Houthis Continue Missile Launches; Israelis Strike Back

 CNN posted on 5 May 2025 an article titled "Israel Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen for the First Time in Months, A Day After Tel Aviv Airport Attack" by Jeremy Diamond and Dana Karni.  

Israeli aircraft attacked Houthi targets in Yemen on 5 May following a strike by a Houthi missile on Tel Aviv airport.  So far, US, UK, and Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen have failed to stop Houthi missile and drone attacks aimed at international shipping and US naval ships in the Red Sea and against Israel.  

Somali Piracy Is Returning to Region

 The Telegraph published on 4 May 2025 an article titled "Somali Pirates Use Red Sea Crisis to Stage Return" by Ben Farmer.

Illegal fishing and Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea are driving a slow revival of Somali pirate attacks.  In 2025, three vessels have been captured so far by Somali pirates.  

Press Freedom Index: 10 African Countries Score Better than US

 Reporters without Borders posted recently its "RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025: Economic Fragility a Leading Threat to Press Freedom."

RSF ranked 180 countries for the 2025 index.  Ten African countries, led by South Africa, Namibia, and Cabo Verde scored better than the United States, ranked number 57, although Sub-Saharan Africa generally experienced a decline in press freedom.  The five lowest ranking countries were Eritrea, North Korea, China, Syria, and Iran.  

The 2025 RSF index shows that today's news media are caught between preserving their editorial independence and ensuring their economic survival.  

What to Watch for as US Strikes Houthis in Yemen

 Newsweek published on 2 May 2025 an article titled "U.S. War on the Houthis: Five Things to Watch" by Amira El-Fekki.

US airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen is the first major military operation ordered by the current Trump administration.  The article identifies five key issues to watch for going forward.  

The Importance of Diego Garcia to US Strategy in the Indian Ocean

 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published on 21 April 2025 an analysis titled "How the UK-Mauritius Deal on Chagos Could Reshape US Military Strategy in the Indian Ocean" by Raghvendra Kumar.  

Diego Garcia hosts a joint Anglo-American military base with a deepwater port capable of berthing aircraft carriers, a long runway that enables deep-strike operations and accommodates heavy bombers and refueling aircraft, advanced satellite communication facilities, and strategically pre-positioned military support and supplies.

The Diego Garcia base, which most recently has been used to launch airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, remains critical to US military strategy in the Indian Ocean.  It provides the strategic depth necessary to deter aggression, defend US interests, restore freedom of navigation, and secure vital sea lines of communication.   It takes on added importance as China expands its military footprint in the Indian Ocean region.  

Security Concerns in Somalia

 The Emirates Policy Center published on 29 April 2025 an analysis titled "Assessment of Somalia's Security Landscape and Prospects of Counterterrorism Efforts."

Somalia is likely to face a continuing back-and-forth conflict situation with al-Shabaab terrorists.  This prospect decreases Somalia's ability to recover politically and economically.  It also raises the possibility of "Afghanization" should the balance of power shift in favor of al-Shabaab.  

The Negative Impact of Whacking Foreign Aid

 The Washington Post published on 2 May 2025 an article titled "After 100 Days, the Toll of Trump's Foreign Aid Cuts Has Begun to Sink In" by Sammy Westfall.

The Trump administration has axed more than 80 percent of the programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.  The administration is also in the process of slashing the U.S. African Development Foundation, U.S. Institute of Peace, Inter-American Foundation, and Millennium Challenge Corporation.  

The article looks at the impact of these cuts on South Sudan, Ethiopia, Jordan, Tanzania, Eswatini, Lesotho, Afghanistan, and Yemen.  

Comment:  The administration is getting close to ending government-funded soft power, which has traditionally been a major U.S. foreign policy tool.  Although they will not fill the financial void left by the United States, the governments of China and Russia will take very possible advantage of America's departure from these programs.   

Impact of Houthi Attacks on Global Trade

 Bloomberg published on 1 May 2025 an article titled "How the Houthi Red Sea Ship Attacks Upended Global Trade" by Alex Langley, Paul Wallace, and Caroline Alexander.

Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea have caused the biggest disruption to global trade since the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing many ships to reroute around the southern tip of Africa.  Since November 2023, the Iranian-backed Houthis attacked more than 130 vessels in the Red Sea as of early March 2025.  Traffic through the Red Sea is 71 percent lower than 2023 levels and insurance is as much as ten times higher.  

US-led Airstrikes on Yemen and Houthi Attacks on Shipping in Red Sea

 Aljazeera posted on 1 May 2025 a video/written document titled "Animated Maps Show US-led Attacks on Yemen" by Mohamed A. Hussein and Alia Chughtai.  

Since the beginning of Operation Rough Rider on 15 March, the United States says it has hit over 1,000 targets in Yemen. Most of the airstrikes have targeted Saada (59 attacks), followed by the capital of Sanaa (37 attacks), and the port of Hodeidah (35 attacks).  The map shows the location of the attacks from 15 March until 18 April.  A separate map shows Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

Sudan Is Unraveling and May Divide Again

 Foreign Affairs published on 29 April 2025 an analysis titled "Sudan Is Unraveling: Why War Is Likely to Once Again Tear the Country Apart" by Mai Hassan and Ahmed Kodouda.  

Sudan divided into two countries in 2011 when South Sudan became independent.  The country's second de facto partition is already beginning along east/west lines.  But any split is unlikely to bring durable peace.

Because the conflict is driven by a struggle over regional power and resources, rather than any larger political vision for the country, it remains likely that alliances will keep shifting, local militias will keep defecting, and breakaway groups will keep forming.  

Marco Rubio's State Department Reorganization Plan

 The Foreign Policy Expertise blog posted on 29 April 2025 a commentary titled "How to Make Rubio's State Department Reform a Success" by Dan Spokojny.

The author argues that to the extent the Rubio reorganization of the State Department focuses on moving some authority from functional bureaus to regional bureaus, it has merit. There has always been some unnecessary tension and overlap between the functional and regional bureaus. 

Comment:  If done properly, Rubio's reorganization plan could improve operations in the State Department.  That remains to be seen.  The bigger issue is ensuring an adequate budget and staffing.  Moving all the bureaucratic boxes in the State Department will improve nothing if there is an insufficient budget and personnel to carry out the Department's mission.   

UK Strikes Houthis for First Time since Trump Took Office

 CNN published on 30 April 2025 an article titled "UK Launches Strikes against Houthis in Yemen, In First Joint US Operation under Trump" by Jessie Yeung.  

The UK launched airstrikes against the Houthis on 29 April in the first joint operation with the United States since the beginning of the Trump administration.  The target was a cluster of buildings south of the capital Sanaa used by Houthis to manufacture drones. 

US Airstrikes Degrade Houthis' Ability to Launch Attacks

 Stars and Stripes published on 28 April 2025 an article titled "US Military Actions against Houthis Degrading Group's Attack Abilities, CENTCOM says" by Lara Korte.

The US Central Command says it has significantly degraded the ability of the Houthis to launch ballistic missile and drone attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.  At the same time, questions continue to be raised as to the overall effectiveness of Operation Rough Rider.  

Egypt Expects $300 Million in Budget Support from Beijing-based Bank

Egypt Today published on 28 April 2025 an article titled "Egypt Moves Closer to Securing $300 Million from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank."

Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation recently commented that his government is completing the paperwork for $300 million in budget support from the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.  

Is US-China Cooperation in Africa Possible?

 The Asia Society Policy Institute posted this week a commentary titled "Avoiding Conflicts and Ensuring U.S.-China Cooperation in Africa: An African Perspective" by Abdeta Beyene, Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation in Addis Ababa.

The author argues that the United States and China have the potential to move beyond competition and instead foster meaningful cooperation in Africa.  He suggests a number of ways that China-US collaboration could work to the benefit of Africa.

Comment:  The author is correct that there is the potential for US-China cooperation in Africa and a number of years ago there actually was some modest cooperation.  The prospect for US-China cooperation in Africa is dependent, however, on the existing Sino-American bilateral relationship, which has been severely strained in recent years.  Until there is significant improvement in the China-US bilateral relationship, there is almost no prospect for collaboration in Africa.   

What Canada Can Learn from China's Engagement in Africa

 The Conversation posted on 28 April 2025 a commentary titled "What Canada Can Learn from China on Effectively Engaging with Africa" by Isaac Odoom, Carleton University.  

To build meaningful partnerships in Africa, Canada needs a more focused approach grounded in robust research, sharper priorities, and an informed understanding of Africa's political and economic realities. 

 The author argues Canada can draw important lessons from China's engagement in Africa.  The "countering China" narrative pursued by the United States ignores African agency and fails to acknowledge that African governments want a choice of partners and do not want to be forced to select just one.  Rather than compete with China in Africa, Canada can fill gaps left by China.  

DOGE Targets First Trump Administration's International Development Finance Corporation

 Politico published on 28 April 2025 an article titled "DOGE Targets US Foreign Aid Agency Created under First Trump Administration" by Robbie Gramer and Sophia Cai.  

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) was created with bipartisan congressional support during the first Trump administration to provide private sector funding for development projects in lower- and middle-income countries--offering an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

A team of DOGE personnel went to the DFC headquarters in Washington this week to begin assessing the agency's effectiveness and alignment with the president's agenda.  

Comment:  Because the DFC was created during the first Trump administration, it may be left intact.  In any event, it was a good initiative that should be retained.  But that has not stopped DOGE from dismantling other good institutions such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Woodrow Wilson Center.  

Slow-running Disaster of Foreign Aid Cuts

 France 24 posted on 23 April 2025 an 11-minute interview titled "Trump's Foreign Aid Cuts Are a 'Slow-running Disaster', Former USAID Administrator Says" with J. Brian Atwood.  

Atwood discusses the downsides of dismantling the US Agency for International Development.  As more people suffer in the Global South due to cuts in foreign aid by the United States and other donors, there will be additional pressure to migrate to developed countries.  There will be increased challenges in combatting global health threats such as Ebola, putting everyone at risk.  While countries like China will take propaganda advantage of the slashing of US foreign aid, they are not in a position to fill the gap.  

Washington Post Editorial Calls on US to Stop Genocide in Sudan

 The Washington Post editorial board published on 28 April 2025 a commentary titled "This Time, the U.S. Should Act to Stop a Genocide."  

Earlier this month, the State Department characterized the atrocities being committed in Sudan's western Darfur region as a genocide.  Now that the Trump administration has recognized a genocide is occurring in Sudan, it could halt arms sales to the UAE, and impose sanctions, until the country ends its military and financial support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the primary perpetrators of the genocide.   

The Unanticipated Costs of Combatting the Houthis

 The Wall Street Journal published on 28 April 2025 an article titled "U.S. Jet Fighter Is Lost Overboard in Latest Mishap Involving Aircraft Carrier" by Nancy A. Youssef.  

An F/A-18E aircraft, valued at $70 million, under tow in the hanger bay fell off the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.  The ship is one of two aircraft carriers in the region conducting airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen.  

US Adds Sanctions on Suppliers of Houthis

 The US Department of the Treasury published on 28 April 2025 a press release titled "Treasury Targets Vessels Delivering Oil Derivatives to the Houthis."

The Treasury Department sanctioned three vessels and their owners for providing petroleum products to the Houthis in Yemen. The vessels are registered in the Marshall Islands or Mauritius and fly the flags of San Marino or Panama.  

The US Department of the Treasury published on 2 April 2025 a press release titled "Treasury Sanctions Houthi Network Procuring Weapons and Commodities from Russia."

These earlier sanctions targeted a network of Houthi financial facilitators in collaboration with operatives in Russia for procuring tens of millions of dollars' worth of commodities from Russia, including weapons and stolen Ukranian grain.  

Keeping Climate Change as Part of South Sudanese Peacekeeping

 The International Crisis Group published on 28 April 2025 a paper titled "The Stakes of Stripping Climate from UN Peacekeeping in South Sudan" by Nazanine Moshiri.  

The UN Security Council will soon vote on the future of the peacekeeping mission in conflict-impacted South Sudan.  The paper discusses what is at stake and why climate and peace should remain part of the mission's work.  

UAE Transfers Chinese-made Air Defense Systems to Chad

 Business Insider published on 25 April 2025 an article titled "Chad Receives Chinese-made Air Defense Systems as UAE Expands African Role" by Soloman Ekanem.

The United Arab Emirates recently transferred Chinese-made FK-2000 air defense systems to Chad as part of a strategy to enhance Chad's defense capabilities in the face of growing security challenges.  The UAE is a strong supporter of Chad.  Given the history of using Chad as a transit point for arms shipments to the Rapid Support Forces in neighboring Sudan, there are concerns this may be the ultimate destination of these weapons. 

State Department Reorganization: For Efficiency or Kneecapping Foreign Policy?

 The Hill published on 27 April 2025 an article titled "Rubio's State Department Scale-down: Efficiency or Global Retreat?" by Laura Kelly.

The Trump administration argues that reorganization of the State Department is intended to make it more efficient.  Critics respond that it is kneecapping US influence in foreign policy.

Comment:  There are almost certainly elements of efficiency included in Secretary of State Marco Rubio's plan to reorganize the State Department.  But when combined with the Trump administration's dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Voice of America and affiliated media outlets, and a host of lesser-known international affairs institutions, the result is mostly a global retreat in US influence in foreign affairs.

Visiting Khartoum and Witnessing Desperation and Destruction

 NPR posted on 26 April 2025 the text of a conversation titled "Sudan's Capital City Is Finally Repaired--But Shattered Beyond Recognition" between Scott Simon and Emmanuel Akinwotu, international correspondent for NPR.

After two years of fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the SAF has regained control of Khartoum.  Emmanuel Akinwotu recently visited Khartoum and described the destruction and desperation in the capital city.  The dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development is adding to the challenges of surviving in Khartoum.