Africa in Geopolitical Transition: Sahel Military Blocs (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger & AES), ECOWAS Fractures, Sudan Civil War & Great Lakes Conflict

Which three West African countries jointly withdrew from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confederation?

According to reports by the African Union and international agencies, which two African nations experienced successful military coups in 2025?

The ongoing civil war in Sudan is being fought between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and which paramilitary organization?

Which strategic mineral, abundant in eastern DRC and indispensable for manufacturing capacitors in smartphones and electronics, is commonly known as coltan?

Which rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has been at the center of the conflict involving neighboring Rwanda?

With which breakaway territory did landlocked Ethiopia sign a controversial 2024 Memorandum of Understanding to secure 20 km of Red Sea coastal access?

Which small nation in the Horn of Africa strategically hosts foreign military bases for the United States, China, France, Japan, and Italy?

Following its military takeover, which country revoked operating permits for major French nuclear group Orano at the Imouraren uranium mine?

According to United Nations humanitarian assessments, approximately how many people were internally displaced or forced into refugee status by the Sudan Civil War by 2026?

With reference to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) formed by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, consider the following statements: 1. The member states have coordinated joint security operations and established a confederation outside of ECOWAS. 2. The alliance has shifted its external security partnerships away from France towards the Russian Federation. 3. All member states of the AES possess coastlines along the Gulf of Guinea providing direct maritime trade access. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the geopolitical and economic dimensions of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): 1. Eastern DRC contains significant global reserves of coltan, cobalt, copper, and tin. 2. The conflict in eastern DRC involves the M23 rebel movement and tensions with neighboring Rwanda. 3. The International Court of Justice has ruled that multinational corporations are legally exempt from due diligence rules regarding conflict minerals. Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), consider the following statements: 1. It was established by the Treaty of Lagos in 1975 to foster economic integration across West Africa. 2. It maintains a regional peacekeeping and intervention military mechanism known as ECOMOG. 3. The headquarters of ECOWAS is located in Johannesburg, South Africa. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the geographical and strategic importance of the Horn of Africa: 1. It comprises countries including Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. 2. It overlooks the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. 3. Ethiopia is the only nation in the Horn of Africa with direct access to sovereign deepwater maritime ports. Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, consider the following statements: 1. Darfur borders the neighboring countries of Chad, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. 2. Famine conditions classified as IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) have been confirmed in displaced person camps in North Darfur. 3. The conflict in Darfur is entirely localized with zero involvement of international aid agencies or regional actors. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the African Union (AU) and its constitutional stance on unconstitutional changes of government: 1. The Lomé Declaration (2000) and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance mandate the suspension of states experiencing military coups. 2. The African Union suspended the membership of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea following their respective military takeovers. 3. The African Union maintains a permanent seat with veto power in the United Nations Security Council. Which of the statements given above are correct?