Egypt-Sudan, Madagascar, Eswatini

Today's three stories you should know.

Egypt-Sudan

Paid subscribers who read my deep dive on the inauguration of Ethiopia’s mega dam on the River Nile, will recall I said the proof would be in the pudding as to whether Sudan, and particularly Egypt, would continue to see it as a threat or could be persuaded to see it as an opportunity. Today, a clue in a report from Reuters as surging waters caused flooding in northern Egypt and parts of Sudan. Cairo’s water ministry has accused Ethiopia of unannounced water releases since the Grand Renaissance Dam’s inauguration last month, saying they triggered a “man-made flood.” Ethiopia’s government called Egypt’s statements “malicious and riddled with numerous baseless claims.” This is one to watch.

More from Reuters here.

Madagascar

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has appointed an army general as prime minister a week after dissolving the government in the face of youth-led protests over power and water shortages. General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo had previously sat in a military cabinet under sacked Prime Minister Christian Ntsay. Rajoelina said the country needed a “prime minister capable of restoring order and the people’s trust,” adding Zafisambo’s priority would be to shore up electricity and water supplies. Though Rajoelina fired his entire cabinet, the protests haven’t let up and demonstrators are now demanding his removal.

More from France 24 here.

Eswatini

Eswatini has received 10 third-party nationals deported from the U.S., its government said. The deportees add to five sent to the southern African nation in July as part of a secretive deal with the administration of President Donald Trump. They are to be kept in correctional facilities before being repatriated to their home countries. The Eswatini deal is part of a Trump plan to deport millions of people in the U.S. illegally as part of a sweeping crackdown. The government did not give the nationalities of the 10 new arrivals but the five it received in July were from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba and Yemen. Activists in Eswatini are challenging the deal in court, arguing it is unconstitutional.

More from RFI here.