News
OkayAfrica has scoured the internet for today’s major news stories, so you don’t have to.
Every day, OkayAfrica shares a roundup of news we’re following but haven’t published as full articles. These short updates cover what’s happening on the continent — in culture, politics, and beyond. For more on stories like these, be sure to check out our News page, with stories from across the regions.
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DRC Ebola Cases Rise as Towns Go Into Lockdown
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kasai province have imposed confinement measures and set up checkpoints around Ebola-hit areas after suspected cases climbed to 32, with 20 confirmed, and 16 deaths recorded, according to the health ministry. Bulape, where the first case was detected, has been sealed off to prevent the spread, though some residents are reportedly fleeing into the bush to avoid restrictions.
The outbreak — the DRC’s first in three years and the first in Kasai since 2008 — comes as aid workers warn the response is underfunded following cuts to foreign assistance, including the dismantling of USAID under U.S. President Donald Trump. The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent treatments and 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine to protect frontline workers and contacts, but groups like Save the Children say reduced funding is already making it harder to reach communities in need.
Qatar Bars Solo Travel for Nigerian Men Under New Visa Rules
Qatar has introduced new visa restrictions that block Nigerian men from traveling alone, requiring them to be accompanied by family members to obtain tourist or transit visas. The new regulations, which also apply to pending applications, were announced after Qatari authorities cited frequent overstays by Nigerian visitors. Under the rules, applicants must show proof of a confirmed return ticket and hotel booking, with only five-star hotels now accepted for visa processing. While Qatar has long been a popular destination for Nigerian tourists, the tighter requirements are expected to limit individual travel. They could significantly affect Nigerians planning short-term or leisure visits.
Seven Chinese Nationals Jailed in South Africa for Human Trafficking
A South African court has sentenced seven Chinese nationals to 20 years in prison each for kidnapping and forcing Malawian migrants, including 37 children, into harsh labor conditions. The convictions come nearly six years after a police raid on the Johannesburg factory “Beautiful City,” where 91 Malawians were found working 11-hour shifts, seven days a week, without safety gear or proper wages. Workers were smuggled into the country in shipping containers and confined inside the factory, with one survivor describing the food as “unsuitable for human beings.”
The group — Kevin Tsao, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian — was found guilty on 158 charges ranging from human trafficking to labor law violations. Prosecutors and the labor department welcomed the ruling, saying it strengthens South Africa’s fight against human trafficking, which has become widespread due to porous borders and weak enforcement. Authorities called for more collaboration between government departments to prevent similar crimes.
Rights Probe Details Atrocities in Sudan’s War
A UN-backed fact-finding mission has accused both Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of carrying out widespread atrocities that amount to crimes against humanity. Survivors described RSF detention centers as “slaughterhouses,” where detainees were tortured, starved, and denied medical care, while civilians in army facilities faced electric shocks, sexual abuse, and extreme overcrowding. The report also documented forced marriages of girls as young as 12, sexualized torture of men and boys, and systematic attacks on markets, hospitals, and water systems that have left families dying of hunger and thirst.
Investigators say the war, which erupted in April 2023, is not only killing civilians but also destroying their means of survival, with evidence pointing to “extermination” through starvation and denial of aid. Markets in El Koma, Kabkabiya, and Tora were bombed in recent months, killing scores, while RSF drone strikes on water towers left entire communities without drinking water. Experts warned that without accountability, atrocities will continue unchecked as Sudan’s humanitarian crisis deepens.
HRW Says Islamic State Rebels Kill 127 in Niger Attacks
Islamic State-linked fighters have killed more than 127 civilians in western Niger since March, Human Rights Watch says in a new report, accusing the junta of failing to protect communities despite repeated warnings. The attacks, carried out by Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP), struck villages in Tillaberi near the Mali and Burkina Faso borders, with survivors saying soldiers ignored pleas for help. HRW urged authorities to investigate the killings, which it described as apparent war crimes, underscoring the growing threat of jihadist groups in the tri-border zone after Niger cut ties with its western military partners.
South Africa Confronts Childhood Obesity Crisis as Schools and Parents Push Back
South Africa is grappling with soaring childhood obesity rates, with nearly one in four children under five now overweight or obese, up sharply from 13% in 2016. Campaigners and schools are taking matters into their own hands: Johannesburg’s Kairos School of Inquiry has adopted a mainly vegetarian menu and banned junk food from lunchboxes. At the same time, parents and advocates push for stricter rules on marketing unhealthy foods to children. UNICEF says South Africa’s high-sugar baby foods and fast-food culture are fueling the problem, urging government action on front-of-pack nutrition labels and tighter advertising restrictions. Meanwhile, families like that of eight-year-old Sophia, who struggles with obesity linked to medical treatment, highlight how poverty and limited access to healthy food worsen the crisis despite a 2018 tax on sugary drinks.
Kenya Rocked by Assassination of Senior Lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu
Kenyans are reeling after senior lawyer and former political tribunal chief Mathew Kyalo Mbobu was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Nairobi last night, Tuesday, September 9. Witnesses say a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire on his car near the Lang’ata-Magadi road junction, killing him instantly. The Law Society of Kenya condemned the attack as a “predetermined assassination” and raised concerns about threats to lawyers, while Senate Speaker Amason Kingi called it a “cold-blooded killing” and demanded swift investigations. Mbobu, who also taught law at the University of Nairobi and mentored a generation of lawyers, had previously chaired the Political Parties’ Dispute Tribunal and the Business Rent Premises Tribunal, placing him at the heart of politically sensitive cases. Police say investigations are underway, echoing promises to deliver justice in a case that has drawn comparisons to the similar killing of a lawmaker earlier this year.
Cape Town Reels from Gang Violence as Six Killed in Two Days
Six people were shot dead in just two days in Cape Town’s crime-ravaged communities, underscoring the city’s struggle with gang violence. Police say four women in their 20s were killed in Wallacedene late Monday night, September 8, hours after two others were gunned down in nearby Eikendal. The killings follow the shooting of a man outside a magistrates’ court earlier this month, the third such attack in a court since April. Western Cape police say targeted operations are underway to seize illegal firearms, while acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia admitted there is “no proper plan” to tackle gang crime. Cape Town recorded nearly 3,500 murders last year, making it one of the most violent cities globally despite being a major tourist hub.
Ugandans Welcome ICC Case Against Fugitive Warlord Joseph Kony
Ugandans are closely following the International Criminal Court’s first-ever in absentia hearing, where prosecutors this week began presenting evidence against fugitive Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Survivors and legal experts in northern Uganda say the move is long overdue, with lawyer Okello Herbert stressing that victims who lost “lives, lips, limbs, lands and livelihoods” are deeply invested in the case. Diplomat Betty Bigombe, who once led peace talks with Kony, called the delayed proceedings frustrating but said they may still bring some relief to victims.
Kony, wanted since 2005, faces 39 counts, including murder, sexual enslavement, and the use of child soldiers. While he remains at large, the ICC hearing allows prosecutors to outline their case before judges decide whether to confirm the charges. Security analyst Grace Matsiko warned that remnants of the LRA still pose risks, even as Ugandans express cautious hope that international justice could one day catch up with Kony, whose atrocities still scar communities across the region.