FinPol Digest

  In a horrifying escalation of violence, South Sudanese forces have been accused of dropping makeshift incendiary weapons on civilians, leaving entire villages in flames and children charred beyond recognition. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has exposed a series of deadly airstrikes in Upper Nile State, where government forces allegedly killed nearly 60 people—including children —using improvised firebombs. The attacks, carried out between March 16 and 21, targeted multiple counties, with witnesses describing scenes of unimaginable horror. Survivors reported seeing victims with "black skin peeling off" and one man so badly burned that even his teeth were scorched. The brutality of these attacks has raised urgent questions about potential war crimes. The deadliest strikes hit Mathiang village in Longechuk County, where at least 21 people were killed. Similar attacks devastated Nasir town, where 22 civilians died, and Kuich village, where 15 people—including three children—perished ...

  South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is teetering on the brink of another devastating civil war — and the African Union (AU) is racing against time to prevent it.  A high-level AU delegation, including former Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye and ex-Kenyan judge Effie Owuor, arrived in Juba this week to mediate escalating tensions after First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest . The move has sparked fears of renewed conflict, threatening to unravel the fragile 2018 peace deal that ended a brutal five-year war. The crisis erupted last week when President Salva Kiir’s government accused Machar — his longtime rival — of plotting a rebellion. Machar, who led rebel forces during the 2013–18 civil war, denies the allegations, but his detention has sent shockwaves across the region. Fighting in Upper Nile state between government troops and the White Army militia, once allied with Machar, has intensified, raising concerns that the country could desce...

  South Sudan’s already fragile peace deal is teetering on the brink as Vice President Riek Machar’s arrest sparks fears of renewed conflict . The government accuses Machar of conspiring with rebel factions, while his party, the SPLM-IO, demands his immediate release, warning that the country is dangerously close to another civil war. Yet, despite the escalating tensions, neither side seems willing to fully abandon the 2018 peace agreement — raising the question: Can South Sudan navigate this crisis without plunging back into violence? The arrest of Machar, a key architect of the 2018 peace deal, has sent shockwaves through the nation. President Salva Kiir’s government claims Machar was in contact with rebel commanders, allegedly plotting unrest ahead of planned elections. However, the SPLM-IO insists these accusations are politically motivated, arguing that Machar’s detention is an attempt to sideline the opposition. Information Minister Michael Makuei has tried to downplay fears ...

  A Nation’s Shield Against Chaos The Eastern African nation  Somalia relies on the National Army to battle against the continuing terrorist organization Al-Shabaab . The Somalian military force has fought for twenty years to bring back state government while keeping African and worldwide violence from spreading further. Through international backing the SNA developed from its divided status into a symbol of longitudinal strength encompassing 32,000 personnel made up of 19,000 active service members. The ongoing fight in Mogadishu requires international support to secure global stability due to terrorist dangers which threaten Africa as well as other continents. The Somali National Army conducted its major offensive after 2022 by retaking more than 200 settlements from the Al-Shabaab in Hiraan and Galmudug regions of central Somalia. The counterterrorism operations primarily depend on both Danab Brigade troops trained by the US (2,000 personnel strength) and Gorgor Battalions ...

  After nearly two years of brutal warfare, the Sudanese army is making decisive gains—but will it be enough to finally crush the Rapid Support Forces? The Sudanese military has announced a major breakthrough in the capital, Khartoum, claiming to have surrounded the airport and nearby areas while pushing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) out of key neighborhoods. This marks a significant shift in a conflict that has ravaged the country since April 2023, leaving tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. Eyewitnesses report RSF fighters retreating from eastern Khartoum districts like Burri and Arkaweet, as well as southern strongholds such as Al-Azhari and Al-Sahafa. If these claims hold, it could signal the beginning of the end for the RSF’s dominance in the capital. The army’s latest control map reveals an expanding presence not just in Khartoum but also in White Nile and Kordofan states, regions that have seen fierce battles over the past year. The Sudan Shield Forc...

  The African Union (AU) made a decisive move on June 6, 2019, suspending Sudan from all AU activities  until a civilian-led transitional government was established. This bold decision came after months of political turmoil following the military coup on April 11, 2019, which ousted longtime leader Omar al-Bashir. The AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) emphasized that Sudan’s suspension was necessary to push for a democratic transition, signaling that the continent would no longer tolerate unconstitutional power grabs. But was this suspension a genuine step toward democracy, or just political posturing? The PSC’s decision was a direct response to the Transitional Military Council’s (TMC) failure to transfer power to civilian rule. Despite initial promises of a swift transition, the military continued to hold onto power, leading to violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters. The infamous June 3 massacre, where security forces killed over 100 demonstrators, was the final st...

  The ongoing war in Sudan has taken a dramatic turn with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recapturing key government buildings in Khartoum , including the presidential palace, from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These military gains are not only strategic but could also shift the balance of power in the capital in favor of the government. However, while Sudan’s government is making advances, the conflict is having dangerous ripple effects on its southern neighbor. South Sudan’s fragile coalition government has been thrown into turmoil after last week’s collapse of a crucial peace deal between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. With growing political instability and mounting violence, South Sudan now faces the terrifying prospect of another civil war. The dismissal of the governor of Upper Nile state by President Kiir has further aggravated tensions between his administration and Machar’s faction. Upper Nile has become a flashpoint for violence, as government forc...

  Sudan’s military has declared a significant victory in the ongoing conflict by retaking the Republican Palace in Khartoum, the symbolic heart of the nation’s government. This marks a major milestone in the nearly two-year-long war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who had held the palace as their last stronghold in the capital. Videos circulating on social media show soldiers celebrating inside the compound, chanting “God is the greatest!” as they tread over broken tiles and debris. The palace, once a gleaming symbol of Sudanese sovereignty, now lies partly in ruins, a stark reminder of the devastation wrought by the conflict. The recapture of the Republican Palace is more than just a strategic win; it’s a deeply symbolic moment for Sudan’s military. The palace, immortalized on Sudanese banknotes and postage stamps, has long been a symbol of national pride and governance. Its fall to the RSF in 2023 was a blow to the military’s prestige, and its recapture signa...

  Egypt stands firmly against attempts to establish a separate Sudanese administration because these actions endanger Sudan's national unity and its entire territory and self-rule. Egypt takes an audacious position against the recent Kenya charter signed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary and their allies that declares the control of "peace and unity" zones. Cairo's denial of the RSF's move to establish a parallel government emphasizes the urgent requirement to stop Sudan's ongoing partition because the country has fought against the RSF and Sudan's Army for about two years. The United Nations describes the Sudan conflict as producing one of the worst humanitarian disasters since recent times. The RSF's choice to form a separate government stands as an action that most people believe worsens the situation. On Sunday the Egyptian foreign ministry published a written declaration which denied support for any moves that would jeopardize Su...

  Ahmed al-Sharaa popularly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani has recently assumed a leadership role in Syria and this development has triggered a crest of congratulatory messages from different world’s terrorist groups. Al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham which used to have the connection with the al-Qaeda, removed Bashar al-Assad’s rule, that changed the political cadre of Syria. Among those who congratulated Bin Laden first was al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). What AQAP issued in its official channels was a statement that highlighted Al-Sharaa’s tactical ingenuity and military skills, and interpreted his accomplishment as an indication that jihadist thought form a continued applicable paradigm in modern warfare. They said they expect other countries in the Middle East to emulate this victory. Likewise, the Somali based militant group Al-Shabaab congratulated Al-Sharaa for the feat. The groups also used their communication channels to call for unity of the Islami...

  The recent seniority of a relatively unknown figure, Ahmed al-Sharaa who prior to his rise to leadership at al-Qaeda was identified as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani has provoked different varieties of reactions in different factions of the jihadist community internationally. The prevalent support for Al-Sharaa, who led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and his consecutiveness of power in Syria has drew more than subtle endorsement from several terror groups. This article explores the types of these congratulations and the outcomes concerning the coming future of Syria and the Middle Eastern region as well. Al-Qaeda's Acknowledgment While al-Qaeda, the parent organization through which HTS evolved, has reacted positively to al-Sharaa’s leadership, they are conservative in their enthusiasm as well. Although no official statement to its effect has been produced, persons in the organization close to the matter seem to share this feeling, perceiving al-Sharaa’s ascendancy as a chance to regain pow...