Raila starts South Sudan conflict mediation with 'confidence'

JUBA, South Sudan 

Kenya opposition chief, Raila Odinga has expressed confidence that the crisis in South Sudan will be resolved amicably.

Raila, who issued a statement after meeting South Sudan President Salvar Kiir in the capital Juba on Friday, said he was encouraged by the possibility of a resolution to the conflict.

Raila who was appointed by Kenya's President, William Ruto, to mediate the South Sudan conflict said he had a detailed and fruitful discussion with “my brother, President Salva Kiir”.

“I will be briefing other regional leaders and President William Ruto on my mission and a possible roadmap to sustainable peace and stability,” he stated.

On Thursday, President William Ruto telephoned Kirr following reports of the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and announced that he had dispatched a special envoy to try and ease tensions.

Ruto noted that he consulted President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali before making the decision.

“Had a phone call with President Salva Kiir on the situation leading to the arrest and detention of 1st vice President Riek Machar in South Sudan. After consultations with President Museveni and PM Abiy, I'm sending a special envoy to South Sudan to engage, try deescalate and brief us back,” he wrote on X.

Raila left the country on Friday as he embarked on the new role as special envoy to troubled South Sudan.

He took on the continental job as Ruto’s special envoy, just a month after failing to clinch the African Union top job — an assignment that would have thrust him to the centre of resolution of continental conflicts.

Ruto has taken initiative in spearheading the resolution of the crisis in South Sudan in his capacity as chair of the East African Community (EAC).

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has called on all parties to exercise restraint amid reports of the arrest of Machar.

South Sudan is again teetering on the brink of a full-scale civil war, with the United Nations warning that the situation in the country is “dire”.

Tension escalated after Machar and his wife Angelina Teny, were placed under house arrest on Wednesday night after weeks of clashes between Machar's forces and the South Sudan People's Defence Forces near the capital Juba.

UMISS chief Nicholas Haysom said the country risked losing the “hard-won gains of the past seven years” if the world’s newest nation returned to “a state of war”.

"Tonight, the country’s leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalised Peace Agreement,” Haysom said in a statement on Thursday.

Machar’s party has said the arrest has effectively collapsed the 2018 peace deal that ended the country's five-year civil war.

Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM/IO) said an armed convoy led by top security officials entered Machar's residence in Juba, and disarmed his bodyguards late on Wednesday.

The party said Machar was detained alongside his wife Angelina Teny, who is the country's interior minister.

Putin calls to remove Zelensky, 'finish off' Ukrainian troops

MOSCOW,  Russia 

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Friday for a "transitional administration" to be put in place in Ukraine and vowed his army would "finish off" Ukrainian troops, in hardline remarks as US President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire.

A rapprochement between Washington and Moscow since Trump's return to office and the US leader's threats to stop supporting Kyiv have bolstered Putin's confidence more than three years into an offensive that has killed tens of thousands on both sides.

The renewed call to essentially topple Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was the latest demonstration of the Kremlin leader's long-standing desire to install a more Moscow-friendly regime in Kyiv.

Speaking on the sidelines of an Arctic forum in the early hours of Friday, Putin said Russia could discuss with the United States, Europe and Moscow's allies, "under the auspices of the UN, the possibility of establishing a transitional administration in Ukraine."

"What for? To organise a democratic presidential election that would result in the coming to power of a competent government that would have the confidence of the people, and then begin negotiations with these authorities on a peace agreement and sign legitimate documents," Putin added.

When launching its offensive in 2022, Moscow aimed to take Kyiv in a matter of days, but was repelled by Ukraine's smaller army.

Putin also issued a public call for Ukraine's generals to topple Zelensky, whom Putin has repeatedly denigrated, without providing any evidence, as a neo-Nazi and drug addict.

Moscow has also questioned Zelensky's "legitimacy" as Ukrainian president, after his initial five-year mandate ended in May 2024.

Under Ukrainian law, elections are suspended during times of major military conflict, and Zelensky's domestic opponents have all said no ballots should be held until after the conflict.

Putin, in power for 25 years and repeatedly elected in votes with no competition, has throughout the conflict accused Ukraine of not being a democracy.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 29/03/2025

 

Appalling condition in western RC as rebel groups increase incursions

UNITED NATIONS, United States

An increasingly volatile situation — driven by resurgent incursions by rebel militia groups — is killing and displacing civilians in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Head of the United Nations Mission in that country warned the Security Council Thursday March 27.

“The political and security context remains very tense.” said Bintou Keita, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in that country and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). 

In the country’s east, the Congo River Alliance and M23 supported by the Rwanda Defence Force are consolidating control over the province of South Kivu, threatening to expand into the provinces of Tshopo and Maniema and installing a parallel administration. 

“All parties must honour their stated commitment to silence the guns and pursue a peaceful solution.” she stressed.

Meanwhile, the overall security situation in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri — where over 60 per cent of MONUSCO forces are deployed — remains volatile. 

The Allied Democratic Forces have exploited the security vacuum created by the redeployment of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to launch attacks killing hundreds of civilians.  Further, clashes between the Coalition of Congolese Democrats and Zaïre armed groups have escalated in Ituri. 

According to Keita, the human-rights situation is also deteriorating, with abuses against civilians — including summary executions — and the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 8.2 per cent funded.

In this challenging context, she said, MONUSCO remains fully committed to its mandate, protecting civilians and facilitating Government-led consultations with armed groups. 

However, the dramatic deterioration of the security situation has seriously impacted discussions between MONUSCO and Congolese authorities on the gradual disengagement of the Mission and the transition in South Kivu. 

Reiterating that lasting peace in the east can only be achieved through a political solution, she called for the urgent reopening of Goma and Kavumu airports — lifelines for humanitarian efforts and key to the rotation of MONUSCO troops.

Also addressing the Council was Charlotte Slente, Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council, who said that her organization has been “racing to respond to the erratic and constant movement of internally displaced persons seeking safety” since the end of January. 

The recent explosion of violence in and around Goma has exacerbated the already-dire humanitarian situation in the east and led to 660,000 people being forcibly displaced — in addition to the 6.7 million already displaced across the country at the end of 2024.  

“With little notice, families were kicked out of their shelters, forced to leave with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.” she said.

Detailing the appalling living conditions in makeshift camps, churches and schools, she noted widespread looting, shootings, rampant sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and reports of boys and men being forced to join armed groups.  

“One person told us they wake each morning to find new dead bodies on the streets.” she recalled, adding that 98 per cent of her organization’s case management for human-rights violations has been for rape. 

And, while humanitarian work is under extreme pressure due to recent funding cuts, the displacement crisis will only worsen.  Stressing the need to ensure safe and voluntary return for internally displaced persons, she also called on the Council to ensure humanitarian access across the country.

Veteran VOA journalist, Shaka Ssali dies at 71

VIRGINIA, United States

Africa has lost a towering figure in journalism following the passing of Shaka Ssali, the long-serving host of Straight Talk Africa on Voice of America (VOA).

He died on Thursday, 27 March 2025, just two weeks shy of his 72nd birthday.

Fondly known as the "Kabale Kid," Ssali was a respected journalist whose insightful interviews and fearless discussions on governance, democracy, and human rights earned him recognition across the continent. 

For over two decades, he was the face of Straight Talk Africa, a platform that challenged leaders and empowered citizens.

Born in Kabale, Uganda, Ssali pursued academic excellence, earning a doctorate in cross-cultural communication from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

His career at VOA spanned 29 years, 20 of them as the founder and host of Straight Talk Africa. 

He retired in May 2021, leaving behind a lasting legacy in African media.

It should be remembered that Shaka Ssali’s recent appearance was through a video on social media in which he cleared the air following a death hoax rumour that made rounds in April 2024.

Throughout his career, Ssali remained committed to press freedom and open discourse. 

On his show, he often spoke fondly about how he enlisted in the Uganda Army as a paratrooper, a decision that eventually led him to flee the repressive regime of Idi Amin in 1976. 

Seeking refuge in the United States, Ssali returned to education, earning his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in Cross-Cultural Communications at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

His influence extended beyond journalism, inspiring young Africans to engage in meaningful discussions about leadership and accountability.

His words, "Let’s keep the African hope alive," will continue to resonate with many.

Shaka Ssali’s impact on African journalism is undeniable. He leaves behind a legacy of truth, courage, and unwavering dedication to storytelling.

US urges South Sudan President to release Machar from house arrest

WASHINGTON, United States

The United States has called on South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to release his rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar, from house arrest, urging the country’s leaders to show commitment to peace.

Mr Machar’s party, the SPLM-IO, said on Wednesday that the defence minister and national security chief “forcefully entered” his residence in Juba with an arrest warrant.

A senior SPLM-IO official, Reath Muoch Tang, said in a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj that Mr Machar was being held at home with his wife and two bodyguards. He is accused of involvement in clashes this month between the military and the White Army militia in Upper Nile State.

The US Bureau of African Affairs wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “We are concerned by reports South Sudan’s First Vice-President Machar is under house arrest. We urge President Kiir to reverse this action & prevent further escalation of the situation.”

ALSO READ: Raila to mediate South Sudan's power dispute as new civil war fears mount

South Sudan has five vice-presidents under a 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year civil war between forces loyal to Mr Machar and Mr Kiir. The two rivals now serve in a fragile unity government.

The UN has warned that recent fighting in Nasir between the army and the White Army—a militia historically linked to Machar—along with rising hate speech, could reignite ethnic tensions that fuelled the previous conflict.

Machar’s party denies any current ties to the White Army.

“It is time for South Sudan’s leaders to demonstrate sincerity of stated commitments to peace,” the US Bureau of African Affairs added.

South Sudan’s army and government spokespeople have not yet responded to requests for comment.

ALSO READ: South Sudan army arrests vice president as new civil war fears mount

Analysts say the peace deal is on the brink of collapse. The UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) urged restraint, warning that the country risks sliding back into widespread conflict.

“This will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region,” UNMISS said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Kiir’s government arrested several SPLM-IO officials, including the petroleum minister and deputy army chief, following clashes with the White Army in the town of Nasir.

Groundbreaking South African HIV cure trial shows promising results

KWAZULU NATAL, South Africa

A ground-breaking HIV cure trial conducted in Durban, South Africa, has demonstrated promising results in achieving antiretroviral therapy (ART)-free virus control.

A first for Africa, the HIV cure trial shows that 20% of trial participants remain off ART and are virally suppressed after one-and-a-half years. Results provide insights toward the development of future HIV cure approaches.

The results of the study were presented at the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), in San Francisco, USA.

The study tested a promising HIV treatment approach called combination immunotherapy. The goal was to either eliminate or reduce hidden traces of HIV in the body so the immune system could keep the virus in check without the need for lifelong medication.

In the study, the first HIV cure clinical trial in Africa, the researchers treated participants with antiretrovirals very soon after they acquired HIV. Once the virus was controlled by ART, they administered powerful immune-boosters – which helps the immune system fight the virus more effectively.

Under close medical supervision, participants then stopped ART to see if their bodies could control the virus on their own.

Twenty women were enrolled in the trial – a significant milestone because women are a group disproportionately affected by HIV yet are often underrepresented in cure-related research.

The trial results show that 30% of participants (six out of 20) were able to stay off HIV treatment for nearly a year, and 20% (four participants) remained off treatment until the trial ended at 55 weeks. Even after the trial, these four individuals, who are still being closely monitored, have continued without medication for an average of 1.5 years.

UKZN’s Professor Thumbi Ndung’u who is also the director for basic & translational science at the Africa Health Research Institute, the Victor Daitz Chair and director of the SANTHE Programme, led the trial.

He said, ‘While this treatment approach didn’t work for most participants, it is still a significant development in HIV cure research. Studying how the 20% managed to control the virus on their own will help scientists develop better HIV cure strategies, as well as work out ways to improve future treatments.’

‘This trial is also significant because it proves that complex HIV cure research can be successfully conducted in resource-limited settings where the need is greatest, and highlights the importance of including African populations in global scientific advancements.’

Professor Busisiwe Ncama, Deputy vice-chancellor and Head: College of Health Sciences said, ‘Heartfelt congratulations to Professor Thumbi Ndung’u and his team on their groundbreaking achievement in HIV cure research—the first of its kind in Africa.

Your pioneering study, which has shown that 20% of trial participants remain off ART and virally suppressed after one-and-a-half years, marks a significant milestone in the global fight against HIV. This extraordinary breakthrough not only brings hope to millions but also paves the way for future HIV cure strategies.

Your dedication, innovation and unwavering commitment to to scientific excellence continues to inspire us all. We are immensely proud of your leadership and the impact of your work on healthcare both in South Africa and globally.

On behalf of the UKZN community, I salute you for this remarkable success and look forward to seeing your research transform lives in the years to come.’

The research was led by the HIV Pathogenesis Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the Africa Health Research Institute, the Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, and Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Raila to mediate South Sudan's power dispute as new civil war fears mount

By Our Correspondent, NAIROBI Kenya

Kenyan President William Ruto has appointed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a special envoy to South Sudan following the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, amid fears of renewed conflict.

Odinga is expected to travel to South Sudan on Friday as part of regional efforts to defuse tensions.

Machar, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), was detained in his residence on Wednesday, sparking international concern over a potential return to civil war. His party said security forces loyal to President Salva Kiir surrounded his residence before his arrest.

According to Machar’s press secretary, Puok Both Baluang, and deputy party leader Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, a convoy of armed vehicles, led by South Sudan’s defense minister and national security chief, forced entry into Machar’s home. His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was presented under what his team called “unclear charges.”

Machar remains under house arrest, while aides and security personnel were reportedly detained. The SPLM-IO condemned the move as a violation of the 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan warned the country’s leaders were “on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict.” The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which mediated the 2018 deal, said the crisis risked derailing the peace process and triggering “full-scale war.”

The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs urged Kiir to “reverse this action.”

Kenya, a key player in past South Sudan peace talks, moved swiftly to dispatch Odinga. Ruto said on social media he had consulted with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed before making the decision.

The African Union said it would deploy its Panel of the Wise, chaired by retired Kenyan judge Effie Owuor, to support mediation efforts.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 28/03/2025

 

Norwegian embassy in South Sudan temporarily closed over security concerns

OSLO, Norway

Norway’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it was temporarily shutting its embassy in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, due to the deteriorating security situation in the country.

South Sudan President, Salva Kiir, last week fired the governor of Upper Nile state, where clashes have escalated between government troops and an armed youth group that he accuses of allying with his rival, First Vice President Riek Machar.

Late on Wednesday, Kiir placed Machar under house arrest. An armed convoy led by top security officials, including the defense minister, entered Machar’s residence in the capital, Juba, and disarmed his bodyguards.

The standoff has heightened concerns that the world’s newest country could slide back into conflict about seven years after emerging from a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people.

“The security situation in South Sudan has worsened significantly in recent times. This primarily affects the civilian population but also has consequences for the safety and freedom of movement of our staff. We have therefore decided to close the embassy in Juba until further notice. At the same time, we will continue our extensive engagement in South Sudan,” said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

The Norwegian embassy’s work will be carried out from Nairobi, Kenya, until further notice, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj, adding that the Juba mission would be reopened when the situation allows.

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday raised its travel advisory for South Sudan to the highest level. The ministry now advises against all travel to South Sudan and urges Norwegian citizens in the country to leave.

Norway and Norwegian civil society have been directly involved in South Sudan for more than 50 years. Norwegian aid to South Sudan amounted to 825.6 million kroner in 2023.

Hamas says spokesman killed in Israeli strike on Gaza

GAZA, Palestine

Hamas said an Israeli air strike killed one of its official spokesmen in Gaza on Thursday, the latest high-ranking operative targeted since Israel resumed its bombardment.

The group said in a statement it mourned the loss of Abdul Latif Al-Qanou who was killed in what it called a “direct” strike on a tent he was in, in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza.

A fragile ceasefire that brought weeks of relative calm to Gaza ended on March 18 with Israel resuming its bombing campaign across the territory.

According to the health ministry in Gaza, at least 855 people have been killed since.

Qanou is the latest Hamas official to be killed in recent Israeli strikes.
Israel’s military said last week it had killed the head of Hamas’s internal security agency, Rashid Jahjouh, in an air strike.

Days earlier, Hamas had named the head of its government in the Gaza Strip, Essam Al-Dalis, and interior ministry head Mahmud Abu Watfa, among a list of officials it said were killed in strikes.

The Israeli military confirmed it had killed Dalis, a member of Hamas’s political bureau who became the head of its administration in Gaza in June 2021.

Hamas has also confirmed the deaths of Salah Al-Bardawil and Yasser Harb, both members of its political bureau.

“The occupation’s targeting of the movement’s leaders and spokespersons will not break our will,” Hamas said Thursday.

South Sudan army arrests vice president as new civil war fears mount

JUBA, South Sudan

South Sudan’s main opposition party said its leader Riek Machar has been arrested as the U.N. called on all parties to uphold the 2018 agreement that ended the country's civil war.

The U.N. had warned on Monday that the country was teetering on the edge of a renewed civil war after fighting in thee north between an armed group allied to Machar and government forces.

Machar was “in confinement by the government” and his life was “at risk,” opposition spokesperson Pal Mai Deng said in a video address to the media Wednesday night.

The head of the U.N mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, said following reports of the detention of Machar, all parties should “exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement.”

South Sudan's five-year civil war, in which 400,000 people were killed, ended in a 2018 peace agreement that brought President Salva Kiir and Machar together in a unity government. Machar is one of the five vice presidents in the country.

Tensions have been increasing between Kiir and Machar’s parties and escalated in March when the White Army, an armed group loyal to Machar, overran an army base in Upper Nile state and attacked a U.N. helicopter.

The government responded with airstrikes, warning any civilian in the area where the army group is based to vacate or “face consequences.”

More than a dozen people have died since the airstrikes started in mid-March and the UN warned of a renewed civil war if the leaders do not put the country’s interests first.

“Tonight, the country’s leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalized Peace Agreement,” Haysom said in a statement on Wednesday night.

An opposition official described 20 heavily armed vehicles arriving at Machar's home where he was arrested alongside his wife.

“His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges,” said Reath Muoch Tang, an official in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army - In Opposition.

The U.S. State Department's bureau of African affairs in a statement on X urged Kiir to reverse the house arrest and “prevent further escalation of the situation.”

In early March, several of Machar’s senior allies were arrested by security forces, an action his supporters condemned as a “grave violation” of the peace deal.

Germany and Norway have temporarily closed their respective embassies in Juba. The U.S Embassy further reduced its minimal staff due to security threats and advised Americans who are in the country to prepare to shelter should the “situation deteriorate further.” The British Embassy also said it had temporarily reduced its staff with consular services “severely limited.”

 

Kenya President fires 'firebrand' minister

NAIROBI, Kenya

President of Kenya, William Ruto has nominated Mbeere North Member of Parliament Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku as Cabinet Secretary for Public Service to replace Justin Muturi.

A side-by-side image of President William Ruto and Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Justin Muturi.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by Chief of Staff Felix Koskei on Wednesday, communicating further changes by the President to the Cabinet.

For months now, Muturi has emerged as a thorn in President Ruto's flesh with his bone of contention with his boss revolving around fiery remarks he made against the State over abductions and killings of Gen Z protesters in June and December 2024, where his son was also a victim.

He had even stated that he requested to be excused from Cabinet meetings until the issues of police abductions and extrajudicial killings were on the agenda.

Recently, Muturi bravely said the move to call out his boss falls within his sworn mandate as a public servant, and he should instead be applauded for the same.

Ruto, who had remained tight-lipped over the matter for weeks, broke his silence on Tuesday and branded his Public Service CS as “fairly incompetent”.

Speaking during an Iftar dinner at State House, Nairobi, Ruto said CS Muturi's inept handling in establishing the Muslim Endowment Fund (Waqf) as Attorney General denied the commission an opportunity to manage Islamic endowments.

“I had a problem with the AG who was there before—he was fairly incompetent. But now, I have a very competent lady in the position, and I can assure you that the issues of Wakf will be sorted out within months,” Ruto stated.

In an apparent show of defiance, Muturi took to social media to reply to the President, stating: 
"It must be understood that a Waqf is a religious, charitable or benevolent endowment by a person who professes Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission," Muturi said on his X page. 

Army in full control of Khartoum, Sudan military leader says

KHARTOUM, Sudan

Sudan's military leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has visited the presidential palace in Khartoum, after landing at the city's international airport, just hours after it was recaptured by the army.

Surrounded by cheering soldiers at the venue - a significant symbol of absolute power and sovereignty - Burhan declared the capital "free" of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

"Khartoum is free, it's done," he said.

This is believed to be the first time Burhan has set foot in the presidential palace since the start of the war almost two years ago.

The military-led government was forced to move to Port Sudan on the Red Sea after the RSF seized control of the capital early in the war.

Earlier, an army commander told the BBC that his troops had fully secured the airport and expected to be able to clear the rest of the RSF fighters by the end of day.

The army has been moving swiftly since recapturing the presidential palace on Friday and seizing state institutions taken by the RSF.

The RSF had controlled most of Khartoum since the war began in April 2023. Nationwide, hundreds of thousands have been killed, and millions have been forced to flee their homes.

A army spokesperson also said that troops had recaptured all the bridges over the River Nile that connect the three cities which make up Greater Khartoum, along with a military camp in Jebel Awliya, the group's stronghold in southern Khartoum

Residents have been reporting this week that RSF fighters were retreating southwards, apparently towards Jebel Awliya, the only exit route left to them.

Drone footage released by the army showed people crossing a bridge over the dam there. The BBC wasn't able to verify who they were, but the military said it was RSF fighters fleeing Khartoum.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show some people in central Khartoum celebrating the army's advance after what many have described as a brutal RSF occupation.

Those unwilling or unable to leave have consistently reported mass looting by the RSF, whose fighters took over civilian homes.

Khartoum is one of the areas of the country the UN said was nearing famine conditions, because of looted markets and restrictions on aid by both sides.

Rights groups have also documented sexual violence and other abuses.

Both the RSF and the army have also been accused of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas.

Earlier this week, the air force bombed a market and eyewitnesses said dozens of civilians were killed.

Recapturing Khartoum is an enormous achievement for the army, which could give it a strategic advantage in the war.

But the war is far from over.

The RSF still holds almost all the Darfur region in western Sudan.

Both sides are backed by foreign powers who have poured weapons into the country, and international efforts to broker peace have failed.

Zimbabwe president fires army chief ahead of planned protests

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa acted to consolidate his hold on power with Tuesday’s dismissal of a senior general, political analysts say, amid growing fears of a possible coup by former allies.

Mnangagwa, who took charge after a military coup that ousted longtime ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017, is facing growing dissent within his ZANU-PF party, which has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

Some veterans of the Southern African country’s war of independence have called for countrywide protests on March 31 to force Mnangagwa to step down. They accuse him of deepening the country’s economic crisis and plotting to extend his rule beyond 2028 when his second term is due to end.

Mnangagwa denies those accusations and on Wednesday warned against “people who want to disturb our peace” during a ZANU-PF meeting in the capital Harare.

Analysts say Mnangagwa appears to be increasingly worried about his grip on power has been trying to bolster his position by shaking up the military, police and intelligence leadership.

Tuesday’s removal of Anselem Sanyatwe, Zimbabwe’s second most powerful general and head of the army, was the third such reshuffle by Mnangagwa in recent months. Mnangagwa also removed the chief of police and head of Zimbabwe’s intelligence service.

Political analyst Eldred Masunungure told the privately owned Newsday newspaper that Mnangagwa appeared to be “protecting himself against a potential coup”.

The anti-Mnangagwa war veterans want to replace him with Constantino Chiwenga, a retired general who led the coup against Mugabe and is now the country’s vice president.

Although diminishing in number and advancing in age, the independence war veterans remain influential in Zimbabwe’s politics and retain strong ties with its security chiefs, after fighting alongside them during the liberation struggle.

In his previous role as head of the presidential guard under Mugabe, Sanyatwe played a key role in the 2017 coup. He also oversaw the deployment of soldiers who shot dead six people and injured many others during post-election unrest in August 2018.

Sanyatwe, a close ally of Chiwenga, has been appointed sports minister, replacing Kirsty Coventry, who was elected president of the International Olympic Committee on March 20.