As Ebola Spreads in DR Congo, Grieving Families Face a Growing Mental Health Toll

By CONSTANT SAME BAGALWA

11:40 AM EDT, October 21, 2026

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — When a schoolteacher in eastern Congo learned that five of her family members had been diagnosed with Ebola, she was deeply shaken, fearing not just the deadliness but the stigma of a disease seen by some in her community as evil.

Two of her relatives — her brother and his wife — died of Ebola in July at a treatment center in Ituri province, the epicenter of the deadliest outbreak in Congo’s history.

The 34-year-old teacher, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of being stigmatized, said grief and stress over the loss of her relatives led her to seek treatment at a mental health clinic.

After two months at the clinic, the teacher said she was feeling better but worried about her future in Bunia, the capital of Ituri. And she still felt a deep sense of loss. “Will these people still be there for me?” she asked of her brother and sister-in-law, while knowing they were gone.

Her experience highlights a burden rarely talked about in the fast-moving Ebola outbreak: the psychological toll on relatives coping with loss, fear and rejection in communities already scarred by years of rebel violence.

The outbreak is spreading at an unprecedented rate under some of the most challenging conditions imaginable, fueled by mass population movements, violence, mistrust and poor working conditions for frontline health workers. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus for which there’s no approved vaccine or drug, the outbreak has killed at least 4,600 of the 9,600 people infected. The World Health Organization has said that it continues to outpace efforts to track and slow it.

The mental toll that comes with Ebola

Losing relatives to disease outbreaks is always difficult, but responders say grief can be especially severe with Ebola in a country where the disease is viewed by many as evil due to rumors and misconceptions. The risk of transmission also limits contact with the patients even after death, depriving families of closure and the opportunity to observe their preferred burial rites.

The psychological effects of past Ebola outbreaks can persist long after the immediate crisis, according to WHO, often taking the form of anxiety and mood disorders, exacerbated by prolonged grief and discrimination.

This is Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak, and it has spread to eight provinces, coinciding with an escalation of decades-long conflict in the east between government forces and rebels.

Experts say the outbreak has compounded the trauma for many across the region. The medical response has focused largely on treating and containing the disease, with little to no attention to the mental health of those affected.

“There are so many areas (in eastern Congo) already devastated by war, crisis and severe malnutrition” and Ebola has worsened the condition of vulnerable populations and their mental health conditions, said Mirella Riccardi, a mental health specialist with Doctors Without Borders, known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières.

‘It felt as though we were living all alone’

The Congolese teacher recalled that her family felt abandoned by neighbors when her relatives began showing symptoms consistent with Ebola, including fever, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle pain.

Neighbors stayed away until Ebola responders came to take the sick to a clinic and disinfect their house afterward.

“It felt as though we were living all alone because of the illness,” said the teacher, who did not contract the disease. “It has caused severe trauma within our family.”

She also lost someone she had regarded as a father and said many others in their Bunia neighborhood have also died.

“Many people initially assumed that their symptoms were due to poisoning or malaria. Only later did they realize that they could be Ebola,” she said.

The Samelo mental health facility in Bunia, where she was admitted, said it had received up to 350 patients, a surge it attributed to the Ebola outbreak.

“Grief, fear of infection, social isolation and a succession of deaths can leave families and communities lastingly vulnerable,” said Anicet Katembo Vyaluva, the head nurse at the facility.

Five months into the outbreak, health authorities remain alarmed. More than 70% of new cases involved people who were not among known contacts, while at least 60% of deaths occurred outside treatment centers as of early October, government data showed.

The teacher has been discharged from the mental health facility but returns often for follow-up checks. Her three other infected relatives survived, and her husband said she feels much better.

But fear of Ebola persists within her family and among her neighbors.

“This has reignited fear and tension within the community,” she said. “Now, everyone is wondering how this disease will end.”

___

Ope Adetayo contributed from Lagos, Nigeria.

Africa CDC Calls an Ebola Crisis Summit as Nigeria Records its First Case

By OPE ADETAYO

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — African health ministers were invited Wednesday to an “extraordinary virtual meeting” to discuss the spread of Ebola after Nigeria reported its first case of the disease that has claimed thousands of lives and has spread rapidly since an outbreak began in Congo in May.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the Oct. 28 meeting would “strengthen our collective response.”

On Tuesday, Nigeria reported its first case, linked to a traveler from Uganda who arrived in the country earlier this month.

Uganda, which declared itself Ebola-free in July after recording 20 cases, has denied claims that Nigeria’s first case originated there. Nigerian authorities said they were tracing 44 contacts.

The patient, a foreign national who entered Nigeria on Oct. 5, was initially treated for malaria symptoms but failed to recover, arousing suspicions in the attending physicians, Odianosen Ehiakhamen, an assistant director at the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, told a local media outlet late Tuesday.

He said the 44 contacts are mostly healthcare workers but also the patient’s spouse, a Swiss national.

Nigeria and Kenya, which has recorded nine cases, are the latest countries to report cases linked to travelers who passed through Uganda.

The latest outbreak was first detected in Congo in May after spreading undetected for months, according to the World Health Organization. It has since infected more than 9,500 people and killed nearly half of them, making it the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history.

“Ebola is now affecting three regions of Africa. The situation demands urgent action and political leadership at the highest level,” Kaseya said in a post on X.

The WHO said on Wednesday that it had advised “all countries in the region to sustain a high level of readiness as the DRC outbreak continues to evolve.”

In parts of Congo, including North Kivu, health authorities say the disease is out of control, with most recorded deaths occurring in the community and contact tracing struggling to keep pace with the virus’s spread.

The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. France has also recorded a case.

Ebola Has Spread from DR Congo to 4 Other Countries

By CHINEDU ASADU

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Ebola disease from the fast-moving outbreak in Congo has now spread to four other countries, including two where it’s active. It has spread farther across Africa than any previous Ebola outbreak, reaching three regions.

Nigeria on Tuesday became the latest country affected by the outbreak, which was first declared in eastern Congo in mid-May. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus for which there’s no approved vaccine or drug, the outbreak has killed at least 4,600 of the 9,500 people infected in Congo.

The World Health Organization has said it is the fastest-growing outbreak of Ebola in history. In Africa, it’s been recorded in the central, western and eastern regions.

A recurring problem in the spread in Africa is what appears to be lax surveillance efforts as most of the first cases were confirmed long after people started showing symptoms or after traveling.

Here is where things stand in other countries affected by this Ebola outbreak:

The patient in Nigeria had returned from Uganda

Nigeria confirmed an Ebola infection in its capital, Abuja, in a woman who arrived from Uganda about two weeks ago.

The woman began showing symptoms on Oct. 7 and was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on Oct. 11, where she was later diagnosed with Ebola.

It is still unclear when she arrived in Nigeria. Health Minister Muhammad Pate said authorities had begun tracing 44 people identified as contacts of the patient and were “doing everything possible to contain this case.”

Uganda reported 20 cases; none are active

Uganda confirmed an Ebola outbreak on the same day as neighboring Congo after detecting the infection in a man traveling from Congo.

The first cases in Uganda were Congolese patients who crossed the border to seek treatment for an unknown illness before it was known they had Ebola, according to health authorities.

The Uganda outbreak was declared over by WHO on Aug. 27, after 20 confirmed cases, including 15 patients from Congo. Eighteen people recovered and two died. More than 800 contacts were identified and monitored, and the country said Tuesday that it has no new cases.

Kenya’s first patient traveled from Congo via Uganda

Kenya announced its first Ebola case on Oct. 6, involving a man who traveled from Congo via Uganda before arriving in the capital, Nairobi, on Oct. 3.

He tested positive for Ebola on Oct. 5 and died the same day.

Ebola cases in Kenya have increased to nine, including four relatives of the first patient and four health workers.

Authorities have also identified 135 contacts linked to the nine patients, with 134 in quarantine. Kenya’s Health Ministry said there was still no evidence of transmission beyond known contacts of the first patient.

France is the only non-African country to record a case

France in June confirmed a positive case of Ebola in a doctor traveling back from Congo, making it the first and only country outside Africa to have recorded a case in this outbreak.

The individual returned from a humanitarian mission in one of the virus transmission zones in Congo and was taken into care at a specialized facility in France. The person recovered and was discharged on July 4, according to WHO.

Burkina Faso’s Parliament Unanimously Votes to Reinstate the Death Penalty

ASSOCIATED PRESS

12:53 PM EDT, October 21, 2026

The parliament in the Western African Sahel nation of Burkina Faso has reinstated the death penalty for crimes including terrorism, espionage and treason.

All 71 members of the Burkina Faso legislature voted unanimously in favor of adopting the new penal code on Tuesday, according to the justice minister, Edasso Rodrigue Bayala.

The development ends the abolition of the death penalty, which had been in effect since 2018 under the previous and democratically elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. Interim president Ibrahim Traoré has held power in the West African nation since a 2022 coup.

The last known execution in Burkina Faso took place in 1988, according to Human Rights Watch, which condemned the change.

“The failure of the death penalty as a crime deterrent has been globally acknowledged and the military junta in Burkina Faso should maintain the prohibition on its use,” senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch Ilaria Allegrozzi told The Associated Press.

The ruling Council of Ministers approved a bill reinstating capital punishment in December, prompting a backlash from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which criticized the move as repressive and an effort to suppress dissent.

The military junta has been accused of trying to crush dissent by detaining human rights defenders and journalists and dissolving all political parties.

Authorities have also banned media outlets, suspended unions and civil society groups, forced the United Nations human rights agency to leave the country, and subjected critics to unlawful conscription, torture and disappearances, according to Allegrozzi.

Landlocked Burkina Faso, a country of 23 million people, is grappling with a security crisis as authorities battle militant groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Both government forces and militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaida-aligned group, have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. A Human Rights Watch report this year said government forces killed twice as many civilians as jihadis did between 2023 and 2025.

“Reinstating the death penalty won’t solve the security crisis in Burkina Faso. It will only add to the already appalling toll that President Traoré’s counterterrorism campaign has exacted on the Burkinabè people since he seized power,” Allegrozzi said.

Over 500 in South Africa Sickened in Outbreak Linked to Poor Water Quality

A man carrying water bottles walks along a dusty street in Hamanskraal, Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, May 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME

11:13 AM EDT, October 21, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Over 500 people in South Africa have fallen ill from a gastrointestinal illness that causes stomach cramps and diarrhea, which authorities are blaming on poor water quality in two different cities in the country.

Authorities this week issued a warning to communities east of the capital, Pretoria, to stop drinking water from their taps after 408 people including children fell ill and were treated at various health facilities.

Like other cities in the country, the capital and its suburbs have long had issues with the cleanliness of the region’s water, and it remains a contentious political issue.

On Wednesday, city officials were distributing water to residents through emergency tankers, while the charity organization Gift of the Givers supplied the community with bottled water.

Most of those who fell ill were children under 4. According to health and city officials, the people fell ill after drinking contaminated water from a water treatment plant which supplies water to several communities east of Pretoria.

Authorities confirmed that the water at the plant had not been chlorinated for about three weeks, rendering it unsafe for human consumption. Officials said the municipality had trouble obtaining chlorine from its usual supplier.

They said the plant gets water from the Bronkhorstspruit River, which is badly contaminated with sewage pollution from poorly functioning wastewater treatment plants upstream.

An initial investigation revealed that officials failed to inform residents about the poor quality of the water.

Nasiphi Moya, mayor of the city of Tshwane, which includes Pretoria and surrounding communities, said that an investigation found that city officials had failed to warn affected areas “that the water being supplied had not been chlorinated and therefore should not be drunk or used for cooking, washing or bathing, even after boiling.”

Various political parties have called for Moya to resign, and for other officials to be fired, to take responsibility for the water contamination.

In the coastal city of Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape province, at least 111 students from Rhodes University have been treated for a gastrointestinal illness over the last few days, the university said Wednesday.

University and water authorities were investigating the cause of the outbreak, but they also suspected it was due to the water quality.

“Students who experienced severe symptoms were taken to hospital for medical attention and have since returned to campus,” university spokesperson Olwetu Gwanya said on Wednesday.

Staff and students were urged to remain vigilant and practice safe water use, food handling and personal hygiene, both on and off campus.

“These measures include drinking boiled and cooled or bottled water, using safe water to prepare food and brush teeth, avoiding ice and uncooked food washed in untreated water and washing hands regularly with soap and water,” Gwanya said.

US Says it Has Revoked 300,000 Visas Since Trump Returned

The US State Department says it has revoked more than 300,000 visas since January 2025, with a mass revocation targeting asylum seekers still pending.

By News Ghana

October 21, 2026

The United States has revoked more than 300,000 visas since President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025, the State Department said on 20 October.

The pace has accelerated. The department reported more than 100,000 revocations in January and more than 175,000 in August, meaning about 125,000 visas have been cancelled in roughly two months.

Spokesman Tommy Pigott said on X that the administration had revoked visas faster than any before it. He said it had “zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law,” commit fraud or threaten national security.

What the revocations cover

A department official told Al Jazeera that most revocations followed criminal activity, public safety concerns, immigration violations, fraud or misrepresentation. More than 4,000 involved people who took part in or facilitated birth tourism, travelling to the US to give birth so the child gains citizenship.

Among revocations for criminal or safety reasons, assault and related offences accounted for 25 percent and driving under the influence for 22 percent. Theft and drug offences made up seven percent each.

The department has not published a breakdown by nationality.

Asylum seekers next

A larger move is pending. In August, the Associated Press (AP) reported that the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security were preparing to revoke business (B1) and tourist (B2) visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought asylum. Officials said up to 200,000 people could be affected.

Revocation would strip those people of their visa status but would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation, the AP reported. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau backed the plan, saying asylum should not be a loophole around immigration law. The move is expected to face legal challenges.

The crackdown has also reached legal migration. The administration has tightened social media vetting of applicants and imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B skilled worker visa petitions. Rights groups say the online screening threatens free speech and amounts to surveillance of immigrants.

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.