In his remarks before a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump praised early steps his administration has taken to slash the bureaucracy, order steep tariffs on America’s closest trading partners, and pressure Ukraine to stop fighting against a Russian invasion. Germany’s development ministry says it will suspend new financial commitments to Rwanda over that country's alleged support of the M23 rebels in neighboring eastern Congo, which Kigali denies. Residents of Juba have expressed concern over the deployment of the South Sudan People's Defense Forces at the residence of the First Vice President Riek Machar Teny amid fear that it could spark fresh violence in the country.

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi has rejected calls for direct dialogue with the M23 rebels. President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol building; such speeches historically focus on domestic issues, not foreign policy. The United States plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles and in Nigeria, which relies on used cars from the U.S., there are fears the tariffs could drive up car prices.

Airstrikes in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, have intensified, causing widespread civilian casualties. Calm is returning to Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel movement, which controls the city, has ordered schools to resume operations after a brief suspension. Thousands of people said farewell to Namibia’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, who led the country to independence in 1990.

The United States government has terminated thousands of foreign aid grants worldwide and many nonprofit organizations that distributed U.S.-funded medical care in Africa have shut down. Ramadan observances may be difficult for residents of Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which the M23 rebels now control. For more than 50 years, WHUR has been broadcasting to the nation’s capital from Howard University, a historically black institution, offering music, news and education opportunities.

Tunisia has decided to sever all communication with the International Monetary Fund after President Kais Saied said the IMF is overstepping its role and interfering in the country’s economic sovereignty. Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre warns that terrorist groups are using new technologies and exploiting political and economic grievances to expand, leading to a review of the national counter-terrorism strategy. Israelis are in mourning as a young mother and her two small sons, who were killed in Hamas captivity, are buried, just days before the end of the first stage of the current ceasefire.

South Africa plans to make sure that debt relief for the continent is high on the agenda at the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors going on in Cape Town. An expert warms that without effective tools to support U.S. companies, the United States risks losing out commercially in the African market to China and the emerging “middle powers”. Increased attacks and fighting have forced Doctors Without Borders – or Médecins Sans Frontières – to stop providing medical assistance in the huge Zamzam camp for displaced persons near El Fasher in Sudan's North Darfur region.

A new study by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington shows that fatalities and violent events linked to militant Islamist groups in Africa occurred at a near-record pace, with the Sahel and Somalia accounting for 79 percent of such deaths. Botswana authorities say at least nine people were confirmed dead, as rare flooding hit the semi-arid country after record rainfall. The Vatican says 88-year-old Pope Francis remains in critical condition but has shown a "slight improvement” after nearly two weeks in the hospital.

M23 fighters have marched unopposed through Bukavu, three weeks after taking over Goma, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s biggest city, but what does the group want and who is backing it? Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Justice Department to pause prosecutions of Americans accused of bribing foreign officials to enhance economic competitiveness. There have been nationwide celebrations in the United States to mark Black History Month, including a White House reception with President Trump and a parade in Los Angeles.

Africa News Tonight is a lively news magazine show featuring VOA correspondent reports, interviews with African officials, opposition leaders, NGOs and human rights activists. News feature stories look at science and technology, environmental issues, humanitarian topics, and the African diaspora.

UNICEF is warning of multiple disease outbreaks in Africa. UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Yann Grandin in Nairobi tells VOA’s Carol Van Dam that this year, 17 out of 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa are facing public health emergencies including outbreaks of cholera, mpox and viral haemorrhagic fever, which are threatening the safety of children.