**Summary:** Morocco's Ministry of Interior announced that authorities thwarted 73,640 irregular migration attempts in 2025, marking a 6.4% decrease compared to the previous year.

**Key points:**
- Authorities dismantled over 300 human trafficking networks during the year.
- Search and rescue operations in the sea saved 13,595 migrants who received medical and social support.
- A total of 4,372 migrants were assisted in returning to their countries of origin through voluntary programs.

**Why it matters:** The data highlights Morocco's ongoing role in managing regional migration pressures and its strategic shift toward a comprehensive approach to border security and human trafficking.

hespress.com - المغرب يجهض 73 ألف محاولة هجرة

Morocco Reports 73,640 Intercepted Irregular Migration Attempts in 2025

**Summary:** The NASA Artemis II crew has released high-resolution images of Earth taken from the Orion spacecraft as they begin their 10-day mission toward the Moon. This marks the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo program ended in 1972.

**Key points:**
- The crew, including commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover, will orbit Earth twice before performing a translunar injection.
- The mission aims to observe the Moon's far side and utilize lunar gravity for a free-return trajectory back to Earth.
- One captured image clearly displays the northwest coast of Africa, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Iberian Peninsula.

**Why it matters:** This mission represents a historic return to crewed lunar exploration, testing the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft for future deep-space travel.

api.axios.com - PHOTO: See Earth from Artemis II's POV

subrayado.com.uy - La foto de la Tierra que sacaron desde el Artemis II durante su viaje hacia la Luna

latercera.com - NASA publica primeras imágenes de la Tierra desde nave Orión de la misión Artemis II

NASA's Artemis II Mission Captures First Images of Earth During Lunar Journey

**Summary:** Armed youth groups and ongoing conflict in South Sudan have led to a failed cattle raid in Warrap State and a humanitarian crisis in Jonglei State, where infrastructure destruction is threatening the survival of children.

**Key points:**
- Warrap State authorities reported that armed youth from Unity State attempted a pre-dawn raid on a Luacjang cattle camp but were repelled by local forces.
- UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban stated that 28 health facilities in Jonglei State have been damaged or destroyed this year.
- The violence in Jonglei has caused widespread displacement and reports of child abductions, leaving families without access to basic necessities like vaccines and clean water.

**Why it matters:** The surge in intercommunal violence and infrastructure destruction is exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis, further endangering the lives of millions of children in South Sudan.

eyeradio.org - UNICEF: Violence in Jonglei State puts children’s lives at risk

sudanspost.com - Warrap repels Unity State youth raid on Luacjang cattle camp

Escalating Violence and Cattle Raiding Incidents Reported in South Sudan

**Summary:** The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claims to have shot down a second U.S. F-35 fighter jet during an alleged airspace incursion, while U.S. officials have not confirmed the incident.

**Key points:**
- Iranian military officials stated the aircraft was destroyed by air defense systems in the country's central region.
- Tehran reported that the pilot had minimal chances of survival following the explosion.
- The incident follows a March 19 event where the U.S. military confirmed an F-35 made an emergency landing after a combat mission, though Iran claimed the aircraft sustained severe damage.
- The reported downing occurs amid ongoing regional military tensions and efforts to revive nuclear negotiations.

**Why it matters:** The claim of a second downed U.S. aircraft significantly escalates military tensions between Iran and the United States, potentially impacting regional stability and ongoing diplomatic efforts.

api.axios.com - U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran, search underway for crew

france24.com - Iran`s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it struck US F-35 jet

latercera.com - Irán asegura haber derribado segundo caza F-35 de EE.UU. en medio de ofensiva con Israel

Iran Claims Downing of Second U.S. F-35 Fighter Jet

**Summary:** Myanmar's military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has been elected president by the country's pro-military parliament, formalizing his control five years after the 2021 coup.

**Key points:**
- Min Aung Hlaing, who served as commander-in-chief since 2011, resigned from his military post on Monday prior to the vote.
- The election follows a lopsided poll in December and January that was widely criticized by Western governments as a sham.
- The president-elect appointed Ye Win Oo, a former intelligence chief, as his successor to lead the armed forces.
- Anti-junta groups, including ethnic minority armies and members of the ousted administration, have formed a new coalition to oppose the military government.

**Why it matters:** The transition to a civilian-guised presidency is viewed by analysts as a strategic effort by the junta to consolidate power and gain international legitimacy amid an ongoing civil war.

deccanchronicle.com - Myanmar Junta Chief Min Aung Hlaing Elected As President

japantoday.com - Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing elected president by pro-military parliament

Myanmar Junta Chief Min Aung Hlaing Elected President

**Summary:** United States President Donald Trump has dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi, who served in the role for one year. The decision follows intense scrutiny regarding her handling of records related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

**Key points:**
- Todd Blanche, the current Deputy Attorney General, will serve as the acting Attorney General.
- President Trump praised Pam Bondi as a loyal friend and patriot, stating she will transition to a role in the private sector.
- The dismissal marks the second high-profile cabinet departure this year, following the removal of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in March.
- Reports indicate that President Trump is considering Lee Zeldin, the director of the Environmental Protection Agency, as a potential successor.

**Why it matters:** The departure of the Attorney General amid controversies surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files signals ongoing instability within the presidential cabinet and potential shifts in the administration's legal priorities.

AlMomento.net - EEUU: La fiscal general, Pam Bondi, abandona el cargo

France 24 - Trump fires loyalist Pam Bondi as US attorney general

Diario Financiero - Donald Trump destituye a la fiscal general de Estados Unidos, Pam Bondi

El Comercio - Trump destituye a Pam Bondi, fiscal general de Estados Unidos

La Tercera - Trump despide a fiscal general Pam Bondi tras un año tumultuoso de tropiezos en los archivos de Epstein

Le Monde - Pam Bondi, limogée par Donald Trump, va quitter le ministère de la justice américain

Donald Trump dismisses Attorney General Pam Bondi

**Summary:** Cameroon's President Paul Biya has convened a parliamentary congress to review a constitutional amendment that would introduce a vice-presidential position, a move seen as a significant shift in the nation's presidential succession process.

**Key points:**
- The proposed amendment allows the President to appoint a vice-president who would complete the presidential term in the event of a vacancy.
- The parliamentary congress, gathering both the National Assembly and the Senate, is scheduled to deliberate on the bill from April 2 to April 5, 2026.
- The vice-president would be appointed by the head of state, who also retains the authority to delegate powers and terminate the vice-president's functions.
- This constitutional change follows President Paul Biya's re-election in October 2025 for an eighth consecutive term.

**Why it matters:** The introduction of a vice-presidency fundamentally alters the constitutional order of succession in Cameroon, concentrating power within the executive branch and addressing long-standing questions regarding the country's political future.

jeuneafrique.com - Au Cameroun, Paul Biya propose au Parlement l’instauration d’une vice-présidence

camer.be - :: Le président de l’Assemblée nationale consacre l’« union sacrée » derrière Paul Biya

camer.be - :: Constitution camerounaise : Biya crée un vice-président et réécrit la succession en quatre jours

Cameroon's Parliament Convenes to Debate Constitutional Amendment for Vice-Presidency

**Summary:** Ghanaian President John Mahama and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa held bilateral talks in Accra to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, mining, and agriculture, while celebrating their countries' shared history of African liberation.

**Key points:**
- President Mnangagwa expressed gratitude for Ghana's support in calling for the removal of Western sanctions against Zimbabwe.
- The leaders discussed enhancing connectivity, including potential direct air links between Accra and Harare.
- President Mnangagwa announced Zimbabwe's bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.
- The visit included a state banquet highlighting the historical personal and political connections between the two nations.

**Why it matters:** The meeting signifies a strategic effort to bolster economic integration between West and Southern Africa, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive development.

Ghanamma.com - Mahama calls for stronger intra-African trade

MyJoyOnline - Ghana–Zimbabwe ties go beyond diplomacy

MyJoyOnline - Ghana, Zimbabwe explore closer ties in trade, energy, agriculture

MyJoyOnline - Zimbabwe’s president hits out at Western sanctions, thanks Ghana for support

Ghana and Zimbabwe Strengthen Bilateral Ties During State Visit