Ghanaian President Says Ethiopia’s Megech Dam Inspires Revival of Abandoned Irrigation Project

Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (ENA) — Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said Ethiopia’s Megech Irrigation Dam Project has inspired him to revive Ghana’s long-stalled Pwalugu Irrigation Project.

He highlighted the Megech mega-project as an inspiring example of how irrigation development can strengthen food security, boost agricultural productivity, and drive Africa’s economic transformation.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Megech irrigation dam project in Gondar, Amhara Regional State, today, Mahama commended Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for reviving the long-delayed project.

He said the ongoing Ethiopia’s development efforts as an inspiration for African leaders.

“I want to stand on behalf of the people of Ghana and salute my brother, Prime Minister Abiy, for the very commendable work you’ve done,” Mahama said.

“These are the kind of transformational leaders we need in Africa,” he added.

The Ghanaian president said the ceremony had motivated him to restart the Pwalugu irrigation project, which he said had been attempted years ago but subsequently abandoned.

The planned Ghanaian project combines irrigation with solar and hydropower generation, with irrigation expected to cover approximately 25,000 hectares of farmland and contribute to the country’s food security.

Mahama said Ethiopia’s experience demonstrated how renewed commitment could turn long-delayed infrastructure projects into investments that deliver tangible benefits to citizens.

Recalling that the Megech project began 19 years ago, he said the project was revived about three years ago under Prime Minister Abiy’s leadership. 

He welcomed the opportunity to witness the release of water for irrigation and drinking-water supply to Gondar and surrounding communities.

The Megech dam, with a storage capacity of 185 million cubic meters, is expected to irrigate more than 17,000 hectares of farmland, benefiting tens of thousands of farmers while expanding access to drinking water and creating opportunities in fisheries, agriculture, tourism, and employment.

Beyond its development significance, Mahama highlighted Ethiopia’s historical role in Africa’s struggle against colonial domination, describing the country as a powerful symbol of African resistance.

He also recalled Ghana’s distinction as the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from colonial rule, drawing a connection between the continent’s liberation struggle and the responsibility of today’s leaders to deliver economic prosperity.

“Our early leaders fought against colonial domination, and we fought to overthrow colonialism and liberate the continent. It behooves on us, the leaders of today, to bring economic transformation and prosperity to our people,” he said.

Mahama also highlighted the historical connection between Gondar and Ghana, noting that a military barracks in Ghana bears the Ethiopian city’s name and served as the headquarters of the December 31 Revolution.

He said he had long wanted to visit Gondar after learning about its history and civilization through books and welcomed the opportunity to attend the dam’s inauguration.

Reflecting on his successive visit, Mahama said he had witnessed the country changing from year to year.

PM Advisor Getachew Underscores Ethiopia’s Pivotal Geopolitical Position

Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (ENA) — Advisor to the Prime Minister on East African Affairs, Getachew Reda emphasized Ethiopia’s pivotal geopolitical position, stressing that whatever political, economic, and security developments in the country carry serious implications for the wider region.

The remarks came during the Tana Forum 2026 Special Envoys Dialogue, convened today in the city of Bahir Dar to address pressing regional security challenges in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

The panelists included Advisor to the Prime Minister on East African Affairs Getachew Reda; UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Guang Cong; French Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Frédéric Clavier; Germany’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Heiko Nitzschke; and Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto.

Speaking at the dialogue, Getachew underscored that whatever political, economic, and security developments unfold in Ethiopia carry profound ramifications for the broader Horn of Africa and Red Sea region.

“Ethiopia is too important, and whatever developments happen in Ethiopia will have serious ramifications politically, economically, and in terms of security for the rest of the region,” Getachew said.

Highlighting the nation’s status as a country of over 130 million people with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, he noted that Ethiopia serves not only as an economic powerhouse but also as a critical contributor to international peace and security.

He stressed that, as a neighbor to some of the region’s most volatile areas, Ethiopia’s responsibility in maintaining stability becomes even more vital.

Addressing internal security dynamics, Getachew underscored the Ethiopian government’s commitment to resolving conflicts through peaceful dialogue and multilateral frameworks.

“One thing we should take into account, in terms of addressing internal problems in Ethiopia, is the government's focus on addressing conflicts or possible sources of conflicts peacefully through dialogue,” he stated, referencing efforts to resolve the conflict in northern Ethiopia through the signing of the Pretoria Agreement.

However, he cautioned that domestic efforts to achieve peace face serious external obstacles, pointing to interference from regional actors.

Getachew singled out Eritrea as one of players of displaying “recalcitrant behavior” and continuing to “foment crisis” in the region.

He urged the international community to adopt a holistic approach that distinguishes between internal peace initiatives and the necessity of confronting external forces fueling instability across the Horn, including in neighboring Sudan and Somalia.

Highlighting how security challenges across the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Gulf are increasingly merging into a complex regional dynamic, UN Special Envoy Guang Cong described the current situation as a “polycrisis,” noting that ongoing conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia, alongside maritime threats in the Red Sea, are deeply interconnected.

He emphasized that resolving these crises requires a coordinated regional approach rather than isolated measures.

Echoing these concerns, German Special Envoy Ambassador Heiko Nitzschke noted the heightened sense of urgency among European and African policymakers in addressing these overlapping security threats, particularly given their impact on global trade routes through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

He underscored the need for region-led peace initiatives and economic integration.

Pekka Haavisto, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan, also noted that international and regional diplomatic efforts must align to address complex, multi-state crises in the Horn of Africa.

For his part, French Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Frédéric Clavier emphasized that stronger multilateral cooperation is necessary to stabilize the broader Horn of Africa and Red Sea region.

Moreover, the panelists highlighted key cross-border infrastructure, trade, and connectivity developments that reflect a shared commitment to long-term regional integration and stability.

Eritrea’s Antagonistic Policy Threatens Regional Stability, Says Prof. Alemayehu 

Addis Ababa, October 22, 2026 (ENA) — Eritrea’s confrontational approach toward Ethiopia threatens regional security and undermines prospects for peace, economic cooperation and integration across the Horn of Africa, Ethiopian American scholar Emeritus Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam underscored.

the former California State University, San Bernardino professor said Eritrea’s leadership viewed Ethiopia as a strategic adversary and considered instability in its larger neighbor advantageous to the survival of its own government.

“Since they cannot militarily overcome Ethiopia, their best approach is to destabilize Ethiopia every way they can,” he told POA, describing what he characterized as Asmara’s strategy toward Addis Ababa.

Professor Alemayehu further elaborated that Eritrea’s leadership viewed Ethiopia’s internal divisions and conflicts as serving its own political interests. 

He said the Shabia regime believes that the more unstable, divided, and conflict-ridden Ethiopia becomes, the stronger the Eritrean government becomes.

He added Eritrea is supporting armed groups hostile to the Ethiopian state, supplying weapons and military equipment, and facilitating military assistance from Egypt and Sudan. He said, this  reflected a broader strategy of weakening Ethiopia rather than pursuing constructive bilateral relations.

Contrasting the two countries’ approaches, Alemayehu said Ethiopia was pursuing regional economic integration, expanded markets and shared prosperity, while Eritrea’s confrontational posture was obstructing opportunities for cooperation and development across the Horn of Africa.

He also criticized Eritrea’s domestic political system, describing it as authoritarian and focused on preserving the ruling government’s hold on power. 

The absence of elected national leadership, political repression and the continued exodus of young people, he argued, had imposed significant costs on Eritrean society and contributed to regional instability.

On security, Professor Alemayehu said Eritrean troops had entered Ethiopian territory, citing satellite imagery and ground-level video recordings as evidence. He argued that international calls for Eritrea to respect Ethiopia’s sovereignty had not adequately addressed the issue.

He called for a firm response from Ethiopia  as continued military incursions and support for armed groups operating against Ethiopia.

Alemayehu also characterized the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as a proxy through which Eritrea had sought to exert pressure on Ethiopia. He argued that the weakening of the group had constrained Asmara’s ability to destabilize its neighbor.

“If Eritrea continues its military incursions into Ethiopia, Ethiopia will have the right of self-defense,” he said.

He further argued that such a response could include what he termed anticipatory self-defense and the possible establishment of a security or buffer zone inside Eritrea to prevent further cross-border attacks.

On Eritrea’s political future, Professor Alemayehu said change could emerge from within the country or through external pressure. 

He maintained that continued confrontation with Ethiopia would remain an obstacle to lasting peace and regional cooperation.

Unpopular, Illegal TPLF Reduced to Irrelevance: Tigray Democratic Party Chairman

Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (ENA) — The illegal TPLF is a force in disarray that offered nothing tangible to the people of Tigray when it was in power for years, Tigray Democratic Party (TDP) Chairman Aregawi Berhe said.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Aregawi characterized the group's ongoing efforts to cling to power—specifically through forced conscription of youth and civilians— is the hallmark of a bankrupt and desperate leadership.

He asserted that the Ethiopian public, and specifically the residents of Tigray, have become acutely aware of the "malevolent trajectory" pursued by the group since its ouster from federal power. 

While the Ethiopian government consistently demonstrated a commitment to de-escalation, culminating in the Pretoria Peace Agreement, the TPLF viewed peace as an existential threat, the Chairman stated.

Fearing accountability in a post-conflict landscape, the group has systematically orchestrated instability to ensure its own survival, Aregawi stated, condemning these tactics as entirely untenable. 

"They have become a derailed entity that offers nothing but continued suffering to the people they claim to represent."

The TDP Chairman highlighted a growing tide of grassroots opposition within Tigray. 

He noted that the population, exhausted by years of conflict, has increasingly taken to the streets to reject the forced mobilization of their children and the depletion of local resources for the group's internal power struggles.

Reflecting on the broader national context, Aregawi emphasized that Ethiopian unity is not merely an emotional construct but is deeply anchored in ancient heritage, shared culture, and a legacy of resilience. 

He reaffirmed that the people of Tigray maintain a profound sense of Ethiopian patriotism and an enduring commitment to the country’s territorial and political integrity.

The Chairman also shed light on the coalition branded as "Tsimdo," dismissing it as a conspiratorial alliance designed to destabilize the nation. 

He said the TPLF leadership acted as a proxy for foreign interests, collaborating with long-standing regional adversaries—including Egypt and Shaebia forces aligned with them—to orchestrate a campaign of subversion.

"The TPLF leadership attempted to formalize this destructive alliance, intending to use Mekelle as a launchpad for their declarations," Aregawi explained. 

However, he noted that this scheme was swiftly identified and neutralized before it could gain any meaningful traction, effectively dismantling the "Tsimdo" influence.

Concluding his remarks, Aregawi urged a shift toward constructive engagement, emphasizing that just as global ideological conflicts are settled through diplomatic dialogue, Ethiopia’s internal challenges must be addressed by narrowing differences and fostering a unified national front. 

He called upon all citizens to reject divisive agendas and prioritize the stability and future of the nation.

Ethiopia Rebels Say Tigray is Still at War, Leader Warns, Claiming Tactical Victories

Ethiopia

The leader of Ethiopia’s rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) says the northern state is still at war.

In a message aired on Tigrayan television on Wednesday, Debretsion Gebremichael said the TPLF is continuing to fight federal forces in the region and will “remain a graveyard for its enemies.”

Debretsion also claimed several recent tactical victories.

Last week, he said the rebels neutralized hundreds of federal soldiers during fighting in northern and central Tigray.

The army recaptured the regional capital Mekelle earlier this month, after the TPLF withdrew.

Analysts have warned that the army’s advance could raise the risk of war with Eritrea.

Earlier this week, a drone strike killed four people in southern Tigray. Other strikes targeted civilians and a school in Amhara region where the army is fighting Fano militants.

Eastleigh Building Collapse: Two Hospitalized, 26 Missing People Traced

The Kenya Red Cross says search and rescue operations are ongoing, with a tracing desk set up to assist families looking for their loved ones.

by FELIX KIPKEMOI

Kenya Red Cross at the scene of collapsed building in Eastleigh

‎‎Two people injured in the Eastleigh building collapse have been taken to Kenyatta National Hospital as rescue teams continue searching the site and tracing people reported missing.

‎The Kenya Red Cross said 26 people who had earlier been reported missing had since been traced and accounted for, as multi-agency teams continued search and rescue operations at the scene along 9th Street, Eastleigh.

‎“Two injured people have been taken to Kenyatta National Hospital. Of the people reported missing, 26 have now been traced and accounted for,” the humanitarian agency said in an update.

‎The agency said its teams remained at the site working alongside other responders, while a tracing desk had been established to help families searching for relatives who may have been caught in the collapse.

‎“Our teams remain on site with multi-agency partners. A tracing desk at the site is open for families looking for loved ones,” the Kenya Red Cross said.

‎Families seeking information about missing relatives have been urged to contact the agency through its toll-free line, 1199.

‎The update came hours after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in the densely populated Eastleigh neighbourhood, prompting an emergency response involving county officials, police and disaster management teams.

‎Nairobi City County said the building was 18 storeys high, with the ground floor occupied. Rescue personnel were deployed to assess the site, search for people trapped under the rubble and clear debris to facilitate access.

‎Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja visited the scene and said the building had not complied with construction guidelines, promising legal action against those responsible.

‎Nairobi Police Commander Issa Mohamud said thorough investigations would be conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine whether criminal negligence was involved.

‎“Whoever is the owner, whoever authorised the building, all of them will be charged properly. But that will come after thorough investigation is done,” Mohamud said.

Terrifying Moments as 18-storey Building Collapses in Kenya, Many Feared Trapped

Edited by Vivek Dubey 

TIMESOFINDIA.COM 

Oct 23, 2026, 20:52 IST

The collapse triggered a major emergency response

A multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on Friday, leaving a massive pile of concrete and raising fears that several people were trapped beneath the rubble.

The building, which had more than 10 upper floors under construction, collapsed at around 1pm along a busy commercial street in the Eastleigh area. Footage from the scene showed the structure crumbling into a heap of debris, with multiple floors appearing to have collapsed on top of one another.

The 18-storey building was located along 1st Avenue, 9th Street, in a densely populated neighbourhood frequented by traders and residents.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that one person had been rescued from the debris and taken to hospital. Emergency teams continued searching the site for others who may have been trapped.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who visited the scene with county officials, said rescue workers were carefully clearing sections of the rubble to allow oxygen to reach people who might still be alive beneath the debris.

According to an update from Nairobi City County, the building was still under construction when it collapsed, although its ground floor was already occupied.

Sakaja said the structure did not comply with construction guidelines and vowed that legal action would be taken against its owner. Authorities are expected to investigate whether the building had the required approvals and met structural safety standards.

The collapse triggered a major emergency response, with county teams deploying machinery to remove debris and create access routes for rescuers. The Kenya Red Cross also said its teams were on their way to the site and urged the public to give emergency responders enough space to work safely.

Rescue operations were complicated by the large crowds gathering around the collapsed structure. Police fired tear gas to disperse onlookers and people who had begun looting neighbouring shops, as officers attempted to clear the area and prevent obstruction of emergency vehicles.

Movement along 1st Avenue and 9th Street was disrupted as residents and traders rushed to the scene.

Multiple People Feared Trapped After Multi-story Building Collapses in Nairobi

October 23, 2026

By Brian Walker

Credit: Credit: Sakaja Johnson

A building under construction collapsed Friday in Nairobi, Kenya, with people feared trapped beneath the rubble as rescue teams searched for survivors.

The building was located on 9th Street in the Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi. The National Construction Authority said the area had been cordoned off and multiple agencies were working together on rescue efforts and an initial investigation.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said county teams were working with the National Disaster Operations Centre, the Kenya Red Cross, the Kenya Defence Forces and other agencies to search for people who may be trapped. Heavy machinery had been brought to the site, while health teams remained on standby.

Authorities urged anyone with information about missing people to contact rescue teams at the scene or call 1508 or 1199. The number of people trapped or injured had not been confirmed in the information released by the authorities.

The National Construction Authority said the building was registered on July 30, 2025, as a proposed development on land along 9th Street. The developer listed in its records is 9th Street Plaza Limited, while Stromax Holdings E.A Limited was named as the contractor. Architect Emmanuel Mwangi Maina and structural engineer Joseph Muturi Mugu were listed among the professionals on the project.

Governor Sakaja said the building had been approved for construction but did not have an occupation certificate. He said shops operating on the ground floor while construction continued on the upper floors were not permitted without the required approval.

The governor called for tougher penalties for developers who ignore approved building plans and safety standards. He also said he had written to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking the restoration of prosecutorial powers to county governments so they could take action against those responsible for construction violations.

The National Construction Authority said further information about the rescue operation and the condition of the site would be shared as it became available. Officials urged the public to stay away from the cordoned-off area while crews continued their work.

Building Collapses in Kenyan Capital, Rescuers on the Scene

Oct. 23, 2026, at 8:55 a.m.

NAIROBI, Oct 23 (Reuters) - ⁠A ⁠12-storey building ⁠under construction in ​Kenya's capital Nairobi collapsed ‌on Friday, and ‌a Reuters ⁠witness ⁠said rescuers were on the scene.

The ​Nairobi County governor's office said in a ​statement there were reports people ⁠may ⁠be trapped beneath ⁠the ​rubble.

It was not immediately clear ​what caused ⁠the building to collapse.

Governor Johnson Sakaja's office said ⁠the ground floor of the collapsed building ⁠in the Eastleigh neighbourhood was occupied.

A Reuters video showed a crowd had gathered at the scene while an excavator moved ⁠rubble.

(Reporting by Monicah Mwangi and Ruth Nesoba; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing ​by Alexander Winning and ​Ros Russell)

Nairobi Building Collapse Raises Safety Concerns as Rescuers Search Rubble

A multi-storey building collapsed mid-construction in the Kenyan capital on Friday, with many feared trapped in the rubble and accusations of dangerous building work.

Videos shared online showed a dramatic crash and huge clouds of dust as the building -- thought to have been around 18 stories high -- came down in the densely populated business and residential area of Eastleigh.

The building was reduced to a pile of rubble as search and rescue teams arrived on the scene, but struggled to start accessing the site which was jammed between other high-rise buildings.

Police said they had already rescued one woman from the rubble, and could hear the voice of another.

"There are lots of people trapped here," Bibiye Mahmoud, president of the Institution of Engineering Technology of Kenya, told AFP at the site of the disaster.

"The contractors and the engineers are supposed to ensure that the works are followed by professionals. But most are not. This is why we are seeing these catastrophes... There is no accountability," she added.

Kenya's National Building Inspectorate report found that 87 percent of buildings audited nationwide last year failed to meet standards or lacked the required approvals.

"Our concern is to save lives," Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja told reporters, adding: "This building has no occupation certificate...this has potentially cost lives."

An occupation certificate is essentially the authority's formal sign-off that a building is safe and legally fit to be occupied.

John Ogallo, vice-president of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, who was also at the site, said there were warning signs about the building.

"People here are saying distresses were observed, like cracks," before it collapsed, he told reporters.

If you build with the wrong materials, "it becomes a time bomb," he added.

Nairobi is undergoing a rapid construction boom, with high-rise buildings appearing all over the city, particularly in Eastleigh which is known for its busy market areas and as a hub for the Somali community.

Local media reported looting immediately after the collapse, which happened around lunchtime. AFP saw police use tear gas to disperse crowds gathering near the site.

There have been many concerns over safety over the years.

There were 86 building collapses between 2009 and 2019 in Nairobi, killing an estimated 200 people, according to a report by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis.

The number of buildings completed annually in Nairobi has risen from 20,025 in 2022 to 25,090 last year, according to its statistics bureau, as east Africa's leading business hub sucks in people from rural areas and neighbouring countries.

Corruption has allowed contractors to cut corners or bypass regulations.

Five people were killed when a six-storey building collapsed in a town on the outskirts of Nairobi in September 2022.

In April 2016, 49 people were killed when a six-floor apartment building crumbled in the northeast of the capital after days of heavy rain caused floods and landslides.

AU Member States Validate African Continental Health Data Governance Framework

Validation marks a major step toward a shared continental approach to secure, ethical and sovereign health data governance, ahead of finalisation and consideration through African Union policy processes.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 22 October 2026 – African Union (AU) Member States have validated the African Continental Health Data Governance Framework, paving the way for Africa’s first common continental approach on the lawful, secure, ethical and sovereign governance of health data.

The framework aims to establish an integrated African health data ecosystem in which Member States govern, protect and use health data. It will also guide countries in developing national legislation, policies and governance systems, while enabling secure data sharing to improve disease surveillance, public health responses and healthcare delivery.

Developed through successive consultations with AU Member States and stakeholders since 2025, the Framework has enabled countries to assess its provisions against diverse legal, institutional and digital-health contexts.

Its validation comes as Africa’s health systems become increasingly digital. Electronic health records, health information exchanges and artificial intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities to improve healthcare, strengthen disease surveillance and make better use of limited resources amid declining development assistance.

However, gaps in privacy protection, cybersecurity and legal safeguards increase the risk of data misuse, algorithmic bias and declining public trust. The framework addresses these challenges by establishing common safeguards while allowing countries to retain control over their health data.

Kenya is among the countries advancing digital health through legislation, institutional reforms and investment in digital systems. Its Digital Health Act of 2023 and Data Protection Act provide a legal foundation for managing health information, while the Digital Health Agency is developing an integrated system for securely exchanging health data. These reforms are supporting the transition from paper-based records to digital services, including faster processing of health insurance payments – facilitated by the widespread use of mobile money.

“Our experience shows how digital health can improve healthcare delivery. This framework will provide common safeguards and enable countries to share health data securely while retaining control over it,” said Dr Ayub Manya, Senior Deputy Director of Medical Services (Digital Health) at the Ministry of Health in Kenya.

Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said the framework marks a shift towards African ownership and governance of health data, placing Member States at the centre of decisions on how their data is managed, protected and shared.

“For too long, Africa’s health data have been fragmented across disconnected systems. This Framework puts governments in the lead and Member States at the centre of decisions on how health data are governed, protected and used. Health sovereignty begins with owning, protecting and using our own data,” he said.

The framework builds on existing AU instruments, including the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention), the AU Data Policy Framework (2022) and the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020–2030).

A key feature is its proposed federated approach, which would allow countries to share information securely across borders without relinquishing oversight of their national health data systems. This would enable more coordinated responses to disease outbreaks and other public health threats.

With validation now secured, Africa CDC will finalise the framework based on the agreed amendments and advance it through relevant African Union policy processes, with consideration anticipated in 2027. Member States will then lead its implementation, with technical assistance from Africa CDC and Transform Health, a partner supporting the development and validation process.

“Robust legislative and regulatory frameworks that ensure the responsible and equitable collection and use of health data are the bedrock of trustworthy digital health and AI transformation,” said Mathilde Forslund, Chief Executive Officer of Transform Health. “The validation of this Framework by AU Member States demonstrates inspiring regional leadership.”

She added: “By co-creating rules that protect rights, ensure equity, and uphold data sovereignty, Africa is establishing the safeguards for responsible health data governance that can guide global health governance.”

Judith Nguimfack, Head of the Digital Health and Information Systems Division at Africa CDC, said the next priority is translating the continental framework into national action. “This Framework belongs to Member States. Countries across the continent have examined it against their own legal, institutional and digital realities and reached common ground on the principles that should guide health data governance in Africa,” she said.

“With validation completed, the priority now is to finalise the agreed amendments, advance the Framework through the relevant AU policy processes and, most importantly, prepare for implementation at country level,” Ms Nguimfack added.

About Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the African Union’s autonomous public health agency. Established in 2016 and launched in 2017, it works with Member States to strengthen public health systems and improve disease prevention, preparedness and emergency response. Headquartered in Addis Ababa, it operates through five Regional Coordinating Centres. For more information, visit: http://www.africacdc.org and follow Africa CDC on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

Media enquiries: Directorate of Communications and Public Information, Africa CDC | Email: communications@africacdc.org

About Transform Health

Transform Health is a global coalition of 230+ organisations across 65 countries. We work to strengthen the enabling environment for the equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and rights-based digital health transformation to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

Website: transformhealthcoalition.org

Contact: Tejas Tandon, Communications Manager | tejas.tandon@transformhealthcoalition.org

Africa at Risk of Continent-wide Ebola Crisis, Health Chief Warns

Ruben Nyanguila

Reporter, Semafor Africa

Oct 23, 2026, 5:47am EDT

Africa

Travelers next to a banner displayed by a health screening station at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Sodiq Adelakun/Reuters

In this article:

The Ebola outbreak that began in DR Congo is becoming a continental crisis after authorities initially underestimated its spread, the head of Africa’s public health agency told Semafor as new cases were reported as far afield as Nigeria.

More than 4,600 people have died in the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain which was first detected in DR Congo in May, though health experts believe it had been circulating undetected for weeks. It has now spread further across Africa than any previous Ebola outbreak, with cases in the continent’s central, eastern and western regions. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, confirmed its first case of the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no proven vaccine, despite being absent from the agency’s initial list of 15 countries at risk, he said. Kenya has reported nine cases while Uganda, which recorded 20 cases, was declared free of Ebola in August.

“We could see every region of Africa affected, and that is beginning to happen,” Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an exclusive interview. He said the outbreak had initially been viewed as less dangerous and easier to contain, with little expectation that it would spread to other African regions, which had proved to be wrong.

Ebola is changing how African governments organize their response, Kaseya said, with Nigeria’s case prompting stronger solidarity across the continent. Health, finance and transport ministers will meet next week with regional organizations invited, to discuss national and cross-border measures.

Kaseya said he expects a response plan dividing responsibilities among regional organizations and other partners to be ready by then, ahead of a summit of African leaders where he hopes to secure funding commitments.

As Ebola spreads across Africa, Kaseya warned against closing borders to contain it. “We do not recommend border closures,” he said, arguing that the measure had already proved ineffective. “People will start using informal, unofficial routes, and they will still cross.”

The patient diagnosed in Nigeria, a woman who had traveled from Uganda, went roughly 10 days undiagnosed. “The patient was in one private facility, then another, without being tested,” Kaseya said. That delay posed a greater risk of further spread than in Kenya, he said. Kenya isolated its first patient soon after arrival.

The Nigerian government has pledged funding for the response, Kaseya said, without specifying an amount. Africa CDC has sent a team to support Nigeria’s response, where Kaseya said aid partners must report their funding and activities to the government.

Nigeria’s health minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, said authorities had found no evidence that the virus had spread into communities. “This is a contained single case, and we are diligently working to ensure that it remains so,” he told reporters at a press conference late on Thursday.

Title iconStep Back

The spread of the Bundibugyo strain comes against the backdrop of deep cuts to Western aid budgets, which has prompted health experts to argue that a lack of resources reduced the presence of health workers on the ground, slowing the response to the outbreak.

Jullien Harneis, the UN’s senior Ebola coordinator, said the outbreak’s expanding reach required more teams, coordination and logistical support. “Its geographic spread is a real management challenge,” he told Semafor.

Africa CDC warned last week that aid organizations had not reported more than $700 million in donor funding to Congolese authorities. It backed government sanctions, including withdrawing permission to operate, against organizations that continued to refuse to account for their funds.

“We have now traced $450 million,” Kaseya told Semafor. “We will never again manage an outbreak in Africa the way we managed it in DR Congo,” he said, referring to the funding dispute.

This latest Ebola outbreak is the second deadliest in history after the 2014-16 epidemic which killed more than 11,300 people, mostly in West Africa. There is no known vaccine for this species of the virus, known as Bundibugyo, but Ervebo, effective against another species, is being tested. The Ervebo vaccine has been administered to 9,000 frontline workers.

Ebola: Africa CDC Convenes African Ministers of Health as Ebola Outbreak Spreads Across Three Regions

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21 October 2026

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) will convene a high-level virtual meeting of African Ministers of Health on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, as the ongoing Ebola outbreak poses an escalating threat to health security across the continent.

Five months into the response, the outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with cases now reported in Kenya and Nigeria. The geographic spread across Central, Eastern and Western Africa demands urgent, coordinated action.

Since Africa CDC declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security on 18 May 2026, Member States, frontline health workers and partners have made sustained efforts to contain transmission. The evolving situation now calls for renewed political commitment, intensified response measures and stronger continental solidarity.

The 28 October meeting will provide an opportunity for Ministers of Health to assess the situation, strengthen coordination across borders, accelerate support to affected countries and reinforce preparedness throughout the continent.

“Ebola is crossing borders. Our response must move faster, with stronger coordination, greater solidarity and decisive political leadership. We have the expertise and the capacity on this continent. We must mobilise them together to stop this outbreak and save lives,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.

The ministerial meeting is also expected to inform preparations for a Heads of State and Government Summit under the leadership of H.E. President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Chairperson of the African Union.

Africa CDC calls on all Member States to strengthen vigilance, surveillance, cross-border cooperation, community engagement and the protection of frontline health workers.

Africa must act together, with urgency and determination, to bring this outbreak to an end.

About Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the African Union’s autonomous public health agency. Established in 2016 and launched in 2017, it works with Member States to strengthen public health systems and improve disease prevention, preparedness and emergency response. Headquartered in Addis Ababa, it operates through five Regional Coordinating Centres. For more information, visit: http://www.africacdc.org and follow Africa CDC on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

Media enquiries: Directorate of Communications and Public Information, Africa CDC | Email: communications@africacdc.org

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

By OPE ADETAYO

12:22 AM EDT, October 22, 2026

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.

Foreign Citizen Beaten to Death During March in South Africa as Afrophobia Tensions Flare

A Malawian migrant jumps over a barricade as the police officer manage the queue for their deportation at a temporary centre, in Durban, South Africa, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

By GERALD IMRAY

7:07 AM EDT, October 22, 2026

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A foreign citizen was beaten to death by a group of around 50 people during a protest march in South Africa’s east coast city of Durban, police said Thursday, as anti-immigrant tensions continue to flare in Africa’s most advanced economy.

Police said the group approached the man, who was standing at the side of a road during a march through the streets of Durban’s city center, and assaulted him.

Police did not immediately give the man’s nationality or details on what the march was related to. They said the victim was in his 30s or early 40s, and they were still trying to identify suspects in the attack.

South Africa has struggled with months of anti-immigration tensions. Marches calling for government action against migrants in the country illegally have sometimes spilled over into violence.

Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi and other countries have said some of their citizens have been killed in xenophobic attacks linked to the anti-immigration protests. South African authorities have disputed some of those claims and said some deaths were related to criminal activity and not the protests.

Tens of thousands of migrants have left South Africa in recent months in one of the biggest mass exoduses in years. Many cite the threat of violence from angry locals, though the government also said that many were deported for not having the proper documents to be in South Africa.

As Africa’s biggest economy, South Africa attracts migrants from many nations on the continent, but that has sometimes brought tensions within communities because of the country’s extremely high unemployment rate and overburdened public services.

Durban, South Africa’s third biggest city of nearly four million people, has become a hotspot for the anti-immigrant tensions that have surged this year.

In June, thousands of migrants mainly from Malawi gathered at a park in the city seeking to be repatriated to their home country. They claimed they were fleeing threats of violence after a protest group demanded undocumented migrants leave South Africa by June 30.

The camp of migrants seeking to leave grew so quickly that authorities had to build more temporary accommodation centers to handle the numbers.

This month, cars were torched and shops were looted in the Johannesburg township of Soweto after a court ruling made it easier for foreign citizens to claim asylum in South Africa, leading to many making applications at government buildings and sparking a reaction from locals.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has denounced violence related to immigration but has also acknowledged failures in the border control system over years that have allowed migrants to travel to and stay in South Africa without documentation.

South Africa’s official government figures show there are around 2.4 million foreign nationals among the country’s population of 62 million, but protesters say there are many more in South Africa without documentation who haven’t been counted.

First Ebola Patients in Nigeria and Kenya Might Have Crossed Paths at Uganda Airport

By OPE ADETAYO

8:26 PM EDT, October 22, 2026

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The first Ebola patients confirmed in Kenya and Nigeria might have crossed paths at an airport in Uganda earlier this month, African health officials said Thursday as they race to trace and slow an outbreak that has spread to several African countries.

Both patients are known to have traveled through Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport on Oct. 3, said Dr. Wessam Mankoula, head of emergency preparedness and response at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“One of the issues we are currently investigating has been some sort of interaction between the two cases at the airport,” Mankoula said.

Nigerian Health Minister Muhammed Pate said Nigeria’s case remains contained and that contact-tracing is in progress. “We are trying to contain it so it doesn’t go out to the communities. Hopefully, it won’t get to that and we are working hard to ensure that,” Pate said.

The current Ebola outbreak emerged in Congo in May and the disease has since been detected in three other African countries, becoming the continent’s most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak in history.

Nigeria announced its first case on Tuesday, saying the patient had travelled from Uganda. Ugandan authorities denied the claim that the patient was exposed in their country and said the patient had travelled to Congo — something now disputed by health officials.

The Nigerian patient, who is a Uganda-born wife of a diplomat in Abuja, had vacationed in Uganda for two weeks in September and had arrived in Nigeria in early October, officials said. Nigeria said it is currently tracing 44 contacts. Mankoula said additional contacts have been identified, but declined to give the new figure.

Uganda recorded 20 cases before declaring itself free of the disease in June. However, the country is now believed to be linked to the new imported cases in Nigeria and Kenya. Kenya has recorded nine cases so far, linked to a traveler who had returned from Congo to Kenya through Uganda.

So far there is no indication that the Nigerian patient traveled to Congo, Mankoula said. Officials from the World Health Organization said the same thing at a separate briefing on Thursday.

“The information supplied to WHO did not include travel to another country during that period, and other accounts about prior travels were not communicated to us,” said Dr. Pavel Ursu, the WHO country representative in Nigeria.

Congo has been struggling to contain the virus, which has infected more than 9,500 people, killing nearly half of them. The virus has spread to eight provinces and 66 health zones across the country’s eastern region.

According to data from the Africa CDC, only 20% of confirmed cases are among known contacts and about 60% of deaths are within the community, outside of treatment centers. Analysts say the disease in some of the hotspots in Congo is out of control.

_____

Dyepkazah Shibayan contributed to this report from Abuja, Nigeria.

What to Know About Ebola Outbreak That Has Spread From Congo to Multiple African Countries

By MONIKA PRONCZUK

1:28 PM EDT, October 22, 2026

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The deadly Ebola outbreak that began in Congo in May is outpacing efforts to contain it, spreading to two other regions of Africa and taking advantage of gaps in surveillance.

The disease is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. More than 9,700 people have been infected, nearly half of whom have died, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congo’s history and the fastest-growing in the world.

Nigeria this week became the fourth country outside Congo to report an Ebola case, in a woman returning from Uganda.

A recurring problem is poor surveillance at entry points, as most initial cases were confirmed long after people arrived from territories where Ebola is active and started showing symptoms.

“Ebola is crossing borders. Our response must move faster, with stronger coordination, greater solidarity and decisive political leadership,” Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Wednesday.

Experts say investment in regional transportation infrastructure, including roads and airports, has not been matched by equal investment in public health measures.

“The infrastructure that is going to give us the risks has blossomed,” said Dr. Amira Roess, a professor of global health & epidemiology at George Mason University who worked in Guinea during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. “And then in comparison, the resources needed for public health response, for surveillance, for medical care, decreased, if anything.”

She added: “Every outbreak has more of a risk of getting bigger and bigger, because our resources for public health surveillance, for preventing this, are just not adequate.”

Here’s what to know about the outbreak:

5 countries have been affected, and 3 have active cases

Cases linked to Ebola have been reported in Congo, Uganda, Kenya, France and Nigeria. The woman in Nigeria started developing symptoms on Oct. 7 after returning from Uganda.

Uganda, which declared itself Ebola-free in July after 20 cases, has denied that the woman contracted the virus there. And the World Health Organization said it has not been informed if the patient had traveled to Congo.

Kenya has reported nine cases, originating from a man who traveled from Congo via Uganda.

France in June confirmed a doctor traveling back from Congo was infected, making it the first and only country outside Africa with a reported Ebola case. The person recovered and was discharged on July 4, according to the WHO.

Outbreak is unfolding in challenging conditions and across porous borders

The rare Bundibugyo virus was first detected in May, after spreading undetected for months, according to the WHO.

In Congo, it is fueled by mass population movements, rebel violence, mistrust and poor working conditions for front line workers. The provinces where cases have been reported border Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Central African Republic. Local populations cross borders often for work and personal reasons, with little to no oversight from the authorities.

Ebola is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, including blood and vomit, or through contact with contaminated materials and surfaces, such as bedding and clothing.

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 unable to keep pace with the virus’s spread.

WHO and Africa CDC are calling for a coordinated response

The Africa CDC this week called an Ebola crisis meeting of African heads of state on Wednesday to strengthen the response to the outbreak. “We have the expertise and the capacity on this continent. We must mobilize them together to stop this outbreak and save lives,” Kaseya said.

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

The global health body provides guidance for travelers and transport authorities during Ebola outbreaks and advises against general travel or trade bans. But its recommendations are not binding, resulting in a patchwork of national measures which vary from country to country.

“Ebola does not wait. It follows movement, exploits gaps, and tests the strength of our health systems. Today, the test is no longer confined to one place. It is a regional concern that demands regional vigilance and collective resolve,” Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, told reporters on Thursday.

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Millions in Ebola aid re unaccounted for

Africa’s CDC and Congolese officials earlier this month have raised concerns over $700 million in Ebola aid that is unaccounted for and called on organizations on the ground, which include U.N. agencies, international charities and local aid groups, to provide more information about their finances.

The revelations renew long-standing questions about transparency and accountability in Congo. Previous Ebola outbreaks were marked by allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds, which experts said have contributed to the mistrust of local communities, complicating the efforts to halt the spread.

An Austrian and a Swiss Woman Freed in Niger After a Year and Half in Captivity

8:19 AM EDT, October 22, 2026

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Two women from Austria and Switzerland have been freed in Niger after spending more than a year and a half in captivity, officials and local media reported Thursday.

The Austrian woman, an aid worker identified as Eva G, was received by the Austrian crisis team on Thursday, Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said in a statement.

She was kidnapped in Niger’s Agadez city in January last year, months before the Swiss citizen was abducted in the same city in April 2025.

Meinl-Reisinger said Austria worked with Switzerland to find “a safe solution” for the women.

“We are all very relieved that Eva G. is free again after more than 21 months. This time was an unimaginable burden for her and her family,” Meinl-Reisinger said.

Swiss media quoted the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs as confirming the release of the Swiss woman.

Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten reported she was on her way home, quoting Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.

Officials did not say who was responsible for the abductions or how both women were freed.

The Austrian woman had been working as an aid worker in Agadez, hundreds of kilometers (miles) away from the capital city of Niamey, where she lived for more than 20 years, Nigerien media reported.

The Swiss citizen had also lived in Niger for several years.

Niger has for many years battled a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Analysts say the country’s security crisis has worsened since the military toppled the country’s government in July 2023.

Despite their promise to restore peace in hot spots, the junta’s capacity to improve Niger’s security has increasingly been questioned amid more frequent attacks.

Twice a Year, a Golden Sunbeam Illuminates a 3,000-year-old Egyptian Temple

Tourists crowd to watch the sun as it sends a beam of light into the Great Temple of Ramses II's dark inner chamber in Abu Simbel, 870 kilometers (540 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, a rare 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony that happens twice a year. (AP Photo/Mohammed Salah)

6 of 6 |  Tourists crowd to watch the sun as it sends a beam of light into the Great Temple of Ramses II’s dark inner chamber in Abu Simbel, 870 kilometers (540 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, a rare 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony that happens twice a year. (AP Photo/Mohammed Salah) 

By HAMZA FAHMY and MOHAMMED SALAH

8:35 PM EDT, October 22, 2026

ABU SIMBEL, Egypt (AP) — Hundreds of tourists from around the world and locals gathered at dawn Thursday at a temple in southern Egypt, with some sleeping outside it overnight to witness a solar phenomenon that has taken place here for millennia.

Twice a year, on Oct. 22 and Feb. 22 — dates believed to mark the ascension of Ramesses II to the throne and his birthday — the sun sends a beam of light into the Great Temple of Ramses II’s dark inner chamber to illuminate the statues of the pharaoh and two gods beside him.

The illumination, a result of the temple’s alignment with the sun, lasts about 20 minutes.

“Today is a very special day, as you can see. It’s a celebration and a historic holiday,” Hisham Khela, a local tour guide for Italian tourists, told The Associated Press.

Egyptology enthusiasts and other visitors stood in a messy single-file line with phone cameras in hand, some with selfie sticks and most with bags under their eyes from waking up so early. Although huge crowds turned up, they looked tiny beside the giant statues lining the temple, which overlooks the Nile.

To mark the phenomenon, colorfully dressed performers scattered in front of the temple smiled and danced in unison to meditative chimes, the percussion of the tabla and the distinct sound of mizmars, an ancient Egyptian trumpet.

Inside the temple, visitors huddled tightly in near-total darkness in front of the statues of Ramesses II and the gods Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty, lit by a beam of sunlight that traveled about 60 meters (200 feet) into the temple, according to the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics.

For first timers, ancient history created modern memories.

Janice Souudi, who traveled from Atlanta, Georgia, said it was her first time in Egypt, and she said it won’t be her last.

“I came here today for the huge temple statues and how well preserved they are. But I was most impressed with the colors of the carvings and hieroglyphics and imagery,” she said. “Beautiful, stunning, worth it!”

In the 1960s, archaeologists carried out a massive project to dismantle and relocate the temple, moving it out of the path of rising waters created by the Aswan High Dam.

Engineers took care to preserve the temple’s alignment with the sun, so that more than 3,000 years after it was built, the light still finds its way inside.

Egyptian Editor Faces Trial After Hours of Questioning

Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, participates in a panel discussion at cultural center in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Roger Anis, File)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

5:50 PM EDT, October 22, 2026

The editor-in-chief of one of Egypt’s last independent news outlets, Mada Masr, will stand trial after prosecutors questioned her for more than six hours, her lawyer said early Thursday.

The Supreme State Prosecution referred Mada Masr’s Lina Attalah to trial on Thursday on a charge of establishing and managing a website without a license. She was also questioned on a charge of publishing false news, but that charge was not included in her court referral, according to Mada Masr’s lawyer, Hassan al-Azhari.

She was released Wednesday evening on bail of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,800), but if convicted, she faces a fine of one to three million Egyptian pounds ($18,000 to $54,000), al-Azhari said.

Under Egyptian media law, the court may also order the outlet closed and its equipment confiscated. Al-Azhari called the speed of the referral, which came just hours after the questioning ended, “unjustified urgency.”

Attalah is due in court on Oct. 27.

Attalah founded Mada Masr in 2013, and its investigative reporting has made it a frequent target of authorities. The site has been blocked in Egypt since 2017. Time magazine named Attalah one of its 100 most influential people in 2020.

The case file included a Mada Masr report published earlier this month in which lawyers described a wave of protests at several prisons and a harsh security response, al-Azhari said. The protests followed parliament’s decision to delay Egypt’s new criminal procedures law by a year.

Mada Masr said it has applied for a license several times since 2018. It says the Supreme Media Regulatory Council never responded and that it learned of the council’s rejection from prosecutors in 2022. The outlet challenged that decision in court. Its latest application has been pending since 2023, Mada Masr said.

The case is the sixth against Mada Masr and its journalists in six years. It comes less than a month after security forces arrested the entire six-person newsroom of Matsadaash, an independent fact-checking and investigative platform, in raids across the country on Sept. 28 and 29. Their families and lawyers did not know where they were for days.

The six remain in pre-trial detention on charges including joining a terrorist group and spreading false news, which they deny. Their detention was renewed for 15 days on Oct. 13.

This week, Mada Masr and seven other Egyptian and Arab outlets launched a temporary joint fact-checking newsroom in solidarity with the detained journalists.

Egypt ranks 169th of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2026 World Press Freedom Index.

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.