Africa

IntelBrief: Water Wars: Tensions between Ethiopia and its Neighbors Persist Over Dam Project

Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have regional security and development implications. Sudan’s military incursion into al-Fashaga took advantage of Ethiopia’s preoccupation with combating an ongoing rebellion in the Tigray region. Negotiation efforts over the dam are underway, and broader military conflict between Egypt, Sudan, …

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Tensions between Morocco, Polisario Front remain after leader’s killing

Polisario Front Police Chief Addah al-Bendir was murdered. And much like the long-simmering dispute between the Front and Morocco, nothing about his death is clear. The killing of the Polisario Front’s police chief, Addah al-Bendir, supposedly by a Moroccan drone in April marked a further test of the uncertain 30-year-old …

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Morocco recalls its ambassador to Berlin over Western Sahara

Morocco recalled its ambassador to Berlin for consultations on Thursday in protest at what it described as Germany’s “destructive attitude” towards Rabat’s position on the Western Sahara issue. It accused Germany of engaging in “antagonistic activism” after the United States in December recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the territory, which is …

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Nigerian Expert: ‘Lest We Forget, China Trained African Freedom Fighters’

In an article, Nigerian expert Socrates Mbamalu wrote that China sees itself as “a trusted and consistent comrade” to Africa, and that China had offered military intelligence, weapons, and training of “freedom fighters” to Algeria, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, and Namibia. He added: “The often racist and unjust antics …

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Egypt and Turkey begin talks to normalise relations

Egypt and Turkey opened talks in Cairo on Wednesday, seeking to normalise relations after eight years of sharp differences over a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. The landmark, two-day talks, the first between the two Muslim nations since 2013, are being held at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in …

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Trump’s ‘Favorite Dictator’ Is Getting a Chilly Reception From Biden

In recent weeks, Egypt has released a handful of high-profile political prisoners, including three journalists, Khaled Dawoud, Solafa Magdy and Hossam el-Sayyad. Dawoud, who had become a leader in the opposition al-Dustour, or Constitution party, was arrested in 2019 following the outbreak of brief anti-government protests. Magdy and Sayyad, who …

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France’s Double Standard on Democracy in Africa

It all started in late April with an open letter written by a group of 20 retired French generals and published in a right-wing weekly news magazine, Valeurs Actuelles, known for its inflammatory provocations. Describing France as teetering on the edge of civil war, the letter called on France’s civilian …

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Egypt, UAE boost security cooperation in Chad, Sahel

In the wake of the killing of Chadian President Idriss Deby at the hands of rebel groups, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt agreed on the need to boost cooperation to preserve the stability and security of the Sahel region, while also seeking to counter Turkey’s influence. The Emirati Ministry …

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Ethiopian PM accuses Egypt, Sudan of backing unrest in western region

The Ethiopian Prime Minister called out his neighbors for fueling the recent round of violence in Ethiopia’s western Benishangul-Gumuz region where the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is located. Violence has been ongoing in Ethiopia’s western region of Benishangul-Gumuz where the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is located, with Ethiopia announcing …

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French journalist kidnapped in Mali appears in video asking for help

The head of Reporters Without Borders says that French journalist Olivier Dubois was kidnapped April 8 while working in Mali’s northern city of Gao. A video was released Wednesday showing Dubois saying he was kidnapped on April 8 by the al-Qaida-linked group JNIM. In the video he calls on his …

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