Independent UN Report on Atrocities in Sudan

 The UN Human Rights Council published on 5 September 2025 a report titled "Sudan: A War of Atrocities."

An Independent Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan compiled this report, which documents widespread violence against individuals and communities, including killings, mass displacement, detention, enforced disappearance, and sexual violence.  Medical centers, schools, markets, food production systems, electricity stations, and displacement camps suffered extensive damage. 

Both the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces perpetrated war crimes, but the RSF and their allies generally were the most criticized of the two sides.  

 

The Wagner Group's Failure in Mali

 The Sentry published in August 2025 a report titled "Mercenary Meltdown: The Wagner Group's Failure in Mali."

Wagner Group forces were unable to take control of areas in the north and center of Mali where armed terrorist and separatist groups continue to challenge Malian security forces.  There has been a significant increase in attacks on civilians and in civilian casualties since Wagner's arrival in Mali, and this, in turn, has severely undermined relations between the Malian military and the Malian public.

The Wagner Group became more reactive and violent, allowing the terrorist groups they were hired to neutralize to gain more control and increase recruitment in Mali.  Wagner failed in its task of eliminating terrorist groups in Mali.  Its deployment in Mali has not been a worthwhile investment for any party involved.  Russia's Africa Corps is replacing the Wagner Group.   

Eritrean President Emerges as Winner of Ethiopia's Civil War

 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.  

Is Ethiopia on the Brink?

 Ethiopia Insight published on 16 May 2025 a commentary titled "Ethiopia on the Brink" by Abraham Sahilu Abegaz, University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Amsalu Lemlemu Adane, Anadolu University in Turkey.

The authors concluded that Ethiopia is facing a growing crisis of governance that calls into question its continued ability to function as a state under international law.  

Chinese Mining in Zambia: Has It Been Worth It?

 The Pulitzer Center published on 30 April 2025 a commentary titled "Six Decades Later, Zambians Ask, 'Were Chinese Mining Infrastructure Investments Worth It?'" by Kang-Chun Cheng.  

Mining, especially copper, accounts for almost three-quarters of Zambia's foreign exchange earnings and total exports. In the 1970s, China financed and built the railway for transporting minerals from Zambia to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.  Chinese companies invested heavily in Zambian mines.  But human rights abuses, labor law infractions, and environmental practices have soured many Zambians on China's engagement in the country.  

Environmental Cost of Cobalt Mining in the DRC: Chinese and European Companies

 RAID in collaboration with African Resources Watch published in March 2024 a detailed report titled "Beneath the Green: A Critical Look at the Environmental and Human Costs of Industrial Cobalt Mining in DRC."

The report found that the rivers, lakes, streams, groundwater, and wetlands near the DRC's cobalt and copper mines are severely polluted by mining activities.  The mining companies in the study were all large European or Chinese multinationals.  

Chinese companies and China loom especially large in this study as China accounts for about 60 percent of global passenger electric vehicle sales and is the biggest global consumer of cobalt with more than 80 percent being used to manufacture rechargeable batteries.  About 65 percent of global refined cobalt is produced in China-based facilities.  Chinese investment now backs about 70 percent of the DRC's mining sector.  

Africa's Sahel Region: Russia Challenges Western Interests

 Politico published on 22 April 2024 an article titled "US vs. Russia: Why the Biden Strategy in Africa May Be Failing" by Erin Banco and Lara Seligman.

The article discusses the recent US policy setbacks in Africa's Sahel region, especially in Niger and most recently in Chad.  It notes correctly that Russia has taken advantage of diminished Western influence in the region and suggests it may be time for a US policy change.

Comment:  It is important not to lose sight of the fact that Africa constitutes 54 countries with just over a half dozen constituting the Sahel region.  There is a long history in the Sahel region of the ebb and flow of military takeovers, elected governments, and then repeat. The US not only prefers elected governments but faces legal restrictions when the military illegally replaces one.  Many other African governments are equally concerned about these illegal changes of power.

While a government like Russia's can take advantage of these developments, the US can only seek to minimize the damage to the relationship, which it has been trying to do in Niger without much success so far.  It is appropriate to maintain a relationship with these military regimes, however limited it may be.  But it is more important to play the long game.  Eventually, these regimes will be replaced, possibly by another military coup or even an election demanded by the people.  

In the meantime, Russia may have saddled itself with the responsibility of protecting regimes that, over time, become increasingly less popular and require more and more resources.  There is also the larger threat to these Sahelian governments from ISIS-affiliated jihadi organizations that are trying to eliminate them.  Is Russia prepared to prevent this from happening across the Sahel?  Highly doubtful.