Africa·23 April 2026
A report alleges UAE-backed Colombian mercenaries aided the RSF's capture of El-Fasher in Sudan last October. Somalia announced a symbolic ban on Israeli vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while Boko Haram militants killed 20 in attacks on Nigerian villages.
Sudan Conflict & Foreign Involvement
A new investigation by the Conflict Insights Group alleges that Colombian mercenaries, backed by the United Arab Emirates, helped Sudan's Rapid Support Forces capture the strategic city of El-Fasher in October 2025. The report states these foreign fighters operated drones, trained RSF units, and supported the siege of the capital of North Darfur state.
Phone-tracking data reportedly links the mercenaries from Colombia to the UAE, suggesting a covert foreign intervention in the Sudanese civil war. This investigation highlights the complex international dimensions of the ongoing conflict.
Horn of Africa & Maritime Security
Somalia has announced a ban on all Israeli-linked vessels from transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint. The move is largely symbolic, as the federal government has limited control over the territory bordering the strait, which is now occupied by Somaliland separatists.
This means the Somali government cannot practically enforce the ban or engage in harassing ships in the waterway. The announcement, reported by nine sources, represents a political stance in a region of contested authority.
West Africa Insurgency
Suspected Boko Haram militants riding motorbikes stormed two villages in northeast Nigeria, killing at least 20 people according to a local official. The attacks targeted remote communities, highlighting the persistent threat of Islamist insurgents in the region despite ongoing military operations.
The assailants' use of motorbikes is a common tactic for rapid raids in the area. No group has officially claimed responsibility, but the violence bears the hallmarks of Boko Haram's long-running insurgency.
North Africa Migration
Libya's eastern-based coast guard, part of the Libyan National Army, rescued at least 404 migrants from 10 boats in the Mediterranean Sea. The migrants had been facing harsh conditions at sea before the rescue operation.
The Tobruk Red Crescent announced the rescue on Wednesday, April 22. This incident highlights ongoing migration challenges in the Mediterranean region.