AU Leaders Demand Urgent Reform as Africa’s Security Crises Deepen

By Al Mayadeen English

31 Aug 2026 17:01

African Union leaders meeting in Luanda call for stronger conflict prevention, sustainable African funding for peace operations, and greater accountability as instability spreads across the continent.

African Union leaders have called for urgent reform of the continent’s African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), a comprehensive institutional framework established to prevent, manage, and resolve wars. The proposed reforms aim to strengthen the organization’s ability to prevent wars before they erupt and finance peace operations with African resources.

The call came at the conclusion of an extraordinary summit in the Angolan capital, Luanda, amid a widening array of security and political crises across several parts of the continent.

The African Union on Sunday convened the 21st extraordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government to strengthen mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts in Africa. The summit brought together AU leaders and officials, representatives of regional economic communities, and international institutions and partners.

Protracted crises

African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the protracted crises stretching from Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to Somalia, the Sahel, Libya, northern Mozambique, and Madagascar, along with terrorism, violent extremism, piracy, transnational crime, and the mistreatment of migrants, emphasize the need to reassess the tools the continent uses to confront emerging threats.

Youssouf stressed that war prevention must become a priority, calling for a stronger continental early warning system, more effective implementation of AU decisions, sustainable financing for peace operations, and measures to ensure that the African Peace Fund can fully perform its role.

From managing conflicts to preventing them

Discussions in Luanda focused on whether the African Peace and Security Architecture and the AU’s existing mechanisms are capable of keeping pace with the changing nature of wars.

Across the continent, conventional wars are increasingly overlapping with terrorism, extremism, internal conflicts, tensions between states, cyber threats, and organized crime, creating increasingly complex security challenges.

Youssouf had warned against relying solely on a security-based approach to combating terrorism, saying experience had demonstrated its limitations. He called instead for a broader approach that addresses the political, economic, and social factors driving extremism and violence.

African financing for the peace agenda

Financing emerged as a central issue in the summit’s outcomes. The  Luanda Declaration on the African Blue Economy called on member states to move beyond political commitments toward measurable results and increase their contributions to the African Union’s Peace Fund in an effort to reduce the continent’s dependence on external financing.

The declaration affirmed that sustainable peace in Africa should increasingly be built on African resources and solutions led by the continent itself, while international cooperation continues on the basis of respect for African sovereignty and priorities.

It also called for greater accountability within the AU’s mechanisms and for ensuring that decisions adopted by heads of state and government are effectively implemented.

The AU further called for the accelerated implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 on financing African Union-led peace support operations, describing its implementation as an urgent priority amid the continent’s expanding security needs.

The bloc considers predictable and sustainable financing essential to reducing the reliance of its peace operations on temporary funding arrangements and external donors.

Coups and terrorism at the heart of discussions

The Luanda Declaration also identified terrorism, extremism, coups, political crises, cyber threats, and geopolitical rivalries as among the main “dangers” threatening stability in Africa.

The declaration stressed the need for greater participation by women and youth in peace processes and called for the protection of children affected by conflicts.

The African Union said the meeting was aimed at conducting a strategic assessment of the effectiveness of existing continental mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, while strengthening African ownership of the governance, peace, and security agenda and improving the AU’s ability to respond to crises.

The Luanda summit comes as Africa faces a growing number of simultaneous conflict hotspots, from the ongoing war in Sudan and the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to the expanding activities of armed groups in the Sahel and continued fighting against the Al-Shabaab movement in Somalia.

It is worth noting that the continent is also grappling with political and security crises in Libya, northern Mozambique, and other areas, further underscoring the growing pressure on its existing peace and security mechanisms.

Xi Jinping to Visit Egypt as China-Egypt Relations Mark 70 Years

By Al Mayadeen English

31 Aug 2026 20:54

Xi Jinping's first Egypt visit in a decade coincides with 70 years of China-Egypt diplomatic relations and expanding trade, industrial and defense ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Egypt this week, his first trip to the country in a decade, as the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.

The visit will follow Xi's attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, which concludes on September 1, and comes at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Xi is set to meet el-Sisi in Cairo for talks to build on past cooperation and set the direction for future ties. It will be Xi's first visit to Egypt since January 2016, when he addressed the Arab League in Cairo and witnessed the signing of agreements on infrastructure, energy, finance and industrial development.

Seven decades of diplomatic relations

Egypt was the first African and Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, on May 30, 1956. The relationship has since moved through several stages, from diplomatic ties to strategic cooperation, and in 2014, to a comprehensive strategic partnership, agreed during el-Sisi's first visit to Beijing.

El-Sisi has since traveled to China eight times, most recently for the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in May 2024, where the two sides adopted a three-year action plan for 2024 to 2026 covering trade, investment, technology, climate change and security.

In 2024, Xi and el-Sisi signed a joint statement on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership, and Egypt joined BRICS the same year. China's foreign ministry has said relations with Egypt are at their "best" in history.

Trade, industrial investment

Bilateral trade between China and Egypt reached about 20.8 billion US dollars in 2025, up from 17.38 billion US dollars in 2024, according to figures from the Egyptian Commercial Service. Over 3,300 Chinese companies now operate in Egypt across textiles, solar panels, chemicals, automotive manufacturing and logistics, according to Egypt's General Authority for Investment and Free Zones.

Much of this investment is concentrated around the Suez Canal. The China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna, about 120 kilometers from Cairo, hosted close to 200 companies by the end of 2025, with reported investment exceeding 3.8 billion US dollars and around 10,000 jobs created. China Jushi, one of the zone's largest manufacturers, has built a major fiberglass production base there, serving markets in Europe, West Asia and beyond.

Egyptian officials have said the next phase of cooperation should move beyond bilateral trade toward deeper production and investment integration, using Egypt as a platform to export to other markets. Cairo has also positioned itself as China's entry point into Africa.

Deeper financial integration

Financial cooperation between the two countries has expanded alongside trade. In 2023, Egypt became Africa's first sovereign issuer of a panda bond, raising 3.5 billion yuan, around 520 million US dollars, on China's domestic debt market.

In June 2026, Beijing and Cairo renewed their bilateral currency swap agreement, expanding it from 18 billion yuan to 30 billion yuan for another three years.

Analysts expect the next phase of economic cooperation to extend into electric vehicles, solar power, energy storage, green hydrogen, desalination, artificial intelligence and port logistics, with financing relying increasingly on yuan settlement, panda bonds, equity investment and public-private partnerships rather than sovereign loans.

Expanding military cooperation

Egypt and China are also deepening defense ties. The two air forces began their second Eagles of Civilization joint exercise on August 22, days ahead of Xi's visit. China deployed J-16 fighter jets more than 6,000 kilometers to Egypt, supported by mid-air refueling from a YY-20A tanker, the second time the two countries have held the exercise since it began in May 2025.

Beyond the bilateral relationship, Xi and el-Sisi have increasingly framed China-Egypt cooperation as part of a wider effort to strengthen the voice of developing countries in the global economy.

China and Egypt coordinate on multilateral issues through the United Nations, the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and, since 2024, BRICS.

What comes next

Xi's visit is expected to touch on trade, investment, Belt and Road cooperation and expanded use of the yuan in bilateral transactions, building on the framework set out in the first China-Egypt Development Cooperation Strategy for 2025-2029, signed during Chinese Premier Li Qiang's visit to Egypt in July 2025. That strategy covers healthcare, connectivity, climate change, green development and the digital economy.

Shanghai International Studies University researcher Zhao Jun told SCMP that China views Egypt as a regional pivot connecting the Arab world, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, while Egypt is looking to Chinese investment, technology and market access to advance its own industrialization.

He said the visit's success would ultimately be measured not by the number of agreements signed, but by whether political trust translates into industrial projects that are bankable, operational and export-ready.

Iran’s Naqdi: US Won’t Risk Another War if it Acts Rationally- Excl.

By Al Mayadeen English

31 Aug 2026 21:08

IRGC adviser Mohammad Reza Naqdi says Iran’s resilience, military capabilities and domestic weapons production have strengthened Tehran’s position.

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, Senior Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, said Monday that the United States would not enter another war with Tehran if Washington sought to make a “rational decision” in line with its interests.

In an interview for Al Mayadeen, Naqdi said most commanders currently in Tehran favor an offensive military doctrine, which is “very interesting, feasible, and highly effective operationally.”

Naqdi attributed the halt in the war to Washington’s inability to continue, the losses it had sustained, and the strikes it had come under.

Iran’s immediate priority

Asked about Iran’s immediate priority, Naqdi said, “Our priority is neither war nor negotiations; the issue is to reach deterrence.”

“We were certain and confident of victory, but we did not expect victory to be achieved this easily,” he said, adding, “Even if they built a concrete wall around Iran and stationed guards along it, Iran would remain steadfast and strong.”

Iran’s advantage and weapons capabilities

Elsewhere in his remarks, Naqdi said Iran’s key advantage in the war was its ability to manufacture all of its weapons domestically.

He said Iran’s facilities had been rebuilt in highly secure locations and were operating with modern and advanced technologies, while achieving higher production rates.

He also said Tehran has hundreds of cities and industrial complexes, as well as the ability to conceal and disperse its production through various methods, both underground and above ground.

Furthermore, Naqdi said the air defenses of Iran’s adversaries had collapsed under the intensity of the Islamic Republic’s drone and missile attacks, adding that even Iran’s older weapons had proven effective against them.

US military is a paper tiger: Naqdi 

The top military figure described the US military as “hollow and fragile, a paper tiger, and its actual capabilities are weaker than they appear.”

Naqdi also downplayed the significance of US aircraft carriers and fighter jets that had been publicly promoted, saying, “The whole world saw that the carriers remained 1,000 kilometers from the strait and were unable to move.”

IRGC-government ties

Addressing relations between the IRGC and the Iranian government, Naqdi said they were “at their best, excellent and extremely strong.”

“We are implementing the commitments announced by the Supreme National Security Council, but the enemy must understand that it will pay a heavy price if it attacks us,” he stressed.

“The enemy believed it would seize Iran within three days, but what happened? It has now been six months,” he added.

Naqdi on Trump and the conduct of the war

Speaking about US President Donald Trump, Naqdi said the president “makes his decisions according to his personal interests and the interests of his companies and institutions.”

He accused Trump of adjusting the pace of the war in ways that could generate profits in the stock market or allow his inner circle to benefit from the oil sector.

“Asymmetric warfare means war on Wall Street, in Manhattan, and anywhere and at any time,” Naqdi said.

US support for 'Israel'

On US support for the Israeli regime, Naqdi said cutting off that support would leave “Israel” unable to continue the war.

He pointed to the Israeli military’s reliance on bombardment, saying, “The ground forces are nothing without that bombardment.”

Naqdi also said the enemies had failed to achieve their objective of “creating a rift between us and the resistance.”

“That rift did not happen; rather, our ties have become much stronger,” he said.

The remarks come as Iran expands its retaliatory response to US aggression on its territory, targeting US military positions across the region and emphasizing Tehran’s stated resolve to impose consequences on Washington’s regional military presence.

Iran Strikes on NSA Bahrain Expose US Gulf Vulnerabilities: Opinion

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Military Times

31 Aug 2026 20:02

Iran's strikes on NSA Bahrain severely damaged the US Fifth Fleet’s key regional hub, exposing vulnerabilities in Washington’s Gulf military posture and disrupting naval logistics.

A retired US Navy captain has warned that the extensive damage inflicted on Naval Support Activity Bahrain during Iran’s retaliatory strikes has exposed serious weaknesses in Washington’s military posture across the Gulf, with consequences extending far beyond the destruction of the base itself.

Writing in an opinion piece for Military Times, retired Capt. John Cordle said the attack on NSA Bahrain, which hosts US Naval Forces Central Command and the Fifth Fleet, severely degraded one of Washington’s most important military hubs in the region and disrupted the logistical network supporting US naval operations.

According to Cordle, the installation is now largely unusable, with damage estimated at nearly $400 million.

Facilities reportedly struck included the Fifth Fleet headquarters, military barracks, warehouses, communications towers and a potable water station. US Coast Guard vessels and other ships were also relocated, while personnel and support functions were moved away from the installation.

Cordle said no personnel were killed or seriously wounded in the attacks, according to US military sources.

Iran strikes expose vulnerability of key US Gulf hub

NSA Bahrain serves as far more than an administrative headquarters. The base provides logistical and operational support for US ships, aircraft, personnel and cargo moving throughout the Middle East and has long been central to Washington’s ability to maintain a continuous naval presence in the Gulf.

Cordle argued that the destruction demonstrated how vulnerable such a major fixed installation had become to Iranian ballistic missile attacks.

“The idea that the U.S. could not prevent and defend against a predictable attack on a Fleet Headquarters — and our sailors stationed there — is quite startling. It likely is just as alarming to our allies,” he wrote.

He noted that Iran’s decision to strike the facility should not have been unexpected given that the attacks came in retaliation for US military action against the Islamic Republic.

“The potential loss of NSA Bahrain is effectively the equivalent of losing an aircraft carrier. It could not have come as a surprise that Iran would attack it in retaliation, yet it — and those living and working there — were left exposed and the facilities inadequately protected from Tehran’s ballistic missiles,” Cordle said.

The retired officer also questioned why Washington had not concentrated additional missile-defense assets around the facility before the anticipated Iranian response.

He argued that US air-defense systems, including ballistic missile-defense destroyers, could potentially have provided far stronger protection for the base.

“The U.S. has superb air defense capabilities that could potentially have formed a near-impenetrable ‘dome’ over our citizens, as they have over Israel and parts of Ukraine in recent history. Ballistic missile defense destroyers boast incredible defensive capabilities and could have been stationed effectively at sea to protect the Fifth Fleet Headquarters,” he wrote.

Supply problems extend to USS Abraham Lincoln

The consequences of the attack have also reportedly spread to US naval forces operating farther from Bahrain.

Cordle linked shortages experienced aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the loss of Bahrain as a nearby logistics center, saying the destruction of the base disrupted established regional supply chains.

Reports of shortages involving food, mail, spare parts and other supplies aboard the carrier, he argued, illustrated how dependent US naval operations had become on the Bahrain hub.

Replacing supply routes that previously stretched only hundreds of miles with routes extending thousands of miles could place significant new constraints on sustained US maritime operations, particularly during periods of heightened military activity.

Cordle warned that such logistical strains could affect Washington’s ability to maintain and support ships throughout the region over prolonged periods.

US families remain displaced months later

The former Navy captain also sharply criticized Washington’s handling of military personnel and their families stationed in Bahrain.

He questioned why dependents were not evacuated ahead of the strikes or immediately after the facility came under attack.

“The fact that the U.S. did not preemptively — or at least expeditiously — evacuate families and dependents is truly mind-boggling,” Cordle wrote.

Six months after the attack, more than 1,000 evacuated service members and family members reportedly remained displaced, with some still separated from pets and personal belongings left behind in Bahrain.

Vice Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, acknowledged the continuing uncertainty during a town hall with evacuees.

“When we started this journey, there were some pretty clear rules. As we’ve moved on, we’re really in uncharted territory right now,” Renshaw said.

Cordle said the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the base underscored the extent of the damage and raised questions over whether it could fully resume its former role.

Fifth Fleet functioning despite degraded infrastructure

The Fifth Fleet continues operating, but Cordle said the infrastructure from which it traditionally conducted regional operations has been severely weakened.

He called for greater public scrutiny of how such an important installation was left vulnerable and what military capabilities were lost when Iran demonstrated that it could reach the headquarters with ballistic missiles.

“What, precisely, is the current operational status of NSA Bahrain and the Fifth Fleet headquarters, and what capability did the U.S. lose when Iran demonstrated that it could strike this critical naval hub?” he asked.

Cordle also raised concerns over discussions within Washington about reducing the US military footprint in the Gulf, arguing that such a move could amount to a “strategic retreat” and further complicate logistics for remaining forces.

He warned that failing to restore NSA Bahrain to something approaching its previous capacity would reshape the way the US Navy operates across the region and could also affect military coordination with Washington’s Gulf partners.

“If NSA Bahrain is not reconstituted to something near its pre-attack capabilities, it will fundamentally change how the U.S. Navy operates, supplies and maintains its ships. It will also upend how we support regional coalition partners in the Gulf region,” he wrote.

Cordle concluded that he hoped the facility would eventually be rebuilt with stronger defensive measures.

“It is my hope that it is resurrected with sufficient support and security to make it safe and viable again.”

Iranian Army Targets US Base in UAE in Response to Larak Attack

By Al Mayadeen English

Iran says its forces struck the US military presence at Al Minhad in the UAE and downed an American MQ-9 drone in response to the US attack on Larack Island.

The Iranian Army said Monday that it had targeted the US military presence at Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates with suicide drones, describing the operation as a response to the US attack on Larak Island in southern Iran.

According to a statement issued by the Iranian Army’s Public Relations Department, the drones targeted positions used by US forces and helicopter units at the base, which serves as an important support and air-transport hub for foreign military forces.

The operation comes following US attacks on Iranian territory and a series of Iranian retaliatory operations against US military positions across the region.

Iranian army targets US base in UAE

The Iranian Army said its suicide drones struck positions housing helicopters and US troops at Al Minhad.

The base is considered an important center for military support and air transport for foreign forces operating in the region, giving the reported strike significance beyond the immediate military target.

Tehran presented the operation as a direct response to the US attack on Larak Island, where two people were martyred, and others were wounded, according to Iranian reports.

The Iranian response demonstrates that Tehran is seeking to extend the military consequences of attacks against its territory to the wider network of US military infrastructure in the region.

Rather than limiting its response to the immediate site of the US attack, Iran has demonstrated that US military facilities across the Gulf and neighboring countries can become part of its deterrence calculations.

IRGC downs US MQ-9 over Hormuz

Iranian forces also reported a separate success over the Strait of Hormuz. Mehr News Agency, citing a statement from the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that the IRGC had shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the strategic waterway.

According to the report, the drone was brought down using air-defense missiles before crashing into Gulf waters.

The reported interception is significant given the location of the incident. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages, and Larak Island sits close to its narrowest point.

Iran expands response to US aggression

At dawn, the IRGC carried out a combined ballistic missile and drone operation targeting the US-operated King Hussein and Al-Azraq bases in Jordan in retaliation for the attacks on Larak Island.

The IRGC said the strikes caused "heavy damage" to the targeted facilities and warned that continued US "aggression and crime" would not resolve Washington’s inability to control the Strait of Hormuz.

The force further warned that every attack against Iran would receive a more severe response.

Taken together, the operations in Jordan and the UAE confirm Iran's strategy that aims to demonstrate that attacks on Iran will generate consequences for US military infrastructure across the region.

Larak Island’s strategic importance

Larak Island occupies a highly strategic position near the Strait of Hormuz. It lies at the narrowest point of the waterway and alongside the maritime routes used by commercial shipping, making it an important location for monitoring and surveillance.

Larak Island, alongside other islands and cities in southern Iran, was subjected to intensive attacks targeting vital facilities, ports, and maritime surveillance towers during a series of daily US attacks on Iran in July.

The latest attack therefore occurred against a backdrop of repeated military pressure on Iran’s southern territories and strategic infrastructure.

Foreign Troops Must be ‘Cut Off’ from West Asia: Iran's Deputy FM

Monday, 31 August 2026 2:29 PM

Iran's deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi

Iran's deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has praised the retaliatory operation conducted by the Iranian armed forces shortly after the US struck Larak Island in the country’s south, stressing that foreign troops must learn the lesson and leave the region.

Late on Sunday, the US attacked the southern Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, killing and injuring several Iranian servicemen and civilians and causing damage to public and private property. 

“We view these as part of a military aggression against the country. As the brave armed forces have proved, any action against the country’s territorial integrity, at any level, will be met with a very decisive response,” Gharibabadi said on Monday.

Noting that “these acts of aggression will receive a proper response,” he said, “Foreigners must be cut off from this region and must learn serious lessons so that they do not repeat their aggressions against Iran.”

Earlier on Monday, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps announced that its Aerospace Force had struck American military positions in Jordan, delivering a decisive response to the American assault on Larak.

The Army also said US military assets in the United Arab Emirates were struck in retaliation for the attack. 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the US attack on its Larak Island was a violation of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the UN Charter.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the US attack on Larak Island as a violation of the Islamic Republic’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying it exercised its legitimate right to retaliate.

"In response to this military aggression and in accordance with the inherent right of self-defense, the powerful armed forces of Islamic Iran delivered defensive and crushing blows to US military bases in Jordan, which served as the origin and supporter of the US military aggression against Iran," the ministry emphasized.

It reiterated that the US attack on Larak Island was a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, and urged the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General to fulfill their responsibilities in preserving international peace and security and holding the aggressor accountable.

According to the ministry, the full responsibility for the consequences of any new US military action and the continuation of the naval blockade and economic warfare against Iran rests with the US and all parties that in any way aid or abet such unlawful measures.

Iran Warns Any Hostile Act Will be Met with Decisive Response

Monday, 31 August 2026 3:55 PM

Commander of Iran’s Joint Headquarters of Air Defense Brigadier General Alireza Elhami

Iran’s air defense chief says the Islamic Republic will respond decisively to any new hostility amid a new wave of military confrontation with the United States.

“If the enemies make a mistake, their snouts will definitely be rubbed in the dirt,” said Brigadier General Alireza Elhami, who leads Iran’s Joint Headquarters of Air Defense, on Monday.

His remarks, published by Fars news agency, came hours after the United States carried out unprovoked attacks on Iranian military positions in the southern island of Larak.

Iran quickly responded by targeting US assets in the region.

The trading of fire came more than a month after the US attacked areas along the Iranian southern coast, while Iran responded by conducting extensive missile and drone operations targeting US bases in the region.

Elhami said the Iranian air defense force had unveiled several new interception systems over the past few days.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has announced that its Aerospace Force has struck American military positions in Jordan, delivering a decisive response to the American terrorist assault on Larak Island.

He said the new homegrown weapons have been manufactured relying on experience Iran gained during the US-Israeli aggression on the country that ended in a ceasefire in mid-April.

The commander said the unveilings carry an important message for Iran’s enemies.

Elhami said, however, that Iran has a policy to keep the details and information about its home-made weapons confidential.

“…by keeping this information confidential, we can make better use of them on the scene,” said Elhami.

The general said the new systems are only aimed at Iran’s enemies, and that the country maintains friendly and peaceful relations with its neighbors and countries in the region.

Iran Believes Peace, Security Must Prevail Throughout West Asia: Pezeshkian

Monday, 31 August 2026 3:34 PM

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) meets with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31, 2026. (Photo by president.ir)

President Masoud Pezeshkian has underlined the need for comprehensive peace throughout West Asia, where no one will be subjected to violence.

He made the remarks on Monday during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly believes that peace and security must prevail throughout the region, and that people, regardless of their religion, sect, or ethnicity, should not be subjected to war, violence, or conflict,” he said.

Pezeshkian also said Islamic countries have the capability to resolve their own disputes and internal issues, and that they can address their problems and differences through dialogue and cooperation, without foreign intervention.

Iran, he added, “has consistently maintained that if Muslim states stand united and act in solidarity, the Zionist regime would not dare attack them so easily.”

Meanwhile, the Iranian president welcomed a recently signed defense agreement among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, known as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, as a step toward strengthening unity across the Islamic world.

He further expressed hope that other countries in the region and across the Muslim world will also join the pact and expand their cooperation in defensive, political, economic, and cultural areas.

Additionally, the Iranian president voiced his satisfaction with the growing Tehran-Islamabad relations and thanked the Pakistani prime minister for attending the funeral ceremony for the martyrs of the illegal US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

He also appreciated the Pakistani government for its active and constructive role in the negotiations that led to a war-termination deal between Iran and the United States.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran remains ready to implement the agreement reached through the efforts of the friendly and brotherly government of Pakistan, provided that the other side also honors and fulfills its commitments.”

Iran and the United States have formally signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Pakistan brokered the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17 that required both sides to end all hostilities and prepare for further negotiations. However, the US violated the deal by conducting deadly aerial assaults on Iran and imposing a naval blockade of the country.

Pakistan had previously played a pivotal role in securing the April 8 ceasefire that brought an end to the 40-day criminal US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

Sharif, for his part, said enhanced cooperation and coordination between Iran and Pakistan in recent months have produced very positive results.

Regional conflicts and insecurity have created problems and concerns for the people of the region and millions around the world, he added, urging regional countries to step up cooperation and coordination aimed at bringing an end to the current situation.

The Pakistani prime minister also pointed to growing international public support for Iran, saying that today the majority of people across the globe recognize Tehran’s position as justified.

Moreover, he expressed hope for peace and security in the region through dialogue and within the framework of the Islamabad MoU.

Iran and Pakistan are two brotherly states, he said, which have a duty to work for the peace, prosperity, and happiness of their own people and those in the region.

Pakistan shares in joy and happiness of the Iranian people, as well as their sorrow and pain, the Pakistani prime minister said.

He also said the Mecca Agreement is defensive in nature and that it is not directed against any country.

Over 1,000 Israeli Soldiers Killed in Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes: Armed Forces Spokesman

Monday, 31 August 2026 2:51 PM

Spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi

The spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces says at least a thousand Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Islamic Republic’s retaliatory attacks targeting military installations, strategic sites and intelligence centers across the occupied territories. 

Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi stated on Monday that thousands more Israeli military personnel were also wounded during the joint US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, which began late in February.

Evidence suggests that the United States also lost hundreds of servicemen, while thousands of its troops were injured during the latest round of Iranian drone and missile attacks on US regional bases in July, he further noted.

Brigadier General Shekarchi condemned both Washington and Tel Aviv for their dishonesty regarding military casualties and for obscuring the real statistics.

He noted that the US had only disclosed the deaths of its troops in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars years after they had occurred, and only subsequently returned the remains to their families.

The senior spokesman characterized the US military as a “Hollywood and propaganda army” built up to exploit the resources of Muslim nations.

Iranian Army attacks US forces at al-Minhad Air Base in UAE with kamikaze drones

The Iranian Army says it has targeted US military helicopters and personnel stationed at al-Minhad Air Base in the UAE with dozens of kamikaze drones in reprisal for a fatal US strike on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

He stated that Iran's most significant accomplishment was revealing the “Hollywood façade” of the American army and the Tel Aviv regime, thereby allowing the international community to witness their vulnerability.

The senior Iranian military official said that countries worldwide, including some that host US military bases, have lost faith in Washington and have realized that a US that cannot defend itself is unable to protect its allies.

He then pointed to the Strait of Hormuz, saying that US President Donald Trump, along with his supporters and allies, are now seen as embodiments of “evil and wickedness.” He also issued a stern warning against any attempts to assert control over the vital waterway.

“Our response to the US president and other [American] leaders is that they can merely fantasize about the Strait of Hormuz being regarded as part of their territory,” he stated.

The spokesman highlighted that Trump’s claim regarding the Strait of Hormuz is ridiculous and rooted in illusions and wishful thinking. “These claims may have been made to wage psychological warfare against our society.”

General Shekarchi emphasized that Iran will not allow American forces to remain in West Asia, and is resolute in its efforts to expel them from the region.

He also vowed that Iran would take revenge for the assassination of the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the elementary students who lost their lives in a US strike against Shajareh Tayyebeh School in the southern city of Minab, the martyrs in the southern city of Lar, and all innocent Iranians who have been killed in the joint US-Israeli onslaught.

“The matter might take a while, either sooner or later, but it will certainly be carried out,” Brigadier General Shekarchi said.

He also stated that enemies, through various means, are seeking to achieve whatever they could not accomplish via direct military confrontation with the Iranian Armed Forces.

Iran's Main Focus is Deterrence, War or Talks Come Next: IRGC Official

Monday, 31 August 2026 6:28 PM

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), is seen in a video capture from an interview with Al-Mayadeen news channel published on August 31, 2026.

A senior Iranian military commander says the main strategy of the Islamic Republic amid the ongoing confrontation with the United States is to create maximum deterrence, and not merely to engage in renewed military conflict or hold talks with the enemy.

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, who serves as a senior advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), made the remarks in an interview with Al-Mayadeen news channel published on Monday. 

Naqdi said, however, that Iran is mulling a more offensive phase of military confrontation with the US and the Israeli regime some six months into the war.

"What we have done so far has been a conventional war, and we have not yet entered into an asymmetric war; asymmetric war means war on Wall Street, in Manhattan, and in any place and at any time."

"Most incumbent (Iranian) commanders today lean toward and prefer offensive thinking."

Naqdi said Iran still has control of over 90% of its missile stockpiles despite US-Israeli attacks in March and April.

He said all weapons production facilities damaged in the recent war have been rebuilt in very secure locations and are now operating using new and advanced technologies with higher production rates.

The IRGC commander said that Iran's only "weak point" during the recent US-Israeli aggression was that it had built some of its weapons factories and production sites in known places and above ground.

Naqdi said Iran was confident of its victory against the US and Israel in the recent war, but did not expect the victory to be achieved with such ease.

He described the US Army as "hollow and fragile" and called it a "paper tiger”.

"The entire world saw that (US) aircraft carriers stopped at a distance of a thousand kilometers from the strait [of Hormuz] and were unable to move."

Trump profiteering from war

Naqdi said the decisions made by US President Donald Trump in the ongoing confrontation with Iran are solely made based on personal interests and the interests of companies and institutions affiliated with him.

He said Trump adjusts the course of the war in a way that, on one hand, generates profit in the stock market, and on the other hand, enables economic exploitation for circles close to him in the oil sector.

The commander said US support for the Israeli regime was vital in the recent aggression on Iran, adding that if Washington cuts its support for Israel, the regime would never be able to resist against Iran.

He said the Israeli regime's military heavily relies on airstrikes and bombing operations, and that its ground forces have little capability without the support of these strikes.

Naqdi said the US and Israel have failed in their efforts to create a rift between Iran and the resistance groups in the region.

"They failed to create such a rift; rather, our relations (with resistance groups) have become much stronger."

Sudan Rebel RSF Leaders Made Secret Wartime Visits to 'Israel': i24NEWS

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Israeli media

30 Aug 2026 17:55

Israeli media reports that senior RSF figures secretly visited "Israel" for meetings with diplomatic and intelligence officials, as scrutiny grows over the paramilitary group's foreign backing, alleged genocide in Darfur, and challenge to Sudan's sovereignty.

Senior figures in Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) secretly traveled to the occupied Palestinian territories during the ongoing war against the Sudanese Armed Forces, Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS reported on Sunday.

According to i24NEWS, RSF Deputy Commander Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the brother of RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, made several undisclosed visits to "Israel" despite being subject to international sanctions.

The Israeli outlet said the reported trips have prompted questions over the nature of the contacts established by senior RSF figures, who they met during their stays and whether the discussions concerned political, security or diplomatic matters.

i24NEWS added that no official explanation has been provided regarding the purpose of the visits and that there has been no formal Israeli confirmation of the reported meetings.

The report follows an investigation published Friday by Africa Intelligence, which said the RSF leadership has maintained high-level contacts with Tel Aviv throughout Sudan's war and that the relationship stretches back to before fighting erupted in April 2023.

RSF delegations reportedly met Israeli intelligence

According to details from the Africa Intelligence investigation reported by Israeli media, two RSF delegations traveled secretly to Tel Aviv, first in May 2025 and again in February 2026.

The first delegation reportedly included Abdel Rahim Dagalo and another of Hemedti's brothers, Algoney Hamdan Dagalo, who serves as the RSF's procurement director.

The two reportedly returned during the second visit alongside an RSF legal adviser.

During the trips, the delegations allegedly held meetings with officials from the Africa Division of the Israeli Foreign Ministry as well as Israeli intelligence personnel.

Africa Intelligence described the contacts as part of a longer-running security and intelligence relationship rather than an initiative that began after the outbreak of the current war.

The reported meetings add to earlier evidence of links between the RSF and Israeli security actors.

A 2022 joint investigation by Lighthouse Reports, Haaretz and Greece's Inside Story traced a private aircraft associated with former Israeli military intelligence officer Tal Dilian to Khartoum.

According to the investigation, the aircraft delivered sophisticated surveillance technology to the RSF capable of compromising smartphones and turning them into surveillance devices.

The investigation also reported that Hemedti had held meetings with Israeli intelligence figures before the present war, while an aircraft used by Mossad had previously been tracked traveling to Khartoum.

The new allegations therefore point toward an Israeli-RSF security channel that appears to have survived Sudan's descent into war.

Abdel Rahim Dagalo sanctioned over El Fasher atrocities

The latest revelations have drawn particular attention because of Abdel Rahim Dagalo's position within the RSF and the serious allegations surrounding forces under his command.

Washington sanctioned Dagalo in September 2023 over his leadership role in an organization whose members had been implicated in massacres, ethnic killings and sexual violence.

The United Nations Security Council subsequently placed him under sanctions on February 24, 2026, citing his role in actions threatening the peace and stability of Darfur.

According to the UN sanctions narrative, Dagalo was present at the Sudanese army's 6th Infantry Division headquarters in El Fasher when the RSF captured the North Darfur capital on October 26, 2025, and was overseeing military operations.

The UN said footage believed to show Dagalo captured him directing RSF fighters not to take prisoners and to kill those they encountered.

RSF forces committed mass killings at El Fasher University, the Saudi Hospital and other locations during the takeover, alongside ethnically targeted executions of Zaghawa and other non-Arab civilians and widespread sexual violence, according to the Security Council.

The UN Human Rights Office later documented more than 6,000 killings during the first three days of the final RSF offensive on El Fasher, including at least 4,400 people killed inside the city and more than 1,600 along routes used by civilians attempting to escape.

A UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission concluded in February that the RSF's conduct against the Zaghawa and Fur communities displayed the hallmarks of genocide, finding evidence of mass killing, serious physical and psychological harm, and conditions deliberately imposed to bring about the destruction of targeted non-Arab communities.

The United States had already determined in January 2025 that members of the RSF and allied militias had committed genocide in Darfur, after previously concluding that both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces had committed war crimes, while additionally attributing crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing to the RSF.

Yale Warns of Imminent RSF Attack on Ed Damazine Amid Ethiopia Buildup

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: News websites

30 Aug 2026 17:48

Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab warns of an elevated risk of an RSF attack on Ed Damazine after detecting a major military buildup in Ethiopia.

A humanitarian research laboratory at Yale University has warned of an elevated risk of a major and imminent attack by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Ed Damazine, the capital of Blue Nile State, following the observation of a large military buildup at a base in neighboring Ethiopia.

The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, part of the university's School of Public Health, said in its report dated August 28 that satellite imagery showed a significant increase in activity and equipment at the base in Assossa, Ethiopia, near the border with Sudan, between August 23 and August 28. The lab's analysts observed approximately 100 newly arrived light combat vehicles distributed across three groups, representing roughly six times the number present at the base on August 23.

The imagery also showed preparations to mount weapons on several vehicles, including at least five vehicles likely equipped with weapons, alongside a group of about 15 vehicles whose characteristics suggest they are armored personnel carriers. The lab additionally documented the arrival of at least five vehicle carriers and 14 trailers for transporting machinery, estimating that the new vehicles at Assossa are capable of transporting a force of between 750 and 1,000 personnel, equivalent to a regiment-sized or brigade-sized unit.

Satellite imagery reveals expanded Iifrastructure, supplies

Beyond combat vehicles, the Yale report documented the appearance of at least 60 new shipping containers between June 29 and August 23, followed by the observation of no fewer than 15 additional containers and eight cargo trucks between August 23 and August 28. Satellite images also showed the completion of a roof on a facility measuring approximately 70 meters in length and 17 meters in width, which the lab assessed was likely a vehicle storage hangar, with construction work having been ongoing since late June.

In its humanitarian security assessment, the lab concluded that "the increase in supplies of equipment and vehicles" at the Assossa base raises the risk of a major and imminent RSF attack on Ed Damazine. The lab warned of the potential for civilian casualties and new waves of displacement, including cross-border displacement into Ethiopia if fighting expands.

The Yale lab further assessed that an escalation of operations in Blue Nile may be part of an attempt to disperse Sudanese army forces and draw units away from North Kordofan, while simultaneously increasing the risk of simultaneous fighting around El Obeid and other areas of that state. Consequently, the lab classified the level of risk to civilians as "high" in both Blue Nile and North Kordofan.

Fighting escalates in Blue Nile as RSF claims gains

The warning follows an escalation of confrontations in Blue Nile State in recent weeks. The Rapid Support Forces said on August 28 that they had seized two army bases in Bakuri and Sirkam, including the headquarters of the 13th Infantry Brigade of the 4th Division in Bakuri, approximately 170 kilometers southeast of Ed Damazine.

The lab had previously documented damage related to fighting in Kurmuk and Sali, including damage to Kurmuk hospital and the A40 road bridge, as well as indicators of looting around the Kurmuk municipal building.

The report noted that this is not the first time the Yale lab has focused on the Assossa base, having concluded with high confidence on April 8 that activity at the base was "consistent with the provision of military assistance" to the RSF, and later stated in a June report that activity consistent with supporting those forces continued in subsequent months.

Reuters reveal RSF-linked training camp in Ethiopia

A Reuters investigation in February, citing sources, documents, and satellite imagery, revealed the existence of a training camp in Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz region near the Sudanese border housing thousands of fighters linked to the RSF.

The Ethiopian government and the RSF did not comment on the details of that investigation at the time, while the United Arab Emirates denied allegations related to supporting the war. On later occasions, Ethiopia denied Sudanese allegations of involvement in attacks on Sudan, describing them as "baseless."

The Yale lab explained that its analysis relies on integrating satellite imagery, remote sensing, and open-source information, comparing images of the same location taken at different times to detect changes in the number of vehicles, structures, and equipment. The lab also noted limitations to its methodology, particularly the limited availability and resolution of imagery, and the difficulty of verifying some activities and casualties through remote sensing alone.

Nigeria: US to Revoke 200,000 Visas

27 August 2026

Daily Trust (Abuja)

The US is set to revoke no fewer than 200,000 visas, according to the Department of State.

The move would be the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history and is expected to face legal challenges.

According to documents obtained by The Associated Press and two US officials, the action will be taken by the Department of State in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.

The revocation is expected to affect business and tourism visas for foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States.

The State Department is expected to announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought asylum or are now seeking asylum.

B1 visas are generally issued for business trips, and B2 visas are generally issued for tourism, family visits or medical care.

"We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the US claiming to be short-term visitors but file for asylum to stay here permanently," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott was quoted as saying.

Pigott said, "The process will be ongoing; the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis."

However, the revocations would not necessarily result in their immediate deportation, according to the Department officials.

Most of those with asylum cases currently pending would be recategorised but would lose their status as business or tourism travelers, the officials said.

Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term in 2025, his administration has steadily ramped up restrictions on visa applicants.

The administration has demanded more information about immigrants' social media histories, requiring the posting of expensive bonds for the processing of visas and outright banning the issuance of visas to citizens of certain countries.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called out people who he said try to use tourist and business visas to get into the United States and then apply for asylum.

"People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims," Landau wrote in a social media post on Monday.

"Asylum isn't supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law."

It was not immediately clear from the documents or the officials how many of the visa holders are seeking or have sought asylum in the United States and would be affected by the revocations. (NAN)

Current applicants for the B1 and B2 visas are asked to affirm that they will not apply for asylum in the United States and prove that they intend to return to their home countries.

In the past 18 months, the State Department has revoked about 175,000 visas for people who have been convicted or accused of crimes. (NAN)

Read the original article on Daily Trust.

Malian Singer Salif Keita Cancels South Africa Shows Over 'Xenophobic Violence'

Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation/Facebook

Malian music legend Salif Keïta pulls out of a South African festival over xenophobic violence.

27 August 2026

Premium Times (Abuja)

By Ozaveshe Precious

His manager, Carolina Vallejo of One World Records, confirmed the decision.

Malian singer and songwriter Salif Keita has cancelled his upcoming commercial performances in South Africa over reports of xenophobic violence against African migrants, his spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

The 77-year-old music legend announced the decision in a statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday, saying he could not ignore reports of attacks against migrants amid a series of anti-immigration protests in the country.

"I cannot ignore the reports of xenophobic violence against our African brothers and sisters," Keita said.

He described the cancellation as a "painful decision", but stressed that his action was not directed at South Africans or the country itself.

"To be clear, I am not closing the door on South Africa. I am closing the door on violence," he said.

Keita said the attacks against migrants were incompatible with the South Africa he knew, recalling the country's history of solidarity with other African nations and its association with the legacy of former President Nelson Mandela.

"When I see migrants being attacked, I don't see 'politics'. I see people searching for work, safety, and dignity. That does not match the South Africa I know, the South Africa that stood firm with Mali, and the South Africa that Nelson Mandela built," he said.

His manager, Carolina Vallejo of One World Records, confirmed the decision to AFP on Wednesday.

Keita did not specify the dates or venues of the commercial performances he cancelled. However, South African media reports said he had been scheduled to perform at the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe), which is due to take place in September.

'Closing door on violence'

Keita, widely regarded as one of Africa's most influential musicians, also recalled his long-standing connection with South Africa and the anti-apartheid struggle.

The singer has a career spanning more than five decades and performed at the 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London, an event held in support of the anti-apartheid movement.

In his statement, Keita drew a connection between that period of solidarity and his decision to speak out against the treatment of African migrants.

He said the same conscience that took him to Wembley in support of Mandela now compelled him to step away from commercial performances in South Africa.

"Colonial borders separate us on a map, but they must never divide our humanity," he said.

Keita also indicated that his decision was not intended as a permanent rejection of South Africa.

He said he would remain open to performing in non-commercial settings, including townships, where music could contribute to dialogue and healing.

"If there is a stage in a township, I will sing there. If a community needs to be heard, I will listen," he said.

"When the time is right, I will return, not for applause but for healing, dignity and ubuntu. I step back in love and sorrow," Keita said, adding that he would sing again when "our shared humanity wins."

Anti-migrant protests

Keita's decision comes amid heightened tensions over immigration in South Africa, where anti-immigration groups have staged demonstrations demanding action against undocumented foreign nationals.

Groups including Operation Dudula and March and March have been involved in recent anti-migrant campaigns, with protests and related incidents reported in parts of the country.

South Africa has also witnessed an exodus of migrants in recent months.

More than 160,000 people have left South Africa since late May, including about 1,500 Nigerians.

The departures followed intensified anti-migrant protests and an unofficial 30 June deadline set by fringe anti-foreigner groups for undocumented migrants to leave the country. The exodus has also left some South African businesses, farms and households facing labour shortages.

Keita's cancellation adds a high-profile cultural dimension to the tensions, with the veteran musician using his withdrawal to draw attention to the treatment of African migrants.

Similarly, this newspaper reported that South African singer Tyla faced backlash in Nigeria after announcing a 22 December concert in Lagos as part of her A*POP World Tour. Angered by reports of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa, some Nigerians launched boycott campaigns, while media personality Do2dtun and activist VeryDarkMan called for measures to stop the singer and her team from entering Nigeria. The Lagos date was later removed from Tyla's tour listings in late July.

The controversy was further fueled by reports that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and her team had been denied visas to South Africa for a planned performance, prompting calls for Nigeria to retaliate by restricting South African artistes. However, South African Consul-General Prof. Bobby Moroe said there was no official record of Ayra Starr's visa rejection and demanded evidence to support the claim.

Read the original article on Premium Times.

Kenya Police Deployed As Nairobi Traders Protest Increased Taxes On Imports

Capitol FM

Police deployed as Nairobi traders protest increased taxes on imports

28 August 2026

Capital FM (Nairobi)

By Phidel Kizito

Nairobi — Police have been deployed around the Archives, Luthuli Avenue and Railways Roundabout in Nairobi's central business district as traders prepare to march to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) offices in protest against a revised customs valuation benchmark.

The heightened security comes as a section of businesses in the CBD remained closed on Friday, with traders joining a boycott over the increase in the minimum yield for consolidated cargo from Sh2.5 million to Sh3.2 million.

Police officers were stationed at key entry points and along major roads as traders gathered ahead of the planned march to present their grievances to the taxman.

The demonstrations have disrupted business activity along parts of the CBD.

A spot check by Capital FM revealed closed shops along Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue and Tom Mboya Street.

A trader said the group intends to deliver its grievances directly to the KRA leadership.

"We are hoping to present a memorandum to the KRA commissioner on our grievances. We will continue with these protests until we are heard," the trader said.

The protests follow a decision by KRA to raise the minimum yield used under its simplified clearance arrangement for consolidated cargo.

The benchmark increased by Sh700,000, representing a 28 percent rise from Sh2.5 million, a move that has unsettled small-scale importers who commonly pool their merchandise in shared containers, particularly from China.

Traders in Kamukunji, Gikomba and Nyamakima had earlier threatened to shut their businesses nationwide on Friday in opposition to the review.

They argue that the higher benchmark could increase the cost of importing goods and put further pressure on already narrow profit margins, potentially forcing businesses to raise retail prices or scale down operations.

KRA has, however, rejected the interpretation that the Sh3.2 million figure amounts to a fixed tax on every consolidated container.

The authority says the minimum yield is a risk-management benchmark rather than the actual tax liability, and is used to determine whether shipments qualify for simplified clearance.

According to KRA, the actual customs liability depends on the nature, value and classification of goods in a shipment, alongside other factors such as freight and insurance.

The authority says traders can also request verification of their cargo outside the simplified arrangement or de-consolidate shipments so that individual importers make separate declarations and pay applicable taxes.

KRA has attributed the review to changes in exchange rates, freight costs and national and East African Community tax laws, as well as efforts to address undervaluation, under-declaration and misclassification of imports.

The revised benchmark took effect on August 21, after the authority granted traders a grace period to prepare for implementation.

Read the original article on Capital FM.

Inside the 24-hour Mutiny that Threatened Niger’s Ruling Junta and How Russian Forces Intervened

By CHINEDU ASADU

1:29 PM EDT, August 30, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Niger’s capital of Niamey on Sunday appeared calm with normalcy restored after a day of unrest as aggrieved soldiers staged a mutiny that threatened the ruling military junta before being repelled by loyalist forces aided by Russian troops.

In what was seen as a major threat to the junta in power since a 2023 coup, the soldiers engaged loyalist forces in sustained gunfire overnight from Friday till late Saturday. Most of the clashes took place at Niamey’s main airport that houses the military air base and in a district where the presidential palace is located.

The unrest culminated in the arrest or killing of dozens of soldiers, some of whom were paraded in front of the cameras live on state television. The fate of the mutineers was not immediately clear and authorities did not disclose any charges against them.

On Sunday, military trucks and check points were seen across the city, particularly along major roads between the airport and the presidential district. Junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani was yet to make any public comments or appearance.

Here’s what we know about the mutiny, according to witnesses, analysts and diplomats:

Unrest started with a hostage situation

Nigeriens were awoken around midnight on Friday into Saturday by bursts of gunfire and explosions that started at the Diori Hamani International Airport. The airport is a strategic hub that hosts a key military air base, known as Base 101, as well as the headquarters of Russia’s Africa Corps in the country. It was the third time this year the airport has experienced unrest.

Gunshots were also heard near the presidential palace in the Plateau district of Niamey as a group of soldiers confronted forces loyal to the junta.

Niger’s Defense Ministry said its forces were gradually regaining control of the situation after a group of soldiers took their “comrades” hostage at the air base and fired at “sensitive” sites, without specifying cause of the unrest.

The chaos persisted for hours late into Saturday as the presidential guard and other loyalist forces secured the air base and the presidency, analysts and diplomats said.

Some of the mutineers came from hot spots in the south and west, among the areas worst-hit by jihadi violence, and were rallying support from others stationed outside the city, according to one European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the matter.

Soldiers appeared to be aggrieved over worsening security crisis

The unrest appeared to have been triggered by grievances over rising insecurity, including rampant jihadi attacks that have led to the mass killing of soldiers in the last year.

Deadly attacks are “becoming commonplace (in the country) and will continue to fuel unrest and aggravate tensions within the army ranks,” said Héni Nsaibia, senior West Africa analyst at Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a conflict monitor.

Jihadi violence has worsened in the wider Sahel region, including in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, where the military also seized power from civilian governments. The junta in Niger promised to stabilize the country but instead security has deteriorated. Attacks on military positions have increased, including one about a week ago when at least 18 soldiers were reportedly killed in the southern Dosso region.

The mutiny was led by soldiers mostly deployed on the ground against the jihadis, according to Wassim Nasr, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, a New York-based think tank. “Deteriorating insecurity drove the coups that swept across the central Sahel, and the latest events show how these same pressures are now fueling unrest within the militaries that seized power,” said Nsaibia.

Soldiers’ welfare is another key issue, from complaints about food rations to inadequate equipment, according to Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst at geopolitical risk consultancy Control Risks. “The stability of these governments is very much pinned on how much they can ensure the army remains cohesive and can provide security and political reforms,” Ochieng said.

Russia’s Africa Corps comes to the junta’s rescue

The mutineers remained camped at the military base within the airport complex for several hours, resisting efforts from loyalist forces, until Russia’s Africa Corps intervened with ground and aerial support, several analysts said.

The Africa Corps is believed to have between 200 to 300 personnel in Niger where it is primarily protecting the junta and its interests, and also supporting the fight against jihadis.

In interviews broadcast on Russian media, Moscow’s ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev, said Niger had requested support from the Russian force and the mutineers were “neutralized particularly thanks to the intervention” of Africa Corps.

The mutineers outnumbered the elite presidential guard that was deployed to retake the air base and it was unclear who was in control until the Russians intervened, according to Nasr, from the Soufan Center.

“At the end of the day, it is easier to go full-blown on repression when it’s a foreign force,” Nasr said.

Neighbors and allies express support for Niger’s junta

The regional Alliance of Sahel States (AES) that includes Burkina Faso and Mali issued a statement late Saturday expressing its “full support” to Niger and condemning the “betrayal” from the soldiers.

“Thanks to the bravery and professionalism of the loyalist republican forces, this latest attempt was contained and thwarted,” it said

Algeria, the first country on Saturday to express support for Niger, its southeastern neighbor, assured it of its “full solidarity and firm support.” On Sunday, an Algerian delegation arrived in Niamey with four combat fighter jets and a military transport aircraft in what Niger’s ruling council described as “the demonstration of the strategic support.”

Turkey, another key ally of Niger, expressed solidarity with the country and its people, called for “restraint” for the preservation of the country’s security and stability.

Turkish Vessel Freed After Seizure by Pirates, Somalian Officials Say

By OMAR FARUK

12:56 PM EDT, August 29, 2026

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Turkish and Somali forces have freed the MV LUTUF, a Turkish vessel hijacked by pirates off the coast of the East African country, Somalia’s defense ministry said Saturday.

The Cameroon-flagged vessel was hijacked on Aug. 17 in the Nugaal region of Puntland state. Four boats used by the pirates were destroyed and 14 alleged pirates were killed during the operation, the ministry said.

The remaining pirates fled the vessel, allowing the forces to take control of the ship. The operation was conducted under a defense cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkey, aimed at strengthening maritime security, protecting Somalia’s coastline and combating piracy, it said.

The ministry did not provide details about any casualties or the well-being of the crew aboard the vessel.

A local elder, Abdullahi Warsame, from the Jiifle community in the Godob Jiiraan district of Nugaal, where the vessel was held, told The Associated Press that the vessel and its crew had been freed.

The MV LUTUF’s hijacking raised fresh concerns about a resurgence of piracy along Somalia’s coast.

Trump Administration Deports Relative of Afghans Who Helped US Military to Central African Republic

An arial view of Bangui, Central African Republic on March. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick, File)

By MARK BANCHEREAU

7:17 PM EDT, August 29, 2026

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The United States on Saturday deported dozens of people to the Central African Republic, including an Afghan whose brothers collaborated with the U.S. military, his lawyer and an advocacy group said.

The Afghan man, who is in his early twenties, was granted protection against deportation to Afghanistan by a U.S. judge due to fears of persecution by the Taliban, his lawyer Alma David said.

His family in Afghanistan had received threats from the Taliban because of the work performed by the brothers in support of the U.S. military, according to court documents seen by The Associated Press.

One of the Afghan man’s brothers lives in the United States and served in the Afghan National Army, which collaborated with the U.S military before the Taliban seized power in 2021, David said.

Another one of his brothers was a pilot trained by the U.S. and was killed by the Taliban, she added.

The deportation flight which landed in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui on Saturday, included 12 Afghans and eight Iranians, as well as several people from Nepal and Nicaragua, said Savi Arvey, director of policy, refugee and immigrant rights at Human Rights First.

Under a series of often secret agreements, the Trump administration has deported thousands of people to two dozen countries that aren’t their own as it pushes ahead with its immigration crackdown, advocates say. Immigration lawyers say the practice is being used as a legal loophole to indirectly return some asylum seekers to countries they fled. The flight on Saturday is the second to the Central African Republic since June, which carried two dozen migrants, including an Iranian woman facing persecution in her home country.

MARK BANCHEREAU

Banchereau covers 22 countries across West and Central Africa for The Associated Press. He is based in Dakar, Senegal.

Africa’s Male Midwives are Rare but Increasing in the Fight Against Pregnancy Deaths

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME

1:18 AM EDT, August 30, 2026

MOHALE’S HOEK, Lesotho (AP) — On a cold morning, Ntlhane Sehloho grabbed his backpack containing medical equipment and embarked on a three-hour journey, navigating the curving gravel roads leading to a clinic nestled in a valley of mountainous Lesotho.

Sehloho has an almost unheard-of role in this part of the world: male midwife.

His arrival at the Mpharane Health Center in the southern African kingdom is met with a sigh of relief from several women, some of them pregnant. Others carry crying babies on their backs.

Midwifery has been traditionally viewed as women’s work in Lesotho, but a growing number of men are joining the profession as the country tries to bring down its high rate of deaths around childbirth. For every 100,000 live births, about 530 women die, the United Nations says. That’s far above the global average of about 200.

This is part of a series on maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the world’s fastest-growing population and accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths. Around 180,000 pregnancy deaths are recorded every year across the continent.

Lesotho, like many African nations, is a society with largely conservative views. The idea of a man who isn’t a doctor dealing with a woman so intimately still can make many hesitant, if not uncomfortable.

World Health Organization figures estimate that men make up less than 1% of all midwives around the world. Organizations like the WHO and UNICEF have called for more people, male and female, to become midwives and address shortages in childbirth responders.

He wanted to be a nurse and was steered into this job

Sehloho is one of about 300 male midwives in Lesotho and has been doing the work for two decades. The exact number of male midwives is not available as the government does not keep the data according to gender.

Talkative and ready with a joke, he seeks to put women at ease from the first of their prenatal visits.

He had good grades in school and wanted to become a nurse to help address the difficulties he had witnessed for pregnant women in his rural community.

“Our village was far away from the health facility, so most women who would be pregnant, some were delivering at home. We were still young, we were not supposed to see that, as some were dying,” he said. He didn’t understand how far they had to travel for care.

Health authorities later encouraged him and other male nurses to train as midwives to help address deaths around childbirth in a country with poorly staffed rural health posts and a population of just over 2 million people.

Now, after efforts to bring care closer to rural communities, UNICEF data show that 92% of births in Lesotho are now attended by a trained health care provider.

The government says gender shouldn’t matter

“I think the system and the community is starting to slowly accept that gender should not matter when it comes to this issue of delivery,” said Dr. Llang Maama, acting director of health services at Lesotho’s Ministry of Health.

There are still a small number of cases where the mother says she isn’t comfortable with a male midwife, she said. “But the system allows them to register their discomfort and get treated by a woman.” In the urgency of childbirth, however, there isn’t always time to choose.

Sehloho acknowledged that it is a matter of gaining women’s trust. He tries to put them at ease by explaining how he has delivered babies for years and how he grew up in similar rural circumstances.

“We are a very cultural and traditional African society,” he said.

There are usually mixed reactions to male midwives, said Blandina Motaung, a representative of the United National Population Fund, which works extensively with midwives in Lesotho.

The positive remarks include praise for how the men appear to be more gentle and less strict when working with pregnant women. During consultations, Sehloho checked women’s blood pressure and measured their progress, asking from time to time whether they were comfortable.

Most female midwives have given birth themselves, “but for the men, because they have not been through the process, they become more vigilant and more attentive to the nitty gritties, and that in itself improves the quality of care that they provide,” Motaung said.

Pregnant women are learning to adapt

One of the clinic’s patients, Mpolokeng Mafereka, 21, said she was more comfortable being treated by a woman, but sometimes a male midwife is the one available.

“I’m used to being treated by women,” she said.

But another patient, 21-year-old Bonolo Tebello, said she has never had a problem being treated by a male midwife.

“I’m happy to be treated by a male because they still provide the same level of care,” she said.

“Even when one arrives late for a check-up, they just treat you like any other person who arrived on time,” she added.

Guinea-Bissau Votes in a Referendum on Granting the President Expanded Powers

By ASSANA SAMBU and OPE ADETAYO

1:54 PM EDT, August 30, 2026

BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau (AP) — Guinea-Bissau was voting Sunday in a referendum to decide on granting new presidential powers ahead of December’s general election, which will return the West African nation to democracy after its latest coup.

There was a low turnout across many voting stations after the opposition urged voters to boycott the referendum, saying it would make the head of the military government more powerful.

The military government seized power in November of last year following a disputed election in which former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias both claimed victory.

If passed, the new constitution by the self-styled National Transitional Council will grant more powers to the president and reduce parliamentary representation, among other issues.

The authorities argue that a parliament trimmed from 102 to 65 seats would allow for easier and more robust debates, while new presidential powers would underline the higher authority of the president over the prime minister, which they claim is a source of political instability in the country. Opposition groups reject the claim.

“In a community, there is only one leader. No community or village can have two leaders. We revised the constitution to avoid constant conflict between the president of the republic and the prime minister. We clarified the law and helped the public understand that the president of the republic is the national symbol. It is the president who stands for election in presidential polls,” Gen. Tomás Djassi, the head of the armed forces, said.

Opposition urges boycott of referendum

But the opposition has called on voters to boycott the referendum, saying it is a path for the head of the military government to amass power and calling it a “source of political instability at all levels”.

“This constitution significantly weakens the prime minister and the government, subordinates the National People’s Assembly and political parties, and devalues — or even ignores — the popular will expressed at the polls, carrying all the attendant risks of political and social division and tension,” Muniro Conté, spokesperson for the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, told The Associated Press.

Last year’s coup in Guinea-Bissau worsened West Africa’s democratic crisis, adding it to a growing number of countries in the region under military rule.

Leaders on the continent branded it a “staged” takeover after the military allowed the former president to host a press conference to announce he was being deposed and allowed to leave the country in seemingly favorable circumstances. Skeptics say Embaló had given up the seat to the military after seeing he was losing the election.

Since it gained independence from Portugal in 1973, the only Portuguese-speaking country in West Africa has been rocked by several coups and attempted coups. Before last year’s coup, a failed coup was reported only a month before.

The tiny country of around 2.2 million people has the highest proportion of natural wealth per capita in West Africa, according to the World Bank, but more than half of the country lives in poverty. The country is a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, an issue experts say fuels its political instability.

Nearly 915,000 voters are registered to vote in the referendum, but the majority say the constitution is not a problem.

Widespread discontent among citizens over new constitution

Bacar Camará, a high school teacher in the capital, Bissau, said he would not be voting and disapproves of the referendum, citing a fraught political and social environment.

“The transitional government should focus on creating conditions for better understanding and reconciliation among Guineans,” he said.

Another resident in Bissau, Carolina Djeme, said the constitution is unfamiliar to her.

“I’ll go vote on Sunday. However, I’ll vote ‘no’ because — honestly, and I think this is the case for many other citizens — I don’t know this new constitution well, so I can’t vote ‘yes’,” she said.

Analysts say the military government lacks the legitimacy to change the constitution, which has sparked discontent among the citizens.

“The fundamental question is: Who drafted this constitution, and on whose behalf? To protect which interests or institutions? Who stands to benefit from this constitution?” Paulino Quadé, a Guinean political analyst, said.

———

Adetayo reported from London.

OPE ADETAYO

Adetayo is a West and Central Africa reporter for The Associated Press. He covers news and regional development across West and Central Africa.