Venezuela: A Retreat is Not a Surrender

Concessions to Washington by the post-Maduro leadership in Caracas are designed to preserve the core of the Bolivarian Revolution not betray it, argue Roger D Harris, Francisco Dominguez and Mara Paez Victor. How the solidarity movement responds is critical

 Acting president Delcy Rodriguez [Pic: government.ru/Creative Commons]

16 August 2026

“NOTHING is easier than to be idealistic on behalf of others.” Karl Marx, 1858.

The US military kidnapped the lawful Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and National Assembly deputy Cilia Flores on January 3, 2026, resulting in over 100 fatalities of civilians as well as Cuban and Venezuelan guards.

This surprise attack flagrantly violated international law but in expectation that the US could act with impunity. Even the left-leaning governments of Brazil and Colombia offered only mild rebukes. Then Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said: “We found ourselves alone.” That is the context of subsequent developments.

The attack was the climax of a quarter of a century of US and allied (particularly Canadian and British) machinations against Venezuela: asphyxiating sanctions, stolen assets, diplomatic isolation, cyber attacks, assassination attempts, mercenary invasions, and establishing a fake parallel government. For the two months preceding the invasion, the US navy blockaded oil shipments. Even so, the empire’s goal of regime change was not achieved.

The revolution’s resilience compelled the US to escalate

Washington failed to destroy Chavismo, founded by Hugo Chavez and carried forward by his successor Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela did not collapse into chaos after the abductions. The US-backed far-right opposition did not seize power, but found itself more marginalised.

Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in constitutionally as acting president. The top command held firm, backed by the National Assembly and supreme court. Likewise, the civic-military union and the communes and grassroots Chavista institutions supported the government.

Relying on military superiority, Washington made a mafia-style “offer you can’t refuse.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Rodriguez to deliver an ultimatum to collaborate or face national destruction and the murder of her and other leaders. Variations of this scenario are corroborated by both the corporate press and Chavista sources.

Trump threatened: “There is more where that came from.” With US forces deployed off its coast, a military confrontation would have meant annihilation. Rodriguez made a tactical retreat in the face of overwhelming force.

Venezuela did not surrender

The Chavista state institutions and the powerful grassroots revolutionary organisations remain intact. Yet, US imperialism, pointing a gun at the government’s head, can force unpalatable decisions, such as the deportation of the former minister of industry Alex Saab to the United States.

Former Chavez official Sergio Rodriguez Gelfenstein observes: “What is at stake is the survival of the state and the republic, which if lost, would make the discussion on any other topic banal.” Former Venezuelan foreign minister Jorge Arreaza said, “everything is now negotiated,” with Washington in daily give-and-take sessions.

Legislative reform had long been on Maduro’s agenda. However, revisions to laws governing the exploitation of hydrocarbons and hard minerals involved offering generous conditions to foreign investors.

Another planned initiative, the new amnesty law, promotes reconciliation and denies extremists pretexts for violence. The law excludes “anyone who has committed war crimes, human rights violations, homicide, drug trafficking, or treason.”

The government is negotiating with the moderate opposition, as Maduro did.

Rodriguez has counselled prudence and patience. The core Chavista leadership, the military, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), and community formations have remained united.

Long-sought gains achieved

The US now in practice recognises the Venezuelan government as legitimate. The Bolivarian project has forced its greatest adversary into a reversal.

Since 2019, the US blocked transactions with Venezuelan banks. US restrictions cut Venezuela off from the global financial system. Oil sales to the US have now resumed, with some revenue returning to the domestic economy. The US-dominated International Monetary Fund (IMF) is again engaged with Venezuela. Rodriguez has stated that Venezuela is not seeking IMF loans, but access to its own frozen funds.

Although sanctions largely remain in place, special licenses and a temporary easing of economic restrictions for earthquake relief have provided some breathing space, although the broader structure of US economic warfare is intact. Nonetheless, this is preferable to the total oil blockade imposed before the January 3 assault.

Rodriguez has demanded that Venezuela be freed from all sanctions. She has even appealed to King Charles III for the return of 31 tons of Venezuelan gold held by the Bank of England.

Changed political landscape

Judging compromises by an idealised Chavez-era standard is mistaken. The balance of forces confronting today’s Venezuelan leadership is more unfavourable.

Some international commentators invoke Chavez to discredit the current leadership. Ignoring the changed context, infantile leftists claim that Chavez never compromised and that “one does not negotiate with the enemy,” forgetting the advice of Fidel Castro during the 2002 coup: “Don’t immolate yourself, Hugo.”

Chavez governed during a commodities boom that provided resources for  benefits unavailable under sanctions today. The geopolitical context has shifted significantly since Chavez’s time, especially with the present “Donroe Doctrine.” Not since Maduro’s victory in July 2024 has a left-leaning candidate won in Latin America. The last seven presidential elections have been won by the right. Until this reactionary trajectory is reversed, further retreats are likely.

The impact of the illegal unilateral coercive measures have eroded public support for the government. Years of comprehensive sanctions – despite the 2021-2025 economic recovery following an 75 per cent GDP contraction – have left Venezuela vulnerable. Currently the Venezuelan economy is operating at 30 per cent of its pre-sanctions level.

The Rodriguez government is buying time to salvage the economy, although the June 24 earthquakes caused physical damage estimated at over $37 billion (£27bn), over a third of Venezuela’s gross domestic product. Most Venezuelans want domestic peace and a return to prosperity, not a confrontation with the US empire.

“Unity is the most important thing – without it, nothing is possible; with it, everything is possible.”

Those were the words of Fidel Castro as he was organising the Cuban Revolution in 1956. Most dangerous for the sister Bolivarian Revolution is the suggestion that the current leadership has betrayed the cause and that a truly leftist “third way” can replace them. There have always been competing factions within the Bolivarian movement. But political choices must ultimately be resolved within Venezuela itself, not by outsiders.

These “third way” analyses, equating and rejecting both Caracas and Washington, typically fail to address what Venezuelans could realistically do at this historical juncture – long on what’s wrong but short on viable alternatives.

It was not so long ago that the likes of far-right Maria Corina Machado highlighted “cracks and fissures within the Chavista ranks.” She anticipated “the beginning of a social explosion” against the elected Venezuelan government. Now some solidarity activists are repeating this.

Left disunity in Bolivia should be a lesson of what could happen in Venezuela. The Chavista leadership is painfully aware of this, hence their vigorous effort to establish the broadest united front against US colonisation. Rather than being traitors to the cause, the Rodriguezes and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello represent the most militant Chavistas – fighters from the very inception of the revolution.

What solidarity requires

Constructive criticism and solidarity activism need not be counterposed. Dissident opinions are appropriate when contextualised and advance common goals – not as individualistic venting.

Some among the left have appointed themselves as guardians of the faith, judging negatively from afar the very difficult and risky tactical retreat undertaken by the Bolivarian leadership, even though it prevented a suicidal military confrontation with US imperialism.

The international left’s disappointment regarding Venezuela’s retreats is understandable. But the Global South is not about to fulfil the revolutionary aspirations of those living in the belly of the beast. That is the task for people in the imperial core.

As a Venezuelan activist friend said: “You gringos tell us how to make our revolution when our problem is you have failed to make yours.”

Venezuelans will determine their path without foreign interference, either right or left. Solidarity necessitates efforts to accompany and uplift, not dictate to the Venezuelans. Internationalists in the US, Canada, and Britain need to place the primary focus on our own imperialists. All other contradictions are secondary.

The solidarity movement must unite the broadest alliance to defend national sovereignty and the right to self-determination. It must strongly oppose the farcical New York trial of Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores, demand the lifting of all sanctions, and call for the return of stolen assets.

The old slogan, El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido. (A united people will never be defeated.) is truer than ever,

Roger D Harris is a founder of the Venezuela Solidarity Network in North America. Francisco Dominguez is the national secretary of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign in the UK. María Paez Victor is the founder Louis Riel Bolivarian Circle in Canada.

Ebola: Water Scarcity Hampers Control Efforts in Epicentre

A severe shortage of clean water and sanitation facilities is undermining efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in Mongbwalu

World News

A severe shortage of clean water and sanitation facilities is undermining efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in Mongbwalu, a gold-mining town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ituri province, where residents struggle to maintain basic hygiene while facing the deadly virus.

Every morning, residents walk several kilometers with plastic containers to collect water from a nearby natural spring. Most families cannot afford public water taps, while local groundwater is often contaminated by runoff from nearby mines.

"Three water jugs cost 1,000 francs. If you have 10 jugs at home and only 1,000 francs left, plus children to feed, what do you do? That financial pressure is what forces us to walk miles every day to collect free spring water," said Francoise Ididi, a local resident.

According to Oxfam, an international aid organization focused on poverty and emergency relief, only one in five of Mongbwalu's 140,000 residents has reliable access to safe water. Every drop must be carefully rationed between cooking, drinking and cleaning, leaving little for handwashing, which is a key measure in preventing Ebola transmission.

"During this Ebola outbreak, it's important to wash your hands regularly. But if water is hard to find, or if there isn't enough water in the household, it's difficult to protect yourself against this disease," said Isaac Lure, another resident.

The crisis extends to public spaces. At the central market, where hundreds gather daily, sanitation facilities are scarce.

"There are no handwashing stations and no sanitizers here. We go the entire day without washing our hands unless we did so at home. The authorities need to take action, because the rule right now is to wash your hands," said Neema Mave, a vendor at the market.

Some NGOs have set up water tanks, but the crisis is compounded by small-scale gold mining, which leaves thousands of vulnerable workers exposed to contaminated water daily. Public health experts warn that water scarcity is accelerating the health emergency, as residents make do with whatever little water they can source.

Somalia Clashes with Regional Forces Over Control of Key City

Somali national forces clashed with troops loyal to an ousted regional leader on Monday over control of a key city, the government said, accusing him of allying with Islamist insurgents.

Several states in the deeply fragmented country are opposed to control by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who also faces a long-running insurgency by the Islamist Al-Shabaab group that controls vast swathes of central Somalia.

In March, the government sent in troops to oust the head of South West State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. He launched a failed attempt to retake the state in May.

Troops loyal to Laftagareen again attacked Somali army positions in the state capital, Baidoa, around 5:00 am on Monday, this time with the help of Al-Shabaab militants, according to a statement by the federal government.

The assault involved "vehicles laden with explosives", the statement said, adding that government troops killed nearly 30 militants in their response.

A spokesperson for the Laftagareen administration claimed their fighters held parts of Baidoa, but witnesses told AFP they were soon forced out.

Resident Adan Nurey told AFP of "heavy fighting in several areas".

"We saw both sides exchanging fire on some streets, and the fighting continued for several hours," he said by phone, adding that Laftagareen's forces later withdrew and federal troops regained full control of the city.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who run facilities in the city, confirmed the fighting and said that "several casualties have reached the hospital".

It was unable to give further details but said the clashes had been on "two fronts".

Resident Salad Ali said there were "deaths and injuries, and several people were taken prisoner".

"I saw several bodies on the road, although I could not determine the exact number," he told AFP.

The president has been attempting to move Somalia towards democratic elections, replacing a system based around clan elders.

But he has been criticised for extending his own mandate, while the security situations and divisions between rival clans mean there has been little progress on organising elections beyond a few localised pockets.

Cholera Outbreak Spreads in Cameroon as Cases Top 1,000

Photo taken on September 6, 2010: Health workers spray a chlorine solution intended to eliminate the bacteria that causes cholera in Ganjuwa, in Nigeria’s rural Bauchi State.

Cholera epidemic

A cholera outbreak is spreading across northern Cameroon, with more than 1,000 cases and 28 deaths reported since mid-July, according to health authorities.

At Mora District Hospital, medical staff are taking precautions as suspected and confirmed patients arrive. Amine Ozong Kavaye, general supervisor at the Mora treatment centre, said the facility received its first case on the 18th — a three-year-old child from Aïssa.

The centre has recorded 25 cases so far, including nine negative rapid diagnostic tests and one death. Staff are currently treating two hospitalized patients and receiving an average of one to two patients each day.

The response is being coordinated across the districts of Fotokol, Mada, Makary and Kolofata, with support from Doctors Without Borders.

At Mora, three tents have been set up to separate suspected cases from hospitalized patients. Patients are tested before being transferred for treatment if they test positive.

Meanwhile, community health workers are conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns, urging residents to avoid open defecation and improve hygiene and sanitation.

Health officials are particularly concerned about the region’s limited access to clean drinking water and poor sanitation, and are racing to contain the outbreak before the rainy season intensifies.

Mali Jails Government Critic for 'Discrediting State'

Under General Assimi Goita, the junta has failed to keep its promise to hand power back to civilians by March 2024

World News

A Malian court sentenced on Monday a prominent broadcaster and an influencer, who had both criticised the ruling junta, to seven years in jail, an AFP journalist saw.

The sentences are the latest issued to Malians critical of the unstable west African country's military government, which came to power following back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.

Television and radio commentator Mohamed Youssouf Bathily -- alias Ras Bath -- was convicted by the court in Bamako of criminal conspiracy and discrediting the state, alongside Rokia Doumbia, a noted campaigner known online as "Rose, the cost of living".

Both had been in custody for several years following the airing of a 2023 programme by the journalist dedicated to the economic difficulties facing ordinary Malians.

They were given three years' suspended sentences on top of their seven-year jail terms.

Having been held since March 2023, Ras Bath's emaciated and gaunt features shocked many Malians when he took the stand in his trial, which opened on August 10 at the Bamako Court of Appeal's criminal chamber.

Two lawyers told AFP on condition of anonymity that the prosecutor had told the court that "Ras Bath is a danger" to the junta and "must be kept a long way from social media and the radio".

Prosecutors alleged the broadcaster and influencer were "in association" with each other, with Ras Bath having invited "Rose" onto his show on two previous occasions.

Ras Bath's lawyers denied the accusations.

The broadcaster's father, former government minister Mohamed Aly Bathily, who was also serving as his son's defence counsel, told AFP that they had not yet decided whether to appeal.

'Shock to educate'

With the motto "shock to educate", a direct and plain-speaking style and criticism of Mali's social and political problems, Ras Bath has earned both a strong following, especially among the country's many younger people, and several run-ins with the law.

He was first arrested in Mali in August 2016 for "incitement to disobedience among the troops" before being released two days later under pressure from his supporters.

In July 2017, while abroad, he was sentenced in absentia to 12 months in prison, without serving any time.

He also took part in the 2020 M5-RFP protest movement against president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was later overthrown by army officers on the promise of curbing the country's long-running jihadist insurgency.

In December 2020, the broadcaster was arrested again in a case involving an alleged plot against the junta. After the case was dismissed for lack of evidence, he regained his freedom in April 2021.

In July 2023, he was acquitted of separate charges that he falsely claimed that former prime minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga had been "assassinated" while in detention under the junta.

Since coming to power, the army has imposed severe restrictions on freedoms in Mali, squeezing the space for dissident voices through the courts, coercion and the dissolution of political parties.

Under General Assimi Goita, the junta has failed to keep its promise to hand power back to civilians by March 2024.

Mali ranks 121st out of 180 countries in the 2026 edition of media watchdog Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index.

The Sahel country has been wracked since 2012 by a serious security crisis, notably fuelled by violence from jihadists allied to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, along with criminal gangs and armed separatists.

Zambia President Hichilema Has Been Reelected for a Second Term

By JACK ZIMBA and MOGOMOTSI MAGOME

10:26 PM EDT, August 17, 2026

LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has been reelected for a second five-year term, the Electoral Commission of Zambia announced early Tuesday.

He was declared the outright winner of last Thursday’s presidential election without the need for a run-off, having secured 61.4% of the 5 million votes cast.

According to the commission, Hichilema won with 2,965,326 votes and his closest competitor was opposition leader Brian Mundubile, who won 1,856,217 votes.

“I therefore declare, Hichilema Hakainde S, to be president-elect of the Republic of Zambia this 18th day of August, 2026,” commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said.

Hichilema’s victory follows a closely watched election which saw the vote counting suspended last Friday and then restarted hours later under heightened security after the commission said there had been attacks against some polling station officials and some ballot papers had been stolen.

The government also confirmed that several leading opposition figures were arrested on the night of the elections, with the police accusing them of posing a threat to state security.

Mundubile said his home was raided by the police in what he called an attack on his life.

Thursday’s election was seen as a test of Hichilema’s economic recovery plan after the copper-rich nation was plunged into a debt crisis in 2020. Hichilema was elected in 2021 and oversaw the restructuring of Zambia’s sovereign debt while reining in inflation and stabilizing the currency.

International observers, including the European Union, said the election was largely peaceful, but said the “broader electoral process took place in an environment that limited fundamental freedoms.”

“Late legal changes, legal uncertainty, and unequal campaign conditions distorted the playing field,” said Michael McNamara, chief of the EU observation mission.

In a pastoral statement, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed concern over the deployment of the army during the vote counting

“The maintenance of order during elections is constitutionally and statutorily the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service,” the bishops said.

___

Magome reported from Johannesburg.

Russian Troops Liberate Two Communities in Ukraine Operation Over Past Day — Top Brass

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 390 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

© Dmitry Yagodkin/TASS

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated two communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Zaporozhye Region over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlement of Andreyevskaya Obshchina in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations. <…> Battlegroup East units advanced deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlement of Novosoloshino in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said in a statement.

Kiev loses 1,450 troops along engagement line in past day – latest figures

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,450 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The latest figures show that the Ukrainian army lost roughly 260 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, over 210 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and about 205 troops and an armored personnel carrier in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup South.

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army also lost over 390 troops and two armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, more than 345 troops, a tank and two armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East and roughly 40 troops and a US-made howitzer in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup Dnepr, the latest figures show.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 260 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 260 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, two airmobile brigades of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Velikaya Chernetchina, Pershe Travnya, Pisarevka, Ulanovo and Khoten in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of four mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade and an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Alisovka, Kazachya Lopan, Novoaleksandrovka, Rubezhnoye and Svetlichnoye in the Kharkov Region, the ministry reported.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 260 personnel, an armored combat vehicle and five motor vehicles in those frontline areas over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed two electronic warfare stations and a counterbattery radar station of the Ukrainian army over the past 24 hours, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 210 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 210 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades, an assault brigade, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Balakleya, Vesyoloye and Podliman in the Kharkov Region, Donetskoye, Krymki, Mayaki and Svyatogorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 210 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, 18 motor vehicles, a Grad multiple rocket launcher, an artillery gun and two electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 205 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 205 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored personnel carrier in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units improved their forward positions and inflicted losses on formations of three mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade, an airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Vysokoivanovka, Druzhkovka, Kramatorsk, Kurtovka, Nikanorovka, Nikolayevka, Nikolaipolye, Orekhovatka and Slavyansk in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 205 personnel, a French-made VAB armored personnel carrier, 29 motor vehicles and an artillery gun in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup South over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 390 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 390 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup Center units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades, a jaeger brigade, an assault brigade, three assault regiments of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and three National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Krasnopodolye, Belozerskoye, Dobropolye and Rubezhnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Andronovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 390 personnel, two armored combat vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, a Grad multiple rocket launcher, a Polish-made 155mm Krab self-propelled artillery gun and a counterbattery radar station in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 345 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 345 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and two armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two assault brigades, two air assault brigades, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade in areas near the settlements of Kolomiytsy, Pokrovskoye and Malinovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Dolinka, Svoboda, Chervonaya Krinitsa and Chervony Yar in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 345 personnel, a tank, two armored combat vehicles and nine motor vehicles in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminates 40 Ukrainian troops in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated roughly 40 Ukrainian troops and destroyed a US-made howitzer in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade in areas near the settlements of Orekhov, Kushugum, Malokaterinovka and Yulyevka in the Zaporozhye Region and the city of Kherson," the ministry said.

"Up to 40 Ukrainian military personnel, 19 motor vehicles, a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer and three electronic warfare stations were destroyed," it said.

Russian troops strike Ukrainian army’s logistics centers, energy sites in past day

Russian troops struck logistics centers, energy and transport infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army and enemy deployment sites over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck logistics centers, Ukraine’s fuel and energy and transport infrastructure facilities used by the Ukrainian army, workshops assembling and sites storing ground robotic vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and uncrewed boats, and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 144 locations," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses intercept 797 Ukrainian UAVs, 12 smart bombs over past day

Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 797 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 12 smart bombs over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down 12 guided aerial bombs, four rockets of multiple launch rocket systems, including two US-made HIMARS and two Czech-made Vampire rockets, and also 797 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Tally of Ukrainian army’s losses

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 673 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 284 helicopters, 210,774 unmanned aerial vehicles, 669 surface-to-air missile systems, 30,606 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,774 multiple rocket launchers, 36,173 field artillery guns and mortars and 69,491 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

Summoning Japanese Ambassador and West’s Terror Against Africa: Lavrov’s Statements

The Russian foreign minister stated that Moscow was concerned over the involvement of the Ukrainian military in state-sponsored terrorism against Sahel countries

© Sergey Karpukhin/TASS

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. Statements coming out of Tokyo about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands are out of line. Russia summoned the Japanese ambassador following Tokyo’s protest, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists.

He also said after talks with his visiting Ghanaian counterpart, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that Russia is concerned over the involvement of the Ukrainian military in state-sponsored terrorism against Sahel countries.

TASS has summed up the top Russian diplomat’s key statements.

Japan’s protest following Russian president’s visit to the Kuril Islands

Statements coming out of Tokyo about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands are out of line: "Our Japanese colleagues and neighbors have, of course, crossed the line of decency with their utterly unacceptable statements claiming that the Russian president cannot visit any part of Russia’s territory."

Russia summoned the Japanese ambassador following Toyo’s protest against Putin’s trip to Iturup, but the embassy failed to explain why the ambassador ignored the summons: "When we learned how Mrs. [Japanese Prime Minister Sanae] Takaichi and her foreign minister had characterized our president’s trip within his own country, to his own citizens, we immediately summoned the Japanese ambassador. The embassy’s response was quite vague. After a pause, they explained that he (the ambassador - TASS) would not be able to come either on Friday, August 14 or on Monday, August 17, i.e. today, because he is either not in Moscow or is not feeling well. We did not quite understand."

The Japanese ambassador must appear at the Russian foreign ministry: "Anyway, we have summoned the ambassador. He must appear at the foreign ministry and we will talk both about the Japanese leadership’s conduct regarding President Putin’s visit to Russia’s Island of Iturup and about how an ambassador should work in his host country - honor its laws and the existing procedures for foreign diplomats in this country, or Russia in this case."

The West’s terror against Africa

Terrorist threats in Africa are "planned by some countries that cannot accept the loss of their colonial influence in Africa."

France is arming and training illegal armed groups in the Sahara-Sahel region: "It is no secret that France is involved in this; it works directly with illegal armed groups, arms them, finances them, and instructs them."

Russia is concerned over the involvement of the Ukrainian military in state-sponsored terrorism against Sahel countries: "It is worrying to hear that those who organize and sponsor illegal armed groups’ operations [against the Sahel countries] from abroad are also involving Ukrainians - and not mercenaries, but servicemen. In other words, this is not about some isolated, individual terror attacks, but about state-sponsored terrorism against the countries of the Sahel."

Ghanaian citizens’ participation in the special military operation

Russia’s relevant structures will consider Ghana’s inquiry about the participation of its citizens in the special military operation in Ukraine: "The defense ministry has a special structure that considers, and I am sure, it will consider additional requests from our Ghanaian friends."

The Ghanaian foreign minister said during the joint news conference that 62 Ghanaian citizens have died during the special military operation and 15 others are reported missing.

Military cooperation

Ghana is expected to ratify the agreement on military-technical cooperation soon: "Our friends will soon complete the ratification of the intergovernmental agreement on military-technical cooperation, which, of course, will give an extra impetus to work in this area."

Russia is ready to "offer necessary support" to African countries in their fight against terrorism and help restore relations between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the three Sahel nations.

Despite the Sahel nations’ withdrawal from ECOWAS, they remain neighbors and Russia "is interested in normalizing relations between them, as well as the Sahel three’s relations within the African Union."

Cooperation between all West African countries is needed to strengthen security in the region: "I think it will be in our common interests, even taking into account the current, daily needs of ensuring the security of the population in West African countries, to build bridges and take practical steps to foster cooperation between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States. We are ready to facilitate this."

Russia-Africa summit

President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama will take part in the third Russia-Africa summit in Moscow: "The president of Ghana has confirmed his participation in this summit.".

Summoned Japanese Ambassador to Come to Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday

According to the statement, Akira Muto "suddenly felt much better"

© Sofia Sandurskaya/TASS

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. Japanese Ambassador to Russian Akira Muto, who has been summoned to the Russian foreign ministry, will appear there on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"Following today’s remarks by [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov at a news conference regarding the Japanese ambassador’s failure to come to the Russian Foreign Ministry on the pretext of feeling unwell, the ambassador suddenly felt much better and will arrive at the Foreign Ministry tomorrow," she said.

Answering a TASS question, Lavrov said earlier that the Japanese ambassador had been summoned to the Russian foreign ministry following Tokyo’s protest against President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Island of Iturup. The Japanese embassy however failed to clearly explain why its ambassador ignored a summons. "After a pause, they explained that he (the ambassador - TASS) would not be able to come either on Friday, August 14 or on Monday, August 17, i.e. today, because he is either not in Moscow or is not feeling well," he said.

Number of Drones Downed While Approaching Moscow Since Start of Day Reaches 23

Emergency services specialists are working at the sites where debris fell

© Alexander Reka/TASS

MOSCOW, August 18. /TASS/. Air defense forces destroyed ten drones approaching Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said.

"An attack by ten UAVs flying toward Moscow was repelled. Emergency services specialists are working at the sites where debris fell," the mayor wrote on his Max channel.

According to TASS calculations based on Sobyanin's statements, a total of 23 UAVs have been downed while approaching Moscow since the start of the day.

Trump's Approval Rating Falls to 33%, Lowest Since Inauguration — Poll

The poll was conducted from August 14 to 17 among 1,166 U S adults

WASHINGTON, August 18. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump's approval rating among Americans has fallen to 33%, its lowest level since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, according to a poll conducted jointly by Reuters and international polling firm Ipsos.

Thirty-three percent of respondents approve of Trump's performance as president, while 64% disapprove. The remaining respondents did not answer.

Eighty percent of those surveyed believe the US-Iran conflict will be prolonged, while 16% expect it to end within several weeks.

According to polls regularly conducted by Reuters and Ipsos, the US president's approval rating had previously not fallen below 34% during his second term. It reached that level in June and April of this year. Trump's highest approval rating during his second term was recorded in January 2025, when 47% of respondents viewed his performance positively. During Trump's first presidential term, his approval rating fell to 33% in December 2017.

The poll was conducted from August 14 to 17 among 1,166 U S adults.

Ethiopian Airlines Rises as Africa’s Leading Carrier After Decades of Expansion, Success, Says CEO

Addis Ababa, May 17, 2026 —Ethiopian Airlines has solidified its position as Africa’s largest and leading airline after years of sustained growth and operational success, the airline’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mesfin Tasew, said on Sunday.

The remarks were made during an 8-kilometer street race organized as part of celebrations marking the airline’s 80th anniversary.

Speaking at the event, CEO Mesfin reflected on the airline’s humble beginnings in 1946, when it launched operations with only a small fleet of aircraft. 

Since then, he said, the carrier has expanded significantly and now operates one of the continent’s most modern fleets, including advanced aircraft from Boeing and Airbus.

According to Tasew, the airline currently serves more than 145 international destinations worldwide and has achieved strong growth across multiple sectors, including cargo transportation, aviation training through the Ethiopian Aviation Academy, and other aviation-related services.

He further said the airline’s operational strength and long-term strategic investments have helped make it one of the most preferred carriers in Africa and a major player in the global aviation industry.

As part of commemorating its eight decades of operations, Ethiopian Airlines is holding a series of celebratory events, including the street race, panel discussions, exhibitions, and community outreach programs.

The anniversary run attracted senior officials, including Sileshi Sihine, President of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, alongside airline executives and invited guests.

The race began at Pushkin Square, commonly known as Sar Bet, and is set to conclude at Bole International Airport.

Athletes, airline employees, members of the sporting community, and participants from various institutions are taking part in the event.

Reclaiming Ethiopia’s Sea: An Injustice Long Overdue for Rectification

With analysis from Pulse of Africa (POA)

Aug 16, 2026 (ENA)

By Mathias Bule

Ethiopia’s alienation to its once-sovereign territory of the port of Assab has been fraught with shady deals, and complicated by the presence and involvement of colonial forces in the Horn of Africa region.

Ethiopia’s quest to regain access to the sea is not merely a territorial ambition; it is a fundamental claim rooted in centuries of colonial subjugation, legal deceit, and political betrayal. The history of Ethiopia’s lost port of Assab is a stark testament to how imperial powers, through clandestine deals and manipulative treaties, deliberately and systematically deprived a sovereign nation of its maritime rights. This injustice must be recognized, rectified, and finally corrected.

The modern story of it begins in 1869, when local Afar sultans sold a strip of land in Assab to Giuseppe Sapeto, representing Italy’s Società Rubattino. The deal was struck in secret, for a paltry sum of just 6,000 Italian lire—conducted entirely outside Ethiopian knowledge or approval. At the time, Ethiopia’s central government, under Emperor Menelik II, was unaware of this transaction. The sale was a clandestine act by local authorities seeking economic advantage, but it was exploited by colonial powers to establish Italy’s foothold in the Horn of Africa. Italy’s subsequent annexation of Assab in 1882 marked the beginning of a colonial empire that would dominate the region for decades. This early act of territorial theft was a clear violation of Ethiopia’s sovereignty, yet it laid the foundation for future injustices.

The most infamous chapter in Ethiopia’s loss of access to the sea is the 1889 Wuchale Treaty. Drafted amidst Italy’s expansion into the region, this treaty contained a deceptive mistranslation. The Italian version declared Ethiopia a protectorate, effectively stripping it of sovereignty, while the Amharic version purportedly maintained Ethiopia’s independence. This language trickery was designed to facilitate Italian colonization. Although Ethiopia later nullified the treaty following its victory at the Battle of Adwa, Italy had already cemented control over Assab and surrounding territories through subsequent treaties in 1900, 1902, and 1908. These agreements formalized Italy’s colonial borders and made Assab a vital part of Italian Eritrea, cutting Ethiopia off from its historical coast.

Post-World War II, the international community attempted to rectify colonial wrongs by dissolving Italian rule and federating Eritrea with Ethiopia under UN Resolution 390A. However, this process was, according to some political scientists and historians, marred by negligence and political expediency. During the 1950s negotiations, Ethiopian leaders failed to assert Assab’s status as an independent Ethiopian port. Instead, they treated Eritrea as a whole—along with Assab—merely as a territory to be integrated, ignoring the port’s strategic importance and its distinct ethnic and historical identity. This omission was a grave oversight, one that left Assab vulnerable to future loss.

The latest blow came with the overthrow of Ethiopia’s military regime in 1991. The rebel groups that seized power—the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF/EPRDF) and the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF)—fought as allies against colonial and imperial forces. Yet, their hasty, unlegislated decision to cede Assab to Eritrea in 1993 was a betrayal of Ethiopia’s sovereignty. The transition government, led by Meles Zenawi, acted without parliamentary ratification or public consultation. Consequently, Ethiopia was left landlocked, stripped of its sovereign access to the sea and its vital port infrastructure. This was not just a territorial loss; it was a blow to Ethiopia’s economic independence, national pride, and strategic security.

Ethiopia’s historical narrative is one of resilience and sovereignty. The loss of Assab was not an inevitable fate but the result of colonial greed, diplomatic deception, and political negligence.

It is time for Ethiopia to reclaim its rightful access to the sea—an essential element of its sovereignty and future prosperity. Restoring Ethiopia’s maritime rights is not only a matter of rectifying historical injustices but also a crucial step toward national dignity and economic independence. Ethiopia’s seas are its birthright, and the time has come to fight for that legacy—justice demands no less.

Sovereign Seaport Matter of Existence that Reconciles Ethiopia with Its Civilization, Says Senior Researcher

Addis Ababa, August 15, 2026 (ENA) — The quest for securing a sovereign seaport is a matter of existence aimed at reconciling Ethiopia with its glorious history of growth and civilization, Gashaw Ayferam, Senior Researcher on the Horn of Africa and Water Geopolitics at the Institute of Foreign Affairs.

The senior researcher stated that Ethiopia’s pursuit of direct access to the sea is a vital existential effort to realign the nation with its historic legacy of civilization and progress.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Gashaw recalled that until three decades ago, Ethiopia possessed direct access to the sea, an asset deeply intertwined with its civilization.

He explained that during the Axumite civilization and across successive historical eras, Ethiopia facilitated its international trade and foreign relations through ports and maritime access along the Red Sea corridor.

The senior researcher noted that throughout history, various internal and external hostile forces conspired continuously to deprive Ethiopia of its sovereign seaport.

He elaborated that by thwarting the schemes of historical adversaries, Ethiopia successfully safeguarded its rightful sovereign seaport ownership for millennia.

Unfortunately, the collusion between TPLF and Shaebia unceremoniously rendered Ethiopia landlocked without any valid legal or historical justification, he elaborated.

Gashaw stressed that isolating Ethiopia from the Red Sea—a body of water inextricably linked to its heritage—represented an unpardonable historical harm to the nation's core national interest.

The senior researcher explained that losing sovereign seaport created severe bottlenecks for the nation's economic development, trade, investment, and import-export operations.

Gashaw noted that being landlocked forces Ethiopia to incur exorbitant port rental fees and logistical expenses that strain its overall trade competitiveness.

He added that lack of direct maritime access also complicates efforts to effectively counter security threats and terrorist activities across the Horn of Africa.

Consequently, the senior researcher emphasized that Ethiopia's quest for sovereign seaport is not a luxury, but a paramount national interest and an existential necessity that will define the destiny of future generations.

He stated that securing seaport is essential for rectifying historical distortions and reconnecting Ethiopia with its grand historical trajectory.

Addressing this issue is critical to supporting Ethiopia's ongoing efforts to enhance regional economic integration and accelerate continental cohesion.

He underlined that ensuring regional peace, security, and shared prosperity remains a vital national responsibility for the present generation.

The senior researcher noted that Ethiopia’s pursuit of seaport is gaining international recognition, with foreign governments, global institutions, and international media increasingly recognizing its legitimacy. 

He recommended that diplomatic engagements grounded in the principle of mutual benefit must be further intensified.

Gashaw concluded that Ethiopians across all sectors must work in unison to raise awareness regarding the issue and defend the nation’s strategic national interests.

 Rebel Forces in Ethiopia's Tigray State Condemn Army Drone Strikes

Deutsche Welle

A map of Ethiopia, showing the regional states of Tigray, Amhara and Afar.

11 August 2026

Radio France Internationale

By RFI

Rebel authorities on Tuesday accused the Ethiopian government of carrying out deadly drone strikes in southern Tigray state and condemned the move as "a serious escalation", amid fears of a new war.

In a statement sent to French news agency AFP on Tuesday, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) said the strikes targeted Tigrayan troops "causing human casualties", without providing further details.

"There was a drone strike carried out by the Ethiopian government yesterday [Monday] in Merewa," in southern Tigray near the border with the Amhara region, Amanuel Assefa, a TPLF official, told AFP.

A spokesperson for the federal army has not yet responded to AFP's request for comment regarding the accusations.

Amanuel also claimed that the strikes hit a school, which AFP was unable to independently verify.

For several months, federal and Tigrayan forces have gathered on either side of the border of Ethiopia's northernmost regional state, with the two sides accusing each other of seeking to trigger a new conflict.

Displaced population

On 1 August, fighting pitted federal forces against TPLF troops in northwestern Tigray, near the border with Sudan, according to the TPLF.

The federal government has not commented on the matter.

Tigray, home to around 6 million people, emerged in 2022 from a two-year war between TPLF forces and the federal army, supported by local militias and the Eritrean army.

The conflict claimed at least 600,000 lives, according to an African Union estimate.

A peace agreement signed in November 2022 put an end to the fighting, but several key points, such as the return of displaced people or the disarmament of the TPLF, have never been implemented.

(with AFP)

Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.

 Nigeria to Miss Women's World Cup for First Time in Over 30 Years

CAF

South Africa's Banyana Banyana defeated Nigeria's Super Falcons 2-1 to effectively end the country's slim hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

14 August 2026

Premium Times (Abuja)

By Tunde Eludini

The Super Falcons had hoped to recover from their disappointing WAFCON quarter-final exit against Cameroon, but South Africa proved too strong in Thursday's crucial play-off.

Nigeria's record of appearing at every edition of the Women's World Cup since the tournament began in 1991 has finally been punctured.

On Thursday night in Casablanca, South Africa's Banyana Banyana defeated Nigeria's Super Falcons 2-1 to effectively extinguish the country's slim hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The Super Falcons had hoped to recover from their disappointing WAFCON quarter-final exit against Cameroon, but South Africa proved too strong in Thursday's crucial play-off.

South Africa's goalkeeper Kaylin Swart stood stoutly against the Super Falcons, ensuring Banyana Banyana advanced to FIFA's Inter-Confederation Play-Off Tournament alongside Ghana's Black Queens.

Côte d'Ivoire's Lady Elephants were also edged out of the race for a place at next year's World Cup, having lost 2-1 in their playoff tie against Ghana.

Unlucky Falcons

After a goalless first half, Thembi Kgatlana broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, putting Banyana Banyana ahead.

Nigeria struggled to respond as South Africa maintained pressure, with captain Refiloe Jane doubling the advantage in the 77th minute.

The Super Falcons were handed a late lifeline when Christy Ucheibe pulled one back in stoppage time from the penalty spot, but Nigeria could not find an equaliser before the final whistle.

Jane was also sent off moments before Ucheibe's goal, leaving South Africa to see out the closing stages with 10 players.

The result adds to a difficult period for Nigeria, which entered the WAFCON as defending champions and Africa's most successful women's national team with 10 continental titles.

Poor tournament

Their campaign began with a shock 3-2 defeat to Malawi before victories over Zambia and Egypt took them into the quarter-finals. Cameroon then ended their title defence with a 1-0 victory.

Coach Justin Madugu had described the South Africa match as a "second chance" for the Falcons after their WAFCON disappointment.

That opportunity has now slipped away.

South Africa, meanwhile, recovered from their own WAFCON quarter-final disappointment after losing 2-1 to hosts Morocco.

For Nigeria, the defeat adds to the catalogue of woes that have seen the majority of the country's football teams miss out on qualifying for crucial continental and global tournaments.

Rwanda FDA Boss Among 18 Officials Arrested Amid Crackdown On Illicit Alcohol

New Times

Some illicit beverages seized in Gatsibo on Tuesday, August 4. Rwanda FDA on Tuesday, August 4, announced the closure of 27 companies, as part of the ongoing crackdown on illicit alcohol production and distribution.

13 August 2026

The New Times (Kigali)

By Charles Nyandwi

The Director General of Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority, Emile Bienvenu, has been arrested alongside 17 officials over alleged offences related to production and distribution of illicit alcoholic beverages, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) said.

Ten of the 18 suspects are linked to Rwanda FDA while others include a division manager from Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and executive secretaries from different cells and sectors.

The suspects were paraded before the media at RIB headquarters in Kimihurura on Thursday, August 13.

This comes as a nationwide crackdown on illicit alcohol has seen more than 140 companies have been closed and hundreds of alcohol brands, including gins and vodkas, have been recalled from the market since August 2. More than 50 alcohol brands have also been placed an importation ban. At least 16 company owners, managers and other staff have been arrested.

RIB spokesperson Thierry Murangira said 97 case files related to illicit alcohol crimes had been forwarded to prosecution since July 20.

"Some officials abused the powers entrusted to them for personal benefit," Murangira told reporters on Thursday.

Murangira said some public officials are accused of abusing their authority, while others allegedly facilitated companies involved in producing alcoholic beverages that did not meet required standards.

Those convicted of abusing their authority face seven to 10 years in prison and fines ranging from Rwf5 million to Rwf10 million, he said.

He said officials linked to standards enforcement are among those accused, while some local leaders are suspected of facilitating the activities by issuing certificates.

The investigation also found cases where companies were operating without meeting Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) requirements, Murangira said.

"Some companies used branding to appear legitimate, but their production was carried out in unhygienic conditions," Murangira said.

He added that investigators had found irregularities in product registration, including cases where companies registered certain products but later produced additional products that had not been registered.

Read the original article on New Times.

Mnangagwa Admits Zimbabwe's Maritime Safety Failures After Lake Kariba Boat Disaster

A Photo of a Kapenta Rig on lake Kariba on the Zimbabwe/Zambia border (file photo).

13 August 2026

New Zimbabwe (London)

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has acknowledged serious shortcomings in Zimbabwe's maritime sector and ordered an urgent overhaul of safety systems following the capsizing of a passenger ferry on Lake Kariba.

The 'Mbuya Nehanda' vessel operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), overturned near Long Island while travelling from Kariba Urban to Chalala Fishing Camp.

At the time of publishing, 44 people had been confirmed dead, 77 rescued, and at least 27 remained missing.

The tragedy has raised questions about the state of water transport and emergency preparedness in remote areas around Lake Kariba, with citizens asking why communities continue to rely on an ageing vessel that was reportedly donated to the government in 1985.

Others have questioned whether emergency response systems on Lake Kariba were adequate, amid concerns that more lives could have been saved had stronger rescue measures been in place.

In a statement, Mnangagwa acknowledged the shortcomings and pledged to make the transportation of people in remote areas safer and more efficient.

"This tragedy has exposed serious deficiencies in our maritime capabilities which we have to address immediately so that our places of recreation do not become death traps to the innocent. Accordingly, I direct all agencies associated with our maritime safety, including especially specialized units within our security forces, to take an active interest in ensuring remedial interventions in this area," he said.

He also expressed gratitude to security agencies and private citizens who responded to the tragedy, saying their prompt intervention had helped save lives despite the lake's rough, choppy conditions.

Mnangagwa has since declared the tragedy a National Disaster and directed relevant authorities to provide all necessary assistance to affected families, including medical, psychological and funeral support.

"Let us as a nation, unite in prayer for the success of the ongoing search operations, speedy recovery of survivors and for comfort and strength for the bereaved families," he added.

The search and rescue operation remains ongoing, with security agencies and other responders continuing efforts to locate those still missing.

Read the original article on New Zimbabwe.

12 More Bodies Are Recovered in Zimbabwe’s Ferry Disaster, Bringing Death Toll to 84

By Farai Mutsaka

3:44 PM EDT, August 16, 2026

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Authorities on Sunday searched for more bodies from an over loaded ferry that capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe last week as the death toll in the disaster rose to more than 80 people.

The ferry capsized in strong waves on Tuesday. Police on Sunday said the death toll had risen to 84, from 72 the previous day as more bodies were recovered. Zimbabwe’s disaster management agency has said 77 people were rescued.

Estimates had put the number of passengers as high as 153 on a ferry authorized to carry 90 people, but the latest official figures now suggest the number of passengers could be even higher.

Police in the southern African country said “search efforts are still underway in a bid to recover victims identified as missing.”

The aging ferry was traveling from the town of Kariba to rural and fishing communities in the country’s northwest, where roads are damaged and public transportation is scarce.

Among the dead are 18 children, with the youngest just 1 year old. According to police, 16 of the victims were aged 10 or younger.

Kariba is the world’s largest human-made lake by volume, created by damming the mighty Zambezi River in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It stretches more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) and is up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) wide in places.

Zimbabwe and Zambia share the lake, with their border running through its middle.

Moroccan Security Forces Arrest Nearly 300 Migrants Trying to Reach Spain’s Ceuta

By AKRAM OUBACHIR

3:05 PM EDT, August 16, 2026

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Hundreds of migrants trying to reach the Spanish exclave of Ceuta by land and sea were arrested by Moroccan security forces, Moroccan state television reported Sunday, as authorities tightened security along the border following calls for a new mass crossing.

Moroccan state broadcaster Medi 1 TV said 294 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were arrested Saturday while attempting to enter Ceuta. Authorities also arrested 61 Moroccans accused of facilitating the migration attempts, the broadcaster reported.

The attempted crossings followed a surge in social media posts calling on migrants to make their way to Ceuta, a Spanish city on Morocco’s northern coast. In response, Moroccan and Spanish authorities beefed up security presence and limited movement toward the area.

The latest attempt comes two weeks after tens of thousands of would-be migrants, driven by poverty and misinformation, rushed toward Ceuta in one of the deadliest migration crises to hit the region. At least 90 people died on both sides of the border, according to official numbers, while human rights groups reported higher figures.

The interior ministry did not respond to AP’s questions about the latest arrests or the number of security personnel deployed around the border to prevent a new migration push.

A senior Moroccan diplomat previously said that more than 20,000 Moroccan security personnel are deployed along the border with Ceuta each day, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. The diplomat was not authorized to be publicly named speaking about the issue and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Thousands of migrants from across Africa and beyond travel to Morocco each year, fleeing conflict, poverty and instability and seeking a route into Europe. Many attempt to reach Ceuta or Melilla, another Spanish exclave on Morocco’s northern coast, hoping eventually to make their way to mainland Spain and better economic opportunities.

Northwestern Reportedly Set to Close Program of African Studies, Ending an Near Eight-decade Chapter in Higher Education

Brandon Caldwell

Sat, August 15, 2026 at 5:24 PM EDT

Established in 1948, the Program of African Studies at Northwestern is the first academic program formally focused on Africa.

Northwestern is preparing to cut ties with its Program of African Studies, according to The Purple Wire.

The program, founded in 1948 by American anthropologist Melville J. Herskovits, is the first formal academic program focused on Africa and its study in the United States. Over time, it has garnered widespread acclaim, and its status as a campus-wide research institute and center has given it the distinction of being a program completely separate from Northwestern's schools.

"They told us that the center is closing, so all staff are being laid off because there will be no center to employ you," a staff member told The Purple Wire under condition of anonymity for fear of potential retribution.

Another staffer added, "They didn't give us a reason for the closing. They haven't actually told staff anything about their plans."

Per the report, students in the program, as well as faculty, were left in the dark about the announcement and how the school will utilize African studies in the future. Subsequently, staff members in the program would be laid off. At present, the only staff member explicitly tied to the program is director Chris Abani, with two other staff members listed under the Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa.

In a statement, Northwestern spokesperson Amy E. Lee countered that the program had "not closed but is in a period of transition away from status as an Office for Research university-wide research institute and center."

She added that the university remains "committed to continued support for all facets of African Studies, including undergraduate and graduate education as well as research."

Northwestern's decision echoes similar pausing or outright closures of similar programs across the country. In Florida, a Senate bill stripped Black-studies courses of general-education status and cut research funding. The University of Louisville in Kentucky saw its Pan-African Studies doctoral program suspended and graduate assistantships eliminated after a bill was originally vetoed by Governor Andy Beshear but later overridden by state lawmakers.

It remains unclear what will happen to the teaching of African Studies as a whole at Northwestern, and whether staff in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences will continue those studies.

UK PM Burnham Reacts to Death of Former Cambridge Professor

Arday was found dead at an address in south London on Friday following intense scrutiny of his academic credentials.

Jason Arday was found dead at an address in south London

Jason Arday was Cambridge University's youngest-ever Black professor [Royal Borough of Greenwich/Reuters]

By Al Jazeera Staff and The Associated Press

15 Aug 2026

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the death of a high-profile Black academic accused of plagiarism and falsifying his achievements should serve as a “moment of reflection”.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Burnham said Jason Arday’s death was “a tragedy on so many levels”.

Arday, 41, was found dead at an address in south London on Friday following intense public and media scrutiny of his academic achievements, including his status as Cambridge University’s youngest-ever Black professor.

Police described his death as “unexpected” but not suspicious.

“It’s not a moment for any rushing to judgment. It’s a moment for reflection, I would say, reflecting on how things came to this,” Burnham said.

Arday’s death has sparked outrage among certain sections of British society, who argue that his treatment by the media was fueled by racism.

Several activists, journalists and academics have accused Cambridge University of failing in its duty of care to Arday, who resigned from his prestigious post on August 5.

Media outlets, particularly newspapers, have also come under intense scrutiny, with public figures accusing the press of dedicating a disproportionate amount of coverage to the scandal, while far-right figures have been accused of weaponising the affair.

The vice-chancellor of world-leading Cambridge University said in a statement on Saturday that Arday’s death was “tragic”.

“My thoughts and deepest condolences are with Jason’s family and loved ones who, as they said last night, have lost a father, partner, brother, uncle and son,” Vice-Chancellor and professor Deborah Prentice said.

“My immediate thoughts are also with colleagues and students who worked with Jason in the Faculty of Education, and at Jesus College where he was a Fellow.”

Analysis by media watchdog NewsCord found that at least 188 articles about Arday had been published over nine days. The organisation said tens of thousands of complaints about his treatment by the press had been filed with the regulatory body IPSO.

“Jason Arday was clearly suffering from mental illness; the appropriate response was compassion. Instead, he was hounded to his grave – it would hardly be hyperbole to describe it as a lynching,” Gareth Dale from Brunel University in west London told Al Jazeera,

“The perpetrators were far-right activists and racist media organisations. They were seeking to push back against social gains made by anti-racists. Arday may have plagiarised, but no more than many a white professor; the spotlight should be laser-focused on why the discrepancy between his case and theirs, and on why the media engaged in a pile-on, instead of investigating the far-right activists who were creating a lynch-mob atmosphere.”

Arday’s academic record and achievements first came under scrutiny last month, with news outlets accusing him of plagiarising his doctoral thesis and falsifying several achievements. Arday was also accused of lying about his childhood struggles.

More Than 20 Killed in Clashes in Western Nigeria

By Al Mayadeen English

15 Aug 2026 14:48

Over 300 families were displaced following renewed clashes between rival local groups in western Nigeria’s Niger State.

Nigerian outlet Vanguard reported that more than 20 people have been killed in renewed armed clashes between rival local groups in Niger State in western Nigeria, according to local media.

The violence took place in Kukuli village in the Borgu area of Niger State, where a new wave of clashes has reportedly forced more than 300 families to flee their homes and seek safety in surrounding bush areas.

The latest violence has deepened concerns among communities in Borgu and Agwara, where residents have faced repeated attacks by armed groups. According to local reports, some residents have resorted to sleeping in the bush at night to avoid attacks on their villages.

The clashes have also triggered significant displacement, with more than 300 families reportedly abandoning their homes and seeking refuge in nearby wooded areas.

The repeated violence has further disrupted civilian life in communities already facing insecurity and limited protection.

Hundreds of families flee renewed violence

Residents have reportedly been forced to leave their homes and seek shelter in surrounding bush areas, while fears of further attacks continue to shape daily life.

The latest clashes add to a broader pattern of armed violence across northwestern Nigeria, where rural communities have repeatedly come under attack.

In May, at least 30 people were reportedly killed in an attack by an armed group along the Magami-Dansadu highway in Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria.

Nigeria has also faced repeated attacks by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS in the west, according to the supplied report, alongside attacks attributed to Boko Haram and ISIS in the southeast.

The continuing violence has compounded Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly in rural areas where communities remain vulnerable to armed attacks and displacement.

From Research to the Field: Transforming Africa’s Seed Systems

Africa News

Twenty years ago, in many African countries, an improved variety could exist without ever reaching the farmer.

An innovation could be developed by a researcher, but remain confined to research stations. A seed company could have the potential to produce, without having access to the necessary starting seeds. And a farmer could know that a new variety existed without being able to buy it.

It is precisely this gap between innovation and its implementation that AGRA has set out to reduce over the past two decades.

In 2026, as AGRA celebrates its 20th anniversary, three success stories, from Mali to Nigeria, illustrate this evolution. Three different contexts, three individual trajectories, one and the same lesson: transforming agriculture is not only about creating better seeds. It is about building the entire system that enables these seeds to move from the laboratory to the field, and then from the field to the market.

In Mali, it all starts with a scientist

Twenty years ago, Mali was entirely dependent on imported hybrid maize seeds. The country had virtually no national maize breeding capacity. It was in this context that Dr. Mamadou Mory Coulibaly’s vocation was born.

When he received an AGRA-supported scholarship at the time to pursue a PhD at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), he was working on sorghum and naturally considered continuing in this field. Upon arriving in Ghana, one decision changed the course of his career: he decided to train in maize breeding.

The reason was simple: at the time, Mali had no maize breeder.

A decision that produced effects far beyond the career of a scientist: from that point on, national expertise in maize breeding was created which, progressively, would contribute to transforming Mali’s seed system.

With the support of AGRA and scientific partners, the first hybrid maize development programmes were established. The country gradually moved from dependence on imported seeds to producing its own hybrids, with varieties adapted to its climatic conditions. Some are even now exported to neighbouring countries such as Senegal and Guinea.

But one of the most important lessons from this story is not the creation of a new variety. It is the creation of a genuine ecosystem.

Research institutes, seed companies, cooperatives and farmers began to combine their knowledge and work together. Researchers provide genetic material and early-generation seeds; companies multiply them; farmers test and adopt them.

As Dr. Coulibaly points out, a farmer does not change varieties simply because they are told that one is better. They compare it. They observe its yield. They assess its performance. Then they decide.

This is where research leads to impact.

In Nigeria, the same principle is changing the lives of thousands of women

Several thousand kilometres from Mali, a different transformation is underway.

In Kaduna and Niger States, women farmers have long faced challenges that went far beyond the issue of seed: limited access to land, finance and inputs, weak distribution networks and inadequate extension services.

In this context, AGRA partnered with Value Seeds Limited to strengthen the availability of improved seeds and access to them for smallholder farmers, with a particular focus on women.

The approach relied on early-generation seeds made available to seed companies to enable their multiplication and large-scale distribution. Improved maize, rice and soybean varieties were thus developed, multiplied and made available to farmers, with a target of 70,000 women smallholder farmers.

Once again, the seed is only one link in the chain.

The transformation relies on the capacity of a private-sector actor to multiply and distribute, on networks of agro-dealers and community-based advisors, on farmers’ skills, and on an institutional environment that enables the market to function.

Results can now be measured in the fields. Reported yields have increased from 2.5 to 5.6 tonnes per hectare for maize, from 4 to 6.8 tonnes for rice, and from 1 to 1.8 tonnes for soybeans.

Behind these figures are women for whom a better harvest means more than a statistic: more food for their families, more income and more opportunities to invest in the future. When a seed improves a woman farmer’s yield, it can also change the trajectory of an entire family, and therefore, of society.

From yield to nutrition: the next chapter

The case of zinc-enriched rice in Nigeria shows how this same architecture can address the challenge of nutrition.

Zinc-enriched rice varieties have been developed and made available, but their existence on paper was not enough to create a market. CESSA helped bridge this adoption gap by bringing stakeholders together around demonstration plots, field days and demand-creation activities.

The process brings together research, seed companies, government authorities, extension services and farmers. Today, 17 seed companies and more than 10 independent outgrowers are engaged in the zinc-enriched rice commercialization chain, while farmers can discover the varieties under real conditions before deciding to adopt them.

This success story demonstrates a new dimension of work on seeds: an improved variety can contribute not only to producing more, but also to producing better in nutritional terms.

In Mali, a young researcher becomes a maize breeder and helps create national capacity that did not previously exist.

In Nigeria, seed companies transform early-generation seeds into commercial products accessible to tens of thousands of women farmers.

And today, again in Nigeria, CESSA is working to move zinc-enriched rice varieties from the status of released varieties to that of varieties genuinely adopted by farmers.

In Mali as in Nigeria, the lesson is clear: the seed is the starting point. True impact emerges when an entire system is set in motion around it.