Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Featured on 1+1 with Youri Smouter, Discussing the Africa Series

Watch this interview with Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, conducted by Youri Smouter of 1+1. 

To view the program in its entirety, just go to the following URL: 1+1 E406 Youri & Abayomi Azikiwe reflect on Africa series & how will Africa unite & advance itself? - YouTube

The discussion reflects on the 1+1 Africa Series over the last year where Youri and Abayomi Azikiwe reviewed the history and contemporary affairs of all African states. 

In this program we examine the role of the socialist countries in their support of the African Liberation Movements and progressive states on the continent. 

We then delve into the objective reasons behind the disunity and underdevelopment in Africa as well as comparing these realities with similar problems in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific. 

The interview was conducted on Fri. Aug. 21, 2026.

Rescuers Recover More Bodies After Central African Republic Mine Collapse Kills over 100

More than 100 people have died in a gold mine collapse in the western Central African Republic, with others still missing or trapped, officials said. The artisanal mine caved in Tuesday in the village of Zamboye near the Cameroon border.

By JEAN FERNAND KOENA and NALOVA AKUA

4:26 PM EDT, August 20, 2026

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Hopes of finding survivors at a collapsed gold mine in Central African Republic were fading Thursday, two days after the disaster killed more than 100 people and left others buried under debris.

Rescuers continued recovering bodies from the artisanal mining site in Zamboye, near the border with Cameroon, but local workers said that the response lacked the equipment and expertise needed for a disaster of this scale.

“The rescue effort is being organized, but it is not up to the task,” said Jérémie Ngbiri, a miner at the site who lost his brother and a friend in the collapse.

Death toll expected to rise

Ngbiri said that he saw some victims suffocate as people tried to rescue them.

The local Red Cross was helping with the search, but couldn’t say how many people remained buried, volunteer Gervais Ganagoro said.

“We continue to find bodies,” he said, adding that more than 10 were recovered on Thursday morning alone. “Every hour, bodies are being discovered, increasing the number of victims.”

Local officials and the Red Cross said Wednesday that more than 100 people had died in the collapse and warned the toll was likely to rise.

Investigation underway over why tunnels collapsed

The Baboua subprefecture court said in a statement that several underground tunnels in which the miners were working had collapsed, causing a landslide.

An investigation has been opened to determine why the tunnels collapsed, identify the victims and those responsible for operating the site, as well as establish any potential criminal liability, the statement said.

Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou expressed condolences to victims’ families and warned miners about the dangers of unsafe mining practices, according to a statement posted by the ministry.

Gold mining expands despite safety risks

Artisanal mine collapses are common in Central African Republic, where thousands of people work in small-scale mining, often with little protection. Pits are frequently dug by hand and can reach several meters deep.

“Safety conditions are not ensured at these sites,” said Chekoua Justin Landry, a program manager with Forests and Rural Development, a Cameroonian nonprofit group that works on natural-resource governance and rural communities. “The walls of these pits are not stabilized, and with the rains, landslides can happen easily.”

Abdon Adamou, the mayor of Garoua-Boulai, a Cameroonian town near the mining site, said that heavy rainfall had weakened the soils in the area.

Four Cameroonians and two Chadians were among the dead, Adamou told The Associated Press. He said that he’s working with Central African authorities to repatriate injured Cameroonians and the bodies of those killed in the collapse.

Hamadou Abba, 50, said that his 32-year-old nephew, Doudou Marcel, was among the Cameroonian miners killed in the collapse.

Marcel, a father of two, had worked at the Zamboye mining site for about five years after leaving school and unsuccessfully trying to join the public service, he said.

“At first, I didn’t believe he was dead, and had to call other contacts to confirm,” Abba said. “His corpse and his friend’s who also died in the incident were brought back the same day,” he added.

Marcel’s body was buried Wednesday at the family compound in eastern Cameroon, Abba said.

Researchers and local media reported earlier this year on unsafe and unregulated mining associated with a rapidly expanding gold rush around Zamboye.

“Artisanal mining has been practiced there for decades, passed down from one generation to the next,” Landry said. “But with the arrival of mechanization, gold mining expanded considerably, bringing major environmental damage as well as accidents in mining pits,” he added.

A 2025 report by U.N. experts documented illicit mining in the area, including the involvement of armed groups and the use of extraction methods that posed health and environmental risks.

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Nalova Akua reported from Yaoundé, Cameroon. Emmanuel Tumanjong and Ngala Killian Chimtom also contributed to this report from Yaoundé.

Here’s Data Showing Congo’s Ebola Outbreak is on Track to Surpass History’s Largest

Health workers tend to an Ebola patient at the Rwampara Treatment Center in Ituri, Congo, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

By CHINEDU ASADU

8:06 PM EDT, August 21, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The Ebola outbreak that is spreading at unprecedented speed in Congo has not peaked yet and could be three times the current known size, according to data from authorities and Africa’s top public health agency.

It is history’s fastest Ebola outbreak, and the World Health Organization says it is on track to surpass the deadliest on record, which was between 2014 and 2016, with over 11,000 deaths across West Africa.

This latest outbreak has recorded 2,516 deaths out of the 5,290 confirmed cases as it rages in Congo’s vast eastern region, exacerbated by an intensely mobile population, including those displaced by armed conflicts, and distrust of medical authorities.

Less than 10% of cases are currently coming from known contacts, far below the 90-95% rate when the outbreak can be said to be under control, according to Yap Boum, head of emergency preparedness and response at the Africa CDC.

Boum told reporters Thursday that under current estimates only 30% to 40% of cases have been detected.

Here’s what the data shows about the outbreak:

At this stage, it’s recorded 10 times more cases than history’s largest

Compared to the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak that ended with over 28,000 cases, including more than 11,000 deaths, this outbreak has recorded 10 times more cases and seven times more deaths by the 13th week from when it was declared, data from the Africa CDC shows.

Congo’s deadliest Ebola outbreak before now had been that of 2018-2020 with 3,400 cases and more than 2,200 deaths. This is moving 18 times faster in terms of the confirmed cases and 13 times faster regarding the deaths.

One key source of concern is that experts believe the outbreak began spreading from the mining town of Mongbwalu as early as February, months before authorities declared the outbreak on May 15.

Responders have traced only 16% of expected contacts

Africa CDC data from the past three weeks shows the contact tracing rate of those exposed to patients is 82% out of 19,630 contacts in total.

But that doesn’t give the full picture. The agency said with an average of 60 contacts per confirmed case, it was expecting 99,780 contacts to be recorded for the 1,663 cases it said it confirmed in that three-week period.

However, many of those contacts are not known, and therefore cannot be contacted for follow-up. Therefore, the “actual contact tracing rate is only 16% of the expected,” the Africa CDC said in its update.

It is caused by Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments, unlike the most common Ebola virus type. Its symptoms also are milder, which could mean that many patients feel less immediate need to alert responders or seek treatment.

A previously unaffected province has now recorded 2 cases

The health zones affected in the outbreak have grown from three at the onset to 56 across six provinces.

In the previously unaffected Bas-Uele province, two cases have been reported over the past week and a half in two separate parts of the province, data from Congo’s government has shown.

However, the spread is slowing down in some places, such as in South Kivu province, which has not recorded any case for 79 days.

Most people are dying without medical attention

Deaths in the community — that is outside Ebola treatment centers — have been on a steady rise in recent days, and constituted an overwhelming 97% of the deaths reported on Aug. 17, the Africa CDC data shows.

Despite this, only 20% of health alerts are coming from within the community, underscoring the need to engage more communities.

And although the overall case fatality rate is 46.7%, it is quite high in some places such as North Kivu, one of the country’s most populous, where the rate is 68.2%.

The data suggests most people are still not reporting symptoms early or at all for various reasons: misinformation that the outbreak isn’t real, initial preference for traditional medicine, fear of being kept in isolation especially in the event that initial symptoms are of something else, or the lack of severe symptoms.

Ceuta Begins Burials for Migrants Who Died Attempting to Cross into the Spanish Territory

By SUMAN NAISHADHAM and ANTONIO SEMPERE

3:47 PM EDT, August 21, 2026

CEUTA, Spain (AP) — Against the murmur of prayers, body bags were lowered into graves marked only with numbers. Gravediggers placed the first four victims in cinderblock plots while a small group of locals watched at a cemetery on the tip of North Africa.

The dead, whose identities are unknown, were among the more than 90 migrants who lost their lives during Spain’s deadliest border crisis three weeks ago. Fueled by misinformation, poverty and a lack of opportunities, more than 72,000 people poured into Ceuta, a Spanish territory that neighbors Morocco.

At a Muslim cemetery in Ceuta, 18 migrants were laid to rest on Friday. An Islamic cleric read prayers and chants praising God while funeral workers worked quickly to lower the white body bags and cover them with soil. More migrants are expected to be buried soon.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights, a left-leaning nongovernmental organization, called for the burials in Ceuta to be halted until every effort had been made to identify the bodies and repatriate them to Morocco, the country of origin for most of the migrants who made the perilous journey.

Many of those who died drowned or were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier near a border checkpoint.

In a statement, the NGO asked Morocco’s foreign ministry to ensure that “the bodies are returned to the families so they can be buried with dignity.”

It called the burials in Ceuta a “new human tragedy,” adding to the “disaster of displacement and missing persons.”

A spokesperson for Ceuta’s city government said last week the paperwork to repatriate the bodies of the deceased was complete, but that Morocco’s government hadn’t accepted it.

Morocco’s foreign ministry didn’t respond to questions from The Associated Press about the burials that started on Friday in Ceuta or suggestions that Morocco is blocking the repatriation of identified migrant bodies.

While most of those who crossed into Ceuta in late July returned to Morocco almost immediately, local authorities say that up to 10,000 migrants — including women and children — could still be in the small Spanish city, prolonging a humanitarian crisis as authorities and locals struggle to shelter and attend to them. Spain’s national government cites a lower figure of around 5,000 people.

Moroccan and Spanish authorities have blamed social media rumors and human smuggling networks for the deadly event, while migrants cited unemployment and low wages as reasons for why they made the journey.

All of those buried on Friday were men, said Said Mohammed, the cemetery’s acting manager. The graves were marked with numbered stones in case families claim the bodies in the future, he said.

Under Islamic custom, a body is placed in a grave facing Mecca, as was the case with the migrants buried in Ceuta. Just across the sea lay mainland Europe — their desired destination.

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Suman Naishadham reported from Madrid. Akram Oubachir contributed to this report from Casablanca, Morocco.

Thousands of Migrants in Ceuta Wait in Limbo While Spain Figures Out What to Do With Them

By ANTONIO SEMPERE and SUMAN NAISHADHAM

3:48 AM EDT, August 21, 2026

CEUTA, Spain (AP) — For weeks, migrants in the Spanish territory of Ceuta had gathered on a beach away from the city center, sleeping on cardboard sheets, under reed huts and guarding their few possessions in tattered plastic bags.

They were gone by Thursday morning after Spanish police escorted them to makeshift shelters. But an hour later, other migrants were combing through the trash they had left behind for anything useful: an abandoned mattress, plastic chairs, sheets, a scrap of tarp.

The scene exemplified the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, where up to 10,000 migrants remain in the city weeks after more than 72,000 people poured into the small Spanish territory neighboring Morocco. Three weeks later, Spanish authorities were struggling to shelter and attend to those who refused to leave — or even determine how many migrants were still in the city of 84,000.

Within days of the initial border rush, in which at least 90 people died, most migrants went back to Morocco, realizing the difficulties of staying in Ceuta and their slim chances of reaching mainland Europe. But thousands remained, hiding in the woods, on beaches and outside a migrant reception center.

City officials estimate that 9,000 to 10,000 migrants — including about 2,000 minors — could still be in the city, based on the number of daily food rations handed out by aid groups. Spain’s interior ministry puts the figure at roughly 5,000 people.

Shelter for some migrants while others roam the streets

The U.N. refugee agency highlighted large humanitarian and operational challenges in Ceuta in an interview with The Associated Press, specifically around access to shelter, basic services and food. While most of those who crossed in late July are from Morocco, people from war-torn Sudan, Mali and Yemen also reached the Spanish exclave.

The U.N. refugee agency urged Spanish authorities to start processing their asylum claims as soon as possible, estimating that about 1,200 migrants in Ceuta could be eligible for international protection, according to Paula Barrachina, a spokesperson for the agency in Spain.

The Spanish government says it is working to house the remaining migrants in the city, and return a sense of normalcy to Ceuta. On Thursday, Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz said the government had secured space to accommodate 1,800 migrants in a parking lot and a military facility sometimes used for religious events. It is looking for more space.

Migrants who crossed from Morocco into Spain gather their belongings after being cleared from the beach in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

Migrants who crossed from Morocco into Spain gather their belongings after being cleared from the beach in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

Even so, an Associated Press photographer on Thursday saw migrants still roaming the streets. Elsewhere, hundreds of women and minors were sheltering in makeshift centers run by locals.

Khadija Rifai, a 20-year-old woman from Morocco, acknowledged that some people were receiving help, but didn’t know what Spain planned to do with adults like her.

“They help the minors and the youngsters, but they haven’t found any solutions for us,” she said Wednesday.

Rifai said her life in Morocco was “normal” but in late July, she and her husband swam to the Spanish territory in search of better opportunities and healthcare. Rifai’s husband was sent back to Morocco, but she hid from authorities and stayed on. She now hopes to reunite with him and eventually move to mainland Spain, where she wants to have children.

“Even though we suffered here in Ceuta, we hope that once we reach the mainland, life will be good and we will have a house, a car, and everything we dreamed of,” Rifai said.

Discontent grows in Ceuta

Ceuta Mayor Juan Jesús Vivas accused the national government, led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, of not doing enough to control the situation.

On Thursday, Spanish police escorted several hundred people, mostly men, through the city’s streets to a shelter. Hours later, Vivas, a member of the center-right Popular Party, said the government’s decision to move migrants from the beach to other locations in the city did not demonstrate “a will to fix the problem.”

Spain’s migration ministry said the government has allocated 6.5 million euros ($7.6 million) in emergency funds to help the city cope with the new arrivals. Speaking in Ceuta this week, Migration Minister Saiz praised the work of local organizations in Ceuta and said 4,000 meals had been distributed every day since Aug. 3.

A ministry spokesperson said the Spanish government has to process every case on an individual basis. Before that can happen, police must identify those who entered the city illegally, verify every migrant’s nationality and background, determine who qualifies for international protection and establish who must leave, either voluntarily or by force, he said.

Those who crossed await a path forward

Migrants in Ceuta say they are willing to wait out the uncertainty. Hundreds had gathered earlier in the week in protest on a beach in Ceuta, carrying signs reading “Asylum” alongside Spanish flags.

Mohamed Yaqoub, 18, a migrant from Chad hid for days in the woods after Spanish soldiers chased him in late July, he said. He managed to stay and wishes to someday study in France.

Getting there will not be easy. Travelers leaving Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s other territory in North Africa, are subject to exit checks at ports and airports, an obstacle for those who enter the territories illegally and hope to reach the European continent.

“We ask them to allow us entry and give us the necessary papers and documents,” Yaqoub told an AP photographer in a cellphone note. “The most important thing for us is to get the papers.”

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Naishadham reported from Madrid.

In Benin, Malnutrition and Misinformed Views Contribute to Widespread Stunting in Children

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA

4:13 AM EDT, August 21, 2026

N’DALI, Benin (AP) — Sabi Bera Zakari didn’t appear to care much how tall his children would grow. The farmer said he only sometimes wished they could gain more weight.

“For me, height is not a problem,” Zakari said. “It’s mainly their weight that sometimes worries me.”

Aboudou Salamatou, the farmer’s wife, seemed to disagree, as did development sociologist Boris Gloni, who shook his head as he listened. He believed two of the family’s young daughters suffered from stunted growth.

As a former representative of The Hunger Project, an international organization working to combat hunger across Benin, Gloni spent years trying to convince men like Zakari that stunting in children was a rampant issue that needed to be addressed by families first and foremost.

Despite the abundance of natural resources and widespread subsistence agriculture, stunting — impaired growth and lower than average height-for-age caused by malnutrition — affects over 30% of children younger than 5 in Benin, according to factsheets by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, a Geneva-based nonprofit that tracks stunting figures.

Children who are not achieving the average height for their age may otherwise seem healthy to their parents. But experts believe stunting is mostly irreversible in those afflicted during their first 1,000 days of life, with lasting effects on brain development and general health later in life.

Gloni, who now works as an agricultural adviser, said he knows people who wrongly believe that regularly giving children milk and eggs is bad because it risks making them so rapacious that they might want to steal more of that protein. In many homes, the goats tethered to poles and the chickens that scratched the dirt compounds are kept for commercial reasons, to be sold for cash when needed in an emergency.

“Our perception is wrong,” Gloni said. “People don’t have knowledge.”

Lack of knowledge and poor diets exacerbated by drought

Beninese authorities want to bring the prevalence of stunting to under 30% by 2030. To achieve that target, the government needs the help of volunteers such as Douro Wonkourou Idrissou, who moves from house to house with the color-coded tape that he uses to gauge wasting in children.

Idrissou, who described himself as a nutrition support member of his pastoral community in N’dali, a commune in the Borgou area of northern Benin, uses his tape to measure the circumferences of the children’s upper arms. While he doesn’t have the equipment to measure height, he said he feels “sad” when he sees children he knows should be taller than they are.

Idrissou said the children’s parents are to be blamed — though they are also in need of help. The diet of most families here is heavy on starchy foods, from yams to cassava. And many mothers who rise early to cultivate their gardens usually don’t return home until late afternoon, exposing their children to hunger and what he described as a general loss of appetite.

“If it is maize season, they are doing only maize,” he said. “We are saying, ‘No, you can’t do only maize.’ It is this knowledge that we are sharing with the women in the households.”

Stunting is more widespread in the north of this west African nation, with its dry savannah landscape. The region faces sporadic drought conditions, forcing some to move in search of pasture for their cherished herds. In the worst of times, families feed on a soup of vegetables pulled from the bush.

Despite efforts to reduce stunting rates in northern Benin, the situation has more or less “stagnated,” said Rolland Essou, who helps look after northern Benin for The Hunger Project.

He said some statistics appeared to show stunting rates across Benin going up, not down, despite projects such as the World Bank-funded “1,000 Days” program to support children in their first two years of life.

Launched in 2024 and run by the National Agency for Food and Nutrition, the pilot program has helped provide micronutrient supplements for mothers and their babies and set up school canteens providing hot meals.

Still, stunting in Benin will remain a challenge for years to come because many families lack knowledge and have many mouths to feed, Essou said.

“When we look at the profile of the household suffering from malnutrition, we notice that the head of the household is very young,” he said. “Secondly, the head of the household is illiterate. Thirdly, it is a household with many children.”

Zakari, the farmer who isn’t worried about stunting, wasn’t sure how old his children were — and even had to look at an ID card to confirm his own age.

His neighbor Fati Aboubacar, a mother of five, said some in her community are too busy or poor to properly look after their children. Her own family could only afford to eat eggs once a week.

Health volunteers say efforts need to start from pregnancy

Razak Kotchoni, a project manager in Borgou with CASCADE Benin, a nongovernmental organization, said efforts to combat stunting in children need to start before children are born.

Social customs against the widespread consumption of eggs among children also apply to pregnant woman, who are discouraged from drinking nutrient-rich cornmeal porridge because it is thought to instigate a ravenous appetite, he said.

“These standards are contributing factors to malnutrition,” he said. “We have facilitators in the field who conduct reflective dialogues with elders, mothers and others in order to challenge the practices there.”

One strategy, he said, has been to identify and support exemplary mothers so that they can raise awareness among others.

Idrissou said that while some parents call him when they get concerned their children are not growing normally, seeking a remedy, many others “don’t care.”

Aboudou, Zakari’s wife, said that her family didn’t have the means to feed their kids better. When a chicken pecked at the dirt near her feet, she said the bird was one of many kept as money “in the bank,” not for eating. Even the eggs the chickens lay may be sold for cash.

“We would like to vary our food, but we don’t have the means,” she said. “When we have a little money, we invest it in the field, in health and in other problems.”

Afghanistan Marks Five Years of Liberation from US-NATO Occupation

Two decades of war waged by the United States and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies resulted in the victory of the Taliban. Today the country is still suffering as a result of the war while facing growing tensions with neighboring Pakistan and the lack of humanitarian assistance.

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Wednesday August 19, 2026

Geostrategic Review

During August of 2021, just seven months into the tenure of then President Joe Biden, the United States was rushing to withdraw its last military troops and aids out of the Central Asian state of Afghanistan.

On August 26 of that same year, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive which killed 13 US military personnel and wounded 45 others.

This attack also resulted in the deaths of approximately 170 Afghan nationals waiting in line among thousands of others at the international airport in an effort to board US aircrafts leaving the country and heading to the West. These events were a clear reflection of the failure of the imperialist occupation which was solely responsible for the destabilization, deaths and destruction of the country. 

Under the guise of fighting terrorism by capturing the former leader of al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, the US administration of then President George W. Bush, Jr. ordered the invasion of Afghanistan along with signing legislation such as the Patriot Act which enhanced the repressive apparatus of the state. Less than two years after the bombing and intervention in Afghanistan, another war against the people of Iraq was launched in March 2023. 

If this was not enough, the US military along with its NATO allies from Canada and France then invaded the Caribbean island-nation of Haiti as well. Therefore, within two-and-one-half years, the White House had launched three wars in various geo-political regions around the world. 

Fifth Anniversary Celebrations

With specific reference to the commemorations of the fifth anniversary of its liberation from the US-NATO occupation, thousands of Afghans took to the streets in parades and car caravans waving flags as a sign of victory. The leaders of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have much to reflect upon in light of the two decades of war and the last five years of their attempts to rebuild the country devastated by military occupation and economic underdevelopment. 

Among the masses of Afghan people there is relief from the US-NATO occupation yet ongoing distress from the lack of employment and food deficits persist. There have also been some security concerns as a grenade attack on August 18 was carried out against an elementary school in the capital of Kabul’s Dasht-e-Barchi which injured dozens of students. 

The school was located in an area populated by the minority Shia Hazara area in western Kabul. This neighborhood does have a history of attacks by extremist Sunni groupings against the Hazara people.

In addition to the attack on the school, over the years there have been some targeted assassinations of government officials. In late July assassins killed a high-ranking Taliban leader in the northwestern province of Badakhshan. These assassinations are rare and have not impeded the Taliban from implementing its policies. 

In a report published by the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the five-year anniversary of the departure of Pentagon troops, it emphasized:

“Inside and around Kabul's Loya Jirga Hall, the Taliban is staging a highly choreographed display of its military and political authority. The event is intended to project the image of a government firmly in command, while reinforcing the Taliban's narrative of a country that has finally broken free from foreign military intervention, corruption, narcotics and feudalism.” (https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-08-17/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDkxOTIw/index.html)

Although the current administration of President Donald Trump has criticized the Biden administration for the chaos which characterized the US withdrawal, it was this same Republican leader which had conducted the negotiations which led to the evacuation. Trump when running for presidential office in 2016, 2020 and 2024 claimed he was not going to enter into another war in West Asia or other geo-political regions. 

However, the war in Ukraine has continued under his leadership. The US and its Israeli ally initiated two wars against the Islamic Republic of Iran in June 2025 and again on February 28, 2026. The attacks by Tel Aviv and Washington since June 2025 have failed to overthrow the Iranian government and has resulted in a deepening economic crisis within the capitalist states prompted by the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz and the destruction of Pentagon bases and equipment in several satellite states in West Asia.

The same CGTN article noted above also quoted officials on the celebrations in Afghanistan:

“Abdul Salam Hanafi, Afghanistan Deputy Prime Minister, said ‘following twenty years of relentless war, the people of Afghanistan succeeded in driving the invaders from their country, ended the imposed conflict and restored peace and stability across the nation.’”

Over the last five years nonetheless the Afghanistan government has been impacted by the diplomatic isolation fostered by the US and its NATO allies. Western states have refused to recognize the government in Kabul or make any significant contributions to its continuing humanitarian crisis resulting from the economic difficulties.

In another quote from the Afghan foreign ministry, CGTN reported:

“Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Afghan Foreign Minister, said of the international diplomatic situation that ‘the countries that have had no interaction with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should tell us what they have achieved, what benefits they have gained, and what the results of their negative policies have been regarding Afghanistan.’"

The diplomatic isolation of Afghanistan has had an impact on providing humanitarian relief to the people. Over the last four years several earthquakes have struck Afghanistan.

In 2022, a magnitude 5.96 earthquake hit Khost and Paktika provinces which killed more than 1,000 people. During the following year of 2023, another powerful earthquake at a 6.3 level in Heret province, killing an estimated 1,400 others. 

On August 18, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region. The impact of the seismic event could be felt as far away as Islamabad in neighboring Pakistan. No injuries or deaths were reported in the immediate aftermath.

If there were normalized relations between Kabul and other states, adequate humanitarian assistance could be facilitated. However, the hostility towards Afghanistan remains over the defeat of the US and NATO during the two decades war. 

Tensions Remain Between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of the diplomatic isolation of Afghanistan is the rising tensions between Kabul and the government in Pakistan. News report indicate that around 500 civilians have died during clashes between the two neighboring states.

Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of supporting groups which are hostile to Islamabad. Pakistan has carried out bombing operations against Afghanistan even in the capital of Kabul.

The Afghan government has welcomed offers from the People’s Republic of China, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to mediate the conflict. Nonetheless, these efforts have not brought about an improvement in relations.

A report published by Afghanistan International on August 5 highlighted the diplomatic dispute between Kabul and Pakistan, saying:

“Pakistan’s UN envoy Asim Iftikhar urged member states to confront what he called the growing terrorist threat from Afghanistan, saying multiple groups had expanded their operations since the Taliban’s return. Speaking at the Security Council on Wednesday, 5 August, Iftikhar said the situation in Afghanistan was deeply concerning. He claimed that safe havens were currently available in Afghanistan to groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Balochistan Liberation Army, Islamic State Khorasan Province, the East Turkistan Islamic Movement and al-Qaeda. The UN Security Council meeting was held under the title ‘Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts’. Pakistan’s representative said many of these groups recruited and trained members inside Afghanistan and planned terrorist attacks in Pakistan with complete impunity. He also alleged that some of the groups received financial support from Pakistan’s eastern neighbor, referring to India.” (https://www.afintl.com/en/202608068482)

As the tensions continue, the US and its closest allies have failed to intervene diplomatically to resolve the issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The US does not want any normalized diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors.

The situation in Afghanistan and the Central Asian region as a whole will remain tense due to the role of Washington. After a twenty-year occupation which was preceded by direct US interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan going back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, these imposed destabilization efforts and genocidal war will continue to impact the area for years to come.

More Evidence Revealed on the Role of the UAE in the Sudanese War

Britain and the United States have close ties with the Emirates which is fueling the ongoing horrendous intra-military carnage taking place in the Republic of Sudan

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Tuesday August 18, 2026

Geostrategic Analysis

Since April 15, 2023, the serious disruptions in the military structures and high command within the Republic of Sudan has resulted in the deaths of untold numbers of people, the injury of many more and the displacement several million. 

There has been discussions and debates at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over the role of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Accusations that the UAE is funding, arming and helping to coordinate the military actions of the RSF have been made by numerous entities including the Sudanese government under the leadership of General Abdel Fattah El-Burhan, the Chairman of the Sovereign Council. The trafficking in gold as a strategic metal partially underlines the interests of the UAE and the rebel grouping, the RSF, and its allies in Sudan. 

However, the link extends further into European markets, particularly Britain, as connections between the government of the United Kingdom and the UAE regarding the gold trade has been further exposed by Sky News. Apparently, the British Foreign Office is aware of the ties between the UAE monarchy, the war in Sudan and UK business interests. 

The current war in Sudan has been described as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. An estimated hundreds of thousands have died through warfare and forced depravation. Other have reported serious allegations of assault along with internal as well as external displacement of Sudanese inside and outside the country. 

The internal war within the military has deflected international attention away from the mass democratic movement which had swept the country during the early months of 2019. These efforts by the youth, professional groupings and the working class was immediately attacked by the military apparatus backed by the United States, the Persian Gulf monarchies and other allied states such as the UK and members of the European Union. 

Sudan People Suffering Immensely Due to Imperialist Machination

The period between mid-2019 through April 2023 was characterized by the deliberate betrayal of the aspirations of the Sudanese masses by the military in conjunction with imperialism and its operatives throughout the Horn of Africa and West Asia. This set of circumstances was typified by the former Interim Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok when he colluded with US President Donald Trump during the closing months of his first term to “normalize” relations with the State of Israel in exchange for Sudan being taken off the list of sponsors of “state terrorism.” 

Sudan in its early independence phase in 1958 passed the “Israeli Boycott Act” prohibiting trade between the country and the apartheid state. Consequently, even during this recent phase of a purported transition towards democracy the US and its allies were working feverishly to prevent a genuine political revolution in Sudan. 

In a report by Sky News published on August 18, it notes that:

“The role of the United Arab Emirates and its American and British allies is under increasing scrutiny. The UAE claims it is not involved in any military sense in the war in Sudan, but fewer and fewer people believe them, and evidence is stacking up against those claims. Nathaniel A. Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, said, ‘The UK has not once called on the United Arab Emirates to stop arming the [paramilitary Rapid Support Forces] RSF with extremely advanced weapons, including a tier one drone system, including electronic jamming, missile launch and suicide drones. It was those drone systems and artillery systems that we know US intelligence concurs came from the United Arab Emirates, which allowed Rapid Support Forces to take out Al Fashir. And slaughter tens of thousands of civilians.’ Al Fashir witnessed a genocidal massacre a year ago.” (https://news.sky.com/story/sudan-war-the-uaes-role-in-this-conflict-is-under-increasing-scrutiny-and-so-is-britains-13572327)

Direct military support from the UK to the UAE, which is being transferred to the RSF in Sudan, is perpetuating the atrocities being committed in Darfur and North Kordofan. RSF soldiers have been driven out of some previously held areas such as the capital of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman. Reports from the frontlines in North Kordofan indicate that the SAF have recaptured territory from the RSF. 

However, there has been a reluctance on the part of the British government to cut ties with the UAE over the Sudan question. The Sky News investigation charged that refined gold products originating in Sudan are being sold in retail outlets in Britain. 

Despite the fact that a few people have been cited in their illegal dealing in Sudanese gold in Britain, much more could be done. Overall Sudan produced over 70 metric tons of gold during 2025. The British government, even according to Sky News, values its relations with the UAE more than addressing its role in the Sudanese war. 

Another source monitoring the situation in Sudan and the involvement of imperialist-allied forces says:

“This latest horrific news coincides with the revelation that documents seen by the UN show that UK military equipment exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been found in the hands of the RSF. The equipment includes military training equipment produced by Militec in Mid Glamorgan, and engines for UAE-made Nimr armoured vehicles, manufactured by the UK subsidiary of US company Cummins Inc. There has been overwhelming evidence over the past two years of UAE arms supplies to the RSF, but this marks the first time UK equipment has been found in Sudan. (https://tribunemag.co.uk/2025/12/british-weapons-are-fuelling-genocide-in-sudan)

Sudan is a former British colony acquired during the so-called “scramble for Africa” in the late 19th century. The current post-colonial turmoil in Sudan cannot be properly understood without examining the history of British colonialism in the North African states of Egypt and Sudan. 

The character of British imperialism laid the groundwork for two civil wars in Sudan. The first between 1955 to 1972, reinforced the divisions which were orchestrated in the colonial period. Later, between 1983 and 2011, the second civil war in Sudan created the conditions for the partition of the continent’s largest geographic nation-state. 

Since 2011, when the Republic of South Sudan was created, both states have suffered economic, political and security crises. Internal fighting and a steep decline in the legitimacy of state institutions has hampered the capacity for rebuilding. 

The Role of the US

Since President Donald Trump reclaimed the White House in January 2025, his administration has often boasted about resolving conflicts around the world. Nonetheless, the reality of the international situation is quite different.

The US and Israel have launched two wars against the Islamic Republic of Iran which remain unresolved. In Palestine, the genocide against the people continues on a daily basis. Lebanon is routinely bombed and occupied by the settler-colonial Israeli state particularly in the southern region of the country. In Ukraine the war proceeds unabated irrespective of the statements by Trump that he could end the Russian Special Military Operation inside this Eastern European state.

Tribune Magazine published in the UK has said of the involvement of Washington in the Sudan genocide:

“The US has been the UAE’s main arms supplier over the years, providing 55 percent of major weapons deliveries according to SIPRI, followed by France at 14 percent. France has major orders from the UAE for Rafale combat aircraft and A-330 MRTT transport/tanker aircraft. But the UAE has also imported drones from Turkey, radar systems from Sweden, and various weapons from 15 other countries over the past decade. The UAE has also been developing its own domestic arms industry, and the state-owned EDGE Group is among the Top 100 arms companies worldwide.” (https://tribunemag.co.uk/2025/12/british-weapons-are-fuelling-genocide-in-sudan)

Resistance to imperialism and zionism by the Islamic Republic of Iran has been devastating to the UAE. These states such as the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia serve as bases for US imperialism and zionism in the entire West Asia region. 

Drones and long-range ballistic missiles from Iran have done severe damage to Pentagon bases in the Gulf states. In addition, multinational corporations which operate businesses in these satellite states in West Asia have lost enormous profits since the initiation of the war on February 28. 

Therefore, when the US and UK attempt to make it appear that they want to end the war in Sudan, these claims are only designed to obfuscate their role in the ongoing destabilization and underdevelopment of Africa. The imperialist states only want to maintain the exploitation of African resources and labor which has gone on for centuries much to the detriment of the majority of workers, farmers and youth in Sudan and across the continent. 

Ghalibaf Urges Iraq to Preserve its Sources of Power

By Al Mayadeen English

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf urges Iraq to preserve its internal sources of power as he holds talks with senior officials in Baghdad.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf held an extended meeting in Baghdad with Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zaidan, according to Mehdi Rahimi, head of the Iranian Parliament’s news agency.

Rahimi said Ghalibaf conveyed to Iraqi officials Iran’s experiences in relying on domestic capabilities while facing what he described as the world’s most powerful armies. He stressed that Iraq should not abandon its sources of strength and emphasized the importance of maintaining its internal leverage.

According to Rahimi, Ghalibaf told Iraqi officials that Iran had relied on its domestic capabilities in confronting major external challenges, and highlighted the importance of Iraq drawing on its own internal resources.

“Ghalibaf confirmed that the elements of Iraq’s strength should not be abandoned and stressed the need to hold on to its internal sources of power,” Rahimi said.

Rahimi also described Iran as a “faithful adviser” to Iraq, saying this had been demonstrated during the confrontation with the ISIS terrorist organization. He added that Iraqi officials had received Ghalibaf’s proposals during his visit with openness.

Ghalibaf delegation to visit Popular Mobilization Forces HQs

Rahimi said another stop on Ghalibaf’s visit would be a visit to the headquarters of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces.

The visit comes as Ghalibaf’s delegation holds meetings with senior Iraqi officials as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad.

Meanwhile, Kian Abdollahi said that the United States had included provisions benefiting Iran in a memorandum of understanding, but that these later gave way to economic sanctions and a blockade following the failure of its war.

Abdollahi’s remarks came alongside the discussion of Ghalibaf’s visit and Iran’s broader positions on regional developments and relations with Iraq.

Wednesday's meetings, remarks

Ghalibaf arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday at the head of a parliamentary delegation, meeting with Iraqi President Nizar Amedi, Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, and Parliament Speaker Haibet al-Halbousi.

During his meeting with al-Zaidi, Ghalibaf expressed Iran's determination to continue developing relations with Iraq in a manner serving the shared interests of both peoples, and praised the Iraqi government's efforts assisting Iranian pilgrims during Arbaeen. With al-Halbousi, he stressed the need to expand economic relations between the two countries to match the strength of their political and cultural ties.

Meeting with Amedi, Ghalibaf said Iran and Iraq have recognized that the United States and its policies are a principal factor behind the region's problems, linking Washington's posture in the Gulf to its reliance on military intervention and war. He said the US had suffered military and political defeat in its latest war on Iran, adding that Washington failed to achieve any of its objectives. Amedi described the war as inhumane and a violation of international rules, saying Iraq would support Iran as part of comprehensive regional security.

Ghalibaf described relations between Iran and Iraq as deeply rooted in a shared destiny between two neighboring countries, saying "past experiences will guide us toward a bright future," and expressed hope the visit would lay the groundwork for deepening bilateral relations across sectors.

A visit set against a fraught security backdrop

Ghalibaf's visit is unfolding as Iraq's government pushes toward a September 30 deadline for armed factions operating outside the official security forces to hand over their weapons or face prosecution under the country's anti-terrorism law, a deadline Kataib Hezbollah, part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, has so far refused to accept.

In a statement this week, Kataib Hezbollah security official Abu Mujahid al-Assaf warned Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi against continuing "provocative raids" on the families of Resistance fighters, martyrs and the wounded, saying the group's patience was wearing thin.

He set out conditions for any government engagement on the Resistance's weapons: the complete withdrawal of American forces from Iraqi land and airspace with guarantees against their return, the withdrawal of Turkish forces occupying northern Iraq, and the dissolution of the Peshmerga, which he accused of maintaining ties to "the Zionist-American enemy."

Oil Prices Surge as Trump Threatens Economic War on Iran

By Al Mayadeen English

20 Aug 2026 20:13

Oil prices climb above $94 as Trump threatens Iran and countries trading with Tehran, raising concerns over supply disruptions and renewed inflationary pressure.

Oil prices surged more than 2% on Thursday after US President Donald Trump threatened to wage an "overwhelming economic war" against Iran and warned countries against continuing trade or providing any form of support to Tehran.

Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, rose 2.4% to around $94 a barrel in early trading, reaching their highest level since late July.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures also climbed 2.5% to $86 a barrel.

The sharp rise followed Trump’s latest threat to intensify economic pressure on Iran, raising concerns that Washington could tighten restrictions on Iranian oil exports and further disrupt energy flows.

US pressure on Iran raises supply concerns

Market concerns are increasingly focused on the potential consequences of tighter US restrictions on Iranian oil exports.

Any further restrictions could remove additional Iranian supplies from international markets, increasing pressure on an energy market already exposed to geopolitical tensions.

The latest price movement underscores the wider economic consequences of Washington’s pressure campaign against Tehran, particularly if US measures extend to countries that maintain trade and economic relations with Iran.

The prospect of restrictions affecting Iran’s oil exports has therefore added a new source of uncertainty to global energy markets, with traders assessing the potential impact on crude supplies and prices.

Energy prices add to inflationary pressure

The renewed rise in oil prices comes as higher energy costs continue to contribute to inflationary pressure in major Western economies.

Official data released Wednesday showed annual consumer-price inflation in both the United Kingdom and the eurozone reached 2.9% in July, with energy prices contributing to the increase.

A sustained rise in crude prices could place further pressure on fuel and energy costs, potentially complicating efforts to contain inflation.

The latest market reaction therefore highlights the broader economic costs that can follow Washington’s escalation against Iran, as restrictions on energy exports risk reverberating beyond the countries directly targeted by US policy.

Yemen Targets Saudi Sites in Najran After Airspace Violation

By Al Mayadeen English

20 Aug 2026 20:14

Yemen’s Armed Forces say they struck a sensitive Saudi target at Najran Airport and Aramco in response to Saudi violations of Yemen’s airspace.

The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Thursday that they carried out two military operations using unmanned aerial vehicles against Saudi targets in Najran, describing the strikes as a response to Saudi violations of Yemen’s airspace.

Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the operations targeted a sensitive Saudi site at Najran Airport and Aramco Najran. He said both operations successfully achieved their objectives.

Saree stressed that the Yemeni Armed Forces would continue to protect Yemen’s sovereignty against any violations and maintain the established equation of confronting Saudi escalation.

Yemeni Armed Forces strike Saudi targets

According to Saree, the two operations were conducted in response to the entry of Saudi drones into the airspace of Yemen’s Saada Governorate.

The announcement comes one day after the Yemeni Armed Forces declared three military equations in response to Saudi military escalation.

The first is “blockade for blockade,” the second is targeting Saudi military buildups wherever they are located, and the third is protecting Yemen’s sovereignty and confronting any violations.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have said the new equation is intended to establish a direct response to Saudi actions, linking any further escalation against Yemen to corresponding military retaliation.

The forces also said they had imposed what they described as a tight maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, asserting that Riyadh is no longer able to move a single vessel through the area.

Yemen declares response to Saudi escalation

The latest operations come amid heightened tensions between Yemen and Saudi Arabia following the collapse of the 2022 truce.

The Yemeni Armed Forces announced in July that the truce with Saudi Arabia had effectively collapsed following Saudi aggression against Sanaa Airport.

Yemen subsequently announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia under the equation of “blockade for blockade and escalation for escalation.”

The Yemeni Armed Forces said the measure followed broad popular authorization expressed through mass Friday demonstrations in Sana’a and several other Yemeni provinces.

The latest strikes therefore come as part of a broader military and political message from Sana’a: continued violations of Yemeni territory and airspace will be met with retaliatory operations against Saudi military and strategic targets.

Lavrov Accuses France of Backing Armed Groups in Africa

By Al Mayadeen English

18 Aug 2026 21:20

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accuses France of arming and financing armed groups in Africa as Moscow expands security cooperation with African states.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused France of supporting and arming armed groups in Africa, saying Paris is seeking to preserve its former influence in countries that have severed ties with the former colonial power.

Lavrov made the remarks during a joint press conference in Moscow on Monday with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, following talks that addressed bilateral relations, security cooperation, and developments in the Sahel.

He also defended the presence of Russia’s African Corps on the continent, saying the force operates legally and at the request of the governments of the countries where it is deployed.

According to Lavrov, the African Corps carries out missions including confronting armed attacks, rejecting criticism of Russia’s military presence in Africa.

Sahel security situation deteriorating

Speaking about the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel, Lavrov accused France of working directly with armed groups, stating that Paris provides them with weapons, financing, and guidance in an attempt to preserve its influence in African countries that have moved away from the former colonial power.

The Russian minister also accused external actors of using Ukrainian military personnel in operations carried out by armed groups in the Sahel.

He said the situation goes beyond what he described as "individual terrorist attacks" and amounts to organized targeting of countries in the region.

Russia seeks stronger security ties with Ghana

Lavrov said Russia is prepared to strengthen security cooperation with Ghana, adding that Moscow is also working toward signing a cooperation memorandum with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) covering areas including security.

The talks come as several Sahel countries have sought to reshape their security partnerships following the withdrawal of French forces and growing opposition to France’s military and political role in the region.

Russia has expanded its security presence in parts of the Sahel, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, following the reduction of French military deployments.

Moscow has presented its cooperation with African governments as an alternative to the security arrangements that previously centered on France and other Western powers.

Sahel security at center of Moscow talks

The Ghanaian foreign minister said the Sahel has become a major center of armed threats and stressed the importance of international cooperation in confronting the deteriorating security situation.

The discussions in Moscow reflect the changing geopolitical landscape in West Africa, where governments have increasingly sought greater control over their security partnerships and reduced reliance on former colonial powers.

The shift has also opened space for Russia to expand political and security relations with African states, particularly as French influence has declined in parts of the region.

Lavrov has repeatedly criticized Western military and political involvement in Africa, arguing that Moscow’s partnerships with African governments are based on requests from sovereign states rather than external intervention.

Separately, Ghana’s foreign minister raised the issue of Ghanaian nationals who had joined Russian forces in the Ukraine war.

He said 62 Ghanaians had been killed, while 15 others remain missing.

Egypt Warns Ethiopia Against Controlling Nile Water Flows

By Al Mayadeen English

17 Aug 2026 19:18

Cairo rejects any Ethiopian move to control Nile flows or build dams affecting downstream states, warning of violations of international law.

Egypt has warned against any Ethiopian efforts to control the flow of the Nile River or construct additional dams that could affect the downstream states, stressing that it “will not accept or allow any party to control water flows to Egypt and Sudan.”

According to Egypt’s official state news agency, a senior Egyptian official on Sunday said remarks attributed to Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa about plans to build additional dams on the Nile and control water flows represented a continuation of Ethiopia’s “unilateral approach” and a violation of international law.

Egypt rejects unilateral control over Nile flows

The Egyptian official said declaring an intention to control the flow of a shared international river represented a “highly dangerous direction,” arguing that the issue went beyond development and amounted to an attempt to impose a fait accompli on the downstream states and exploit geographical position to control a shared water resource.

He stressed that the Nile does not belong to any single country and that its waters are governed by international legal rules regulating shared rivers. He also affirmed that Egypt has multiple means at its disposal to defend its water interests. 

The Egyptian position follows remarks by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam on August 4, in which he rejected the construction of new Ethiopian dams along the Nile if they could affect Egypt’s water rights.

GERD remains at center of Egypt-Ethiopia dispute

Sewilam’s remarks came after reports of Ethiopian plans to build three additional dams alongside the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which has been at the center of a longstanding dispute between Addis Ababa on one side and Cairo and Khartoum on the other since construction began in 2011.

Egypt and Sudan are demanding a legally binding agreement governing the filling and operation of the GERD, as well as mechanisms for dealing with drought and prolonged drought, in a manner that safeguards their water rights and interests.

Ethiopia maintains that the dam is a sovereign development project intended to generate electricity and says it does not seek to harm the downstream states. Addis Ababa has continued to reject the formula proposed by Cairo and Khartoum for a binding agreement on the dam’s operation.

Disputes over the GERD have stalled trilateral negotiations for years. Talks resumed in 2023 before breaking down again in 2024 without a final settlement.

The latest escalation has once again placed water security at the center of Egyptian-Ethiopian relations, with Cairo’s concerns extending beyond the GERD to potential future Ethiopian projects that could affect the flow of the Nile toward the downstream states.

Federal Troops Clash with Opposition Forces in Somalia's Baidoa

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Agencies

17 Aug 2026 11:57

Heavy fighting erupts in Baidoa between Somalia's federal troops and armed opposition groups, with civilians reportedly killed and wounded.

Somalia's federal troops and armed opposition groups clashed in heavy fighting in central Baidoa on Monday, as violence erupted in the administrative capital of South West state, a local resident and a federal army officer told Reuters.

Baidoa is home to international peacekeepers and humanitarian agencies and is one of Somalia's largest cities, with a population of more than one million people.

The renewed fighting could further worsen the humanitarian crisis in the area. Baidoa hosts hundreds of thousands of displaced people, while one in four children living at displacement sites are severely malnourished, according to a July survey by Médecins Sans Frontières.

"Militias loyal to the former Baidoa president entered Baidoa from two sides, challenging two battalions of federal military. Fighting has intensified now," Farah Nur, a shopkeeper in the city, told Reuters.

Fighting follows federal takeover of Baidoa

Federal troops have controlled Baidoa since March, when they seized control of the city, prompting South West state leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen to resign.

Nur told Reuters that federal forces were using heavy weapons. He said he had seen at least two civilians killed inside their homes by stray bullets, while several other injured people were being taken to hospital.

Hassan Mohamed, Laftagareen's spokesperson, said in a Facebook post that their forces had captured Baidoa and called on federal troops to surrender. 

"The armed militias attacked Baidoa this morning, we are pushing them back....there are casualties as stray bullets enter houses," Captain Osman Abdullahi, a Somalia federal military officer, told Reuters.

Somalia's internal divisions deepen amid growing foreign presence in 'Somaliland'

The fighting in Baidoa comes as Somalia remains deeply divided, with the self-declared Somaliland administration maintaining a separate political and security structure in the north despite Mogadishu's rejection of its claims to independence. The dispute has contributed to Somalia's wider political fragmentation, while growing foreign military and strategic involvement risks further complicating efforts to preserve the country's territorial integrity.

Against this backdrop, construction at Berbera Airport in Somaliland, underway since October 2025, has reportedly expanded beyond civilian infrastructure, with satellite imagery indicating the gradual emergence of a potential military installation, according to an analysis by French daily Le Monde.

Berbera's strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, has made it increasingly important to foreign powers seeking a foothold along a vital maritime corridor. Dubai-based DP World has maintained a longstanding commercial presence through its involvement in Berbera Port, while Le Monde reported that the airport expansion could ultimately serve US and Israeli strategic interests.

For Mogadishu, developments of this kind add another layer to an already complex security environment, particularly as the federal government seeks to assert authority across the country. Somaliland authorities and the Somali federal government have not publicly responded to the claims reported by Le Monde.

The reported expansion has also drawn warnings from Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, who accused "Israel" of seeking a foothold in Somalia and warned that his movement would act against Israeli activity on Somali soil. Such developments underscore how Somalia's internal divisions are increasingly intersecting with broader regional rivalries around the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

'This Star is for Africa' - Angélique Kidjo on Making Hollywood Walk of Fame History

"We Africans just don't know what we've given to the world," Angélique Kidjo said at the ceremony

Five-time Grammy award winner Angélique Kidjo, who made history on Tuesday to become the first African musician to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has told the BBC she wants to dedicate the accolade to the continent of her birth.

"This star is for all the continent of Africa. Because if I was not African, would I be here?" said the 66-year-old musical icon from Benin.

She reiterated her message, made at the ceremony in Los Angeles to mark her four-decade career, about the importance of Africans to the world of music.

"Without the blues brought by the slaves in America, there's no R&B, there's no rock and roll, there's no soul music, there's no jazz. All of it comes from Africa."

Angélique Kidjo's secret to success: Being hangry

Kidjo told BBC Focus on Africa TV that Africans themselves needed to appreciate what they had given the world, and nurture talent at home.

"Let's celebrate our artists in their own right on the continent. Let's give them visibility, strength, because music creates economy," she said.

Most African artists - besides mega stars who have a global fanbase - struggle to make a living as they rarely get paid the royalties they are owed.

"We need to recognise our artists and create a system for them to make money on their continent and to participate also in creating jobs."

As her illustrious career was immortalised in Los Angeles, Kidjo became emotional - wiping away tears.

"At that moment, I'm like, dad, mum, I wish you were here with me to see [this]" the songstress explained to the BBC.

"I couldn't take the emotion. They were not here to taste the fruit of what they've created. How they have nurtured my curiosity, my love for music."

Kidjo - who has taken African sounds to global audiences, blending influences from home with funk, jazz and pop - grew up in Benin and then went to Paris aged 23, citing oppression from the country's then-communist government.

At her Walk of Fame ceremony, she was joined by other family, friends and stars such as Hollywood actors Willem Dafoe and Djimon Hounsou, who is also from Benin, and Nigerian musician Adekunle Gold.

The gathering was filled with singing and dancing in celebration of her career, which has included collaborations with big names such as Burna Boy, John Legend, Bono and Alicia Keys.

Her latest album, HOPE!!, was released earlier this year with tracks produced by Pharrell Williams, and collaborations with Ayra Starr, Quavo, Nile Rogers and Diane Warren.

Kidjo has released 18 albums in total and has been nominated for 17 Grammy awards, which she has won five times.

She also won the 2023 Polar Music Prize, and two years earlier was named as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People.

"She is without a doubt the hardest working woman in showbusiness," Dafoe said at the ceremony.

"The first time I saw Angélique perform live, I thought her music, her dancing, her commitment were incredible."

The Spider-Man star likened her energy to that of soul singer James Brown, who he called the "hardest working man in showbusiness".

"She's not only an incredible performer... songwriter and musician, but also an incredibly kind and giving person and a real deal activist."

Kidjo is a Unicef and Oxfam goodwill ambassador, and is the co-founder of the Batonga Foundation, which helps vulnerable young girls and women in Benin.

At the Los Angeles gathering she was also praised by Harvey Mason Jr, the CEO of Recording Academy - the organisation that also oversees the Grammy awards.

"She's connected cultures, she's crossed borders, she's reminded audiences everywhere that while we may come from different backgrounds, her music unites in a way that few other things can," he said.

During her interview with the BBC, the musician's phone kept ringing with those wanting to congratulate her.

"Yesterday I received the call of the president of Benin," she said.

"Today I received the call of Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, the producer of Bob Marley, the maker of U2 and so on and so forth."

Kidjo explained how fundamental Blackwell, who signed her in the 1990s, had been to her success - launching her breakthrough album Logozo.

"I said to him at that moment… 'Can I do the music I want to do and keep my cultural identity without anyone imposing any other music on my shoulder?' He said… 'It's no brainer.'"

Kidjo joins Charlize Theron, a white South African actress, in representing Africa on the Walk of Fame, which comprises more than 2,800 stars.

She said she was amazed to hear a year ago that she had been nominated for a Hollywood star, telling Focus on Africa she did not believe the news given to her by her husband until she said she had seen it on the BBC.

And when asked about the significance of becoming the first African musician with a star, she replied: "Changes that last take time."

Cameroon’s President Biya Returns After a Long Stay Abroad Raises Health Concerns

Cameroon's President Paul Biya, of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement party, waits to cast his vote during the presidential elections, Oct. 7, 2018, in Yaounde, Cameroon. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)

By NALOVA AKUA

2:36 PM EDT, August 20, 2026

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — President Paul Biya returned Thursday to Cameroon after staying abroad for more than two months, which had raised concerns about the 93-year-old leader’s health and a possible power vacuum in the Central African country.

Biya arrived at the international airport in the capital, Yaoundé, aboard a flight from Geneva, Switzerland, after more than 10 weeks away.

The world’s oldest president, who has led Cameroon since 1982, began his eighth term in office in November after winning a widely disputed election in October.

Biya had left the country on June 7 for what his office described as “a brief private stay in Europe,” but it became the longest recorded absence of his presidency.

The health of the president has long been a topic of speculation as he spends significant time in Europe, including France and Switzerland, where he often spends weeks while leaving governance to key party officials and family members.

Cameroon’s constitution does not specifically prohibit a president from leaving the country for months. But without a vice president, an appointment Biya has full control over, the opposition has described the country as being run on “autopilot.”

Biya’s close collaborators were at the airport on Thursday, but he was not shown descending from the plane and held no briefings. He was seen waving to supporters from his vehicle.

The results of Biya’s nearly half-century in power have been mixed. Armed insurgencies by Boko Haram in the north and separatists in the west, along with a stagnant economy, have left many young people disillusioned with the leader.

The president’s reelection last year sparked widespread protests that left at least 16 people dead, according to government figures, signaling significant tensions between the mostly young population and its aging leader.

After a 2008 constitutional amendment abolished term limits, Biya has now led Cameroon longer than most of its citizens have been alive: More than 70% of the country’s population of nearly 30 million people is below the age of 35.

In April, Cameroon’s parliament reinstated the vice president’s post, a move criticized by the opposition as a power grab because Biya can appoint and dismiss the deputy at will and determine which powers the office can exercise.

A Miami Restaurateur Was Among the 7 People Killed in a Kenya Helicopter Crash

By DAVID FISCHER

5:21 PM EDT, August 20, 2026

MIAMI (AP) — The family of a Miami restaurateur say they are “devastated and heartbroken” after he and six others were killed by a safari helicopter crash in a remote part of northern Kenya.

A helicopter crashed Wednesday morning while flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Roger Duarte, founder and owner of George Stone Crab, was identified by family members as a passenger. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, officials said. The U.S. State Department said five of those killed were U.S. citizens.

“The magnitude of this tragedy is impossible to comprehend, and there are no words to express the depth of our pain,” the statement from Duarte’s family said. “We ask that you keep them all and everyone who loved them in your prayers.”

The statement also named the five other passengers and the pilot.

Among those killed were an executive with Telemundo, the U.S.-based Spanish-language network owned by NBCUniversal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service.

José Suárez was the president and general manager of the Telemundo-owned stations in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers, Florida. Telemundo and NBCUniversal executives called Suárez a deeply respected leader and beloved friend in a memo sent to staff and obtained by The Associated Press

“José was an exceptional colleague and mentor to many,” the message said. “He cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the essential role our stations play in people’s lives. He brought energy, humor, warmth and a strong sense of purpose to his work, and his impact was felt far beyond the stations he led.”

Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of the Ecuador’s National Intelligence Center, died in the crash, along with his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan.

“In this moment of deep sorrow, the government extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and close associates,” Ecuador’s presidency said in a statement posted on X.

Sensi-Contugi, a friend and close associate of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Hollihan were visiting Kenya as tourists. She was a U.S. and Ecuadorian citizen. They are survived by their two children.

The last two passengers were identified as Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra, a South Florida married couple. Hlavaty was a real estate executive and co-founder of a development company called MRKT Group. Parra co-founded and helped manage an aviation maintenance company for nearly three decades after serving in the U.S. Navy as an aviation support tech.

Parra’s former company said in a statement that he was a builder in every sense of the word.

“Henry was also deeply committed to the Miami community, generously supporting charitable organizations and initiatives that created opportunities for others and strengthened the city he called home,” the statement said.

The pilot was identified as Josh Outram, founder of Africa Heli Adventures. A conservation group called Save the Elephants posted their condolences on Facebook.

“Josh worked briefly with Save the Elephants as one of our dedicated and experienced fixed wing pilots, and we are deeply saddened by his passing,” a post said.

The helicopter crashed in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in the country, local media reported. The helicopter, owned by local company Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests with travel company &Beyond. Lady Lori Helicopters said in a statement that the aircraft was operating a charter flight when it crashed.

Tropic Air Kenya, a local safari operator, said in a statement that it dispatched two of its helicopters to aid search and rescue operations.

The aviation authority said the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4.

Helicopter crashes have happened with increasing regularity in Kenya, which has a vibrant tourism industry that depends on domestic carriers to ferry visitors to distant places like Mount Ololokwe.

In February, a legislator was among six people who died after a helicopter crash in a hilly area of western Kenya.

Boat Capsizes in Northwestern Nigeria, Leaving Dozens of People Dead

By IBRAHIM GARBA and MOHAMMED IBRHAIM

3:02 PM EDT, August 20, 2026

SOKOTO, Nigeria (AP) — A boat capsized Thursday in a river in Nigeria ’s northwestern Sokoto state, leaving at least 47 people dead, officials and residents said.

The boat was carrying more than 80 people, most of whom were heading to farms for work in Gorau town in the Goronyo local government area of the state, officials said.

Abdulkadir Yusuf, Sokoto state manager at the National Inland Waterways Authority, said the death toll was 47 people “so far.”

Resident Samaila Garba, 55, said his 13-year-old granddaughter, Jamila Usman, was among those who died in the capsizing. He said he had counted at least 42 bodies of victims, most of them women and children. “You know, during the rainy season, most women and children go to the farm to work,” he told The Associated Press.

Another resident, Aminu Dan Hajiya, said he goes to his farm using the same waterway and he considers himself lucky to not have been on the boat. “In fact, almost every household in the community has been affected,” he said.

Usman Yusuf, a community leader in Gorau, said more than 80 passengers had boarded the boat. He said 41 people have been buried so far.

Deadly boat accidents are common in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season. A lack of enforcement of safety regulations allows faulty boats without life jackets to operate in the country. In January, at least 25 people were killed in Yobe state in a similar accident.

Mohammed Ibrahim reported from Kaduna, Nigeria. Tunde Omolehin contributed to this report.

Thousands of Migrants in Ceuta Wait in Limbo While Spain Figures Out What to Do with Them

By ANTONIO SEMPERE and SUMAN NAISHADHAM

5:12 PM EDT, August 20, 2026

CEUTA, Spain (AP) — For weeks, migrants in the Spanish territory of Ceuta had gathered on a beach away from the city center, sleeping on cardboard sheets, under reed huts and guarding their few possessions in tattered plastic bags.

They were gone by Thursday morning after Spanish police escorted them to makeshift shelters. But an hour later, other migrants were combing through the trash they had left behind for anything useful: an abandoned mattress, plastic chairs, sheets, a scrap of tarp.

The scene exemplified the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, where up to 10,000 migrants remain in the city weeks after more than 72,000 migrants poured into the small Spanish territory neighboring Morocco. Three weeks later, Spanish authorities were struggling to shelter and attend to those who refused to leave — or even determine how many migrants were still in the city of 84,000.

Within days of the initial border rush, in which at least 90 people died, most migrants went back to Morocco, realizing the difficulties of staying in Ceuta and their slim chances of reaching mainland Europe. But thousands remained, hiding in the woods, on beaches and outside a migrant reception center.

City officials estimate that 9,000 to 10,000 migrants — including about 2,000 minors — could still be in the city, based on the number of daily food rations handed out by aid groups. Spain’s interior ministry puts the figure at roughly 5,000 people.

The U.N. refugee agency highlighted large humanitarian and operational challenges in Ceuta in an interview with The Associated Press, specifically around migrants’ access to shelter, basic services and food. While most of those who crossed in late July are from Morocco, people from war-torn Sudan, Mali and Yemen also reached the Spanish exclave.

The U.N. refugee agency urged Spanish authorities to start processing their asylum claims as soon as possible, estimating that about 1,200 migrants in Ceuta could be eligible for international protection, according to Paula Barrachina, a spokesperson for the agency in Spain.

The Spanish government says it is working to house the remaining migrants in the city, and return a sense of normalcy to Ceuta. On Thursday, Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz said the government had secured space to accommodate 1,800 migrants in a parking lot and a military facility sometimes used for religious events. It is looking for more space to house migrants.

Even so, an Associated Press photographer on Thursday saw migrants still roaming the streets. Elsewhere, hundreds of women and minors were sheltering in makeshift centers run by locals.

Khadija Rifai, a 20-year-old woman from Morocco, acknowledged that some migrants were receiving help, but didn’t know what Spain planned to do with adults like her.

“They help the minors and the youngsters, but they haven’t found any solutions for us,” she said Wednesday.

Rifai said her life in Morocco was “normal” but in late July, she and her husband swam to the Spanish territory in search of better opportunities and healthcare. Rifai’s husband was sent back to Morocco, but she hid from authorities and stayed on. She now hopes to reunite with him and eventually move to mainland Spain, where she wants to have children.

“Even though we suffered here in Ceuta, we hope that once we reach the mainland, life will be good and we will have a house, a car, and everything we dreamed of,” Rifai said.

Discontent grows in Ceuta

Ceuta Mayor Juan Jesús Vivas accused the national government, led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, of not doing enough to control the situation.

On Thursday, Spanish police escorted several hundred migrants, mostly men, through the city’s streets to a shelter. Hours later, Vivas, a member of the center-right Popular Party, said the government’s decision to move migrants from the beach to other locations in the city did not demonstrate “a will to fix the problem.”

Spain’s migration ministry said the government has allocated 6.5 million euros ($7.6 million) in emergency funds to help the city cope with the new arrivals. Speaking in Ceuta this week, Migration Minister Saiz praised the work of local organizations in Ceuta and said 4,000 meals had been distributed every day to migrants since Aug. 3.

A ministry spokesperson said the Spanish government has to process every case on an individual basis. Before that can happen, police must identify those who entered the city illegally, verify every migrant’s nationality and background, determine who qualifies for international protection and establish who must leave, either voluntarily or by force, he said.

Those who crossed await a path forward

Migrants in Ceuta say they are willing to wait out the uncertainty. Hundreds of them had gathered earlier in the week in protest on a beach in Ceuta, carrying signs reading “Asylum” alongside Spanish flags.

Mohamed Yaqoub, 18, a migrant from Chad hid for days in the woods after Spanish soldiers chased him in late July, he said. He managed to stay and wishes to someday study in France.

Getting there will not be easy. Travelers leaving Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s other territory in North Africa, are subject to exit checks at ports and airports, an obstacle for migrants who enter the territories illegally and hope to reach the European continent.

“We ask them to allow us entry and give us the necessary papers and documents,” Yaqoub told an AP photographer in a cellphone note. “The most important thing for us is to get the papers.”

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Naishadham reported from Madrid.