Over 200 people were killed in Sudan’s Zamzam camp in one of the most deadly attacks of the war
Sudan’s Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out one of the most deadly attacks in the civil war on April 10-13, killing more than 200 people, including more than 100 at the largest IDP settlement, the Zamzam Camp. RSF forces raided camps, burned hundreds of shelters, burned central markets and community kitchens, trapped and killed women, then targeted the last remaining medical posts and executed all staff. The attack has been described as the most important ground attack on camps since the start of the war, and has occurred amidst the worsening of hunger and siege. The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Army (SAF) has once driven out more than 12 million people (since it erupted in the civil war on April 15, 2023). Humanitarian officials warned that civilians were deliberately targeted and starved.
Trump closes dozens of US embassies including Africa
US President Donald Trump has launched plans to close around 30 US embassies around the world, including some in Africa, as part of a broader effort to reduce the country’s diplomatic footprint, according to a CNN report. The proposed closures included embassies of consulates in the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Lesotho, South Sudan and South Africa. The report also recommended closing additional diplomatic posts in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean and reducing the presence of the US in major terrorist regions such as Somalia and Iraq. However, the proposal has not been formally approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the department declined to comment on the leak.
Libya’s fragile calm is threatened by economic misery and political divisions
Libya’s long-term political transition has been exposed to renewed pressure as it threatened the relative calm that economic challenges and tensions between rival governments have been maintained since the 2020 ceasefire. Almost 15 years after the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi, the country continued to be divided into Tripoli-based National Unified Government (GNU) and Benghazi-based National Stable Government (GNS). Hannah Tette, the United Nations Special Representative, warned the Security Council that political divisions continued throughout implementation despite consensus on the need for election and institutional unity. She warned that despite Libya’s vast resources, a misuse of oil wealth and a lack of national budgets would jeopardize the economic collapse. Security concerns persisted, along with military accumulation, arbitrary detention and widespread human rights abuses, especially for immigrants and women.
As the battle for major towns intensifies, air strikes in the US and Somali will hit
The US and Somali forces conducted joint airstrikes following the al-Shabaab attack on the region in the strategic town of Adan Yabar in northern Mogadishu. The strike followed the raids of Al-Shabaab in the town, which served as an important foundation for military operations. According to the Somali Ministry of Information, 12 militants, including senior al-Shabaab fighters, were killed on strike, targeting known militants’ hideouts and without civilian casualties. He claimed that after extremists used explosives to attack the town, a fierce battle broke out early and later captured it. The government did not confirm who controlled it. In another operation near Baidoa, Somali forces reported killing at least 35 militants after an attempted attack on the military base. The Somali government acknowledged the challenges of the battlefield, but claimed that al-Shabaab had repeated its commitment to weaken and defeating the group.
The US Embassy warns citizens of “invasive” New Zambian cybersecurity laws
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The US Embassy in Zambia issued a warning to citizens about a new cybersecurity law signed by President Hakain Hichilema on April 8th. The law allows for interception and monitoring of all electronic communications, including calls, emails and text, under a broad classification of “critical information.” The Zambian government defended the laws needed to combat online fraud, child pornography and disinformation, but faced backlash that could threaten privacy and freedom of expression. However, critics feared it would curb freedom of speech, especially before the election. The law allowed authorities to search facilities, seize devices and impose severe penalties, including a sentence of five to five years. Opposition figures and activists condemned the president for hypocrisy and recalled his past criticism of similar laws under previous government.
