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The article discusses the recent violence and mass exodus in Sudan's Gezira state following the defection of the Rapid Support Forces' state commander to the Sudanese Armed Forces. More than 135,000 people have been displaced, with reports of detentions, killings, and rapes by the RSF. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and human rights violations, prompting a humanitarian crisis in the region. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the collaboration between Russian and American religious conservatives who are working together to oppose gay rights in Africa. The coalition aims to support local activists in Africa who are advocating for laws that criminalize homosexuality, including the death penalty in Uganda. Russian diplomats and American conservative activists position themselves as defenders of "traditional African values" against Western influence. LGBTQ activists argue that this alliance puts the lives of gay and transgender Africans at risk. The article traces the origins of this partnership back to the 1990s and highlights the involvement of organizations like Family Watch International. Family Watch denies supporting Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill, but evidence suggests that one of its prominent members, Sharon Slater, actively participated in discussions about the bill and made controversial statements about the causes and "curability" of homosexuality. Russian diplomats in Uganda also played a role in advocating for the legislation, meeting with Ugandan officials and urging them to protect cultural values. The bill was eventually passed and signed into law, resulting in increased violence and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda. [Extracted from the article]

The conflict in Sudan's Darfur region has escalated as the paramilitary-turned-rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) lay siege to the city of El Fasher. The RSF has been launching relentless attacks on the city, exacerbating the famine crisis and blocking the flow of aid. If El Fasher falls, there are concerns that the RSF could commit mass atrocities, targeting specific communities. The Biden administration has called for a withdrawal of forces, access for humanitarian agencies, and talks to end the conflict. The situation has led to widespread displacement and a dire humanitarian situation, with residents resorting to eating animal feed and facing limited access to medical care. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses Xi Jinping's efforts to strengthen China-Africa relations through a summit amid economic challenges and debt disputes. Topics discussed include China's strategic investment in Africa, the shifting dynamics of global trade, and the impact of Chinese financing on Africa's economic development.

The Zamzam displacement camp in Sudan's Darfur region is experiencing a severe famine, with emaciated children dying from lack of food, clean water, and medicine. The camp, home to over 500,000 people, is facing dystopian conditions, with desperate mothers feeding their children leaves and others seeking shelter in knee-deep water due to flooding. The crisis is man-made, caused by the closure of border crossings for humanitarian aid by Sudan's military and the blocking of relief efforts by the Rapid Support Forces. Aid groups are struggling to provide assistance, and the situation is dire, with children dying every two hours on average. [Extracted from the article]

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, civilians like Innocent Bizimana continue to suffer the consequences of the country's 30-year war. Bizimana, an 18-year-old who was kidnapped by a militia and forced to join their ranks, had his left leg amputated after a shell exploded in front of him. The conflict in eastern Congo, fueled by regional governments and militias vying for control of the region's natural resources, has displaced over 1.5 million people since 2022. Both the Rwandan-backed M23 militia and the Congolese army have been accused of recruiting child soldiers and committing human rights abuses. The situation is worsening, with fears that the M23 could take the city of Goma, causing further displacement and suffering. [Extracted from the article]

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has announced the launch of a new national currency called Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) in an effort to address years of monetary instability. The current Zimbabwe dollar has lost around three-fourths of its value this year. The new currency will initially be valued at 13.56 ZiGs for $1 and will later be determined by the market. The currency will be fully backed by Zimbabwe's reserves of U.S. dollars and precious metals, particularly gold, and the central bank has pledged to end the practice of issuing more money to finance government spending. However, some economists remain skeptical about the prospects of stability, arguing that the government needs to align its spending with its income. Zimbabwe abolished the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009 due to hyperinflation and operated on foreign currencies until the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar in 2019. The value of the local currency has since collapsed, with the majority of transactions being conducted in U.S. dollars. The new currency is expected to make it easier for customers to pay in cash and alleviate the burden of carrying large amounts of bills. [Extracted from the article]

Scores of children have been kidnapped by jihadists in Nigeria, sparking painful memories of the 2014 abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok. The exact number of children taken varies, with estimates ranging from 117 to 319. The abductors are believed to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap) or other factions of Boko Haram. This recent kidnapping is a blow to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's government, which is already facing discontent over rising food and fuel prices and frequent kidnappings for ransom. The abducted children are likely to face difficult and traumatic experiences, including forced marriages, conscription into fighting, and sexual exploitation. [Extracted from the article]

Russian intelligence agencies are spreading disinformation in Africa to undermine U.S. influence and cast doubt on Western public-health programs, according to U.S. officials. The disinformation campaign includes an online news service called "African Initiative," which criticizes Western public-health efforts and promotes Russian narratives. Some staff members of African Initiative have ties to the Russian paramilitary organization Wagner Group. The State Department is working to counter Russia's role in shaping media abroad and disrupt its plans to spread disinformation in Africa. Russia has a history of spreading disinformation on medical issues, and its efforts to manipulate information have increased as it tries to counter U.S. attempts to isolate it following the invasion of Ukraine. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the complex relationship between France and its former African colonies, particularly under President Emmanuel Macron. It highlights a meeting between French and U.S. officials regarding a military coup in Mali, where the French proposed potential successors to the ousted leader, but the U.S. declined to offer support. The article also discusses the backlash against France in francophone Africa, with accusations of underdevelopment and government mismanagement. This has impacted U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the region, as local militaries are forming security ties with Russia. Despite French efforts to combat jihadist groups through Operation Barkhane, they have struggled due to a lack of government services in neglected areas, leading to the rise of Islamist groups. Communication mistakes, accusations of racism, and reliance on questionable African leaders have further complicated the relationship. [Extracted from the article]

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia group in Sudan, has recently taken control of several cities and towns in central Sudan, including areas that were previously havens for people displaced from the capital, Khartoum. This has led to a mass exodus of approximately 300,000 people from Sudan's second-largest city, Wad Medani, and nearby towns. The RSF's rapid advance has raised questions about the military's ability to defeat the militia and secure full control. The situation has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis, with millions of Sudanese facing hunger and the disruption of vital agricultural production. Aid agencies are struggling to raise funds to respond to the crisis, and many displaced people are in desperate need of assistance. [Extracted from the article]

A plan to prevent debt crises in developing countries by encouraging them to borrow in their own currencies has backfired. Instead of using local-currency bonds to phase down foreign-currency borrowing, cash-strapped governments have relied on them to cover budget shortfalls, leading to high interest payments that drain their balance sheets. This has caused economic crises in countries like Sri Lanka, Ghana, and Pakistan. The high cost of local-currency borrowings has also complicated debt relief efforts for poor countries and created disagreement between the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Despite the challenges, some economists argue that domestic-debt markets have proven to be a resilient funding source for larger economies. [Extracted from the article]

Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER and ELENA BECATOROS; Associated PressBAILOUTBRUSSELS -- Greece has made progress convincing the rest of the euro zone that it should get a €130-billion ($170-billion) bailout - but [...]

Byline: Gabriele Steinhauser, The Associated Press Eurozone leaders on Thursday agreed to a sweeping deal that will grant Greece a massive new bailout -- but likely make it the first [...]

A militia in Sudan, known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has been blamed for killing hundreds of people in a refugee camp in Darfur. Witnesses, human rights groups, and aid agencies have reported that the RSF systematically targeted male residents of the camp. The United Nations Refugee Agency estimates that around 800 people were killed, but local activists believe the number could be higher. This attack has raised concerns about a potential repeat of the genocide that occurred in Darfur two decades ago, when Sudanese-Arab militias killed an estimated 300,000 people. The RSF denies responsibility for the attack, but the U.S., U.N. agencies, and rights groups have all accused them. The conflict in Darfur has resulted in the displacement of millions of people and a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions on the brink of famine. The RSF, led by Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has gained territorial gains with the help of outside support, including from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The international community has been urged to take action to prevent further bloodshed and support Sudanese refugees. [Extracted from the article]

The Sytii T-shirts were first distributed in Bangui late last year by a Russian cultural center Sytii runs in that city, after Sytii was injured by a bomb mailed to him there, according to people familiar with Wagner's operations. Keywords: leder; wsjinvestigations; wsjworld; Metal Ore Mining; Non-metallic Mineral Mining/Quarrying; Aerospace/Defense; Basic Materials/Resources; Business/Consumer Services; Defense Equipment/Products; Gemstone Mining EN leder wsjinvestigations wsjworld Metal Ore Mining Non-metallic Mineral Mining/Quarrying Aerospace/Defense Basic Materials/Resources Business/Consumer Services Defense Equipment/Products Gemstone Mining N.PAG N.PAG 1 09/26/23 20230923 NES 230923 Following Prigozhin's death, business school grad Dmitry Sytii is working to preserve the group's multibillion-dollar African operations T-shirts have appeared on the streets of the Central African Republic's capital recently picturing a bearded man with flowing hair and an almost saintly look. In the weeks since Prigozhin's death, Sytii has worked to preserve Prigozhin's legacy in the continent, according to a Wagner business partner and a European security official. A list of contacts from Sytii's cellphone in 2018 obtained by All Eyes on Wagner, a nonprofit that monitors the mercenary group, suggests the extent of his involvement with Wagner's corporate ventures. [Extracted from the article]

Real Estate/Construction, Real Estate, Africa, BRICS Countries, Emerging Market Countries, Developing Economies, Johannesburg, South Africa, Southern Africa, Political/General News Keywords: Real Estate/Construction; Real Estate; Africa; BRICS Countries; Emerging Market Countries; Developing Economies; Johannesburg; South Africa; Southern Africa; Political/General News EN Real Estate/Construction Real Estate Africa BRICS Countries Emerging Market Countries Developing Economies Johannesburg South Africa Southern Africa Political/General News N.PAG N.PAG 1 09/05/23 20230901 NES 230901 Blaze rips through city-owned structure linked to the decline of the city's once-glitzy downtown Photo: @ODIRILERAM/X via Reuters JOHANNESBURG - They are known as hijacked buildings - dilapidated and abandoned structures that have been taken over by squatters. After Nelson Mandela was elected the country's first Black president, migrants from nearby countries such as Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique - all of them much poorer than South Africa - followed. [Extracted from the article]

By The Associated Press Byline: DAVID RISING, GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BERLIN (AP) -- Germany has backed down from its resistance to boosting Europe's financial firewalls, after Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted that [...]

By The Associated PressByline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSERBRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union's executive arm said Wednesday it plans to withhold euro495 million ($655 million) in EU development funds from Hungary after [...]

By The Associated PressByline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER, SARAH DiLORENZOBRUSSELS (AP) -- After more than 12 hours of talks, the countries that use the euro reached an agreement early Tuesday to hand [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER, PAN PYLAS ZURICH (AP) -- The war of words between Europe and private investors heated up Tuesday as talks to reduce Greece's massive [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union warned Thursday that the 17-country eurozone could slip into 'a deep and prolonged recession' next year as [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union plans to force the region's biggest banks to raise billions of euros in capital to better withstand [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- The Belgian state will buy the national subsidiary of embattled bank Dexia for [euro]4 billion ($5.4 billion) and provide tens [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- Germany's chancellor says she would support a Europe-wide move to recapitalize banks across the continent if such a moves was [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- Stocks rose around the world on Tuesday as investors shrugged off signs of deteriorating economic sentiment in Europe and hoped [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- The world's largest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev NV said Thursday that second-quarter profits rose by more than a quarter as higher [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- The eurozone's hope that it could enjoy a summer lull in its crisis has vanished as quickly as it appeared. [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union said Monday it will restart food aid to North Korea after the country's repressive communist regime agreed [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER, PABLO GORONDI GODOLLO, Hungary (AP) -- Europe's top financial officials said Friday that Portugal will need around [euro]80 billion ($114 billion) in rescue [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- The cost of spinning off its stainless steel unit and higher raw material costs pushed ArcelorMittal into a fourth quarter [...]

By The Associated Press Byline: GABRIELE STEINHAUSER BRUSSELS (AP) -- European Union governments must make further cuts to their budgets, overhaul their pension systems, and make sure their banks are [...]

Douglas Chikobvu, a nurse at Gweru Provincial Hospital in Zimbabwe, said he has watched about a dozen nurses from his surgical ward move to take jobs abroad in recent years. Despite seeing the effects of the medical brain drain in his country, Chikobvu is currently applying for nursing jobs in the U.S. and opposes restrictions on rich countries hiring nurses from poor ones. [Extracted from the article]