OVERVIEW
This edition of Africa Now looks into significant developments across the African continent, focusing on security, politics, economy and foreign policy. The prime minister of Guinea announced new dates for the general and presidential elections and Mali's Junta formally dissolved political parties. Conflict and insecurity persist as Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conducted a series of drone attacks on Port Sudan. The militants attacked army bases in Nigeria and Burkina Faso, intensifying the ongoing crisis in the country.
On the international front, Africa’s presence was quite profound. A ‘strategic partnership’ deal was signed between Egypt and Greece to help safeguard stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region while Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council approved a $652 million loan from China Exim Bank to finance the construction of a strategic road project. On the diplomatic front, the South African President will visit United States to meet President Donald Trump. The diplomatic relations have turned bitter between Algeria and France, following the expulsion of Algerian officials in a tit-for-tat move by France. In a contrasting case of a strengthening diplomatic relationship, Chinese Foreign Minister hosted his Sudanese counterpart in Beijing.
The relations between India and Africa continue to thrive with the Angolan President’s visit to New Delhi, the signing MoUs and the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries. The highlight however was the beginning of India’s broader diplomatic outreach in its global campaign against terrorism, after Operation Sindoor to the resource rich African countries of Algeria, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa.
AFRICA
Guinea to hold elections in December 2025
On May 12, the Prime Minister of Guinea announced that the general and presidential elections will be held in the month of December 2025. Ruled by the military junta, the military leader, Mamady Doumbouya, seized power in a coup in 2021 and proposed for a two-year transition to elections in 2022 and then in 2024, but this never happened. The announcement of elections is a significant move as it aims to bring Guinea on the path of democratic rule. Many have raised concerns regarding the political transition as other political parties have either been suspended or put under strict surveillance. Click here to read...
Mali's Junta formally dissolves political parties
On May 13, 2025, Mali’s military government led by military leader Assimi Goita formally dissolved all political parties in the country after facing pro-democracy protests in the capital, Bamako. The announcement came weeks after pro-democracy protests held by people who demanded an end to military dictatorship. The dissolution aligns with the recommendations from a recent national political conference that also proposed Goita’s name as president with a five-year mandate. This decision has intensified political unrest in the country. Click here to read...
Uganda to let military courts try civilians, introduces bill
On May 13, 2025, Uganda’s government introduced the "Uganda People's Defence Forces Bill, 2025" that would allow military courts to try civilians under specific circumstances such as when they are in "unlawful possession of arms, ammunition or equipment ordinarily being the monopoly of the defence forces". The new bill also includes crimes of abetting or aiding a soldier to commit crimes including treason, murder and aggravated robbery, among others. This move by the Ugandan government has sparked a lot of debate. It is argued that if this Bill is implemented it would be used to suppress political dissent and persecute regime opponents especially with upcoming elections. Click here to read...
Intense fighting in Libya eases after announcement of truce
On May 12, intense clashes arose in Libya’s capital, Tripoli after the assassination of Abdel Ghani al Kikli, the commander of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA). Although the fighting was initially between the SSA and the 444th Brigade which is aligned with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah of Government of National Unity (GNU), the fighting soon involved other factions such as the Special Deterrence Force (RADA). On May 14, the country witnessed a significant reduction in violence after the government announced a ceasefire. Despite this, tensions remain high with fears of escalation that could hamper peace and stability in the region. Click here to read...
Sudan's RSF conducts drone attacks on Port Sudan
On May 4-5, 2025, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conducted a series of drone attacks on Port Sudan that precipitated crisis in the war-ravaged nation. These attacks which targeted critical infrastructure like power stations, fuel depots and military installations led to widespread power outages and damage to humanitarian aid routes. Port Sudan, home to the country's primary airport, army headquarters and a seaport, was perceived as the safest place but now if faces uncertainty due to these developments. Click here to read...
Militants attack Nigerian army base
On May 12, 2025, Islamist militants attacked a Nigerian army base and captured soldiers in the turbulent north-eastern Borno State. Suspected militants arrived on motorbikes and gun trucks and attacked the 153 Task Force Battalion base in Borno's Marte district, leaving several soldiers dead. A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) said that the militants took ammunition and burned the army's anti-mine resistance vehicles. These attacks highlight the troubling resurgence of extremist groups in Nigeria which threaten peace and security in the region. Click here to read...
Dozens killed after attacks on Burkina army base, villages
On May 12, 2025, a series of attacks on villages and military base shook Burkina Faso leaving numerous civilians and soldiers dead. This was not the first time that the Djibo base was attacked. In fact, in the October 2022 attack, 10 soldiers were killed and 50 were wounded. In the southern province, near the border with Togo, three villages - Bousgou, Salemboare and Yonde also came under attack killing at least 58 civilians. This incident underscores the rising tensions and security challenges in Burkina Faso given the rise of militancy in the region. Click here to read...
AFRICA AND WORLD
Greece, Egypt sign deal to boost ties
On May 7, 2025, a ‘strategic partnership’ deal was signed between Egypt and Greece to help safeguard stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in a joint statement said that "Our bilateral cooperation is based on political, economic, and cultural ties, which are deeply rooted in history and defined by our strong commitment to the values of peace and the full respect of international law". This is a significant move as it would deepen cooperation between the two countries across various sectors including migration, defence and trade. Click here to read...
Nigeria approves $652 million from China Exim Bank
On May 6, 2025, Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council approved a $652 million loan from the China Exim Bank to finance the construction of a strategic road project. This road project will serve as a vital evacuation corridor for goods from the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Africa’s largest refinery – the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the adjacent fertiliser plant, benefiting at least a dozen southern states. The road project reflects China’s broader strategy of investing in Africa as well as the strengthening of the partnership between Nigeria and China. Click here to read...
Chinese Foreign Minister hosts Sudanese counterparts in Beijing
On May 13, 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his counterparts from a group of Latin American countries and Sudan who attended a forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Beijing. He held bilateral meetings with the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Omer Siddiq and said that China supports Sudan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. He also expressed hopes for the restoration of peace and stability in the region and the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries. Click here to read...
Diplomatic tensions escalate as France expels Algerian diplomats
On May 14, 2025, France expelled several Algerian officials in a tit-for-tat move after Algeria expelled 15 French diplomatic agents. The relations were already strained due to the complex colonial past and further deteriorated when French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for Morocco in the Western Sahara dispute which angered Algeria. These reciprocal expulsions have not only reignited tensions but also completely blocked diplomatic relations between both countries. Click here to read...
Egypt signs $120 million deal with UAE
On May 4, 2025, Egypt’s and UAE’s Abu Dhabi Ports Groups signed a deal to develop and operate a 20-square-kilometre industrial and logistics zone in East Port. The project set to be developed over the next three years, will include a 1.5-kilometer quay, with plans for a potential multipurpose cargo terminal. In addition to this, AD Ports has secured long-term concessions to develop and operate cruise terminals at key Red Sea ports including Hurghada, Al Sokhna, and Sharm El-Sheikh. This development has strengthened ties between Egypt and UAE with a broader push by Gulf states to expand their energy footprint in Africa. Click here to read...
South Africa's President to visit US
The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a visit to United States from May 19-22, 2025 to meet President Donald Trump. Tensions have been brewing between the two countries regarding the granting of refugee status to white South Africans, and the passing of the South African land Expropriation Act. The visit aims to ease these tensions as well as attempt to seek relief from US tariffs on South African goods especially vehicles and agricultural products. This visit aims to deescalate the rising tensions between the two countries. Click here to read...
AFRICA AND INDIA
Angolan President visits India
The President of the Republic of Angola, H.E. Mr. Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, visited India from May 1-4, 2025 marking the first official state visit by an Angolan President to India since 1986. The visit resulted in several key agreements between the Government of India and Angola including a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine, an MoU in the field of agriculture and a cultural cooperation programme for the period of 2025-29. Angola also signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement and became the 123rd member of the ISA. The visit was significant as it strengthened bilateral ties between the two nations. Click here to read...
Karnataka’s GTTC to establish vocational training hub in Namibia
On May 12, 2025, the Africa India Economic Foundation (AIEF) proposed the establishment of a Government Tool and Training Centre (GTTC) in Namibia, with Karnataka’s GTTC as the knowledge and technology partner that would assist Africa’s industrial training needs. Y K Dinesh Kumar, Managing Director of GTTC, said "this is not just about training; it’s about empowering Karnataka’s soft power through education diplomacy". This move demonstrates India’s commitment to long-term collaboration in education and skill development across Africa. Click here to read...
Delegation heads to Africa after India’s Operation Sindoor
As a part of India’s broader diplomatic outreach in its global campaign against terrorism, the fourth delegation of India’s Operation Sindoor diplomatic mission embarked on a crucial visit to the African countries of Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone led by Shiv Sena MP, Shrikant Eknath Shinde. BJP MP Baijayant Panda will head the Group one delegation to Algeria while NCP MP Supriya Sule will lead the delegation to Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa. This initiative aims to fortify international alliances against terrorism, convey India’s message of zero tolerance against terrorism and strengthen counter-terror cooperation with resource-rich African nations. Click here to read...
