SUDAN PARAMILITARY FORMS RIVAL GOVERNMENT
Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have announced the establishment of their own rival government, intensifying the country's two-year crisis and deepening its humanitarian catastrophe. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo said the group is building a "state of law" for all Sudanese.
The move came as the UK hosted a conference demanding fresh international focus on Sudan, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy pledging £120 million in aid and condemning global inaction. But the British-led effort to launch a Sudan ceasefire contact group collapsed after Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE refused to sign a joint communique. Instead, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and European allies issued a watered-down statement urging peace and rejecting Sudan’s partition. The conference, criticized for excluding Sudanese actors, highlighted divisions among Middle Eastern powers, some of which have been accused of fueling the conflict. (BBC, April 15, 2025; The Guardian, April 15, 2025; Reuters, April 16, 2025)
CHINA, KENYA UPGRADE TIES AMID GLOBAL CHALLENGES
China and Kenya issued a joint statement outlining enhanced bilateral relations during a summit in Beijing between Presidents Xi Jinping and William Ruto. The two countries pledged to create an "all-weather" China-Africa community to help provide stability amid uncertainty around the globe. This move is consistent with China's Belt and Road Initiative, which has been a key factor in funding Kenya's infrastructure development. Some of the most notable deals inked during Ruto’s visit involved the construction of Kenya's standard gauge railway to Uganda, upgrades to highways, and investments in sectors such as science, technology, and education. (Reuters, April 24, 2025)
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SHUTTERS AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE AGENCY
The Trump administration has ordered the closure of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure in Africa and other developing nations. MCC, which conditioned its assistance on good governance, will shut down all its programs within 40 days, threatening projects in countries like Zambia, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. The shutdown, which was triggered by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), effectively cedes ground to China, which has increased its investment throughout the continent. Founded during President George W. Bush's administration, MCC had long been seen as a primary U.S. tool to drive private-sector investment and counter Chinese influence. (France24, April 24, 2025)
GABON’S MILITARY LEADER SECURES CONTROVERSIAL PRESIDENTIAL VICTORY
Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema has been elected as Gabon's president with over 90 percent of the vote, consolidating his hold on power after seizing it in a coup in 2023. Nguema, who toppled long-time leader Ali Bongo, has promised to fight corruption and inequality in the oil-rich nation, even as opponents allege that the election was rigged in his favor. Since political parties were prohibited, Nguema ran as an independent candidate with the backing of state machinery, and his main rival, Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, conceded defeat. Nevertheless, the future of Gabon remains deeply uncertain, with Nguema's military rule following a pattern of increasing military governance in West and Central Africa, where coups have increasingly been on the rise in recent years. Nguema's win was confirmed by Gabon's Constitutional Court on April 25th. (New York Times, April 14, 2025; Reuters, April 25, 2025)
CONGO, RWANDA EDGE TOWARD PEACE DEAL
Congo and Rwanda have inked a series of agreements over the past few weeks to bring an end to violence in eastern Congo, where M23 rebels backed by Rwanda have taken territory and displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes. Following Qatari and U.S.-brokered negotiations, the two nations agreed to cease hostilities, respect each other's sovereignty, and refrain from supporting armed groups. The U.S., which has been at the forefront of facilitating the talks, is tying the deal to bilateral agreements that would give American firms access to Congo's critical minerals - part of Washington's broader campaign to seal up electric vehicle supply chains and counter China. The proposed deal includes demobilization plans, joint security arrangements, and U.S.-facilitated investment in Congo's minerals sector. But critics warn that linking peace to resources could generate greater distrust and fuel existing grievances in a country still reeling from the horrors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. A draft peace plan has reportedly been submitted to the U.S. as of May 5th. (Reuters, April 24, 2025; BBC, April 25, 2025; Reuters, May 1, 2025; AP, May 5, 2025)
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