Africa in Review 2025—Imperialism and Neo-Colonialism at the Root of Disunity

From the Moroccan unrest over AFCON to the military conflict in Sudan and the rebel insurgencies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Africa faces ongoing balkanization hampering unity and development

By Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Wednesday December 31, 2025

Political Review

During 2025, unrest erupted in the Kingdom of Morocco prompting mass demonstrations and rebellions.

These manifestations were quickly labelled as Gen Z protests as a similar series of protests in the Southern African Indian Ocean state of Madagascar which resulted in a military coup.

In Morocco, one of the few monarchies remaining on the African continent, the governing administration was able to remain intact. However, the mass marches and clashes with the authorities could not be ignored on an international level.

One of the points of contention among the demonstrators against the state was the opposition to the enormous resources which were utilized for the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the leading teams in Soccer come to compete. Protesters carried signs calling for more spending on education, jobs, healthcare and other human needs while not prioritizing sports and tourism. 

When the demonstrations erupted in late September and early October, the youth-led protests were met with violent repression from the state. Many were arrested, beaten and tortured, creating a sense of fear among the population. 

According to a report leading up to the AFCON events published by the Guardian, it says:

“Three protesters were shot and killed, allegedly by security forces, at a protest on 1 October in the town of Lqliâa, near the popular Atlantic tourist hotspot of Agadir. A further 14 protesters were injured, including children as young as 12 left with firearm wounds. The authorities claim a group of protesters stormed the local police station, to which officers responded. So far, more than 2,400 people are being prosecuted in connection with the protests, and dozens who took part in a non-violent demonstration have been charged with acts of violence, according to Amnesty International. Dozens had already received prison sentences, some of up to 15 years, said AMDH, which denounced the absence of lawyers during hearings, insufficient investigations and the lack of presumption of innocence. It said hundreds more, including children, remained in detention.” (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/dec/18/morocco-genz212-protests-police-mass-arrests-beatings-detentions-rights)

Yet, the efforts to rebuild Morocco as a continental player continues to run into difficulties. Another issue is the failure of the monarchy to hold a referendum on the future of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in the Western Sahara. 

Since the declaration of a ceasefire in 1999, the Moroccan government has not held the internationally supervised United Nations supervised elections. Morocco had left the Organization of African Unity (OAU) later known as the African Union for several decades from 1984 until early 2017. 

The departure of the monarchy was carried out because the continental body voted to recognize the SADR as a member-state. After seeking to undermine the OAU-AU decisions through the enhancement of relations between the monarchy and individual African states, the AU voted to readmit Morocco as a full member.

Nonetheless, states such as neighboring Algeria as well as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc strongly objected to the readmission of Morocco since the AU has always maintained the right of self-determination for all former colonies on the continent. The Western Sahara was colonized by Spain and after it relinquished its purported authority over the area, it was ceded to Morocco and Mauritania during the mid-1970s. 

By the late 1970s, Mauritania abandoned any territorial claims to the Western Sahara therefore leaving the Kingdom of Morocco in charge up until this period. Until a referendum is held on the future of the SADR, then the mandate of the AU Peace and Security Council will not be met.

Nonetheless, these are the contradictions in principle and practice which continue to hamper the implementation of the AU charter designed to foster political, economic and cultural unity across the continent. These imperatives of unity are prerequisites for qualitative development and genuine sovereignty. 

Sudanese Military Fratricidal War Leaves the Struggle for Democracy Frozen

Seven years ago, mass demonstrations erupted in the Republic of Sudan over the sharp rise in commodity prices. Between December 2018 and April 2019, the demands of the demonstrators went from calls for lower prices to the resignation of then President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

In April, al-Bashir was overthrown by his military counterparts inside the country. The military was thinking that the removal and detention of al-Bashir would halt the quest for a revolutionary democratic transition in Sudan. However, the youth-led demonstrations continued throughout the country well into June when a crackdown was launched by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 

Hundreds of activists and innocent persons were injured and killed during June 2019. Efforts to structure a functional transitional process ultimately failed despite the involvement of the AU, the Inter-Governmental Regional Authority (IGAD), the United Nations as well as the imperialist states such as the U.S. and Britain. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been accused of funding and supplying the RSF which has taken control of the Darfur region of the country. Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and refugees continue to grow at a rapid level.

Lt.-General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Transitional Council has appointed a civilian cabinet which is seeking to bring some stability to the country. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt are supporting al-Burhan and the SAF as they attempt to take control of the areas now under the control of the RSF. 

Despite the identification of the UAE as major culprits in funding the RSF and its atrocities being committed against civilians, the war continues daily. There must be another major push by the Peace and Security Council of the AU to reignite talks to resolve the current impasse.

During the visit of the Saudi monarchy to the U.S. during 2025, the administration of President Donald Trump said it would work towards resolving the war in Sudan. This pledge does not acknowledge the role of U.S. imperialism in the destabilization of Sudan over the last two decades. Under successive U.S. administrations, there have been efforts to take control of the political trajectory inside the country.

From the destabilization of the previous government of President al-Bashir to the forcing of the former Interim Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in 2020 to pledge to violate the Sudanese Constitution by recognizing the State of Israel, the U.S. has sought to dominate this oil-rich state. Sudan prior to the partition of the country in 2011 represented the largest geographic nation-state in Africa. The creation of the Republic of South Sudan at the aegis of Washington, London and Tel Aviv has not stabilized either state or the region. 

It will be up to the AU and its member-states to resolve these issues of war and peace. Imperialism can only thrive amid the disunity and fratricidal conflicts among the people themselves.

DRC and the Lies of Imperialist “Peacemakers”

Since the second coming of the Trump administration there have been many false promises of peace negotiations and settlements around the world. Trump said prior to coming into office that he could end the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine within 24 hours.

However, after nearly a year in office, the war raged on without slowing down. In addition to Ukraine, there are weekly massacres of fishermen off the coast of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The attacks on Venezuela through the mass killing of fishermen and the seizure of oil tankers, are being carried out under the guise of preventing narcotics from entering the U.S.

The reality of the situation is that there are almost no narcotics being sent into the U.S. from Venezuela. What matters most to imperialism is the largest deposits of hydrocarbons present in Venezuela. Moreover, the government over the last quarter-century has been committed to socialist transformation and has worked closely with the Republic of Cuba.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the richest states in the world regarding its strategic minerals and metals, the administration has orchestrated several signings of “peace accords” between the State of Rwanda and the DRC over the funding and arming of the M23 rebel grouping. Yet, the M23 rebels and Rwanda remain a serious problem in the eastern DRC. Here again, the continent needs African solutions to African problems. 

Until the Peace and Security Council of the AU can build an effective mechanism for the stabilization of internal and regional conflicts the crises of governance will not be resolved. Pan-Africanism cannot be realized absent of continental structures which guarantee peace, security and the well-being of the workers, farmers and youth. 

Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Featured on Milwaukee Radio Program "The Grass in Greener" Discussing the Pentagon Bombing of Nigeria, the Role of the AES Alliance and the Continuing Threats by Imperialism

To listen to this program in its entirety just click on the following link: https://soundcloud.com/user-240416425/2025-12-30a

Listen to Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, being interviewed on the "Grass is Greener" radio program broadcast over W-XRW 104.1 FM in Milwaukee. 

Abayomi Azikiwe discusses the United States bombing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the efforts of the AES states, among other issues.

The show is hosted by Babette Grunow and Gary Grass.

Protests Draw Largest Turnout of Somalians Since Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland

By OMAR FARUK and FARNOUSH AMIRI

1:34 PM EST, December 30, 2025

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Tens of thousands of Somalis gathered across the country Tuesday to protest Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, a move condemned by more than 20 countries as an attack on the East African nation’s sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Turkey on Tuesday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following Israel’s announcement.

At a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting Monday, Somalia protested the recognition saying it poses regional security issues. The Israeli representative decried those comments as a double standard because other nations have recognized Palestine as a state. The U.S. special representative said the country’s position on Somalia remains unchanged.

Last week, Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland, drawing strong condemnation from Turkey — already at odds with Israel over the war in Gaza — as well as from Somalia and other nations.

Somaliland, a territory of more than 3 million people in the Horn of Africa, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 during a period of conflict that left the country fragile. Despite having its own government and currency, Somaliland had never been recognized by any nation until Friday.

In the Somali capital, Mogadishu, crowds gathered at the main stadium for a rally led by prominent religious figures who condemned Israel’s recognition and called for unity in defense of Somalia’s territorial integrity.

Similar protests were reported in Baidoa in the southwest, Guriel and Dhusamareeb in central Somalia, and Lasanod and Buhoodle in the northeast. Protesters in those towns chanted slogans rejecting the recognition and waved Somali flags, according to residents and video footage shared online.

The combined protests marked the largest turnout of protesters since Israel’s declaration.

At the Mogadishu rally, traditional leader Mohamed Hassan Haad called on Somalis to oppose the recognition and warned against any attempts to claim Somali territory, urging people in Somaliland to reject the move.

Religious scholar Sheikh Mohamud Sheikh Abulbari also condemned Israel’s decision, describing it as unacceptable and saying it was wrong to welcome Israel into any part of Somalia, citing Israel’s actions toward Palestinians and Muslims at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Somalia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman protested the recognition at the Security Council meeting Monday. “Israel’s action not only sets a dangerous precedent but also poses a serious threat to regional and international peace and security,” he told the council.

In Istanbul on Tuesday, Mohamud expressed gratitude to regional and international institutions that opposed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, describing it as a violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, the African Union’s principles, and established diplomatic norms.

“This sets a dangerous precedent that is contrary to the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference that underpins in all international systems,” Mohamud said, standing alongside Erdogan.

“Such actions are creating conditions that embolden violent extremist groups who thrive on narratives of external interference,” Mohamud said. “The result is cascading insecurity for Somalia and the wider region of the Horn of Africa already strained by armed violent, humanitarian pressures and political fragility”

Erdogan expressed strong support for Somalia’s unity and integrity and condemned Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as “illegitimate and unacceptable.”

“The preservation of Somalia’s unity and integrity under all circumstances is a priority for us,” Erdogan said, accusing Israel of attempting to drag the Horn of Africa into instability.

Turkey has become one of Somalia’s closest allies over the past decade, providing military training and supporting infrastructure projects. It operates a military base in Mogadishu, where Somali forces are trained, and has dispatched a seismic research vessel — escorted by naval ships — to survey Somalia’s coast for potential oil and gas reserves. Erdogan said Turkey plans to begin drilling operations in Somalia in 2026.

Ankara has called Israel’s move unlawful and warned it could destabilize the fragile balance in the Horn of Africa. The reasons behind Israel’s declaration remain unclear.

Earlier in 2025, Turkey hosted talks between Ethiopia and Somalia to address tensions sparked by a deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

In January 2024, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease land along its coastline for a naval base. In return, Ethiopia pledged to recognize Somaliland’s independence — a step Somalia says violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

___

Amiri reported from New York. Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed.

FARNOUSH AMIRI

Amiri covers foreign policy and the United Nations as a correspondent for The Associated Press, based in New York.

UN Makes First Visit to Sudan’s el-Fasher Since Its Fall, Finding Dire Conditions

By FATMA KHALED

10:18 AM EST, December 31, 2025

CAIRO (AP) — A U.N. humanitarian team visited el-Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region for the first time since a paramilitary force overran the city in October, carrying out a rampage that is believed to have killed hundreds of people and sent most of the population fleeing.

The hours-long visit gave the U.N. its first glimpse into the city, which remains under control of the Rapid Support Forces. The team found hundreds of people still living there, lacking adequate access to food, medical supplies and proper shelter, the U.N. said Wednesday.

“It was a tense mission because we’re going into what we don’t know … into a massive crime scene,” Denise Brown, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, said of Friday’s visit.

For the past two months, el-Fasher has been nearly entirely cut off from the outside world, leaving aid groups unsure over how many people remained there and their situation. The death toll from the RSF takeover, which came after a more than a year-long siege, remains unknown.

Survivors among the more than 100,000 people who fled el-Fasher reported RSF fighters gunning down civilians in homes and in the streets, leaving the city littered with bodies. Satellite photos have since appeared to show RSF disposing of bodies in mass graves or by burning them.

Brown said “a lot of cleaning up” appeared to have taken place in the city over the past two months. The U.N. team visited the Saudi Hospital, where RSF fighters reportedly killed 460 patients and their companions during the takeover.

“The building is there, it’s clearly been cleaned up,” Brown said of the hospital. “But that doesn’t mean by any stretch of the imagination that this story has been wiped clean because the people who fled, fled with that story.”

El-Fasher lacks shelters and supplies

El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, had been the last stronghold of the Sudanese military in the Darfur region until the RSF seized it. The RSF and the military have been at war since 2023 in a conflict that has seen multiple atrocities and pushed Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

The U.N. team visiting el-Fasher focused on identifying safe routes for humanitarian workers and conducted only an initial assessment on the situation on the ground, with more teams expected to enter, Brown said.

“Villages around el-Fasher appeared to be completely abandoned. We still believe that people are being detained and that there are people who are injured who need to be medically evacuated,” said Brown, citing the initial U.N. findings.

The exact number of people still living in the city is hard to determine, but Brown said they’re in the hundreds and they lack supplies, social services, some medications, education and enough food.

They are living in deserted buildings and in shelters they erected using plastic sheets, blankets and other items grabbed from their destroyed homes. Those places lack visible toilets and access to clean drinking water.

The first charity kitchen to operate since the city’s fall opened Tuesday in a school-turned- shelter, according to the Nyala branch of the local aid initiative Emergency Response Rooms (ERR). The charity kitchen will be operated by ERR Nyala, serving daily meals, food baskets, and shelter supplies. More community kitchens are expected to open across 16 displacement centers, sheltering at least 100 people.

The U.N. team found a small open market operating while they were in the city, selling limited local produce such as tomatoes and onions. Other food items were either unavailable or expensive, with the price of one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of rice reaching as high as $100, Brown said.

‘Paralyzed’ health care system

Mohamed Elsheikh, spokesperson for the Sudan Doctors Network, told The Associated Press Wednesday that medical facilities and hospitals in el-Fasher are not operating in full capacity.

“El-Fasher has no sign of life, the healthcare system there is completely paralyzed. Hospitals barely have access to any medical aid or supplies,” he added.

Brown described the situation in el-Fasher as part of a “pattern of atrocities” in this war that is likely to continue in different areas.

The United States has accused the RSF of committing genocide in Darfur during the war, and rights groups said the paramilitaries committed war crimes during the siege and takeover of el-Fasher, as well as in the capture of other cities in Darfur. The military has also been accused of rights violations

Doumbouya Wins Guinea's Presidential Election

Source: Xinhua| 2025-12-31 07:40:45|Editor: huaxia

This photo taken on Nov. 11, 2025 shows Mamady Doumbouya (L) attending an official launch ceremony of the Simandou iron ore and infrastructure project held at the port of Morebaya, Forecariah Prefecture, Guinea. Guinea's transitional President Mamady Doumbouya won the presidential election held on Dec. 28, according to provisional results released Tuesday by the General Directorate of Elections. (Xinhua/Zhang Jian)

CONAKRY, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Guinea's transitional President Mamady Doumbouya won the presidential election held on Dec. 28, according to provisional results released Tuesday by the General Directorate of Elections.

Provisional results indicated that Doumbouya secured 86.72 percent of the votes, winning by a wide margin over the other eight candidates.

Somalia's Al-Shabaab Vows to Fight Any Israeli Use of Somaliland

Ahram Online 

Saturday 27 Dec 2025

Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked armed group Al-Shabab said on Saturday it would fight any Israeli attempt to “claim or use parts of Somaliland,” following Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region as an independent state.

This picture taken on November 7, 2024 shows a general view of the city of Hargeisa, capital and largest city of the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland. Somaliland's president on December 26, 2025. AFP

In a statement, Al-Shabab said it “would not accept it, and will fight against it,” and accused Tel Aviv of seeking to expand into Somali territory by backing what it called an “apostate administration” in northwestern Somalia.

Israel announced on Friday that it recognizes Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state,” triggering sharp condemnation from Somalia and several regional and international actors. Mogadishu described the decision as a deliberate attack on its sovereignty that risks destabilising the Horn of Africa.

The African Union (AU) also rejected the move, warning it could set a dangerous precedent. AU Commission Chair Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said Somaliland “remains an integral part” of Somalia, an AU member state.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the central government and has sought international recognition for decades. President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, who took office last year, has made securing recognition a central priority.

Israel said its decision was taken “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” the US-brokered agreements that normalized ties between Israel and several Arab states during Donald Trump’s first term. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had invited Abdullahi to visit Israel.

Asked whether Washington would also recognize Somaliland, Trump told the New York Post the United States would not, adding: “Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?”

Abdullahi welcomed Israel’s move, calling it a “historic moment” and the start of a “strategic partnership,” in a post on X. In Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, residents took to the streets to celebrate, waving the territory’s flag, according to local sources.

Israel's regional security interests may lie behind the move.

"Israel requires allies in the Red Sea region for many strategic reasons, among them the possibility of a future campaign against the Houthis," said the Institute for National Security Studies in a paper last month, referring to the Yemeni rebel group.

Israel repeatedly hit targets in Yemen after it launched a two-year genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, in response to Houthi attacks on Israel that the rebels said were in solidarity with Palestinians in the strip.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) rejected Israel’s recognition, warning against what it called complicity in Israeli plans. It said Israel had previously discussed Somaliland as “a destination for the forced displacement of our Palestinian people, particularly from the Gaza Strip.”

Regional backlash followed. Türkiye, a close ally of Somalia, said Israel’s move amounted to “overt interference” in Somalia’s internal affairs. “This initiative by Israel, which aligns with its expansionist policy... constitutes overt interference in Somalia's domestic affairs,” a Turkish foreign ministry statement read.

Egypt said its foreign minister spoke with counterparts from Somalia, Türkiye, and Djibouti, with the four countries jointly reaffirming support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

In a video released by Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader told Abdullahi the new relationship could bring economic opportunities, saying he was “very proud of this day.”

Somaliland, a self-proclaimed republic, occupies a strategic position along the Gulf of Aden and maintains its own currency, passports, and security forces.

Despite relative stability compared with much of Somalia, it has remained diplomatically isolated, limiting access to foreign investment, aid, and loans.

A deal between landlocked Ethiopia and Somaliland last year to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military base enraged Somalia.

Mali and Burkina Faso Impose Retaliatory Travel Ban on US Nationals

Wednesday 31 Dec 2025

Mali and Burkina Faso said late Tuesday they would ban U.S. citizens from entering their countries in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ban Malian and Burkinabe citizens from entering the United States.

FILE - The Burkina Faso nationals flag with a man standing in front of it is seen during a memorial ceremony in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. AP

The announcements, made in separate statements by the foreign ministers of the two West African countries, marked the latest twist in the frosty relationship between West African military governments and the U.S.

On Dec. 16, Trump expanded earlier travel restrictions to 20 more countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which are run by juntas and have formed a breakaway association from the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States.

“In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation informs the national and international community that, with immediate effect, the Government of the Republic of Mali will apply the same conditions and requirements to US nationals as those imposed on Malian citizens,” the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Another statement signed by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré cited similar reasons for the ban on American nationals entering Burkina Faso.

The White House noted persistent attacks by armed groups as one of the reasons for the travel ban. Mali and Burkina Faso have struggled to contain armed groups that have spread rapidly in both countries. The juntas vowed to fight the armed groups after deposing civilian governments over the insecurity that has roiled much of the region.

Remains of King Nyuserre’s Valley Temple Uncovered in Abusir

Nevine El-Aref , Friday 12 Dec 2025

A major archaeological discovery has emerged from the Abusir necropolis, where the Italian mission working at Abu Ghurab has uncovered extensive remains of the Valley Temple belonging to the solar complex of King Nyuserre, one of the Fifth Dynasty’s most prominent rulers.

The mission, led by Massimiliano Nuzzolo and Rossana Perilli of the Universities of Turin and Naples, revealed more than half of the long-lost structure—an unprecedented achievement in the study of Egypt’s sun temples. The excavation confirms that the newly discovered building remains are a monumental complex exceeding 1,000 square metres, distinguished by a unique architectural plan that places it among the most significant valley temples in the ancient Memphis region.

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the find as a “milestone” in the exploration of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty, noting that this temple is only one of two sun temples that have been definitively identified to date. He recalled that German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt first pinpointed the site in 1901, but high groundwater levels prevented excavation for more than a century.

Recent work has now revealed the temple’s entrance, which had been buried beneath nearly 1.2 metres of Nile silt. Archaeologists uncovered the original floor, the base of a limestone column, and parts of a granite column believed to have belonged to the structure’s main entrance portico. Additional finds include segments of the original stone casing lining the passage between the entrance and the causeway, as well as several architectural elements still in their original positions, including granite doorframes and lintels.

According to Nuzzolo, last season’s excavation yielded a complete quartzite gateway in excellent condition, along with the remains of an internal staircase leading to the roof, suggesting the presence of a secondary entrance in the temple’s northwestern sector. Current excavations have also brought to light a sloping ramp that likely connected the temple to the Nile or one of its ancient branches. Early evidence indicates that the temple extends northward, consistent with the architectural layout of Fifth Dynasty royal complexes such as the Valley Temple of King Sahure.

The mission also uncovered an array of artefacts, including two wooden pieces from the ancient Egyptian game Senet, regarded as a precursor to modern board games like chess.

Perilli highlighted the discovery of a massive stone threshold inscribed with a hieroglyphic calendar detailing the temple’s religious festivals, as well as references to King Nyuserre himself. The team also found finely carved limestone fragments and a considerable quantity of pottery spanning from the end of the Old Kingdom to the early Middle Kingdom, with most pieces dating to the First Intermediate Period.

Preliminary research suggests that after the temple fell out of use as a royal cult site, it was repurposed as a small settlement inhabited during the First Intermediate Period. This transformation offers rare insights into daily life in the Memphis region during a period often regarded as poorly documented.

The Italian mission is set to continue its work in upcoming seasons, aiming to reveal further details of this significant archaeological site and enhance the understanding of how sun temples developed and functioned in ancient Egypt.

Global Calls Renewed for the Return of the Rosetta Stone to Egypt

Nevine El-Aref , Wednesday 24 Dec 2025

More than two centuries after it unlocked the language of the ancient Egyptians, the Rosetta Stone remains at the centre of an unresolved global debate, as renewed calls grow louder for its restitution from the British Museum to its homeland.

Every few years, the question of the Rosetta Stone resurfaces, sometimes quietly at times, forcefully at others, echoing across academic circles, cultural institutions, and public discourse worldwide. The latest resurgence came in 2022, a year laden with symbolism as the world marked the bicentenary of Jean-François Champollion’s decipherment of hieroglyphs, an achievement that gave birth to modern Egyptology and forever changed humanity’s understanding of ancient Egypt.

That renewed momentum has since converged with another landmark moment: the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in early November this year, a flagship institution envisioned as the most comprehensive repository of Egypt’s heritage. Together, these milestones have reignited a broader conversation about cultural ownership, historical justice, and whether the Rosetta Stone should finally return to its homeland.

The Rosetta Stone was originally discovered in 1799 in the Nile Delta town of Rosetta by soldiers serving in Napoleon Bonaparte’s expedition to Egypt. Its fate, however, was swiftly shaped by the shifting fortunes of empire. Following the defeat of the French forces by the British, the stone was surrendered as part of the military capitulation. Before surrendering it, French scholars swiftly produced copies of the inscribed text for study, while the original artefact was transported to Britain. In 1802, it was placed on public display at the British Museum in London, where it has since become one of the institution’s most visited and emblematic objects.

Dating to 196 BCE, the Rosetta Stone bears a decree issued by King Ptolemy V, carved in three scripts: hieroglyphic, demotic, and ancient Greek. This unique trilingual inscription proved decisive in 1822, when French scholar Jean-François Champollion used it to achieve the long-sought breakthrough in deciphering hieroglyphs, unlocking the language of ancient Egypt and reshaping the study of its civilization forever.

The debate on the return of historical heritage gained new momentum and interest from the global intellectual community in 2025, as evidenced by the release of the documentary film “From Slaves to Bond: The Rise of the British Empire”, which was the result of a journalistic investigation.

Professional historians and scholars also added to a trend. As renowned Egyptologist and former minister of antiquities Zahi Hawass has repeatedly emphasized, the transfer of the Rosetta Stone was not the outcome of scholarly exchange or cultural cooperation, but rather the result of a military concession—an origin that continues to cast a long shadow over debates about rightful ownership. This history is explicitly inscribed on the object itself: two modern inscriptions on the stone record key moments in its modern journey, reading “Captured in Egypt by the British Army in 1801” and “Presented by King George III” to the British Museum.

He recalled his sustained efforts since 2005 to recover not only the Rosetta Stone, but the 18th Dynasty bust of Queen Nefertiti now on display at the Neues Museum in Berlin and the Dendera Zodiac at the Louvre in Paris, through launching a worldwide public campaign.

“The pursuit of repatriating Egyptian antiquities is a historical legitimacy and civilizational justice,” said Hawass, framing the debate within a wider ethical and historical context. Despite years of dialogue and negotiations, he noted, these museums have continued to resist their return, most often invoking claims of legal ownership or the purported value of international display. He stressed that the issue extends well beyond national borders, calling for a broader international reassessment of colonial-era acquisitions and the mechanisms that facilitated cultural dispossession.

 He further noted that the international climate surrounding restitution is undergoing a noticeable shift. The acknowledgment by French President Emmanuel Macron that large portions of Africa’s cultural heritage were acquired through colonial extraction, together with renewed restitution efforts by countries such as Greece and Ethiopia to reclaim artefacts from institutions including the British Museum, point to what Hawass described as “a new moral awakening” within the global cultural sphere.

Hawass argued that the restitution debate is increasingly shaped by questions of credibility and accountability among institutions that claim custodianship of ancient heritage. He cited the recent scandal at the British Museum, where more than 2,000 artefacts were reportedly stolen from its collections, as a development that has fundamentally undermined assertions that Egyptian antiquities are inherently “safer” when held abroad.

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, has drawn a clear distinction between the vast number of Egyptian artefacts held abroad and the singular case of the Rosetta Stone. While acknowledging that tens of thousands of objects now housed in the British Museum were removed legally and have, over time, become embedded in London’s cultural landscape, Khaled stressed that the Rosetta Stone stands apart, both legally and symbolically.

Dating to 196 BC and ranking as the British Museum’s most visited object, Khaled maintained that the stone was taken from Egypt unlawfully during wartime. The British Museum rejects this interpretation, maintaining that the artefact was ceded under the 1801 treaty of surrender to British forces, a document bearing the signature of an Ottoman admiral representing the ruling authority in Egypt at the time. Yet for Khaled, the legal debate does little to diminish the stone’s emotional and cultural gravity for Egyptians. Khaled did not conceal his personal stance. “Of course we would love it to be returned,” he said, noting that despite its global fame, the Rosetta Stone has never been seen by the Egyptian public.

“Generations have read about it and learned its importance, but they have never seen it,” he added, pointing to growing voices within Egypt that view its return as a legitimate right rather than a symbolic gesture. At the same time, Khaled’s remarks reflect an evolution in Egypt’s broader approach to restitution.

Following the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November, he appeared to temper earlier calls for the wholesale return of Egyptian antiquities held overseas. Instead, he suggested that many of these artefacts—more than 50,000 of which are housed in the British Museum alone—went out the country legally when Egypt at that time applied a division policy of artefacts of excavations, now serve as Egypt’s most effective cultural ambassadors, drawing global audiences toward Egyptian civilization and, ultimately, toward Egypt itself- while still leaving the Rosetta Stone as a singular case, emblematic not only of Egypt’s ancient past but of the unresolved tensions between history, legality, and cultural ownership.

One Egyptologist, speaking on condition of anonymity, offered a more cautious assessment of the growing calls for restitution, describing petitions and public campaigns as largely symbolic gestures driven by media attention rather than mechanisms capable of producing concrete outcomes. In his view, Britain is unlikely to relinquish artefact that has become cornerstones of its national museums. The Rosetta Stone, he noted, rank among the most recognizable and heavily visited work in the British Museum, making its return politically and institutionally unlikely. “I would very much like to see its return,” he said, “but realistically, that remains a distant aspiration.”

The Egyptologist acknowledged that, in principle, Egypt has a legitimate claim to seek the return of its ancient heritage held in major museums around the world, arguing that these collections form an inseparable part of Egypt’s historical and cultural identity and, by extension, belong in their place of origin. Yet he pointed to significant practical constraints, observing that many Western museums have built their Egyptology departments around these holdings. “Their galleries and interpretive narratives are structured around Egyptian antiquities,” he said.

“Returning them would leave empty spaces and diminish institutional prestige, which is why—despite compelling moral and historical arguments—the obstacles to restitution remain formidable.” “Once the repatriation petition reaches one million signatures, an international lawyer will submit a formal restitution request to the relevant authorities in France, Britain, and Germany,” asserted Hawass. The submission, he added, will seek the return not only of the Rosetta Stone but also of the three iconic artefacts, and will be supported by comprehensive historical evidence and legal documentation.

Entitled: “The Rosetta Stone does not belong in Egypt,” English historian with a particular interest in Italy, Spain and the rest of the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, David Abulafia wrote in Historian Reclaim online newsletter a small article defending why the Rosetta stone must be kept at the British Museum not the Grand Egyptian Museum.

He wrote that the Rosetta Stone is neither a detached fragment awaiting reunion with a larger monument, nor an object admired for its aesthetic qualities. For much of its existence, it was treated as little more than reused building material, a discarded remnant of antiquity. Its significance, however, lies not in beauty or craftsmanship, but in meaning. Its importance is global, rooted in the role it played in illuminating not only the ancient Egyptian writing system, but also the history of European scholarship and intellectual inquiry. As the key that enabled the decipherment of hieroglyphs, the stone occupies a unique position in the story of how the ancient world was rediscovered and interpreted in the modern era.

From this perspective, some argue that its proper setting is within a universal museum—one that offers free public access, attracts an international audience, and functions as a crossroads for global visitors. In practical terms, proponents of this view contend, few institutions meet these criteria as comprehensively as the British Museum, where the Rosetta Stone has long been displayed and interpreted within a broader narrative of world history.

Tourism Ministry Shuts Down Fraudulent Website Selling 'Grand Egyptian Museum Tickets'

Nevine El-Aref , Thursday 25 Dec 2025

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has shut down a fraudulent website that falsely claimed to sell tickets for the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Tourism Ministry

The website, recently discovered online, misled users into believing it was an official platform for purchasing museum tickets.

In a statement, the ministry said it took immediate legal action after identifying the site, coordinating with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and other relevant bodies, which led to its closure.

The move is part of ongoing efforts to protect visitors and ensure that services linked to one of Egypt’s most important cultural landmarks are safe and reliable.

Officials said safeguarding the public from online fraud has become increasingly important with the growing use of digital ticketing and electronic payment systems.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy urged internet users to remain cautious and to verify the authenticity of websites before making bookings, completing payments, or sharing personal information.

He noted that while technological advances offer many benefits, they also create opportunities for misuse that require awareness from both authorities and the public.

Ahmed Ghoneim, the Grand Egyptian Museum Authority chief executive officer, confirmed that visit-gem.com is the only authorized website for purchasing museum tickets.

Ghoneim called on Egyptian and international visitors to rely solely on the official website for accurate information and secure reservations, warning that any other platforms claiming links to the museum are fraudulent.

He added that online platforms are being continuously monitored to detect similar violations, with legal action to be taken against anyone attempting to exploit the museum’s name or reputation.

The ministry reiterated that providing a safe, transparent, and trustworthy experience for visitors remains a top priority as the Grand Egyptian Museum prepares to welcome audiences from around the world.

2,000-year-old Workshops, Roman Necropolis Uncovered in Egypt’s Western Delta

Nevine El-Aref , Tuesday 30 Dec 2025

Archaeologists in Egypt’s western Nile Delta have uncovered a series of industrial workshops dating back more than 2,000 years, alongside part of a Roman-era necropolis, shedding new light on economic life and burial practices in the region during antiquity.

Egypt

The discoveries were made by a joint Egyptian–Italian archaeological mission from the University of Padua and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities during excavations at Kom Al-Ahmar and Kom Wasit in Beheira Governorate.

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the findings are important for understanding daily life and human activity in the western Delta and the inland areas around Alexandria.

He noted that the discoveries enrich research into settlement patterns, funerary traditions, and industrial production, while offering new perspectives on regional interactions from the Late Period through the Roman and early Islamic eras.

The newly uncovered industrial area consists of a large building divided into at least six rooms, explained Mohamed Abdel Badi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector.

Two rooms were used for fish processing, where archaeologists found around 9,700 fish bones, evidence of large-scale salted fish production, an important economic activity in antiquity.

The remaining rooms appear to have been used for making metal and stone tools, as well as faience amulets.

Excavators also found several unfinished limestone statues and other artefacts at various stages of production. Imported amphora jars and fragments of Greek pottery indicate that the workshops were active as early as the fifth century BCE.

In addition to the industrial complex, the mission uncovered part of a Roman necropolis containing several burials of three main types: simple in-ground burials, burials within pottery coffins, and the burial of children inside large amphorae.

Cristina Mondin, head of the mission from the University of Padua, said the team is currently conducting bioarchaeological analyses on the skeletal remains to determine the diet, age, sex, and health of the individuals buried at the site.

The remains belong to 23 individuals, including men, women, children, and adolescents.

Preliminary results suggest that those buried in the necropolis enjoyed relatively good living conditions, with no clear evidence of serious disease or violent trauma.

Among the most notable finds are dozens of complete amphorae and a pair of gold earrings believed to have belonged to a young girl.

These artefacts have been transferred to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo for further study and conservation.

Together, the discoveries offer a vivid glimpse into the industrial, economic, and social life of Egypt’s western Delta over centuries, reinforcing the region’s historical importance as a hub of production and cultural exchange.

Egypt Uncovers Ancient Industrial Workshops in Beheira

Source: Xinhua| 2025-12-31 06:08:30|Editor: huaxia

CAIRO, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Tuesday the discovery of several industrial workshops dating back to the Late Period (747-332 BC) and the early stages of the Ptolemaic era (332-30 BC) in Beheira governorate, north of Cairo.

According to a statement from the ministry, a joint Egyptian-Italian archaeological mission uncovered these industrial workshops, alongside part of a Roman cemetery featuring various burial patterns, during excavations at the sites of Kom Al-Ahmar and Kom Wassit in Beheira.

The industrial workshops comprise a large building divided into at least six rooms, according to Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the ministry.

Two of the rooms were dedicated to fish processing, with the mission uncovering around 9,700 fish bones -- evidence of a widespread salted fish industry during that period, he said.

Abdel-Badie added that the other rooms were likely used to produce metal and stone tools, as well as faience amulets, supported by the discovery of several unfinished limestone statues and other items at various stages of manufacture.

The excavation also yielded imported amphorae and fragments of Greek pottery, dating the workshops' activity to the 5th century BC.

Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Ismail Khaled said the discovery could help deepen the understanding of human activity and daily life in the western Nile Delta and the hinterlands surrounding Alexandria, according to the statement.

He explained that these findings represent an important scientific addition to the study of settlement patterns, funerary practices, and industrial activities in the Western Nile Delta, adding that they provide new insights into regional communication networks from the Late Period through the Roman and early Islamic eras.

‘Data is Power, Control’ – Reports Reveal Ties Between Tech Companies, Israeli Army 

December 31, 2025 News

A series of investigations over the past year has revealed “a symbiotic relationship” between major tech companies and the Israeli military. (Design: Palestine Chronicle)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

“These American cloud providers allow the Israeli military to store a lot of data and to sift through it very effectively. That has direct consequences for people on the ground.”

A series of investigations over the past year has revealed “a symbiotic relationship” between major tech companies and the Israeli military, the Guardian has reported.

Citing its work in partnership with the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 magazine and the Hebrew outlet Local Call, the Guardian said that one investigation showed that an Israeli mass surveillance system collected nearly all Palestinian phone calls and stored them on Microsoft’s cloud services. The report led to an internal inquiry that resulted in Microsoft cutting off Israel’s access to certain technologies.

Another investigation found that the Israeli military “created a ChatGPT-like tool to analyze data collected through the surveillance of Palestinians.” While another revealed that Google and Amazon “had agreed to extraordinary terms to clinch a lucrative contract with Israel.”

October 7 Changed Scope

Journalist Yuval Abraham, involved in the investigations, told the Guardian that the Israeli military “had been fetishizing artificial intelligence and big data for many years…because the occupation generates a lot of data.”

Abraham said that after the events of October 7, 2023, the scope changed.

“The military was looking to bomb hundreds of targets every day in Gaza. Tens of thousands of people were recruited into reserve duty. That meant a huge spike in usage of technological systems. That’s where the big tech companies stepped in,” he explained.

There was “a huge surge in demand” not only for the storage capabilities of tech companies “but also for the products that they offer to analyze the information used to prosecute a war,” Harry Davies, the other journalist involved in the investigations, said.

Referring to the revelations by whistleblower Edward Snowden, Abraham said much of that information was linked to metadata, which does not weigh much.

However, the Israeli military also wanted to store huge amounts of data, such as mass audio files, images or videos.

This was where the assistance of companies such as Microsoft was sought, Abraham said.

“In the West Bank, sources have told us this information has been used to find dirt on people to blackmail them. In the Gaza Strip, we know that this massive trove of intercepted phone calls was also used in airstrikes that killed civilians,” he stated.

“So data is power and data is control,” Abraham continued. “And these American cloud providers allow the Israeli military to store a lot of data and to sift through it very effectively. That has direct consequences for people on the ground.”

Israel’s Elite Unit 8200

Davies pointed to Yossi Sariel, the former head of Israel’s elite Unit 8200, who published a book under a pseudonym revealed to have been him.

Two years before October 7, Sariel said that “militaries and governments needed to forge relationships” with companies such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft, “that are similar to the relationships they have with companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin,” Davies said.

Their reporting revealed how aspects of his vision have been realized and put into effect, “both before October 7 and afterwards, in both the West Bank and Gaza.”

Abraham said artificial intelligence allowed Israel “to achieve the effective results of carpet bombing without losing the legitimacy of a data-driven assault with targets and objectives.”

Score Assigned to Individuals in Gaza

In Gaza, AI systems were used to assign a score to nearly every individual with a phone number, determining the likelihood of that person being a member of Hamas or Islamic Jihad, Abraham said.

“This score was based on a machine-learning algorithm [developed by Israel] called Lavender,” and was trained on alleged Hamas members, enabling the military to generate tens of thousands of targets at a scale that would otherwise have been “humanly” impossible.

Citing sources, Abraham said most of the targets “were not Hamas members,” adding that  “Israel for the most part bombed these people not while they were engaged in military activity, but when they stepped inside their families’ homes.”

He explained that these AI systems had “an error rate” that the Israeli army knew about.

“But to me, the key thing about AI is not the mistakes that it makes. It’s the scale of destruction that it allows militaries to unleash, and it’s a discourse of legitimacy that it enables – a discourse of targets and collateral damage,” Abraham emphasized.

Microsoft’s Policies Changed

On the question of Microsoft having changed its policies as a result of the series of investigations by the journalists, Davies said there is the question of legal ramifications for these companies.

“If the ICJ (International Court of Justice) ends up ruling that Israel has committed a genocide, then a follow-up question will be: who contributed to that genocide? Which companies helped maintain it and sustain it? For some people in these companies who are thinking ahead, that could also be a cause for concern,” Abraham noted.

Israel heavily relies on companies involved in the Nimbus project, a major cloud contract with Google and Amazon signed in 2021, to move large volumes of government data, including “troves of information” from the Defense Ministry, onto US-based servers.

“These are US companies,” Abraham said, adding, “They’re taking a certain gamble here that the US will stay loyal to Israel and won’t block, limit or sanction them.”

He said Microsoft’s decision “made many people in the Israeli system nervous.”

“It was the first time we know of that a big tech company withdrew services from the Israeli military. It made some people ask whether Israel is making a mistake by giving these foreign companies so much leverage,” he added.

‘Tip of the Iceberg’

While Abraham said the reporting had only uncovered “the tip of the iceberg,” Davies noted that their investigations revealed a partial glimpse into a much larger system.

“We’re continuing to build a fuller picture of how this technology was and continues to be used in Gaza and in the West Bank as well,” he stated.

Davies pointed out that militaries “pay attention to what other militaries are doing.”

“We don’t know for sure, but the Pentagon and the US military have very big contracts with all of these companies to provide cloud services. Post-Gaza, we have to look at these relationships and ask: what is the involvement of these companies and their technology in military decisions, in military operations and in warfare more broadly?” he stated.

Israel’s genocidal military assault on Gaza, launched in October 2023, has resulted in the deaths of more than 71,000, with over 171,000 others wounded.

(PC, Al Mayadeen) 

Israeli Raids Kill Two Girls, Injure Civilians as Ceasefire Violations Continue in Gaza

December 31, 2025

Israeli occupation forces continue to violate the ceasefire in Gaza. (Photo: social media, via QNN)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Israeli occupation forces continued widespread ceasefire violations across Gaza, killing two girls, injuring civilians, demolishing buildings, and causing the death of a fisherman amid worsening humanitarian conditions.

The Israeli occupation army carried out new raids across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, continuing its violations of the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the eastern part of the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, as well as the city of Rafah in the south. The occupation army also blew up buildings within its deployment areas northwest of Rafah and carried out seven demolition operations in areas where it is deployed north of Rafah and east of Gaza City.

In southern Gaza, Nasser Medical Complex said a Palestinian was injured by Israeli drone fire outside the occupation’s deployment areas in Bani Suheila, east of Khan Yunis. Separately, a Palestinian woman was wounded by Israeli gunfire after occupation forces entered eastern Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

On Tuesday, two girls were killed and several others injured in separate incidents linked to Israeli military actions and the ongoing war.

A medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital said an 11-year-old girl was killed by Israeli fire outside deployment areas in the Al-Zarqa area of the Al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City. Ambulance and emergency services also reported the killing of another child when a wall collapsed onto a tent sheltering displaced people in Mawasi Rafah, amid severe weather conditions.

A child was also injured by Israeli drone fire outside the occupation deployment areas in Khan Yunis.

In a related incident, a Palestinian fisherman drowned off the coast of Gaza City after being chased by an Israeli warship. A source at Al-Shifa Medical Complex said the fisherman’s boat capsized amid high waves while Israeli naval forces pursued fishing boats. The Fishermen’s Committees Union said the chase led directly to the incident.

These attacks come as the suffering of displaced Palestinians worsens amid a powerful storm hitting the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army continues to control the southern and eastern parts of Gaza, as well as large areas of the north, maintaining effective control over approximately 60 percent of the Strip.

According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, since the ceasefire came into force on October 10, Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations, resulting in at least 418 Palestinian deaths and 1,141 injuries.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged a genocidal war on Gaza, killing more than 71,000 Palestinians and wounding over 171,000 others, while destroying around 90 percent of civilian infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated reconstruction costs at approximately $70 billion.

(PC, AJA)

‘We Pledge to Continue the Path’: Full Speech by Newly Introduced Abu Obeida

December 30, 2025

The newly-introduced spokesman of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida. (Photo: video grab)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

The newly introduced military spokesman of the Al-Qassam Brigades delivered his first public address, announcing the killing of the former spokesman and outlining the movement’s position on the war, ceasefire, and regional developments.

The Al-Qassam Brigades’ newly introduced military spokesman delivered a lengthy address on Monday, during which he announced the killing of the previous spokesman, known publicly as Abu Obeida.

In the speech, broadcast by Al-Jazeera, the speaker announced the killing of the former military spokesman, also known as Abu Obeida, stating that he was killed in Israeli bombardments.

The following is the full, verbatim English translation published in full and without edits.

In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, the One Who honors His believing servants and humiliates the arrogant multitude and the criminal wrongdoers, even if after some time.

Praise be to God, Who says: “And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might snatch you away, then He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things so that you might give thanks.” And He, Exalted is He, also says: “Among the believers are men who were true to what they pledged to God. Some of them have fulfilled their vow, and some still await, and they have not changed in the least.” Peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, the striving martyr, who strove for God as He deserves to be striven for, and was harmed in God’s cause yet remained patient, until victory and empowerment came to him from his Lord.

Peace be upon you, and God’s mercy and blessings. We greet you from the land of dignity and pride, the land of struggle, martyrdom, purity, and greatness. We take pride in our belonging to Gaza the proud, and in our great pride in its people—the great fighters, patient, steadfast, and seeking reward—heirs of the prophets and descendants of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. O noblest of people, O greatest of people, O God’s chosen among His servants in His chosen land, O truthful ones who remain steadfast and have not altered in the least: peace be upon you for your patience, and how excellent is the final home.

Peace be upon Gaza—its soil, its water, its sky, and its air. Peace be upon its men, its women, and its children. Peace be upon its resisters and its heroes. Peace be upon you for what you have endured of the pain of loss, captivity, wounds, and the suffering of displacement. Peace be upon you as you endure today the hardship of life and the cold of winter.

Peace be upon your worn tents, your cracked homes, and your exhausted bodies. Yet your spirits, your faith, your determination, and your certainty in God are stronger than anything imagined by all enemies and conspirators who take pleasure in your suffering and anticipate your downfall. They will never achieve that, God willing. You are glory itself and the opening chapter of a glorious history.

What pride and honor it is that the blood of fighters has mixed with the blood of their families, and that leaders and their families stood at the heart of the ranks of those who sacrificed everything they possessed. We are from you and you are from us. Together, with willing souls, we offered the most precious thing we have, in response to the call of our Lord and in hope of what is with Him. We are certain that God will not deprive us of the reward for our deeds and that this pure blood will not be lost with Him. Place your trust in your Lord. The cycle will turn against the wrongdoers, even if after some time. Do not think that God is unaware of what the wrongdoers do.

O sons and daughters of our people wherever they are—in Gaza, Jerusalem, the West Bank, the occupied interior, and the diaspora; O sons and daughters of our great and far-reaching nation; and O all free people of the world: today we bring you, with pride and honor, the news of a great group of our people and heroic fighters who fulfilled their vow after the occupation violated the truce and resumed its criminal war last March, joining a long caravan of righteous martyrs. We mention in particular a group of the distinguished leaders of the Qassam Brigades who were killed in the battlefield and in command-and-control rooms, at their posts, carrying out their duties without fatigue or weariness.

We mourn the great commander, the fighter and martyr Muhammad Sinwar, Abu Ibrahim, Chief of Staff of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, a worthy successor to a worthy predecessor. He possessed an exceptional strategic mind and led the Qassam Brigades during an extremely difficult phase, succeeding the great martyr of the nation, Abu Khaled al-Deif, after having served as commander of the Operations Branch during the Al-Aqsa Flood. He made a major contribution and played a prominent role in planning and executing the October 7 operation and in supervising the details of the defensive plan and confronting the occupation’s brutal aggression against Gaza. This was a path our great commander began decades ago, marked by major milestones, from “Sacred Revenge” to “The Shattered Illusion,” and from leading the Khan Younis Brigade to holding a number of senior leadership positions within the Qassam Brigades, until his journey was sealed with martyrdom on the frontlines of honor and dignity.

We also mourn the great commander Muhammad Shabana, Abu Anas, commander of the Rafah Brigade in the Qassam Brigades, who was killed alongside Commander Abu Ibrahim Sinwar and a group of fellow commanders and fighters. Abu Anas was a close companion of the two great commanders Abu Shmala and al-Attar and an outstanding leader who contributed in various roles, from media work to logistics and supply. He was a hero known in southern Gaza for his specialized operations, from “The Shattered Illusion,” to “The Warning of Explosion,” to the capture of Hadar Goldin, and culminating in the remarkable achievements carried out by the fighters of Rafah during the Al-Aqsa Flood.

We also mourn the great commander Hikmat al-Issa, Abu Omar, the steadfast migrant fighter and a devout, humble leader, modest among his brothers yet firm and daring in the arenas of confrontation. He traveled across many lands carrying the trust of struggle for Palestine and was known in Lebanon, Syria, and other countries before settling in Gaza the proud. There, he continued the path of resistance and transferred his experience to his fellow fighters in Palestine. He served in several leadership positions, most notably in training, the military academies and colleges, and finally the Combat Weapons Branch.

We also mourn the great commander who recently joined this caravan, the martyred Sheikh Raed Saad, Abu Muadh, commander of the Manufacturing Branch of the Qassam Brigades and commander of its operational support units. He was a dignified, devout religious leader known in the arenas of struggle since the earliest days. He devoted himself day and night to giving and sacrifice. He once commanded the First Gaza Brigade, then moved through various leadership roles and multiple fronts of struggle, and concluded his journey by leading the military manufacturing system that produced Qassam weapons domestically and by Palestinian hands—from the bullet to the rifle, from the rocket to the explosive device and shell, and from the boat to the drone. These weapons played a decisive role in the October 7 breakthrough and in the defensive battle that followed.

As we stand before you today, we cannot but pause in reverence and respect for the one who previously held this position, who repeatedly addressed you with his powerful voice, truthful words, and long-awaited announcements. He was the masked figure loved by millions, whose appearances were eagerly awaited and who became a source of inspiration, with his red keffiyeh turning into an icon for free people across the world. We mourn the great commander and martyr, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida—the resounding voice of the nation, the man of word and stance, the pulse of Palestine, its Jerusalem, its people, and its resistance, and the head of Qassam’s media apparatus. He left a deep impact on the hearts of the nation. This figure never abandoned his people in their darkest moments. He addressed them from the heart of the battlefield, bringing reassurance, strengthening their resolve, consoling them, and standing beside them despite grave danger and repeated targeting. Even the enemy’s public awaited his appearances as much as our own people did, to hear from him the decisive word and the certain news.

Today, we announce him to our nation and our people by his real name and title. We mourn the great commander, Hudhaifa Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout, Abu Ibrahim, who passed after two decades of angering the enemies and bringing comfort to the hearts of believers. He met God in the best of states. What greater sign of sincerity toward God is there than that God elevates a person’s mention among all people and grants him acceptance on earth? He departed after leading the Qassam media system with great competence and after he and his brothers recorded an honorable performance witnessed by both friend and foe, conveying to the world the course of the Al-Aqsa Flood in its fullest form and the heroism of Gaza’s fighters that astonished the world and enraged the enemies. Commander Hudhaifa al-Kahlout has departed, and we have inherited from him his title, Abu Obeida. Peace be upon you among the immortal. We pledge to continue the path.

The blood of our people, our fighters, and our leaders that was shed on the soil of Gaza in the noblest of battles stands as proof against all and as a call for the nation to rise, shake off complacency, and mobilize in support of Palestine and Al-Aqsa, for which Gaza offered the most precious it possesses, fulfilling its duty before God and continuing to do so. Its sons will not let the banner fall until victory over the enemy or martyrdom in the path of God, in defense of the most just cause known in modern history.

(Abu Obeida’s full speech was translated and transcribed by the Palestine Chronicle)

Junta Leader is Declared the Winner of Guinea’s Presidential Election

Officials count ballots at a polling station as polls close during the presidential election in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Fode Toure)

7:09 PM EST, December 30, 2025

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Junta leader Gen. Mamdi Doumbouya was declared the winner of Guinea’s presidential election held over the weekend, according to incomplete results released late on Tuesday, the country’s first election since a 2021 coup.

Doumbouya won 86.72% of the votes counted so far, according to the General Directorate of Elections. Ahead of the vote on Sunday, analysts had predicted that a weakened opposition would result in Doumbouya’s win.

The election was widely as a means to legitimize Doumbouya’s stay in power. It was also the culmination of a transition process that began four years ago after Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Condé. The junta leader has since clamped down on opposition and dissent, critics say, leaving him with no major opponents among the eight other candidates who were in the race.

More than 50 political parties were dissolved, and major opposition candidates were either banned from contesting on the grounds of technicalities or were in exile following the clampdown.

Lesser-known Yéro Baldé, a former education minister in Alpha Condé’s government, came a distant second with 6.51% of the votes. The directorate said that 80.95% of the registered 6.7 million voters had voted in the election.

After seizing power, Doumbouya had said that he and other military officers would not run in elections. However, a September referendum allowed officers to run and extended the presidential term from five to seven years.

Rich in mineral resources with a 15-million-strong population, half of the country is mired in poverty and experiences record levels of food insecurity, according to the World Food Program.

The Simandou iron ore project, a 75% Chinese-owned mega mining project at the world’s largest iron deposit, has been the focal point of infrastructural and economic revitalization for the junta.

Production at the site began last month after decades of delay. The authorities are banking on the project to create thousands of jobs and open investments in other sectors, including education and health.

Guinea is one of the several West African countries that have seen a coup or coup attempt since 2020. Military officers have taken on popular discontent with deteriorating security, underwhelming economies, or disputed elections to seize power.

Since November, Guinea-Bissau and Benin have also gone through coups.

What’s Known About Kiev's Attempt to Attack Putin’s Residence in Novgorod Region

According to Sergey Lavrov, Moscow will not leave Kiev's attack unanswered

© Sergey Fadeichev/TASS

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. Kiev launched 91 unmanned aerial vehicles at the state residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Novgorod Region overnight to December 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced. He stated that Moscow will respond to the attack.

TASS has compiled the main facts of the incident.

About the attack and its aftermath

- Ukraine attacked the state residence of the Russian President in the Novgorod Region in the early hours of December 29 using 91 unmanned aerial vehicles.

- All unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed.

- There were no reports of casualties or damage following the Ukrainian drone attack.

- Moscow will not leave Kiev's attack unanswered.

- The targets and timing of Russia's retaliatory strike following the attack on Putin's state residence have been determined.

Russia's negotiating position

- Russia does not intend to withdraw from the negotiating process following the Ukrainian armed forces' attack on the presidential residence.

- Moscow notes that this action was carried out by Kiev amid intensive negotiations to resolve the Ukrainian conflict.

- Russia's negotiating position will be reviewed given the Kiev regime's terrorist actions.

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

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 190 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a US-made armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

© Alexey Konovalov/TASS

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated two communities in the Kharkov and Zaporozhye Regions over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"Battlegroup West units gained control of the settlement of Boguslavka in the Kharkov Region through decisive operations. <…> Battlegroup Dnepr units liberated the settlement of Lukyanovskoye in the Zaporozhye Region through active operations," the ministry said in a statement.

Kiev loses 1,330 troops along engagement line in past day – latest figures

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,330 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 200 troops and two armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, over 190 troops and a US-made armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and about 220 troops and eight armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup South.

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army also lost over 470 troops and three armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, more than 210 troops and two armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East and roughly 40 troops and a US-made armored personnel carrier in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup Dnepr, the latest figures show.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 200 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 200 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade, an air assault brigade, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Andreyevka, Barilovka, Grabovskoye, Iskriskovshchina and Pavlovka in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade and a motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Vesyoloye and Staritsa in the Kharkov Region, the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 200 personnel, two armored combat vehicles, 19 motor vehicles and two artillery guns in those frontline areas over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed three ammunition, materiel and fuel and lubricants depots of the Ukrainian army, the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 190 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 190 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a US-made armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup West units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army, a National Guard brigade and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Glushkovka, Kupyansk-Uzlovoi and Podoly in the Kharkov Region, Drobyshevo, Ilyichevka and Krasny Liman in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said in a statement.

"In the Kupyansk direction in the last 24 hours, units of the 6th Army repelled two attacks by formations of the Ukrainian army’s 14th mechanized and 92nd assault brigades in areas near the settlements of Blagodatovka and Velikaya Shapkovka in the Kharkov Region that were aimed at breaking through into Kupyansk. Up to 20 militants were destroyed," the ministry said.

Overall, the Ukrainian army lost more than 190 personnel, a US-made HMMWV armored combat vehicle, a field artillery gun and 18 motor vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed an electronic warfare station and five ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 220 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 220 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed eight enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and two marine infantry brigades in areas near the settlements of Berestok, Zakotnoye, Konstantinovka, Minkovka, Nikolayevka, Slavyansk and Stepanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 220 personnel, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, eight armored combat vehicles, 16 motor vehicles and three field artillery guns in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed two ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 470 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 470 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units improved their forward positions and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an infantry brigade, an airmobile brigade, an air assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army, a territorial defense brigade and a National Guard brigade in areas near the settlements of Grishino, Novoaleksandrovka, Novy Donbass, Toretskoye and Shevchenko in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Novopavlovka and Novopodgorodnoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 470 personnel, three NATO-produced armored personnel carriers, three armored combat vehicles, five motor vehicles and two artillery guns in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

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

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

"Battlegroup East units continued advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade, two assault brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Bratskoye and Pokrovskoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Barvinovka, Novoye Pole and Ternovatoye in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 210 personnel, two armored combat vehicles and 10 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 armored personnel carrier in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup Dnepr units "inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Belogorye, Orekhov and Preobrazhenka in the Zaporozhye Region and Sadovoye in the Kherson Region," the ministry said.

"Up to 40 Ukrainian military personnel, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, 11 motor vehicles and an electronic warfare station were destroyed," the ministry said.

Russian forces strike Ukrainian military-industrial sector’s energy sites over past day

Russian forces struck energy facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial sector 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 energy facilities of Ukraine’s military-industrial sector and temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations, nationalists and foreign mercenaries in 150 locations," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses intercept 18 Ukrainian UAVs, three HIMARS rockets over past day

Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 18 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and three HIMARS rockets over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down three rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and 18 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 669 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 283 helicopters, 105,823 unmanned aerial vehicles, 641 surface-to-air missile systems, 26,796 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,634 multiple rocket launchers, 32,260 field artillery guns and mortars and 50,404 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.