The New York Times published on 15 April 2026 a guest essay titled "I have Watched the Catastrophe of My Country Be Reduced to Nothing" by Mohammed Ahmed.
The author takes issue with those who call what is happening in Sudan a "civil war." He argues it is "a resource war fought by proxy, playing out against the world's indifference." About the only thing sustaining Sudan today is communal mobilization or self-help by ordinary Sudanese.
Foreign Affairs published on 8 April 2026 an article titled "Don't Partition Sudan Again: Splitting It Didn't Work in the Past and Won't Work Now" by Francis M. Deng and Ahmed Kodouda.
Both the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) insist they are fighting to preserve a unified Sudan, but the longer the current geographical division persists, the harder it will be to put the country together again.
The 2011 independence of South Sudan offers a cautionary tale. Any effort to formalize the split between the SAF and RSF-controlled parts of Sudan would not resolve the conflict's root causes. Another partition of Sudan would also destabilize its neighbors.
Foreign Policy published on 18 February 2026 an article titled "What's Behind Ethiopia's Double Digit Growth: And Can Addis Ababa's Boon Last?" by Nosmot Gdabamosi.
Ethiopia's impressive growth rate is being driven by floating the exchange rate for its currency, the birr, and strong exports of coffee and gold. But high debt and involvement in Sudan's civil war could reverse the current positive numbers.
China-Africa Security Radar published on 16 February 2026 an analysis titled "Beijing Rejects U.S. Allegations of Financing Terror in Nigeria's Illegal Mining Sector--The Reality Is More Complex."
Prominent Republican members of the US Congress have sponsored a bill that alleges Chinese individuals and companies involved in illegal mining pay "protection money" to Fulani militias and other armed groups to secure access to lithium and gold deposits. The bill links these militias to terrorist violence that has impacted Nigerian Christian communities.
The Chinese embassy in Abuja issued a strongly worded statement refuting allegations that Chinese nationals are funding militant groups to gain access to minerals in Nigeria's Middle Belt and northwestern region.
China-Africa Security Radar concludes that it is generally agreed there is illegal Chinese mining in Nigeria, but the culprits are pragmatically paying "rent" to armed groups to access the minerals.
The Lagos-based African Finance Corporation recently posted its "Compendium of Africa's Strategic Minerals 2026."
This is a major study of Africa's critical minerals, industrial minerals, uranium, and rare earths. It also noted that China controls about 90 percent of global manganese refining, approximately 90 percent of rare earth separation and refining, and dominates battery-grade graphite processing.
Politics Today published on 23 January 2026 an article titled "Africa's Quiet Power Shift: From Russian Gold Deals to China's Training Push" by Goktug Caliskan, International University of Rabat.
The author concluded the question among African governments is no longer whether Russia's Africa Corps, China's training offensive, Trump's transactional policy or Europe's climate money is most attractive. The question is how African governments use these choices to maneuver and quietly rewrite the rules. Africa is learning to say yes, no, or not yet--and to make everyone wait.
Business Insider Africa posted on 26 January 2026 an article titled "US-China Mineral Race Heats Up as Africa's Top Mining Nations Head to Washington" by Solomon Ekanem.
US officials are accelerating direct engagement in the mining sector of African governments and promoting investment-led partnerships with American companies.
Ethiopia Insight published on 19 November 2025 a commentary titled "Waging Peace in Tigray, a Land Haunted by War" by Mohammedawel Hagos, Worabe University.
As the Pretoria Agreement unravels, the path forward in Tigray Region is threatened not just by the tension but by a political culture still in the grip of a stifling party-state and collective trauma. The author calls for internal Tigrayan reconciliation as the only route to a peaceful future.
Newsweek published on 18 November 2025 a commentary titled "Sudan's Genocide Is Happening in Plain Sight--and the West Is Enabling It" by Faisal Kutty, Canadian journalist.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are openly committing genocide in Sudan's Darfur Region. Western governments denounce the killings but support the UAE, which is assisting the RSF.
The Washington Post published on 15 November 2025 an article titled "UAE Faces Growing Outrage over Support for Paramilitary in Sudan" by Tobi Raji.
Advocacy groups, members of the US Congress, and regional experts are stepping up their criticism of the UAE for supporting the genocidal activities of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. The UAE continues to deny its support for the RSF as evidence to the contrary mounts.
The International Crisis Group posted on 2 October 2025 a 7-minute video titled "Russia's Growing Influence in Africa."
This is a brief survey of African countries where the Wagner Group was engaged, and its activities increasingly are being taken over by the Africa Corps. The video ties Russia's interests to the extraction of natural resources such as gold and strategic access in eastern Libya.
Agence France Presse published on 5 September 2025 an article titled "Chinese Firms Pay Price of Jihadist Strikes against Mali Junta."
Jihadis linked to al-Qaeda have targeted all foreign companies in Mali in an effort to force the military junta to accept sharia law. Chinese operated gold and lithium operations have experienced the brunt of these attacks. Jihadis have kidnapped at least 11 Chinese nationals.
Foreign Policy published on 15 July 2025 a commentary titled "Washington Can Keep Sudan's Civil War from Getting Worse" by Cameron Hudson.
The current level of fighting in Sudan could continue for years with only more death and destruction to show for it. The State Department senior advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, said his next priority is seeking an end to the power struggle in Sudan. While the Trump administration removed much of the previous expertise on Sudan from the State Department, Boulos has access to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. As fraught as the endeavor will be, it is better than doing nothing.
The Sentry published in June 2025 an extensive report titled "Power and Plunder: The Eritrean Defense Forces Intervention in Tigray."
This account documents Eritrean Defense Force support for the Ethiopian National Defense Force in their joint war to topple the Tigrayan Defense Force in Tigray Region from late 2020 until the signing of the Pretoria Agreement in 2022. The study concludes that Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has emerged as the clear winner of the post-conflict status quo.
Foreign Affairs posted on 29 May 2025 a 48-minute podcast titled "Sudan's Intractable War," a conversation with Mai Hassan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Ahmed Kodouda, humanitarian policy expert, interviewed by Eve Fairbanks.
They argue that as Sudan's civil war continues, and a growing number of outside powers look for advantage in the carnage, the consequences are likely to get much worse.
Aljazeera published on 13 May 2025 an article titled "Drones, Gold, and Threats: Sudan's War Raises Regional Tensions" by Mat Nashed.
As Sudan's civil war enters its third year, drones are playing a larger role in the conflict. The Sudan Armed Forces relies on the relatively affordable Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces uses Chinese-made drones purchased and supplied by the UAE.
The Council on Foreign Relations held on 16 January 2025 an hour-long podcast titled "Genocide in Sudan: A Conversation with U.S. Special Envoy Tom Perriello on the Ongoing War" hosted by Reuben Brigety.
This is a wide-ranging, thoughtful conversation with U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello based on his one-year role in this position just days before he finishes his service. He also brings into the discussion previous experience in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Irish Times published on 13 December 2024 an article titled "Sudan War Pushing Country towards Partition, US Envoy Says" by David Pilling.
According to US envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, Sudan is at risk of breaking apart or becoming a "failed state" as foreign powers stoke a war that continues for decades and exacerbates an already massive humanitarian catastrophe.
The Geneva-based The Responsible Security Association published on 4 December 2024 a commentary titled "Casting a Shadow: The UAE in Africa" by Raphael Parens, Foreign Policy Research Institute.
The UAE is heavily involved in civil wars in Libya and Sudan. Illicit gold flows through Abu Dhabi fund armed groups, mercenaries, and juntas in West Africa. The UAE may even be considering establishing its own "foreign legions," drawing from the examples of the Russian Wagner Group and the French Foreign Legion to build the country's brand of aggressive foreign involvement.
Agence France-Presse published on 24 October 2024 an article titled "East DR Congo Grapples with Chinese Gold Mining Firms" by Camille Laffont.
Hundreds of foreign companies, most of them Chinese-owned, are mining gold in the Democratic Republic of Congo often without permits and without declaring profits. Local authorities are trying to crack down on the illegal practices.
