Russia-Africa Trade Exceeds $27 Billion as Moscow Hosts Summit

By Al Mayadeen English

27 Oct 2026 20:57

Russia-Africa trade exceeded $27 billion in 2025 as Moscow prepares to host 48 African countries for a summit on trade, investment, agriculture, and energy.

Trade between Russia and African countries exceeded $27 billion in 2025, with Russian exports of grain and fertilizers to the continent continuing to rise, as Moscow prepares to host the third Russia-Africa Summit with representatives from 48 African countries.

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on Monday that economic cooperation between Russia and Africa was steadily expanding, highlighting agriculture and food security as key areas of partnership.

According to Russia's TASS news agency, Ushakov said Russian exports of mineral fertilizers to African countries reached 1.5 million tons in 2025 and exceeded 2.2 million tons in 2026 so far.

Russia also exported more than 18 million tons of grain to Africa last year, followed by an additional 13 million tons during the first nine months of 2026, Ushakov added.

Moscow to host third Russia-Africa Summit

Moscow is set to host the third Russia-Africa Summit on Wednesday and Thursday, with representatives from 48 African countries expected to attend, including 22 represented by their heads of state, according to Ushakov.

Putin is scheduled to participate in the summit, which will address ways to expand economic, trade, and investment cooperation, alongside discussions on energy, agriculture, security, and technology.

The meetings are also expected to produce a series of bilateral agreements and include talks between Putin and several African leaders on strengthening relations and expanding cooperation across various sectors.

The upcoming summit follows previous Russia-Africa gatherings in Sochi in 2019 and St. Petersburg in 2023, as Moscow seeks to deepen its political and economic ties with countries across the continent.

Russia expands diplomatic presence across Africa

Ushakov said Russia had expanded its diplomatic presence in Africa since 2022, opening three embassies in South Sudan, Gambia, and Comoros while resuming the operations of five diplomatic missions in Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

He also highlighted continued coordination with African countries in international forums, particularly the United Nations, on issues including counterterrorism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime.

Moscow is seeking to strengthen partnerships across Africa in trade, energy, infrastructure, and security, alongside its efforts to expand diplomatic representation on the continent.

Forecasting a 28% rise in global gas demand by 2055

Separately, Ushakov highlighted the importance of cooperation among natural gas-exporting countries, citing projections that global gas demand will increase by 28% by 2055.

Global demand is expected to rise from approximately 4.2 trillion cubic meters to 5.4 trillion cubic meters, he said, underscoring the need for increased investment and stable supplies.

Ushakov pointed to growing challenges facing the global gas industry, including tensions in the Middle East, attacks on Russia's Nord Stream pipelines, and Western restrictions on the purchase of gas, equipment, and technology.

He called for a platform for professional dialogue free from political disputes, identifying the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) as a suitable framework for coordination among producers.

Ushakov also noted that Russia holds the world's largest proven natural gas reserves and ranks second globally in production, describing supply stability as essential to meeting rising global demand.

Moscow hosts Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit

Moscow is hosting the eighth summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum on Tuesday, bringing together representatives of member and observer countries to discuss developments in energy markets and challenges facing the global gas industry.

The summit is expected to issue the Moscow Declaration, which is set to address the role of natural gas in global energy security, market stability, and cooperation among producers in technology and investment.

The Russia-Africa Summit and the gas forum are taking place in the same week as Moscow pursues efforts to expand its international partnerships and cooperation in trade, food security, and energy.

Al-Shabaab Ambush Leaves Heavy Losses as Somalia Claims 75 Killed

By Al Mayadeen English

27 Oct 2026 21:35

Somalia's Defense Ministry says more than 75 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in Bay region clashes as military operations against the group continue.

Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab fighters suffered heavy casualties during intense fighting near Leego in southern Somalia on Monday, with both sides issuing sharply conflicting accounts of the battle.

Somalia’s Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that its forces had killed more than 75 Al-Shabaab fighters and wounded 56 others during hours of fighting in the Jameeca area, near Burhakaba in the southwestern Bay region.

The clashes erupted as Somali troops conducting Operation Banooda advanced along the strategic Mogadishu–Baidoa highway, where Al-Shabaab fighters launched a major ambush against government forces and their military vehicles.

According to the ministry, troops repelled the attack and protected a military supply convoy. It acknowledged that Al-Shabaab had deployed explosives-laden vehicles and damaged military equipment but did not disclose casualties among government forces. 

Al-Shabaab claims 321 killed in major ambush

Al-Shabaab, meanwhile, claimed to have killed 321 Somali government soldiers and allied fighters during a three-hour ambush targeting Turkish-trained troops near Leego on October 26.

According to AFP, citing a statement monitored by SITE Intelligence Group, the armed group also claimed to have captured prisoners and seized weapons and military vehicles during the assault. Neither its casualty figures nor the government's claims could be independently verified. 

However, accounts from Somali soldiers suggest that government forces sustained substantial losses. Two soldiers told Reuters that dozens of troops were killed in the fighting. One soldier said he had helped transport 40 dead soldiers and more than 100 wounded to hospitals in Mogadishu, while another reported that explosives-laden vehicles had destroyed five military vehicles.

Local outlet Garowe Online separately reported that government forces had lost as many as 36 military vehicles, including six Turkish-made Kirpi armored vehicles, although these figures remain unverified. The outlet also reported that several military officers were missing following the clashes. 

Since July, the Somali army has intensified operations against Al-Shabaab with support from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and other international partners. In December 2025, the United Nations Security Council renewed AUSSOM’s mandate, extending its authorization through December 31, 2026.

Somalia's campaign against al-Shabab intensifies

Heavy fighting erupted in Baidoa on August 17, 2026, between federal troops and forces loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. Somalia’s Defense Ministry said federal forces killed about 30 attackers after an assault involving explosives-laden vehicles.

The African Union subsequently authorized the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) to join federal forces in operations against Al-Shabaab and armed groups the mission considered affiliated with the group in South West State. The decision, announced on August 21, 2026, followed a request from Somalia’s federal government amid growing violence around Baidoa. The AU also instructed AUSSOM to remain politically neutral and avoid involvement in Somalia’s internal political disputes.

US military involvement has also continued. On September 5, 2026, US Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab near Quumbi, about 75 kilometers northwest of Kismayo, in coordination with Somalia’s federal government and Somali armed forces. AFRICOM said the strike was intended to degrade the group’s ability to threaten US forces and US citizens abroad, but did not provide further operational details.

Earlier, on July 1, 2026, the United States informed the African Union that it would not support continued UN logistical and operational assistance for AUSSOM beyond the end of 2026. The decision raised concerns about the mission’s ability to sustain its nearly 12,000 personnel, as AUSSOM relies on UN support for supplies, medical services, fuel and troop transportation. The United States said Somalia had not yet demonstrated that it could independently sustain security gains against Al-Shabaab.

American Rapper Macklemore Vows to Fight for Palestine Until ‘Last Breath‘

Macklemore vows to fight for Palestine until his ‘last breath’ at the opening of Free Palestine tour in Dublin.

2026/10/27 11:03 - UTC

Brendan Yates of Turnstile holds up a Palestinian flag as Turnstile performs at the Washington Monument on October 24, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

American rapper Macklemore has vowed to fight for Palestine until his “last breath,” following his fallout with English singer Ed Sheeran over his support for Palestinians.

Speaking during the opening of his Free Palestine tour in Dublin on Tuesday, Macklemore declared that he is proud to stand with the Palestinian people.

While waving a Palestinian flag, he said he would continue to fight for “collective liberation” until his “last breath.”

Fans came to the concert from all over the country, wearing pro-Palestinian T-shirts, hats featuring Palestinian flags, and keffiyeh scarves, a symbol of Palestinian identity. They chanted “Free, free Palestine” throughout the show.

Tickets for his concert sold out quickly, with 13,000 tickets for Dublin’s 3Arena snapped up within minutes. Macklemore has pledged to donate the proceeds from his tour to organizations supporting Palestinians.

The three-city tour comes after his removal from Ed Sheeran’s concerts following the rapper’s pro-Palestinian remarks.

The fallout between the two singers began when Macklemore, performing as the opening act for Sheeran at a concert in New Jersey in September, said he wanted to say two words that are “very dear” to him, which were “Free Palestine.”

“Those two words are so threatening to some people that we’d rather silence those two words than confront what they actually mean... Somehow those words have become more controversial than the suffering that made them necessary,” he said on stage during the Free Palestine tour.

The tour also included other pro-Palestinian singers and bands, and it will continue in Paris and London this week. A US tour is also planned, with dates to be announced later.

Macklemore has repeatedly censured Israel over its genocide against Palestinians. In May 2024, he released “Hind’s Hall,” a protest song honoring Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.

Since the Israeli regime’s genocidal war began against the Palestinians in October 2023, more than 74,000 people have been killed by the regime. UN Commission of Inquiry stated recently that Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Leader Puts Premium on Fulfillment of Iran’s Conditions for Ending War

Ayatollah Khamenei has placed a premium on the need to secure Iran’s conditions for ending the war and the state of “neither war nor peace.”

2026/10/27 12:31 - UTC

Leader of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei (L) and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Major General Mohsen Rezaei

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has placed a premium on the need to secure Iran’s conditions for ending the war and the state of “neither war nor peace.”

During a meeting with Major General Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Ayatollah Khamenei said the SNSC and its secretariat act as a “crossroads of policymaking.”

The Leader underscored the interconnectedness of culture, politics, economy and security. He said it was imperative that their mutual effects be accounted for in decision-making, his office reported on Tuesday. 

He said sound and firm decisions require a comprehensive roadmap that takes into account every stage of an action, from its starting point to its conclusion.

Other key issues discussed included strengthening national cohesion and unity, building mutual trust between the public and officials, and using the constitutional capacities to help the president and executive bodies resolve Iran’s problems more efficiently.

The meeting also addressed protecting national and regional security through the management of the Strait of Hormuz and strengthening relations with neighboring countries on the basis of lasting mutual interests.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the enemy’s desperation was an outcome of Iran’s national resistance. He also emphasized the need for timely and proactive public communication to sustain popular participation in defending the country and the political system.

He called for efforts to secure the rights and interests of the Iranian people and the Resistance Front through the fulfillment of conditions announced by Iranian officials for ending the war and the “neither war nor peace” situation.

During the meeting, General Rezaei presented a report on the situation across various sectors in Iran and the measures being pursued. He said one of the key initiatives underway at the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council was advancing the Islamic Republic’s strategy of establishing “endogenous regional arrangements.”

The United States and Israel waged their first criminal war against Iran, which lasted 12 days, in June 2025. Their second aggression began on February 28, 2026, and came to a temporary halt in early April after 40 days.

In both wars, Iran’s resistance and decisive retaliatory operations forced the aggressors to accept a ceasefire.

Iran has also maintained a tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz since the early days of the second imposed war.

In July, the United States conducted waves of deadly air raids on Iran and imposed a naval blockade of the country in violation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Islamic Republic, signed on June 17, to end the war.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces launched devastating strikes against strategic American targets across West Asia and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all traffic.

Iran Censures UN Security Council Double Standard on Nuclear Inspections

Iran censures Western members of the UN Security Council for their silence over US and Israeli attacks against Iran.

2026/10/27 18:01 - UTC

Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gholamhossein Darzi

Iran’s representative to the United Nations has censured Western members of the UN Security Council for their silence over US-Israeli aggression against Iran, questioning their focus on the absence of nuclear inspectors in Iran while Israel remains outside the International Atomic Energy Agency’s safeguards system.

He made the remarks while addressing a UNSC meeting on Tuesday that was pushed by Western states after the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted to refer Tehran’s nuclear dossier to the council.

Gholamhossein Darzi said Israel was estimated to possess around 200 nuclear warheads while remaining outside the IAEA safeguards regime.

Darzi also pointed to Israel’s secret programs to develop various weapons of mass destruction and its non-membership in disarmament conventions, questioning certain Western Security Council members for fixating on inspections in Iran.

The Iranian diplomat also condemned the Council’s response to attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and related infrastructure, warning that repeated strikes near the operational Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant “create a grave risk of radiation release with potentially devastating consequences.”

“What then has been the Security Council’s response to these grave violations? It has been silence,” he said.

“Silence in the face of aggression. Silence in the face of threats of mass destruction. Silence in the face of threats against civilian infrastructure. And silence in the face of attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities.”

Darzi said those responsible for the attacks should be held accountable rather than shielded by political considerations. He slammed Western Security Council members for directing allegations at Iran instead of addressing the actions of the United States and Israel.

Darzi also questioned the legal basis for convening the meeting, saying UN Security Council Resolution 2231 expired on October 18, 2025, terminating the Council’s consideration of Iran’s nuclear issue under the resolution.

He said the resolution had ceased to have legal effect or an operative mandate from that date. “There is therefore no basis whatsoever for convening this meeting under the agenda item, non-proliferation,” Darzi said.

He criticized the Security Council for its failure to respond to attacks against Iran, saying the aggression by the United States and Israel, both possessors of nuclear weapons, had been met with “appalling indifference and inexcusable inaction.”

“The principal aggressor is itself a permanent member of this Council,” he said, slamming Washington for betraying diplomacy by resorting to military aggression against Iran twice amid diplomatic negotiations.

The United States and Israel waged their first criminal war against Iran, which lasted 12 days, in June 2025. Their second aggression began on February 28, 2026, and came to a temporary halt in early April after 40 days.

In both wars, Iran’s resistance and decisive retaliatory operations forced the aggressors to accept a ceasefire.

Iran has also maintained a tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz since the early days of the second imposed war.

In July, the United States conducted waves of deadly air raids on Iran and imposed a naval blockade of the country in violation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Islamic Republic, signed on June 17, to end the war.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces launched devastating strikes against strategic American targets across West Asia and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all traffic.

Investigators Deliver Report on Why Iranian Warships Took Part in Naval Drills off South Africa

By GERALD IMRAY

5:15 AM EDT, October 27, 2026

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A report into why Iranian warships took part in naval drills off South Africa’s coast this year against the instructions of the country’s president has been finalized, his office said Tuesday.

The report has been received by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa but will remain confidential while he reviews it, his office said in a statement.

The participation of Iran in drills also involving Chinese and Russian ships off Cape Town in January came at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, and sparked harsh U.S. criticism of South Africa for allowing Iranian warships to take part.

The drills took place during mass protests in Iran and a crackdown that killed more than 7,000 people. The U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran a month later to start the war.

Ramaphosa ordered the investigation, led by a retired judge, in February, saying there was a “failure to heed the instruction” that Iranian vessels that had already traveled to South Africa for the planned exercises not take part.

The investigation looked at whether Ramaphosa’s order was ignored by high-ranking members of the South African armed forces or officials at the Defense Ministry. The president ordered that the investigation report to him and not the Defense Ministry to ensure it was independent, his office said at the time.

South Africa’s diplomatic relations with Iran have been a point of criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and one of the reasons why his administration has accused Africa’s biggest economy of having an anti-American foreign policy.

Ramaphosa’s instruction that Iran not take part in the weeklong naval drills was seen as an attempt to avoid further diplomatic fallout with the U.S.

The naval drills involving South Africa, China, Russia and Iran were organized under the BRICS bloc, which the U.S. has viewed as a geopolitical and economic challenge to American influence.

BRICS has expanded to 11 member countries in recent years, with Iran among four new members that joined in 2024.

Panel Finds that 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Suffocated in Overcrowded Cell in Nigeria

Mubarak Dahiru, second left, and friends who survived while in detention by Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) officials stand together in Minna, Nigeria, on Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Afolabi Sotunde, File)

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN and ABUJA

1:04 PM EDT, October 27, 2026

Associated Press (AP) — Thirty-seven suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of a Nigerian security agency last month suffocated in an overcrowded cell, a government investigation panel said Tuesday.

The deaths have sparked outrage and protests in Nigeria and turned a spotlight on the detention system in the country.

The suspects were arrested by officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, or NSCDC, a paramilitary agency, and accused of illegal mining in Niger state in September.

The agency initially blamed the deaths on a disease outbreak in the cell, a claim survivors rejected.

Jonathan Kure, the head of the committee set up by the Ministry of Interior to investigate the deaths, said that about 50 male detainees were confined in a space measuring about 20 square meters (215 square feet).

The deaths were caused by “severe overcrowding, unlawful and unsuitable detention conditions, failure of duty of care, disregard of repeated distress warnings, inadequate supervision and wider systemic deficiencies,” Kure said.

The arrests were made without proper planning or consultation with relevant mining authorities, Kure added.

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo suspended the agency’s Niger state commandant along with officers.

The committee recommended a sum of 30 million naira ($22,000) be paid to each of the bereaved families and 10 million naira ($7,000) each to 41 survivors.

Illegal mining in Nigeria is fueled by a lack of regulation and weak enforcement. Analysts say it funds armed groups.

DR Congo’s Ebola Outbreak Tops 10,000 Cases as Authorities Race to Slow the Spread in African Countries

By CHINEDU ASADU and CONSTANT SAME BAGALWA

5:39 AM EDT, October 27, 2026

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — The fast-moving Ebola outbreak in Congo has reached 10,000 confirmed cases, government data showed Tuesday, as health authorities race to slow the spread of the disease in multiple African countries.

It is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history and nearly half of the 10,060 confirmed to have the virus have died, according to data from Congo’s Ministry of Health. That also makes it the deadliest outbreak of the disease in the country’s history.

The outbreak declared in May is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. Response teams are battling armed conflict, poor roads and violence from residents fueled by mistrust and misinformation. Those obstacles compound the challenge of persuading people to report symptoms and accept care in communities that have endured years of violence and repeated epidemics.

Compared to the West Africa Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016 – history’s largest and deadliest with more than 28,000 cases, including over 11,000 deaths – this has had at least three times the number of cases and number of deaths in the time since it was declared.

It has spread farther across Africa than any previous Ebola outbreak, reaching three regions with cases recorded in Kenya and Nigeria as well. It’s so far been recorded in five countries including Uganda and France, both of which have no active cases at the moment.

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.

African health ministers are to hold a virtual summit on Wednesday to strengthen the continent’s collective response. “Ebola is crossing borders. Our response must move faster, with stronger coordination, greater solidarity and decisive political leadership,” Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of Africa CDC, has said.

At least 2,600 patients have recovered from the disease in Congo, bringing rare moments of joy to affected communities. A viral video this week showed health workers in full protective gear dancing as the last two patients were discharged from a treatment center in Mongbwalu, Ituri province.

“The outbreak is far from over, but every life saved is worth celebrating,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said of the video.

In Congo, the disease has spread to 66 health zones across eight provinces, from three zones when it was first declared in May. Responders have told The Associated Press that they’re seeing treatment centers in some of those health zones getting overwhelmed, people still skeptical and violent toward them, and health workers are regularly going on strike to protest delayed or unpaid wages.

“Some people still don’t seem to understand the seriousness of the situation even though they are directly exposed to the risk,” said Sephora Bgosi with the Ebola burial team in Ituri province, the epicenter. “Ebola disease is extremely dangerous and can be deadly,” said Bgosi.

About 80% of recorded cases are still coming from outside of monitored contacts, showing there are ongoing chains of transmission that health authorities are not aware of. At least 95% of recorded cases are supposed to be coming from known contacts for officials to say the outbreak has largely been brought under control, the Africa CDC has said.

At least half of deaths recorded are among people who have not been admitted to treatment centers, a sign that people are still not reporting symptoms at all in many areas.

In many zones, health workers are battling challenges ranging from basic needs such as adequate vehicles to complex ones like persuading families to release their relatives who are sick with the disease or who have died from it and need to be buried safely.

Last week at the Nia Nia health zone in Ituri province, some Ebola responders, including surveillance and community engagement officers, went on strike over unpaid bonuses owed since late August, a common trend across many affected localities.

The outbreak is impacting Congo’s healthcare services

The outbreak has disrupted essential health services that are already underfunded and overstretched and has shifted attention away from other disease outbreaks the country is battling, such as cholera.

More pregnant women are dying as they avoid hospitals over fear of infection and isolation, causing maternal mortality to double in some provinces soon after the outbreak was declared.

It has also disrupted routine healthcare services such as childhood vaccinations, interrupted schooling for children where millions are already out of school, caused trauma and stigma for affected families and further stretched the livelihoods of many already struggling with hardship.

___

Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria.

At Least 62 People Killed in Attack on a Community in Northeastern Nigeria

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN

8:41 AM EDT, October 27, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 62 people have been killed after gunmen attacked a community in northeastern Nigeria, the country’s emergency agency said Tuesday.

The attack, reportedly carried out by criminals known as bandits, happened on Friday in Binnari community located in the Karim-Lamido local government area of Taraba state, and also wounded 52 other people and displaced thousands, according to Ladan Ayuba, the state head of the National Emergency Management Agency.

Attacks by bandits are common across northern Nigeria where armed groups carry out attacks against civilian populations.

Fifty-two bodies have been recovered so far, including 15 from the Benue River, NEMA officials said.

A Taraba police spokesperson said the figure is not definite as more bodies are still being recovered. “We still have men on the ground, and the more we recover bodies, we will put them in account,” Victor Mshelizah told The Associated Press.

Amnesty International Nigeria director Isa Sanusi said the gunmen used the river to their advantage. “What happened was that people were chased towards the river, they launched into the river trying to escape the bandits,” Sanusi said.

Nigeria faces a very complex security crisis where civilians are regularly attacked by bandits who carry out large-scale kidnapping for ransom and control illegal mine sites, and also by Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.

South Africa’s Ramaphosa Orders 510 Soldiers to KwaZulu-Natal After Asylum Ruling Violence

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa address the media with EU leaders in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, file)

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

10:17 AM EDT, October 27, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorized the deployment of 510 soldiers to KwaZulu-Natal province, where violence recently erupted in Durban, South Africa’s third-most-populated city, over a court ruling on asylum seekers, the presidency said Tuesday.

The deployment, part of a joint police-military operation known as Operation Prosper, expands an existing intervention to combat gang violence and illegal mining. It comes ahead of the country’s Nov. 4 local government elections and will run through the end of November, at an estimated cost of about 34 million rand ($2 million).

The presidency said the deployment followed “recent violent actions arising from a campaign of misinformation” about the Constitutional Court ruling that removed procedural barriers for people seeking asylum in South Africa. Soldiers will stand by to support the police.

Protests in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng on Oct. 8 opposed the court’s decision. They followed months of anti-immigrant tensions, with demonstrators demanding the deportation of foreigners living in South Africa illegally.

In Durban, which has become a hotspot for the anti-immigrant tensions that have surged this year, riot police were deployed to the city center as shops owned by foreign nationals were looted, according to state broadcaster SABC.

The presidency said the military deployment began the day after the clashes.

Also in Durban, police said a foreign national was beaten to death by a group of about 50 people during a march in the city center last week.

Military deployments to support police are not new in South Africa, with soldiers previously sent to tackle gang violence in 2019 and illegal mining in 2023. This year, it deployed soldiers in March to help police combat gang violence and illegal mining, with major operations beginning on March 11 in Johannesburg’s Riverlea and Westbury neighborhoods.

That broader deployment, also under Operation Prosper, was authorized to run until March 31, 2027, across five provinces: Gauteng, the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and North West.

Lula Secures Victory in Brazil’s Election, But Faces Challenge as Bolsonaro Contests Results

By ANNA-CATHERINE BRIGIDA and MAURICIO SAVARESE

12:15 PM EDT, October 26, 2026

BRASILIA (AP) — President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ‘s comeback to win Brazil’s presidential runoff Sunday is already facing its first hurdle as his competitor, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, challenges the results, setting the stage for a possible showdown between the country’s two polarizing political forces.

Lula, who convinced an extra 10.4 million voters to support him in the runoff, is expected to take office on Jan. 5, 2027 for his fourth non-consecutive term. He will serve as a counterweight in a region where leaders are shifting to the right and aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump. Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, promised to cozy up to the Trump administration.

At a news conference Sunday, Bolsonaro said he planned to request an annulment of the election following a chaotic extension of voting at the request of both candidates. However, it’s unclear what legal avenue he would have to do that. His father also contested his loss to Lula four years ago and now serves a 27-year prison sentence for a coup attempt.

Early signs from Brazil’s institutions and from leaders across the region, including conservative presidents who oppose Lula, suggest the results will be respected nationally and internationally. Trump has yet to weigh in.

Even with the vote extension, Lula’s win for his fourth nonconsecutive term in the presidency was decisive. The soon-to-be 81-year-old incumbent won more than 64 million votes compared to just under 60 million for Bolsonaro, a margin of nearly 4%.

President of Brazil’s electoral authority, Kassio Nunes, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, was among those who recognized Lula’s victory Sunday.

“This is a really uphill battle for Flavio Bolsonaro. Important Brazilian power brokers are closing ranks behind Lula, sometimes begrudgingly,” said Brian Winter, Brazil analyst and editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.

“I sense that Brazilian power brokers that matter don’t really want to go down the path of a truly contested election,” he said.

The numbers behind Lula’s victory

The key to Lula’s win was the additional 14.1 million voters who showed up for the second-round election, including those who voted for other candidates in the first round. Analysts say three-quarters of those votes went to Lula, handing him the victory. And notably, the first round set a record for the number of Brazilians who decided not to vote, while the second round had the least number of abstentions ever.

Lula mounted a fierce social media campaign that mobilized those previously uncommitted voters.

It was the first time since 1989 that a candidate came from behind in the first round to win in the second. And Lula did it in an election in which a direct crossover between his own voters and Bolsonaro’s voters was very unlikely.

Results show voter turnout surged overall, particularly in wealthier metropolitan centers, but Lula achieved his highest gains in lower-income municipalities where his base was already established. He mobilized former non-voters, those who voted blank in the first round and supporters of third-party candidates.

Brazil’s voting system and Sunday’s disruptions

Brazil holds general elections every four years, and its electronic voting machines have made the tallying process quick and secure.

Brazilian authorities adopted electronic voting machines in the 1990s to combat fraud and the system has been largely reliable since then. Results are usually reported mere hours after polls close.

In the lead-up to the 2022 vote, Jair Bolsonaro repeatedly cast unfounded doubts on Brazil’s electronic voting system. No significant fraud has ever been detected.

But the usually swift voting process was thrown into disarray Sunday after a last-minute decision to extend voting nationwide at both candidates’ requests.

Lula made the request because of issues with public transportation in metropolis Sao Paulo and the northeastern city, Salvador, two of his strongholds. Bolsonaro requested it after heavy rains in the south, which he won by a strong margin in the first round.

The decision was made by a Supreme Court justice mere minutes before polls were set to close at 5 p.m. and the speed of Brazil’s counting process meant many polling stations didn’t receive the news until they were already wrapping up.

Yet given the reliability of Brazil’s voting system and Lula’s win by a significant margin, a path to annul the results could be difficult for Bolsonaro.

Benjamin Gedan, senior fellow and director of the Stimson Center Latin America program, said Bolsonaro’s rejection of his loss was not surprising.

“False claims of fraud are becoming commonplace, though that does not make them any less dangerous,” he said. He noted “Lula’s margin of victory, and the quick recognition of the result by conservative leaders in the region.”

Nevertheless, Lula still faces challenges moving forward, including political polarization in the country, a possible fiscal crisis and a right-wing Congress in which Bolsonaro’s party will have more seats than any other. Bolsonaro himself remains a senator, though his term ends in January.

“We shouldn’t underestimate the power of the Bolsonaro family,” said Winter, the Brazil analyst. “They can make life difficult for Lula for weeks and months to come.”

___

Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.

UK Sanctions 15 Sudan Commanders Over El Fasher Atrocities, Unveils Aid

26 October 2026

Defecting RSF commander al-Nour al-Qubba speaks to the media on April 29, 2026

October 26, 2026 (LONDON) – The United Kingdom on Monday imposed sanctions on 15 military commanders from Sudan’s warring factions, accusing them of atrocities including a campaign of rape and deliberate starvation.

The measures target senior figures from the Rapid Support Forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces, and allied militias.

The sanctions, which include travel bans, asset freezes, and director disqualifications, aim to hold perpetrators accountable for abuses in Gezira State, El Fasher, and the Zamzam displacement camp.

British authorities released the names of 12 of the 15 designated individuals, highlighting their roles in systematic violence against civilians.

Among the sanctioned SAF figures is Major General Awad Al-Karim Ali Saeed, commander of the 1st Infantry Division in Gezira.

Also designated are SAF Major General Abdel Moneim Abdel Basset and Brigadier General Ahmed Barrir Haj Ahmed, who is linked to the Wad Madani massacre.

Militia leaders Abu Zaid Talha Al-Misbah of the Al-Baraa bin Malik Battalions and Siddiq Ali Wad Al-Basha of the Abdullah Jamaa Battalion were sanctioned for ethnically and religiously motivated attacks.

Several RSF commanders were designated for atrocities in Darfur, including Hussein Abo Jalak for violence against civilians during the siege of El Fasher.

RSF Lieutenant Colonel Abbas Khater Bakhit was sanctioned for torturing detainees during the October 2025 takeover of El Fasher.

The UK also sanctioned Khademallah Khashmin Herika, an RSF female element commander, for allegedly promoting rape and sexual violence in El Fasher and Garni.

RSF commanders Abdelbagi Dahab Talbo and Mustafa Abdullah Ahmed Shenibat were implicated in the April 2025 assault on the Zamzam displacement camp.

The list includes former RSF commanders Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as Al-Qubba, and Ali Rizqallah, who both defected to the SAF but were sanctioned for past atrocities.

The announcement comes exactly one year after El Fasher fell following an 18-month siege that cut off essential supplies to hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Alongside the sanctions, the UK unveiled a 15 million pound funding package to address the country’s deepening humanitarian catastrophe.

Five million pounds will be dedicated to supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, providing reproductive healthcare, and safe spaces for women and girls.

An additional 10 million pounds will bolster the humanitarian response in heavily affected areas like El Obeid and Tawila.

The funds aim to improve sanitation and deliver essential services as an El Niño-induced drought and continued fighting elevate the risk of famine.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said British-backed investigations have proven that rape and starvation continue to be weaponized against the Sudanese people.

He said perpetrators must be held accountable and demanded an end to support for all external backers of the warring parties.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office warned that any assets belonging to the designated individuals must be frozen and reported immediately.

RSF Drone Attacks Hit Five Electricity Facilities in Sudan

By Al Mayadeen English

Sudan drone attacks target five electricity facilities, disrupting power supplies across eastern and central Sudan and raising concerns over essential services.

Coordinated drone attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted five major electricity facilities on Monday, cutting power across large areas of eastern and central Sudan and raising concerns over disruptions to essential services.

A Sudanese government official told AFP that the attacks struck two stations in Al Jazirah State, two in Gedaref State, and one in White Nile State. All five facilities are located in areas under the control of the Sudanese army.

An AFP correspondent in Al Jazirah reported that electricity had been cut since 2 am, while residents of Al Faw in Gedaref said the outage was continuing and that they had no clear indication of when power would be restored.

Damage to electricity infrastructure

Sudan Tribune reported that the drones struck the Al Junayd substation in eastern Al Jazirah, knocking it out of service. The attacks also hit the Al Faw and Al Hawata stations in Gedaref, damaging electrical equipment and interrupting electricity supplies across extensive areas.

In Sennar State, local authorities reported an attack on the Sennar substation that caused material damage and injured several security guards, who were transported for medical treatment.

Local sources also reported that the Mishkour power station in White Nile State had been targeted, resulting in a power outage in the surrounding area.

Concerns rise over civilian services and agriculture

The attacks have raised concerns about worsening humanitarian conditions, as hospitals, healthcare facilities, water networks, and agricultural activities depend on reliable electricity supplies.

Residents of affected areas told AFP they feared that prolonged outages would spoil medicines and food. In the Junayd area of Al Jazirah, a farmer said the targeted power station had resumed operations after repairs several months earlier, restoring hopes of restarting irrigation pumps and reviving agricultural activity.

The latest attacks came less than a week after the Tandalti power station in White Nile State was targeted, triggering a fire and cutting electricity to the city and areas of North Kordofan.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned about the consequences of attacks on civilian infrastructure, particularly electricity and water facilities and healthcare services, stressing that civilians and essential services must be protected under international humanitarian law.

Army regains two strategic areas in Blue Nile State

The latest attacks on Sudan’s power infrastructure come as fighting continues elsewhere in the country, with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) also reporting territorial gains in the southeast. The army said its forces had regained control of two strategic areas in Blue Nile state and intercepted a drone that it said entered Sudan from neighboring Ethiopia.

The SAF’s 4th Infantry Division said in a statement reported by Anadolu Agency on October 23 that its forces recaptured Bakouri and Akleili during operations that inflicted heavy personnel and equipment losses on opposing forces. The division said its troops were continuing to pursue rival forces, secure the two areas, and consolidate their control.

Akleili holds strategic importance because it is situated along the road connecting Kurmuk with Damazin, the capital of Blue Nile state. Control of the area provides influence over military movements across the Kurmuk, Geissan and Bakouri fronts.

Bakouri is located in Geissan locality, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) southeast of Damazin, and contains a military base belonging to the army’s 13th Infantry Brigade, which operates under the 4th Infantry Division. The army also said it shot down a drone that it identified as having entered Sudan from Ethiopia amid the fighting with the RSF and its allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

China, Djibouti Oppose Diplomatic Recognition of Somaliland

By Al Mayadeen English

China and Djibouti reject the diplomatic recognition of Somaliland as an independent entity, reaffirming their support for Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China and Djibouti have reaffirmed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, rejecting efforts to secure diplomatic recognition for Somaliland as an independent entity.

The position was outlined in a joint statement issued in Beijing on Sunday following talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Djiboutian Foreign Minister and Minister of International Cooperation Abdoulkader Houssein Omar.

The two officials discussed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Their joint statement stressed support for Somalia's efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, describing Somaliland as an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Somaliland-Taiwan cooperation rejected

The two countries also opposed any form of cooperation between the Somaliland administration and the Taiwanese authorities, underscoring their shared positions on sovereignty, territorial integrity, and foreign relations.

The position follows a September statement by the Chinese Embassy in Somalia condemning remarks on Taiwan made by self-proclaimed Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro during a visit to the US. The embassy said Somaliland's position "blatantly violated" the One China policy and infringed upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Beijing stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole country. The embassy also warned that crossing China's red line on Taiwan would have serious consequences.

The embassy reiterated that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia and reaffirmed China's support for the federal government's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposing any move to divide the country.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Somalia’s federal government rejects the secession and maintains that the territory remains part of Somalia.

On December 26, 2025, "Israel" recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, becoming the first government to do so. The foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, Turkey, and Djibouti rejected the move, and the African Union and the European Union also criticized it. Trump said at the time that he was not ready to follow.

Talks address security in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea

Beyond Somaliland's status, the Beijing talks addressed security cooperation and efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. The two sides also discussed maritime security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Both countries emphasized the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states across the region, calling for regional tensions to be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy.

They also stressed the need for greater international cooperation to protect vital maritime routes. During the meeting, China and Djibouti signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation under China's Global Security Initiative.

Somalia Condemns Netanyahu Map Depicting Country as Fragmented

By Al Mayadeen English

23 Oct 2026 23:13

Somalia condemns a map displayed by Benjamin Netanyahu depicting Somaliland and Puntland separately from the rest of the country.

Somalia has condemned a map displayed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showing Somaliland and Puntland separately from the rest of the country, accusing “Israel” of undermining its sovereignty and internationally recognized borders, Hiiraan Online reported.

The graphic, presented during Netanyahu’s October 18 security briefing, placed the two territories in a geopolitical grouping considered "friendly" to “Israel” and the United Arab Emirates, while assigning other Somali territories to a different regional camp.

“The Federal Government of Somalia strongly condemns and rejects the misleading map presented during the recent press briefing by the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, which depicts the Federal Republic of Somalia as fragmented and violates our internationally recognized borders,” Somalia’s Information Ministry said in a statement.

Mogadishu rejects challenges to national unity

The Somali government reaffirmed that foreign representations of its territory cannot override the country’s sovereignty, rejecting any depiction suggesting that Somaliland and Puntland are separate from Somalia.

“Somali territories, including Somaliland and Puntland, are integral and inseparable parts of the unified Somali nation,” the Ministry said.

Mogadishu described attempts by foreign governments or officials to redraw or misrepresent its borders as violations of international law and diplomatic norms. It called on international organizations and partner countries to uphold Somalia’s territorial integrity.

The dispute follows "Israel’s" recognition of Somaliland in December 2025, a move Somalia rejected as an infringement on its sovereignty.

Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and maintains its own governing and security institutions. Puntland, however, is a federal member state of Somalia and has not declared independence, making its separate depiction on the map particularly sensitive.

Sovereignty dispute amid expanding foreign involvement

Since "Israel’s" recognition of Somaliland, Mogadishu has sought support from the United Nations, African Union, Arab League, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation to defend Somalia’s unity.

The federal government reiterated its commitment to “safeguarding the sovereignty of its nation” as competing foreign partnerships intersect with territorial and political disputes.

The controversy comes amid growing strategic competition around the Horn of Africa and Red Sea, where Türkiye, “Israel”, the UAE, Egypt, and other regional powers have expanded their diplomatic, economic and security presence.

Ebola Disease Caused by Bundibugyo Virus - Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Nigeria

23 October 2026

Situation at a glance

Since the publication of the previous Disease Outbreak News on 8 October 2026, the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak has expanded geographically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in the African Region, with Kenya and Nigeria reporting imported cases. Sustained, high-level transmission continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 20 October 2026, a total of 9704 confirmed cases, including 4687 deaths (crude case fatality ratio: 48.3%), have been reported across 66 health zones in eight provinces. The high proportion of deaths occurring in communities continues to highlight challenges in early case detection and timely access to appropriate care. Of the 482 deaths reported since the previous update, 307 occurred in communities and 175 in treatment centres. On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Health of Kenya reported the first laboratory-confirmed imported case of BVD in Kenya in an individual who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kenya via Uganda. As of 20 October 2026, a total of nine cases of BVD including one death, has been reported in Kenya. The eight additional cases are all known contacts of the first imported case. There is currently no evidence of wider community transmission. On 20 October 2026, Nigeria confirmed an imported case in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja in a patient who had travelled from Uganda to the country. The patient is currently in isolation and receiving medical care. Further investigations are ongoing to better understand the complete travel history and the possible source of exposure. These developments underscore the need for sustained readiness in the region, including cross-border surveillance, points of entry monitoring, timely case detection and coordinated preparedness and response measures. WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, affected countries.

Description of the situation

Since the previous Disease Outbreak News was published on 8 October 2026, additional confirmed cases and deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Cases have been reported in five countries since the declaration of the outbreak on 15 May 2026: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, France, and more recently, Kenya and Nigeria. Nigeria is the fifth country affected by the ongoing outbreak, highlighting the continued risk of cross-border transmission.  

Democratic Republic of the Congo

An additional 976 confirmed cases, including 482 confirmed deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the previous Disease Outbreak News was published.

In the most recent 24-hour period, as of 20 October, 67 new confirmed cases were reported, with Ituri accounting for 37 cases, Nord Kivu for 29, and Tshopo for one case. No new cases were reported in Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Nord Ubangi, Sud Kivu or Sud-Ubangi during that period.

As of 20 October, cumulative confirmed cases have reached 9704, including 4687 deaths and 2595 recoveries. The overall crude CFR is 48.3%.

Confirmed cases have now been identified in 66 health zones across eight provinces. Fifty of the 66 affected zones reported at least one new case during the preceding 21 days, while 16 reported no recent cases. Mandima, Beni and Bunia have reported the highest number of cases and deaths in the preceding 21 days. Ituri remains the most extensively affected province, with 28 of 36 health zones reporting cases during this outbreak, followed by Nord Kivu (17/34), Haut-Uélé (7/13), Tshopo (7/23), Bas-Uélé (4/11), Sud Kivu (1/34), Sud-Ubangi (1/16) and Nord-Ubangi (1/11). Nord-Ubangi is the most recently affected province reporting three confirmed cases including one death and Dakwa in Haut-Uélé is the most recently affected health zone.

Geographical distribution of confirmed BVD cases in DRC

Ituri remains the epicentre, with 7040 cumulative confirmed cases and 3271 deaths. Nord Kivu follows with 2146 confirmed cases and 1199 deaths, and continues to record the highest provincial CFR, at 55.9%. Haut-Uélé has reported 421 cases and 183 deaths, while Tshopo has recorded 76 cases and 27 deaths. The less-affected provinces continue to report substantially fewer cases, but transmission persists in several of them. The continued occurrence of cases across multiple provinces shows that the outbreak remains geographically active even as intensity varies between health zones.

Out of 30 130 contacts under follow-up across six provinces, 24 017 were seen in the last 24 hours corresponding to a follow-up rate of 79.7%, up from 77.8% the previous day, but remaining below the required threshold of 95.0%. Two provinces were at or above the 95.0% threshold: Bas-Uélé (98.9%; 740/748) and Sud-Ubangi (97.3%; 109/112). Four provinces were below the threshold: Haut-Uélé (89.9%; 1286/1430), Ituri (92.8% (6382/6879), with 7 contacts becoming suspected cases, Tshopo (83.7%; 1077/12 086) and Nord-Kivu (73.3%; 14 423/19 675), with performance in Nord-Kivu remaining insufficient. Strengthened contact follow-up is required, particularly in provinces below the target, to achieve the minimum threshold of 95%.

Confirmed deaths in DRC

Kenya

On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Health of Kenya reported its first laboratory-confirmed imported case of BVD in an adult male who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo via Uganda by road and arrived in Nairobi on 3 October by air. The case had been ill with other comorbidities for approximately one month and received care at several hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was isolated upon arrival at a hospital in Nairobi. Samples collected on 5 October tested positive for Bundibugyo virus at two national laboratories. Despite supportive care, the patient died on 5 October and was given a safe and dignified burial on 6 October.

As of 20 October 2026, a total of nine cases, including one death, has been reported in Kenya.  All eight secondary cases are epidemiologically linked to the imported index case and associated with one cluster. They include four family members and four health and care workers. All new cases were under quarantine at the time of symptom onset and are currently in isolation and receiving appropriate supportive care and treatment at two designated facilities.

There is currently no evidence of transmission outside this cluster.

As of 20 October, all of the 135 contacts have been traced and quarantined.

Number of confirmed cases in Kenya

Nigeria

On 20 October 2026, Nigeria reported one laboratory-confirmed imported case of BVD in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, becoming the fifth country to detect the virus since the outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 15 May 2026. The case developed symptoms on 7 October, four days after arriving in Nigeria, sought care in Abuja on 11 October and tested positive for Bundibugyo virus on 20 October 2026. The case is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

As of 20 October, 44 contacts had been identified and are being monitored. National authorities, with support from WHO and partners, have intensified contact tracing, case investigation and infection prevention and control measures, including the provision of essential supplies and personal protective equipment for health workers. Investigations are ongoing to establish the likely source of infection and reconstruct the travel and exposure history. WHO has urged countries across the region to strengthen surveillance, laboratory diagnostic capacity, rapid response readiness and cross-border preparedness to mitigate the risk of further transmission.

Epidemiology

Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) is a severe Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of the Orthoebolavirus species. It is a zoonotic disease, with fruit bats suspected to be the natural reservoir.

Human infection is thought to initially occur through close contact with the blood or secretions of infected wildlife, such as bats or non-human primates, and it subsequently spreads from person-to-person through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces and materials. Transmission is particularly amplified in health-care settings when infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are inadequate, and during unsafe burial practices involving direct contact with deceased individuals.

The incubation period for BVD ranges from two to 21 days, and infected individuals are not infectious until symptom onset. Early symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat are non-specific, which complicates clinical diagnosis and can delay detection. These symptoms then progress to gastrointestinal symptoms, organ dysfunction, and, in some cases, haemorrhagic manifestations.

The CFR from the previous two BVD outbreaks, reported in Uganda and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2007 and 2012, were 30% and 50%, respectively.

Differentiating BVD from other endemic febrile illnesses such as malaria is challenging without laboratory confirmation. Outbreak control relies on rapid case identification and investigation, isolation and care, contact tracing, safe burials and strong community engagement, as no approved vaccines or specific treatments currently exist for BVD.

Since first detected in May 2026, this BVD outbreak has rapidly evolved into a large and geographically expanding epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with sustained transmission, high mortality and an increasing risk of further international spread. The current outbreak is the second documented Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the country, after the 2012 outbreak, and the largest Ebola disease outbreak ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo irrespective of virus species. The population at greatest risk of exposure is concentrated in communities living in and moving through the health areas with active transmission. 

Public health response

For detailed information about the ongoing public health response actions by the Ministry of Health, WHO and partners please refer to the latest situation reports published by the WHO Regional Office for Africa: Ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | WHO | Regional Office for Africa.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in collaboration with WHO and partners, are continuing to implement and coordinate extensive public health measures. These include disease surveillance; laboratory testing; IPC; clinical care; community engagement; research; logistics; and support for response interventions and essential health services, including for the ongoing concurrent humanitarian crisis; engaging donors and mobilizing additional resources to address critical funding gaps and sustain response operations across affected and at-risk areas. A substantial scale-up is ongoing across all response pillars to get ahead of the outbreak.

On 23 October, the TUMAINI vaccine trial was launched, with first participants enrolled in Bunia. TUMAINI is a pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trial of vaccine candidates against Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). The trial is an important step towards generating the evidence needed to better protect people against BVD and prevent future outbreaks. WHO is actively supporting the trial, along with partners, with technical, scientific and operational expertise.

Kenya

Health authorities in Kenya have implemented safe and dignified burial measures following the BVD-related death in Nairobi, while 135 contacts are currently under quarantine. Kenya has maintained a high level of Ebola preparedness since the outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026; as of 22 October, 709 093 travellers have been screened, 461 samples tested across five laboratories. Kenyan authorities are also coordinating with counterparts in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to establish the individual’s movements in Uganda and implement any necessary public health measures.

Nigeria

The National and State incident management system has been activated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to coordinate response.  WHO and partners are working closely with health authorities to strengthen control measures, including case investigation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and provision of essential supplies including personal protective equipment for health workers. Nigeria has maintained a high level of alert for BVD since the outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026. 

WHO risk assessment

On 14 August 2026, WHO reassessed the risk of the outbreak of BVD. The risk for countries sharing land borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo was separated from the risk for other countries in the African Region.

The risk in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was assessed as very high, the risk for countries sharing land borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo was assessed as high, and the risks for the rest of the African region and at the global level was again assessed as low. For further information, please see WHO Rapid Risk Assessment-Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo v4.

In light of the evolving situation and newly available information, the rapid risk assessment is currently being revised to reassess the risk in affected countries, the African region and globally.  

WHO advice

Based on the currently available information, WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, affected countries.

The updated Temporary Recommendations issued to States Parties on 24 August 2026 underscore the importance of coordinated outbreak control, strengthened cross‑border collaboration, and sustained surveillance and preparedness to prevent further regional spread and ensure an effective public health response. Rapid recognition of cases, testing and optimized supportive care can reduce mortality, and improve community perceptions and acceptance of health care within the response.

Uganda Orders 21-day Ebola Quarantine for Citizens Returning from DR Congo

Uganda's Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi gestures as he arrives for a media briefing on the Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain, where he announced that Uganda has imposed a 21-day quarantine on citizens returning to the country with a travel history to Congo, in Kampala, Uganda October 25, 2026. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa

By AFP and Reuters

25 Oct 2026

Uganda has ordered citizens returning after travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to quarantine for 21 days, as it steps up precautions against the Ebola virus.

Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced the measure on Sunday at a news conference in Kampala, as Ebola cases in Kenya and Nigeria raised fresh questions about travellers passing through Uganda.

The country says it has no active infections after ending its own outbreak in July. Returning Ugandans with a history of travel to DRC will have to pay for their quarantine, the Ministry of Health said.

Officials have also strengthened checks at Entebbe International Airport and land crossings and require all incoming travelers to complete forms recording how they can be contacted.

Uganda declared its Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak over on July 28. It had recorded 20 infections and two deaths, according to the Health Ministry.

Yet Swiss authorities have said a Ugandan-born woman married to a Swiss diplomat contracted Ebola during a visit to Uganda in September.

Nigeria confirmed her infection on October 20, after she had travelled to Abuja, its capital.

At Sunday’s briefing in Kampala, Baryomunsi challenged that conclusion. He said relatives who had previously visited DRC had met the woman in a Kampala suburb, and questioned whether that possible route of exposure had been ruled out.

“We should speak science, not politics,” he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations’ health agency, said on Thursday that the information it had received did not show that the woman herself had travelled to DRC.

Nigerian and Ugandan officials are investigating her movements and possible source of infection.

The inquiry has also turned to a Kenyan man who travelled from DRC through Uganda before flying to Nairobi on October 3. He died two days later, and Kenya has since reported a second Ebola death.

Both patients passed through Entebbe airport on the same day.

Ugandan officials said on Sunday that security footage showed no physical interaction between them.

Nigerian authorities said genetic testing found closely related viruses in the two cases, but no direct link had been established.

Baryomunsi said 60 people traced in Uganda after possible contact with the Kenyan patient had finished 21 days of monitoring and been discharged.

In neighbouring DRC, where the outbreak began in May, the WHO had recorded 9,704 cases and 4,687 deaths by October 20.

Nigeria confirms first Ebola case

Ebola, which can cause haemorrhagic fever, has reached eight Congolese provinces, making this the country’s largest recorded outbreak of the virus. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people.

The strain responsible for the current outbreak, known as Bundibugyo, has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Symptoms can take up to 21 days to appear, according to the WHO. In its October 23 update, the WHO urged stronger monitoring and cooperation across borders, while advising against restrictions on travel or trade with affected countries.

Swiss Ebola Patient in Nigeria Evacuated to Switzerland

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN and MARK BANCHEREAU

9:31 AM EDT, October 26, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A Swiss woman being treated for Ebola in Nigeria was medically evacuated to Switzerland with her husband Monday, officials said, as Nigerian authorities continued monitoring 52 people who had been in contact with her.

Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Pate said the woman, the country’s first case in the current outbreak, left the capital, Abuja, early Monday with his approval. Her condition had improved significantly, and she was stable, conscious and able to communicate, he said.

“This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place,” Pate wrote on X. Her husband, a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria, has shown no symptoms.

The World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said the evacuation was arranged because the couple are Swiss citizens and that Nigerian medical teams had stabilized the woman after treating her through the acute phase of the illness.

Switzerland will take over her care and monitor her husband, while Nigeria will continue following 52 other contacts, Janabi said.

“With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases,” he said, stressing that vigilance remained critical.

Pate said containment measures remained in place and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant.

The woman tested positive after returning to Abuja from Uganda. Nigerian authorities said Friday they had yet to establish how she contracted the virus.

Switzerland’s foreign ministry told The Associated Press that she had not visited Congo and was believed to have been infected while traveling to Uganda with her husband.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the first patients in Nigeria and Kenya had both traveled through Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport on Oct. 3. Uganda had previously reported Ebola cases but later declared itself free of the virus.

Kenya has recorded nine cases, including two deaths, since confirming its first case earlier this month.

The spread of Ebola beyond Congo has heightened longstanding fears among health authorities about the rapid transmission of the rare Bundibugyo virus.

The latest figures from Congo’s health ministry show more than 9,900 cases, including more than 4,800 deaths, since the outbreak began in May.

The WHO has said the outbreak is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record and is on track to surpass the death toll of the deadliest: West Africa’s 2014-2016 outbreak, which killed 11,000 people. Nigeria was among the countries affected, recording 20 cases before its outbreak was declared over after three months.

—-

Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal.

Attackers Kill Nurse, Severely Injure Health Worker Responding to Ebola Case in Eastern DR Congo

A healthcare worker speaks to a colleague at the Ebola treatment center in Beni, North Kivu province, Congo, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Sebastien Kitsa Musayi)

By SEBASTIEN KITSA MUSAYI

8:01 PM EDT, October 25, 2026

BUTEMBO, Congo (AP) — A nurse was killed and a health worker severely injured after being attacked while responding to an Ebola alert in Congo, according to the World Health Organization.

It was the latest in a series of attacks on health workers and responders that authorities say is hampering efforts to slow the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the world.

The attack took place Saturday in the town of Bafwasende in the country’s eastern Tshopo province, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X on Sunday.

“Everyone working to protect communities from this deadly disease must be able to work in dignity and safety. Healthcare must always be protected,” he said.

WHO regional director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, also condemned the attack on X. “Misinformation and fear must never fuel violence,” he said.

Local authorities have not yet commented on the attack or the suspects.

The country’s health ministry’s most recent data indicates more than 9,800 cases including more than 4,700 deaths have been recorded since the start of the outbreak in May, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congo’s history.

Last month, a Congolese politician was beaten to death in North Kivu after publicly defending the government’s response to Ebola. He had been calling on the public to obey response measures, particularly social distancing and handwashing, on a radio show.

It came after authorities launched a village-centered approach to fight the outbreak which faced resistance from some residents who dismiss Ebola as a hoax. There is widespread distrust of the country’s government because of how it has managed past Ebola outbreaks as well as chronic corruption.

Responders say skepticism about the disease among communities has complicated efforts to work with residents, including in remote areas and emerging hot spots that already face shortages of medical supplies and healthcare workers.

Back in May at the start of the outbreak, two tents at health centers were set alight in two separate attacks in just one week by angry residents.

Those on the front line of the response to the outbreak have previously said some members of various response teams have been held captive in some health zones, and some teams responsible for safe and dignified burials have been threatened.

Uganda Tightens Ebola Border Controls and Requires Returnees from DR Congo to Pay for Quarantine

A health worker checks an individual's temperature at a temporary health clinic at the Mpondwe border crossing linking Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda, File)

By PATRICK ONEN

1:44 PM EDT, October 25, 2026

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda is reinforcing border controls to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus and now requires citizens returning from neighboring Congo to spend 21 days in quarantine at their own expense, the Health Ministry said Sunday, as investigators examine how a woman who traveled from Uganda to Nigeria contracted the disease.

The outbreak in Congo has killed thousands, but Uganda has recorded no confirmed cases since declaring its outbreak over on July 28. It first established border controls in May, restricting all but essential travelers, including humanitarian workers and truck drivers, subject to screening.

Travelers with a history of travel to Congo cannot transit through Uganda, including on chartered flights.

Under the new measures announced Sunday, nonessential Congolese travelers will be returned through the nearest border crossing at their own expense, while those entering illegally face prosecution, the Ugandan ministry said.

Screening has intensified at Entebbe International Airport and land borders. All arrivals must complete a passenger locator form and undergo health screening, including diplomats and United Nations personnel.

Asked about reports that Nigeria’s first Ebola patient had not visited Congo, Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi said Ugandan investigators had not established whether she traveled there. He said she had relatives in Uganda and Congo and held two passports, one of them Ugandan. He did not identify the second issuing country.

Switzerland’s foreign ministry told The Associated Press on Friday that the woman, married to a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria, had not visited Congo and was believed to have contracted Ebola while traveling to Uganda.

Baryomunsi said Nigerian authorities had not provided all the information Uganda needed. Investigators are working with Nigeria and international partners to review genomic findings and verify her movements and interactions in Uganda and en route to Abuja. Findings will be released later, Baryomunsi said.

Nigeria’s Health Minister Muhammad Pate said Friday that the woman’s infection appeared closely related to Kenya’s first case, while cautioning that this did not necessarily establish the transmission route.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously said both patients passed through Entebbe airport on Oct. 3. Where the Nigerian patient contracted Ebola remains unresolved.

Uganda also said all 60 contacts of Kenya’s first patient, including border personnel, hotel staff and transport operators, completed 21 days of monitoring without symptoms and were released from follow-up.

The patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan man living in Congo, traveled through Uganda and arrived in Kenya Oct. 3. He tested positive and died Oct. 5. Eight contacts subsequently tested positive; a 65-year-old close relative died Friday, bringing Kenya’s death toll to two.

Uganda said it had deployed Ebola experts to Congo to help contain the Bundibugyo Ebola strain.

Algeria's Senate Votes to Deploy Troops to Niger

By Al Mayadeen English

25 Oct 2026 18:31

The vote came days after Niger’s Defense Minister Salifou Modi traveled to Algiers on Wednesday and met Tebboune and army chief Said Chengriha.

Algeria’s Senate has approved sending troops to Niger to protect energy facilities, a step that would be the country’s first military deployment abroad since it backed Egypt in the October 1973 War.

A senator who asked not to be named told AFP that 148 of the chamber’s 174 members voted in favor. The lower house was due to vote later on Sunday and is expected to give its approval too. Under a 2020 constitutional amendment, any deployment outside Algerian territory needs a two-thirds majority in parliament.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had already pointed toward military involvement in a televised address on October 3. “We will protect Niger no matter what,” he declared, adding that unnamed countries had “conspired” against its government and that Algiers stood with Niamey.

Tebboune tied the pledge to Algerian interests, noting that the two countries have signed agreements covering oil, mining and other sectors. He warned that some parties were seeking to wreck these deals overnight.

Security, energy ties deepen

The vote came days after Niger’s Defense Minister Salifou Modi traveled to Algiers on Wednesday and met Tebboune and army chief Said Chengriha. Algerian reports said the two sides signed a military cooperation protocol, though its terms were not made public.

Algeria has also stepped up support for Niger in recent months. It handed over four military helicopters and opened a 40-megawatt power plant in June to supply electricity to Niamey and nearby areas. The neighbors are additionally working on the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, which is meant to carry Nigerian gas through Niger to European markets.

Security cooperation is central to the rapprochement. The two countries share a 960-kilometer desert border and have agreed to work together against extremist groups, cross-border crime and trafficking. Niger continues to face frequent attacks, including in areas close to the Algerian frontier, and an attempted mutiny was foiled there in August.

Relations had soured after Algeria shot down a drone from Mali last year. Niger joined Mali and Burkina Faso in recalling its ambassador from Algiers. Algeria and Mali have since restored diplomatic ties, and Algiers and Niamey moved to mend relations earlier this year. General Abdourahamane Tiani has led Niger since the July 2023 coup that removed pro-West President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains in detention.

Analysts see a shift in doctrine

International relations researcher Abdellah Akir told AFP the decision breaks sharply with Algeria’s long-standing refusal to intervene in conflicts beyond its borders. He argued that Algiers wants to safeguard its strategic depth in the Sahel and protect the planned gas pipeline. Akir added that the move also warns rival players, including Morocco and the UAE, both of which have cut diplomatic ties with Algeria.

Geoff Porter of North Africa Risk Consulting told AFP that the step reflects a change in Algerian policy. According to Porter, Algiers once pursued its interests through dialogue, international law and multilateral forums, but concluded that these tools carry little weight in a “multipolar and transactional world.”

It has therefore turned to a physical presence on the ground. Porter stressed that Algeria still holds to its foreign policy principles and is simply applying them differently.