Month: October 2025

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, and Jordan have strongly condemned the mass killings allegedly carried out by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the recently captured city of El-Fasher, amid mounting evidence of widespread atrocities. The condemnations follow a report by researchers at Yale University, which revealed satellite imagery showing clusters of bodies and large patches of red discoloration consistent with scenes of mass killings. The images were taken after RSF forces took control of El-Fasher, the Sudanese army’s last major stronghold in Darfur. According to Sudanese officials, at least 2,000 people have been killed since the RSF entered the city, while aid agencies report credible evidence of summary executions, sexual violence, and house-to-house raids targeting civilians. El-Fasher’s fall has effectively given the RSF control over most of Darfur and sparked fears of a potential breakup of Sudan, more than a decade after the creation of South Sudan. Regional Outrage and Calls for Action Saudi Arabia expressed “deep concern and condemnation of the grave human rights violations,” urging the RSF to fulfill its duty to protect civilians. Egypt called for an “immediate humanitarian truce” and pledged continued support to help Sudan overcome its crisis. Turkiye condemned the “atrocities committed against civilians” and urged an immediate cessation of hostilities, safe passage for civilians, and unhindered humanitarian access. Qatar described the events in El-Fasher as “horrific violations” and called for renewed dialogue to end the conflict. Jordan also joined in denouncing the violence, calling for restraint and a ceasefire to safeguard civilian lives. Egypt, Turkiye, and Qatar reaffirmed their support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, rejecting any attempt to divide the country. Unprecedented Violence The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab said the RSF appeared to be conducting “alleged mass killings” after seizing El-Fasher. Satellite imagery from Airbus revealed gun-mounted trucks in formation across the city, and numerous objects “consistent with human bodies” lying near RSF vehicles. Nathaniel Raymond, the lab’s executive director, described the violence as “unprecedented,” noting that many of the bodies appeared in areas where they had not been seen 48 hours earlier. “Those objects now litter the city,” he said, adding that warnings of such a massacre had been raised for months. The report concluded that the RSF’s actions “may be consistent with war crimes and crimes against humanity” and could potentially “rise to the level of genocide.” International Concern Grows UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking from Malaysia, said the fall of El-Fasher marked a “terrible escalation” in Sudan’s war and called for an end to foreign military support for both the RSF and the Sudanese army. He warned that “external interference” was deepening the conflict and undermining hopes for peace. The RSF, which emerged from the notorious Janjaweed militia responsible for atrocities during the 2000s Darfur conflict, has not responded to the latest allegations. The United States has previously accused the group and its allies of committing genocide in the ongoing war. Yale’s report concluded with a stark warning: “The world must act immediately to put maximum pressure on the RSF and its backers, specifically the UAE, to end the killing now.

Nigeria’s major seaports have once again failed to make it into the 2025 Lloyd’s List ranking of the world’s top 100 ports, underscoring persistent infrastructure and efficiency challenges within the country’s maritime sector. According to the latest global port performance index released by Lloyd’s Register, only four African ports made the cut — Morocco’s Port of Tanger Med, Egypt’s Port Said and Alexandria, and Togo’s Lomé Port. Morocco’s Tanger Med retained its position as Africa’s leading port, ranking 17th globally after handling over 10.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024 — an 18.9% increase that reinforces its role as a key transhipment hub.Egypt’s Port Said followed at 53rd, processing 3.9 million TEUs despite Red Sea disruptions, while Alexandria recorded strong growth to 2.2 million TEUs. Togo’s Lomé Port rounded out the continent’s presence at 92nd, with over 2 million TEUs handled. Maritime analysts have linked Nigeria’s exclusion to chronic infrastructure deficits, limited automation, and poor logistics connectivity. “Ageing berths, inadequate dredging, and poor hinterland links continue to discourage major shipping lines,” maritime expert Emmanuel Onyema explained. He noted that “without integrated rail and road access, even new facilities like the Lekki Deep Sea Port cannot reach full potential.” Another analyst, Chinedu Ogbonna, stressed that inefficiencies — rather than lack of trade — are the primary barrier. “Infrastructure creates capacity, automation ensures reliability, and connectivity moves goods efficiently. Without all three, Nigerian ports remain unattractive to global carriers,” he said. The Lloyd’s List report noted that global container traffic rebounded strongly in 2024, reaching 743.6 million TEUs — up 8.1% year-on-year — as global trade flows recovered from pandemic-era disruptions. While Asia continues to dominate with Chinese ports handling over 40% of total throughput, Africa’s growth has been constrained by high operating costs, limited automation, and the ongoing Red Sea security crisis, which has disrupted key maritime routes. Experts say Nigeria must urgently invest in modern port infrastructure, streamline customs processes, and enhance multimodal connectivity to re-enter global maritime rankings and compete effectively within West Africa’s growing trade corridor.