African Arguments published on 25 June 2026 a commentary titled "Xi's Zero Tariff Offer to Africa and the Political Boundaries of Eswatini's Exclusion" by Francis Annagu, a freelance journalist.
China made imports from Africa duty free as of May 1 for all countries except Eswatini, which recognizes Taiwan. The author suggests Eswatini decided to maintain its relationship with Taiwan because of its long friendship with Taipei that began well before China became a major economic power in Africa.
UN News posted on 26 June 2026 an article titled "Sudan: Window Is Closing to Prevent Wider Escalation in El Obeid."
This is a useful update on the situation in Sudan that summarizes the fighting, use of drones, external interference, regional tensions, and status of efforts to mediate an end to the conflict.
Fox News published on 23 June 2026 an article titled "Trump Gets Major Win against China in African Rare Earth Minerals Race" by Paul Tilsley.
The United States has supported an American company, Virtus Minerals, in developing two major mines producing cobalt and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the Trump administration's first critical minerals (not rare earths as the article asserts) win in the DRC.
Euro News posted on 18 June 2026 an article titled "Moscow Uses 'Russian Houses' in Africa to Lure Recruits into War in Ukraine, Investigation Shows" by Sasha Vakulina and Aleksandar Brezar.
Moscow is operating or opening "Russian Houses" in at least 22 African countries as part of its strategy to consolidate its influence on the continent. The centers screen Soviet and Russian films, often on patriotic themes, and distribute ideologically vetted literature. They also teach the Russian language and coach young people on how to move to Russia as students or workers.
Ukraine's military intelligence has done an investigation that identifies Russian Houses as key hubs for recruiting Africans to go to Russia where they eventually end up on the front lines of the war against Ukraine. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that at least 2,965 citizens from 36 African countries have taken part in combat on Russia's side.
The South China Morning Post published on 26 June 2026 an article titled "Can China's Strict Policing Model 'Silence the Guns' in Africa?" by Jevans Nyabiage.
China is training African trainees on ways to get better control of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The problem is that China's strict domestic policies do not transfer well to Africa where some African governments supply SALW to non-state actors in neighboring countries. Until this practice ends, China's training will accomplish little.
Reuters published on 26 June 2026 an article titled "China Approves Standard Bank, ICBC for Africa Yuan Clearing" by Colleen Goko.
China's central bank authorized South Africa's Standard Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to clear Renminbi across Africa, as Beijing steps up efforts to promote the global use of its currency. Standard Bank and ICBC will operate jointly as the "Renminbi Clearing Bank of Africa" with authority to clear the currency in 19 African countries.
Foreign Policy published on 25 June 2026 an article titled "Will Kenya's Ruto Finally Reconcile with the Country's Somali Minority?" by Joseph Maina.
Kenyan President William Ruto has reached out to the country's minority Somali population to bring them more effectively into Kenyan society. Some Kenyans are skeptical that Ruto's outreach to the Somalis is sincere.
Foreign Affairs published on 26 June 2026 an article titled "Who Is Winning Africa's Drone Wars?" by Nate Allen and Rida Lyammouri.
Conflicts in Mali, Somalia, Libya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Niger have experienced or continue to experience the use of armed drones. Increasingly, insurgent groups are making as effective use of drones as national armies. China, Turkey, and Iran provide most of the drones, but at least 11 African countries now produce them.
The Torino World Affairs Institute published in 2026 a study titled "The Sino-Moroccan Rapprochement: An Analysis of Geoeconomic Convergence, Diplomatic Calibration and Media Narratives in a Changing Maghreb" by Bianca Pasquier and Imane Ezzehouany, edited by Amanda Chen and Leonardo Bruni.
The study concludes that by deepening its engagement with China, Morocco is reengineering its agency and room for maneuver while maintaining its traditional ties with the United States and Europe. China's economic presence in the Kingdom, albeit still limited compared to European and Gulf partners in overall investment terms, has rapidly expanded in industrial sectors critical for the green transition and the restructuring of global value chains.
The American Security Project published on 24 June 2026 a commentary titled "From Aid Cuts to Ebola: A Predictable Crisis Unfolds" by Mohamed Siddiqui.
The dismantlement of USAID, removal of its on the ground personnel in the DRC and Uganda, and cutting of foreign aid funding for health programs has left international humanitarian groups to provide the bulk of the support for affected communities. The result has been predictable: a faster spread of Ebola and greater cost to bring it under control.
Defence Security Asia posted on 25 June 2026 an article titled "Algeria's J-10C and KJ-500 Deal Signals China's Biggest Air Power Breakthrough."
Algeria is apparently prepared to buy Chinese Chengdu J-10C multirole fighters and Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft beginning in 2027. This acquisition would make Algeria's air force one of the most advanced air powers in the region and challenge Russia as the traditional supplier of its air force.
Min.com posted on 25 June 2026 an article titled "China Won a Large Order in Algeria, 24 Pterosaur 2, Frigates and Anti-ship Missiles Are on the List."
Recent purchases of Chinese arms by Algeria include frigates, missile systems, and drones.
The Third World Quarterly published on 17 June 2026 a research article titled "Navigating Cooperation with Great Powers: Elite Perceptions of U.S. and Chinese Economic Engagement in Ghana in the Twenty-first Century" by Monika Rozalska, Paulina Matera, and Bartosz Kowalski.
This study is based on in-depth interviews with a limited sample--22 Ghanaian university professors, government officials, and non-governmental leaders. It concludes that both China and the United States engage in neocolonial practices to varying degrees. While both countries promote development, it is questionable whether their activities align with Ghanaian priorities. Beijing and Washington emphasize access to raw materials over empowering local industrial development. As a result, Ghana pursues a policy of balance towards the United States and China.
African Business published on 23 June 2026 an article titled "Where Next for Ethiopia after Abiy Ahmed's Landslide?" by Harry Clynch.
Following the landslide victory by Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party in national elections, the article suggests Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will push for deeper centralization of government power, an acceleration of economic reform, and a continuing effort to obtain access to the sea for landlocked Ethiopia.
The New York Times published on 23 June 2026 an article titled "U.S. Warns of 'Imminent' Atrocities in Sudanese City" by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Brian O. Otieno.
The U.S. State Department warned early this week that there are alarming indications of imminent "mass atrocities" in the event the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces takes the city of El Obeid, capital of North Kordofan region, from the Sudan Armed Forces.
Ethiopia Insight published on 23 June 2026 a commentary titled "TPLF's New Proclamation Codifies a Police State" by Getachew Gebrekiros Temare.
The author dissects a new Tigray People's Liberation Front 42-page proclamation that imposes compulsory mobilization and establishes wartime institutions under presidential command. He concludes the proclamation should be withdrawn before it becomes "a machinery of fear" over the Tigrayan people.
Space News published on 22 June 2026 a commentary titled "America Is About to Cede Africa's Space Industry to China, and Nobody's Talking About It" by Philip Dackiw.
As China advances its own space program, there is still an opportunity for US companies to forge space-based partnerships in Africa, which is looking at significant space-focused technological expansion. If the US does not seize this opportunity, China will.
Launch Base Africa published on 22 June 2026 an article titled "NewTrails Capital, Backed by Africa's Leading Smartphone Manufacturer, Invests $55M in EV Startup Spiro."
China's Transsion Holdings, Africa's biggest smartphone seller, currently commands nearly half of the continent's market. Through its stake in a Chinese growth-stage fund called NewTrails Capital, Transsion is investing $55 million in Spiro, Africa's largest electric vehicle and battery-swapping company. For Spiro, the relationship opens doors to Chinese suppliers that could be decisive as it scales.
Ecofin Agency published on 22 June 2026 an article titled "Guinea Is Africa's Fastest-growing Economy: The Boom Is Real--but Narrow" by Idriss Linge.
Due mostly to the export of bauxite and iron ore, Guinea is Africa's fastest-growing economy in 2026 at 8.8 percent. Guinea exports annually about $14.5 billion of raw materials; China is the largest importer at $4.5 billion.
The risk for Guinea is a reliance on bauxite and iron ore exports, a lack of processing of these minerals at home, and the relative lack of intra-African trade. A drop in commodity prices could severely damage Guinea's economy.
Oceana published on 17 June 2026 a news release titled "Sixteen Countries Adopt Mombasa Declaration to Advance Fisheries Transparency and Combat Illegal Fishing."
Sixteen countries adopted the Mombasa Declaration at the 11th Our Ocean Conference committing to advance global fisheries transparency and strengthen efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The countries that signed are Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of Congo, Somalia, and South Korea.
Maritimes Crimes published on 19 June 2026 an article titled "Kenya: Illegal Fishing Fight Gains Mombasa Backing."
The article notes that the world's most significant fishing powers, who represent a major share of global catches, did not sign the Mombasa Declaration. They include China, Indonesia, Russia, India, Vietnam, and the United States.
Propublica published on 22 June 2026 an article titled "'A Huge Grab of Power': Trump Is Defying Congress on Foreign Aid" by Anna Maria Barry-Jester.
Bipartisan support for foreign aid remains in the US Congress despite the Trump administration's dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development and its effort to minimize US foreign assistance now administered by the State Department, which does not have the capacity to manage it in any event.
Military Africa published on 19 June 2026 an article titled "Orion Drone Sighted over Bamako as Russia's Air War in Mali Deepens" by Ekene Lionel.
Russia's advanced Orion drone has been sighted flying over Bamako, Mali's capital. Its most capable, unmanned strike platform, it suggests Russia is stepping up its battle against jihadi groups in Mali.
The Royal United Services Institute published on 18 June 2026 a study titled "Masculinities and Violence in the Horn of Africa Borderlands" by Christopher Hockey and Claudia Wallner.
This paper reveals how masculinity norms fuel conflict, violent extremism, and gender-based violence in the Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia borderlands, shaping al-Shabaab's recruitment and deepening insecurity. It is based on interviews with experts and community members in two communities: one at the tripoint where Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia meet and the other at the Kenya-Somalia border on the Indian Ocean coastline.
It offers actionable recommendations for defense and security practitioners to address these interconnected challenges.
Fronts, an independent online news source owned by a privately held Czech company, posted on 15 June 2026 a commentary titled "The Egypt-Ethiopia Cold War Is Key to the Horn's Growing Conflicts" by Liam Karr.
The author suggests a "cold war" between Ethiopia and Egypt is a battle for regional dominance, touches nearly every conflict in the Horn of Africa, and is fueling tensions in an already unstable region. Control over Nile waters and landlocked Ethiopia's desire to obtain access to the sea loom large in this cold war.
The American Security Project posted on 22 May 2026 a commentary titled "What the Mali Offensive Reveals about Russia's Partnerships in Africa" by Thomas Ullman.
Questions about Russia's role in Mali increased when its Africa Corps retreated last month from a key city to the north of the capital. A French journalist suggested that Russian forces considered defending the capital of Bamako to be their sole obligation, regardless of what happened elsewhere.
