Sudan Frontline Update: The Sudanese army says it captured al-Baraka on the outskirts of al-Kurmuk in Blue Nile, near the Ethiopian border, after clashes with RSF militants, claiming the area was “fully secured” and that vehicles and equipment were seized or destroyed. Humanitarian Pressure: The fighting is deepening one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with famine, mass displacement, and reports of thousands missing. Regional Diplomacy Noise: While Sudan’s war grinds on, foreign ministers across Muslim-majority states have condemned Somaliland’s planned “embassy” in occupied Jerusalem as “illegal and unacceptable,” including Sudan among the signatories. Security Institutions: In Zimbabwe, Freedom House ranks the country among the least free in SADC, while in South Africa, the Phala Phala saga continues to fuel political/legal battles—background to how accountability fights keep resurfacing across the region. Africa Day Lens: Across the continent, Africa Day 2026 celebrations are tied to themes like unity and water sustainability, even as conflict and governance gaps keep progress out of reach.