Gulf State Engagement in East Africa

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 8 July 2025 a study titled "Mapping Gulf State Actors' Expanding Engagements in East Africa."

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have become the leading sources of capital, private sector engagement, and weapons flows into East Africa in recent years.  The UAE is by far the most engaged actor in East Africa with $47 billion in projects and about 60 percent of all Gulf region capital inflows. Saudi Arabia is second with an estimated $16 billion in investments across East Africa.

Can the US Broker Peace in Sudan?

 The National Security Journal posted on 14 July 2025 a commentary titled "A Test for Trump? After Congo, Can the US Broker Peace in Sudan?" by Alexander Brown.  

Because of its good relations with major external forces, the UAE and Egypt, Washington is well positioned to lead a peace process in Sudan.  Although there are important reasons why the Trump administration would be reluctant to do so, it is an objective worth pursuing.  

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Completed

 Financial Afrik published on 6 July 2025 an article titled "Ethiopia Completes the Grand Renaissance Dam: $4 Billion Funded 'On Its Own'."

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on 3 August that the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been completed and will be inaugurated in September.  It is the largest hydropower dam in Africa and was funded by the Ethiopian government through national bonds and contributions from patriotic campaigns and deductions from civil service salaries.  

Sudan Becomes Case Study for USAID Dismantlement

 ABC News posted on 13 July 2025 an article titled "Sudan Has Become a 'Case Study' for the Impact of USAID Cuts, Aid Worker Says" by Chris Boccia.

The dismantling of USAID has created a chaotic situation in Sudan following a humanitarian emergency that began several years ago.  Some US food aid continues to reach Sudan.  Cuts in the health sector programs have been especially damaging.  

Official Chinese Media Begins to Replace VOA

 The Wall Street Journal published on 13 July 2025 an article titled "China Gets More Airtime Around the World as Voice of America Signs Off" by Aruna Viswanatha, Alexandra Wexler, and Clarence Leong.

Media time slots in foreign countries once used by the Voice of America are, in some cases, now being allocated to official Chinese media outlets.

State Department Reduction in Force: How It Was Done and Reactions

 NBC News posted on 12 July 2025 an account titled "Veteran U.S. Diplomats Baffled after Mass Layoffs at State Department" by Abigail Williams.  

This is a report on the 11 July dismissal of more than 1,300 State Department civil and foreign service personnel.  It focuses on the way the State Department conducted the firings and the response of those fired and those who kept their jobs.  

China's PLA Troops March in Comoros Independence Day Ceremony

 China Military Online published on 7 July 2025 an article titled "PLA Support Base in Djibouti Participates in 50th Anniversary of Comoros' Independence" by Wang Zongyang and Dong Mingli.

Following its participation in Madagascar's Independence Day celebration (see 4 July below), a unit of PLA troops from China's military base in Djibouti repeated the performance on 7 July at the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Comoro Islands.  On this occasion, they joined marching units from Tanzania and Morocco.

Comment:  This is another example of PLA military diplomacy in the Indian Ocean region.  

International Criminal Court Charges War Crimes in Sudan

UN News posted on 10 July 2025 an article titled "International Criminal Court: War Crimes, Systematic Sexual Violence Ongoing in Darfur" by Vibhu Mishra.   

The International Criminal Court told the UN Security Council that it has reasonable grounds to believe that both war crimes and crimes against humanity continue to be committed in the Darfur region of Sudan where there is a deepening conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.  Sexual violence directed against women and girls is one of the most disturbing patterns.  

State Department Reductions in Force

 The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the organization that represents personnel in the State Department and other international affairs agencies, issued a statement on 11 July 2025 titled "AFSA Strongly Opposes State Department Reductions in Force." 

The statement appeared before more than 1,300 civil service and foreign service personnel at the U.S. Department of State learned today that they are being dismissed.  These dismissals follow a 20 percent reduction in personnel because of the dismantlement of the U.S. Agency for International Development and earlier forced resignations.  

Comment:  This is a sad day for civil service and foreign service personnel in the State Department.  While it has been done in the name of "reform," it has nothing to do with reform.  It is little more than part of a much larger effort to shrink the U.S. government in the mistaken view that it can do more with less.  The American public can judge the results in the years to come.

There are legitimate reasons to periodically change foreign policy priorities, eliminate functions, and add them.  But the reduction in force used in this "reform" does not appear to follow any coherent effort to take into account the skills and expertise of those being dismissed or the growing challenges that confront American foreign policy.     

Houthi Red Sea Attacks; US Considers Cease Fire Still in Effect

 The Wall Street Journal published on 10 July 2025 an article titled "Two Ships Desperately Tried to Fight Off Houthi Attacks. Help Never Arrived" by Benoit Faucon and Lara Seligman.  

The article includes dramatic video coverage of two Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned ships that Houthi rebels sank this week in the Red Sea.  These attacks came two months after the United States announced a ceasefire with the Houthis following airstrikes on their positions in Yemen. 

A senior US Defense Department official said Washington still considers the ceasefire to be in place so long as the Houthis are not firing at American ships.  

Video: Houthis Sink Two Ships in Red Sea This Week

 The Wall Street Journal posted on 10 July 2025 a three-minute video of two ships sinking in the Red Sea following drone and missile attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen.  Both ships are Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned.  Benoit Faucon narrates the video.

Al-Shabaab Takes Another District Capital in Somalia

 AEI's Critical Threats published on 10 July 2025 an article titled "Central Somalia" by Liam Karr and Edie Tesfaye.  

On July 7, al-Shabaab captured the district capital of Moqokori in Hiraan Region of Somalia.  Recent al-Shabab gains have allowed it to relink territory it controls in central and southern Somalia.  

Houthi Attack Sinks Ship in Red Sea

 CNN posted on 10 July 2025 an article titled "10 Rescued, 4 Killed and Others 'Kidnapped' after Houthis Sink Ship in Second Red Sea Attack in a Week" by Mostafa Salam.

The Houthi attack on the Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned Eternity C resulted in the death of 4 out of the 25 crew.  European Union personnel rescued 10 while the Houthis apparently kidnapped others.  The article includes a dramatic one-minute video of the ship sinking provided by the Houthi Media Center.

Chinese Premier Visits Egypt to Deepen Ties

 UAE-based The National published on 9 July 2025 an article titled "Chinese Premier Li Qiang Visits Egypt to Deepen Ties as US Relations Sour" by Kamal Tabikha.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is visiting Egypt on a visit to strengthen relations.  The article concludes that Egypt's growing frustration with Israel's polices in Gaza and its perception of US inaction have driven Cairo to recalibrate its foreign policy, resulting in Egypt prioritizing partnerships with China and BRICS nations to reduce reliance on Washington.

One Person's Prescription for Salvaging Ethiopia's Tigray Region

 Ethiopia Insight published on 9 July 2025 a commentary titled "Daring the Untried: Struggling for a New Path in Ethiopia's Tigray Region" by Getachew Gebrekiros Temare, lawyer and peace activist. 

Tigray is adrift and no longer a unified region following a war with the central government that ended with the Pretoria Agreement in 2022.  The crisis is political, moral, generational, and spiritual.  There is an absence of transformative political vision and external players have become indifferent. 

The author argues for development of a nonviolent civic movement grounded in grassroots legitimacy and detached from party control.  It must promote truth-telling, communal healing, and justice that goes beyond rhetoric.  Tigray's future will not be salvaged by secret deals or new wars.

China Allows Citizens from 74 Countries to Enter without Visa--2 from Africa

 The Associated Press published on 9 July 2025 an article titled "Citizens of More Than 70 Countries Can Now Visit China Without a Visa" by Fu Ting.  

China has increased to 74 the number of countries whose citizens can enter for up to 30 days without a visa.  Only 2 African countries--Mauritius and Seychelles--are on the list.  

Germany Protests Chinese Laser Attack over Red Sea

 The BBC published on 9 July 2025 an article titled "China Rejects German Claim It Targeted Military Plane with Laser" by Sean Seddon.

Germany officially protested to China that one of its warships in the Red Sea fired a laser beam at a German reconnaissance plane as it was contributing to European Union efforts to protect international shipping from Houthi missiles.  China responded that the German account was "totally inconsistent with the facts known to the Chinese side." 

Yemen's Houthis Attack Second Ship in the Red Sea

 The New York Times posted on 8 July 2025 an article titled "Attack on Cargo Ship in the Red Sea Kills 2 Crew Members" by Vivian Nereim and Nick Cumming-Bruce.  

Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked a second Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned ship this week in the Red Sea.  On this occasion, they killed 2 crew members and injured 2 others.  

State Department Layoffs Threaten U.S. National Security

 National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) posted on 7 July 2025 a statement warning that State Department layoffs threaten U.S. national security.  It argues that the elimination of some 2,000 positions will result in a loss of critical expertise, surrender global leadership, and is being done without any clear strategy for going forward.  

A Testimonial against Dismantling USAID

 The Oklahoman published on 7 July 2025 a commentary titled "The Cruelty of Ending Work of USAID Erases a Lifetime of Humanitarianism" by Kama Garrison, former USAID employee.

The author offers a personal account of the abrupt end of her career at the US Agency for International Development.  She concludes that her reaction is not about partisan politics.  It is about moral unraveling.  

Yemen's Houthis Renew Attacks on Red Sea Shipping

 The Wall Street Journal published on 7 July 2025 an article titled "Houthis Attack Ship in Red Sea for First Time Since Trump Announced a Truce" by Dov Lieber and Benoit Faucon.  

A Houthi attack disabled a Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned ship near the port of Hodeidah in the Red Sea.  This was the first Houthi attack since President Trump halted airstrikes on the Houthis in May.  Recent Israeli airstrikes on the Houthis may have precipitated the new attacks on international shipping.  

Preserving Ethiopia's Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

 Ethiopia Insight published on 7 July 2025 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Vanishing Heritage: The Crisis in Archaeology and Cultural Preservation" by Negasi Awetehey, former head of the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Management at Aksum University.

Ethiopia's extensive archaeological heritage crumbles daily while the experts trained in Ethiopian universities who could save it are jobless or stuck in roles that ignore their training.  

China-Tanzania Military Cooperation

 The South China Morning Post published on 6 July 2025 an article titled "Inside China and Tanzania's 'Very Special Relationship'--Found Nowhere Else in Africa" by Jevans Nyabiage.

Of all the countries in Africa, Tanzania has perhaps the longest, continuous military cooperation relationship with China.  It dates back to the early 1970s and involves all elements of Tanzania's military.

Rwanda's Military Follows China's PLA Example

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 6 July 2025 an article titled "Rwanda Celebrated for Copying China's Homework in Military Development."  

An article published in China praises Rwanda for modeling its military development on the example of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).  The article claims that about 73 percent of Rwanda's active-duty officers have undergone Chinese military training.  Much of Rwanda's military equipment is Chinese and its military doctrine and culture look much like the PLA's.  

China Won't Replace American Foreign Aid Program

 Foreign Policy published on 7 July 2025 a commentary titled "China Isn't Ready to Replace USAID" by Henry Tugendhat and James Palmer.

Now that the Trump administration has gutted the US foreign aid agency, some analysts have suggested China will fill the void.  This commentary correctly points out that China has little appetite to take on a foreign aid program as large as the one run by USAID.  In addition, China's domestic audience is probably even less supportive of foreign aid than the American public.

Comment:  China will, however, strategically replace American foreign aid programs where it can obtain maximum advantage and favorable publicity.  At relatively little cost to China, it will constantly remind developing countries that the United States is not a reliable partner.