Africa – War Watch

Africa | Americas | Asia Pacific | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Canada | China | Donald Trump | Europe | European Union | Gaza | Global development | Governance | Human rights | International law | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Morocco | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Press freedom | Protest | Protest (US) | Russia | Trump administration | US news | US politics | World news

Trump-led abuses amid ‘democratic recession’ put human rights in peril, HRW report says
ByKaren McVeigh February 4, 2026

Rights group says growing authoritarianism and abuses in US, Russia and China threaten global rules-based orderThe world is in a “democratic recession” with almost three-quarters of the global population now living under autocratic rulers – levels not …

Read More Trump-led abuses amid ‘democratic recession’ put human rights in peril, HRW report says
Africa | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Egypt | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices

Palestinians hope for more after limited Rafah crossing opening – video
ByMiddle East and north Africa | The Guardian February 3, 2026

A dozen Palestinian returnees were allowed into Gaza from Egypt late on Monday night after the long-awaited reopening of the Rafah border crossing was marred by delays. Their arrival came hours after a small group of medical evacuees was ferried into E…

Read More Palestinians hope for more after limited Rafah crossing opening – video
Africa | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Egypt | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | World news

Handful of sick and wounded Palestinians allowed through Rafah crossing on first day
ByLorenzo Tondo and agencies February 2, 2026February 2, 2026

Numbers Israel permitted to enter Egypt after reopening border were far lower than expected following delaysA small number of sick and wounded Palestinians have begun crossing into Egypt to seek medical treatment after Israel permitted a limited reopen…

Read More Handful of sick and wounded Palestinians allowed through Rafah crossing on first day
Africa | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Donald Trump | Europe | Gaza | International Criminal Court | International criminal justice | International law | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Law | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Ukraine | War crimes | World news

International law meant to limit effects of war at breaking point, study finds
ByDan Sabbagh Defence and security editor February 2, 2026

Report covering 23 conflicts over last 18 months concludes more than 100,000 civilians have been killed as war crimes rage out of controlAn authoritative survey of 23 armed conflicts over the last 18 months has concluded that international law seeking …

Read More International law meant to limit effects of war at breaking point, study finds
Afghanistan | Africa | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Cate Blanchett | Culture | Donald Trump | Drama films | Europe | Festivals | Film | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Migration | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Rotterdam film festival | Short films | Somalia | South and central Asia | Syria | Ukraine | World news

Displacement Film Fund review – Cate Blanchett masterminds short film collection that brims with life and intensity
ByPeter Bradshaw January 30, 2026

Rotterdam film festivalA set of shorts by film-makers from Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, Syria and Somalia are shocking, funny and mysterious in equal measureWith considerable chutzpah and elan, and in her capacity as producer and UNHCR Goodwill ambassad…

Read More Displacement Film Fund review – Cate Blanchett masterminds short film collection that brims with life and intensity
Africa | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | South Africa | World news

South Africa expels top Israeli diplomat over ‘insulting attacks’ on president
ByRachel Savage in Johannesburg January 30, 2026

Ariel Seidman declared persona non grata and given 72 hours to leave country after remarks on social mediaSouth Africa has ordered Israel’s top diplomat to the country to leave within 72 hours, citing “insulting attacks” on South Africa’s president Cyr…

Read More South Africa expels top Israeli diplomat over ‘insulting attacks’ on president
Africa | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) | Ilhan Omar | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Somalia | US news | World news

‘Political thunderstorm’: inside Trump’s attacks on the Somali community
ByNesrine Malik January 28, 2026

The US president’s clamp down on immigration and flouting of the rule of law in Minnesota is entrenching long-established reserves of solidarity• Don’t already get The Long Wave in your inbox? Sign up hereHello and welcome to The Long Wave. This week, …

Read More ‘Political thunderstorm’: inside Trump’s attacks on the Somali community
Africa | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Charities | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Society | South Sudan | UK news | World news

‘It has been overwhelming’: Sudanese friends complete 900-mile UK walk
ByJessica Murray Social affairs correspondent January 22, 2026

Giel Malual and John Kuei trekked from Dungeness to John o’Groats to raise funds for new schools in SudanWhen Giel Malual set out to walk the length of the UK to raise money to open a school for displaced children from his home country of Sudan, he did…

Read More ‘It has been overwhelming’: Sudanese friends complete 900-mile UK walk
Africa | Africa Cup of Nations | Africa Cup of Nations 2025 | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Football | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Morocco | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Senegal | Sport | World news

Inside the magic and chaos of the Africa Cup of Nations
ByMorgan Ofori January 21, 2026

While Senegal’s victory in the chaotic final has made the headlines, we look at five other big takeaways from the tournament – from the strong diaspora representation to the floor-filling tunes• Don’t get The Long Wave delivered to your inbox? Sign up …

Read More Inside the magic and chaos of the Africa Cup of Nations
Africa | Africa Cup of Nations | Africa Cup of Nations 2025 | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Football | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | London | Middle East and north Africa | Morocco | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Senegal | Sport | UK news

Confidence runs high in London’s Little Morocco as Afcon glory beckons
ByMatthew Weaver January 17, 2026

Atlas Lions face Senegal in final of Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday and Moroccan diaspora scents victoryLondon’s Little Morocco is brimming with pride and anticipation. The Moroccan diaspora in North Kensington is in no doubt that on Sunday the Atlas …

Read More Confidence runs high in London’s Little Morocco as Afcon glory beckons