Sudan, Iraq, South Africa

Today's three stories you should know

Sudan

At least five civilians were killed by a drone strike in Sudan’s capital Khartoum, an NGO said, puncturing months of relative calm in the city since it was recaptured by government forces in March 2025. Emergency Lawyers blamed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, which has been at war with Sudan’s military-led government for more than three years, for the attack. Drone use has become increasingly common in the conflict and, according to the U.N., more than 700 civilians were killed in drone strikes in the first three months of the year. The conflict has caused the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

More from Al Jazeera here.

Iraq

An Iraqi court has sentenced four people to six years in prison on charges of promoting the ideas of former leader Saddam Hussein’s banned Ba’ath party. After the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, a process known as de-Ba’athification was launched to purge state institutions of party members and officials, leading to mass dismissals across the public sector, including the military, education and civil service. While a number of former officials have been allowed to return to service, people with de-Ba’athification rulings against them are still not allowed to occupy senior government or security roles. The legacy of the policy remains controversial, particularly among the country’s Sunni minority.

More from AP here.

South Africa

Some 130 Nigerians have asked the Nigerian government to evacuate them from South Africa after a wave of anti-immigration protests and attacks against foreigners. Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the repatriation scheme was voluntary and that she expected more people to sign up. South Africa has a long history of such protests, with immigrants scapegoated over unemployment and economic troubles. Nigeria summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner in Abuja over the violence, and Odumegwu-Ojukwu said in a statement that “Nigerian lives and businesses in SA must not continue to be put at risk." More protests are planned for this week.

More from Africa News here.