19 Kenyans killed fighting in Russia-Ukraine war, 32 missing

NAIROBI, Kenya 

Kenya's foreign minister said on Thursday 19 citizens had died fighting on the Ukrainian frontline and 32 others were missing, as criticism mounts over reports of the forced enlistment of Kenyans into the Russian army.

Speaking during a Senate committee session, Musalia Mudavadi said the number of Kenyans enlisted in the Russian army has risen to 291 from the previous figure of 250.

The east African country's intelligence services have put that figure much higher, estimating that more than 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited into the Russian military after being lured by recruiters with false promises of lucrative jobs.

"More details have come forward... (of those) enlisted in the Russian special forces," Mudavadi told the Senate, adding that 53 Kenyan recruits have so far been repatriated.

"We have 19 Kenyans who may have died in Russia. And we have now a figure of 32 missing in action," he said.

A foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed to our reporter the deaths had occurred on the front line.

Two Kenyans are being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine, according to Mudavadi.

The foreign minister visited Moscow in March, where he held talks with top diplomats in a bid to stop the forced conscription of Kenyans to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Multiple investigations have exposed how Russia has enticed men from African countries with promises of lucrative jobs, only to force them into fighting on the Ukrainian front line.

These revelations have caused an uproar in Kenya.

Mudavadi's deputy, Abraham Korir Sing'Oei, denounced Russia's "unacceptable" use of Kenyans as "cannon fodder".

Last salute as South Sudan president fires army chief and finance minister

JUBA, South Sudan 

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has fired his finance minister and the chief of the defense forces, a decree said on Wednesday, in the latest in a series of government changes.

The South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) announced late on Wednesday that Kiir had relieved Salvatore Garang Mabior of his post as finance minister and dismissed General Paul Nang Majok as chief of defense forces.

No explanation was given for the firings.

Salvatore Garang Mabior was appointed finance minister in February 2026, while Gen. Paul Nang Majok was appointed in October 2025.

In another announcement, the president named Kuol Daniel Ayulo as minister of finance and planning.

Kuol had been serving as First Undersecretary of Finance and has held that position several times.

Kiir also reappointed Gen. Santino Deng Wol as chief of defense forces after being dismissed from his position as undersecretary for veteran affairs in the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs.

He previously served as chief of defense forces from April 2021 to December 2024.

The president also reassigned Gen. Paul Nang Majok as undersecretary for veteran affairs in the defense ministry.

In other appointments, Kiir named Clement Juma as minister of agriculture and food security, a position that had been vacant since February this year, and appointed Mahjoub Biel Turuk, a former governor of Jonglei State, as deputy minister of public service, replacing Julius Tabuley.

South Sudan is governed under a 2018 peace agreement whose implementation has repeatedly been delayed. Under the deal, Kiir retains authority to appoint and dismiss senior officials at both national and state levels.

The changes come as the transitional government under Kiir moves to push ahead with amendments to the 2018 peace agreement aimed at paving the way for elections scheduled for December this year.

The proposed changes have been opposed by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the peace monitoring body, and the SPLM-IO, the main opposition faction led by Riek Machar.

Machar, a key signatory to the 2018 deal, was detained in March 2025, later suspended as first vice president and is currently facing treason charges before a special court in Juba.

Several regional and international bodies have repeatedly called on Kiir to release him to restart an inclusive dialogue ahead of elections.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 8/5/2026

 

Mali's junta leader appoints new army chief of staff following attacks

BAMAKO, Mali 

Less that two weeks after a coordinated wave of attacks struck Mali, the country’s junta leader has appointed a new chief of the general staff to the armed forces.

Elisée Jean Dao took office on Wednesday after being promoted from brigadier general in the National Guard to the rank of major general.

Dao takes over from Oumar Diarra who has been named minister delegate to the minister of defence, a role now held by Mali’s transitional president and junta leader, General Assimi Goita.

Former Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed by a car bomb during last month’s attacks.

The reshuffle comes after the army said it has “solid evidence” that certain military personnel helped with the "planning, coordination and execution" of the attacks.

According to media reports, several members of the military and opposition have been detained or abducted in the wake of the April offensive.

Opposition figures Mountaga Tall, Youssouf Daba Diawara and Moussa Djire are among those "abducted," security sources and their allies told our reporter.

Tall, a lawyer, was taken on 2 May in Bamako by hooded men, his family said. He is accused of plotting with opposition figures in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, to overthrow the military government, a security source said.

An intelligence services source confirmed the information. Since his arrest, Tall has been questioned at least once for "attempted destabilisation," sources close to the matter said.

Meanwhile, security sources said that Diawara and Djire were suspected of links with, respectively, the influential imam Mahmoud Dicko and Oumar Mariko, two opposition figures in exile.

"Everything suggests that these events are being used as an opportunity to carry out a purge within the political opposition and the army," a political official said, requesting anonymity for security reasons.

Tunisia court sentences former justice minister to 20 years in prison

TUNIS, Tunisia 

A Tunisian court has sentenced former Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri, a senior figure in the opposition Ennahda movement, to 20 years in prison over allegations linked to the granting of passports and citizenship documents to foreign nationals wanted in terrorism-related cases.

According to Tunisian state media, the case concerns accusations that fraudulent documents were issued during Bhiri’s tenure as justice minister in 2012.

Bhiri and his legal team have denied all charges, describing the case as politically motivated.

Bhiri is already serving a separate 43-year sentence handed down last year in a case related to “conspiracy against state security,” one of several prosecutions targeting opposition figures in Tunisia in recent years.

The ruling comes amid growing criticism from international rights groups over what they describe as an intensifying crackdown on dissent under President Kais Saied.

Since Saied dissolved parliament and expanded his powers in 2021, dozens of politicians, journalists, lawyers and activists have faced arrest and prosecution.

Tunisia, once hailed as the Arab Spring’s only democratic success story, has increasingly faced concerns over judicial independence and civil liberties as opposition leaders continue to receive lengthy prison sentences.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 7/5/2026

 

Uganda parliament passes controversial ‘Sovereignty Bill' after amendments

KAMPALA, Uganda 

Uganda’s parliament has passed a contentious new law critics warn could be used to silence dissent, despite last-minute amendments aimed at softening some of its provisions.

The so-called “Protection of Sovereignty Bill” was approved late Tuesday after a heated debate, with lawmakers backing changes that removed a clause classifying Ugandans abroad as “foreigners” and exempted certain institutions — including medical, academic and faith-based organisations — from restrictions on foreign funding.

The legislation criminalises actions deemed to promote “the interests of a foreigner against those of Uganda” and labels individuals or groups receiving foreign funding as “agents of foreigners.”

Those convicted under the law could face prison sentences of up to 20 years.

“This is a historic bill,” said parliamentary speaker Anita Among, as supporters hailed the move as a step toward safeguarding national sovereignty.

The bill’s proposer argued it was designed to protect Uganda’s self-governance “without undue external interference,” and bars designated “agents” from engaging in political activities linked to foreign interests.

However, rights groups, opposition figures and sections of the business community have strongly criticised the law, warning it mirrors “foreign agent” legislation used in countries like Russia to crack down on civil society.

Human Rights Watch said the bill uses vague language that could be broadly applied to target activists and organisations, adding it risks further shrinking civic space in a country already accused of suppressing dissent.

Opposition MP Gilbert Olanya warned the legislation could damage Uganda’s economy and create a punitive legal environment, but calls to withdraw the bill were overwhelmingly rejected.

The move comes under the long rule of President Yoweri Museveni, in power for four decades, whose government has faced repeated accusations of authoritarianism and repression of political opponents.

Arsenal defeats Atlético Madrid to book a place in the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years

LONDON, England 

It’s been a long, long journey but Arsenal is finally back in the Champions League final.

A goal from homegrown star Bukayo Saka, a desperate lunge to poke home a rebound, was all that was needed to send the Gunners through to Budapest on May 30. 

They await the winner of the Paris Saint-Germain-Bayern Munich – the Parisians lead that Champions League semifinal tie 5-4 with the second leg looming on Wednesday in Bavaria.

Saka’s goal didn’t exactly live up to the beauty standards of the previous generation of Arsenal stars who took the North London club to the Champions League final, but – after years of pretty passing that ended up falling apart against the toughest teams – it’s hard to imagine anyone at the Emirates cared tonight.

In a raucous stadium experiencing one of its most historic nights, Arsenal held Atlético Madrid at bay for much of the tense 90 minutes. 

Goalkeeper David Raya was hardly troubled, though he did have to make one or two key saves that kept the Madrid club from getting back into the match.

In the end, Arsenal ended up being on the front foot into the dying moments and could have had one or two more through Viktor Gyökeres and the rest of the Gunners’ young squad. 

It was staunch defending and control of the ball in midfield – two key aspects of the game that the club’s Invincibles knew well – that ended up clinching the tie for the Londoners.

Wayne Rooney might be right in pointing out that the Gunners haven’t won the trophy just yet, but it’s a night of celebration for the red-and-white clad supporters spilling into the North London streets. 

They’ll surely revel in the bit of early May rain streaming down – North London Forever indeed.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 6/5/2026