Africa Conflict Daily Brief - 13 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.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

• The UN peacekeeping mission announced it will deploy reconnaissance flights to Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of preparations to monitor the ceasefire between the government and AFC/M23.

• The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo responded positively to Angola’s ceasefire proposal between the government and M23, set to take effect on February 18, 2026, and praised Angola’s efforts to restore sustainable peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.

NIGERIA

• The Nigerian Army thwarted an attempted ambush by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP militants along the Bulayobe–Darel Jamel axis in Borno State, Nigeria.

SOMALIA

• The African Union Peace and Security Council, at a ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa, called for the urgent deployment of sufficient troops to Somalia to combat Al-Shabaab and for sustainable financing for AUSSOM.

• The African Union strongly condemned and rejected Israel’s unilateral recognition of the so-called “Republic of Somaliland” and called for its immediate revocation.

• Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Marine Transport, Abdirahman Mohamed Nur, met with Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, on the margins of the OIC Transport Ministers’ Conference in Istanbul to discuss cooperation in maritime affairs and port development.

NIGER

• General Ibro Amadou Bacharou, Chief of Staff to Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tiani, called on Nigeriens in a speech in Niamey to prepare for war with France and stated that the country is now heading into war with France. Note: Such rhetorıc is not being used for the first time.

MALI

• JNIM claimed it ambushed an army patrol on the outskirts of Hombori in the Mopti region .

BURKINA FASO

• JNIM claimed that it had taken control of two VDP positions in Namssiguia and Tangaye,

• Local media published footage of JNIM’s attack on the town of Bilanga in Gnagna province, Burkina Faso; the video shows militants securing control of the town and executing two soldiers.