Africa

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni secured a seventh term in an election characterized by an internet blackout, opposition claims of fraud, and voter intimidation, extending his rule past four decades [52558, 52591, 52630, 53115]. African Union observers stated the election fell short of democratic standards [53116]. Following his win, Museveni branded his political rivals "terrorists" [53279]. In Nigeria, militants surrendered rocket launchers and bombs in a mass handover to authorities [52590]. Separately, a report by a screwdriver salesman was used to justify U.S. airstrikes in the country, highlighting intelligence sourcing controversies [53042]. The dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile saw former U.S. President Donald Trump offer mediation, warning of potential military risk, an offer later welcomed by Egypt and Sudan [52589, 52929]. Concurrently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) unlocked $261 million for Ethiopia as part of a larger economic program [52634]. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), M23 rebels announced a sudden withdrawal from a key city [52930]. The African Union backed a single mediator for the DRC crisis as security deteriorated [52946]. Pope Francis made an urgent plea to "stop the violence" in the country's eastern region [53158]. Somalia's president visited the disputed city of Las Anod, rejecting secessionist claims, for the first time in decades [52827, 53159]. The Somali army later claimed a major victory, repelling a heavy assault by the militant group Al-Shabaab [53113]. At the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament, the final between Senegal and Morocco was marred by chaos as Senegal players walked off in a penalty protest before ultimately winning [53271, 53308]. Senegal had previously accused Morocco of endangering its team ahead of the final [52567]. China's engagement in Africa is shifting focus from large infrastructure loans to initiatives involving artificial intelligence and student exchanges [52968]. Meanwhile, BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—conducted a joint naval exercise in a symbolic show of force [53000]. <a href='/news/52558'>Uganda's Museveni Wins Seventh Term Amid Fraud Claims and Internet Blackout</a> <a href='/news/52567'>Senegal Accuses Morocco of Endangering Team Ahead of AFCON Final</a> <a href='/news/52589'>Trump Offers U.S. Mediation on Nile Dam, Warns of Military Risk</a> <a href='/news/52590'>Nigerian Militants Surrender Rocket Launchers, Bombs in Mass Handover</a> <a href='/news/52591'>Museveni Wins Seventh Term Amid Claims of Voter Intimidation</a> <a href='/news/52634'>IMF Unlocks $261 Million for Ethiopia as Economic Program Nears $2.2 Billion Mark</a> <a href='/news/52630'>Museveni Claims Seventh Term as Rival Cries Foul from Hiding</a> <a href='/news/52827'>Somalia's President Visits Disputed City, Rejects Secession</a> <a href='/news/52929'>US Mediates Nile Dam Crisis as Egypt, Sudan Welcome Trump Offer</a> <a href='/news/52930'>M23 Rebels Announce Sudden Withdrawal from Key DRC City</a> <a href='/news/52946'>AU Backs Single Mediator for DRC Crisis as Security Deteriorates</a> <a href='/news/52968'>China's New Africa Push: AI, Student Trips Replace Mega-Debts</a> <a href='/news/53000'>BRICS Nations Flex Naval Muscle in Symbolic Show of Force</a> <a href='/news/53042'>U.S. Airstrikes in Nigeria Relied on a Screwdriver Salesman's Report</a> <a href='/news/53113'>Somali Army Claims Major Victory, Repels Heavy Al-Shabaab Assault</a> <a href='/news/53115'>Museveni Wins Again, Extends Rule to 45 Years</a> <a href='/news/53116'>AU Observers: Uganda Election Fell Short of Democratic Standards</a> <a href='/news/53158'>Pope Makes Urgent Plea: "Stop the Violence" in Eastern Congo</a> <a href='/news/53159'>Somalia's President Visits Disputed City for First Time in Decades</a> <a href='/news/53271'>Afcon Final Erupts: Senegal Walk Off in Penalty Protest</a> <a href='/news/53279'>Museveni Brands Rivals "Terrorists" After Disputed Election Win</a> <a href='/news/53308'>Senegal Stuns Morocco in AFCON Final Marred by Chaos</a>