A landlocked nation in Central Africa beset by violence, poverty, and shifting external ties.
The US embassy in Namibia emphasizes strict adherence to visa rules, warning travelers about overstays and document fraud. Meanwhile, the UK issues broad travel warnings for multiple countries, citing safety and legal concerns. Both stories highlight increased scrutiny on international travel and visa compliance as global mobility rises.
Pope Leo has embarked on a 10-day, 11-city tour across Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, traveling nearly 18,000 km. The trip aims to draw global attention to Africa's religious and political issues, emphasizing Catholic-Muslim dialogue, peace, and resilience amid conflicts. This is the first visit to Algeria by a pope.
The Central African Republic has seen some signs of improvement as displacement slows and aid-funded activities resume. Yet funding for 2025 and 2026 remains critically short, raising the risk that gains will unravel. The UN and partners warn that continued shortfalls threaten life-saving relief for millions, with IDPs and refugees relying on fragile programmes to survive.
A set of new data shows a sharp drop in folic acid and iron supplies reaching crisis-affected and low-income countries, intensifying anaemia risks for pregnant women. Rising maternal deaths are linked to conflict, displacement, and shrinking humanitarian aid, while early results from US-supported cash programs offer guarded optimism.
The U.S. is deporting migrants to third countries, including the Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea, under opaque deals that rights groups condemn as a way to bypass court protections. Several migrants have faced or risk persecution; some have returned to their home countries with IOM assistance, while lawsuits and international bodies scrutinize the policy.
The Central African Republic’s Special Criminal Court is hearing the sixth case linked to crimes by security forces under former President François Bozizé. Bozizé, 79, lives in exile in Guinea-Bissau and is tried in absentia for crimes including murder, torture and enforced disappearance. Three former senior officers are also on trial; the case follows years of conflict and violent factionalism in CAR.