state-owned enterprise Iskra Research and Production Complex), which manufactures radio engineering reconnaissance equipment and electronic warfare systems for the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as components for anti-aircraft missiles," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian air defenses down 956 Ukrainian drones in 24 hours

Russian air defenses shot down 8 guided aerial bombs and 956 fixed-wing drones belonging to the Ukrainian armed forces over the past 24 hours, the Defense Ministry has said.

According to the ministry, since the start of the special military operation, a total of 674 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 237,803 unmanned aerial vehicles, 672 surface-to-air missile systems, 30,941 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,778 multiple rocket launcher vehicles, 36,480 field artillery guns and mortars, and 72,091 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed.

Ukraine loses 40 soldiers, self-propelled gun encircled in Kharkov Region in 24 hours

Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian troops trapped in the Kharkov Region have lost up to 40 soldiers and a self-propelled artillery piece.

"Over the past 24 hours, losses among Ukrainian armed formations within the encirclement amounted to up to 40 military personnel, one armored combat vehicle, and one self-propelled artillery unit," the Defense Ministry said in a news release.

The ministry noted that, in total since the beginning of September, over 650 troops, 16 armored combat vehicles, 9 motor vehicles, 13 quad bikes, and 25 ground-based robotic systems have been destroyed within the encirclement.

Russian forces take control of Malaya Volchya, liberate Rozovka

Units of Russia’s Battlegroup North have taken control of Malaya Volchya in the Kharkov Region, while service members from Battlegroup East have liberated Rozovka in the Zaporozhye Region, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"Battlegroup North units operating in the Kharkov Region continue to tighten the encirclement and expand their external control zone. Through active operations, Russian forces took control of the settlement of Malaya Volchya in the Kharkov Region. <...> Units of the Battlegroup East moved deeper into enemy defenses and liberated the settlement of Rozovka in the Zaporozhye Region," the statement reads.

Russian army thwarts trapped Ukrainian troops' attempts in Kharkov Region to break out

Over the past 24 hours, the Russian Armed Forces have thwarted all attempts by Ukrainian units to break out of encirclement in the Kharkov Region.

"Enemy personnel sustained losses in the areas of Khripuny and Buzovo in the Kharkov Region. All attempts by Ukrainian units to break out of encirclement were thwarted," the Defense Ministry said in a news release.

Russian forces strike Ukrainian army’s infrastructure sites, ammo depots

Russian forces struck infrastructure facilities used by Ukraine for military purposes, as well as ammunition depots and drone assembly sites, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"Russia’s tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery units struck Ukraine’s energy and transport facilities used by the Ukrainian armed forces, ammunition and supply depots, as well as assembly and storage sites for drones and their components, along with the temporary deployment points of Ukrainian formations and foreign mercenaries in 152 areas," the statement reads.

Russian aviation strikes Ukrainian troop concentrations in forest belts in Kharkov Region

Russian aviation carried out airstrikes on Ukrainian troop concentrations in forest belts near the community of Serdobino in the Kharkov Region, the Defense Ministry said.

"During reconnaissance operations, Russian forces detected concealed positions of Ukrainian personnel in forest belts near the community of Serdobino in the Kharkov Region. Russia’s Aerospace Forces crews conducted airstrikes on the identified targets using FAB aerial bombs equipped with universal glide and guidance modules. Live recording footage confirmed that the designated targets were successfully struck," the ministry said.

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.