标签： Africa

A Sudan Airways jet touched down at Khartoum International Airport on February 1, 2026, marking only the second commercial arrival since 2023. The 160 passengers erupted in celebration—hugging, cheering, and capturing selfies—as they stepped onto the tarmac of a capital city shattered by nearly three years of civil war. This symbolic moment occurred just weeks after Prime Minister Kamil Idris declared 2026 would be “the year of peace,” with the military-led government announcing its return to Khartoum.

The scene contrasts starkly with the reality witnessed by BBC reporters months earlier. The airport terminal showed extensive damage, with unexploded munitions littering runways days after the Sudanese army recaptured it from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Khartoum remains the epicenter of a conflict that erupted in April 2023, transforming government districts into blackened shells and forcing the administration to relocate to Port Sudan on the Red Sea.

The devastation extends throughout the capital: ministries, banks, and office blocks stand burned and hollowed. The presidential palace remains too damaged for use, while the British embassy bears pockmarked bulletproof glass testimony to intense firefights. The UN describes Sudan as plunged into “an abyss of unfathomable proportions,” with widespread destruction, famine, and human rights violations affecting millions.

This conflict represents a fundamental power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF—a paramilitary force originally created by ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir as his personal guard. Following Bashir’s 2019 removal, tensions between RSF leader Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) and army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan erupted into full-scale warfare.

The war has weaponized longstanding ethnic divisions, particularly between nomadic Arabs from the south and west (core RSF supporters) and Nile Valley Arabs from urban areas (traditional ruling class). In Darfur, RSF Arab militias have committed atrocities against non-Arab populations that UN experts say show “hallmarks” of genocide.

International dimensions complicate the conflict further. Documented evidence suggests the United Arab Emirates supplies weapons to the RSF—a claim Abu Dhabi officially denies. Meanwhile, Sudan’s military employs Turkish and Iranian drones while receiving backing from Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Diplomatic efforts led by the Quad nations (US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt) face significant obstacles. While the RSF has verbally accepted a peace roadmap beginning with a humanitarian truce, neither side has formally responded, and fighting has intensified rather than diminished. Army chief Burhan insists he cannot agree to any plan unless the RSF accepts surrender conditions.

The conflict has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with 25 million facing acute food shortages and 12 million displaced. Analysts fear even a ceasefire would be temporary without addressing fundamental issues: the military’s economic control, representation for marginalized regions, and accountability for widespread atrocities.

With both sides viewing the conflict as existential and foreign powers continuing their support, many experts predict a prolonged war. Some officials compare the situation to America’s 20-year conflict in Afghanistan, while analysts warn of potential “balkanization” of Sudan if fighting continues for another decade or more—a scenario with devastating implications for the entire region.

A catastrophic mine collapse at a coltan mining operation in eastern Congo’s Rubaya region has resulted in massive casualties, with conflicting reports emerging about the actual death toll. Congolese authorities reported at least 200 fatalities from Tuesday’s incident, while the M23 rebel group controlling the mine claims only five deaths occurred.

The Congolese Ministry of Mines confirmed the collapse occurred at the Rubaya mines, which have been under M23 control since the group seized the town in May 2024. This represents the latest in a series of mining disasters plaguing the mineral-rich but conflict-ridden eastern territories of the Central African nation.

Fanny Kaj, a senior M23 official, vehemently disputed the government’s account, asserting that the incident resulted from ‘bombings’ rather than a structural collapse. ‘I can confirm that what people are publishing is not true. There was no landslide; there were bombings, and the death toll isn’t what people are saying. It’s simply about five people who died,’ Kaj stated.

However, firsthand accounts from miners at the site contradict the rebel narrative. Ibrahim Taluseke, a miner who participated in recovery efforts, reported helping retrieve over 200 bodies from the rubble. ‘We are afraid, but these are lives that are in danger,’ Taluseke revealed. ‘The owners of the pits do not accept that the exact number of deaths be revealed.’

The Rubaya mining region sits at the heart of eastern Congo’s protracted humanitarian crisis, where violence between government forces and various armed groups has displaced over 7 million people, including more than 300,000 since December alone. The M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, have intensified the conflict through their recent resurgence.

Coltan mining represents a critical economic activity for the region, with Congo supplying approximately 40% of global production in 2023 according to U.S. Geological Survey data. The black metallic ore contains tantalum, an essential component in manufacturing smartphones, computers, and aircraft engines. Since capturing Rubaya, M23 rebels have imposed taxes on coltan trade and transport, generating an estimated $800,000 monthly according to UN reports.

The tragedy occurs amidst ongoing peace negotiations between Congolese and Rwandan governments, brokered by the United States. While the diplomatic process continues, fighting persists across multiple fronts in eastern Congo, resulting in continued civilian and military casualties. The recent agreement also facilitates increased access to critical minerals for U.S. government and American companies.

This incident follows a similar collapse last month that claimed over 200 lives, highlighting the dangerous working conditions and regulatory challenges in rebel-controlled mining territories.

The Nigerian government has implemented an immediate suspension of all religious pilgrimages to Israel and the occupied West Bank, responding to heightened security risks stemming from escalating Middle Eastern tensions. This decisive action was formally declared by the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), the official agency overseeing Christian pilgrimage operations nationwide.

The commission’s official statement emphasized that this preventive measure aims to safeguard the ‘safety and comfort’ of Nigerian pilgrims amidst rapidly deteriorating regional security conditions. The current crisis erupted following targeted U.S. and Israeli military strikes in Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory attacks by Iran against Israeli territories and U.S.-allied Gulf states.

This security-driven suspension encompasses both government-coordinated pilgrimages and privately organized tour operations, effectively halting thousands of annual religious journeys. Aviation disruptions have compounded the situation, with multiple Middle Eastern countries closing their airspace and numerous flight cancellations stranding travelers across the region.

Nigeria’s pilgrimage tradition represents a profound aspect of the nation’s religious fabric, particularly for its substantial Christian population concentrated in southern regions. Each year, thousands of Nigerian Christians undertake spiritually significant journeys to biblical sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth, often with financial support from state governments. Many participants save for years to undertake these pilgrimages, with Easter typically representing a peak travel period.

The travel disruption has additionally affected Nigerian Muslims attempting to reach Mecca for Umrah pilgrimages, though unlike the fixed-date Hajj, Umrah can be performed throughout the year. Personal accounts illustrate the human impact of these travel restrictions, with prospective pilgrims like Alhaji Zaharaddeen Abubakar stranded in Kano after having secured travel arrangements. Travel industry representatives confirm that some passengers were already boarded and preparing for departure when flights were abruptly canceled.