The Government of Rwanda has severed diplomatic relations with Belgium, effective immediately, and instructed all Brussels’ diplomats to leave the East African country within 48 hours. In a media statement on Monday, 17 March 2025, Rwanda accused Belgium of having “consistently undermined Rwanda, both well before and during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in which Belgium has a deep and violent historical role, especially in acting against Rwanda.” Rwanda further alleged that Belgium employed “lies…

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced the termination of its military mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and ordered the phased withdrawal of all SAMIDRC (SADC Mission in the DRC) troops. The decision, finalised during an Extraordinary Virtual Summit chaired by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on 13 March 2025, signals a strategic shift toward political and diplomatic solutions to end years of devastating conflict in eastern DRC. The SAMIDRC mandate, launched in December 2023 to support…

In recent months, a growing controversy has surrounded South Africa’s defense sector, driven by reports of questionable industrial deals and political maneuvering that raise concerns about transparency and oversight. At the center of this discussion is the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM), with speculations emerging about their roles in the broader defense industry landscape. Recently, DA representatives were reportedly denied access to the arms control directorate, an event some sources suggest may be linked to ongoing debates…

On February 15, the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and Russian military instructors conducted a joint operation in the Sam Ouandja area (Vakaga prefecture) in the eastern part of the Central African Republic. As a result, they released six children who were enslaved by Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA is a Ugandan nationalist group. It is famous around the world for its ruthless actions. The LRA abducts children, enslaves them and uses them…

African leaders will gather again in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, for the 2025 African Union (AU) Summit on 17-18 February. This time it’s different, though. The meeting is taking place amid a different geopolitical context, and challenging socio-economic and security conditions on the continent.  Africa remains the poorest continent globally, with extreme poverty rates exceeding 30 percent in 23 of the world’s 28 poorest countries. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, a US private non-profit research organisation,…

The Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been plagued by conflict for decades, leading to immense human suffering and widespread instability in the region. The situation has only worsened in recent years, with militia groups and external forces continuing to vie for control over the region’s wealth of natural resources.  The DRC’s North and South Kivu provinces have borne the brunt of this violence, resulting in displacement, human rights abuses, and a fragile security environment. As the conflict…

In a bold move to restore stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), regional leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have decided to neutralise destabilising forces and facilitate direct talks among all warring parties. They convened a Joint EAC-SADC Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 8 February 2025 where they also agreed on steps to restore security, peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. To achieve this,…

In a significant shift in African politics, leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have decisively moved to isolate Rwandan President Paul Kagame following recent deadly attacks that have further exacerbated instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  Kagame, whose government has long been accused of supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern DRC, now faces increasing isolation from SADC, which has held his forces responsible for the tragic deaths of 14 South African peacekeepers and several others…

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has released the names of the 14 soldiers who died during a confrontation with M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  These soldiers were part of the SANDF troops deployed to the DRC as part of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). In a media statement on February 1, the SANDF said the soldiers “displayed extraordinary courage…

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that three soldiers died yesterday (January 27) fighting the M23 rebels in the DR Congo.  The official confirmation comes amid calls back in South Africa that the soldiers should be withdrawn and brought back home to secure the country’s porous borders.   “Following an exchange of mortar bombs between the FADRC, Congolese Defence Force and the M23 rebel militia on Monday 27 January 2025 near Goma airport where the SANDF base is…