Saving USAID's Information After Musk Feeds It into Woodchipper

 The Political Librarian published in its July 2026 issue a study titled "Where Is 60 Years of Data, Information and Knowledge One Year After USAID Was Fed "Into the Wood Chipper?" by Tanya Torres and Zachary Baquet.

When Elon Musk and the Trump administration fed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) into the woodchipper in early 2025, groups and individuals mobilized to rescue information resources created by staff and partners.  

The USAID Knowledge Rescue effort, along with partner organizations and other volunteers, formed a decentralized network to preserve and provide public access to over sixty years' worth of the agency's data, information, and knowledge.  This study provides a snapshot of the progress and challenges faced by those involved in rescuing USAID's information.  

The shuttering of USAID, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and others by the Trump administration makes it clear that organizations are not permanent, and the knowledge they generate is fragile.  When an organization ends, time moves quickly.  The careful, delicate work of identifying and preserving decades-old institutional knowledge can get crowded out by the immediate pressures of winding down in weeks or months.

China Expands Security Cooperation with South Sudan

 Horn Review published on 12 August 2026 a commentary titled "South Sudan and China's Evolving Overseas Security Strategy" by Abraham Abebe.

In July, China committed to deepening military cooperation with South Sudan by continuing its support for the UN peacekeeping mission as the backbone of its contribution.  Beyond this, China's support seems to be limited to expanding its military dialogue with South Sudan and increasing military exchanges.

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces Has Military Success Along Ethiopian Border

 AEIs Critical Threats Africa File posted on 20 August 2026 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo and Liam Karr.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured two district capitals in Blue Nile State on the Ethiopian border.  The SPLM-N supported the RSF in one of the operations.  The RSF likely launched its operations from Ethiopian territory.  The RSF's advance in Blue Nile State distracts the Sudan Armed Forces from consolidating recent gains in central Sudan.

A Retrospective on Sudan-South Sudan Separation and the Future

 The International Crisis Group posted on 18 August 2026 an hour-long podcast titled "Sudan's Separation Fifteen Years Ago and Today's Disaster" with Alan Boswell, Alex de Waal, and Abdul Mohammed.  

Alex de Waal and Abdul Mohammed review the background of South Sudan's independence from Sudan and the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.  They explained why negotiations ultimately failed to produce two viable states, and whether such coordinated high-level diplomacy is still possible in today's fragmented regional geopolitics.

Efforts to resolve the crises in Sudan and South Sudan today are experiencing greater involvement from the Gulf States and involve a larger number of competing actors.  Mediation today is extremely difficult.  The global environment is highly transactional.  The situation also has the possibility of becoming a regional war.  It is time for the African Union to step forward and play a stronger role in ending the conflicts.  

Cote d'Ivoire Expands Military Cooperation with China

 Defence Web published on 18 August 2026 an article titled "Cote d'Ivoire Boosts Military Capabilities with New Chinese Patrol Vessels and Drones" by Armand Liebenberg.

Cote d'Ivoire recently took possession of two Chinese donated Predator-class coastal patrol vessels and purchased at least two advanced Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones.  China earlier supplied Cote d'Ivoire with 9 assault vehicles and 27 armored personnel carriers.  

Business Insider Africa published on 11 August 2026 an article titled "China Delivers Its Famous Wing Loong II Combat Drones to Another African Country in Growing Challenge to America's MQ-9 Reaper" by Olamilekan Okebiorun.

Nigeria, Morocco, and Algeria previously received China's Wing Loong II combat drones.  It is a lower cost alternative to the US-produced MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper drones.  

Chinese Digital Infrastructure Company May Set Up Headquarters in Kenya

 Construction Review published on 18 August 2026 an article titled "Guodong Africa Headquarters: China's Telecom Giants Targets $300M Digital Infrastructure in Kenya."

China's Guodong Group is in discussion with Kenyan investment authorities about establishing the company's African headquarters there.  The proposed $300 million investment would support cloud computing, data storage, smart-city infrastructure, telecommunication towers, fiber networks, and green digital technologies.  No final decisions have been made.

China Is Largest Drone Supplier in Africa

 Military Africa recently posted the "Africa Drone Procurement Report 2026."  The dataset comprises 234 procurement records across 34 African nations from at least 21 supplier countries spanning 1980 to 2026.  During this period, it identified 1,959 drone units obtained by African countries.  From 2020 to 2026, African countries procured 1,054 drone units or 53 percent of the total since 1980.

China was the leading supplier at 587 drones or just under 30 percent of the total procured in Africa. Its Wing Loong armed drones and Rainbow CH series drones went primarily to Egypt (126 units), Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (80), Nigeria (72), Ethiopia (57), and Algeria (49).  Chinese drones appeared extensively in active combat zones (Libya, Ethiopia, and Sudan).  They are particularly favored for their low cost, availability, and lack of human rights conditionality. 

The next most important suppliers after China are Israel (325 drones), Türkiye (291), US (247), and locally manufactured (216).  Iran and Russia supply drones to active conflict-zone actors through more opaque channels.  Israeli drones have gone primarily to Morocco, with smaller numbers to Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, and Libya's Government of National Unity.   

Saudi Workaround for Exporting Oil from Red Sea

 CNBC published on 12 August 2026 an article titled "Saudi Arabia Ramps Up Oil Exports Through Mediterranean Pipeline to Avoid Attacks in Red Sea" by Spencer Kimball and Deena Zaidi.

Following the Iranian-supported Houthi blockade of Saudi ships passing through the south end of the Red Sea, Riyadh is rerouting oil supertankers north through the Suez Canal even for oil destined for Asia.

The problem is that fully loaded supertankers sit too deep in the water to transit the Suez Canal.  Consequently, they pump half the Saudi oil cargo into a pipeline on Egypt's Red Sea coast that conveys it across Egypt to an outlet in the Mediterranean Sea.  The supertankers then transit the Suez Canal half loaded and reload the oil at the other end of the pipeline in the Mediterranean.  Saudi oil exports departing the south end of the Red Sea are down 90 percent.

Because of the Houthi blockade, a higher percentage of Saudi oil is now going north to Europe rather than south to Asia.  This may result in a boon for West African oil by making transport to Asia more competitive than oil originating in Saudi Arabia. 

US-China Differences on Global Warming Pose Dilemma for Africa

 The Institute for Security Studies published on 14 August 2026 a paper titled "US-China Rivalry Puts Africa's Climate Diplomacy to the Test" by Dhesigen Naidoo.

China has been a consistent signatory of the Paris Agreement while the Trump administration withdrew from it during both its first and second iterations.  

The author argues that Africa must maintain a positive climate-action approach while navigating the American anti-climate stance.  US support for fossil fuel-based development has gained momentum, slowing Africa's pathway to low carbon development.

Chinese Companies Hold Inside Track for Ethiopia's Huge New Airport

 Vietnam's VN Express published on 16 August 2026 an article titled "Africa's Biggest Airport Project Puts Chinese Firms on Shortlist" by Phan Anh.

Chinese state-owned companies have been short-listed for 15 of the 33 places for Ethiopia's $12.5 billion international airport outside Addis Ababa.  No US company made the shortlist, but Boeing supplies most of the aircraft for the Ethiopian Airlines fleet.  

The project requires more than $9 billion in external funding.  This is the most expensive aviation project ever undertaken in Africa.

Kenya Considers Chinese Bond Market

 Reuters published on 14 August 2026 an article titled "Kenya Eyes Debut Chinese Bond Market Issuance This Fiscal Year."

Kenya is considering issuing its first ever bond on the Chinese domestic debt market known as panda bonds, as it seeks to raise $300 million to plug a gaping hole in its budget for this fiscal year.  

Kenya has a budget deficit of 5.5 percent of gross domestic product for this fiscal year.  It is seeking financing from a variety of other sources.  

China Deploys Its 49th Naval Task Force to the Gulf of Aden

 The China Daily Brief posted on 12 August 2026 an article titled "Chinese Navy Dispatches 49th Escort Task Force to Gulf of Aden."

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) dispatched on 12 August its 49th escort task force from a naval port in Sanya, Hainan Province, to the Gulf of Aden and waters of Somalia.  It consists of the guided-missile destroyer Kunming, the guided-missile frigate Yueyang, and the supply ship Luomahu.  The fleet is equipped with two shipborne helicopters and dozens of special operations personnel.

The Decline of France in Africa's Sahel and Rise of China

 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published on 29 July 2026 an article titled "How France's Fall Signals China's Rise in the Sahel" by Raghvendra Kumar.

China has seized on the decline of French and Western influence in Africa's Sahel to embed itself into the region's political, economic, and security structures.  The article pays particular attention to China's role in Burkina Faso.  

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Maritime Alliance

 Firstpost posted on 15 August 2026 an article titled "What Is Saudi Arabia's New Red Sea Maritime Alliance?"

Saudi Arabia hosted 43 nations in Riyadh in late July and launched the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition that, so far, unites 14 regional countries to protect the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden.  It aims to counter Houthi threats coming from Yemen, secure global trade routes, and reduce reliance on Western maritime security operations.

Countries that have signed on are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Comoros, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, and the internationally recognized government in Yemen.  Notable omissions are Eritrea, India, UAE, and Oman.  

Nigeria Increases Exports to China but Still Has Huge Trade Deficit

 Nairametrics posted on 15 August 2026 an article titled "Nigeria's Exports to China Surge 80% to $2.3 Billion in H1 2026" by Emmanuel Azubuike.

Nigeria's exports to China surged by 80 percent to $2.3 billion in the first half of 2026 driven by China's zero-tariff policy for African countries.  Total Nigeria-China trade for the first half of 2026 reached $18 billion, leaving a huge Nigerian trade deficit with China of $13.4 billion.

China is Nigeria's largest trading partner, accounting for 15 percent of Nigeria's total trade.  China exports value-added manufactured and industrial goods to Nigeria, which sends agricultural and primary products to China.

China and US Following Zambian Election: Critical Minerals Are the Prize

 The Associated Press published on 14 August 2026 an article titled "Zambia Awaits Presidential Election Results. Here's Why China and the US May Be Interested" by Jacob Zimba.

Zambia awaits the results of an election that will decide whether President Hakainde Hichilema wins a second five-year term.  Both China and the US are interested in Zambian copper and cobalt and hence the outcome of the election and its impact on each country.

AU Mission in Somalia Plans for Earlier Exit

 AEIs Critical Threats Africa File posted on 13 August 2026 an article titled "Somalia--AUSSOM" by Michael DeAngelo.  

The African Union Stabilization and Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has begun an accelerated handoff of responsibility to the Somali National Army.  AUSSOM's mission end date is December 2029, but the goal is to complete most of the handoff in 2028.  Al-Shabaab will likely exploit any lapse in counterterrorism efforts that might result from this decision.  

Chinese Fishing Fleet Charged with Illegal Activity in West African Waters

Modern Ghana published on 14 August 2026 an article titled "Illegal Chinese Fishing: Africa Must Stop Taking the Bait" by Mustapha Bature Sallama. 

China's refusal to sign the Mombasa Declaration is an admission that its deep-sea fishing fleet is engaged in illegal practices.  China is gradually expanding its footprint in African waters, at the risk of permanently endangering the economic sovereignty of coastal states.  

Long-term Impact of South Sudan Flooding

 Deutsche Welle published on 4 August 2026 an article titled "South Sudan: How Climate Change Can Turn Toxic" by Buster Emil Kirchner and Marco Simoncelli.

Devastating flooding in South Sudan's Unity State in 2021 continues to have negative impacts on the environment and the wellbeing of people living in the affected area.  More than 50 of South Sudan's 400 oil wells remain submerged, which has contaminated water and farmland.  This has led to a variety of health problems.

Analysis of Somalia's Governance Crisis

 The Emirates Policy Center published on 13 August 2026 an analysis titled "Trends and Shifts in the Somali Landscape: From Constitutional Dispute to a Crisis of Legitimacy."

Somalia is experiencing one of its most complex political crises since the adoption of the federal system in 2012.  These tensions coincide with growing friction between the federal government and federal member states, particularly Puntland.

The analysis concludes that the current governance crisis extends far beyond electoral arrangements or constitutional amendments.  Its roots reach into the very foundation of the fragile consensus upon which the federal state has been built in the last decade and a half.

Five Imprisoned Ethiopian Journalists Refuse to Apologize

 The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 13 August 2026 a press release titled "In Ethiopia, 5 Journalists Pressured to Apologize for Terrorism to Win Release."

Five Ethiopian journalists have been detained on terrorism charges for three years awaiting trial.  They have refused to write letters of apology and admit guilt in exchange for their freedom.  

South Sudanese Refugees Face Imminent Food Shortages

 Reuters published on 14 August 2026 an article titled "650,000 Refugees in South Sudan Could Lose Food Aid Within Weeks Due to Funding Squeeze, Say UN Agencies" by Olivia Le Poidevin.

Staff with the World Food Program and UN High Commission for Refugees report that 650,000 refugees in South Sudan, most of them from conflict in neighboring Sudan, may no longer receive food assistance due to a shortage of international funding.  

African Solar Manufacturing May Not Compete with Chinese Imports

 The Associated Press published on 8 August 2026 an article titled "Africa Wants More Homegrown Solar to Boost Self-Reliance, but China's Shadow Remains" by Allan Olingo and Chan Ho-Him.

Several African countries are building more domestic solar manufacturing capacity, but they face competition from China's dominant global role in making solar cells and other components.  Africa is a perfect market for China's overcapacity in this sector.

Somali Government Officials: Isolated with Dual Citizenship and Foreign Passports

 African Arguments published on 11 August 2026 a commentary titled "Somalia: A Government with One Foot Out the Door" by Ismail Abukar, a human rights advocate based in Mogadishu.  

A significant percentage of Somali officials are effectively ghost workers who do not come to their offices.  Many have foreign passports and dual citizenship.  At the same time, remittances from the diaspora have kept Somalia solvent.  

An Analysis of the Houthi Red Sea Blockade

 Chatham House published on 24 July 2026 an analysis titled "The Houthi Red Sea Blockade: Will Collective Maritime Security Be Defended or Break Down?" by Nitya Labh and Farea Al-Muslimi.

The rebel Houthis are part of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" but retain significant autonomy.  The Houthi blockade of Saudi ships in the Red Sea acts as a deterrent against regional adversaries and reinforces their legitimacy in Yemen.

The Houthi objective is not to sink large numbers of ships, but to create enough uncertainty for commercial shipping that insurers raise premiums, companies reroute vessels, and governments absorb mounting economic costs.