The Daily Post published on 1 June 2026 an article titled "15 Chinese Nationals, Nine Nigerians Docked Over Alleged Illegal Lithium Mining in Nasarawa" by Chris Johnson.
Nigeria has arraigned 15 Chinese nationals and 9 Nigerians for engaging in the unlawful extraction of lithium. It is one of the most significant arrests by Nigeria's Mining Marshals.
The International Crisis Group posted on 1 June 2026 a five and one-half minute video titled "Divided Sudan, Elusive Peace."
The video provides a good, summary update of the current situation in the Sudan conflict.
Xinhua published on 1 June 2026 an article titled "China Ready to Actively Assist DRC, Other African Countries Hit by Ebola."
China has announced it will provide humanitarian assistance and send medical teams to the DRC to combat Ebola. In 2014-2016, China played a significant role in combatting the Ebola outbreak in three West African countries. It is not clear if this contribution will be as extensive as China's engagement ten years ago.
The Daily Beast published on 1 June 2026 an article titled "Jaw-Dropping Brain Drain Under Trump Revealed" by Will Neal.
The Trump administration has either laid off or forced into retirement about 2,000 career diplomats since the beginning of 2025. This figure does not include foreign service personnel who were fired when the administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development.
More than half of US embassies do not have a Senate-confirmed ambassador and those that are staffed at the ambassadorial level include only 8 percent career ambassadors. The vast majority of American ambassadors today are financial contributors to the Trump campaign, close friends of the administration, or family members.
Africa Business Insight published on 29 May 2026 an article titled "South Africa Tightens Controls on Chinese Imports to Protect Local Industry" by Nana Oye Ankrah.
South Africa is introducing stricter controls on certain Chinese imports to curb the influx of low-cost and non-compliant products that undermine domestic production. South Africa is also taking these steps to balance trade with China, which consistently maintains a large surplus.
Ethiopia Insight published on 1 June 2026 a commentary titled "Washington's Ethiopia Reset Risks Rewarding Impunity" by Getachew Gebrekiros Temare.
The author argues Ethiopia is pursuing a transactional foreign policy with the United States and other major international players, playing one against another. He urges the United States engage in a responsible dialogue with Ethiopia that addresses serious unresolved security issues.
The China-Africa Security Radar published on 31 May 2026 a commentary titled "The Limits of Beijing's Embrace" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah.
African countries expecting China to come to their aid when experiencing security challenges should consider China's reaction to the seizure of President Maduro of Venezuela and the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel. Venezuela has a "strategic partnership" and Iran a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with China. What purpose did they serve?
The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 29 May 2026 an article titled "'Under the Shadow of Fear': Censorship Is Ethiopia's Real Election Story, Journalists Say."
Intimidation of the press is becoming the norm in the runup to Ethiopia's national elections. Numerous reporters have experienced a variety of challenges as they attempt to cover the elections.
AEIs Critical Threats Africa File published on 28 May 2026 an article titled "Fano Disrupts Ethiopian Elections" by Michael DeAngelo.
Fano militia has stepped up its attacks in Amhara Region as Ethiopia approaches national elections on June 1. The federal government announced it will not hold elections in at least 8 of Amhara's 138 constituencies due to insecurity.
Semafor published on 25 May 2026 an article titled "How China Forced Europe to Reconsider Africa's Industrialization" by W. Gyude Moore.
Chinese dominance in a number of industrial sectors is forcing Europe to worry that it may face deindustrialization and to rethink the need to support industrialization in Africa.
Ethiopia Insight published on 26 May 2026 a commentary titled "Pretoria's Unfinished Peace Is Fueling Tigray's New Crisis" by Fikru Kidane, a Tigrayan analyst living in the United States.
The new tensions in Tigray Region are rooted in the aftermath of the Pretoria Agreement that ended the last war in Tigray. Key elements of the agreement remain unimplemented. The author argues that pressure to engage in new dialogue does not replace the need to put pressure on all parties to implement the Pretoria Agreement.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 27 May 2026 a commentary titled "Flashpoint: Ethiopia's Tigray Tinderbox" by Comfort Ero.
ICG President Comfort Ero warns that federal Ethiopian and Tigrayan troops are on the verge of a return to conflict, which could quickly spread to neighboring Eritrea and Sudan.
Energy for Growth Hub published on 18 May 2026 an article titled "Four Ways African Countries Can Secure Better Outcomes from Chinese-supported Power Projects" by Naa Adjekai Adjei.
Ghana's experience with Chinese-supported power projects demonstrates that it is possible to achieve better results with cost benchmarking, competitive procurement, stronger finance negotiation, and project oversight expertise.
Foreign Affairs published on 26 May 2026 an article titled "The War in Ethiopia Isn't Over" by Hilary Matfess, University of Denver.
As Ethiopia prepares to hold national elections on June 1, Tigray Region remains combustible, and insurgencies continue in several other regions.
Blitz published on 24 May 2026 an article titled "Africa's Growing Appetite for Russian Grain Signals a New Economic Reality" by M.A. Hossain.
Russian grain exports to Africa are expanding at an unprecedented pace because of competitive pricing and a desire by African countries to diversify sourcing.
UN News posted on 11 May 2026 an article titled "Armed Drones Are Leading Cause of Civilian Deaths in Sudan War: UN Rights Chief."
Drones launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan Armed Forces accounted for more than 80 percent of civilian deaths during the first four months of 2026, killing at least 880 people.
The Interpreter, produced by Australia's Lowy Institute, published on 22 May 2026 a commentary titled "China's Influence in Africa Is No Longer Just Economic" by Isel Van Zyl.
The author argues that the cancellation of overflight permission by Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar for Taiwan's president to visit Eswatini, the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan, highlights that China's influence in Africa is no longer confined to the economic sector.
China's growing leverage in Africa is now expressed through diplomatic pressure, political signaling, and the ability to shape what governments, organizations, and even international conferences can and cannot do.
Comment: Beijing has exercised political influence in Africa for decades. One only need compare African country voting patterns in the UN General Assembly or consider the publicly stated policy of most countries on China's core domestic issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, human rights, and island building in the South China Sea.
The Emirates Policy Center published on 21 May 2026 an analysis titled "The US-Eritrea Rapprochement: Signs and Prospects."
The United States seeks to leverage Eritrea's position on the Red Sea to address maritime tensions and threats, while Asmara is counting on American receptiveness to overcome its isolation and strengthen its capacity to navigate Ethiopian and regional pressures.
The analysis concludes that interaction between the United States and Eritrea will probably remain restricted to functional engagement rather than evolving into a comprehensive and enduring partnership.
South Africa's Institute for Global Dialogue published on 16 March 2026 a commentary titled "Beyond Material: Russia's Appeal to Southern African States" by Philani Mthembu.
Although Russia is not a major economic partner in Africa, Moscow's increased focus on the continent has given southern Africa states greater autonomy and options on the global stage as they pursue their own national interests.
AEIs Critical Threats Africa File posted on 21 May 2026 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo.
Infighting between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leadership and three RSF field commanders resulted in their defection together with their troops to the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).
The SAF is using defections to fracture the RSF and rapidly integrate their troops into SAF combat operations. The SAF is pursuing a military victory and showing no interest in peace talks. Bringing defectors into its senior ranks may, however, complicate its command-and-control challenges.
The Guardian published on 21 May 2026 an article titled "US Is 'Simply Choosing Not to Stop' Ebola Outbreak after Massive Public Health Cuts, Experts Say" by Melody Schreiber.
Following the dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development and massive cuts in global and domestic public health efforts, the United States appears to be doing little to stem the outbreak of Ebola in central Africa.
The Raisina Hills, an independent digital news platform based in India, published on 20 May 2026 an article titled "Russia-China Challenge Western-led System in Joint Declaration."
The article assesses the joint declaration agreed to by China and Russia released on 20 May during Vladimir Putin's visit with Xi Jinping in Beijing. The article concludes that "the declaration suggests the Russia-China partnership is evolving beyond tactical cooperation into a broader attempt to shape the ideological architecture of a future world order."
The Respondents posted on 20 May 2026 an article titled "CCM, China's CPC Deepen Ties with Southern African Liberation Parties."
Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi hosted a meeting with the head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China and senior leaders from the ruling political parties in Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The parties launched the Research Centre for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
The Washington Examiner published on 20 May 2026 an article titled "US Competing with Russia, China, and Terror Groups for Influence across Africa" by Mike Brest.
Commander of US Africa Command General Dagvin Anderson told the House Armed Services Committee on 19 May that the United States is competing with Russia, China, and terror groups across Africa. This is being done with a 75 percent reduction in the US regional posture over the past decade, a situation which is compounded by additional drawdowns by our allies.
