Mitchel Stuffers
Assistant Editor at CIGH Exeter & PhD Candidate in History, University of Exeter

From African reports on conflict, justice, and climate change to the first-ever Syrian presidential visit to the White House, here are this week’s top picks in imperial and global history.

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How Coup-Proofing In Sudan Has Led To 30 Million In Need Of Humanitarian Aid

Natasha Lindstaedt
Forbes

In 2024 Sudan had 5 billion barrels of oil reserves, placing it on par with other oil-rich states such as Canada (with 4.3 billion) and Mexico (with 5.1 billion). Despite this natural resource abundance, Sudan is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century with the UN reporting that 30 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

The crisis is caused by an ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army—headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (who is Sudan’s de facto president) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), who also served as al-Burhan’s former deputy during the transition period. [Continue reading]

Land is Africa’s best hope for climate adaptation: it must be the focus at COP30

Peter Akong Minang
The Conversation

Agriculture, forestry and other land uses together account for about 62% of Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, land degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss are eroding Africa’s resilience. But land – especially agriculture – has been on the margins of climate change initiatives. Even at the annual global climate change conference, land hasn’t featured much.

This is changing. In September 2025, Africa’s climate community met in Ethiopia, to agree on the continent’s climate priorities ahead of this year’s global climate conference, COP30. They agreed that land could be Africa’s most powerful tool in tackling climate change. [Continue reading]

South Africa’s apartheid-era crimes inquiry is delayed over legal objections

Michelle Gumede
The Independent

An inquiry into allegations that South Africa‘s Black-led governments interfered with investigations into apartheid-era crimes was postponed on its first day Monday over objections to one of the inquiry’s lawyers.

President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the inquiry in April after decades of pressure from families of victims who say post-apartheid governments have failed them by not prosecuting those responsible. The country’s racist system of apartheid officially ended in 1994. [Continue reading]

Between Fact and Fiction: Competing Historical Narratives and Social Media Instrumentalization in Contemporary Lebanon

Myriam Dalal
Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History

Recording of the lecture by Charles al-Hayek during his fellowship at the C²DH.

On 6 November 2025, Lebanese public historian and educator Charles al-Hayek delivered an engaging presentation, as part of his recent fellowship at the Center for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH).

In his presentation, al-Hayek discussed how Lebanon confronts competing national and traditional narratives, each attempting to establish authoritative temporal origins for the nation. By presenting concrete examples from different online platforms and history enthusiast groups, the presentation exposed how the mythologization of the past serves specific political functions, particularly for sectarian parties and geographic constituencies, fostering perspectives that emphasize division over diversity. [Continue reading]

Ahmed al-Sharaa becomes first Syrian leader to visit the White House

 Sean Mathews
Middle East Eye

Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former member of al-Qaeda, on Monday became the first-ever Syrian president to visit the White House, in a reflection of Damascus’s stunning shift from a US-designated sponsor of terror to partner.

Sharaa, whose Islamist rebel forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year, is the first Syrian leader to visit the White House since the country’s 1946 independence from France. The Assad family had courted Russia and Iran as partners.  “We have to make Syria work. Syria is a big part of the Middle East,” Trump said after meeting Sharaa. [Continue reading]