Capital city of Ethiopia, global hub and political heartbeat
Since late May more than 160,000 foreign nationals have returned or been repatriated from South Africa, with governments reporting 115,000 back to Zimbabwe and 56,000 to Malawi; many returns have followed protests that have targeted migrants, sparked violent attacks and diplomatic rows across Africa. Petitioners have asked the ICC to examine whether the violence and state failures constitute crimes against humanity.
Clashes have intensified between Ethiopian federal forces and the TPLF in western Tigray near the Sudan border. Civilians are fleeing, and both sides accuse the other of violating the Pretoria peace deal. The fighting follows months of deteriorating relations since the Pretoria agreement and raises fears of a wider conflict in the region.
A week of developments in Ethiopia shows a surge in climate resilience and digital security. The Green Legacy Initiative plants hundreds of millions of trees, while the government tightens cyber-security rules to protect critical infrastructure amid its digital expansion.
Independent Ethiopian outlets face escalating government pressure. Journalists detained or harassed, offices raided, and licenses revoked as authorities push for tighter control over reporting on unrest and elections. CPJ urges due process and the protection of press freedom.
Sudan's army-backed authorities are promoting a national dialogue while critics demand a ceasefire and addressing root causes. The AU and regional actors are intensifying mediation efforts, with civilians calling for guarantees, justice, and inclusive participation. The landscape remains fragmented as fighting continues.
The Sudanese war enters a new phase as SAF advances in key fronts, RSF defections rise, and regional powers face ongoing calls for a humanitarian truce. Drones and long-range strikes continue to target civilians and critical infrastructure, prompting fresh international concern.
The UK has announced more than £100m in support for malaria, dengue, HIV, TB and pre-eclampsia research through ten partnerships from 2024/25 to 2027/28, while warning that aid cuts by wealthy nations threaten progress. The plan includes diagnostic tools from King’s College London and the TB Alliance, and builds on prior malaria vaccine work. The package comes as aid budgets face reductions and foreign policy shifts.
A set of recent reports shows farmers adapting to increasingly unpredictable weather through drought-tolerant crops, smarter irrigation, and climate-smart farming. From Wales and Scotland to Africa and East Africa, communities are expanding local cultivation, improving soil health, and building resilience against droughts, floods, and rising temperatures.
A series of articles shows how tree-planting and forest management are reshaping climate resilience, biodiversity and policy. From Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative to debates over biodiversity net gain in the UK and sustainable timber in Brazil, the coverage reveals both progress and persistent challenges in sustaining green growth.
World Athletics has awarded Nairobi the 2029 World Championships, marking Africa’s first hosting of the event. Munich will stage 2031, while London and Rome miss out. Kenya touts upgrades to Kasarani Stadium and infrastructure as a historic milestone for African sport.
Tigrayan rebels have seized Mekelle’s airport and a regional hub, triggering flight suspensions and signaling renewed instability in northern Ethiopia as rival forces align against the government. Flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire are halted while authorities assess next steps.
A coalition of seven armed groups has formed to topple Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, escalating violence in northern Ethiopia. After gains in Mekelle and other fronts, flights to Mekelle have been suspended amid the current security situation as clashes widen in Afar and Amhara. The Pretoria peace framework remains challenged as parties accuse one another of violations.
An 87-year-old Madrid tenant has reached a deal with her landlord to return to the flat she occupied for seven decades after nationwide protests. The agreement has capped her rent near her long-standing payment for eight years and has pushed the central government to prepare emergency housing measures for a parliamentary vote this week (30 Sep 2026).
Fighting between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian government has intensified, with the TPLF and its allied groups seizing airports and moving across Afar and Amhara. The conflict risks a return to the 2020–22 civil war, prompting international concern over civilian harm and humanitarian access.
UN officials warn of civilian protection risks as fighting in northern Ethiopia intensifies, airports in Mekelle, Shire and Axum are seized, and humanitarian access is disrupted amid drone usage and internet outages. The UN calls for restraint and safe, unimpeded aid delivery as civilians face growing displacement and hunger.
Fighting in Tigray has intensified, with rebels seizing airports and clashing across Afar and Amhara. NetBlocks reports internet disruptions in northern Ethiopia as the government and allied forces push back, raising fears of a repeat of the 2020-2022 crisis that left hundreds of thousands hungry. The US has lifted some sanctions, while Eritrea’s role remains contested.
Meskel is being celebrated across Ethiopia with bonfires and prayers, while fears of a wider war in Tigray persist as flights are disrupted and families are separated by conflict.
Armed groups have formed an alliance to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration. Explosions have rocked Addis Ababa amid drone ban and ongoing clashes in Tigray; details remain unclear as authorities assess casualties and motives.
Fighting in northern Ethiopia has intensified as federal forces push into Tigray, while opposition groups allied with the TPLF strike Addis Ababa with reported drone activity. Civilians flee and aid access tightens amid regional tensions and accusations of external involvement.
The Tigray conflict has intensified as federal forces retake Mekelle’s airport and push into the city center, while the TPLF withdraws from Mekelle to operate from another location. Regional and international actors warn of a potential wider war in the Horn of Africa.
Leaders from Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan have convened in New Alamein to coordinate on regional security, sovereignty and river governance. The gathering stresses dialogue, respect for international law, and a cooperative approach to Nile water resources and Red Sea security, amid escalating clashes in Ethiopia and Sudan.
The United Nations has warned of serious protections risks for civilians amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia. Officials say aid operations are being disrupted, with thousands displaced and critical infrastructure affected. Leaders and regional partners are urged to de‑escalate and return to dialogue while humanitarian access is protected.