🔥Risk of descending into a new conflict in an already volatile Horn of Africa. While all sides appear wary of igniting a new war, simmering grievances, overblown rhetoric and military preparations indicate core actors are readying themselves for that eventuality. www.crisisgroup.org/brf/africa/e...

Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tigray: A Powder Keg in the Horn of Africa | International Crisis Group

The risk of hostilities involving Ethiopia, its northernmost Tigray region and its neighbour Eritrea remains high three years after the last major war in the area. African states and outside powers sh...

crisisgroup.org

The final tally from today’s protests in #Kenya. All killed or injured by the police. (KNCHR is the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights).

China's ambassador to Kenya, seeking to capitalize on US policy changes under the Trump Administration:

The U.S. Institute of Peace - USIP - is back online: www.usip.org

Kenyan President William Ruto's recent visit to China was not well received in the U.S., where powerful lawmakers are now calling for Washington to review its ties with Kenya.

And update: Uganda's Human Rights Commission has ordered Uganda's military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to release of Bobi Wine's bodyguard.

@laurenbindc.bsky.social · last yr.

This is the pre-election environment in Uganda. The head of the military brags about the abduction & torture of an opposition activist as a military unit raids the opposition party's HQ. He has been posting about torture for 2 days now. His father, President Museveni, has not stopped it.

Uganda is not in a good place right now.

Over on X, Uganda's military chief appears to be drunk-posting about his detention and possible torture of opposition poltiician Bobi Wine's bodyguard (a civilian).

#Sudan Doctors' Network: At least 31 people, including minors, executed by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Graphic videos shared by RSF on social media. Via Hiba Morgan on @aljazeeraenglish.bsky.social #KeepEyesOnSudan #Omdurman youtu.be/FHOm3vZJboc?...

Sudan Doctors Network accuses RSF of war crimes after 31 summary executions near Khartoum

YouTube video by Al Jazeera English

youtu.be

Africa’s forcibly displaced population has doubled since 2018 to over 45 million people. 3/4 of these are internally displaced. The leading drivers of African displacement are conflict and repressive governance. africacenter.org/spo...

Conflicts Causing Record Level of Forced Displacement in Africa – Africa Center

The number of forcibly displaced Africans grew by 14 percent over the past year—to more than 45 million people.

africacenter.org

But hey, if the US is pulling out of the UN, it doesn't matter how all those countries vote

a man with a mustache is smiling and looking at the camera .

ALT: a man with a mustache is smiling and looking at the camera .

media.tenor.com

Timothy McBride@mcbridetd.bsky.social · last yr.

Trump Draft Order Would Drastically Overhaul U.S. State Department A draft executive order proposes drastic restructuring of State Dept, including eliminating almost all Africa operations Dismiss a whole CONTINENT? Good Lord... not only bad policy, but racist www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...

Clear language from the UN Acting Special Adviser on the Prevention of #Genocide: “We have warned before & keep warning: the risk of genocide & other atrocity crimes remains a stark reality in #Sudan, especially in the conflict in the #Darfur region” “Further #atrocities can & must be prevented”

Per this report, some of the last remaining USAID humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen (and for refugees in Jordan & Lebanon) has been cut. apnews.com/article/usai...

Trump administration ends some USAID contracts providing lifesaving aid across the Middle East

The Trump administration has notified the World Food Program and other partners it has terminated some of the last remaining lifesaving humanitarian programs across the Middle East.

apnews.com

South Sudan's govt refutes the US claim that it refused to accept the return of one of its citizens - they say he is a Congolese national and assert that both the 🇺🇸&🇸🇸 govts have access to records on this, incl. DHS docs on his 2003 entry to the US as a DRC citizen www.facebook.com/share/v/1A76...

The regime in South Sudan is not a transitional government - it is a dictatorship that represses its critics and manipulates ethnic divides to maintain its hold on power. This arbitrary action will do nothing to change that - it will punish people who have no say over how their country is governed.

Sacked Kenyan minister says "I've no bitterness," then proceeds to share a story about President Ruto directing him to take 💰 from Russian oligarchs in Dubai for a 🌳 planting scheme.

Can confirm that termination notices were sent out. There are court battles already looming over whether Trump/DOGE can do this to an organization that insists it’s not a federal agency.

Marisa Kabas@marisakabas.bsky.social · last yr.

BREAKING — Nearly all employees at the US Institute of Peace (USIP) received an email tonight informing them they were fired effective immediately, multiple staffers confirmed with me. Just a few HR and IT staffers are being kept on to assist DOGE’s illegal dismantling of the independent nonprofit.

"The idea that the SPLM/A-IO was responsible for Nasir proved the rhetorical foil for a move against the South Sudanese opposition as such." Highly informed piece on the background to the current escalations in #SouthSudan. @joshuacraze.bsky.social africanarguments.org/2025/03/what...

What Is Happening in South Sudan? | African Arguments

What is happening in South Sudan?

africanarguments.org

Uganda's military chief has had a busy Sunday of tweeting, declaring that his forces are deliberately killing Nuer in South Sudan and announcing that Museveni has ordered the seizure of Kisangani, DRC

USIP's website has been taken down.

@laurenbindc.bsky.social · last yr.

USIP's website, for the moment, remains up. www.usip.gov www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

USIP's website, for the moment, remains up. www.usip.gov www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

DOGE plays hardball in U.S. Institute of Peace takeover

DOGE, which stands for Department of Government Efficiency, took over the U.S. Institute of Peace after threatening its officials with criminal prosecution.

washingtonpost.com

After breaking into the US Institute of Peace (USIP) Monday, DOGE members immediately got to work taking down signs to erase the independent agency. Photos taken yesterday shared directly with me:

The White House claims USIP Acting President George Moose was removed by USIP'S board - but only 3 of the 15-member Senate-confirmed board are listed below. Per law, USIP's meetings must be open to the public - there appears to be no record of a meeting on March 14.

Nahal Toosi@nahaltoosi.bsky.social · last yr.

USIP has repeatedly told DOGE that it’s not a federal agency or part of the executive branch. But DOGE demanded access anyway. Which makes me wonder: Does DOGE want access to any org that gets federal funding?

BREAKING—The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) office was just on lockdown for close to an hour while members of the DOGE team tried to enter the building, multiple people have told me. Security has now escorted out remaining staffers who’ve been told to telework until further notice.

"Amid broad regional & international disorder, the deterioration of the political & security situation in Tigray is dry tinder waiting for a match that could ignite an interstate war between Ethiopia & Eritrea." And reports from Tigray suggest a match has been lit. foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/12/e...

Stop the Next Ethiopia-Eritrea War Before It Begins

As armies deploy, Gulf states and their Western allies must halt an impending conflict that could inflame the entire Red Sea region.

foreignpolicy.com

An important intervention from Ethiopia's former army chief, warning of a coming war between Ethiopia and Eritrea -- now dangerously close -- and that a faction within Tigray might side with Eritrea against the federal government in Addis Ababa www.theafricareport.com/378644/tigra...

Admin. official Pete Marocco told the US district court on 2/26 that Rubio had terminated nearly 5800 awards at USAID - per Rubio's post now, appears roughly 600 have since been restored. Reports suggest many life-saving programs were initially canceled. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

NEW: The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, alleging that it is unlawfully withholding NED’s congressionally appropriated funding. Read the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...

NED v. United States

documentcloud.org

"Show more gratitude/deference" may not play well with the Global South

Peter Baker@peterbakernyt.bsky.social · last yr.

Johnson echoes Graham's demand that Zelensky show deference to Trump or resign. "Either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country to do that," he tells @kristenwelker.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...

Dean Karlan, Chief Economist at USAID, has resigned www.npr.org/sections/goa...