Military Coups and Neo-Colonial Threats in West Africa

Guinea-Bissau and Benin are latest states to experience military interventions

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Thursday December 18, 2025

Geopolitical Analysis

There have been two incidents which are said to have been military coups in Guinea-Bissau and yet another failed putsch in Benin. 

Both military interventions have been linked to an ongoing electoral process in Guinea-Bissau and an upcoming vote for the presidency of Benin in 2026.

In regard to Guinea-Bissau, the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had condemned the military takeover and is demanding the immediate return to civilian rule inside the country. This military arrangement has been rejected by the opposition parties in Guinea-Bissau who were contesting the elections for the presidency when a change of government was announced on November 26. 

The incumbent president, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, was said to have fled Bissau in the aftermath of the announcement of a seizure of power by General Horta N’Tam the head of the presidential protection unit who announced that there was a transitional program adopted by the coup makers which would last for one year. Initially, the president went to neighboring Senegal where Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly doubted the veracity of the political narrative of the ousted head-of-state.

Later it was reported that Umaro Sissoco Embalo had left Senegal for Congo-Brazzaville. Nonetheless, opposition forces in Guinea-Bissau and throughout the region have accused the authorities in the country of “staging a coup” in order to prevent the Madem G15 party administration from facing electoral defeat.

Leading up to the elections, former Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, was banned from standing for the presidential elections on behalf of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). The PAIGC is the party of Amilcar Cabral, the political and military architect of the liberation struggle during the 1950s through the 1970s. 

The PAIGC candidate was detained after the coup along with Fernando Dias da Costa of the Party for Social Renewal. This candidate was endorsed by the PAIGC after its organization was banned. 

Several days after control of the government was taken over by what was described as the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order, it was reported in several news sources that the ballots from the national elections had been stolen by armed individuals. These events have raised serious questions about the character of the new government and its relationship to the former president. Guinea-Bissau for many years has been an alleged transit point for narcotics trafficking from South America into Western Europe. Obviously, the civilian government and allied military forces were committed to preventing the opposition parties from taking control of the state.

Coup Opposed by African Union (AU)

A declaration issued by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia called for the resumption of what they described as democratic control in Guinea Bissau. The actions of the military rebels were in defiance of the AU charter along with that of ECOWAS.

This statement by the AU-PSC stressed that the body;

“Directs the AU Commission, in close cooperation with ECOWAS, the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) and all other international development partners to provide the requisite support to Guinea-Bissau to ensure a swift return to constitutional order, including national dialogues and reform of government institutions towards establishing national unity for peaceful resolution of the crisis in the country. Calls on the leaders of the coup to guarantee the safety and facilitate the evacuation and safe passage of all AU Election Observers and all other international election observers. Supports the strengthening of the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau to continue to protect state institutions and prevent further violence. Requests the AU Post-Conflict, Reconstruction and Development Center in Cairo in collaboration with the UN peacebuilding institutions to engage with the relevant institutions in Guinea-Bissau to provide support on development activities in order to prevent the country from further relapses into political crises.” (https://www.peaceau.org/en/article/communique-of-the-1315th-meeting-emergency-of-the-peace-and-security-council-held-on-28-november-2025-on-the-consideration-of-the-emergency-situation-in-guinea-bissau)

Yet, the government in Senegal, also a member of the AU and ECOWAS as is Guinea-Bissau, seems to be taking a more nuanced approach to the military coup. Senegal elected a new youthful government during 2024 and since that time period has been attempting to reshape its domestic and international image. 

Senegal did not join the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) which has broken military and economic ties with France. In the case of Niger, a thousand Pentagon troops were forced to leave their posts and to dismantle the drone stations operating inside the uranium-rich state in West Africa. 

In a report published by the African Press Agency (APA) it says of the Senegalese position:

“Senegal is adopting a ‘realistic and moderate’ approach to the ongoing crisis in Guinea-Bissau, even as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) maintains a firmer demand for an immediate return to constitutional order. Speaking on TFM radio on Tuesday, Senegalese Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Cheikh Niang, outlined Dakar’s strategy. While condemning the recent coup and calling for the restoration of the electoral process, Niang emphasized that Senegal is willing to work within the reality of the military’s proposed timeline.” (https://apanews.net/dakar-prioritizes-pragmatism-flexibility-in-guinea-bissau-crisis/)

In taking what appears to be contradictory positions on the Guinea-Bissau political crisis does not bode well for the imperatives of developing a coherent path from military to civilian rule in West Africa. Although the ideal enunciated by the AU and ECOWAS often evokes the upholding of democratic processes, in many cases those administrations which are elected violate their own constitutions and democratic norms to remain in power. 

Benin Coup Reversed with Nigeria, ECOWAS and French Assistance

On Sunday December 7, there was an attempted coup in the Republic of Benin. The military intervention was announced by the coup makers over national television.

This coup was led by a high-ranking military officer Lt.-Col. Pascal Tigri of the protection forces close to President Patrice Talon. After going on national television to announce the coup, Nigerian Air Force jets carried out strikes against the positions of the coup makers as well as a leading military base near the commercial center of Cotonou. 

There were also reports of the involvement of Ivory Coast and French special forces in the operation which reimposed President Talon. This military action was carried out under the rubric of the ECOWAS Standby Forces. The plan which was enacted in Benin was similar to what had been projected after the CNSP Revolution in neighboring Niger during July-August 2023. 

During that period, the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the then chair of ECOWAS, was not able to gain consensus from his ruling party, the All-Progressives Congress (APC) which controlled the Senate. Other political forces were mobilized against a prospective ECOWAS intervention inside of Nigeria and other regional states.

However, during the immediate aftermath of the seizure of power by Lt.-Col. Tigri, it appears as if no public discussions were held over the veracity of a military operation to reinstall Talon with the assistance of other ECOWAS states along with the former colonial power of France, which has come under severe criticism in recent years. ECOWAS within its charter does have provisions for the restoration of civilian governments within its member-states. This has been done in past decades in Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia. 

The Communist Party of Benin (PCB) issued a statement after the attempted coup which denounced the military usurpation of political power while questioning the intervention of Nigeria, the ECOWAS forces which bolstered the French military troops already occupying the country. This opposition party pointed to the conditions inside Benin which underline the discontent among elements within the military.

An article published by Sahara Reports says of the position of the PCB:

“The PCB sharply criticized the reported involvement of French forces and Nigerian military assets in neutralizing the coup attempt. Citing unverified information, the party claimed that French President, Emmanuel Macron, requested Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to intervene under the banner of ECOWAS, with Nigerian fighter jets supporting French troops on the ground. The party alleged that additional Nigerian ground forces entered through the Sèmè border to reinforce the operation. ‘This event is extremely serious. It is an insult and humiliation to the political and military institutions of our country, the PCB said. It represents the placement of our country under supervision, a pure and simple transformation of Benin into a French colony. The PCB reiterated its longstanding stance that Benin’s internal issues should be resolved domestically without foreign interference.’” (https://saharareporters.com/2025/12/08/coup-plot-communist-party-benin-condemns-nigeria-frances-military-intervention-blames)

These instances of military interventions must be analyzed from an anti-imperialist and proletarian internationalist perspective related to the character of both the civilian and defense interests within these respective states. The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) consisting of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger is led by military administrations. 

Yet, these governments have signed the Liptako-Gourma Charter which units the three states economically, politically and militarily. Whether African governments are purportedly civilian, military or a combination of both, the focus should be on building genuine independence through the empowerment of the workers, farmers and youth. 

Burkina Faso Releases Nigerian Air Force Crew Detained After Emergency Landing

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN

10:00 AM EST, December 18, 2025

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Burkina Faso on Wednesday released 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel who were detained more than a week ago after their aircraft made an emergency landing, Nigeria’s foreign minister said.

“Through sustained dialogue, we also resolved the matter concerning Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew, reaffirming the effectiveness of diplomacy in addressing sensitive issues,” Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said Thursday in a statement on X.

Burkina Faso’s military junta, led by Ibrahim Traoré, released the personnel after meetings with a Nigerian delegation led by Tuggar, the statement said.

The personnel detained on Dec. 8 included two flight crew members and nine passengers, officials said.

“Matters have been resolved,” Alkasim Abdulkadir, a spokesperson for Tuggar, told The Associated Press. “They are no longer detained.”

Nigeria and Burkina Faso agreed to hold regular consultations and pursue steps to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration, Abdulkadir said.

The Nigerian Air Force said last week that the aircraft was headed to Portugal for scheduled maintenance when it made the emergency landing in western Burkina Faso. The air force said the landing was done in accordance with international guidelines and standard safety procedures.

But Foreign Minister Tuggar said Wednesday in a televised speech on Burkina Faso’s state broadcaster that there were “irregularities concerning the overflight authorizations” and apologized for the incident.

The emergency landing had prompted the Alliance of Sahel States to place its air and anti-air defenses on maximum alert with authorization “to neutralize any aircraft that violates the confederation’s airspace,” according to a statement by Gen. Assimi Goita, leader of Mali’s military junta. The alliance includes Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The crew will now fly the aircraft to Portugal for the scheduled maintenance, Nigerian foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said Thursday.

The emergency landing occurred at a time of fractured relations between the Alliance of Sahel States and Nigeria, which was involved in intervention efforts that helped reverse a short-lived coup earlier this month in Benin, where the Nigerian Air Force conducted airstrikes targeting the coup plotters. Burkina Faso is on the northwest border of Benin, and Nigeria is on Benin’s eastern border.

Nigeria is among 15 members of West Africa’s regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed the Sahel alliance after withdrawing from ECOWAS, which the alliance accuses of inhumane, coup-related sanctions and working against the interests of citizens in alliance countries.

Sudanese Paramilitary Group RSF Killed More Than 1,000 Civilians in Zamzam Camp in April, UN Says

By FAY ABUELGASIM

10:35 AM EST, December 18, 2025

CAIRO (AP) — More than 1,000 civilians were killed in a three-day attack by the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group earlier this year on the largest displacement camp in western Sudan, the U.N. Human Rights Office said in a report released Thursday.

RSF stormed Zamzam camp in April as part of its siege of the city of el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur province.

In the attack, hundreds of people were summarily executed, according to the report. People were killed in house-to-house raids and the main market, as well as in schools and health facilities. The report detailed patterns of sexual violence, “including rape and gang rape, and sexual slavery.”

The report called it “a consistent pattern of serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross abuses of international human rights law.” It comes a few weeks after Amnesty International accused the RSF of committing war crimes in their attack of the camp.

Zamzam was the largest displacement camp in Sudan with more than 500,000 people there prior to the April attacks. RSF blocked entry of food and other essential goods to the Zamzam camp for months prior to the attack, the U.N. report says.

Zamzam camp was established in 2004 to house people driven from their homes by attacks by the Sudanese Janjaweed militia. Located just south of el-Fasher, it swelled over the years to cover an area 8 kilometers (5 miles) long by about 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide.

RSF has been at war with the Sudanese military since April 2023. The conflict has killed 40,000 people — though some rights groups say the death toll is significantly higher — and has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with more than 14 million people displaced. Many areas have experienced famine, including at the Zamzam camp.

“The findings contained in this report are yet another stark reminder of the need for prompt action to end the cycles of atrocities and violence, and to ensure accountability and reparations for victims,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said.

Türk warned that the patterns of violence in Zamzam are now being repeated in el-Fasher as RSF took over the city.

“These horrific patterns of violations — committed with impunity — are consistent with what my office has repeatedly documented, including during the RSF takeover of el-Fasher in late October,” Türk said.

Separately, Sudan’s top general met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo Thursday amid growing pressure to resolve the war in Sudan.

Burhan’s meeting with el-Sissi came after the Sudanese general held talks with Saudi officials in Riyadh earlier this week. U.S. envoy Massad Boulos was also in Riyadh at the same time and met with Saudi officials. There was no public announcement that Burhan met with the American official.

Boulos said on X Wednesday after meeting with Saudi officials, including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, there was an agreement with Saudi Arabia on practical steps “toward a humanitarian truce, durable stability, and expanded humanitarian access and assistance for the Sudanese people.”

Both the United States and Saudi Arabia are mediators, part of a group known as the Quad along with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Burhan had previously rejected a ceasefire proposal in November, calling it unacceptable and “the worst yet” — and accused the mediators of being “biased” in their efforts to end the war.

In a statement after the meeting, the Egyptian presidency affirmed its support for Sudan, but also rejected “the establishment of any parallel entities or their recognition, considering this a violation of Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity,” adding that there are “red lines” that can’t be crossed. RSF announced a parallel government in July called the Tasis Alliance.

The statement also said that Egypt affirms “its full right to take all necessary measures and actions guaranteed by international law and the Joint Defense Agreement between the two brotherly countries to ensure that these red lines are not violated or crossed.”

The fighting is now concentrated in the south, mostly in the oil-rich Kordofan states. The Sudan Doctors’ Network, a group of medical professionals tracking the war, said Thursday that 16 people have been killed in the last 48 hours by artillery shelling of the besieged town of Dilling, South Kordofan, where there is now risk of famine. The group blames RSF and allied groups for the attack, calling it a flagrant violation of international law and called for international on the group to stop the attacks.

Kenya’s Environment Court to Consider a Claim that a Lux Safari Camp Was Harming Wildebeests Routes

Umbrella acacia trees, one of the most recognizable trees of the African Savanna, appear in the Masai Mara national reserve in southern Kenya, May 27, 2025. (John Dowling via AP)

Umbrella acacia trees, one of the most recognizable trees of the African Savanna, appear in the Masai Mara national reserve in southern Kenya, May 27, 2025. (John Dowling via AP)

11:55 AM EST, December 18, 2025

NAROK, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s environment court said Thursday it will consider a case challenging the operations of a luxury safari camp in the Maasai Mara reserve amid claims it was infringing on the annual wildebeest migration corridor.

The decision came after a local conservationist, who had initially filed the suit, moved to withdraw it. The court dismissed the motion for withdrawal said it would take up the case again on Feb. 10 and decide how to proceed.

The case was filed in August following local and international condemnation over claims the location of the Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara Camp was blocking the annual wildebeest migration, which draws thousands of tourists from around the world.

The luxury camp, operated by Marriott International, is expected to be among Kenya’s most expensive destinations, charging guests up to $3,500 per night.

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to several other luxury camps that provide tourists with an opportunity to be up close with wildebeests during their annual migration to the neighboring Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

Judge Lucy Gacheru of the Environment and Land Court said that although the law allows a petitioner to withdraw a case, it is at the judiciary’s discretion whether the case should be thrown out and that, in this instance, the serious environmental impact issues raised were of significant public interest.

The Kenyan conservationist, Joel Meitamei Olol Dapash, filed the withdrawal motion on Wednesday, stating that his concerns had been addressed after consultation with the parties involved.

However, the project developers, Lazizi Mara Limited, asked the court to reject the withdrawal, stating that despite their compliance with all regulatory and statutory requirements, the developer had been portrayed negatively and should be allowed a fair hearing in a court of law.

Maryland to Consider Slavery Reparations After Gov. Wes Moore’s Veto is Overridden

By BRIAN WITTE

5:32 PM EST, December 16, 2025

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland will create a commission to study potential reparations for slavery after lawmakers voted Tuesday to override a veto by Gov. Wes Moore — currently the nation’s only Black governor — that disappointed many fellow Democrats.

Moore said in his veto letter in May that it was a difficult decision to veto the bill, which was a priority of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. But he wrote there has been enough study of the legacy of slavery, and it was now time to “focus on the work itself” to address it.

But Democrats who control both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly decided the commission was needed to better examine how to do that.

“This topic isn’t easy, but, again, without formal study, reparations risk being dismissed as symbolic or unconstitutional, regardless of moral merit,” said Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Democrat.

After his veto was overridden, Moore said that while he disagrees with the legislature’s decision, “I am eager to move forward in partnership on the work of repair that we all agree is an urgent and pressing need.”

“I believe the time for action is now -– and we must continue moving forward with the work of repair immediately,” Moore said in a statement. “That mission is especially vital given the immediate and ongoing effects of this federal administration on our constituents, including communities that have been historically left behind.”

Potential reparations outlined in the bill include official statements of apology, monetary compensation, property tax rebates, social service assistance, as well as licensing and permit fee waivers and reimbursement. Reparations also could include assistance with making a down payment on a home, business incentives, childcare, debt forgiveness and tuition payment waivers for higher education.

Maryland’s Black population is about 30%, the highest percentage of any state outside of the Deep South.

Support for reparations gained momentum in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. However, the issue has been a difficult one, particularly for high-profile Democrats, and comes amid a broader conservative backlash over how race, history and inequality are handled in public institutions.

“At a time of growing attacks on diversity and equity, today’s action reaffirms our shared commitment to truth-telling, accountability, and meaningful progress for Black Marylanders,” the state’s Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement.

In October, California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered a mixed bag for proponents of bills aimed at addressing racist and discriminatory policies against African Americans. He signed a law authorizing $6 million for California State University to study how to confirm an individual’s status as a descendant of an enslaved person. But he vetoed other bills the California Legislative Black Caucus championed as tools to atone for the state’s history.

Newsom, who is considering running for president in 2028, signed a law last year to formally apologize for slavery and its lingering effects on Black Californians.

Moore has said he is not planning to run for president in 2028, but he has continued to cultivate a national profile that has drawn pundits’ attention as a potential White House contender.

New York City lawmakers approved legislation last year to study the city’s significant role in slavery and consider reparations to descendants of enslaved people.

In 2021, Evanston, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, became the first U.S. city to create a reparations plan for its Black residents, using tax revenue from the sale of recreational marijuana.

As recently as a few years ago, Americans viewed the prospect of reparations mostly negatively. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2021 found that only about 3 in 10 U.S. adults said descendants of people enslaved in the U.S. should be repaid in some way, such as given land or money. About 7 in 10 said these descendants should not be repaid.

Maryland lawmakers did not take up congressional redistricting in their one-day special session. Moore has expressed interest in pursuing a new map, which could come up when lawmakers convene in January for their annual 90-day session. However, the state Senate president has said he doesn’t support moving forward with a new map. Democrats hold a 7-1 advantage over Republicans in the state’s eight congressional districts.

Western Military Presence in Ukraine in Any Format Unacceptable for Russia — MFA

Maria Zakharova stated that such pseudo-peacekeepers would become legitimate targets for the Russian army

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

© Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. The deployment of Western military personnel in Ukraine "under any guise and in any format" is unacceptable for Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated at a briefing.

Earlier, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the so-called coalition of the willing has completed preparations for plans to deploy troops in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

"The deployment of Western troops on Ukrainian territory under any guise and in any format remains unacceptable for us. We have repeatedly stated that such pseudo-peacekeepers will become legitimate targets for the Russian army," the diplomat noted.

Zakharova referred to the corresponding group of individuals as a "coalition of warmongers," whose activities only cause bewilderment. "Instead of focusing on finding options for settling the crisis, given that they were all talking about peace, and doing so while taking into account the interests of all parties involved in the conflict, the countries belonging to this very coalition are essentially developing plans for the occupation of Ukraine," she concluded.

Russian Troops Strike Ukrainian Army’s Energy Infrastructure Over Past Day

According to the latest figures, Kiev loses 1,405 troops along engagement line in past day

© Alexander Reka/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russian troops struck energy infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army and enemy deployment areas over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck energy infrastructure facilities used to support the Ukrainian army’s operations, workshops for the assembly of long-range attack unmanned aerial vehicles and their storage sites, and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 149 locations," the ministry said in a statement.

Kiev loses 1,405 troops along engagement line in past day - latest figures

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,405 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 150 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, about 200 troops, a US-made armored personnel carrier and two Turkish-made armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and over 195 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup South.

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army also lost over 545 troops and five armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, roughly 245 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East and about 70 troops and two artillery systems in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup Dnepr, the latest figures show.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 150 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 150 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of a jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian army and a National Guard regiment in areas near the settlements of Alekseyevka, Ryzhevka, Varachino and Shostka in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Prilipka, Vilcha, Stary Saltov, Veliky Burluk and Volchanskiye Khutora in the Kharkov Region, the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 150 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, eight motor vehicles, two artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations and an Israeli-made RADA radar station in those frontline areas over the past 24 hours, it specified.

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

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 200 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a US-made armored personnel carrier and two Turkish-made armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and a National Guard brigade in areas near the settlements of Blagodatovka, Podoly, Kovsharovka, Boguslavka, Kupyansk-Uzlovoi and Nechvolodovka in the Kharkov Region and Krasny Liman in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 200 personnel, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, two Turkish-made Cobra armored combat vehicles, 13 motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

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

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 195 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 195 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four 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, an airmobile brigade, two mountain assault brigades of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and a National Guard brigade in areas near the settlements of Reznikovka, Zakotnoye, Kirovo, Minkovka, Konstantinovka and Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 195 personnel, four armored combat vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, among them two US-made 155mm M777 howitzers and two electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed three ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Battlegroup Center units thwart Ukrainian army’s attempt to break through to Krasnoarmeysk

Russia’s Battlegroup Center units thwarted the Ukrainian army’s attempt to break through towards Krasnoarmeysk and continued destroying enemy forces in Dimitrov in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units continued destroying the surrounded enemy in the neighborhoods Vostochny and Zapadny in the city of Dimitrov in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They kept mopping up the settlements of Rodinskoye and Svetloye in the Donetsk People’s Republic of scattered Ukrainian army groups," the ministry said.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup Center units "thwarted attempts by Ukrainian assault groups to break through to the northern outskirts of the industrial zone of Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People’s Republic from Shevchenko across forest belts. A total of 42 militants and 14 items of military equipment were destroyed," the ministry reported.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 545 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 545 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade, an airmobile brigade, an infantry brigade, an air assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade, two National Guard brigades and the Azov special operations brigade [outlawed as a terrorist group in Russia] in areas near the settlements of Kutuzovka, Sergeyevka, Grishino, Volnoye, Toretskoye and Belitskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Novopavlovka and Novopodgorodnoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 545 personnel, five armored combat vehicles, 10 motor vehicles and two artillery guns in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts 245 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 245 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup East units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of an assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Andreyevka and Gavrilovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Gulyaipole and Kosovtsevo in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 245 personnel, four armored combat vehicles, 12 motor vehicles and three materiel depots in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminates 70 Ukrainian troops in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated roughly 70 Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy artillery systems in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on formations of a mountain assault brigade and a coastal defense brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Tyaginka, Nikolskoye and Dneprovskoye in the Kherson Region," the ministry said.

"Up to 70 Ukrainian military personnel, 21 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, including a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer and two materiel depots were destroyed," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses intercept 216 Ukrainian UAVs over past day

Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 216 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down 216 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 669 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 283 helicopters, 103,758 unmanned aerial vehicles, 640 surface-to-air missile systems, 26,591 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,633 multiple rocket launchers, 31,994 field artillery guns and mortars and 49,358 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

Euro Democracy in US Crosshairs, Meddling Threat in Russian Elections: Lavrov Statements

The Russian foreign minister said that the US had sent a strong signal to Europe criticizing the democracy "that is practiced in Europe"

© Sergey Karpukhin/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. The West may try to influence the 2026 elections to the State Duma, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a meeting of the United Russia general council commission on international cooperation, according to the speech published on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

He also said that the US had sent a strong signal to Europe criticizing the democracy "that is practiced in Europe."

TASS collected the main statements of the foreign Minister.

On possible elections in Ukraine

The statement by American leader Donald Trump about the need for presidential elections in Ukraine raises the question of how the West will "orchestrate" them: "Just a a reminder: the people have already elected you for a certain term, don’t overstay your welcome, it’s the people who should decide on this via election."

On democracy as it exists in Europe

The fact that the United States is no longer on board with democracy "as it is understood in Europe" is a "strong signal."

The statements by chief of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas that the EU will help Armenia in the same way "it did in Moldova" are a "confession": "A sincere confession, full confession."

The "directness" of the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who called on the United States not to interfere in "European democracy" is striking, especially against the background of what is happening in Romania and Moldova.

On the threat of meddling in the elections to the State Duma

The West may try to influence the 2026 elections to the State Duma: "We should have no illusions, and we must be prepared for this. And, of course, we will be ready."

Russia is "the special target" of Western geopolitical "engineers" wanting to sway the electoral process.

The West used artificial intelligence against Russia in the presidential elections: "Since they're not so smart themselves, they probably have to rely on the achievements of modern technology in such matters."

Resuming Nuclear Tests, NATO Threat: What Russia's Military Chief of Staff Said

The North Atlantic Alliance, under the pretext of a so-called Russian military threat, has "significantly increased" its military presence near Russia’s borders

Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Russia’s First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

© Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russia strictly adheres to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, but it will take appropriate action if the United States resumes testing, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Army General Valery Gerasimov told a briefing for foreign military attaches.

He also said that the North Atlantic Alliance, under the pretext of the so-called Russian military threat, has "significantly increased" its military presence near Russian borders.

TASS has compiled the key statements by the head of the General Staff.

On the situation in the free zone

The Russian army "has seized and firmly holds the strategic initiative."

The Russian army in Ukraine is "up against the economic and military might of the collective West."

On the NATO threat

The North Atlantic Alliance, under the pretext of a so-called Russian military threat, has "significantly increased" its military presence near Russia’s borders.

During the Defender Europe military exercises, NATO deployed "significant contingents of troops" to the Russian frontier.

It’s the collective West which is taking a threatening position, as it keeps on with its goal of "inflicting strategic defeat on Russia during its special military operation through comprehensive support for Ukraine's military potential."

The growing NATO military potential and its activity near Russian borders poses a "long-term challenge" to the interests of the country.

On the nuclear sphere

The share of modern weapons in the strategic nuclear forces currently stands at 92%.

Russia strictly adheres to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, but if the United States resumes testing, "appropriate retaliatory measures will follow."

On global security

The "complete collapse of the arms control system" would certainly have an impact on global security.

The United States has not yet responded to Russia's initiative to adhere to the limitations of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START Treaty) for a year after its completion.

The New START Treaty is nominally in effect, and after its expiration in February "there will be no restrictions in this area."

On the failure of attempts to make Russia a pariah

The West has again failed to isolate Russia: "More and more states share Russia's views on the formation of a multipolar architecture of international relations, and they also understand the true causes and goals of the special military operation.".

Intelligence Services Remain ‘Almost Sole’ Link Between Russia, Europe — SVR

Responding to a question about whether the Russian side observes more common sense in the approaches of European countries’ intelligence services than in the activities of their politicians, Sergey Naryshkin noted that "the approaches of intelligence services generally align with the policies of their states"

Director of Russian Foreign Intelligence Service of Sergey Naryshkin Valeria Kalugina/TASS

© Valeria Kalugina/TASS

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. These days, nearly the only communication Russia and Europe have is between intelligence services, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin said in an interview with TASS.

Responding to a question about whether the Russian side observes more common sense in the approaches of European countries’ intelligence services than in the activities of their politicians, Naryshkin noted that "the approaches of intelligence services generally align with the policies of their states."

"But given the non-existent state of diplomatic relations due to current circumstances, the partner channel is almost the sole link of interaction between states," he emphasized.

Naryshkin added that the corresponding channel "operates with different countries, with different intelligence services, to varying extents, depending on the level of interstate relations, depending on the tasks facing each special service.".

Kremlin Warns About Consequences for Masterminds, Perpetrators of Russian Asset Seizure

"Those who made decisions collectively, those who made decisions individually and those who put them into practice will all bear responsibility," Dmitry Peskov said

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS

© Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS

MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. Expropriation of Russian assets will not be left unpunished for its masterminds and perpetrators, and Moscow will use all the available international law mechanisms to punish them, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

"We have repeatedly said that all actions, related to expropriations of Russian assets, will not be left unanswered. Those who made decisions collectively, those who made decisions individually and those who put them into practice will all bear responsibility," he said.

"To that end, all possible legal mechanisms will be used," the Kremlin spokesman added.

Seven Killed in SPLM-N Shelling on Dilling, South Kordofan

17 December 2025

A building destroyed by shelling in Dilling, South Kordofan, Sudan, October 11, 2025.

December 17, 2025 (DILLING) – At least seven people were killed and dozens injured on Wednesday when the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) launched heavy artillery fire at Dilling in South Kordofan state, local sources said.

The shelling, described as the most intense in recent months, targeted western neighbourhoods of South Kordofan’s second-largest city, sparking widespread panic. In response, local authorities closed the main market, schools, and government offices, and banned public gatherings until further notice.

Dilling has been under a dual siege since the early stages of Sudan’s conflict. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) control access from the north and east, blocking aid and trade convoys. To the west and south, the Abdel Aziz al-Hilu-led SPLM-N enforces a blockade, restricting the movement of essential goods such as maize and flour, which it classifies as strategic materials.

The escalation follows a pattern of increased artillery and drone strikes by both the RSF and SPLM-N against the city, worsening a precarious humanitarian situation.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, an RSF drone strike killed at least six displaced people on the outskirts of al-Kargal, a source said. The victims were part of a group travelling from the state capital, Kadugli, toward Dilling.

Intelligence reports suggest the SPLM-N is mobilizing fighters near the towns of Al-Samasim and Al-Kargal. The movements indicate an attempt to sever the road connecting Kadugli and Dilling, which the Sudanese army had reopened in February. Such a move would further isolate the state’s main urban centres.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported a new wave of displacement across South Kordofan due to the fighting. According to the IOM, 825 people have fled Gadeer, 455 have left Dilling, and hundreds more have escaped Kadugli and Al-Kuweik. Many of the displaced are heading toward North Kordofan, White Nile state, and Khartoum.

Sudan Political Groups, Rebel Faction Sign Anti-war Declaration in Nairobi

17 December 2025

The signatories of the anti-war declaration hold a press conference in Nairobi on Dec 16, 2025

December 16, 2025 (NAIROBI) – Sudanese political groups and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur signed a declaration in Nairobi on Tuesday outlining shared principles to end the war and rebuild the country, organisers said.

The document, titled the Declaration of Principles for Building a New Homeland, also aligns the signatories behind a separate memorandum calling for the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Islamic Movement to be designated as terrorist organisations.

Signatories to the declaration include the Sudan Liberation Movement, the Sudanese Congress Party, the Federal Gathering, the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party (Original), the National Umma Party, the SPLM – Democratic Revolutionary Current, the National Ba’ath Party, the Sudanese Alliance and the Republican Party.

Several civilian groups also signed the declaration and memorandum, including the Coordination of the Displaced and Refugees, the Darfur Bar Association, the Alliance of Civilian Forces for Eastern Sudan, and the Coordination of Professionals and Trade Unions. Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and journalist al-Haj Warraq were among the prominent individuals who endorsed the documents.

The declaration stresses Sudan’s unity and sovereignty, rejects a military solution to the conflict and calls for an immediate three-month ceasefire linked to humanitarian and political tracks. It also calls for excluding the Islamic Movement and its allies from the political process, rebuilding state institutions and establishing a single professional national army.

The document further calls for Sudan to contribute to regional security, ensure the safety of the Red Sea and combat terrorism.

Wagdi Salih, a senior figure in the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, said at a press conference that the declaration and the memorandum were intended to unify civil and political forces behind demands for a ceasefire and an end to the war.

Asked why the memorandum did not call for designating the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organisation, Salih told Al Jazeera TV that the RSF was not a political party, while the NCP bore responsibility for decades of abuses during its rule.

Mohamed al-Nayer, a spokesman for the SLM, said the declaration was an important step at a critical moment for the country. He told Sudan Tribune that the move could help unify anti-war civilian forces and mobilise pressure at local, regional and international levels against the NCP and the Islamic Movement.

He said the Islamic Movement should be designated a terrorist organisation based on what he described as decades of criminal practices, adding that such a designation could help end the war by weakening its influence.

NCP reaction

The National Congress Party dismissed the Nairobi declaration.

In comments to Al Jazeera Mubasher, the party’s political secretary, al-Nu’man Abd al-Halim, said the NCP did not attach importance to the signatories, accusing them of supporting the RSF. He said the party stood with Sudan’s armed forces and alleged that the United Arab Emirates influenced the signatories’ positions.

Sudan Teachers Demand Probe After Two Colleagues ‘Tortured to Death’ in Army Cell

17 December 2025

Sudanese soldiers hold a drone captured in Dilling on June 25, 2025

December 17, 2025 (DILLING) – The Sudanese Teachers’ Committee called on Wednesday for an investigation into the deaths of two teachers allegedly tortured to death at a military base in Dilling, South Kordofan.

Emergency laws in most Sudanese states have granted the military broad powers to detain and interrogate civilians. Human rights groups have reported several instances of detainees dying under torture within these military facilities.

The committee identified the deceased as Al-Imam Al-Daye, a primary school teacher from Al-Farshaya village, and his cousin and colleague, Tartur Al-Daye.

“Al-Imam Al-Daye died on Monday from injuries sustained during torture at the 54th Brigade Military Intelligence detention center in Dilling,” the committee said in a statement. “Tartur Al-Daye died in November following similar brutal treatment.”

The group demanded a criminal inquiry supervised by neutral judicial authorities to identify those responsible, including those who issued the orders. They also called for the immediate release of all teachers currently held in arbitrary detention.

According to family testimonies cited by the committee, the two men were summoned to the Dilling Education Department under the guise of collecting their salaries. They were arrested by Military Intelligence upon arrival.

The committee stated the men were held for months without judicial warrants or formal charges. It held the Military Intelligence in Dilling legally responsible for what it described as a “complete crime” and a grave violation of the right to life.

Sudanese authorities have detained thousands of individuals on suspicion of collaborating with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). While some have been acquitted, others have faced trial, resulting in prison sentences or the death penalty.

Three Million Sudanese Return Home, Cutting Displaced Total by a Fifth – IOM

18 December 2025

Sudanese returning to Sudan before taking the train in Cairo, heading to the border area, in April 2025

December 17, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – The number of people returning to their homes in Sudan has surpassed three million, leading to a 19% decline in the country’s total displaced population, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday.

In its latest Sudan Displacement and Return Overview, which surveyed over 12,000 locations across all 18 states, the IOM reported that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has fallen to 9.33 million from a peak of 11.5 million.

Of the 3,027,446 total returnees, 81% returned from internal displacement, while 19% returned from abroad. The agency noted that returnee numbers surged by 16% over the past month alone, driven largely by the military regaining control of key areas in Sennar, Aj Jazirah, and Khartoum.

Despite the rising return rate, the IOM warned that many are moving back out of necessity due to a lack of jobs and poor conditions in displacement sites, rather than a sustainable improvement in security or services at home. A significant percentage of returning families reported going home despite ongoing security and service challenges, and the report noted that children under 18 make up over half of both the displaced and returnee populations.

The report highlighted severe humanitarian gaps and a lack of access to basic necessities. Regarding food security, 32% of displaced households and 20% of returnee households reported going a full day and night without eating in the last month.

Healthcare remains a major challenge, with 46% of displaced families and 20% of returnees unable to access necessary medical care. Additionally, sanitation problems were reported by 87% of displaced households and 36% of returnees.

While displacement decreased in 12 states, it continued to rise in North, West, East, and Central Darfur, as well as parts of Kordofan. Khartoum saw the highest influx of returnees, with over 1.09 million recorded.

Since the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023, more than 4.3 million people have fled to neighbouring countries. However, the IOM observed that cross-border movement slowed in the second half of 2025 as neighbouring nations tightened entry restrictions and economic conditions for refugees deteriorated.

The report concluded that while 89% of returnees intend to stay in their current locations, the humanitarian situation remains fragile, with high risks of gender-based violence and child labor persisting in informal settlements and camps.

Over 1,600 People Have Been Killed in Attacks on Health Centers in Sudan This Year, WHO Chief Says

FILE- Sudanese families displaced from El-Fasher reach out as aid workers distribute food supplies at the newly established El-Afadh camp in Al Dabbah, in Sudan’s Northern State, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali,File)

By SAMY MAGDY

11:43 AM EST, December 17, 2025

CAIRO (AP) — More than 1,600 people have been killed in attacks on medical facilities and health care centers in war-torn Sudan so far this year, the United Nations health chief said Wednesday — the latest daunting statistic in the devastating conflict in the African nation.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, said the agency has documented 65 attacks on health facilities since January. The attacks also left 276 people wounded.

The most recent was a drone attack on Sunday on a military hospital in Diling, the capital of South Kordofan province, which in recent months became a flashpoint in the fighting between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Ghebreyesus said the attack killed nine people and wounded 17. “Every attack deprives more people from health services and medicines – needs that do not pause while facilities are rebuilt and services restored,” he said in a post on X.

The Sudan Doctor’s Network, a group of medical professionals tracking the war, blamed the paramilitary forces for the drone attack that targeted the miliary hospital in Diling.

The causalities in Diling were among at least 104 people killed in attacks across Kordofan region since Dec. 4, according to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

The attacks on healthcare facilities included an RSF offensive on the Saudi Hospital in the Darfur city of el-Fasher in October. The WHO said gunmen killed at least 460 people at the hospital, and abducted doctors and nurses.

Sudan plunge into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere in the country.

The war, now in its third year, has killed more than 40,000 people, according to U.N. figures, though aid groups say that is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher.

The conflict has also created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with over 14 million people forced to flee their homes, disease outbreaks and famine spreading in parts of the country.

AFC/M23 Rebels Agree to US Request for Withdrawal From City in DR Congo

AFC/M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, on Tuesday agreed to withdraw from the city of Uvira in eastern DRC following a request from US mediators. The group said its withdrawal was a gesture to give the ongoing peace process between Rwanda and DRC a chance to succeed.

16/12/2025 - 10:14

FRANCE 24

The AFC/M23 armed group said Tuesday it had agreed to a request from the United States to withdraw from the city of Uvira in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Rwanda-backed militia seized the city near the border with Burundi last week, days after the Congolese and Rwandan governments signed a road map towards a peace agreement in Washington – whose future has been cast in doubt by the AFC/M23 advance, raising fears of a wider regional war.

The group "will unilaterally withdraw its forces from the city of Uvira, as requested by the US mediators", it said in a statement signed by its coordinator, Corneil Nangaa.

The AFC/M23 called for "adequate measures" to be put in place to manage the city, including "demilitarisation, protecting its population and infrastructure, and monitoring the ceasefire with a neutral force".

It called for implementation of a framework ceasefire deal reached in a parallel peace process negotiated in the Qatari capital Doha, which was agreed in November but never respected on the ground.

The M23 said it was withdrawing as a gesture "to instil trust in order to give the Doha peace process every chance to succeed".

The DRC's mineral-rich east has been ravaged by three decades of conflict.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Rwanda-backed M23 Rebels Claim Withdrawal from Uvira as Peace Talks Struggle

By RUTH ALONGA and WILSON MCMAKIN

3:41 PM EST, December 17, 2025

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Rwanda-backed M23 rebels claimed to have begun a withdrawal from the city of Uvira in eastern Congo late Wednesday night, according the leader of the rebel group and local authorities.

Bertrand Bisimwa, leader of the M23, spoke to The Associated Press via telephone and said the withdrawal would be complete by Thursday morning.

“We said we’re going to withdraw. Our statement is clear. And that’s what we’re doing,” said Bisimwa.

M23 took control of the city last week following a rapid offensive launched at the start of the month. More than 400 people have been killed, and about 200,000 displaced, regional officials say.

The rebels’ latest offensive comes despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed earlier this month by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington.

Residents shared conflicting reports on the status of the withdrawal.

Kelvin Bwija, coordinator of the Congolese civil society in Uvira, said M23 troops were heading north toward the town of Kamanyola.

Bwija also claimed that pro-government militias know as Wazelendo have begun to approach the city but the AP was unable to confirm this.

When asked who would take control of the city following his forces withdrawal, Bisimwa said the responsibility fell to the mediators and that M23 had “requested a neutral force, and we believe that those who asked us to withdraw will be able to deploy them very quickly.”

A spokesperson for the governor of South Kivu said he was unable to confirm the withdrawal late Wednesday night.

The U.S. last week accused Rwanda of violating the agreement by backing the new rebel advance in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, and warned that the Trump administration will take action against “spoilers” of the deal.

The accord didn’t include the rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and agreed earlier this year to a ceasefire that both sides accuse the other of violating. However, the accord obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups like M23 and work to end hostilities.

The rebel push into Uvira brought the conflict to the doorstep of neighboring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years, heightening fears of a broader regional spillover.

Around 64,000 refugees from Congo have arrived in Burundi since the start of the month, according to the U.N. refugee agency. There have also been reports of shells falling in the town of Rugombo, on the Burundian side of the border.

Congo, the U.S. and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing M23, which has grown from hundreds of members in 2021 to around 6,500 fighters, according to the U.N.

More than 100 armed groups are vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, near the border with Rwanda, most prominently M23. The conflict has created one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced, according to the U.N. agency for refugees.

Refugee Firefighters in Mauritania Battle Bushfires to Give Back to the Community That Took Them In

By MONIKA PRONCZUK and CAITLIN KELLY

12:19 AM EST, December 18, 2025

MBERA, Mauritania (AP) — The men move in rhythm, swaying in line and beating the ground with spindly tree branches as the sun sets over the barren and hostile Mauritanian desert. The crack of the wood against dry grass lands in unison, a technique perfected by more than a decade of fighting bushfires.

There is no fire today but the men — volunteer firefighters backed by the U.N. refugee agency — keep on training.

In this region of West Africa, bushfires are deadly. They can break out in the blink of an eye and last for days. The impoverished, vast territory is shared by Mauritanians and more than 250,000 refugees from neighboring Mali, who rely on the scarce vegetation to feed their livestock.

For the refugee firefighters, battling the blazes is a way of giving back to the community that took them in when they fled violence and instability at home in Mali.

Newcomers with an old tradition

Hantam Ag Ahmedou was 11 years old when his family left Mali in 2012 to settle in the Mbera refugee camp in Mauritania, 48 kilometers (30 miles) from the Malian border. Like most refugees and locals, his family are herders and once in Mbera, they saw how quickly bushfires spread and how devastating they can be.

“We said to ourselves: There is this amazing generosity of the host community. These people share with us everything they have,” he told The Associated Press. “We needed to do something to lessen the burden.”

His father started organizing volunteer firefighters, at the time around 200 refugees. The Mauritanians had been fighting bushfires for decades, Ag Ahmedou said, but the Malian refugees brought know-how that gave them an advantage.

“You cannot stop bushfires with water,” Ag Ahmedou said. “That’s impossible, fires sometimes break out a hundred kilometers from the nearest water source.”

Instead they use tree branches, he said, to smother the fire.

“That’s the only way to do it,” he said.

The volunteer ‘brigade’

Since 2018, the firefighters have been under the patronage of the UNHCR. The European Union finances their training and equipment, as well as the clearing of firebreak strips to stop the fires from spreading. The volunteers today count over 360 refugees who work with the region’s authorities and firefighters.

When a bushfire breaks out and the alert comes in, the firefighters jump into their pickup trucks and drive out. Once at the site of a fire, a 20-member team spreads out and starts pounding the ground at the edge of the blaze with acacia branches — a rare tree that has a high resistance to heat.

Usually, three other teams stand by in case the first team needs replacing.

Ag Ahmedou started going out with the firefighters when he was 13, carrying water and food supplies for the men. He helped put out his first fire when he was 18, and has since beaten hundreds of blazes.

He knows how dangerous the task is but he doesn’t let the fear control him.

“Someone has to do it,” he said. “If the fire is not stopped, it can penetrate the refugee camp and the villages, kill animals, kill humans, and devastate the economy of the whole region.”

A climate-vulnerable nation

About 90% of Mauritania is covered by the Sahara Desert. Climate change has accelerated desertification and increased the pressure on natural resources, especially water, experts say. The United Nations says tensions between locals and refugees over grazing areas is a key threat to peace.

Tayyar Sukru Cansizoglu, the UNHCR chief in Mauritania, said that with the effects of climate change, even Mauritanians in the area cannot find enough grazing land for their own cows and goats — so a “single bushfire” becomes life-threatening for everyone.

When the first refugees arrived in 2012, authorities cleared a large chunk of land for the Mbera camp, which today has more than 150,000 Malian refugees. Another 150,000 live in villages scattered across the vast territory, sometimes outnumbering the locals 10 to one.

Chejna Abdallah, the mayor of the border town of Fassala, said because of “high pressure on natural resources, especially access to water,” tensions are rising between the locals and the Malians.

Giving back

Abderrahmane Maiga, a 52-year-old member of the “Mbera Fire Brigade,” as the firefighters call themselves, presses soil around a young seedling and carefully pours water at its base.

To make up for the vegetation losses, the firefighters have started setting up tree and plant nurseries across the desert — including acacias. This year, they also planted the first lemon and mango trees.

“It’s only right that we stand up to help people,” Maiga said.

He recalls one of the worst fires he faced in 2014, which dozens of men — both refugees and host community members — spent 48 hours battling. By the time it was over, some of the volunteers had collapsed from exhaustion.

Ag Ahmedou said he was aware of the tensions, especially as violence in Mali intensifies and going back is not an option for most of the refugees.

He said this was the life he was born into — a life in the desert, a life of food scarcity and “degraded land” — and that there is nowhere else for him to go. Fighting for survival is the only option.

“We cannot go to Europe and abandon our home,” he said. “So we have to resist. We have to fight.”

Trump’s Expanded Travel Ban Hits Africa the Hardest But Reactions Are Muted

By Farai Mutsaka

5:52 PM EST, December 17, 2025

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Africa has been the hardest hit by the Trump administration’s decision to add 20 countries to a list of travel restrictions but reactions on the continent of some 1.5 billion people were largely muted on Wednesday as affected nations mulled the implications of the measure and their next moves.

The new restrictions expand on the list from June and are broader and more punitive than those during Trump’s first presidency, which largely targeted Muslim-majority countries and which were reversed in 2021.

The African Union urged the United States to protect its borders in “a manner that is balanced, evidence-based, and reflective of the long-standing ties and partnership” between the U.S. and Africa, the bloc’s spokesman Nuur Mohamu said.

The stance was a repeat of the statement by the bloc in June, when U.S. President Donald Trump revived the travel restrictions from his first term in office.

The expanded ban

Of the five countries whose citizens joined the list on Tuesday of those banned from entering the United States, four are in Africa — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and South Sudan, which was already facing significant travel restrictions. Also on the list are Syria and people with travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority, which runs the West Bank.

Some other countries — including Sierra Leone in Africa and Laos in Asia — were subject to partial restrictions during Trump’s first presidency and also in June, and were now moved to the full restrictions list.

Twelve of the 15 countries that face partial restrictions are also in Africa. They include Angola, Benin, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The rest are two Caribbean nations — Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica — and Tonga in the South Pacific.

Trump’s expanded measures also link entry limits to security, documentation and visa-overstay concerns.

The 55-nation African Union warned of the “potential negative impact of such measures on people-to-people ties, educational exchanges, commercial engagement, and the broader diplomatic relations” built over decades.

Sierra Leone, now moved to the full ban list, said in a statement Wednesday that it hoped to engage Washington and get it to review the decision. The impoverished West African country said it would “remain committed to strengthening international cooperation and addressing immigration concerns raised by the U.S. government,” adding that officials are “actively engaged in ongoing, constructive dialogue with U.S authorities.”

In Mali, which was added to the full ban list on Tuesday, foreign ministry press officer Samuel Saye said it was “too early for us to comment” — something many other officials across Africa echoed.

An unfair measure, many say

Several analysts and activists described the measures as unfair, a sign of incoherent U.S.–Africa relations and an opportunity for Washington’s rivals such as Russia and China to further entrench ties with Africa.

Some ordinary citizens expressed their unease and concerns.

“I believe this position is unfair because it paints all Nigerians with the same brush,” said Ramlah Ibrahim Nok, a business lawyer in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. Nigeria is on the list of partial restrictions.

Many Nigerians travel for “education, business and tourism,” she said and added that authorities in her own country should also do their part in confronting issues such as visa overstays by Nigerians who travel to the U.S.

Beverly Ochieng, an analyst at Control Risks Group in Dakar, Senegal’s capital, predicted that Trump’s ban will likely make relations between the U.S. and various African countries “incoherent, unpredictable and challenging.”

The measure also reduces prospects for cooperation and may push some governments to look elsewhere to build strong partnerships.

“It’s very unfortunate,” said Mohamed Keita, a 45-year-old Malian resident, adding that Washington’s “decision may penalize Malians who do business with the United States.”

Also in Mali, Abdoulaye Fofana, 31, said he feared retaliation if Malian authorities “apply the principle of reciprocity, it is the bi-national Malians who will be affected.”

Bad timing

Sports enthusiasts are also worried, especially those hoping to travel to the 2026 soccer World Cup matches in the U.S., which is co-hosting the competition with Canada and Mexico.

Pape Seye, a taxi driver in Dakar, said he heard of “FIFA exemptions for the players and staff of the qualified teams” but was concerned whether “fans will be able to go as well” under the new measure.

In South Sudan, which was added to the full ban list, human rights activist Rajab Mohandis said the measure is “an open expression of increasing frustration of the Trump administration with the government” in the African country.

He added that the ban is “a way of invoking diplomatic consequences” following U.S. concerns over the slow implementation of a peace agreement signed in 2018 to end five years of conflict in South Sudan that left more than 400,000 people dead.

___

Associated Press writers from across Africa contributed to this report.

South African Authorities Raid a US Refugee Processing Center and Washington Protests

By MICHELLE GUMEDE and GERALD IMRAY

9:19 AM EST, December 17, 2025

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African immigration authorities raided a United States refugee processing center in Johannesburg and seven Kenyans working there illegally were arrested and given deportation orders, South Africa’s Home Affairs Ministry said Wednesday, as the U.S. called the action “unacceptable.”

Tuesday’s raid occurred at a center that processes applications by white South Africans who have been given priority for refugee status in the U.S. by the Trump administration. It was bound to increase tensions between the countries, whose relations have cooled dramatically since President Donald Trump returned to office.

The Trump administration’s claim that members of South Africa’s Afrikaner white minority group are being persecuted by the Black-led government has been widely rejected, but it has been central to the deterioration of ties between the U.S. and Africa’s most advanced economy.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the Kenyans were in the country on tourist visas which did not allow them to work, adding that U.S. officials’ work with them at the refugee processing center “raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol.”

It was not immediately clear whether the U.S. had known about the Kenyans’ status.

The ministry said no U.S. officials were arrested in the raid and that the site was not a diplomatic one. It said South Africa’s Foreign Ministry has started “formal diplomatic engagements with both the United States and Kenya to resolve this matter.”

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said “interfering in our refugee operations is unacceptable,” adding that they were seeking “immediate clarification from the South African government and expect full cooperation and accountability.”

The U.S. Embassy in a statement last month said the U.S. government had contracted a Kenya-based company, RSC Africa, to process refugee applications by white South Africans. RSC Africa is operated by Church World Service, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization that offers refugee assistance and works with the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the Kenyans were working at the U.S. refugee processing site “despite the fact that earlier visa applications for Kenyan nationals to perform this work had been lawfully declined.” The seven Kenyans were given deportation orders and banned from entering South Africa for a five-year period.

Trump has singled out South Africa for criticism on a range of issues, claiming without evidence that Afrikaners are being killed and having their land seized and that South Africa is pursuing an anti-U.S. foreign policy through its diplomatic relations with Palestinian authorities and Iran.

The U.S. boycotted last month’s Group of 20 world leaders summit in South Africa, and Trump said it will exclude South Africa from the group when it hosts the annual summit next year. Trump also issued an executive order in February that said the U.S. would stop aid and assistance to South Africa over what it called its “egregious actions.”

South Africa’s government has said the U.S. claims over the persecution of Afrikaners are based on misinformation and that white South Africans don’t meet the criteria for refugee status because there is no persecution, although it said it wouldn’t stop anyone applying. Afrikaners are white South Africans descended from mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers who first came to the country in the 17th century.

The Trump administration announced in October it was dramatically cutting the annual quota for refugees allowed in the U.S. to 7,500 from a previous limit of 125,000 and white South Africans would be given most of the places. A first group of white South African refugees had already arrived in the U.S. under the new program for them in May. It’s not clear how many have been relocated since then.

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Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Featured on Spotlight Discussing the Situation in Ukraine

To watch this program go to the following link: THE STATUS OF UKRAINE WAR

Watch this worldwide satellite news segment Spotlight featuring Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, discussing the current situation surrounding the Ukraine war and the role of Russia, Europe and the United States. 

The program aired live on Dec. 16, 2025. "Northern and eastern EU leaders have met in Helsinki to coordinate their defense strategy", the promotional language for the episode reads: "The Ukrainian President says a US-backed peace proposal could be offered to Moscow soon. That's while European leaders, left out of the process, warn that Russia remains a long-term threat to the continent's security. Abayomi Azikiwe Editor, Pan-African News Wire Detroit, and Syed Mohsin Abbas, Journalist and Political Commentator in London are featured as analysts."