Somali-China Satellite Cooperation

 The Eastleigh Voice published on 21 April 2026 an article titled "Somalia and China Sign MoU on Satellite Data and Remote Sensing at NewSpace Africa" by Abdirahman Khalif.  

Somalia's Department of Space and Satellites and China's Land Satellite Remote Sensing Application Centre signed an MoU at the NewSpace Africa Conference 2026 held in Libreville, marking increased engagement in space technology and satellite applications.  The MoU is expected to support training, technical exchange, and the development of practical systems for Somali institutions.  

Apparent Ethiopian Support for Rapid Support Forces in Sudan

 Reuters published on 10 February 2026 a major report titled "Ethiopia Builds Secret Camp to Train RSF Fighters, Sources Say" by Giulia Paravicini and Reade Levinson.  

The journalists report that Ethiopia is hosting a secret camp to train thousands of fighters for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group in neighboring Sudan.  Located inside Ethiopia about 32 kilometers from the Sudan/South Sudan border, the camp had 4,300 RSF fighters undergoing military training as of early January.  The recruits are mainly Ethiopian but also include nationals from Sudan and South Sudan, including from the SPLM-N militia that controls territory in Sudan's neighboring Blue Nile State.

Eight sources, including a senior Ethiopian government official, said the United Arab Emirates financed the camp's construction and provided military trainers and logistical support to the camp.  Satellite imagery confirms existence of the camp and has also detected new drone operations in the vicinity.  The camp constitutes the first direct evidence of Ethiopia's involvement in Sudan's civil war.

Charging War Crimes in Sudan

 Foreign Policy published on 21 November 2025 an article titled "Documenting War Crimes in Sudan Begins Now" by Janine di Giovanni, Reckoning Project.

The evidence of war crimes in Darfur Region of Sudan is visible by satellite imagery from space.  It is supported by witness accounts.  The challenge now is to use the evidence in a court system and bring the perpetrators to justice.  

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.  

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces Operate Chinese Drones from Darfur

 Reuters published on 26 February 2025 an article titled "Sudan's RSF Operating Drones from Darfur Base, Pictures Show" by Reade Levinson, Khalid Abdelaziz, and Nafisa Eltahir.

Satellite images show 3 drones at an airfield in South Darfur controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.  They have been identified as CH-95s manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.  They are capable of surveillance and strikes at a distance of up to 200 kilometers.  

China's Naval Basing Strategy in Indian Ocean and Around Africa

Jane's produced for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission in April 2020 a report titled "China's Logistics Capabilities for Expeditionary Operations" by Chad Peltier.

This is a detailed report complete with satellite photography of ports.  It looks at the logistical needs of the PLAN and potential base locations in the Indian Ocean, Atlantic, and southern Pacific.  It includes an evaluation of the following African ports for potential use by the PLAN: Luanda, Angola; Mombasa, Kenya; Walvis Bay, Namibia; Lekki Port, Nigeria; Port Victoria, Seychelles; and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 

Chinese Rocket, Ethiopian Satellite

Space in Africa reported on Ethiopia's new satellite in an article dated 6 January 2020 and titled "ETRSS-1 Captures First Test Images" by Ogechi Onuoha.

On 20 December 2019, a Chinese Long March 4B rocket launched a 70 kilogram Ethiopian civil earth observation satellite to provide data to monitor the environment and study weather patterns. The first test images are now arriving.

AFP ran a story dated 2 January 2020 titled "No, It Is a Chinese Rocket Doctored with the Ethiopian Flag." It seems that social media has been carrying pictures of a Chinese rocket doctored with the Ethiopian flag and logo, suggesting that an Ethiopian rocket launched the satellite. Although probably all in good fun, it was a Chinese rocket.

Predicting Food Shortages in the Horn of Africa

Smithsonian magazine published in its May 2015 edition a long article titled "The Sheltering Sky" by Ariel Sabar.     

While the article discusses the role of satellite imagery in the Horn of Africa to detect unusual spikes in land temperature, the main focus is Ethiopia and Gabriel Senay, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey.  He designed a system that uses NASA satellites to identify anomalies that can signal crop failure.  Senay's algorithms plot these hot zones along a strip of the Rift Valley normally thought of as a breadbasket. 

New Bombing in North Darfur

The Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) published a report in March 2014 titled "Bombed and Burned: Darfuri Civilians Flee East Jebel Marra En Masse" that shows satellite imagery of bombardments in the  mountainous Jebel Marra area of North Darfur.  SSP attributes the bombing to the Sudan Air Force.