Britain Deploys Royal Air Force to Support Saudi Monarchy Against Yemeni Resistance 

Prime Minister Andy Burham says the fighter jets are only there for “defensive purposes” while the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is facing monumental defeats against the Ansur Allah 

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Wednesday October 21, 2026

Geostrategic Analysis

As the Yemeni resistance movement, the Ansur Allah, carries on its struggle against the western imperialist-backed Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Labor government in London has sent fighter jets to aid Riyadh.

Both the KSA and the United Kingdom are monarchies while Britain has an elected House of Commons and an appointed House of Lords, their interests converge as it relates to maintaining imperialist hegemony in West Asia.

Although the British Labor party claims that it represents working people in the country, it does not wish to see the weakening of Saudi Arabia which plays a role in protecting both UK and United States military outposts in the region. Moreover, the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf dominated Arab monarchies are essential to the world capitalist system.

The unprovoked war waged by the State of Israel and the US against the Islamic Republic of Iran has been an abysmal failure. Passage through of the Strait of Hormuz has been restricted by Tehran while the also important Bab el-Mandeb Strait could be completely taken over by the resistance forces in Yemen. 

Bab el-Mandeb is an important strait; a regional bottleneck located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. The strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

Cargo shipping vessels going through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have declined precipitously over the last several months. Tracking data for the strategic waterway indicates that there has been a decline of approximately 60% in vessels going through the strait. 

The Kpler data tracking service monitors the number of vessels engaged in international trade. They have clearly documented a drop in the level of shipping taking place in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb waterway. 

If the western imperialist states cannot reverse the losses of the KSA in the region, it will further weaken the economies of Europe, the UK and others around the world. Prices have skyrocketed for energy services and products. Undoubtedly the ongoing war over the control of the Yemen coast can only worsen the current situation.

One media source reporting on the war between the Yemen resistance and the KSA, says of the crisis:

“The renewed war in Yemen has moved beyond the conventional boundaries of an internal conflict. As of October 2026, the military struggle surrounding Taiz, Mocha and Bab al-Mandab is directly connected to Saudi Arabia’s territorial security, the political future of southern Yemen, Iran’s regional influence and Europe’s ability to preserve commercial access between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. The United Nations confirmed on 9 October that Yemen had returned to full-scale war, with fighting spreading across multiple fronts and strikes affecting civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.” (https://debuglies.com/2026/10/18/yemens-strategic-rupture-the-battle-for-bab-al-mandab-gulf-power-realignment-and-europes-emerging-security-crisis/)

During 2016, the so-called Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) launched a war against the resistance forces in Yemen. This GCC coalition encompassed the KSA and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the principal leaders. 

Nonetheless, the war was clearly backed by the US and the UK and therefore was waged based upon their strategic interests. It was the Pentagon, US intelligence agencies and Britain which supplied the warplanes, ordinance, targeting mechanism and bombing coordinates over a period of six years.

The war against Yemen between 2016 and 2022 created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. A cholera outbreak sickened 2.5 million people resulting in 4,500 deaths. The GCC conducted targeted bombing operations against civilian populations as well as national infrastructure.   

Although there was a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022, the war was never officially concluded. The resumption of fighting is clearly linked with the US and Israeli war against Iran. 

In its present phase, the attempts by the KSA to crush the Yemeni resistance forces has taken on a much broader character. The problems of inflation associated with the policies of the Trump administration makes the world economy far more susceptible to a downturn than what existed in 2016.

This same report quoted above goes on to note that:

“The central strategic assessment is that the conflict now constitutes an interconnected land, maritime and economic security crisis, rather than an isolated military campaign. Control of Yemen’s coastline, the fragmentation of anti-Houthi armed formations, the vulnerability of Saudi infrastructure and the deployment of external military assistance create mutually reinforcing escalation risks. For Europe, the consequences extend well beyond naval security. They encompass the Suez Canal commercial corridor, industrial supply chains, maritime insurance, container shipping, energy transportation, defense expenditure and relations with Gulf partners. European exposure is particularly consequential for Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, although their vulnerabilities and military responsibilities differ significantly.”

Saudis Being Defeated by Yemeni Armed Forces

During the period between 2016 -2022, the GCC, despite its solid backing by the leading imperialist states, failed to defeat the Ansur Allah. Since late 2023 when the Al Aqsa Flood erupted in Gaza, Yemen has become an even more formidable element within the region-wide Axis of Resistance. 

After a brief period of bombing by the Trump administration against Yemen during 2025, a truce was brokered by neighboring Oman. However, the pause in the Pentagon bombing did not shift the overall strategic balance of forces in West Asia.

The failure of the White House and Tel Aviv to destabilize and overthrow the Iranian government has strengthened the resistance forces. Over the last several weeks the advances of the Ansur Allah are further weakening the US and Britain in their long-term influence in the West Asia region.

 On October 21, al-Mayadeen news agency emphasized in a report on the current situation:

“The Yemeni Armed Forces struck a Saudi base in Aden with a ballistic missile, Yemen’s Armed Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Yehya Saree announced. In a statement on Wednesday, Saree said the YAF struck a Saudi operations room at Badr Camp in Aden, reporting a direct hit. In a subsequent statement, Saree announced an operation targeting military equipment transported by Saudi Arabia aboard military cargo planes to Al-Rayyan Airport in Mukalla, Yemen.” (https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/yaf-strike-saudi-ops-room-in-eden-deny-attacks-into-saudi-ar)

Trump and his allies who dominate the House of Representatives and the Senate appear to be unwilling to place troops on the ground in Iran and Yemen. The long-range bombing campaigns and efforts to impose a blockade on Iran have proven ineffective as Iran has outmaneuvered Washington.

Britain is suffering from similar social problems which exist in the US. There is high unemployment, impoverishment among the working class and the nationally oppressed. 

If the administration in Washington fails to pull back and downsize its forces in West Asia, the workers and oppressed people of the US and Europe will continue to suffer. Demonstrations, strikes and rebellions in numerous European states are a clear indication of the future prospects for unrest throughout the capitalist countries.

Iran Prepares for All-Out War

Leading up to the midterm elections in the US, the Trump White House has renewed its threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The president has said that he will engage in another round of strikes after the November 3 elections.

Nonetheless, the Iranian government stated on October 21 that it is preparing for any eventuality related to the aggression threatened by Washington. The strategic victories of the Islamic Republic and its allies since February 28 cannot be denied by any objective observers.

An article published by Press TV on October 21 cites an Iranian official saying the government is ready for a joint attack from Tel Aviv and Washington. With this posture coupled by the offensive thrust of the Ansur Allah in Yemen along the coast of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could deepen the already existing economic and political crisis in the imperialist states.

According to Press TV:

“The official further stated that from Iran's perspective, America will not carry out an attack without the Israeli regime, and the regime will not carry out an attack without America. The official characterized the notion of either regime acting independently in a war against Iran as resembling ‘a bitter joke,’ emphasizing the intertwined nature of the American and Israeli war machinery. The official further stated that the explicit threats of American officials and the Zionist regime to attack Iran have provided the legal and moral license for Iran to take necessary defensive measures. These remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region and repeated warmongering by American officials and the Zionist regime to carry out fresh aggression against Iran after the two imposed wars in June last year and February this year. Both the United States and the Israeli regime are heading into elections in the coming weeks.” (https://www.presstv.co.uk/Detail/2026/10/21/778836/Source-Iran-prepared-all-out-multi-layered-comprehensive-war-against-enemy)

Although Britain declined to join with Tel Aviv and Washington in the bombing of Iran, the deployment of RAF fighter jets to Saudi Arabia explicitly reveals its imperialist aims right alongside the US. However, these efforts by Washington and London will only damage the status and social conditions of the majority of those living in these countries.

European Civil Unrest Highlights the Social Crisis in the Western Industrial States

From France, Belgium, Italy, Albania and beyond the existing world system is disintegrating

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Wednesday October 21, 2026

Political Economy Review

From early October students have taken the lead in expressing their discontent with the economics of educational administration in France.

The walkouts, strikes and rebellions did not erupt in a political vacuum in France or in the broader European context.

Students in France are serving as a behavioral social barometer which is measuring the pulse of the people living within the capitalist states. The implications for events in France which has spread to several other European countries extends beyond their continent. Events over the last several months have aggravated underlying weaknesses and contradictions internationally.

When United States President Donald Trump took office in his second non-consecutive term, uncertainty became the order of the day regarding economic, political and foreign policies. The imposition of tariffs on countries across the globe defied the fundamental principles of capitalist thinking over the last century.

Severe economic stress was placed on other industrialized capitalist states through the hostility of the Trump administration. This was exemplified through the blatant threats to their neighbors and main trading partner to the north as well as the Kingdom of Norway over territorial claims over Greenland along with the reemergence of a secessionist movement in western Canada. Both of these states are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which was founded by the US in the aftermath of the conclusion of World War II in 1949. 

Yet, the price for being members of NATO has risen immensely since January 2025 when Trump unilaterally mandated that other states raise the level of military expenditures up to 5% of their national budgets. Although the impact of US military policy towards Europe is rarely discussed in the corporate and government-controlled media outlets, it is quite obvious that the burgeoning economic problems in the United Kingdom and Western Europe are closely linked to the outdated strategic alliances such as NATO.

In following the US strategic trajectory since the 1990s, the fellow NATO states have faced repeated economic crises. The rising national debt inside the US has its parallels in other European countries including the UK and France. There are the problems of unemployment and underemployment, the deterioration of infrastructure and the rising levels of migration from the Global South which has aggravated racial tensions.

Since the advent of the unprovoked war against the Islamic Republic of Iran during June 2025 and the continuation of these attacks beginning of February 28, 2026, the prices for fuel, shipping, food, energy, education, insurance, fertilizer and other essential resources and commodities has had a devastating impact on various geopolitical regions of the world. Although a pause has been declared in the war against Iran, prices for essential goods and services have not declined.

Imperialist War and National Debt

Billions of dollars in US and Israeli military equipment have been destroyed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Soldiers have lost their lives from the Pentagon and Israel while troops stationed in the Persian Gulf monarchies are posting photographs of the lost weapons, drones and barracks due to the damage inflicted by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).

Fortune magazine drew an analogy between the debt crisis in France and the US, noting:

“Start with the debt. French public debt sits at a record 119% of GDP, while U.S. debt held by the public reached 100.2% of GDP at the end of March. Lecornu’s (French Prime Minister) budget, which would cut France’s deficit to 5% of GDP from 5.4%, faces its first critical vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Washington ran a $1.992 trillion deficit in fiscal 2026, about 6.2% of GDP based on CBO’s projections. Needless to say, that’s wider than the 5.4% deficit France is rioting over. Bond traders are treating the two countries alike. Bank of America economists Claudio Irigoyen and Antonio Gabriel recently found that the French and U.S. 10-year yields have been moving on nearly the same track, and they say the cause is the same. ‘When interest rates are low, governments have incentives to run bigger deficits financed with cheap debt,’ they wrote in a BofA Global Research report. ‘However, if that ‘cheap’ debt goes to finance a structural increase of the fiscal deficit, when interest rates increase it is politically difficult to implement the necessary fiscal consolidation to put the house in order.’” (https://fortune.com/2026/10/19/why-is-france-rioting-inflation-schools-debt-trump-america/)

Of course, the US president and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have dismissed any connection between unprovoked warfare and the worsening economic situation. However, the costs of maintaining military bases around the world and a posture of consistent threats and destabilization have not benefited the residents of North America and Europe. 

There are similar problems within the education sector in France, other EU member-states and the US. Education in the US is in crisis since it is no longer a priority among the ruling class and the capitalist state. The Trump administration dismantled the Department of Education while harassing colleges and universities over widespread notions of antisemitism and “wokeism.” 

The youth in France have set the stage for the spreading of the unrest to other European states. According to a report published on October 19 by Radio France International it says:

“President Emmanuel Macron ordered a security review as the country's interior minister admitted that the police ‘had lost control’ during the weekend's unrest. Undeterred, the Yellow Vests movement which organized the weekend's rallies called for a new round of protests Saturday. Italy, Spain and Portugal, where anger over rising prices has also led to protests, were keeping a nervous eye on the developments after smaller clashes broke out in Milan over the weekend and protests about housing costs persisted in Spanish cities. Some half-a-million people turned out across France to protest the surging cost of living, a culmination of four weeks of protests that began with high school students demanding better conditions at their schools.” (https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20261019-louvre-blocked-as-france-grapples-with-unrest)

Although the US and the UK have not been the scene of civil unrest as of mid-October. However, these states cannot remain immune from the crises sweeping the European continent. 

Leading up to the midterm elections slated for November 3, during October much attention was focused on whether the MAGA Republican tendency would remain in total control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. If there are attempts by the Trump administration and its base within and outside the government to maintain control of the legislative branch irrespective of the election results, these potential developments could very well trigger mass demonstrations, strikes and violent conflicts.

A clear set of circumstances in Europe could portend much for the situation in the US:

“Protests in Italy, Belgium and Portugal over the weekend underline the wider pressures, while significant strike activity is planned in Portugal and Spain in November. ‘Europe is becoming a pressure cooker for social unrest, with squeezed households, rising political polarization and growing discontent with governments proving increasingly fertile ground for disruptive and damaging demonstrations,’ Middleton added. ‘A repeat of the kind of violence seen in France is far from inevitable, but with governments facing difficult fiscal choices and a dense election calendar through to the end of 2027, the potential for disruptive and damaging unrest will remain elevated in Europe over the near term.’ Verisk Maplecroft’s predictive Civil Unrest Index ranks Europe as the world’s highest-risk region by a significant margin. Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the UK and Belgium are all among the 10 highest-risk countries globally, alongside the US, India, Mexico and Brazil.” (https://www.cirmagazine.com/cir/c2026102001.php)

The level of repression inside the US has risen sharply since the advent of the Trump administration in its second iteration. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have been deployed into the cities, suburbs and rural areas. 

Numerous people have been killed by these federal agencies. Some of those killed were US citizens while others were not.

National Guard units and even the Marines have been ordered into cities such as Washington, D.C., Memphis and Los Angeles. As people continue to organize against these undemocratic measures, the administration wants to quash these forms of resistance to continue its redistribution of wealth and political power from the working class to the wealthiest entities within the US and the world.

Unrest in Albania

During the period of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the socialist project in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union collapsed. With specific reference to Albania, the student demonstrations of 1990 and the 1992 multi-party elections led to the transformation from socialism to capitalism.

Nonetheless, after more than three decades of capitalist rule, unrest has resurfaced on a mass level. The Trump administration bears responsibility due to the plans for a luxury tourist complex coordinated by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of the US President. 

The protest against the resort has been deemed the Flamingo Revolution. Youth demonstrators are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama who is the leader of the Socialist Party of Albania.

The Socialist Party bears little resemblance to the former ruling Party of Labor of Albania which was headed by Enver Hoxha. By shifting its orientation from socialism to capitalism, the Albanian people have been left to the whims of imperialism.

These events illustrate the failure of the reimposition of capitalism in the former socialist states of Eastern Europe. A similar crisis in Western Europe portends much for the future prospects of capitalist development. Until the contemporary crisis of capitalism and imperialism is resolved, unrest will continue throughout the European continent.

Ethiopia Warns Eritrea of 'Severe Consequences' Over Tigray Rebels

By Al Mayadeen English

20 Oct 2026 10:24

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warns Eritrea of “severe consequences” if it continues supporting rebels in Tigray, amid fears of a regional war.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has warned Eritrea that it will face “severe consequences” if it continues to support rebel forces in Ethiopia's Tigray region, amid fears of a regional war.

Rebels in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region launched an offensive against the federal government last month before retreating and losing control of the region. The fighting raised fears of a wider regional war, as the rebels had received support from neighboring Eritrea, which deployed thousands of troops inside Ethiopian territory. They were also forced to retreat after coming under intense drone strikes.

Abiy Ahmed had largely refrained from commenting on the weeks-long fighting in the north. However, in a speech delivered in Tigrinya on Monday, he warned Eritrea against further interference.

“Turning yourselves into a base for Ethiopia's enemies instead of partners in development will bring no benefits. I believe ignoring our calls will have very severe consequences,” he said.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels withdrew from towns across the northern region, which they had controlled for decades, as a new federal government-appointed administration was inaugurated on Friday.

Newly appointed Mekelle Mayor Shishay Amare told Agence France-Presse on Monday that elections would be held within six months.

“Our role is to create the right conditions for elections by ensuring peace and stability throughout Tigray,” he said, as per AFP.

The TPLF previously governed all of Ethiopia before Abiy Ahmed, who hails from the central Oromia region, came to power in 2018.

Tigray, which had remained under rebel control, did not participate in the nationwide parliamentary elections held in June. The vote saw Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party retain power in a landslide victory over a significantly weakened opposition.

“The TPLF did not exist 50 years ago, and its existence is now nearing its end,” Abiy said.

“We will implement development projects throughout Tigray. Until a regular administration is established through elections, our people must preserve their unity and institutions,” he added.

Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions raise fears of regional war

Eritrea is now concerned that landlocked Ethiopia could invade the country to secure access to the Red Sea.

Addressing the issue in his speech, Abiy said, “When Eritrea was part of Ethiopia, its cities were vibrant and beautiful. Today, Eritrean cities look like ghost towns.”

“Good-neighborly relations and partnership are the only way forward,” he added.

Ethiopian forces advance toward Eritrean border

The warning to Eritrea comes as Ethiopia renews its military advance across northern Tigray toward the Eritrean border, raising concerns that the latest fighting could escalate into a wider regional confrontation.

On October 15, Ethiopian government forces and allied Tigray Peace Forces advanced into the historic city of Aksum and captured Fatsi and Zalambessa, two areas near the Eritrean border, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). Meanwhile, Tigray Defense Forces associated with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) remained in nearby mountainous areas.

Eritrean forces reportedly withdrew from positions along the border, although the circumstances of their retreat and the extent of any losses remain unclear. Tigray Peace Forces spokesperson Suleiman Haile Mariam said Eritrean forces had suffered heavy casualties and retreated toward the border, a claim rejected by Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel.

Washington urges restraint amid rising tensions

ACLED also documented Ethiopian military convoys carrying tanks and heavy weapons moving from Adigrat toward Fatsi and Zalambessa on Monday night and Tuesday, as government forces and their allies intensified their offensive. The advance followed renewed armed operations by forces associated with the TPLF and clashes across the region, with Ethiopian forces moving through strategic locations including Mekelle, Adigrat, and Adwa before advancing toward Aksum and the Eritrean border.

Washington has also called for de-escalation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday, urging restraint, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the avoidance of cross-border incursions. Rubio warned that the region could not sustain another war and called for dialogue based on the 2018 peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Abiy described the conversation as productive and highlighted cooperation between Ethiopia and the US.

Drone Attack Kills Around 80 in West Kordofan, Sudan

By Al Mayadeen English

20 Oct 2026 16:27

A drone attack near a market in Sudan’s West Kordofan kills around 80 people, according to witnesses and a medical source cited by AFP.

Around 80 people were killed in a drone attack targeting a civilian transport gathering near a market in the al-Dibab area of Sudan’s West Kordofan state on Sunday evening, according to a witness and a medical source cited by AFP. 

The attack struck a location used by civilians traveling to their villages after the end of the market day, resulting in a large number of casualties. A witness said he helped bury 50 people killed in the strike, while 47 injured were transported to the nearby city of al-Muglad for treatment.

A medical source said 30 of the injured later succumbed to their wounds, bringing the reported death toll to around 80.

Al-Dibab is located in West Kordofan, a state under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 

Information circulating after the attack suggested that Somali nationals may have been among those affected. However, no reliable data has established their identities or the number of Somali nationals killed or injured, and no official confirmation has been issued by the relevant Somali authorities.

Sudan army vow to continue fight

As hostilities resume, Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman and army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan affirmed that the Sudanese Army will continue its military campaign against the RSF until it reclaims “every inch” of Sudanese territory, as displacement continues in Blue Nile State and civilians are killed in an RSF attack in West Kordofan.

Speaking at a public gathering in the Fifth Village in Merowe locality in Northern State in early October, al-Burhan said the “armed forces will continue their operations until the entire territory of the country is reclaimed,” reiterating the government and army’s rejection of negotiations with the RSF under the current conditions.

The Sudanese government maintains that any ceasefire or negotiating process must include the RSF’s withdrawal from cities and public facilities, the surrender of its weapons and the assembly of its forces in designated camps, in addition to holding those accused of committing violations accountable.

Al-Burhan’s position comes as international efforts to push for a ceasefire continue. A US proposal had called for a 90-day truce followed by a political process, but officials close to the army criticized the proposal, saying it did not adequately address the RSF’s withdrawal from cities.

Egypt’s Civil Democratic Movement Rejects Involvement in Regional War

By Al Mayadeen English

19 Oct 2026 20:42

The Civil Democratic Movement in Egypt rejects any involvement of the Egyptian armed forces in a regional war as parliament postpones its debate on troop deployment to October 26.

Egypt’s Civil Democratic Movement rejected any involvement of the Egyptian armed forces in a regional war on behalf of any side, insisting that Cairo make its decisions independently of foreign influence.

The movement said Monday that no outside party should dictate Egypt’s position, arguing that the country’s most important role lies in pursuing “wise mediation to establish peace.”

Turning to domestic affairs, the movement called on civilian opposition groups, its own members included, to begin preparing for the presidential election scheduled for 2030. The call follows President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s recent statement that his presidency will end in 2030 and that the matter of constitutional changes to alter that timeline is “completely settled.”

Parliament postpones debate on troop deployment

The statement comes as Egypt’s parliament has yet to take up a proposal to authorize the president to send troops abroad. Lawmakers adjourned an emergency session devoted to discussing support for Saudi Arabia, and deliberations were due to resume on Monday. The debate was postponed again on Monday, this time until October 26.

The session was convened at el-Sisi’s request after he said Cairo would take any action Saudi Arabia asks of it to defend its security and sovereignty. 

Yemen’s Sanaa-based Parliament Speaker Yahya Ali al-Ra’i had urged Egypt’s parliament on Saturday not to let the country be drawn into the Saudi escalation, saying such a step would contradict Egypt’s historical role in defending Arab causes.

Yemeni scholars welcome Al-Azhar initiative

Separately, Al-Azhar urged the urgent formation of a mediation committee bringing together respected figures from across the Muslim world. It said the committee should start work immediately to end conflicts and wars in the Arab region, defuse crises, and bridge differences between the parties involved.

The Association of Yemeni Scholars, in turn, reaffirmed its commitment to engaging constructively and in good faith with the invitation extended by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expressing appreciation for the Islamic values and principles it conveyed.

The association also declared Sanaa’s readiness to host the committee proposed by the Grand Imam, comprising respected and wise figures from across the Arab and Islamic worlds.

Ivory Coast: 12 Charged Over Gendarme’s Killing Amid Lingering Election Tensions

Ivory Coast

One year after deadly election-related violence in Ivory Coast, twelve people have been charged and remanded in custody over the killing of a gendarme.

Prosecutor Oumar Braman Koné announced the charges on Tuesday in connection with the death of Second Lieutenant Daniogo Klênon Lacina, who was shot by armed individuals on October 20, 2025, while patrolling a road near Agboville.

Authorities say the suspects admitted involvement, with the alleged shooter confessing to opening fire on the security forces.

The accused face serious charges, including murder, terrorist acts, conspiracy against state authority, and participation in an insurrectionary movement. The case is now before Abidjan’s anti-terrorism division.

The investigation comes amid lingering political tensions following President Alassane Ouattara’s disputed fourth-term election victory last year. Eleven people were officially reported killed during the election unrest.

Meanwhile, opposition party PPA-CI has accused the government of anti-democratic actions, while authorities insist the prosecutions are unrelated to political affiliation.

Prized Wild Pepper at Risk in Madagascar's Shrinking Forests

By AFP

Madagascar

A rare wild pepper endemic to Madagascar and prized by international chefs is facing an uncertain future, victim of its own success and the destruction of its forest habitat.

With its subtle, aromatic flavour, Voatsiperifery pepper grows on vines that reach into the canopy of the island's natural forests, which shrank 27 percent between 1990 and 2025, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

To reach the peppercorns without having to climb, harvesters often tear down the vine and, in many cases, the trees supporting them, contributing to the relentless retreat of Madagascar's forests.

"At times, I tell myself I should never have made it known," acclaimed French chef Olivier Roellinger, who first encountered the spice 30 years ago, told AFP.

"This pepper blew me away right from the start with that piperine punch that brings out a note of peat, resin, even citrus; it's incomparable," he said. "On a fruit salad, it's absolutely delicious."

Madagascar pepper sells for 150 to 200 euros ($169 to $225) per kilogram in France, its main export market.

Roellinger, the founder of the Epices Roellinger spice boutique, is collaborating with efforts to certify authentic pepper based on strictly regulated harvesting zones in Madagascar.

But he was "under no illusions" about the risk these rules could be circumvented, he said.

Bush fires

The village of Ambongamarina, northeast of the capital Antananarivo, was at the centre of a rush two decades ago for the pepper, which has a characteristic woody tail, a remnant of its stem.

From a ridge on which the village sits, farmer Maminiaina Rabearison pointed into the distance.

"Until 2010-2012, it was still covered in natural forest," he told AFP.

"People used to go into the forest and, for 10 to 20 weeks a year, at least 100 kilogrammes were sold every week at the market to a trader," the 45-year-old said.

That trader has not visited in a long time. Harvests have dropped as the forest has been consumed by bush fires, charcoal production and slash-and-burn agriculture, or torched in protests against the distant central government.

The destruction of the vines has also forced harvesters to go deeper into the forest to find the plant, which in Malagasy is called tsiperifery, meaning "that makes wounds not exist", a reference to its medicinal use for generations.

Now, "you have to walk almost a full day to find pepper in the forest," said 51-year-old Herinaina Randrianarimanga, another farmer from the village, which is only 120 kilometres (75 miles) from the capital but takes five hours to reach in a four-by-four vehicle.

'A real boon'

There is no national system to track the distribution, harvesting and export of this precious pepper, said Mima Chateauneuf, co-founder of bulk export company Jacarandas.

"Today, we have no idea whether the resource is becoming scarce," she said, calling for "traceability" to determine export volumes.

In the absence of a regulatory framework, Jacarandas is turning towards organic pepper, which has grown to make up one-third of its exports. "For organic products, traceability is mandatory," Chateauneuf said.

As research into the Voatsiperifery plant advances, French-Malagasy entrepreneur Olivier Ramaherison has been experimenting with domestic cultivation on land inherited from his father.

Between 500 and 1,000 vines -- the result of thousands of trials -- grew in terraces carved into the Mandraka forest, 60 kilometres east of the capital.

There are no support trees here: the plants, laden with fruit just a few weeks from maturity, cluster close to the ground.

"The idea was to try to find a solution to make it easier to pick," said Ramaherison, head of Essentialys, a company that produces aromatic plants, essential oils, coffee and pepper.

By chance, his team discovered that cuttings taken from the horizontal branches of the vine no longer tried to climb.

"If, like at the Piper nigrum (black pepper) plantations in Vietnam or Brazil, we manage to produce hundreds of tonnes of wild pepper, it would be a real economic boon for the country," he said.

Nigeria’s Dangote Group Buys Stake in Kenya’s Oil Pipeline Network

Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote

Kenya

Nigerian billionaire, Aliko Dangote, said on Wednesday that his company has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Kenya Pipeline Company which transports petroleum products.

In a speech on Tuesday, Kenyan President William Ruto had mentioned an investment in the network by private investors without revealing their identity.

Last month, Dangote laid the foundation stone in Kenya’s Lamu port for a $16 billion oil refinery project with a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.

At the time, he said he saw this as part of efforts to stop the continent exporting raw materials and start selling finished products.

Dangote already operates a refinery of similar capacity near the Nigerian city of Lagos. His vast business empire also includes activities in fertilizers, cement, sugar, and other sectors.

Tunisia Jails 10 Environmental Activists Over Anti-pollution Protests in Gabes

Tunisia

A Tunisian court has sentenced ten environmental activists over a protest against pollution linked to a major phosphate-processing plant in the southern coastal city of Gabes.

The activists took part in demonstrations in 2020, demanding action over pollution and health concerns that residents associate with the facility.

Eight activists received six-month suspended prison sentences, while two others were handed one-year jail terms, according to defence lawyer Hamida Chaieb.

The case was brought by the state-owned factory, which accused the protesters of obstructing its operations.

Campaigners say they believed the case had been dropped after their initial arrests and subsequent release. However, they later discovered they had been sentenced in absentia in 2023, prompting a retrial.

The controversy comes amid growing concerns over the plant’s environmental impact. Researchers have reported that some of its industrial waste and emissions contain radioactive substances and may pose serious health risks.

In February, a court rejected calls to suspend the facility’s operations.

Meanwhile, Tunisia plans to increase phosphate production more than fourfold by 2030, as President Kais Saied seeks to revive a sector considered vital to the national economy.

Burundi Marks 33 Years Since Ndadaye’s Assassination Amid Concerns Over Democracy

A demonstrator holds the Burundi national flag and makes the victory sign as he and others celebrate what they perceive to be an attempted military coup d'etat.

Burundi

Burundi has commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the assassination of former President Melchior Ndadaye, with tributes to the slain leader renewing debate over the state of democracy in the country.

The commemorations took place at the Heroes of Democracy Square, where President Évariste Ndayishimiye and other participants laid wreaths in honour of Ndadaye and his close associates. A mass was also held to remember the victims of the coup d’état of October 20–21, 1993.

Political leaders used the occasion to reflect on Burundi’s democratic progress, with some expressing concern over what they described as growing restrictions on political pluralism.

Olivier Nkurunziza, president of the Union for National Progress (UPRONA), said that although peace had been achieved, democracy must become a genuine reality to prevent a return to one-party rule.

Gabriel Banzawitonde, president of the APDER party, also warned of democratic setbacks, arguing that the ruling party had increasingly consolidated its control over the country.

However, Jean De Dieu Mutabazi, president of RADEBU, said Burundi had made progress in establishing democracy and political pluralism, while acknowledging that democratic principles were not always fully respected.

Ndadaye was assassinated just three months after taking office in 1993. His death helped plunge Burundi into years of civil war and interethnic violence, leaving thousands dead and forcing many others into exile.

 

ECOWAS, AES Commit to Cooperation and Mutual Respect Despite Split

Tue, Oct 20, 2026

Africa

By Paul Ejime

AT their just-ended first ministerial consultative meeting on cooperation in Dakar, Senegal, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its breakaway Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have agreed to pursue relations guided by the principles of good neighbourliness, mutual respect for their sovereignty, and the dignity and well-being of the people of West Africa.

This was one of the major decisions they reached at the 16-17 October meeting,  to lay the foundations for their cooperation.

ECOWAS, a 15-nation regional economic bloc with an estimated combined population of 400 million, was formed in May 1975 through the Treaty of Lagos, revised in 1993, to promote economic development and regional integration.

AES countries – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – withdrew their membership in January 2025, accusing ECOWAS of succumbing to Western influence and deviating from the ideals of its founding fathers.

Following unconstitutional changes of government through military coups in the three countries now ruled by juntas, ECOWAS, acting in line with its 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, suspended the three countries and imposed sanctions on them.

The regional bloc had also announced an unpopular decision to invade Niger and restore constitutional order. It later walked back on that decision, lifted the sanctions and attempted diplomacy/dialogue, but the AES juntas ruling the three countries have been adamant and continued to consolidate their alliance.

The ECOWAS delegation at the Dakar meeting was led by Cheikh Niang, Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs, and Senegalese Abroad, who is also Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.

The AES delegation was led by Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso and Chair of the AES Ministerial Steering Committee.

Both ministers co-chaired the meeting, with both delegations “welcoming the spirit of fraternity, mutual respect, and openness that prevailed throughout their discussions,” the Final Communiqué said. “They also recalled the deep historical, sociocultural, and economic ties that unite their peoples.”

According to the Communiqué, the two parties also agreed “to establish joint thematic working groups to conduct technical discussions, with the ultimate goal of concluding a framework cooperation agreement between ECOWAS and the AES Confederation. The outcomes of these efforts will be submitted for review by the Ministers before their next session.”

The date and venue for the next meeting will be determined through diplomatic consultations.

“The parties affirm their commitment to achieving a balanced and realistic cooperation framework that safeguards the interests of their respective peoples,” the Communiqué added.

The two sides held the first official consultations in Bamako, Mali, in May 2025, on areas of common interest for future structured discussions.

Despite the populist public image of the junta leaders, their governments have been pursuing bilateral collaboration, including exchanges of strategic interest visits, with selected ECOWAS Member States. For instance, Niger, after accusing Nigeria of alleged acts of destabilisation in December 2024, still turned to Abuja for fuel supply to ease its severe shortages in 2025.

Also, while the three AES countries have partially or completely severed diplomatic and military ties with their former colonial power, France, they still belong to the eight-nation West African Monetary and Economic Union, UEMOA, using the CFA franc, controlled by France, as their national currency.

The three nations are also deepening military ties with Russia, while terrorism and insurgency persist.

Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, led the delegation from Nigeria, the regional hegemon, to the Dakar meeting.

A statement by the ministry said the minister’s “presence underscores Nigeria’s dedication to ensuring that the exit of the AES Member states does not negatively impact the age-old cultural and geographical ties between brother West African countries.”

Apart from their obvious affinities and geographical proximity, many of the countries in the Sahel and the ECOWAS region share common development challenges, including poverty and vulnerable economies.

The Sahel is considered the epicentre of global terrorism, and AES countries also belong to the regional Multinational Task Force against terrorism.  ECOWAS-AES cooperation is therefore imperative to address the serious security and sundry challenges facing the region.

This cannot prevent the three countries from pursuing their common goal/s if they choose to make their withdrawal from ECOWAS permanent.

Members of other organisations such as UEMOA, Mano River Union and Conseil de l’Entente (Council of Accord or Understanding) still belong to ECOWAS.

Arguably, the AES countries have more to gain by cooperating with ECOWAS, and they need ECOWAS more than ECOWAS needs them.

At the same time, ECOWAS, as the bigger and more established organisation, should reposition and reinvent itself to remain relevant, having blazed the trail in achievements among Africa’s eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali Resume Talks with ECOWAS After Withdrawal from Regional Bloc

Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Traore, led the AES delegation, while Senegal’s Foreign Minister, Cheikh Niang, headed the ECOWAS team.

by Yakubu Mohammed  

October 18, 2026

Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali have resumed formal discussions with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), agreeing to work towards establishing a framework for cooperation despite their withdrawal from the regional bloc.

The three Sahel countries officially left ECOWAS in January 2025 after forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), amid growing disagreements with the bloc.

Saturday’s meeting, held in Dakar, is believed to be the first official ministerial-level engagement between the two sides, although discussions had been ongoing since January 2025.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday evening, both sides welcomed the discussions, citing fraternity, mutual respect and openness as guiding principles. They also emphasised the importance of good neighbourly relations and respect for national sovereignty.

The parties agreed to establish joint thematic working groups to develop a framework cooperation agreement.

Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Traore, led the AES delegation, while Senegal’s Foreign Minister, Cheikh Niang, headed the ECOWAS team.

Insecurity across the Sahel

Across the AES countries and other parts of the Sahel, armed groups continue to carry out attacks and expand towards coastal West African countries. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have battled jihadist insurgencies for more than a decade, with al-Qaeda- and Islamic State-linked groups exploiting weak state presence, porous borders and local grievances.

In Mali, coordinated attacks on 25 April targeted several locations, with the violence involving Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, and the Azawad Liberation Front, a separatist movement. The country’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, was killed during the attacks.

In Burkina Faso and Niger, armed groups have also sustained pressure on security forces and civilians, while violence has increasingly threatened northern Benin and Togo.

Also, Nigeria, the largest economy in the region, faces overlapping security threats, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgencies, banditry and mass kidnappings.

With armed groups operating across borders, strained relations between Nigeria and the AES countries risk weakening intelligence-sharing and joint counterterrorism operations. Niger’s withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force in March 2025 gave a clear implication of the collapsed regional cooperation.

The challenge of regional cooperation

The AES countries have pursued an independent security and political course, distancing themselves from France and strengthening ties with Russia.

Their withdrawal from ECOWAS has complicated regional cooperation, despite shared threats that require intelligence-sharing, effective border controls and coordinated military responses.

The diplomatic disputes have also been fuelled by allegations from Sahelian leaders that neighbouring countries and foreign powers are supporting armed groups. Such claims remain contested, and allegations should not be treated as established facts without independently verifiable evidence.

It is not yet clear whether the renewed talks envisage the AES states returning to the regional bloc. If this is not part of the agenda, it will be interesting to see how ECOWAS, which has traditionally emphasised democratic governance, navigates diplomatic engagement with the junta-led countries while addressing mounting security threats across their shared borders.

ECOWAS and AES to Set Up Working Groups for Cooperation Agreement — The Rio Times

Fedir Kryshtovskyi

18 October 2026 11:28

ECOWAS and AES to set up working groups for cooperation agreement — The Rio Times

Representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) held their first formal negotiation session in Dakar, Senegal, on October 17 following Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger’s withdrawal from the regional bloc. The sides agreed to establish joint thematic working groups to prepare a framework cooperation agreement, The Rio Times reports.

Agreements in Dakar

Following the ministerial dialogue, the delegations signed a joint eight-point communiqué. It states that future relations should be based on good-neighborliness, respect for sovereignty, dignity and the well-being of the people of West Africa.

The working groups will hold technical consultations, and their results will be submitted to ministers before the next session. The sides will determine the time and venue of the new ministerial meeting through diplomatic consultations. According to RFI, the thematic groups will consider the free movement of people and goods, trade, and the fight against terrorism.

Participants in the negotiations

The ECOWAS delegation was led by Senegal’s Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Cheikh Niang, who also chairs the organization’s Council of Ministers. On the AES side, the talks were led by Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, chair of the confederation’s ministerial steering committee.

The AES committee also includes Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and Niger’s Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré. The sides presented the dialogue as a process of creating a new cooperation mechanism, rather than negotiations on the return of the three states to ECOWAS. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger officially ended their membership in the organization on January 29, 2025.

Nearly 21 Months After Leaving ECOWAS, Breakaway Sahel States Agree to Negotiate New Deal with West African Bloc

Solomon Ekanem

18 October 2026 11:04 PM

Nearly 21 months after Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the breakaway Sahel bloc has agreed to negotiate a formal cooperation deal with the regional organisation, marking a new step in efforts to manage relations after the split.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, having left ECOWAS, are negotiating a formal cooperation deal with the regional bloc.

At a ministerial meeting in Dakar, both sides agreed to establish joint working groups to explore areas of common interest.

Findings from these working groups will be reviewed by ministers before the next session, the date and venue of which remain undecided.

The talks aim to define future relations, maintain economic ties, and address cross-border trade and infrastructure issues.

The agreement followed a ministerial meeting in Dakar, Senegal, on October 17, 2026, where ECOWAS and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) agreed to establish joint thematic working groups to conduct technical discussions towards a cooperation framework.

A joint communiqué said the groups would explore areas of common interest, with their findings to be submitted to ministers for consideration before the next session. The date and venue of that meeting will be determined through diplomatic channels.

The ECOWAS delegation was led by Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang, who chairs the bloc’s Council of Ministers, while Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré led the AES delegation and chaired its ministerial steering committee.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024, following tensions with the bloc after military coups and disagreements over sanctions and the transition to civilian rule. Their departure formally took effect on January 29, 2025.

Trade and regional ties remain at stake

The Dakar meeting comes as the two sides seek to define their relationship while maintaining longstanding social, cultural and economic links across West Africa.

In the communiqué, both parties said future relations should be guided by good neighbourliness, respect for sovereignty, dignity and the welfare of the region’s populations. They also expressed a commitment to a balanced and realistic framework that protects their respective populations’ interests.

The proposed agreement could provide a basis for cooperation on issues affecting cross-border trade, transport and regional infrastructure. The three landlocked AES countries rely on routes through neighbouring states to access seaports and international markets, while coastal economies maintain commercial links with the Sahel.

However, the communiqué did not announce a new trade agreement or changes to existing cross-border arrangements. Instead, it sets out a process for technical discussions before ministers consider the working groups’ recommendations.

The meeting also followed consultations held in Bamako, Mali, on May 22, 2025, and reflects continued efforts to establish a structured relationship between ECOWAS and the AES.

The parties thanked Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his government for hosting the meeting and supporting West African integration.

The next stage will depend on the recommendations produced by the joint working groups and whether the two sides can translate their stated commitment into a formal agreement.

As Ebola Spreads in DR Congo, Grieving Families Face a Growing Mental Health Toll

By CONSTANT SAME BAGALWA

11:40 AM EDT, October 21, 2026

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — When a schoolteacher in eastern Congo learned that five of her family members had been diagnosed with Ebola, she was deeply shaken, fearing not just the deadliness but the stigma of a disease seen by some in her community as evil.

Two of her relatives — her brother and his wife — died of Ebola in July at a treatment center in Ituri province, the epicenter of the deadliest outbreak in Congo’s history.

The 34-year-old teacher, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of being stigmatized, said grief and stress over the loss of her relatives led her to seek treatment at a mental health clinic.

After two months at the clinic, the teacher said she was feeling better but worried about her future in Bunia, the capital of Ituri. And she still felt a deep sense of loss. “Will these people still be there for me?” she asked of her brother and sister-in-law, while knowing they were gone.

Her experience highlights a burden rarely talked about in the fast-moving Ebola outbreak: the psychological toll on relatives coping with loss, fear and rejection in communities already scarred by years of rebel violence.

The outbreak is spreading at an unprecedented rate under some of the most challenging conditions imaginable, fueled by mass population movements, violence, mistrust and poor working conditions for frontline health workers. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus for which there’s no approved vaccine or drug, the outbreak has killed at least 4,600 of the 9,600 people infected. The World Health Organization has said that it continues to outpace efforts to track and slow it.

The mental toll that comes with Ebola

Losing relatives to disease outbreaks is always difficult, but responders say grief can be especially severe with Ebola in a country where the disease is viewed by many as evil due to rumors and misconceptions. The risk of transmission also limits contact with the patients even after death, depriving families of closure and the opportunity to observe their preferred burial rites.

The psychological effects of past Ebola outbreaks can persist long after the immediate crisis, according to WHO, often taking the form of anxiety and mood disorders, exacerbated by prolonged grief and discrimination.

This is Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak, and it has spread to eight provinces, coinciding with an escalation of decades-long conflict in the east between government forces and rebels.

Experts say the outbreak has compounded the trauma for many across the region. The medical response has focused largely on treating and containing the disease, with little to no attention to the mental health of those affected.

“There are so many areas (in eastern Congo) already devastated by war, crisis and severe malnutrition” and Ebola has worsened the condition of vulnerable populations and their mental health conditions, said Mirella Riccardi, a mental health specialist with Doctors Without Borders, known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières.

‘It felt as though we were living all alone’

The Congolese teacher recalled that her family felt abandoned by neighbors when her relatives began showing symptoms consistent with Ebola, including fever, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle pain.

Neighbors stayed away until Ebola responders came to take the sick to a clinic and disinfect their house afterward.

“It felt as though we were living all alone because of the illness,” said the teacher, who did not contract the disease. “It has caused severe trauma within our family.”

She also lost someone she had regarded as a father and said many others in their Bunia neighborhood have also died.

“Many people initially assumed that their symptoms were due to poisoning or malaria. Only later did they realize that they could be Ebola,” she said.

The Samelo mental health facility in Bunia, where she was admitted, said it had received up to 350 patients, a surge it attributed to the Ebola outbreak.

“Grief, fear of infection, social isolation and a succession of deaths can leave families and communities lastingly vulnerable,” said Anicet Katembo Vyaluva, the head nurse at the facility.

Five months into the outbreak, health authorities remain alarmed. More than 70% of new cases involved people who were not among known contacts, while at least 60% of deaths occurred outside treatment centers as of early October, government data showed.

The teacher has been discharged from the mental health facility but returns often for follow-up checks. Her three other infected relatives survived, and her husband said she feels much better.

But fear of Ebola persists within her family and among her neighbors.

“This has reignited fear and tension within the community,” she said. “Now, everyone is wondering how this disease will end.”

___

Ope Adetayo contributed from Lagos, Nigeria.

Africa CDC Calls an Ebola Crisis Summit as Nigeria Records its First Case

By OPE ADETAYO

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — African health ministers were invited Wednesday to an “extraordinary virtual meeting” to discuss the spread of Ebola after Nigeria reported its first case of the disease that has claimed thousands of lives and has spread rapidly since an outbreak began in Congo in May.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the Oct. 28 meeting would “strengthen our collective response.”

On Tuesday, Nigeria reported its first case, linked to a traveler from Uganda who arrived in the country earlier this month.

Uganda, which declared itself Ebola-free in July after recording 20 cases, has denied claims that Nigeria’s first case originated there. Nigerian authorities said they were tracing 44 contacts.

The patient, a foreign national who entered Nigeria on Oct. 5, was initially treated for malaria symptoms but failed to recover, arousing suspicions in the attending physicians, Odianosen Ehiakhamen, an assistant director at the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, told a local media outlet late Tuesday.

He said the 44 contacts are mostly healthcare workers but also the patient’s spouse, a Swiss national.

Nigeria and Kenya, which has recorded nine cases, are the latest countries to report cases linked to travelers who passed through Uganda.

The latest outbreak was first detected in Congo in May after spreading undetected for months, according to the World Health Organization. It has since infected more than 9,500 people and killed nearly half of them, making it the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history.

“Ebola is now affecting three regions of Africa. The situation demands urgent action and political leadership at the highest level,” Kaseya said in a post on X.

The WHO said on Wednesday that it had advised “all countries in the region to sustain a high level of readiness as the DRC outbreak continues to evolve.”

In parts of Congo, including North Kivu, health authorities say the disease is out of control, with most recorded deaths occurring in the community and contact tracing struggling to keep pace with the virus’s spread.

The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. France has also recorded a case.

Ebola Has Spread from DR Congo to 4 Other Countries

By CHINEDU ASADU

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Ebola disease from the fast-moving outbreak in Congo has now spread to four other countries, including two where it’s active. It has spread farther across Africa than any previous Ebola outbreak, reaching three regions.

Nigeria on Tuesday became the latest country affected by the outbreak, which was first declared in eastern Congo in mid-May. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus for which there’s no approved vaccine or drug, the outbreak has killed at least 4,600 of the 9,500 people infected in Congo.

The World Health Organization has said it is the fastest-growing outbreak of Ebola in history. In Africa, it’s been recorded in the central, western and eastern regions.

A recurring problem in the spread in Africa is what appears to be lax surveillance efforts as most of the first cases were confirmed long after people started showing symptoms or after traveling.

Here is where things stand in other countries affected by this Ebola outbreak:

The patient in Nigeria had returned from Uganda

Nigeria confirmed an Ebola infection in its capital, Abuja, in a woman who arrived from Uganda about two weeks ago.

The woman began showing symptoms on Oct. 7 and was admitted to a private hospital in Abuja on Oct. 11, where she was later diagnosed with Ebola.

It is still unclear when she arrived in Nigeria. Health Minister Muhammad Pate said authorities had begun tracing 44 people identified as contacts of the patient and were “doing everything possible to contain this case.”

Uganda reported 20 cases; none are active

Uganda confirmed an Ebola outbreak on the same day as neighboring Congo after detecting the infection in a man traveling from Congo.

The first cases in Uganda were Congolese patients who crossed the border to seek treatment for an unknown illness before it was known they had Ebola, according to health authorities.

The Uganda outbreak was declared over by WHO on Aug. 27, after 20 confirmed cases, including 15 patients from Congo. Eighteen people recovered and two died. More than 800 contacts were identified and monitored, and the country said Tuesday that it has no new cases.

Kenya’s first patient traveled from Congo via Uganda

Kenya announced its first Ebola case on Oct. 6, involving a man who traveled from Congo via Uganda before arriving in the capital, Nairobi, on Oct. 3.

He tested positive for Ebola on Oct. 5 and died the same day.

Ebola cases in Kenya have increased to nine, including four relatives of the first patient and four health workers.

Authorities have also identified 135 contacts linked to the nine patients, with 134 in quarantine. Kenya’s Health Ministry said there was still no evidence of transmission beyond known contacts of the first patient.

France is the only non-African country to record a case

France in June confirmed a positive case of Ebola in a doctor traveling back from Congo, making it the first and only country outside Africa to have recorded a case in this outbreak.

The individual returned from a humanitarian mission in one of the virus transmission zones in Congo and was taken into care at a specialized facility in France. The person recovered and was discharged on July 4, according to WHO.

Burkina Faso’s Parliament Unanimously Votes to Reinstate the Death Penalty

ASSOCIATED PRESS

12:53 PM EDT, October 21, 2026

The parliament in the Western African Sahel nation of Burkina Faso has reinstated the death penalty for crimes including terrorism, espionage and treason.

All 71 members of the Burkina Faso legislature voted unanimously in favor of adopting the new penal code on Tuesday, according to the justice minister, Edasso Rodrigue Bayala.

The development ends the abolition of the death penalty, which had been in effect since 2018 under the previous and democratically elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. Interim president Ibrahim Traoré has held power in the West African nation since a 2022 coup.

The last known execution in Burkina Faso took place in 1988, according to Human Rights Watch, which condemned the change.

“The failure of the death penalty as a crime deterrent has been globally acknowledged and the military junta in Burkina Faso should maintain the prohibition on its use,” senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch Ilaria Allegrozzi told The Associated Press.

The ruling Council of Ministers approved a bill reinstating capital punishment in December, prompting a backlash from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which criticized the move as repressive and an effort to suppress dissent.

The military junta has been accused of trying to crush dissent by detaining human rights defenders and journalists and dissolving all political parties.

Authorities have also banned media outlets, suspended unions and civil society groups, forced the United Nations human rights agency to leave the country, and subjected critics to unlawful conscription, torture and disappearances, according to Allegrozzi.

Landlocked Burkina Faso, a country of 23 million people, is grappling with a security crisis as authorities battle militant groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Both government forces and militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaida-aligned group, have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. A Human Rights Watch report this year said government forces killed twice as many civilians as jihadis did between 2023 and 2025.

“Reinstating the death penalty won’t solve the security crisis in Burkina Faso. It will only add to the already appalling toll that President Traoré’s counterterrorism campaign has exacted on the Burkinabè people since he seized power,” Allegrozzi said.

Over 500 in South Africa Sickened in Outbreak Linked to Poor Water Quality

A man carrying water bottles walks along a dusty street in Hamanskraal, Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, May 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME

11:13 AM EDT, October 21, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Over 500 people in South Africa have fallen ill from a gastrointestinal illness that causes stomach cramps and diarrhea, which authorities are blaming on poor water quality in two different cities in the country.

Authorities this week issued a warning to communities east of the capital, Pretoria, to stop drinking water from their taps after 408 people including children fell ill and were treated at various health facilities.

Like other cities in the country, the capital and its suburbs have long had issues with the cleanliness of the region’s water, and it remains a contentious political issue.

On Wednesday, city officials were distributing water to residents through emergency tankers, while the charity organization Gift of the Givers supplied the community with bottled water.

Most of those who fell ill were children under 4. According to health and city officials, the people fell ill after drinking contaminated water from a water treatment plant which supplies water to several communities east of Pretoria.

Authorities confirmed that the water at the plant had not been chlorinated for about three weeks, rendering it unsafe for human consumption. Officials said the municipality had trouble obtaining chlorine from its usual supplier.

They said the plant gets water from the Bronkhorstspruit River, which is badly contaminated with sewage pollution from poorly functioning wastewater treatment plants upstream.

An initial investigation revealed that officials failed to inform residents about the poor quality of the water.

Nasiphi Moya, mayor of the city of Tshwane, which includes Pretoria and surrounding communities, said that an investigation found that city officials had failed to warn affected areas “that the water being supplied had not been chlorinated and therefore should not be drunk or used for cooking, washing or bathing, even after boiling.”

Various political parties have called for Moya to resign, and for other officials to be fired, to take responsibility for the water contamination.

In the coastal city of Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape province, at least 111 students from Rhodes University have been treated for a gastrointestinal illness over the last few days, the university said Wednesday.

University and water authorities were investigating the cause of the outbreak, but they also suspected it was due to the water quality.

“Students who experienced severe symptoms were taken to hospital for medical attention and have since returned to campus,” university spokesperson Olwetu Gwanya said on Wednesday.

Staff and students were urged to remain vigilant and practice safe water use, food handling and personal hygiene, both on and off campus.

“These measures include drinking boiled and cooled or bottled water, using safe water to prepare food and brush teeth, avoiding ice and uncooked food washed in untreated water and washing hands regularly with soap and water,” Gwanya said.

US Says it Has Revoked 300,000 Visas Since Trump Returned

The US State Department says it has revoked more than 300,000 visas since January 2025, with a mass revocation targeting asylum seekers still pending.

By News Ghana

October 21, 2026

The United States has revoked more than 300,000 visas since President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025, the State Department said on 20 October.

The pace has accelerated. The department reported more than 100,000 revocations in January and more than 175,000 in August, meaning about 125,000 visas have been cancelled in roughly two months.

Spokesman Tommy Pigott said on X that the administration had revoked visas faster than any before it. He said it had “zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law,” commit fraud or threaten national security.

What the revocations cover

A department official told Al Jazeera that most revocations followed criminal activity, public safety concerns, immigration violations, fraud or misrepresentation. More than 4,000 involved people who took part in or facilitated birth tourism, travelling to the US to give birth so the child gains citizenship.

Among revocations for criminal or safety reasons, assault and related offences accounted for 25 percent and driving under the influence for 22 percent. Theft and drug offences made up seven percent each.

The department has not published a breakdown by nationality.

Asylum seekers next

A larger move is pending. In August, the Associated Press (AP) reported that the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security were preparing to revoke business (B1) and tourist (B2) visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought asylum. Officials said up to 200,000 people could be affected.

Revocation would strip those people of their visa status but would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation, the AP reported. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau backed the plan, saying asylum should not be a loophole around immigration law. The move is expected to face legal challenges.

The crackdown has also reached legal migration. The administration has tightened social media vetting of applicants and imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B skilled worker visa petitions. Rights groups say the online screening threatens free speech and amounts to surveillance of immigrants.

South Sudan Summons Sudanese Envoy Over Drone Strike on Abyei Market

20 October 2026

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Amb. Agnes Adlino Orifa Oswaha meets with Sudan's Ambassador Isam Mohamed Hassan Karar in Juba on Oct. 19, 2026.

October 19, 2026 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s foreign ministry on Monday summoned Sudan’s ambassador to Juba, Essam Mohamed Karrar, to protest a drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region.

Drones suspected to belong to the Sudanese army attacked the Al-Naam market earlier in the day, targeting fuel depots and trucks carrying fuel from South Sudan to Darfur.

Commercial activity at the market has surged since the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023.

The South Sudanese foreign ministry said in a statement that it summoned the ambassador to convey its strong protest and deep concern over the attack on the Amiet market, located north of Abyei town.

The ministry warned of the strike’s impact on civilian security and the stability of the Abyei region.

The attack hit multiple locations within the market, causing civilian casualties, injuries, and significant property damage, the statement added.

Reports indicated that the attack killed 73 civilians, though there has been no official confirmation of the death toll.

Juba called on the Sudanese government to refrain from actions that endanger civilian lives and property.

It also urged Khartoum to address any issues related to the Abyei region through established diplomatic channels and dialogue mechanisms.

The foreign ministry reiterated South Sudan’s commitment to protecting civilians and maintaining peace, security, and stability in Abyei.

It called on the Sudanese government to take the necessary measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.

The Al-Naam market has become a major trading hub for fuel, food, building materials, and medicine flowing from South Sudan to the Kordofan and Darfur regions.

South Sudan emphasized its commitment to peaceful coexistence and dispute resolution under international law, urging Sudan to halt such attacks.

The Sudanese government has not yet commented on the accusations.

Recent press reports indicate the Sudanese army has launched sporadic attacks in East and South Darfur, as the RSF controls most of the western states.