By Azu Ishiekwene The writer is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It. ABUJA, Nigeria | 14 May 2025 (IDN) — Burkinabe leader Ibrahim Traore is acting like a rock star. It’s not entirely his fault. He’s receiving a lot of help from dozens of social media […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: US refuses financial support to AUSSOM
Situation in Sudan (per 12 May) Port Sudan, El Fasher in North Darfur, West Kordofan, North Kordofan and West Darfur all saw heavy fighting in the last week. Over a week of drone attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Port Sudan has led to a shortage of water and disruption in electricity. The […]
Burkina Faso Forging Stronger Partnership with Russia
By Kester Kenn Klomegah MOSCOW, 11 May 2025 (IDN) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Burkina Faso counterpart, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, have agreed to step up efforts to combat growing extremism and terrorism, which is widespread across the Sahel region, an elongated landlocked territory located between North Africa (Maghreb) and West Africa. The cooperation […]
Situation report Horn of Africa: Sudan cuts diplomatic relations with UAE
Situation in Sudan (per 9 May) A series of drone strikes continued to hit Port Sudan throughout this week, some of which caused damage to key infrastructure points of the city, such as fuel depots and an electricity substation. Thursday marked the fifth consecutive day of assaults. Drone strikes also continued to hit Kassala. With […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: Hospital in Old Fangak, South Sudan, deliberately targeted
Situation in South Sudan (per 5 May) A hospital in Old Fangak, South Sudan, was deliberately bombed on 3 May. Two helicopter gunships first dropped a bomb on the pharmacy, completely destroying it, and then bombed the town of Old Fangak for 30 minutes. At least seven people died and 20 were injured in the […]
Japan’s Largest Bank’s Role in Financing Indonesia’s Fire and Haze Crisis
By Alex Helan The writer is a Senior Researcher at Rainforest Action Network. LONDON | 4 May 2025 (IDN) — Trade shocks and geopolitical restructuring likely mean economic instability is the new norm and will be compounded by climate and natural shocks like the fires in Indonesia, Brazil and the United States. Banks’ role in […]
Europe the Superpower
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 30 April 2025 (IDN) — The European Union is not going to face a break-up; however, the Ukraine/Russian conflict goes. Big crises come, but they also go. The Euro currency crisis was not dealt with as well as it should have been — austerity was the policy of the […]
It Is Time For Asia’s MAGA – A Non-Military Quad Alliance
By Kalinga Seneviratne* BANGKOK | 29 April 2025 (IDN) — The current international tariff saga based on a notion of “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) ideology promoted by President Donald Trump and supported by millions of Americans should, one would hope, trigger Asia’s own MAGA (Make Asia Great Again). The latter is shaping up more the […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: Drone strike hits displacement camp in River Nile state
Situation in Sudan (per 28 April) A drone strike by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a displacement camp in River Nile state killed at least 11 people on Friday morning, according to the state governor. The regional power station was also taken out. According to a witness, the strike hit the tents of two […]
Waiting for an African Pope
By Azu Ishiekwene The writer is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It. ABUJA, Nigeria | 27 April 2025 (IDN) — It’s nothing to laugh off, however tempting. If the movies imitate life, we may not be as far away from an African pope. It happened in The Conclave, […]