Africa Conflict Daily Brief - 12 February, 2026

This daily brief examines heightened military posturing and strategic deployments amid ongoing diplomatic engagement, as major powers balance deterrence, signaling, and negotiation. It assesses force movements, operational readiness, and alliance dynamics alongside parallel diplomatic tracks, highlighting indicators that shape escalation risk and crisis management across multiple theaters. The brief is designed to support timely situational awareness by contextualizing tactical developments within broader geopolitical and security trends.

           SOMALIA

• The Federal Republic of Somalia was elected to the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the 2026–2028 term. The election took place within the framework of the African Union and involved the Somali government.

• Somalia’s Director General of the National Communications Authority, Mustafa Yasin Sheikh, visited TCIRT, the National Monitoring System, TÜRKSAT, and ULAK in Türkiye. Discussions focused on cooperation between Somalia and Türkiye in cybersecurity, spectrum management, and satellite services.

• The Director General of ICA Somalia, Abdiwahab Ahmed Duhulow, met with Türkiye’s Ambassador to Somalia, Alper Aktaş, in Mogadishu. The meeting addressed bilateral cooperation between Somalia and Türkiye in migration management, capacity building, and visa services.

BURKINA FASO

• IS-Sahel claimed it killed 18 JNIM militants in the villages of Djika and Pelhoute near Arbinda in northern Burkina Faso. The attack was carried out by IS-Sahel and targeted JNIM elements.

• JNIM claimed it had taken control of a VDP position in Kaya, Burkina Faso. The statement was issued by JNIM and the target was local volunteer defense forces.

NIGER

• Eight people were killed after a vehicle struck an IED near Baroua in the Diffa region of Niger. The explosion occurred in Niger and was caused by an improvised explosive device.

MALI

• JNIM claimed it carried out an ambush against an army patrol in the Niono region of Segou.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo signed a five-year agreement with a U.S. investment company to conduct AI-supported geological surveys to improve mapping of the country’s mineral resources. The agreement was signed at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, and Atlas Park will share findings with the national geological service.

• The Angolan Presidency announced a proposed ceasefire between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the M23 armed group, set to take effect on February 18 at 12:00. The proposal followed a meeting in Luanda between Angolan President João Lourenço, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, and African Union mediators.

• DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) drones conducted airstrikes targeting several AFC/M23 positions around Mpety in the Kisimba group, Walikale territory, North Kivu. The strikes were carried out by FARDC against M23 positions.