Refugees

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center reports conflicts and violence have pushed the number of internally displaced people to a record-breaking high of 75.9 million people, with nearly half of all IDP’s living in sub-Saharan Africa. Cameroon’s military has moved more than 300 civilians rescued from Boko Haram terrorist captivity to a northern Cameroon military post. Zambia continues to negotiate with commercial and official creditors on restructuring its external debt.

The United States and other countries are pushing ahead with diplomatic efforts to establish a cease-fire between Israel and the militant Hamas group, as Israel threatens an assault on the Gaza city of Rafah. Hundreds of political parties and independent candidates have registered for South Africa’s election on May 29, as the ruling African National Congress faces the prospect of losing its majority for the first time. Egyptian businessman and Sinai militia leader Ibrahim al-Organi has been appointed head of Egypt's Arab Tribes Union, a paramilitary entity uniting five tribal groups under one umbrella to confront national security challenges.