Long-Range Drones Used in Sudan

 Reuters published on 12 September 2025 an article titled "Long-range 'Kamikaze' Drones Seen Near RSF Base Could Worsen Conflict in Sudan" by Nafisa Eltahir.

Satellite imagery shows 13 long-range suicide drones and landing gear in Nyala, Sudan, which is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.  These weapons, which have a range of 1,200 miles, were not thought to be in use in Sudan.  Companies in Russia, Iran, and China manufacture these large drones.  China said it had no knowledge of the drones.  

Undersea Cables Cut in Red Sea Disrupt Internet Access

 The Associated Press published on 7 September 2025 an article titled "Undersea Cables Cut in the Red Sea, Disrupting Internet Access in Asia and the Mideast" by Jon Gambrell.

A series of subsea cable outages on 6 September in the Red Sea has degraded internet connectivity in multiple countries.  It has not been determined who cut the cables, although one possibility is the Houthi rebels in Yemen.  

A Comprehensive Report on Russia's Africa Corps

 The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey published in August 2025 a study titled "Putin's New Frontier: The Prospects and Limitations of Africa Corps" by Hanna Notte. 

This timely and well researched study concludes that Russia's Africa Corps is a bureaucratic restructuring and rebranding of the Wagner Goup, which only continues to function in the Central African Republic.  It employs many former Wagner mercenary fighters and has taken control of its recruitment infrastructure. 

The Africa Corps is tethered closer to the Russian military's chain of command. It prioritizes training and routine security assistance rather than the high-risk missions of the Wagner Group.  It apparently relies on funding from Russia's state budget.  The Africa Corps might face future competition from countries such as Turkey, Iran, and China.  

Yemen's Houthi Rebels Resume Red Sea Shipping Attacks

 Military.com posted on 4 September 2025 an article titled "Suspected Attack by Yemen's Houthis Targets Ship in Red Sea After Missiles Fire on Israel" by Jon Gambrell.

Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted and nearly hit a ship in the Red Sea on 4 September.  There have been other Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping in recent days.  

China: Falling Crude Oil Imports from Africa

 Visual Capitalist published on 2 September 2025 a chart titled "Visualizing China's Crude Oil Imports by Country" by Dorothy Neufeld and Joyce Ma.

The chart shows China's crude oil imports by major source in 2024.  African countries accounted for less than 9 percent of China's total imports.  This percentage has been steadily declining over the last 15 years but has stabilized in the last couple of years at this low level.

By comparison, in 2024 China received 57 percent of its crude from the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, and Iran.  Another 20 percent came from Russia.    

South Africa Schedules Joint Naval Drill with China and Russia

 Pravda published on 2 September 2025 an article titled "South Africa to Hold Joint Naval Drills with Russia and China During G20 Summit" by Anton Kulikov.

The South African National Defence Force will conduct the third stage of the MOSI joint naval exercise with Russia and China in November this year to coincide with the G-20 summit hosted by South Africa.  

China Provides Dual-Use Technology for Houthis

 Stimson published on 12 August 2025 an analysis titled "China Sends Houthis Dual-Use Technology to Boost Influence and Undercut the US" by Mohammad Salami, International Institute for Global Strategic Analysis.

China is providing the Houthis with dual-use technologies such as satellite imagery and drone components, complicating US maritime security efforts in the Red Sea.  In return, China has secured safe passage for its vessels.

China's policy is to discredit US policies, emphasize neutrality, and appeal to Arab and Global South audiences.  

Yemen: US Policy and Red Sea Attacks

 The Congressional Research Service published on 22 July 2025 a brief paper titled "Yemen: Conflict, Red Sea Attacks, and U.S. Policy" by Christopher M. Blanchard.  

This is a concise background of the political situation in Yemen, U.S. policy towards Yemen, and the status of Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

Houthi Red Sea Attacks Cause Insurance Rate Hikes

 The Insurance Business Magazine published on 1 August 2025 an article titled "Escalating Houthi Attacks in Red Sea Trigger New Global Supply Chain and Insurance Challenges" by Gia Snape.

The renewed Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have the potential to raise energy costs and disrupt supply chains.  Many shipping companies are once again diverting cargo around the Cape of Good Hope.  Insurers have increased their marine risk premiums.  

Chinese, Turkish, and Iranian Drones Fuel African Conflicts

 The China Global South Project published on 26 July 2025 an article titled "Chinese, Iranian and Turkish Drones Fuel Africa's New Era of Low-cost Warfare" by Celia Lebur and Mathieu Rabechault.

Some 30 African governments have acquired drones, giving them access to more affordable air power.  China, Turkey, and Iran sell them without any political conditionality.  They are often used to defeat internal dissident movements.  

Iran Rearms Houthi Proxies for Red Sea Attacks

 CNN posted on 19 July 2025 an article titled "'Nothing Has Changed': Iran Tries to Rearm Proxy Groups as US Talks Stall" by Mostafa Salem and Nic Robertson.

Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen sank two Liberian-flagged commercial ships in the Red Sea last week.  Three days after Iran and Israel declared a ceasefire, forces in Yemen loyal to the internationally recognized government seized a vessel with 750 tons of Iranian missiles and military equipment destined for the Houthis.  Iran also continues to support proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria.  

PLA Navy Uses Laser on German Plane in Red Sea

 The China Global South Project posted on 18 July 2025 an article titled "Disorder as Strategy at the Gate of Tears" by Felix Brender.

This account provides additional information concerning the military-grade laser attack on a German surveillance plane patrolling the Red Sea by personnel on a PLA Navy frigate.  The incident forced the pilot of the German plane to return to Djibouti.  

Houthi Red Sea Attacks; US Considers Cease Fire Still in Effect

 The Wall Street Journal published on 10 July 2025 an article titled "Two Ships Desperately Tried to Fight Off Houthi Attacks. Help Never Arrived" by Benoit Faucon and Lara Seligman.  

The article includes dramatic video coverage of two Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned ships that Houthi rebels sank this week in the Red Sea.  These attacks came two months after the United States announced a ceasefire with the Houthis following airstrikes on their positions in Yemen. 

A senior US Defense Department official said Washington still considers the ceasefire to be in place so long as the Houthis are not firing at American ships.  

Video: Houthis Sink Two Ships in Red Sea This Week

 The Wall Street Journal posted on 10 July 2025 a three-minute video of two ships sinking in the Red Sea following drone and missile attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen.  Both ships are Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned.  Benoit Faucon narrates the video.

Yemen's Houthis Attack Second Ship in the Red Sea

 The New York Times posted on 8 July 2025 an article titled "Attack on Cargo Ship in the Red Sea Kills 2 Crew Members" by Vivian Nereim and Nick Cumming-Bruce.  

Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked a second Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned ship this week in the Red Sea.  On this occasion, they killed 2 crew members and injured 2 others.  

Yemen's Houthis Renew Attacks on Red Sea Shipping

 The Wall Street Journal published on 7 July 2025 an article titled "Houthis Attack Ship in Red Sea for First Time Since Trump Announced a Truce" by Dov Lieber and Benoit Faucon.  

A Houthi attack disabled a Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned ship near the port of Hodeidah in the Red Sea.  This was the first Houthi attack since President Trump halted airstrikes on the Houthis in May.  Recent Israeli airstrikes on the Houthis may have precipitated the new attacks on international shipping.  

Yemen's Houthis Threaten US after Strike on Iran

 A Saudi paper headquartered in London, Asharq Al-Awsat, published on 21 June 2025 an article titled "Yemen's Houthis Say Response to US Attack on Iran Only a Matter of Time."

Yemen's Houthis, who have the support of Iran, have been engaged in a sporadic campaign against international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.  Following the end of US airstrikes on the Houthis, they stopped attacking ships in the region but left the door open to continued attacks on Israel.  

Following the US strike on nuclear sites in Iran, a member of the Houthi political bureau said the ceasefire with the United States is over and the group's response to the US attack is "only a matter of time."

Houthi-al-Shabaab Cooperation in Red Sea Region

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 28 May 2025 an analysis titled "Expanding Al-Shabaab-Houthi Ties Escalate Security Threats to Red Sea Region."

Growing collaboration between al-Shabaab and the Houthis is enabling both militant groups and contributing to heightened maritjme and land-based threats on both sides of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

End of Houthi Campaign and Way Forward

 The Hill published on 19 May 2025 a commentary titled "What the End of the Houthi Campaign Means for US Power" by Michael Knights.

After 52 days of more than 1,000 airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen, President Trump ordered they stop.  The question is what was accomplished and where does US policy go from here.

From Cutting Losses with Houthis to Seeking Nuclear Agreement with Iran

 Dialogue Works posted on 9 May 2025 a 52-minute video interview titled "Trump's Wake-up Call: Yemen's Chaos Forcing a Deal with Iran?" hosted by Nima R. Alkhorshid with Chas Freeman, former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Trita Parsi, Quincy Institute.  

This informative discussion begins with an analysis behind the US desire for a ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen and leads to the prospects for a US-brokered nuclear deal with Iran.  In between, it underscores the developing cracks between the Trump administration and Bibi Netanyahu and the challenges in dealing with Iran while maintaining good relations with the Arab world.  Both commentators praised the Trump administration for realizing the futility of continuing airstrikes on the Houthis and ending the campaign even if the deal excluded Israel.