FRANCE AND THE WESTERN SAHARA
The French Development Agency (AFD) is set to invest $167 million in Western Sahara after Paris recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory late last year. The promise of AFD funds follows a visit by the agency’s chief to what Morocco calls its “southern provinces,” and will go toward social and economic development programs, including water supply projects. The deal has further strained the Franco-Algerian relationship, for concrete reasons; the leftist Polisario Front, which is backed by Algeria, has long sought an independent state in the Western Sahara. (Reuters, May 13, 2025)
GHANA CLOSES DC EMBASSY AMID VISA FRAUD SCHEME
Ghana has temporarily closed its embassy in Washington, DC, after unveiling a scheme that extracted money from visa and passport applicants. The scam, perpetrated by local employees of the embassy, charged individuals without the knowledge of Ghana’s foreign ministry over the past five years, funneling the proceeds into a private account. As a result, the ministry’s staff have been recalled, and locally recruited staff suspended amid an ongoing investigation into the corruption. (BBC, May 26, 2025)
TRUMP TO HOST AFRICAN LEADERS, PUSHES COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Troy Fitrell has said that President Donald Trump will host a summit of African leaders later this year. Trump notably did not visit Africa or hold a summit with its leaders during his first term in office. Fitrell’s announcement came at the inaugural summit of American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) in West Africa, where he also laid out a six-point plan for future U.S. engagement with the continent. The strategy includes leading more commercial diplomacy trips, fostering U.S. exports to African consumers, supporting market reforms identified by the private sector, and making commercial diplomacy the core focus of U.S.-Africa engagement. (The Africa Report, May 14, 2025)
UGANDA AND GERMANY ARE ON THE OUTS
After accusing the German ambassador to Uganda of engaging in “subversive activities,” Kampala has severed all military cooperation with Berlin. The accusations were strongly denied by a German Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who described them as “baseless” and “absurd.” Uganda and Germany do not have formal military cooperation agreements. The country has experienced ongoing political turmoil in recent years. Opposition leaders have been targeted by the government, and members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) have been charged with terrorism in what appear to be politically motivated accusations. (Democracy Watch, May 26, 2025; The East African, May 26, 2025)
MALI’S JUNTA DISSOLVES ALL POLITICAL PARTIES
Mali’s military regime has dissolved all political parties following protests in the country. The junta had previously claimed it would hold elections in early 2022 but has not yet done so. The government faces growing allegations of repression, with opposition leaders abducted and political activities suspended in recent weeks. (US News and World Report, May 13, 2025)
U.S. AND DRC NEAR MINERALS-FOR-SECURITY DEAL
Officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are optimistic that a minerals-for-security deal can be reached with the United States by the end of June. Kinshasa has sought an agreement to stabilize its eastern region, where the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group has seized control of two major provincial capitals. The potential deal would likely give the U.S. access to cobalt, lithium, and coltan, in which China has historically dominated investment. Tensions remain high, and senior Congolese officials have said a deal would be difficult to finalize while Rwandan and M23 forces still occupy territory in the east. (New York Times, May 21, 2025; Financial Times, May 25, 2025)
RSF IN RETREAT
After two years of war, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), have been pushed out of Sudan’s state of Khartoum. The development comes after the RSF was forced out of Khartoum city two months ago. This and other changes could represent a shift in the conflict, which has remained largely stagnant until recently. Over 150,000 people have been killed in the ongoing war, and both sides have been accused of war crimes. The RSF is backed by the UAE, while the SAF’s primary supporter is Egypt. (BBC, May 20, 2025)
TRUMP CONFRONTS RAMAPHOSA OVER CLAIMS OF WHITE GENOCIDE…
Following the imposition of 30% tariffs, the expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador and the U.S. reception of refugees from the country, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House in mid-May. Ramaphosa was confronted with claims of white genocide and land seizures directed toward Afrikaners, a white minority group in South Africa. Trump presented a video and articles that he said supported allegations that white farmers were being intentionally targeted. Ramaphosa fervently denied the claims, citing South Africa’s high murder rate but stating most victims were Black. He also pointed to the white South Africans, including professional golfers, who accompanied him to Washington. The claims are a recurring talking point among President Trump’s political base, but remain largely unsubstantiated. (Reuters, May 22, 2025)
…AND DEPORTS MIGRANTS TO SOUTH SUDAN IN DEFIANCE OF COURT ORDER
The Trump administration has deported roughly a dozen migrants from various countries, including Vietnam and Myanmar, to South Sudan in violation of a court order. Federal Judge Brian E. Murphy ordered the U.S. government to retain custody of the individuals and summoned officials to appear in court. The Administration has claimed the deportees were convicted of violent crimes. South Sudanese police say no migrants have arrived and vowed to re-deport any non-citizens. A UN official has warned that South Sudan remains volatile and risks spiraling back into full civil war. (Associated Press, May 21, 2025;Associated Press, May 21, 2025 )
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