Thousands protested at the Rafah border crossing against U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for Egypt and Jordan to accept Gazan refugees. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi rejected the idea, and state-backed groups transported demonstrators to the border, reflecting both government and public opposition. Protesters waved Egyptian and Palestinian flags, chanting against displacement. Trump insisted that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians from war-torn Gaza, citing U.S. aid to both nations. The proposal has been widely condemned, as Palestinians have long resisted displacement, hoping for statehood, while Jordan and Egypt remain opposed to permanent resettlement solutions.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Wednesday said it’s set to launch the African Financial Stability Mechanism, a regional refinancing facility, pending final approval from heads of state at the African Union summit in mid-February. AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina stated the facility will help African nations refinance maturing international bonds, addressing the $20 billion in annual repayments due over the next three years. This mechanism will provide loans at concessional rates, requiring beneficiary countries to implement macroeconomic and fiscal reforms. Adesina emphasized the facility’s importance, as neither the IMF nor other multilateral development banks offer refinancing options.
Sierra Leone this week said it is investigating reports that convicted Dutch cocaine kingpin Jos Leijdekkers is in the country and enjoying high-level protection. Reuters sources claim Leijdekkers, sentenced in absentia to 24 years in the Netherlands, has been in Sierra Leone since at least early 2023. Dutch prosecutors confirmed this, adding he’s been there for at least six months. Despite being on Europol’s most wanted list, Leijdekkers was recently seen in a church service near President Bio. Sources allege he is married to Bio’s daughter and receives high-level protection. The Sierra Leonean government states it hasn’t received formal communication regarding Leijdekkers and is committed to preventing the country from becoming a haven for organized crime, while also stating the president had no knowledge of Leijdekkers’ identity.
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have intensified their control over Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, marking a significant setback for the Congolese army and escalating the ongoing conflict. After days of intense fighting that killed over 100 and injured nearly 1,000, M23 claimed control of the city. While fighting has subsided in the city center, sporadic gunfire continues in northern areas. M23 leadership asserts they are securing the city and establishing peace. Residents report M23 and Rwandan troops control the airport and much of the city. Rwanda’s regional ambassador indicated M23’s offensive will continue beyond Goma, possibly into South Kivu, unless negotiations with the DRC government occur. Reports suggest M23 fighters are advancing south towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have officially withdrawn from ECOWAS, the West African regional bloc on Wednesday. This decision follows a year of escalating tensions after ECOWAS demanded Niger’s return to democratic rule following a coup. The three military-led nations accuse ECOWAS of being influenced by France and have forged closer ties with Russia. They previously formed their own security alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States, citing the need to combat regional instability and armed groups. ECOWAS expressed regret at the withdrawal but called on remaining members to uphold certain rights for citizens of the departing nations. Public demonstrations in Niger and Burkina Faso celebrated the move, often expressing anti-French sentiment.
South Sudan on Tuesday lifted its week-long ban on Facebook and TikTok. The ban was implemented after graphic videos, allegedly depicting the killing of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan, went viral, sparking protests and violence. The National Communications Authority confirmed the removal of the disturbing content, leading to the ban’s reversal. The authority’s director emphasized the need to balance addressing online incitement with protecting citizens’ rights. The videos reportedly showed ethnically targeted attacks in Sudan’s El Gezira state, for which rights groups hold the Sudanese army responsible. The Sudanese army has dismissed the incidents as “individual violations.”
France officially withdrawn from Chad, handing over its last military base, Kossei in N’Djamena, on Friday, two months after Chad ended its defense agreement with Paris. While Chad initiated the termination, French officials stated the move aligns with France’s strategy to end permanent military bases in Central and West Africa. Pascal Ianni, head of the French Armed Forces’ Africa Command, emphasized adapting to Africa’s evolving security landscape. Chad’s Army Chief of Staff, Abakar Abdelkerim Daoud, welcomed the withdrawal, asserting the country’s military is ready to assume full security responsibilities. This follows France’s recent military exits from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Uganda this week confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Kampala, its capital, with the first patient, a male nurse, dying from the Sudan strain of the virus. This marks Uganda’s ninth outbreak since 2000. The patient sought treatment at multiple facilities, including Mulago National Referral Hospital, before his death. Forty-four contacts are being traced, including 30 healthcare workers. Contact tracing poses a challenge in the densely populated city of over 4 million. The WHO has allocated $1 million for containment efforts and is working to deploy candidate vaccines. Uganda successfully managed an outbreak in late 2022. Vaccination of contacts will begin immediately, although there’s no approved vaccine for the Sudan strain, though trial doses were available during the last outbreak. This outbreak coincides with recent Marburg outbreaks in neighboring Tanzania and Rwanda.
Fighting in Sudan set the country’s largest oil refinery, al-Jaili, ablaze on Saturday, with satellite images revealing extensive fires at the facility. The Sudanese military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, claims to have recaptured the refinery from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking a significant victory in their ongoing civil war. Both sides blame each other for the destruction—Sudan’s military accuses the RSF of sabotage, while the RSF alleges the military dropped barrel bombs on the site. The refinery, crucial for Sudan’s oil production, is now severely damaged, worsening the country’s humanitarian crisis amid continued international mediation failures.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday said she’s under judicial investigation for allegedly aiding and abetting a crime and misusing public funds after her government released Osama Elmasry Njeem, a Libyan police officer wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity. Njeem was detained in Turin but was flown back to Libya on an Italian state aircraft without ICC consultation. Meloni, along with key ministers, faces scrutiny, though she denies wrongdoing, calling the probe an attempt to intimidate her. The investigation follows a complaint by lawyer Luigi Li Gotti, who questioned both the release and the use of government resources.
