[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Mali, South Sudan, Somalia, Mauritania, Djibouti, and Comoros Islands and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the On the Margins Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each month's roundup to info@jadaliyya.com.]
Sudan Uprising
Sudan's military council wants to bring Islamists to power again: opposition Sudanese opposition leaders protested what they said were attempts by the military government to retain Islamists in positions of power.
Sudan's opposition postpones announcement of civil authority The opposition Sudanese Freedom and Change forces reached an agreement with the military government on Wednesday 24 April 2019 to proceed with a transition to a democratic government. Three Islamist-allied generals who had objected to a transition resigned from the military council.
Sudan: Transition - Two Broad Factors That Will Determine What Happens Now - allAfrica.com African Arguments analyzes the prospects for the transition in Sudan. They examine the potential for divisions among the military council, as well as among the protest movement within and outside Khartoum.
Sudan military chiefs resign as deal struck with protestors Three members of the ruling military council of Sudan quit following an agreement between the council and leading opposition groups, including the Sudan professional association. The three officers were said in media reports to have Islamist leanings. The resignations came as the military agreed to "most demands" from the opposition.
Sudan's change forces and military council agree to form joint transitional authority The ruling military council and the opposition Change Forces have reached an agreement. The two sides agreed to create a joint transitional authority, although they disagreed over its composition and role.
Protesters Demand Sudan Transition To A Civilian Government : NPR Civilian protesters gathered in front of the military headquarters in Khartoum for a sit-in to demand that the military hand over power to a civilian government.
Sudan's third civilian uprising and the fourth military coup Lul Gatkuoth Gatluak writes the coup in Sudan is not surprising, given that coups d’état are the typical method that power in Sudan is transferred.
The political calculations of Sudan's military regime The Sudanese military council has made verbally conciliatory moves towards protestors, but may be attempting to exploit divisions among regime opponents.
Will uprising in Sudan provide a new political dispensation? Sudan's protesters might need to bring about a new political dispensation to counter the military regime's efforts to entrench itself with regional support.
'We can’t wait’: Sudan's detained activists on returning to protest frontline Protesters in Sudan are continuing to press for political reforms. Contains an example of an activist who was held in prison and found his wife had been arrested upon his release.
In Sudan, Activists Continue To Call For Civilian Government : NPR The Sudanese military ousted former President Omar al-Bashir, but civilian activists are criticizing the replacement military council for a lack of proper transparency.
South Sudan's Kiir offers to mediate in Sudan South Sudanese President Salva Kiir offered to mediate the conflict in Sudan. The Sudanese and South Sudanese regimes have developed extensive ties in the last several years, despite their bitter history of civil war.
Sheikh Younis: ‘Sudan must remove all traces of Al Bashir regime’ Darfuri Islamic scholar Shaykh Matar Younis has called for the complete ouster of the al-Bashir regime.
Senior US delegation meets with Sudan’s military council, opposition leaders An American delegation met with the Sudanese military council and senior figures in the opposition.
Sudan Military Council ‘remnant of old regime’: Protest leaders Sudanese opposition parties broke off talks with the military council, which they accused of being part of the old regime.
Sudanese youth attack Islamist party meeting in Khartoum Angry youth protestors stormed an Islamist party's meeting in Sudan, accusing the Popular Congress Party (PCP) of supporting the al-Bashir regime.
Huge rally backs Sudan's opposition demand for power transfer Protestors rallied on 25 April 2019 outside army headquarters in Khartoum calling for the military to transfer power to a civilian government.
Sudan uprising: Vigils, protests, in run-up to April 6 mass action Sudanese doctors held protest vigils in the town of Kassala calling for the overthrow of the al-Bashir regime.
No EU recognition for Sudan’s Military Council – Strasbourg calls for quick transition to civilian govt The European Union declined to recognize the military council in Sudan, and urged a transfer to a civilian regime as quickly as possible.
Sudan's Military Says It Has Taken Control And Arrested President Omar Al-Bashir : NPR The Sudanese army announced it has removed former President Omar al-Bashir from power on 11 April 2019.
Sudan: Government mounts lethal offensive against protesters killing nine, blocking food and water supplies Amnesty International condemns the killing of civilians by Sudanese security forces in Khartoum on 6 April 2019.
Comoros
Mozambique, Comoros - Tropical Cylone KENNETH Update Cyclone Kenneth caused extensive damage in the Comoros, including seven killed, 20,000 displaced, and 3818 homes destroyed. Residents are at risk of waterborne disease due to the effects of the storm.
Comoros authorities detain journalist, censor newspapers amid political crisis The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) criticized the Comoran government for continuing to detain journalists after the recent Presidential election.
Comoros: Tropical Cyclone Kenneth Emergency Plan of ActionOn the night of 24-25 April 2019, Comoros was hit by Tropical Cyclone Kenneth, which caused significant damage to the islands.
Djibouti
Djibouti disputi: A London court orders Djibouti to pay port operator DP World $533m A London court has awarded DP World 533 million dollars in its dispute with Djibouti over the Port de Djibouti operations agreement.
Port Report: China Merchants rejiggers debt for Djibouti free-trade zone after Doraleh Container Terminal seized China Merchants Ports Holdings is planning to provide financing to Djibouti's free trade zone. This decision comes in the midst of a dispute between Djibouti and DP world over a nearby port concession.
Djibouti: Guelleh, the spy of China A Somali news publication claims that Djibouti President Omar Guelleh uses Chinese spy equipment to send intelligence on western leaders to China.
Navy seeks access to French base in Djibouti for refuelling The Indian Navy is asking France to be allowed to refuel at a French naval base in Djibouti.
Kuwait bans expat workers from 20 countries Kuwait has decided to prohibit workers from twenty countries from obtaining work visas, with Mauritania included on the list.
Xi calls for advancement of China-Djibouti strategic relationship Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his Djiboutian counterpart Omar Guelleh in Beijing, and praised relations and cooperation between the two countries.
WFP Djibouti Country Brief, March 2019 ReliefWeb outlines the current state of humanitarian operations in Djibouti, which hosts over 29,000 refugees from neighboring countries.
European banks are in talks to finance a new airport in Djibouti The German Development Bank (KfW) is considering providing financing to construct a new airport in Djibouti after a Chinese company was removed from the project.
Mali
Mali seeks to add value to cotton [Business Africa] The Malian association of cotton growers urged the country's political leadership to boost the country's cotton processing facilities to gain more value added from cotton exports. Mali is the leading exporter of cotton in West Africa, though it does not have processing facilities for all of it.
Mali massacre: Children are paying the highest price in central Mali's insecurity Unicef's chief communication officer for Mali argues that children are disproportionately affected by the current crisis in Mali, particularly in its central region.
Dumping One Government Won’t Fix Mali Mali's government resigned on 16 April 2019, a month following the Ogassagou massacre, but a new government under the present arrangements is unlikely to achieve any better results, writes Lisbeth Van Der Heide.
Mali: Thousands take part in annual Grand mosque plaster Thousands of Malians took part in the annual plastering of the grand masjid in Djenne. The residents coat the earthen mosque with sand, water, shea butter, and baobab powder in an effort to protect it during the rainy season.
Mali names new prime minister after ethnic massacre Malian President Boubacar Keita named former Finance Minister Boubou Sisse as the country's new Prime Minister, following his predecessor's resignation.
Another setback for stability in Mali On 5 April 2019 thousands of protestors took to the streets in Mali to demand the ouster of now-former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga.
Gallant: To my friends in Mali - No, I won't forget you A Canadian aid worker discusses his experiences in Mali. He gives an example of traffic intersections as a site of both commerce and danger in a violent conflict.
I drove from the UK to Mali: Here are the best places to stop along the way A British man discusses his recent driving expedition from London to Mali.
Food Security in the Sahel: TAAT launches out in Mali The new Sorghum and Millet technology compact sponsored by the African Development bank will soon launch activities in Mali to improve the agricultural productivity of Malian sorghum and millet crops.
Mauritania
Kuwait denies Mauritania exemption on debt interest The Kuwaiti government said Mauritania had agreed to satisfy debt obligations from 1990 by providing Kuwait with investment opportunities in lieu of interest.
Kosmos Energy To Sell Off Interest In Mauritania Kosmos Energy intends to reduce its stake in an offshore oil basin to below ten percent following an oil discovery.
315 area code hit by mysterious phone calls from Mauritania, other countries: Scam Watch Thousands of people in the Syracuse, NY metropolitan area report receiving unsolicited scam phone calls originating in Mauritania.
Africa: Mauritania - Champions Nouadhibou in Seventh Heaven FC Nouadhibou has won their seventh title in the Mauritanian football league. Their victory means they will represent Mauritania at the Total CAF Champions League next year.
Mauritania sets date for presidential elections Mauritania presidential election dates: 22 June 2019 (first round), 6 July 2019 (second round if no candidate wins a majority). President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is not seeking another term.
Mauritania bloggers expose president link to property ponzi — Quartz Africa Mauritania's President has extensive connections to a property Ponzi scheme in Mauritania headed by an Islamic religious scholar. Two bloggers were imprisoned by the regime after revealing the connection.
My brother is in jail in Mauritania — for reporting on a massive fraud The author's brother is one of the bloggers jailed in Mauritania for exposing a property related Ponzi scheme.
Mauritania at a crossroads A profile of the 22 June 2019 Mauritanian presidential election and of President Abdel Aziz's handpicked replacement, Defense Minister Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed Ahmed Ould Ghazouani.
Mauritania presidential election : A candidate promises to solve the Western Sahara issue A minor candidate in the Mauritanian presidential election has promised to mediate an end to the Western Sahara conflict if elected.
Somalia
Government Offers Opposition Parties Olive Branch for Nation- Building The Somali federal government is willing to work with opposition actors to develop the country's economy and political system, according to the Information Minister, reacting to reports of an opposition meeting in Kenya.
Deputy head of Islamic State in Somalia killed by airstrike Islamic State in Somalia deputy leader Abdihakim Dhoqab was killed by an airstrike in the Puntland region. Al-Shabaab remains a far more active organization in Somalia than its Islamic State-affiliated counterpart.
Three to Face Firing Squad for Clan Isntigated Killings A Somali court sentenced three men to death in a murder case. The accused stood charged with killing the uncle of a man who planned to marry into a clan larger than his own.
Pak goods exhibition in Somalia planned At an event sponsored by the Lahore, Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, a Somalian official pledged that an exhibition of Pakistani goods would soon be held in Somalia.
Somaliland: President Declares State of Emergency in three provinces due to insecurity Somaliland President Bihi declared a state of emergency in the Garadag, Eil Afwein, and Erigavo areas. The President cited the recent killings of two police officers as justification for the state of emergency.
US airstrike kills 2 al-Shabaab terrorists in southern Somalia US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced it carried out an airstrike close to Garowe in Southern Somalia that it said killed two al-Shabaab militants without any civilian casualties.
A victory for the rule of law in Somaliland: Berbera appeal court upholds conviction for rape A recent court ruling upheld the conviction of the defendant in a rape case, and reversed an unlawful punishment of 100 lashes imposed upon the victim.
Pirates attack two fishing boats off Somalia Two fishing vessels recently suffered from pirate attacks near Somalia.
South Sudan
What al-Bashir's removal means for South Sudan's fragile peace One of Bashir's last acts in office was to broker a fragile but relatively stable peace deal in South Sudan. This article assesses the impact of his ouster on the peace agreement.
Return to Juba: South Sudan's Kiir urges Machar South Sudanese President Salva Kiir urged rebel leader Reik Machar to return to Juba.
6,000 children reunited with families after years of separation in South Sudan In Juba, South Sudan UNICEF successfully has reunited six thousand children with their families since the beginning of the conflict.
Solar-plus-storage system for humanitarian ops in South Sudan A discussion of the solar power systems that humanitarian operations in South Sudan use because of the lack of access to power grids.
Parents of slain journalist demand justice from South Sudan The parents of slain British-American journalist Christopher Allen insist that the government of South Sudan prosecute those responsible for his murder.
South Sudan Will Rise from the Ashes of Destruction A commentator discusses the lost human potential of the civil war in South Sudan.
South Sudan rebels accuse Kiir of cancelling ceasefire accord An opposition spokesman accused President Salva Kiir of ending the country's ceasefire in remarks made to supporters.
UN Panel of Experts finally say ‘Pres. Kiir killed those of Aggrey Idri and Dong Samuel.’ A United Nations panel of experts has concluded President Salva Kiir of South Sudan is responsible for the killing of two critics of his regime.
Kiir, Machar and the question of religious diplomacy A discussion of Pope Francis's visit to South Sudan and his attempts to bring about a reconciliation between the conflicting South Sudanese parties.