Africa

Sudan informed the International Court of Justice that the United Arab Emirates violated the Genocide Convention on Thursday by supporting paramilitary groups in Darfur. The UAE, however, argued that the case should not be heard as the court lacks jurisdiction. Sudan requested that the judges issue an emergency order to prevent the attacks of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and other Arab militias in West Darfur in 2023, which were documented by. The United Arab Emirates are complicit in the genocide of the Masalit, according to Sudan's acting Justice Minister, Muawia osman. The UAE have repeatedly dismissed Sudan's case...

The major Gulf stock markets rose early on Tuesday following gains in Asian stocks, recovering from a global selling off on hopes that the United States would be willing to negotiate its high import tariffs. Saudi Arabia's benchmark Index advanced 2% on track to extend gains made in the previous session. This was led by Al Rajhi Bank's 2.3% increase and Saudi National Bank's 2.1% rise. Saudi Aramco, the oil giant, rose by 1.2%. The Saudi index fell 6.8% on Sunday, its largest one-day drop since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. A survey revealed that the non-oil...

South Sudan has refused to accept its repatriated nationals. Many in Africa are concerned that the country may return to civil conflict. The Trump administration in the United States has taken aggressive steps to increase immigration enforcement. This includes repatriating people who are deemed to have entered the U.S. unlawfully. The Administration has warned countries who do not quickly return their citizens to face sanctions, such as visa restrictions or tariffs. South Sudan failed to adhere to the principle of? South Sudan had failed to respect the principle that? ? Rubio stated that the United States Department of State will...

In a video message released on Saturday, Sudanese Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that he would crush the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. He reaffirmed the commitment of the military to restore national unity and stability. Burhan said that fighters who "repent of the truth" and lay down their weapons, especially those in rebel-held regions, could still receive amnesty if they do so. On Saturday morning, the army announced that it had taken over a large market in Khartoum’s twin city, Omdurman. The RSF had used the market to launch attacks against civilians during the devastating war of two years...

The reported house-arrest of Riek Makar, the former bush leader who later became South Sudan's first Vice President, marks a new chapter in the turbulent relationship between him and his rival President Salva Kiir after a five year civil war. Both men are now in their 70s. In 2013, they launched a war that resulted in hundreds of thousands deaths as the newly-independent nation was split along ethnic lines, with Kiir leading Dinka forces and Nuer fighters who were allied with Machar. The war was ended in 2018 with a peace agreement, but the bitter rivalry between them cast a...

Investors are waiting for clarity about U.S. president Donald Trump's policy on trade ahead of the looming tariffs. Trump's recent comments have given traders hope that trade policies can be flexible. He hinted on Monday that not all tariffs will kick in until April 2, and that certain countries may receive exemptions. However, he did not provide any details. Trump escalated his trade conflict by introducing secondary tariffs of 25% on countries who buy oil or natural gas from Venezuela. The move caused oil prices to rise initially, but its impact was mitigated later by the relief brought about by...

According to a summary shared by a source in the market, Nigeria's Dangote refinery released a tender Tuesday for 128,000 metric tonnes of residual fuel oil to be sold in April. Summary showed that the 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), Dangote refinery, will close its tender on Wednesday, 1200 GMT. It is looking for buyers of 88,000 tons low-sulfur straight run fuel oil, and 40,000 tonnes of slurry for loading between April 10-12. The refinery didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. According to IIR, Dangote's 204,000 barrels per day gasoline production unit will be shut down for 30...

Four sources said that OPEC+ would likely stick with its plan to increase oil production for a second month in a row in May. This is despite the steady price of oil and plans to make some members reduce their pumping to compensate past overproduction. OPEC+, a group consisting of OPEC producers and allies led by Russia and pumping over 40% of world oil. The group plans to increase its output by 135,000 barges per day in the month of May. This would be the second increase in a plan that aims to undo some of the millions barrels per...

The Tunisian president Kais Saied fired Prime Minister Kamel Mddouri, less than one year after his appointment. He named Sara Zaafarani to replace him, amid a faltering economic situation and an increasing number of migrants coming from sub-Saharan Africa. Zaafarani is an engineer and has served as Minister of Equipment and Housing in 2021. He is the third Prime Minister to be elected in less than two and a half years. Saied has been harshly criticizing the performance of many ministers in recent months. He said that they had not met the standards required and that Tunisians have high expectations....

As part of their efforts to prevent the recent escalating tensions between factions from turning into a new war, a group of East African countries called on South Sudan's Government to release officials detained and lift security measures. South Sudan is officially at peace after a 2018 deal that ended a five year civil war in which forces loyal to President Salvakiir fought against those loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar, and nearly 400,000 died. The relationship between the two rivals who have dominated the political scene of the oil producer for decades remains strained. Many people believe that...

The Gulf's stock markets fell on Tuesday morning as U.S. trade tariffs threatened an increase in global trade tensions. Saudi Aramco also disappointed investors with its disappointing earnings. The new tariffs of 25% on imports to the United States from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 20% increase on Chinese goods, went into effect on Tuesday. This sparked new trade disputes with three of the U.S.'s top trading partners. Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index fell 1.1%. Saudi Aramco fell 2.2% after a decline in profit. The oil giant reported Tuesday a net loss of $106.2 billion for 2024. This...

The flow of Russian naphtha to Asia fell to an all-time low in February after new drone attacks on Russian refinery infrastructure. This led to higher prices in the East for the raw plastic material. Naphtha can be used as a feedstock to produce petrochemicals, which are then used in the production of plastic bottles, electric vehicle components and consumer products. Since Washington announced tougher sanctions against entities in the Russian oil business, Asian refiners have seen their profits from making naphtha increase by around 40%. Industry sources have said that the risk of Russian supplies could complicate a global...

Four sources confirmed that Congolese officials, as well as negotiators from the M23 rebels, who are supported by Rwanda, have arrived in Doha to hold talks on a ceasefire. The aim is to end months of fighting which have caused fears of an expanded regional conflict. M23's rapid advances this year have left thousands of civilians killed, hundreds of thousands displaced and the rebels in control of much of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an area rich with tin and gold. Both delegations confirmed they were in Qatari capital, saying that there had been a face to face meeting on...

The price of tin fell to a two-month low on Wednesday, after Alphamin Resources Corp announced that it would resume operations in phases at its Bisie Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Alphamin stopped operations at Bisie a month ago. The plant produces about 6% global tin supply a year. This was as M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, advanced in the area and took over the strategic town Walikale. In a Wednesday statement, Alphamin said that the insurgents had now withdrawn to Walikale. This is more than 130km (80miles) east of the mine. The price of soldering material on...

Four sources familiar with the negotiations said that the United States was trying to broker a deal which would guarantee a reopening of an important tin mine located in eastern Congo. Massad Boulos' recent trip to Kinshasa as the senior Africa advisor for U.S. president Donald Trump included a discussion on the fate of Alphamin’s Bisie Mine, according to the sources, even though Washington’s involvement dates back several weeks. Washington and Kinshasa are also in talks about a broader deal on critical minerals partnerships, after Congo pitched a minerals-for-security deal to the Trump administration. Bisie produced around 17,300 tons of...

An industry official said that Madagascar's textile sector could lose around 60,000 jobs due to President Donald Trump’s 47% tariff against the country. The latest U.S. Tariffs were calculated using a formula that meant low-income countries such as Madagascar, which imported small quantities of U.S. products, faced the highest tax rates. According to an ILO report from 2023, the textile and clothing industry in Madagascar employs approximately 180,000 people. It accounts for about one-fifth the gross domestic product of the country. In 2024, the country of 31,000,000 people will export $733 million worth of goods to the U.S. Most of...

He said late Tuesday that the former Congolese President Joseph Kabila would return to central Africa to help solve the crisis in war-ravaged eastern Congo, where Rwandan-backed M23 M23 rebels had seized large swathes. Since January, the M23 rebels have launched a lightning-fast offensive in the mineral-rich eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo. This has resulted in thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of people being forced to flee their homes. It also stoked fears of an escalating regional conflict. Sources from the Congolese government, M23 and other sources confirmed this week that the peace talks between Congo...

The major stock markets of the Gulf gained ground in the early trading on Wednesday. This was after recent losses caused by global trade wars and economic concerns. Trump increased duties on Chinese imports by 104%, accusing Beijing of manipulating yuan in order to offset the levies. But caution won out. China did not bow down to this blackmail and vowed to "fight until the end". Trump's tariffs on specific countries and products have been in effect since 0401 GMT. Saudi Arabia's benchmark Index gained 0.4%. Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma'aden rose 2.2%. Ma'aden may choose at least one foreign...

Petra Diamonds - the third largest diamond producer in the world - announced on Wednesday that it would delay the sale of gems produced at its Cullinan Mine, located in South Africa, until the U.S. Tariffs were clarified. As part of its regular tenders, the company had already sold diamonds in its Finsch mine (also in South Africa) and its Williamson Mine in Tanzania, before U.S. president Donald Trump unleashed an avalanche of tariffs on last week. Why it's important The tariffs on U.S. imported products, ranging from diamonds to dental floss, have caused companies to rethink how they do...

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad appointed Tadesse Worede on Tuesday to lead the interim government in the northern Tigray Region, where divisions within the ruling party has sparked concerns of a new war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Tadesse was a commander of the Tigray People's Liberation Front during the war between Ethiopia's Federal Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front in 2020-2022, which resulted in the deaths of tens thousands of people, as well as the forced displacement of millions. Eritrean troops fought alongside Ethiopia's Federal army during the conflict. However, relations between the two long-time rivals has soured since...

These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Headlines - UK auto industry gets tariff relief by lowering EV targets - Britain will relax rules for hedge funds and smaller private equity firms UK will scrap or merge even more quangos as part of anti-regulation drive - US closes on crucial minerals deal with DR Congo View the full article After President Donald Trump's 25% tariff on global auto sector exports to the U.S., the British government has lowered its targets for electric cars, and lowered...

The only option for U.S. trade partners in the current trade war with Donald Trump is to sue. Most countries that are hit by tariffs of 10%-50% on their exports, to the dominant economic superpower in the world, lack the firepower or political will to fight back, according to government officials, economists, and trade experts. The vast majority of Trump's trading partners didn't immediately respond and instead indicated their willingness to negotiate with him a compromise that would save face. Even those who have counter-measured left the door open to negotiations. China, who on Friday imposed an additional 34% tariff...

President Donald Trump’s senior advisor for Africa revealed during a Thursday visit that the United States was in talks with Congo to invest billions in the mineral-rich country and to end a conflict that is raging there. The Democratic Republic of Congo has huge reserves of cobalt and lithium, among other minerals. It has been fighting Rwandan-backed M23 Rebels, who have taken over large areas of its territory in this year. The U.S., which on Wednesday sent shockwaves across the world by announcing a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, said last month that it is open to exploring critical...

During a Thursday visit, the senior adviser to President Donald Trump for Africa revealed that the United States was in talks with Congo to invest billions in the mineral-rich country. The United States also wants to end a conflict in eastern Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo has huge reserves of cobalt and lithium, as well as uranium, amongst other minerals. It has been battling M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, who have taken over large areas of its territory in this year. The U.S., which on Wednesday sent shockwaves across the world by announcing a 10% baseline tariff on all...