China's New Gold Strategy Runs Through Africa

 TrendsNAfrica published on 1 July 2026 an article titled "China's New Gold Strategy Runs Through Africa:  How Beijing Is Rewriting the Global Bullion Market."

Beijing is quietly reshaping the mechanics of the international gold trade.  Its strategy involves dismantling speculative domestic paper-gold trading while building an international ecosystem centered on physical bullion, yuan-based settlements, and African mineral wealth.

About 40 percent of the world's remaining underground gold reserves are located in Africa.  China is reducing its holdings of US Treasury securities and replacing them with gold purchases, especially in Africa.  

Promoting Peace in South Sudan

 The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published in June 2024 a paper titled "Towards Humanitarian Action that Intentionally Promotes Peace in South Sudan" by Simone Bunse, Caroline Delgado, and Marie Riquier.  

The paper proposes four theories of change for international peacebuilding.  The first relates to livelihood opportunities and keeping children in school.  The second concerns the connectedness between diverse ethnicities and communities through conflict-sensitive volunteerism.  The third consists in helping socialized program volunteers transition into leadership roles for greater transformational impacts.  The fourth involves vertical and horizontal integration with broader development and peacebuilding efforts.  

How to Help People in Sudan and Darfur

 Time published on 15 November 2023 an article titled "How to Help People in Sudan Amid Warnings of 'Another Genocide'" by Mallory Moench.

The article identifies reputable organizations that are playing an important role in efforts to counter the effects of ongoing atrocities in Sudan and Darfur.

Emergency Supplies Now Reaching Ethiopia's Tigray Region

 The Associated Press published on 15 November 2022 an article titled "ICRC: Humanitarian Convoy Arrives in Ethiopia's Tigray."

A truck convoy has delivered 40 tons of medical supplies, medicine, and surgical equipment to Tigray Region.  

Humanitarian Access to Ethiopia's Tigray Region an Urgent Priority

 The Guardian published on 5 November 2022 an article titled "Race against Time for Sick Patients after Ethiopian Peace Deal" by Jason Burke and Lizzy Davies.

The article argues that it is imperative to remove the blockade on Tigray Region so that humanitarian and medical supplies can be delivered starting immediately.  

Ethiopia's Tigray Region Experiences Routine Internet Shutdowns

 Reuters published on 28 September 2022 an article titled "Six Million Silenced: A Two-year Internet Outage in Ethiopia" by Zecharias Zelalem.  

Tigray Region of Ethiopia, which is at war with the central government, has experienced almost continuous Internet outage over the past two years, affecting about six million people.  

Medical Aid Returns to Ethiopia's Tigray Region

 The Lancet published on 19 February 2022 an article titled "Medical Aid Returns to Tigray" by Sharmila Devi.  

The World Health Organization began delivering supplies and equipment to Tigray on 11 February, the first the agency has been permitted to deliver since July 2021.  Only 40 of 224 health centers in Tigray were considered functional in November 2021.  Even larger numbers of health centers in Amhara and Afar regions are non-functional.  

Ethiopian Head of WHO: Between a Rock and a Hard Spot

 The Conversation published on 28 January 2022 a commentary titled "WHO Head Tedros Faces a Challenge All Humanitarians Know Well" by Mukesh Kapila, University of Manchester.

The government of Ethiopia strongly opposes the reelection of Tedros Adhanom as director general of the World Health Organization.  Tedros, a Tigrayan from Ethiopia, angered the government when he called attention to the humanitarian crisis in Tigray Region.

USAID Update on Humanitarian Situation in Tigray Region

 USAID published on 31 March 2021 a fact sheet on the Tigray conflict.  Although most of it deals with the humanitarian situation in Tigray based on visits by USAID personnel and those from other assistance organizations, it contains a few nuggets of information not covered elsewhere.

Ethiopia: Humanitarian Situation in Tigray Region

 The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) published on 6 January 2021 a report titled "Ethiopia - Tigray Region Humanitarian Update."

The report highlighted that the security situation in Tigray Region remains volatile.  The humanitarian situation is dire with poor access to services and limited livelihoods.  Food supplies are very limited, widespread looting is reported, and insecurity is high.  

Ethiopia: Conflict in Tigray Not Over

 The Washington Post published on 4 December 2020 an article titled "Ethiopia's War in Tigray Shows No Signs of Abating Despite Government's Victory Claims" by Max Bearak.  

The article describes continuing conflict in Tigray region with the TPLF and its supporters apparently taking refuge in the more mountainous parts of the state.  There is no indication the conflict will come to a quick end.  

Ethiopia: What Can the International Community Do?

 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace posted on 1 December 2020 remarks titled "Ethiopia's Conflict in Tigray Presents Hard Decisions" by Steven Feldstein.

The author suggests three steps the international community should take now to help defuse the conflict in Ethiopia.