This week, a joint Egyptian-US military exercise, known as the ‘Bright Star 2025,’ officially kicked off at the Mohamed Naguib Military Base in Egypt, on August 28, and is expected to end by September 10. The biennial exercise is being carried out to strengthen military-to-military relationships, promote regional security, and boost the interoperability of participating forces. With over 40 countries joining the drills, the training events are broad and involve a wide spectrum of operations, including conventional and irregular warfare, command post exercises, live-fire drills, and joint air and naval operations. “Bright Star” remains a cornerstone of the US-Egyptian defense partnership, as well as a significant platform for supporting regional peace and security.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on September 4 that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially declared a new Ebola outbreak in the Kasai Province. The outbreak was first detected after health authorities received an alert on September 1 about suspected cases in the Bulape Health Zone. The first known case was a pregnant woman who passed away on August 25. As of September 4, a total of 28 suspected cases, including 15 deaths, had been reported. Alarmingly, four of the deceased were healthcare personnel, emphasizing the substantial danger of infection. Laboratory testing indicated that the epidemic is a new zoonotic spillover event that is not related to prior outbreaks in the region. The WHO and its partners are currently collaborating with the Ministry of Health to deploy public health response measures such as vaccination programs and contact tracing to help control the spread.
This week, a tragic boat accident occurred in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State, leaving at least 60 people dead. The overloaded passenger boat, which was reportedly carrying more than 100 people, capsized after striking a submerged tree stump near the Gausawa community. The vessel was en route from Tungan Sule to Dugga on the Kainji reservoir. Local emergency officials confirmed that the majority of the deceased were women and children, who were on their way to a condolence visit. Rescue operations were quickly initiated, but the death toll continued to increase as officials attempted to locate the missing. This event has rekindled calls for greater enforcement of safety laws and capacity limitations for boat operators across the country.
Sudan’s government has issued an urgent plea for international humanitarian assistance in response to a deadly landslide in Darfur that has reportedly killed over 1,000 people. The calamity, which occured on August 31, utterly destroyed the village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains. The magnitude of the disaster is enormous, and rescue and aid attempts have been greatly impeded by the ongoing civil war between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has rendered the area mostly inaccessible to humanitarian agencies. In a statement, Darfur’s governor described the avalanche as a “humanitarian tragedy that goes beyond the borders of the region” and begged for international assistance.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced on September 5 that it conducted a series of targeted airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia. The strikes took place in the Golis Mountains region of Somalia on August 31 and September 1 and 2. According to AFRICOM, these operations are part of an ongoing effort to degrade the terrorist group’s ability to plan and carry out attacks that pose a threat to the U.S. homeland, its forces, and its citizens abroad. This step highlights the continued commitment of the U.S. and its partners to fight terrorism and instability in the Horn of Africa.
Tunisia’s Minister of Trade and Export Development, Samir Abid, announced on September 5 that the country has successfully carried out 350 trade operations under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking on the benefits of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) in Algiers, the minister explained the success achieved in using the AfCFTA’s certificates of origin to facilitate trade. He also emphasized Tunisia’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation with its regional neighbors. The minister’s remarks underscored Tunisia’s strategic efforts to leverage the AfCFTA to boost its exports and integrate more fully into the African economy.
The Ghanaian government, through its Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, successfully persuaded MultiChoice Ghana to lower its DStv subscription fees. Following a government ultimatum and a GHC 10,000 daily fee for noncompliance, MultiChoice eventually produced the needed pricing data and agreed to a price drop on September 5. A special stakeholder committee has been formed, chaired by the ministry of communications, digital technology, and innovation, to develop the new pricing system. The minister also set a firm deadline of September 21 for the committee’s final report, which will be made public.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed its 2025 Post-Financing Assessment for Angola, recognizing the country’s economic growth while warning of rising dangers. According to the analysis, Angola’s economy expanded by 4.4% in 2024, boosted by greater nominal GDP growth and persistent fiscal surpluses. However, in the first half of 2025, oil revenues fell and external financing conditions tightened, resulting in a predicted increase in the budget deficit. The IMF’s executive directors agreed that Angola’s ability to repay its loans remains adequate, but they cautioned that the risks have increased due to significant external debt payments and oil price volatility.
A UN fact-finding mission’s assessment, released on September 5, proved that all sides to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have committed severe violations of international law, potentially constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity. The study, issued by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), revealed a series of atrocities in the North and South Kivu provinces from late 2024. The research revealed violations by the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group, the DRC’s armed forces (FARDC), and government-aligned militias. Summary executions, torture, forced disappearances, and rampant sexual abuse have all been documented as violations.
