Photo : AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AFP
CHAD
Chad declares state of emergency after deadly Boko Haram attacks in Lake Chad region
On 08 May, Africa News reported that Chad declared a 20-day state of emergency in the violence-hit Lake Chad region following a wave of deadly attacks blamed on Boko Haram. Government spokesman Gassim Cherif said authorities reviewed the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation marked by renewed militant attacks, civilian displacement and growing threats to people and property. The announcement came after at least 26 Chadian soldiers, including two senior generals, were killed in ambushes this week, prompting nationwide mourning and intensified military operations. The violence followed a major assault on the Barka Tolorom military base along Lake Chad, where at least 24 soldiers were killed and several others wounded. President Mahamat Idriss Deby also thanked Nigeria for supporting ongoing counterterrorism coordination. The Lake Chad region, which borders Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger, has long served as a stronghold for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters, with attacks on regional forces intensifying in recent months. (“Chad declares state of emergency in Lake Chad region after Boko Haram attacks,” Africa News, 08 May 2026)
SOMALIA
Somali pirates abandon hijacked Emirati dhow in Arabian Sea due to low supplies
On 07 May, Al Jazeera reported that Somali pirates abandoned the hijacked Emirati dhow Fahad-4 in the Arabian Sea after failing to use the vessel to launch attacks on other ships amid heightened maritime security alerts. Puntland security officials said the 11-member pirate group had seized the lemon-laden dhow in late April near the coastal town of Dhinowda in northeastern Somalia before attempting to use it as a “mothership” for further operations in Somali waters. The pirates reportedly abandoned the vessel on 04 May after supplies ran low and increased vigilance among commercial ships prevented additional attacks. The fate of the crew remains unclear. The incident is part of a broader resurgence of Somali piracy that has raised international concern, with the Joint Maritime Information Centre recently elevating piracy threats in the Indian Ocean to “severe”. Maritime monitors say several vessels, including the Honour 25 and the Eureka, remain under pirate control, amid claims that naval patrols have been diverted towards the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz crises linked to the US-Iran conflict. (“Somali pirates abandon hijacked UAE dhow due to dwindling supplies,” Al Jazeera, 07 May 2026)
KENYA
Kenya says 19 citizens killed fighting in Ukraine amid concerns over Russian recruitment
On 08 May, Africa News reported that Kenya said 19 of its citizens had been killed while fighting on the Ukrainian frontline after being recruited into the Russian military, while 32 others remained missing and two were being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine. Speaking before a Senate committee, Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said the number of Kenyans enlisted in Russian forces had risen to 291, with 53 recruits already repatriated. Kenyan intelligence services reportedly estimate that more than 1000 citizens may have been recruited after being lured by promises of lucrative jobs before being deployed to the warfront. Mudavadi said the deaths occurred on the frontline and noted that he had visited Moscow in March to hold talks aimed at stopping what Kenyan officials describe as the forced conscription of Kenyans into the conflict. The issue has triggered growing outrage in Kenya following investigations exposing how African recruits were allegedly deceived into joining Russian military operations, with Deputy Foreign Minister Abraham Korir Sing'Oei condemning Russia’s use of Kenyans as “cannon fodder”. (“19 Kenyans killed fighting in Russia-Ukraine war, 32 missing,” Africa News, 08 May 2026)
MALI
JNIM attacks in central Mali kill more than 30 people
On 08 May, Africa News reported that two attacks in central Mali claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) killed more than 30 people, with local and security sources saying the assaults targeted the villages of Korikori and Gomossogou. Sources said the attacks, which also involved looting and arson, were likely carried out in retaliation for actions by the Dan Nan Ambassagou militia, while victims reportedly included militia members as well as teenagers and children. The violence comes less than two weeks after coordinated offensives by JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) targeted military positions and key towns, including Kidal and Kati, deepening Mali’s security crisis and strengthening armed group control in parts of the north. The attacks have also triggered a wave of arrests and alleged abductions of opposition figures and military personnel by the junta, amid accusations of internal complicity in the recent assaults. (“Twin jihadist-claimed attacks kill more than 30 in central Mali,” Africa News, 08 May 2026)