South Sudan Summons Sudanese Envoy Over Drone Strike on Abyei Market

20 October 2026

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Amb. Agnes Adlino Orifa Oswaha meets with Sudan's Ambassador Isam Mohamed Hassan Karar in Juba on Oct. 19, 2026.

October 19, 2026 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s foreign ministry on Monday summoned Sudan’s ambassador to Juba, Essam Mohamed Karrar, to protest a drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region.

Drones suspected to belong to the Sudanese army attacked the Al-Naam market earlier in the day, targeting fuel depots and trucks carrying fuel from South Sudan to Darfur.

Commercial activity at the market has surged since the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023.

The South Sudanese foreign ministry said in a statement that it summoned the ambassador to convey its strong protest and deep concern over the attack on the Amiet market, located north of Abyei town.

The ministry warned of the strike’s impact on civilian security and the stability of the Abyei region.

The attack hit multiple locations within the market, causing civilian casualties, injuries, and significant property damage, the statement added.

Reports indicated that the attack killed 73 civilians, though there has been no official confirmation of the death toll.

Juba called on the Sudanese government to refrain from actions that endanger civilian lives and property.

It also urged Khartoum to address any issues related to the Abyei region through established diplomatic channels and dialogue mechanisms.

The foreign ministry reiterated South Sudan’s commitment to protecting civilians and maintaining peace, security, and stability in Abyei.

It called on the Sudanese government to take the necessary measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.

The Al-Naam market has become a major trading hub for fuel, food, building materials, and medicine flowing from South Sudan to the Kordofan and Darfur regions.

South Sudan emphasized its commitment to peaceful coexistence and dispute resolution under international law, urging Sudan to halt such attacks.

The Sudanese government has not yet commented on the accusations.

Recent press reports indicate the Sudanese army has launched sporadic attacks in East and South Darfur, as the RSF controls most of the western states.

Sudanese Army Repels Joint RSF and SPLM-N Attack in Blue Nile Region

20 October 2026

RSF vehicles burn as Sudanese army forces repel an attack in the Sally area of the Blue Nile region, October 20, 2026

October 20, 2026 (ED DAMAZIN) – The Sudanese army announced on Tuesday that it repelled a new attack launched by a coalition of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, targeting areas in the eastern part of the Blue Nile region.

Since last January, the Blue Nile region in Sudan’s far southeast has witnessed active combat between the military on one side, and the RSF and its SPLM-N ally on the other.

Over the past months, the RSF and SPLM-N alliance seized the cities of Kurmuk and Geissan bordering Ethiopia, along with the strategic Bukori and Sirkam bases and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, the army has been reinforcing its positions across several fronts in the region to recapture these vital territories.

The 4th Infantry Division command said in a statement that its troops and allied forces thwarted a new attempt by the “terrorist militia” and the rebel forces of Joseph Tuka to breach its positions in the Sally area on the eastern axis of the Blue Nile region.

The military said it inflicted heavy losses on the attacking forces in lives and equipment.

The army successfully countered the assault and foiled the enemy’s plan, according to the military statement.

The operation resulted in the seizure of 15 fully equipped combat vehicles and the destruction of five other vehicles belonging to the attacking force.

The statement affirmed the division’s continued commitment to its national duty and decisively confronting all infiltration attempts targeting its positions.

Field operations will continue to enhance security in the area and establish full control, the army added.

The military reiterated its resolve to continue fighting until defeating the rebellion from every inch of the country and foiling plans aimed at destabilizing security and terrorizing citizens and displaced people in the Blue Nile region.

Sudan War: Drones Rain Death on Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, Blue Nile

20/10/2026 13:23 KHARTOUM / NYALA / ED DAEIN / DAMAZIN

A drone that the Sudanese Armed Forces claim was shot down over El Obeid on January 30 2025 (Archive photo for illustration: Media of the Fifth Infantry Division)

A drone strike on Ed Daein, the capital of East Darfur, killed 19 civilians and injured 21 others, according to the Sudan Founding Alliance, which says a restaurant north of the main market was hit. Four people, including three children, have been killed by drone strikes in two locations in eastern Khartoum,

The Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasees) has condemned the attack, which it attributes to a drone operated by the Sudanese Armed Forces, saying it endangered civilian lives and deepened suffering amid Sudan’s worsening humanitarian crisis.

Sources close to the Sudanese Armed Forces say the strike targeted Ed Daein prison and other military facilities.

The Sudanese Armed Forces also bombed Nyala on Monday, causing an unspecified number of deaths and injuries.

The Sudan Founding Alliance says attacks on other areas of Darfur, Kordofan and Blue Nile form “part of a systematic campaign by the armed forces and affiliated militias”. It calls for urgent international intervention to halt what it describes as an escalating campaign against unarmed civilians.

The alliance demands an immediate halt to attacks that put civilians at risk in Darfur, Kordofan and Blue Nile, an independent and transparent investigation, and the prosecution of those responsible.

It also calls on international organisations to condemn the attacks, provide urgent medical care, and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those affected.

Four killed in drone attacks on Khartoum

As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, four people, including three children, have been killed by drone strikes in two locations in eastern Khartoum, after the Sudanese capital came under attack by RSF forces.

On Monday morning, the drones attempted to target Khartoum airport and other facilities, before striking areas in eastern Khartoum later in the day.

Videos circulated on social media appeared to show two drones flying over Khartoum airport, while military sources said the Sudanese Armed Forces had managed to shoot them down.

Sources said the drones killed three children, including two siblings, and a man at two separate locations east of Khartoum airport and in Nasser Extension.

The Sudanese Armed Forces say they have repelled an attack by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North in the southern Blue Nile region.

The Fourth Infantry Division in Damazin, which is part of the Sudanese Armed Forces, says it repelled an attack launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, on Monday morning.

In a statement seen by Radio Dabanga, the division’s media office says its soldiers and supporting forces carried out a targeted military operation in the Al Baraka area of the southern sector of the Blue Nile region, engaging RSF and SPLM-North forces.

The statement says the troops blocked the attackers’ advance, destroyed several vehicles and pieces of equipment, and forced the attacking forces to retreat under fire.

Fighting continues across the Blue Nile region between the Sudanese Armed Forces on one side and the RSF and SPLM-North on the other, with the opposing sides repeatedly exchanging control of towns and other areas.

UN Condemns Deadly Drone Strikes on Sudan Civilians

20/10/2026 16:00 KHARTOUM

Sattelite view of Khartoum airport (Google Maps)

The United Nations has condemned drone attacks that have killed at least 48 civilians in Blue Nile and West Kordofan, including women and children sheltering after fleeing their homes, and called for accountability and respect for international humanitarian law.

The United Nations has condemned a series of deadly drone strikes on displaced civilians in Blue Nile and West Kordofan, warning that people fleeing Sudan’s war are being exposed to further violence in places where they sought safety.

United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown (Photo: UN)

Denise Brown, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, said she was “horrified” by reports of a drone strike near a displacement site in Wad El Mahi, Blue Nile State, where at least 31 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed and dozens more injured. Some of the injured are in a serious condition, and the death toll could rise.

The victims had been displaced by recent fighting in Geissan and Kurmuk localities. Brown said the area, which is under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces, had come under attack during the preceding week.

Condemning the killings, Brown called for accountability for what she described as a flagrant disregard for international humanitarian law.

Logo of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

“Those who disregard international humanitarian law need to be held accountable,” she said, stressing that the law protects civilians as well as the humanitarian and medical personnel serving them.

In a separate statement, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed deep concern over two drone strikes in West Kordofan on 9 October.

At least 12 civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed and eight injured when a drone struck a building sheltering displaced families in El Nuhud. A second strike in Ghubeish reportedly killed five civilians, including three children, in a residential neighbourhood hosting displaced families.

“These were people who had already been forced from their homes by conflict, only to face further violence in places where they had sought safety,” OCHA said.

The agency warned that the increasing frequency of drone strikes across Sudan was exposing civilians, particularly displaced families, to further death, injury and suffering. It called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Brown said continued attacks in Blue Nile had displaced thousands of civilians in recent weeks, exposing many more to death, direct harm and further hardship. She also criticised the international community for allowing the suffering of Sudan’s population to continue.

The latest attacks follow other deadly drone strikes on civilian areas and displacement shelters across the country, as reported by Radio Dabanga today.

Op-ed: Performing Refugeehood – How Will Sudanese Navigate Egypt’s Incoming Asylum System?

18/10/2026 18:20

Sudanese refugees in Egypt asking for aid (Cartoon by Omar Dafallah / RD) BuyMaps

By Joseph A. Owens for Radio Dabanga

Joseph A. Owens is an anthropologist whose work focuses on Sudan, displacement, and refugee protection. He was previously a humanitarian practitioner in Egypt on refugee recognition, and researcher on displacement in North Africa.

Egypt has slowly whittled down its commitments to the 1951 Refugee Convention. And now we wait for the final nail in the coffin: the implementation of Asylum Law No. 164, which gives the government the authority to decide who will be protected from violence and deportation.

For Sudanese in Egypt before 2023, registering with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the subsequent wait, often years in limbo, for an interview to determine one’s refugee status, is an all-too familiar and exhausting process. BuyMaps

Under new regulations, decisions on refugee matters will shift from UNHCR. Commentators have warned that this risks the state arbitrarily denying or withdrawing asylum amid a history of documented human rights abuses against Sudanese.

Escalating deportations, police patrols, and a recent violent raid on gold miners in the Aswan and Red Sea Governorates have only sowed further distrust. These leave one wondering: how will Sudanese navigate an asylum service run by the persecutor?

UNHCR’s position in Egypt

UNHCR Egypt is often likened to a ‘surrogate state,’ an organisation fulfilling the basic duties of a government by providing meagre cash assistance, endorsement for residency, and referrals for medical assistance. It attempts to make life liveable in Egypt. Most importantly, UNHCR offers supposed safety from deportation and violence.

Yet this protection must be earned, defying the logic that it is a right enshrined in the Refugee Convention. I spoke to multiple Sudanese who felt they had to embellish their stories during their interactions with UNHCR officers. “You just call them and play the role of victim,” Eltahir told me. He recalled speaking with them thirteen times to find a solution to repeated arbitrary detentions he faced and violence on the street from those acting on behalf of the Government of Sudan, receiving one callback to advise him to move areas.

‘Performing for the UN’

For Sudanese, the most important interaction is the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) interview: a showdown between the UNHCR-appointed officer and one seeking protection. This interview will decide whether one can legally reside in Egypt based on a well-founded fear of persecution.

Before fleeing Sudan, Abdelrahman had written down all violent events he faced in Sudan and Egypt so he would remember them clearly. This is a common practice, often suggested by refugee-led organisations and community members throughout Cairo and Giza.

Others undergo mock interviews with fellow Sudanese or share their experiences through WhatsApp channels, warning other asylum-seekers of what to expect, such as how to navigate difficult interviewers.

While these are normal practices, the way applicants tell their story is critical. Interviewees are expected to recall violent incidents in chronological order, focusing on specific details, such as the colour of a torturer’s shirt or how many people were in a prison cell. Violence, and the subsequent victimisation one felt afterwards, are crucial to convincing the UNHCR officer that one does indeed need protection.

“The other reasons [for leaving Sudan], I did not mention. These are about personal wellbeing, doing a master’s degree and finding a good job. These are not reasons which will convince their claim … they would say, ‘We are not a charity.’ I focused on the conflict, the casualties, the people who were killed in my family, the safety of my life and the persecution,” Hassan, from North Darfur, said, describing his RSD interview in detail.

I asked him how he felt about this, but he said he had no option. “I should play that role well and just make sure that I send the message across well. If they think I really am a victim, then I can get some assistance.”

Despite his best efforts, Banda, “fresh from the trauma in Sudan,” could not continue his interview: “I know there are times you test if someone is consistent or not, but you feel they’re quite intense. It reminded me of my detention experiences.” BuyMaps

Banda was subsequently rejected. He believed he was not passive enough and “too articulate” to be considered a true victim. In the eyes of UNHCR, “some people are expected to suffer, to look poor, illiterate, not educated … they should be that way.” Upon appeal, with a more scrupulous officer, he was finally recognised.

Much has been written about the optics of refugeehood: how one should look or present oneself to receive assistance, or what Didier Fassin calls ‘humanitarian reason’. There is no hierarchy of suffering in the 1951 Refugee Convention, but it is often a determining factor in ‘earning’ the right to be recognised as one who genuinely has faced persecution.

UNHCR officers often begin from a place of suspicion. While fraud does exist, the parameters of what is ‘true’ and what is ‘not’ often depend on the temperament and ability of the interviewer and their supervisor. Abdelrahman was rejected due to credibility concerns regarding his Fur identity. He felt this was because of the interviewer’s lack of knowledge of Darfur and her scepticism of his confident understanding of refugee law; he was simply ‘too’ educated. It took an appeal with another officer who had researched his hometown more thoroughly to be recognised.

Demanding justice

Performing victimhood can be a tactic to secure residency, yet many have forced UNHCR to recognise their claims to justice. Hassan was deported from Jordan along with hundreds of other Sudanese after a sit-in outside UNHCR offices demanding protection and working rights. Despite the threat of removal, at the time he insisted that “we’re gonna fight.” He and others lay blame directly on UNHCR for not addressing their concerns, nor intervening in their forced removal back to Sudan.

Hassan was detained, released, and subsequently travelled to Egypt, meeting other deportees. He then confronted an officer at UNHCR Cairo, pointing to his document from Jordan which assured the organisation would protect him. Acquiescing, the officer agreed that what had happened was a violation of his human rights. “You have to hold them accountable,” he advised me. 

Likewise, upon rejection, Abdelrahman explained in detail to the UNHCR officer conducting his appeal exactly how little knowledge the previous officer had about Darfur, besides quoting the Refugee Convention. Playing this game of victimhood while still affirming his rights, remained crucial not just for recognition, but for dignity and ownership over his own story.

More formalised resistance in Egypt is limited, as the social contract with UNHCR and promises of protection have remained fragile. Many Sudanese remember the fatal Mustafa Mahmoud sit-in of 2005 outside of their office and blame the agency for not acting quick enough to secure a solution to Sudanese’s protection issues before Egyptian police opened fire on protesters.

Between UNHCR and the Egyptian state

Navigating Egyptian bureaucracy is a lengthy, frustrating process for many Sudanese. Residency appointments, facilitated by UNHCR, now stretch months into the future and require multiple visits. Obtaining a birth certificate often requires the intervention of Egyptian lawyers. Requesting medical or police reports sometimes requires a bribe. ExploreHistory

UNHCR has tried to make these processes easier by partnering with hospitals, referring people to local law firms, and negotiating with immigration officials in *Abbassia. Yet getting UNHCR’s attention is exhausting. This often means calling for hours or travelling to their office in 6th of October City before sunrise to secure a place in line. This is the reality for many of the almost 900,000 of Sudanese registered with the agency. In turn, UNHCR often decries the limited funding from resource-rich countries, while European money is increasingly being spent on policing migration.

Convincing Europe and Egypt

The European Union remains the architect behind Asylum Law No. 164. This is just one agreement among others with North African countries aimed to hold asylum-seekers and refugees in place, preventing their arrival in Europe in exchange for billions of euros. To create conditions for ‘local integration’, the EU has required Egypt to offer (through the new asylum law) pathways to citizenship, freedom to leave and return to the country, and unrestricted access to the labour market. These measures could theoretically lift Sudanese out of the precarious labour that is rife throughout the country.

Through this new asylum architecture, Sudanese will have to curate their own stories to convince a state which actively brutalises them to provide protection. The hierarchy of suffering and need to victimise oneself will intensify. Given the EU’s desire to stop migration from countries of origin, including through its funding of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to police migrant routes through and out of Darfur and closing maritime routes off the coast of Egypt, there is little reason to believe deportations will cease.

Community-based initiatives and information sharing among networks on how to navigate the new asylum service will need greater support. Demanding justice amid this hostility may require buying into the language of the Egyptian state, as demonstrated by Hassan and Abdelrahman toward UNHCR.

Living otherwise

Despite this repression, Sudanese have created a sense of place in Egypt. Established communities dating back decades were later joined by South Sudanese and, after 2003, by Darfuris and Nuba. Organisations run by Sudanese proliferate throughout Cairo and Giza, with mutual-aid networks providing support and basic safety nets which UNHCR and the Egyptian state do not.

Beyond these networks, many simply show up for each other. During phone calls with interviewees, some were interrupted by community members with requests to join an aid distribution meeting, or to go meet new arrivals to the country. This is the kind of solidarity which has travelled with those displaced. Despite relentless pressure by the Egyptian state, solidarity “makes you feel powerful,” one interviewee told me.

Sudanese may have to curate new narratives as the asylum service shifts hands to a state which is actively targeting them. However, these solidarity and mutual-aid networks will continue to foster a sense of place.

*The state’s administrative hub for General Department of Passports, Immigration and Nationality located in Cairo.

Over 40 Civilians Killed in Attacks on Camps in Mali’s Menaka Region

FP News Desk

Oct 20, 2026, 06:42:23 IST

Gunmen on motorcycles stormed camps housing mainly Daoussahak civilians in the Menaka region of north-eastern Mali over the weekend, killing more than 40 people, security and community sources told AFP on Monday. The community’s executive bureau blamed the Islamic State group.

The camps lie about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the town of Menaka, in or around the village of Tinabow and the Tagadayat area.

Differing death tolls

Sources gave different figures. A security source in Gao said “about 40 deaths, mostly men”. Another security source spoke of “fifty civilians killed, including young people and the elderly”, adding that people fleeing the violence were reaching Menaka on Monday. A local elected official cited “more than 50 dead, including women and the elderly”. The Daoussahak community’s executive bureau said “48 civilians were killed” on Sunday in Tagadayat.

“Armed men stormed several camps 50 kilometers from the town of Menaka,” one security source told AFP. “They fired at anything that moved,” the source said.

A local source in Tinabow said that on Sunday evening “several dozen motorcycles suddenly arrived and (the attackers) began shooting and setting homes on fire”. The source added, “They didn’t speak to anyone. They just started killing. I saw dozens of bodies.”

Community appeals for aid; possible motive

The Daoussahak executive bureau condemned the “massacre” in a statement and appealed for emergency humanitarian aid for the displaced.

The Gao-based security source said the attack was carried out “in retaliation for military operations carried out in the area recently and for attacks by the MSA”. The Daoussahak community is where the armed Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA) originated, according to the sources, and the MSA is aligned with Mali’s ruling government in Bamako.

The Malian army said it had conducted operations in the same area on Saturday, about 65 kilometres south-west of Menaka. It said it struck “a major base housing several terrorist elements and military equipment”.

A country in crisis since 2012

Mali has been beset since 2012 by a security crisis pitting the army and its Russian allies against jihadist fighters, Tuareg separatist groups and criminal gangs. Economic instability has fuelled the crisis. The junta that has ruled Mali since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021 has turned to Russia for support, using paramilitaries from the Wagner Group, which became the Africa Corps in 2025.

ISIS Linked Group Kills Scores in Mali, Clashes with al Qaeda Affiliates

Last week, ISSP said it had killed 400 JNIM fighters after thwarting an attempted JNIM ambush in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

Tuesday 20/10/2026

BAMAKO

Islamic State (ISIS)-linked extremists have killed at least 48 people in Mali in apparent retaliation for an attack on suspected informants by pro-government forces including members of Russia’s Africa Corps, two security sources and two local officials told Reuters.

The violence at the weekend in the eastern Menaka region comes amid intensifying combat between the regional ISIS group and al Qaeda affiliates, compounding insecurity in West Africa’s Sahel region.

The attacks by fighters from Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) took place in at least five localities in Menaka and the overall toll was still being determined on Tuesday, said the four sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from Mali’s government.

They appeared to be in response to abuses allegedly carried out last week in the area by a pro-government militia known as MSA and Africa Corps, the Russian paramilitary group that backs Bamako, the sources said.

“The militiamen from MSA who accompanied (Mali’s army) and Africa Corps committed abuses against civilians suspected of being informants for the Islamic State,” a municipal official in Menaka said.

“They killed about a dozen people, set fire to houses, and stole other property.”

During the retaliatory attacks on Sunday, ISSP set houses on fire and stole livestock, sending hundreds of civilians fleeing to Menaka town, said the four sources, who provided provisional death tolls ranging from 48 to more than 70.

Some of the civilians died in the fires and others were shot, the sources said.

ISSP has not claimed responsibility for the incident.

A Malian military spokesperson and Russia’s embassy in Bamako did not respond to a request for comment.

Mali has previously denied killing civilians in counterinsurgency operations.

Mali has been battling insurgents since 2012 when Tuareg separatists feeing Libya after the CIA-NATO-Pentagon counterrevolution against longtime Pan-Africanist statesman Gadhafi and al Qaeda-linked extremist fighters first swept across the country’s north, triggering a French military intervention.

The regional al Qaeda affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front staged nationwide attacks in April that killed the defence minister and hit the main airport in Bamako.

In recent weeks JNIM has been locked in fierce fighting with ISSP.

Last week, ISSP said it had killed 400 JNIM fighters after thwarting an attempted JNIM ambush in neighbouring Burkina Faso, which if confirmed would make it the deadliest single battle between the two groups.

ISSP and JNIM engaged in their first skirmishes in 2019 and have since clashed hundreds of times, resulting in more than 2,000 deaths, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a conflict monitoring group.

Mali’s Military and Armed Groups Committing Abuses Against Civilians: HRW

Soldiers, fighters and separatists in West African country committing grave laws-of-war violations, rights group finds.

By Al Jazeera Staff and AFP

19 Oct 2026

Mali’s military and its Russian paramilitary allies have killed civilians in breach of international law, and opposition armed groups have done likewise, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.

Soldiers and fighters “are committing grave laws-of-war violations while international organisations and governments largely stand by”, the United States-based rights watchdog said in a report released on Monday.

It urged the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to “urgently take action to prevent further atrocities” in Mali.

The West African country has been mired in fighting and attacks since 2012 as the military and its allies have battled an array of armed groups, including Tuareg separatists, and criminal gangs.

The military government that has ruled Mali since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021 has turned to Russia for support, enlisting the services initially of fighters from the private Wagner Group, which became the state-controlled paramilitary group Africa Corps in 2025.

‘Scores of civilians’ killed

The rights group said its report was based on interviews with 30 people – witnesses, human rights defenders, community leaders, journalists and a Malian soldier – conducted from late July to mid-September.

“Mali’s military and the allied Russia-controlled Africa Corps … have killed and wounded scores of civilians in attacks and in custody in violation of international humanitarian law,” HRW said.

Armed groups “have also violated the laws-of-war, including torturing and executing captured Malian soldiers”, it added.

HRW said it documented two “apparently indiscriminate” drone attacks by the Malian military.

According to the report, a July 29 attack in the Kidal region of northeastern Mali destroyed part of a health facility, and a second on August 19 hit a market in the central region of Bandiagara, killing six civilians and wounding at least 20.

HRW said it also documented an operation against armed groups in the Segou region in the south, where Malian soldiers shot and killed five girls, and another in the central region of Mopti, where members of the military-allied Dozo militia killed three civilians, “all with impunity”.

Fighters ‘execute’ soldiers

HRW also cited an attack on a military convoy in the Gao region on July 18 by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and allied separatist fighters in the Azawad Liberation Front.

It said the two groups “tortured and executed at least 19 Malian troops” they had taken prisoner.

The JNIM acknowledged that prisoners were killed in the event but denied having ordered the deaths, HRW said.

The Azawad Liberation Front, HRW added, acknowledged fighting with the army and Russian forces in the northeastern region on the day but denied executing soldiers.

The HRW report also drew on research by Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a nongovernmentsl group that gathers conflict data from around the world.

It said its data show 49 air strikes by Malian forces and the Africa Corps from April to August that killed 89 civilians, “more than double the 22 strikes and 44 civilian deaths reported during the same period last year”.

HRW said it sent a letter to Mali’s defence minister on August 5 with its findings and questions but received no response.

Attack by Islamic State-affiliated Group in Mali Kills 48 People, Official Says

11:47 AM EDT, October 20, 2026

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A weekend attack by militants affiliated to the Islamic State group killed 48 people in the Ménaka region of eastern Mali, a lawmaker told The Associated Press Tuesday.

Fighters from the Islamic State in Sahel Province, or ISSP, attacked on Sunday night into Monday morning and casualties included children and elderly, Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, a Tuareg leader and member of the National Transitional Council, said.

According to Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, the armed group attacked civilians, accusing them of revealing ISSP positions to the Malian army who had been conducting a drone strike on the group.

ISSP operates mostly in the Ménaka region of Mali, where it faces stiff competition from another militant group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), and in the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso and Niger. It has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

On Monday, the Malian army announced it had located a major base housing “several terrorist elements as well as military equipment and logistical supplies” 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of the town of Ménaka.

“After confirming the intelligence gathered and assessing the situation, the site was targeted and successfully struck,” an army statement said.

The vast Sahel region has become the deadliest place in the world for extremism. The military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in recent years have struggled to turn the tide of armed attacks in the region despite seizing power and turning to Russia for help.

More Than 40 Civilians Killed in Mali Attack Blamed on Islamic State

Mali

Africa News

Security and community sources in Mali says more than 40 civilians were killed over the weekend in an attack by armed men on camps in the north-eastern Menaka region.

They reportedly arrived on motorcycles and targeted camps mainly housing members of the Daoussahak community.

The community's executive bureau has blamed the killings on the Islamic State group.

The government-aligned armed Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA) reportedly has its origins in the area.

A security source based in Gao said the massacre occurred "in retaliation for military operations carried out in the area recently and for attacks by the MSA".

For its part, the Malian army said it had conducted operations on Saturday, about 65 kilometres south-west of Menaka.

Officials said it had struck "a major base housing several terrorist elements and military equipment".

Mali has been plagued since 2012 by a security crisis pitting the army against jihadist fighters, Tuareg separatist groups, and criminal gangs.

Since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, its military leaders have turned to Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps for support.

Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, in a report on Monday accused Mali’s armed forces and its Russian backers of killing scores of civilians in recent months.

It says “apparent indiscriminate” drone strikes and other abuses are part of a ramped-up offensive against insurgents.

This follows nationwide attacks in April this year by the regional al-Qaeda affiliate, known as JNIM, and ​by Tuareg-led separatists.

Mali's defence minister was killed during the 25 April attacks which hit multiple ⁠towns and cities, as well as the main airport in the capital, Bamako.

Iran Expecting Imminent Major US Assault

By Al Mayadeen English

18 Oct 2026 15:38

Iran is on full alert amid assessments of an imminent US attack, as experts warn of military escalation, regional instability and a global economic crisis.

Iran is on full alert and expects a major US assault, University of Tehran professor Mohammad Marandi said, warning that escalation would trigger a global economic depression and topple regional governments, while retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski argued that Trump seeks a dramatic visual to claim victory and that US forces cannot protect their regional partners.

Speaking on Al Mayadeen's Iran and the World: The Grand Standoff, Marandi emphasized that Iranian officials and the public believe American forces are positioned for an attack. "I don't know if the Iranians have information that an attack is imminent," he stated, adding that Iranians "believe that the Americans are poised for an attack, they have positioned themselves for an assault on the country."

The armed forces are on full alert, and some schools on the coast have moved classes online, which he called a clear indication that Iran expects an assault based on the scale and disposition of deployed US forces.

Marandi noted that "I do not know if Iran has any insider information or whether it has any intelligence about an imminent attack," but Iranians are saying the Americans "have prepared themselves for a potential attack" and Iran has prepared for a major assault.

Dismissing Trump's statements

Addressing recent remarks made by Trump, Marandi argued that "nothing that Trump says is important. The only thing that is important is what the US armed forces does," noting that Trump "says one thing today, and he'll say the opposite tomorrow."

He added that "nothing that he says has any credibility whatsoever," citing the Islamabad MOU Trump signed and never implemented and talks with Iran before the 12 Day War that Trump later called fake. Posts on Truth Social are, in Marandi's words, "very rarely discussed anymore" in Iran.

Marandi maintained that an American attack on Iran would solve nothing, and would instead worsen the global economic crisis and the difficulties facing ordinary Americans. "Even if it's not a major assault, any form of assault on Iran, just continuing the current policy is going to make things worse. A major escalation will make it horrific," he noted.

Iranian decision-makers are baffled by Trump's intentions, Marandi emphasized, warning that no one should expect reason from a president "surrounded by Israeli forces" with no history of deciding on facts.

The consequences for the region will be severe, Marandi predicted, arguing that a major assault "would definitely lead to a global economic depression, and the downfall of regimes like Saudi Arabia and other tiny family regimes in the region, because they won't survive such an escalation."

On Iran's approach to the United States, he asserted that Iran has moved past expecting Washington to conform to logic, calling the Trump administration unlike any previous US presidency.

Neighbors as co-conspirators

Countries that assisted the United States in the war against Iran are, in Marandi's assessment, "co-conspirators" who "have helped kill Iranian children and Iranian citizens."

He pointed out that US aircraft refueling Israeli and US jets took off from these countries, and that they assisted Saddam Hussein in the war he imposed on Iran.

"Does anyone think Iran is going to look away and allow these countries which give the Americans rights to fly over their territory, which hosts US forces, which hosts, as we speak, tankers to refuel American and perhaps Israeli regime jets?" Marandi asked, should Washington launch another war.

Already fragile, he argued, these states face mounting pressure both from their conduct toward Iran and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and from the war Mohammed bin Salman provoked against Yemen.

"If the United States carries out a major assault on Iran, these regimes would fall," Marandi warned, adding that continued US pressure would push them toward greater instability.

Strikes meant to deliver a visual win

Trump's talk of the "mother of all bombs" reflects a search for a dramatic image to end the war, Kwiatkowski said. The massive conventional bomb must be delivered by a C-130 aircraft that would be "highly vulnerable anywhere near Iran's airspace," she noted, yet Trump is suggesting it would provide the visual he needs.

In her account, Trump grasps that his actions only worsen the global economy without forcing Iran to submit, but he cannot simply admit error and end the war.

"He has already the seven points that they're considering, but certainly he's already signed the MOU from some months ago, which really would have ended the war," Kwiatkowski said. "So he's not the man that can do the right thing."

She cautioned that more strikes are likely, despite being counterproductive, because they would give Trump "the appearance of winning so that he can then end this thing." Like Marandi, the retired colonel described a president surrounded by Israel firsters guiding his thinking.

No ground forces have been deployed for an invasion, she noted, but the United States retains the ability to drop bombs, fire missiles and attack from the sea. "I think Trump would be willing to basically waste that capability to get some sort of excuse to say, I won and end the war," she said.

Kwiatkowski's assessment was that Iran had prepared over many years, protecting its missiles and air defense and studying how Americans fight in West Asia. "So they were prepared. America was not prepared."

Iran's military readiness

Recent assessments, she said, place Iran's defensive, ballistic missile and drone capabilities at or above their level four or five months ago, in some cases higher than before the February 28 attack by Israel and the United States.

Iran has pledged serious retaliation, and what remains of US allies' military facilities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain would be hit, she warned, along with Jordan, and possibly "Israel" if it participates.

Pointing to Trump's refusal to help Saudi Arabia against the Yemeni Armed Forces, despite repeated requests, Kwiatkowski called the regional governments "already highly vulnerable." She questioned why Trump would attack at all, citing Iran's known strength and its record of keeping its word.

Strait of Hormuz and the oil picture

Kwiatkowski disputed claims that oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. "Our Navy in particular, cannot really operate anywhere near the strait," she said, noting US ships have been fired upon and have repeatedly moved away.

The loss of even a small American ship would be a severe blow to Trump, she argued, so the United States instead advises vessels to transit the western side with lights off and communications down, leaving them unprotected while mines take a toll.

She rejected that the quoted prices of $100 or $110 a barrel reflect the real scarcity of global energy or the damage to processed products, especially jet fuel and diesel. "The diesel fuel prices are so impossible in the United States right now," she said, noting Trump recently waived diesel tariffs against Russia.

It would take years to recover, she predicted, from damage to refineries, pumping stations, pipelines and supplies of aluminum, potash, fertilizer and helium. "I don't know who's telling Trump these lies about oil getting through, because that's just what they are," she said.

Iran's retaliation and public preparation

Iran's current escalation responds to Trump's escalation, Marandi said, recalling that Bessent declared "D-Day" with the intention of destroying the Iranian economy. Iran is hitting back at the United States and at regional oil exporters that assist it, he explained, and the number of ships struck rose substantially after President Hezbollah returned from New York, as Tehran had promised.

He noted Iran was already under maximum-pressure sanctions and a siege that he called an active war on ordinary Iranians.

A statement by the Assembly of Experts, Marandi said, is aimed at the Iranian public, reminding people of the situation so they are not surprised if the United States attacks overnight and so the country can function in wartime.

Diplomacy and military deterrence do not contradict each other, Marandi argued. "Diplomacy never ends. The Foreign Ministry has an obligation to continue to seek solutions while the military has an obligation to intimidate any potential aggression," he said.

He rejected the notion that talks weaken defense or that battlefield resolve neglects diplomacy. "Iran will continue to try to find a way to end this peacefully," he stated, but because Trump is not a rational actor and those around him do not share the American people's agenda, Iran must be ready for all-out war.

US politics and the midterms

Iran would like to see Trump lose the midterm elections, with a larger defeat strengthening Tehran's position, Marandi said.

He also noted a countervailing view inside Iran that a victory by Netanyahu's opponents could prove worse, because they would seek to rehabilitate the Israeli government and place all blame for the genocide on Netanyahu. Iran, he stressed, will not openly support any side in US elections and is not greatly concerned with the results, focusing instead on its own military and defense capabilities.

Kwiatkowski pointed to deep US divisions. "New York has always been hostile towards Trump," she said, while noting he retains a strong base in the heartland. She cautioned against overconfidence in polling, which she said has generally been biased against Trump, and said the Democratic Party "is not reflective of the popular views held by ordinary Americans," remaining pro-Israel despite an anti-war base.

Democratic gains would matter, she suggested, because the party is hostile to Trump and its base opposes the war, creating pressure to change course. But she doubted Congress could restrain a president who rules by executive order and no longer cares about popular support, focusing instead on legacy and enrichment.

The coalition that elected Trump twice had been betrayed, Kwiatkowski said. "He has betrayed that base, number one," she stated, adding that MAGA and America First "have really lost the spirit of Trump" because he has done the opposite of what he promised.

In her rural Republican county, she said, the party is "invisible" and cannot support a president who has economically harmed farmers, who now see him as a traitor to their interests. She also disputed Trump's claims about the Strait, saying he is "outright lying" and that no credible adviser would tell him otherwise.

Ethiopia Advances Strategic Interests, Diplomacy and Regional Security This Week

By Staff Writer 

October 18, 2026 (ENA) 

Ethiopia has concluded the week with a series of significant political, diplomatic, economic and security developments, underscoring its determination to consolidate domestic stability, deepen international partnerships and strengthen its strategic role in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

From establishing a six-month caretaker administration in Tigray to advancing economic diplomacy at the 2026 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Ethiopia has pursued multiple priorities aimed at strengthening national stability and accelerating development.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s telephone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio further highlighted Ethiopia’s active bilateral engagement. Meanwhile a security briefing for foreign military attachés underscored the government’s emphasis on safeguarding national sovereignty and addressing information gaps surrounding the country’s security situation.

Beyond immediate political and security priorities, the week also featured renewed calls for national unity, stronger technological capacity and climate resilience, alongside a broader national ambition to secure reliable maritime access and expand Ethiopia’s contribution to regional peace and economic integration.

As Ethiopia begins a new five-year political chapter under the Medemer Government, these developments reflect an interconnected agenda: consolidating peace at home, mobilizing resources for development and advancing the country’s interests through regional cooperation and international engagement.

Caretaker Administration in Tigray Region 

Ethiopia’s federal government has established a six-month caretaker administration for the Tigray Region, with a mandate to restore peace, revive public institutions and services, rebuild war-damaged infrastructure and prepare the ground for free and transparent elections.

The decision followed a resolution by the House of Federation and a subsequent binding decision by the Council of Ministers to establish a provisional administration for the region.

According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, the measure came after repeated efforts to resolve the conflict through the Pretoria Agreement encountered obstacles attributed to the TPLF leadership. The statement accused the leadership of undermining the peace process and returning to conflict, arguing that the region’s population should not be trapped in a recurring cycle of violence.

The federal government emphasized that lasting peace requires prioritizing development, strengthening Tigray’s place within Ethiopia’s federal system and deepening cooperation with the country’s other peoples. The caretaker administration is expected to restore the functioning of government institutions, facilitate the resumption of essential social services, rehabilitate damaged infrastructure and support the return of internally displaced people to their homes.

The initiative places institutional recovery, peace and the restoration of essential services at the center of efforts to address the region’s challenges. Its implementation and progress toward credible elections will be important indicators of whether the transitional arrangement can help establish a more stable political environment.

Ethiopia Intensifies Economic Diplomacy, Seeks Fresh Investment Capital

Ethiopia has stepped up its international economic engagement at the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, seeking to translate ongoing economic reforms and progress on debt restructuring into stronger investment partnerships and development financing.

The Ethiopian delegation, led by National Bank of Ethiopia Governor Dr. Eyob Tekalign and including State Minister of Finance Tiguist Fisseha, engaged with international financial institutions, development partners and senior financial officials on the country’s economic priorities. The meetings provided a platform to discuss macroeconomic reforms, financial stability, debt sustainability, private investment and financing for Ethiopia’s development ambitions.

Governor Eyob emphasized that Ethiopia is increasingly looking beyond debt restructuring toward attracting fresh investment capital and building high-value international partnerships that reflect the country’s market size, economic potential and development priorities. The shift comes as Ethiopia advances negotiations with external creditors. According to the delegation’s account, agreements with bilateral creditors have been finalized, while negotiations with commercial lenders are progressing following an agreement in principle with Eurobond holders.

The delegation also held engagements with representatives of international financial institutions and partner countries to explore opportunities for closer cooperation and investment. For Ethiopia, the objective extends beyond securing additional financing. It is also about strengthening investor confidence, expanding access to development resources and ensuring that international partnerships support the country’s long-term economic transformation.

As the country continues implementing economic reforms, the ability to convert international commitments into productive investment, employment opportunities and improved livelihoods will remain a central test of its economic diplomacy.

Ethiopia Reaffirms Sovereignty as Foreign Military Attachés Receive Security Briefing

Ethiopia has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity as foreign military attachés received an update on the country’s security situation at Bishoftu Air Force Base.

The briefing provided foreign military representatives with information on developments over the preceding three weeks, including security incidents and measures taken by the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF).

The representatives were also shown weapons reportedly captured during recent security operations in Tigray and adjoining areas.

According to accounts of the briefing, the military attachés described the direct exchange as useful in clarifying information gaps and addressing reports circulating on social media and other media platforms. They also expressed support for Ethiopia’s right to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

High-Level Telephone Diplomacy Strengthens Ethiopia’s International Engagement

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held separate telephone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing bilateral relations and regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

Following his conversation with Netanyahu, the Prime Minister described the exchange as fruitful and constructive, noting that the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and key regional developments. He also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation.

In his conversation with Rubio, PM Abiy discussed opportunities to translate the longstanding Ethiopia–United States relationship into a more strategic and practical partnership. The Prime Minister welcomed Washington’s assurance of continued support for Ethiopia and emphasized the shared interest in advancing bilateral cooperation and addressing regional and multilateral priorities.

The engagements reflect Ethiopia’s continued efforts to maintain high-level dialogue with international partners while advancing its diplomatic and strategic interests.

For a country whose economic and security priorities are closely connected to developments across the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the wider Middle East, sustained diplomatic engagement remains important to building partnerships, addressing shared concerns and supporting regional cooperation.

National Flag Day Renews Call for Unity, Consensus and Shared Prosperity

Ethiopia marked its 19th National Flag Day on October 12 under the theme “Our Flag for National Consensus and Unity,” renewing calls for national cohesion, respect for diversity and collective responsibility for the country’s future.

In his message marking the occasion, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized that national unity is fundamental to Ethiopia’s pursuit of prosperity and that the national flag represents the country’s shared history, sovereignty and strength in diversity. The observance came at a time when consolidating peace, strengthening public institutions and broadening national consensus remain important priorities for Ethiopia’s political transition.

Beyond its symbolic significance, National Flag Day offered an opportunity to highlight the importance of dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation among Ethiopia’s diverse communities. The message reinforced the idea that sustainable development requires more than economic growth: it also depends on social cohesion, shared responsibility and the ability to pursue common national objectives while respecting the country’s diversity.

Technology and Meteorological Capacity Advance Climate Resilience

Ethiopia has underscored the growing importance of scientific research, technological advancement and reliable data infrastructure in strengthening climate resilience and supporting national development. During a visit to the Ethiopia Meteorology Institute, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highlighted the institution’s role in generating meteorological information and improving the country’s capacity to anticipate and respond to changing weather conditions.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need for continuous data collection, scientific research and technological modernization to strengthen institutional capacity and improve the use of weather and climate information. Reliable meteorological services are critical to several key sectors of the Ethiopian economy, particularly agriculture, water management, energy, transportation and disaster preparedness.

Improved forecasting and early-warning systems can help communities and public institutions prepare for extreme weather events, reduce potential losses and make better-informed development decisions. As climate-related risks increasingly affect African economies, strengthening national forecasting and early-warning capacity will also contribute to wider efforts to protect livelihoods and support sustainable development.

Ethiopia’s New Political Chapter Places Sea Access and Regional Integration in Focus

As Ethiopia enters a new five-year political chapter under the Medemer Government, sovereign sea access remains a prominent national strategic and economic ambition. As one of the world’s most populous landlocked countries, Ethiopia has a substantial interest in securing dependable access to maritime trade routes through mutually beneficial arrangements with regional partners.

Reliable sea access could help reduce logistical constraints, improve export competitiveness, attract investment and strengthen Ethiopia’s integration into regional and global markets.

The issue also carries wider regional significance. Ethiopia’s economic growth, population size and position at the heart of the Horn of Africa mean that maritime connectivity has implications for trade, infrastructure development and cross-border economic cooperation. Ethiopia’s pursuit of maritime access therefore intersects with a broader national agenda: strengthening economic resilience, diversifying trade routes and building regional partnerships that can generate shared prosperity.

Ethiopia’s Maritime Ambition Linked to Red Sea Stability

Ethiopia’s pursuit of reliable maritime access featured prominently in the week’s strategic agenda, reflecting the country’s economic interests and the Red Sea’s critical role in global trade and security.

With its strategic position, economic potential and longstanding peacekeeping record, Ethiopia could contribute to regional maritime security and protect vital trade routes through constructive cooperation with coastal states, respect for international law and mutually beneficial arrangements. Reliable maritime access, stronger regional cooperation and a stable Red Sea are interconnected priorities that could unlock trade, investment and shared prosperity across the Horn of Africa.

Tana Forum Positions Ethiopia at the Center of Africa’s Peace and Security Dialogue

Ethiopia is preparing to host the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa in Bahir Dar from October 23 to 25, bringing African leaders, policymakers, researchers and security experts together to examine the continent’s evolving peace and security challenges. The forum’s theme, “Pathways to Peace in Africa: Economic Sovereignty and Geopolitical Transformation,” reflects growing recognition that sustainable peace is closely linked to economic independence, institutional strength and Africa’s capacity to navigate intensifying global geopolitical competition.

Across the continent, conflicts, political instability, external rivalries and economic vulnerabilities continue to complicate efforts to achieve lasting peace and development. The Tana Forum offers an opportunity to examine how African countries can strengthen locally driven responses, deepen regional cooperation and align peace and security strategies with the continent’s development priorities.

Its emphasis on economic sovereignty also highlights the importance of mobilizing domestic resources, building resilient economies and ensuring that African countries have greater capacity to shape decisions affecting their futures.

For Ethiopia, hosting the forum reinforces Addis Ababa’s and the country’s wider role in continental diplomacy and provides an additional platform for advancing dialogue on African-led solutions to shared challenges.

Looking Ahead: Connecting National Stability with Regional Opportunity

This week’s developments illustrate the interconnected nature of Ethiopia’s domestic priorities and international ambitions.

The caretaker administration in Tigray region  places peace, institutional recovery and the restoration of public services at the center of the country’s internal challenges. Economic diplomacy in Bangkok reflects an effort to turn reform and debt-restructuring progress into fresh investment and development financing. High-level telephone conversations and military briefings demonstrate continued engagement with international partners on diplomatic and security issues.

At the same time, National Flag Day, investments in meteorological capacity and preparations for the Tana Forum highlight the importance of national cohesion, technological modernization and African-led approaches to peace and development.

Ethiopia’s pursuit of sovereign sea  access adds a longer-term strategic dimension to this agenda, linking economic competitiveness with regional connectivity and the stability of the Red Sea.

All in all, these priorities point to a broader national objective: consolidating stability at home, mobilizing resources for inclusive development and building international partnerships that advance Ethiopia’s interests while contributing to regional cooperation.

African Diplomats Urge Stronger African-Led Strategies, Sustained Dialogue, Local Ownership, Adequate Financing

Addis Ababa, October 18, 2026 (ENA) —African diplomats have called for stronger African-led strategies to address the continent’s conflicts and security challenges. 

Approached by Pulse of Africa at the Pre-Tana Forum Dialogue in Bahir Dar, the ambassadors emphasized that sustained dialogue, local ownership and adequate financing are essential to achieving lasting peace and development.

Ghana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, McArios Akanbeanab Akanbong, and Burundi’s Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ambassador Willy Nyamitwe, highlighted the importance of platforms that bring together policymakers, diplomats, academics and civil society representatives to develop solutions grounded in Africa’s realities.

Ambassador Akanbong said the Tana Forum provides an important platform for Africa to shape its security agenda, examine the root causes of conflict and formulate strategies to address terrorism, interstate tensions and other threats to stability.

The Ghanaian ambassador also said that heavy reliance on external financing could leave Africa vulnerable to outside influence.

While acknowledging the importance of international partnerships, he stressed that such cooperation should reinforce, rather than undermine, African ownership of the continent’s priorities and solutions.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Nyamitwe called for sustained efforts to achieve the African Union’s goal of silencing the guns by 2030. 

He said continued dialogue was necessary to assess setbacks, bring diverse stakeholders together and identify practical pathways toward peace.

Nyamitwe also highlighted the close link between security and economic development, noting that sustainable progress depends on peaceful and stable societies.

He added that Burundi, under the chairmanship of its president at the African Union, remained committed to advancing peace and security alongside broader development priorities, including water and sanitation, education, youth empowerment and women’s advancement.

Held under the theme “Navigating a Changing World: The Role of Diplomacy and Dialogue in Advancing Peace and Security in Africa,” the Pre-Tana Forum Dialogue highlighted the need for African-led responses to evolving security challenges.

The discussions underscored a shared message: lasting peace requires more than dialogue alone. It also depends on effective African leadership, stronger cooperation, sustainable financing and a sustained commitment to solutions that reflect the continent’s priorities and realities.

Ethiopia Sets up Tigray Caretaker Government as Ex-fighters Seek Return to Civilian Life

By KHALED KAZZIHA

2:06 PM EDT, October 16, 2026

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Ethiopia’s government set up a six-month caretaker administration for Tigray following renewed fighting in the region, as hundreds of former combatants registered Friday for a program to help them return to civilian life.

The new administration is expected to restore public services, help displaced people return and prepare for an election within six months under federal oversight, according to the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The announcement follows the withdrawal of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front rebel group, or TPLF, from Mekelle and the entry of government-allied fighters into the regional capital on Oct. 4.

Renewed fighting in the northern region in recent weeks has effectively shattered a 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating two-year war. Ethiopia also has accused Eritrean troops of occupying parts of its territory, while Eritrea condemned Ethiopia for what it called a declaration of war.

Former combatants seek to return to civilian life

At Mekelle’s Tigray Martyrs’ Memorial Monument, former fighters lined up to register with the authorities, some carrying papers or sheltering under umbrellas. Registration began Wednesday. Authorities declined to say how many former fighters had signed up.

“We were called upon by the TPLF to rejoin our former comrades and units, and doing so was even considered mandatory,” said Filmon Gebreselassie, a 33-year-old day laborer. “However, I did not want to return (to war). I decided instead to focus on raising my children.”

He said that he had disarmed after the 2022 peace agreement in Tigray, but had been unable to register before the reintegration program was suspended as new tensions rose.

Other former fighters were also signing up because they didn’t want to fight again, he said.

Many young men at the registration office declined interviews, citing fear of retaliation from the TPLF.

In an Oct. 14 statement on its official Facebook page, the TPLF denounced Tigrayans collaborating with the federal government as “traitors” and said they would face “accountability and public judgment.”

Human Rights Watch reported in June that Tigrayan authorities then in charge of Mekelle had ordered former fighters back to their units in a compulsory recruitment campaign. A TPLF spokesperson said those defending the region were volunteers, according to the watchdog.

The disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former Tigrayan fighters is part of the 2022 peace agreement.

Abiy’s office accused the TPLF of obstructing the agreement and said that the latest fighting ended in its defeat. The rebels urged their forces to continue fighting and called on Tigrayans to support them.

Fighting is far from over, analyst says

Magnus Taylor, deputy Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group, cautioned against equating the loss of towns with an end to fighting.

“We shouldn’t imagine that this conflict is completely over just because the TPLF has lost Mekelle,” he told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Capturing towns and roads would hamper Tigrayan fighters without necessarily securing the vast rural areas where the rebel forces regrouped during the previous war, Taylor said.

Ethiopia also has accused Eritrean troops of occupying its territory, an allegation that the AP couldn’t independently verify. Eritrea described Ethiopia’s assertion that it was taking self-defense measures as a declaration of war.

Taylor warned that the proximity of the countries’ forces increased the risk of a wider conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged de-escalation in a call with Abiy on Wednesday, according to the U.S. State Department.

Eritrean troops fought alongside Ethiopian forces during the 2020-2022 war, which caused about 500,000 civilian deaths through violence, famine and collapsed health services, according to researchers at Ghent University in Belgium.

___

Amir Aman Kiyaro in Hamburg, Germany, Filmon Equar Hailu in Mekelle, Ethiopia, and Desmond Tiro in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report.

Equatorial Guinea is Expanding an Ambitious Malaria Elimination Plan

By MONIKA PRONCZUK

8:22 PM EDT, October 18, 2026

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) — With its torrential rains, tropical forests and omnipresent humidity, Equatorial Guinea provides the perfect conditions for mosquitoes to breed. For centuries, mosquito-borne diseases, in particular malaria, have dictated the fate of residents of this central African nation, impacting how they lived, worked and died.

But Bioko island, off mainland Equatorial Guinea, has managed to sharply reduce malaria infections and deaths.

Bioko, roughly half the size of Rhode Island, has used familiar tools: indoor spraying, mosquito nets and keeping control of the larvae population. Its success, however, has depended on something less easily replicated: two decades of painstaking data collection, sustained funding and workers going door to door to win residents’ trust.

Now the tiny, oil-rich country wants to bring that approach to its mainland and eliminate malaria altogether. But the expansion of Bioko’s strategy presents formidable challenges, from porous international borders to the sheer scale of the territory.

In Malabo, Bioko’s biggest city, a team of men and women equipped with insecticide sprayers squeezed between low-rise cement buildings on a recent morning, as heavy rain drummed on aluminum roofs.

“We are here to give key messages so that the population understands the importance of our interventions,” said Cristina Ngui Otogo, the program coordinator. “Today it will be hard to convince people to get out of their homes.”

Around 610,000 people died in 2024 from malaria, according to the last available data from the WHO, and African countries accounted for 95% of global cases and deaths.

Despite technological advances, such as new vaccines for children, the fight against malaria in Africa has stalled, making it unlikely the continent can achieve its goal of eliminating the disease by 2030. Only two countries in sub-Saharan Africa have been certified malaria free by the World Health Organization: Mauritius and Cabo Verde, both of them island nations.

The program uses data to adjust strategy in real time

Africa CDC experts say one key element of Bioko’s strategy is meticulously collecting data about the population and where people live.

“First, we did a population census with the number of houses and demographics,” said Guillermo Garcia of U.S. nonprofit MCD Global Health, which implements the program. “There is no address system in Equatorial Guinea, so we came up with our own system to map out how many houses there are and where and track the spraying and the number of cases.”

The collected data allows for designing targeted interventions, tracking their effectiveness in real time and adjusting them if needed. Data teams look at the timings of when houses were sprayed and which ones reported cases of malaria, then analyze how best to prevent future infections.

Empathy is key for getting people on board

The core of the program depends on people who patiently go from door to door and explain the strategy to residents, trying to convince them to get their houses sprayed.

Benjamin Esono, a university student who works part time as a sprayer, said that the key to success was empathy.

“Each person is different, so you need to have a different way of connecting with them,” he said.

“It has not always been easy” to get residents on board, said Ngui Otogo, the coordinator. Sometimes it takes several attempts.

One of those who let the sprayers in despite the early hour and pouring rain was Elena Ntongono, who works as a security guard. As she hastily changed from her pajamas, she explained that she had malaria multiple times, most recently seven months ago.

“It wasn’t very serious,” she said, though it did mean she had to miss work. That was a big problem because she is the main breadwinner in the family.

She wants to avoid that in the future, she said, and to protect her 11-month-old grandson who has not had malaria yet.

“I am very happy my house is being sprayed,” she said.

US oil companies have helped fund the program

Funding is a problem. The effort on the island has been funded by oil giants which have been operating there since the 1990s. Together with the government, U.S. oil companies, including ConocoPhillips and Chevron Oil, have invested over $130 million over the last two decades to fight malaria in Bioko.

No such funding had been available for the mainland until earlier this year, when a $116 million investment from the government and businesses was announced to roll out the program on the mainland and the Annobon island, a remote, volcanic island which forms the country’s southernmost province.

“There was a common shared interest” between the government and U.S. oil companies operating in Equatorial Guinea, Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba, the country’s health minister, told The Associated Press in an interview. Oil companies realized that many employees were off sick with malaria, decreasing their productivity.

Because of its oil wealth, Equatorial Guinea has one of Africa’s higher per-capita incomes. Yet the country is rife with corruption, and more than half its population lives in poverty. Many houses in the densely populated middle class neighborhood where the sprayers operated were built with low quality materials, left unfinished or damaged.

Drones and genetically modified mosquitoes could be added tools

Ayekaba, the health minister, was born and raised in Malabo. He said that as a child, he was hospitalized several times a year because of malaria. His two children, ages 5 and 7, have never contracted it.

“That would have been unthinkable before the program was launched,” he said, when around half of Bioko Island’s population was infected with malaria. Now the prevalence of malaria is around 7%, and deaths of children under five decreased by 78%.

Eliminating malaria from the whole territory is necessary to attract tourists and ensure economic growth, the health minister said.

The strategy will combine the methods used in Bioko with the rollout of R21, a WHO-recommended vaccine for children. Garcia said the plan was to vaccinate 300,000 children across the country, and to use new surveillance methods, including drones, to spot mosquito hot spots.

Authorities are also evaluating the use of genetically modified mosquitoes, which are being developed by experts at the University of California, Davis. The plan would be to release the genetically modified mosquitoes, which would no longer carry the malaria parasite, to either suppress the number of wild insects or reduce their capacity to transmit the disease.

Malaria is a disease of rural poverty

Authorities of Equatorial Guinea insisted that Bioko’s success was “perfectly replicable” in the mainland.

But experts point out that Bioko has a natural advantage: It is an island, where the risk of transmission from abroad is reduced.

Mainland Equatorial Guinea borders two countries with high malaria prevalence, Cameroon and Gabon. Mosquitoes and infected people can move freely from one country to another, and success requires complex coordination between the governments. The mainland’s surface is also 13 times bigger than Bioko.

“What experience has taught us is that the current package of interventions is not sufficient for eliminating malaria from any country in continental sub-Saharan Africa,” said Dr. Matthew M. Ippolito, associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a malaria specialist.

Eliminating malaria requires precisely timing interventions to local transmission patterns, which can vary significantly even within one country, he said. And even then, infections can be reintroduced from neighboring countries if their control efforts fail.

But the “absolute key” in saving lives was economic development that trickles down to the population, he said.

“Malaria is a disease of rural poverty,” he said, adding it cannot be fought without “better housing, better healthcare, and better health in general.”

Kenya Confirms Eighth Ebola Virus Case Amid Outbreak in Nearby DRC

Don Jacobson

Sun, October 18, 2026 at 8:49 PM EDT

An eighth person carrying the Bundibugyo virus was identified in Kenya on Sunday as the country remained on high alert amid a major Ebola outbreak in the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo. File Photo by Ahmed Jallanzo/EPA

Oct. 18 (UPI) -- An eighth person infected with the virus that causes Ebola was identified in Kenya on Sunday as the disease outbreak appeared to continue its migration from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The African nation's health ministry reported that of 38 people tested on Sunday one 49-year-old man tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment.

Kenyan Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth said the victim was not a healthcare worker and that he developed fever, headache and muscle pain.

The confirmation of an eighth case came less than two weeks after Kenya's first-known case stemming from the current DRC Ebola outbreak was announced by health officials.

In that instance, a patient fell ill in the DRC in mid-September, and after receiving treatment at several local hospitals, travelled by plane to Nairobi where they arrived on Oct. 3 with symptoms including fever, chills, fatigue, muscle pain, painful swallowing, a sore throat and bleeding under the skin at injection sites.

Since then, seven more Bundibugyo infections have been identified in Kenya as the nation remains on heightened alert since the DRC outbreak began in May.

Kenyan officials on Sunday urged residents not to panic and again reassured the public that systems are in place to respond but urged those who have come into contact with any of the confirmed carriers within the previous 21 days to beware of symptoms and to call emergency services if they develop symptoms.

As of Oct. 6, the DRC outbreak had resulted in 8,728 confirmed cases and 4,205 confirmed deaths in that country, yielding a case fatality ratio of 48.2 as the World Health Organization warned it was growing exponentially.

The outbreak has shown "persistently high mortality" and a "large number of deaths occurring outside treatment center," the WHO noted, likely a result of delays in identifying illness and the lack of appropriate care.

The Netherlands reported the medical evacuation of a healthcare worker who tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus in the DRC on Oct. 1, who was subsequently reported to undergoing treatment in their home country.

DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Spreads To Nord-Ubangi, Kenya Cases Reach Eight

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Nord-Ubangi province in DRC reports two Ebola cases, including one death. Kenya confirms eight Ebola cases, with a latest new patient bringing total to eight.

Eighth Province Confirmed

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak spread to an eighth province after new cases were confirmed in Nord-Ubangi Province, with the health ministry reporting two men in their 20s tested positive in the Wapinda health zone and one patient died.

Qazinform News Agency, citing Xinhua, said the DRC had recorded 9,415 confirmed Ebola cases and 4,536 deaths since the outbreak began in May, producing a case fatality rate of 48.2%.

Kenya’s Health Ministry confirmed another case of Ebola, bringing Kenya’s confirmed infections to eight, and Health Ministry Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth said, "Today, 38 people were tested, and one tested positive for Ebola."

DW also said the first patient died on October 5, and it described the latest case as a 49-year-old man who was not a healthcare worker and had developed fever, headache and muscle pain.

Quarantine, Testing, and Risk

Kenya’s Health Ministry Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth said patients in quarantine were being tested after developing symptoms, and he said the other six patients were stable after receiving supportive treatment.

DW reported that Amoth said the latest case was a patient attendant who cleaned utensils and linen and had likely been exposed to Kenya's first Ebola case, discovered earlier this month.

The Health Ministry recorded two cases, including one death, in Nord-Ubangi province, and the patients were men in their 20s living in the Wapinda health zone.

World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi said, "We see pockets of Ebola generally going down, but unfortunately geographically it’s spreading out," while he spoke in Beni, eastern Congo.

Containment and Clinical Efforts

Health authorities in the region intensified surveillance after new infections were detected in Kenya, and medical and health containment teams intensified border controls to curb the spread of Ebola in Central and East Africa. An official report from the Ministry of Health confirmed that one of the affected patients died and medical teams investigated the origin of the infectious vector in the locality.

There is no vaccine or treatment specifically targeting Bundibugyo virus causing this outbreak, and researchers in Uganda launched a phase 1 clinical trial of a candidate vaccine to combat the Bundibugyo virus. Eugene Ruzagira, PhD, senior scientist at the Medical Research Council, the Uganda Virus Research Institute, and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, said, "In a phase one vaccine trial, what we are looking out for is whether the vaccine is safe".

Kenya Confirms Four More Ebola Cases, Bringing Total to Seven

Three health workers who ⁠treated the country’s first Ebola patient are among the latest confirmed cases

A nurse is assisted by a colleague in donning personal protective equipment (PPE) at an isolation facility prepared to receive potential Ebola patients during a media visit to Nairobi Hospital in Nairobi on October 7, 2026.

By Al Jazeera Staff and AP

17 Oct 2026

The Kenyan government says four new patients have tested positive for the Ebola Bundibugyo virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the East African nation to seven.

Three of the new cases were among health workers who treated the country’s first patient, Kenya’s Ministry of Health said in a statement posted on X on Saturday.

The relative had been in quarantine since October 6, the ministry said.

This comes a day after Kenya confirmed three cases in the country. The patient identified on Friday was a “primary contact and a close relative of the first and second cases”, the Health Ministry said.

Kenya’s cases are linked to the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has recorded more than 9,000 cases and more than 4,300 deaths since it was officially detected in May.

Kenya’s index patient died on October 5 after being ill in the DRC for a month and then flying to Nairobi on October 3. The cases are the first known infections ⁠passed on inside Kenya.

Of the first patient’s 130 contacts, the Health Ministry said 128, or 98.5 percent, had been quarantined – above the global benchmark of 85 percent to break the chain of transmission.

The ministry says it has traced and quarantined nearly all of the first patient’s contacts and there is no evidence that the virus is spreading in the community.

Kenya has reacted quickly by strengthening screening and establishing a hotline for anyone who suspects they may have been in contact with an Ebola patient, but some observers have questioned how the index patient managed to bypass health screenings upon returning to Kenya and make contact with so many people.

Ebola is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, including blood and vomit, or through contact with contaminated materials and surfaces, such as bedding and clothing.

The dominant strain in this outbreak is the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are currently no vaccines or treatments. This has complicated efforts to control the spread of the disease.

Research is under way to develop one or more vaccines that work against the strain, and some of these vaccines are already in the early phases of testing in humans.