THE DRC AND RWANDA STRIKE A (PEACE) DEAL
Meeting in Washington, the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a peace agreement aimed at ending renewed fighting in eastern Congo. The deal is intended to bring an end to the fighting, which has increased in intensity since the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group took control of large swaths of eastern DRC early this year, killing thousands of people and displacing hundreds of thousands more. The agreement provides for the withdrawal of thousands of Rwandan soldiers, a joint security mechanism, and plans for regional economic integration.
Should it hold, the agreement will be historic. Fighting has gone on for over 30 years in the mineral-rich eastern DRC. The deal is an attempt by the parties to break that cycle and cool tensions, as well as to secure long-term investment from the United States. (Reuters, July 2, 2025; Al Jazeera, June 27, 2025 )
ISLAMIST REBELS KILL 66 IN EASTERN CONGO
ISIS-affiliated rebels killed 66 civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in mid-July, according to local officials. The attack, carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), took place in Irumu near the Ugandan border and involved the use of machetes. The ADF, a Ugandan Islamist group linked to the Islamic State, has been active on both sides of the DRC-Uganda border and is believed to have launched the massacre in retaliation for intensified attacks by Congolese and Ugandan forces. The number of civilians taken hostage remains unknown. (Associated Press, July 12, 2025)
TRUMP HOSTS WEST AFRICAN LEADERS…
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump met with leaders from Gabon, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau at the White House, pledging a pivot from foreign aid to trade-based partnerships. The meeting follows the dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and significant cuts to U.S. assistance across Africa, including in Liberia, where aid previously made up 2.6% of gross national income. Trump emphasized the importance of access to critical minerals, support for U.S. investors, and expanded deportation cooperation through potential "safe third-country" agreements. The summit also touched on U.S.-mediated peace efforts in eastern Congo, and Trump signaled openness to visiting Africa during his second term. Meanwhile, several of the visiting nations are under consideration for inclusion in an expanded U.S. travel ban. (New York Times, July 9, 2025; Associated Press, July 9, 2025)
…AS RAMAPHOSA REJECTS HIS TARIFF THREAT
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pushed back against President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 30% tariff on South African goods starting August 1, calling the move unilateral and based on flawed trade data. In a public response, Ramaphosa said U.S. claims of trade imbalances ignored the fact that 77% of American goods enter South Africa duty-free. The tariff threat follows Trump’s wider shift toward protectionist trade policies, casting doubt on South Africa’s continued eligibility for the AGOA duty-free program. Trump’s letter to Ramaphosa, alongside a similar warning to Tunisia, raised concerns over the future of U.S. trade ties with Africa and the viability of a proposed continent-wide agreement. Analysts say South Africa’s early deadline and close BRICS ties have made it a particular target. Ramaphosa said trade talks remain ongoing and emphasized that “everything is negotiable.” (The Africa Report, July 8, 2025)
ETHIOPIA COMPLETES THE GERD
Ethiopia has completed construction on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a multi-billion-dollar project that stands as Africa’s largest hydropower installation. First launched in 2011, the project is set to generate more than 5,000 megawatts of power, doubling Ethiopia’s current output and greatly contributing to its electrification initiatives. The project has, however, been a point of contention with its downstream neighbors – mainly Egypt and Sudan – who also rely on the flow of the Nile for their needs. Egypt, which relies on the river for 97% of its water, has called for binding agreements on downstream flow. (Al Jazeera, July 3, 2025)
NOW, TROUBLE IN TOGO
Protests have erupted against Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe amid changes to the country’s constitution that could keep him in power indefinitely. Opposition leaders have denounced the efforts as a “constitutional coup” and called for the release of political prisoners and the restoration of purchasing power to the population. Widespread protests in the national capital, Lome, have been dispersed with tear gas. The developments come amid broader democratic backsliding and rising coups in Western Africa as a whole. (Al Jazeera, June 27, 2025)
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