Ethiopia Retakes Rebel Stronghold in Tigray While Seeking to Stabilize Security Situation

Armed opposition groups have failed to make gains as the capital of Addis Ababa remains firmly under government control

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Wednesday October 28, 2026

Geostrategic Review

During September a group of armed opposition groups from various regions of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia declared that they would wage a war to seize power from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the ruling Prosperity Party. 

However, several weeks later the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) took control of the capital of the Tigray province resulting in the armed opposition group to abandon the capital of Mekelle.

The ENDF marched into Mekelle without any political or armed resistance from the then ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and its military wing, the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF). Although the TDF says that it abandoned its stronghold of Mekelle it claims that they will continue their fight outside of Mekelle.

As the TPLF fled the ENDF, another grouping aligned with the government in Addis Ababa, the Tigray Peace Forces (TPF), moved into Mekelle to take control of the day-to-day security issues. The TPF is a manifestation of the split within the opposition TPLF which occurred in the aftermath of the Pretoria Peace Agreement of 2022.

Many believe that the events of the last few months have effectively destroyed this peace agreement which was facilitated by several key members of the African Union (AU), primarily South Africa and Kenya. The negotiations which brought an end to the war between the TPLF based in Tigray and the central government in Addis Ababa was championed at the time as a prime example of the AU creating solutions to African problems. 

However, the joint statement issued by the opposition groupings in September which called themselves the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival (EPFAS) articulated no imminent threats which would warrant the initiation of a civil war. The groups which were encompassed in this coalition are the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF); Oromo Liberation Army (OLA); Amhara Fano National Movement (Fano); Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF); Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF/ANURF); and the Benishangul Peoples' Liberation Movement (BPLM).

Several of these organizations historically have been in extreme conflict with each other. Within this reality, what is the basis of the alliance of these regional groupings? Although these rebel groups have stated that their aim is to overthrow the central government there is no firm explanation as to how they differ politically from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. 

The TPLF which ruled the country from 1991-2018 after the collapse of the Ethiopia Worker’s Party under Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam, led a coalition called the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) that waged a war for the overthrow of the EWP. The ascendancy of the TPLF-EPRDF was heavily impacted by the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Socialist states in Eastern Europe which had supported the then Ethiopian government.  

A national rebellion during 2018 brought about the rise of Prime Minister Abiy. The Abiy government during 2018 signed a peace accord with neighboring Eritrea ending a war which had lasted for nearly two decades. However, in recent years relations with the State of Eritrea have deteriorated. 

Eritrea had been in congruence with the Ethiopian government when the TPLF-led province attempted to succeed from the authority of the central administration in Addis Ababa. After the defeat of the TPLF and the adoption of the Pretoria Agreement in 2022, tensions surfaced over the calls by Abiy for access to the Eritrean port at Massawa. 

Battlefield Reports from Tigray and Beyond

There have been reports of the defection of a leading figure within the TPLF. This compounds the internal splits inside the leading opposition rebel grouping.

According to a Substack post on the situation among the TPLF, it notes:

“The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has accused senior military commander Maj. Gen. Yohannes Woldegiorgis, also known as John Medid, of defecting to the Ethiopian Federal Government and disclosing military secrets. The accusation came a day after the pro-government Tigray Peace Force, which is allied with the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), confirmed that the general was in government custody. In a statement, the TPLF faction led by Debretsion Gebremichael alleged that Yohannes had refused to participate in an internal military evaluation before defecting with a small group of associates. The group further accused him of establishing contacts with the Federal Government and sharing sensitive military information.” (https://wazema.substack.com/p/tplf-accuses-senior-military-commander)

Other reports from the battlefield suggest that the alliance of armed opposition groupings have failed to make gains in their efforts to seize power inside Ethiopia. In a series of articles and a briefing from the Ethiopian military, the rebels have been halted in their military operations.

An Associated Press report published by the United States based ABC News says of the present situation that:

“An official in Tigray’s new federal-backed administration urged rebel fighters to lay down their weapons Friday, hours after a rebel commander called for continued resistance despite losing the northern Ethiopian region’s capital. The calls came nearly three weeks after rebels trying to overthrow the government lost control of Mekelle, Tigray's capital. Government-allied fighters entered Mekelle on Oct. 4 after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF, withdrew. Redae Halefom Woldeselassie, the caretaker administration’s chief executive for political and public mobilization, said rebel forces were collapsing and urged fighters to enter a disarmament and reintegration program. ‘This is not the time for settling scores, I call upon you to return to your homes and continue your civilian lives,’ he said in Mekelle. He dismissed the prospect of the rebels retaking the city and portrayed the conflict as serving a small group of leaders rather than the people of Tigray.” (https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/ethiopias-tigray-rebels-urged-disarm-commander-vows-fight-137511160)

Meanwhile, the Ethiopia government has announced that they have received the first batch of Su-35 fighter jets from the Russian Federation. The SU-35s will be accompanied by a number of S-400s as well which are designed to bolster their national security. (https://www.aol.com/articles/ethiopia-says-taken-delivery-12-122823000.html)

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed noted that the jets were delivered a year earlier than anticipated, saying that this was done due to Moscow’s concern over the security of the Horn of Africa state which is the headquarters of the 55 member-states AU in Addis Ababa. This announcement came on the eve of the convening of the Russia-Africa Summit on October 27-28 in Moscow.

Additional reports of refugees fleeing from Ethiopia into Kenya at Moyale is the result of conflicts between residents of the regional states of Oromia and Somalia. This displacement appears not to be connected with the rebel insurgents seeking to remove Prime Minister Abiy. 

Status of the Renewed Tensions with Eritrea

There have been several news articles claiming that Eritrean troops have been sighted on the border areas with Ethiopia during mid-October. However, there have not been any confirmed reports of serious fighting between the two states.

The Russian Federation has offered to serve as a neutral location for mediation talks between Addis Ababa and Asmara. This offer was renewed during the Russia-Africa Summit.

A regional summit was held in Egypt during early October which excluded the Ethiopian government. Those present were the leaders of Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea. The meeting participants issued a joint statement, yet no further reports on the results of the gathering has been released.

Egypt has opposed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project which President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi says would undermine the country’s water supply. However, it was British colonialism which established the current arrangements involving the Nile Rivers aimed at benefitting Egypt at the expense of Ethiopia.

There can be no benefit to the people of the Horn of Africa if a full-scale war erupts in Ethiopia prompting widespread dislocation, injuries and deaths. The offer to mediate by the Russian Federation could provide an opening for the normalization of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea in the near future.

Turkey to Deploy Two Warships to Somalia as Political Tensions Mount

By Al Mayadeen English

28 Oct 2026 22:01

Turkey is preparing to deploy two warships to Somalia amid security pressures, federal troop movements, and tensions involving forces loyal to Laftagareen.

Turkey will send two warships to Somalia on Friday to transport supplies and rotate military personnel, as the Somali federal government reportedly deploys reinforcements to several areas of the Lower Shabelle region in the country's south amid escalating security and political tensions.

The Turkish Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that the frigates TCG Gökçeada and TCG Yıldırım would begin their voyage to Somalia on October 30 as part of missions to transport supplies by sea and rotate military personnel stationed there.

The ministry did not specify the nature of the equipment and supplies to be transported or clarify whether they were intended for Turkish forces stationed in Somalia or the Somali armed forces.

Turkey and Somalia deepen military cooperation

The planned deployment comes amid ongoing military and defense cooperation between Ankara and Mogadishu, which includes training Somali forces, developing their military capabilities, and cooperation on maritime security.

Turkey's Defense Ministry also said the Turkish Land Forces commander received his Somali counterpart and an accompanying delegation on October 24, as part of continued military contacts between the two countries.

Turkey maintains a military and training presence in Somalia, where it helps train and develop units of the Somali armed forces under bilateral arrangements aimed at strengthening the country's military and security institutions.

Somali government deploys reinforcements to Lower Shabelle

On the ground, local reports indicate that Somalia's federal government has sent additional military reinforcements to several areas of the Lower Shabelle region, including Marka, Qoryoley, Janale, and Bali Dogle.

The reported reinforcements include soldiers and military equipment, although the size of the deployment and the specific tasks assigned to the forces have not been disclosed.

The deployments come amid an escalating dispute between the federal government and forces loyal to Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, known as Laftagareen, the former president of South West State. His forces have expanded their presence in parts of the Bay, Bakool, and Lower Shabelle regions in recent weeks.

Local reports previously indicated that forces loyal to Laftagareen had entered Qoryoley, amid reciprocal military movements and concerns that confrontations could spread to additional areas.

Somalia faces overlapping security and political challenges

The latest military movements come as the Somali government continues military operations against Al-Shabaab while facing mounting political and military competition over control of the country's southwestern administration.

The deployment of competing forces has raised concerns about civilian security and freedom of movement, particularly in areas where rival military formations are present.

Against this backdrop, Turkey's planned naval deployment and the Somali government's reported reinforcements underscore the continuing security pressures facing Somalia, where counterinsurgency operations and internal political disputes are unfolding simultaneously.

Niger Imposes Overnight Fuel Sales Curfew Amid Nationwide Shortage

26/10 - 10:02

Niger

Niger’s government has announced an overnight curfew on the sale of petrol across the country, except at designated stations.

As of this week, they are not able to sell fuel between nine at night and six in the morning to enable suppliers, including the Nigerien Petroleum Company (Sonidep), to restock them.

It said this temporary measure aimed to improve the smooth running of operations while guaranteeing deliveries and the availability of petrol, following a countrywide shortage.

But the measure is impacting taxis drivers, like Moussa Idé Boubacar, who said he has not been able to make his payments for two days.

“Normally, we generate revenue of around 20,000 a day, of which 8,000 is for payments and 12,000 is for fuel. With this shortage, we’ve had some management issues,” he said.

As the fuel shortage spread, motorists have been facing increasingly long queues at stations.

Residents in the capital, Niamey, and elsewhere said this was disrupting daily life, making it difficult to get to work and carry out their daily activities.

The taxi union, Synctaxi, has called for the new curfew to be relaxed for operators who are struggling to make ends meet.

“To obtain fuel, you need authorisation. The petrol station must be open around the clock,” said it secretary-general, Ganda Sanda.

“We are appealing to the governorate and the governor as well to reconsider because it does not suit us,” he said.

Sanda added that the union wanted to draw the authorities’ attention to the fact that the transport sector “makes a significant contribution to the country’s development”.

In addition to the curfew, the sale of fuel in jerry cans outside stations has also been prohibited in all areas that have at least one petrol station.

The authorities have called on Nigeriens to show “understanding and civic-mindedness” saying the measures were aimed at improving supply.

Tanzania Announces First Major Gas Discovery in a Decade

Natural gas

Tanzania has announced its first natural gas discovery in a decade, with an estimated 223 billion cubic feet found at the Kasa-1X ST2 well in the Mnazi Bay area.

Energy Minister Juma Homera called the discovery a major milestone for the country’s oil and gas sector. Production is expected to begin early next month, boosting supplies for households, industry and vehicles.

The well is jointly owned by Tanzania’s state-run Petroleum Development Corporation and French energy company Maurel & Prom.

Natural gas already accounts for nearly 80 percent of Tanzania’s electricity generation. Authorities say the new discovery will help provide more reliable and affordable energy as demand grows.

Kenya Confirms Third Ebola Case as Health Ministry Says Public Risk Remains Low

Kenyan Ministry of Health officials check the temperature of travelers and disinfect their hands at the Busia One Stop Border Post (OSBP) on the Kenya-Uganda border as health authorities step up Ebola screening measures, in Busia on October 12, 2026. Kenya reported its first-ever Ebola death, the health minister announced on October 6, 2026, after a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo died after returning to the country. The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak in May. The deadly disease has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years. (Photo by Bright Emoja / AFP) Track Outbreaks

Addis Abeba – Kenya has confirmed its third #Ebola case, involving a 65-year-old woman who is a close relative of the country’s first two patients, the  health ministry said on Friday, as authorities continued efforts to trace and quarantine contacts.

According to AFP, the ministry said the woman had been in quarantine since 6 October after being identified as a primary contact of the two earlier cases. She developed symptoms, including fever, sore throat and malaise, and subsequently tested positive for the virus.

The ministry said the risk to the public remained low, adding that there was no evidence of community transmission. Of 130 identified contacts, 127 had been traced and placed in quarantine, while efforts continued to locate the remaining three.Get Health Tips

Kenya confirmed its second case on Wednesday, involving a 39-year-old relative of the first patient, who also tested positive while in quarantine.

The country's first confirmed Ebola patient was a 40-year-old Kenyan businessman who had been receiving treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He travelled overland to Uganda's capital, Kampala, before flying to Nairobi on 3 October. He was hospitalised in Nairobi and died on 5 October, according to Health Minister Aden Duale.

The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak in May. Congolese health authorities have reported 9,066 infections and 4,381 deaths associated with the outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Neighbouring Uganda recorded 20 Ebola infections and two deaths during its outbreak, which was declared over in August. The latest cases mark Kenya's first reported Ebola infections.

DR Congo Ebola Cases Top 10,000 as Outbreak Tests Africa's Defenses

Xinhua

October 28, 2026

Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have surpassed 10,000, marking a grim milestone in what has become the world's second-largest recorded Ebola outbreak.

The latest figures released Tuesday by the country's health authorities showed that the country had recorded a total of 10,060 confirmed cases, including 4,887 deaths, as of Oct. 25, with the fatality rate at 48.6 percent.

Persistent transmission at epicenter

In the DRC, a brief decline in Ebola infections has given way to another rise.

A report released last Wednesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa found that infections rebounded in early October after falling in late September, with recent epidemic evolution suggesting "renewed intensification of transmission."

According to DRC health authorities, the outbreak, which has become the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the country, has spread to eight of the country's 26 provinces and 66 health zones, with the eastern province of Ituri remaining the epicenter, accounting for more than 70 percent of confirmed cases.

The outbreak has unfolded against the backdrop of a protracted armed conflict in eastern DRC, where years of violence and mass displacement have already strained an overstretched healthcare system.

The WHO warned that escalating insecurity, continued population displacement and restricted humanitarian access are further disrupting disease surveillance and response operations, raising the risk of infections going undetected.

Health authorities identified persistent weaknesses in early detection, contact tracing and access to treatment as major obstacles to controlling the outbreak.

Only about 12 percent of confirmed cases in the DRC have been identified among previously known contacts, indicating that some chains of transmission remain undetected, Wessam Mankoula, an official with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), warned at an online press briefing last Thursday.

Virus crossing borders

The difficulties in containing Ebola at its source have increasingly become a concern beyond the DRC. Since May, cases linked to the outbreak have been reported in Uganda, France, Kenya and Nigeria, extending the epidemic across three regions of Africa.

In Kenya, 20 contacts of the country's first imported Ebola patient were released from quarantine Monday after completing 21 days of monitoring without developing symptoms. The initial patient, a Kenyan national who had been living in the DRC, traveled to Nairobi via Uganda and died on Oct. 5.

Kenya has since recorded eight additional cases, all linked to the imported patient and detected among people already in quarantine. As of Monday, the country had reported nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, with another 98 contacts remaining under monitoring.

Further afield in West Africa, Nigeria's first Ebola patient was medically evacuated to Switzerland on Monday and was in stable condition, according to Nigeria's Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate.

The index patient, who traveled from Uganda to Nigeria on Oct. 3, developed symptoms four days later and was confirmed infected on Oct. 20.

Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola patient within its borders, as 52 contacts remain under monitoring, said the WHO on Monday, stressing that the country has not been declared Ebola-free.

The source of the Nigerian patient's infection, however, remains unclear, prompting a joint investigation with Uganda.

Ugandan Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi said on Sunday in a statement that authorities are working with Nigeria and international partners to review genomic sequencing findings and verify the patient's travel history, contacts and movements in Uganda and en route to Abuja.

Uganda, which recorded 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, before declaring its outbreak over in July, reaffirmed Sunday that it remained Ebola-free. On Friday, the country announced additional precautionary measures, including reinstating mandatory traveler locator forms, tightening border screening, and restricting transit for travelers with a history of travel to the DRC.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya on Sunday welcomed Uganda's continued vigilance and cooperation with Nigeria in investigating the source of its imported case, warning that the risk of further cross-border spread persists.

Race for vaccines

As health authorities struggle to interrupt transmission, scientists are seeking a longer-term weapon against the outbreak.

On Friday, the first participant received a dose of a candidate vaccine in Bunia, the capital of the DRC's hardest-hit Ituri, marking the launch of a pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trial known as Tumaini, or "hope" in Swahili.

The trial aims to evaluate whether candidate vaccines can safely and effectively protect people against the Bundibugyo virus, for which no vaccine has yet been licensed.

The first candidate being evaluated is Ervebo, a vaccine already approved against a different Ebola virus species. Preparations are underway to include two Bundibugyo-specific vaccine candidates developed by Moderna and by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India.

"If successful, this would be the first time we have clear evidence of vaccine efficacy against Bundibugyo virus," said Chikwe Ihekweazu, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program, describing the prospect as "a major advance" that could transform responses to current and future outbreaks. 

Research Organization IAVI Receives US Funding for Ebola Vaccine Development

Oct 28, 2026 | 8:04 AM

Oct 28 (Reuters) – IAVI, a biomedical research organization, said on Wednesday it was awarded $36 million under a US government contract ​worth up to $99 million to advance ‌development of its single-dose vaccine candidate against the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Democratic Republic of Congo has ‌risen ​above 10,000, government data ⁠showed on Tuesday, making ⁠the Bundibugyo outbreak the country’s largest and deadliest.

Here are more details:

• The US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority award supports ​manufacturing of vaccine doses for clinical testing and outbreak response, including an early-stage ⁠trial

• It also supports development ⁠of an updated candidate targeting ​the variant behind the 2026 Bundibugyo outbreak

• There ​are currently no approved vaccines or specific ‌treatments for disease caused by Bundibugyo virus

• IAVI will partner with Hilleman Laboratories, SK bioscience, and IDT Biologika for development, manufacturing and ⁠vaccine production

• IAVI’s one-dose rVSV-based vaccine candidate has demonstrated protective efficacy in animal studies, the organization ⁠said

• Single-dose ‌vaccines may offer practical advantages during ⁠outbreaks by allowing rapid vaccination ​without ‌the logistical requirements of a multidose ​regimen

• Drugmaker ⁠Regeneron on Monday said it had extended its agreement with the US health authority to provide additional supply of its Ebola treatment

(Reporting by Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing by ​Maju Samuel)

Africa’s ‘Unprecedented’ Ebola Outbreak Could Reach UK, Says Top Health Official

Jean Kaseya, of the Africa CDC, warns of the illness spreading like Covid unless more funding is secured to increase preparedness and possible treatment

Sarah Johnson

Wed 28 Oct 2026 05.37 EDT

The “unprecedented” spread of the Ebola outbreak means it could reach the UK and other countries, according to one of Africa’s top health officials.

As the current outbreak reached 10,000 cases, with almost 5,000 deaths, Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), compared the outbreak to the Covid pandemic, which first took hold in China before spreading to countries across the world, claiming millions of lives, and ravaging health systems and economies.

“We want all countries to know that they are not safe if they don’t take appropriate measures,” he said.

“Each country, not only in the African region, but all continents, must now increase the preparedness level and the possibility for treatment.

“It is the first time three African regions have been affected [by Ebola]. The geographic extension of this outbreak is unprecedented,” he said.

Kaseya said leaders around the world should realise that although the brunt of the health crisis is affecting Africa at the moment, the situation could change. “We shouldn’t forget that at the beginning of Covid, many countries said there was zero risk of being affected, but a few months later, they became the hotspot,” he said. “We don’t want to see the UK and other countries become the hotspot.”

This outbreak, the 17th in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since Ebola was identified, was caused by the Bundibugyo virus and has become the largest and deadliest in the country’s history.

Ebola is a highly contagious, severe, and often fatal illness. It is spread through direct contact with body fluids such as the blood or vomit of infected people, or dead bodies, such as during funeral preparations.

On 15 May, DR Congo’s health ministry declared an outbreak in Ituri province, though sequencing shows it had begun in February. It has now spread to Kenya and Uganda in east Africa, while last week, in west Africa, Nigeria confirmed a case in the capital, Abuja, after a woman who arrived from Uganda tested positive for the virus.

France is the only non-African country to have confirmed a case of Ebola so far – a doctor who had returned from DR Congo – in June.

The Bundibugyo virus has no approved treatment, though vaccine trials are under way. The results should be available in three to six months, said Kaseya.

Of the total 10,091 cases, 10,060 have occurred in DR Congo, with 4,887 deaths. Two people have died in Uganda, and two in Kenya.

The response to the crisis has been hampered by inadequate protective equipment and unpaid health worker wages, leading to strikes. Conflict in DR Congo as well as mistrust towards officials in affected areas, misinformation and global aid cuts have further complicated the situation.

Kaseya will convene a meeting of African health ministers on Wednesday to urge greater cross-border cooperation. He wants governments to introduce screening and testing for people coming from affected regions at points of entry and exit.

“The main message to ministers is that they have to understand they could be affected, and we don’t want them to be surprised by what could happen,” he said.

At a meeting in November with African heads of state, Kaseya will call for a “corridor of peace” in conflict areas. “Currently, we have colleagues in Ituri who want to go and support the population, but they cannot because of insecurity,” he said. “I have to say to leaders, this outbreak is not for rebels, it’s not for the official army, it’s for everyone. Ebola can affect everyone … We need to come together to have a kind of agreement on how to protect each other.”

Kaseya called for a global effort to fund the response. He said governments had pledged $3bn (£2.3bn), but that more than $2bn was still outstanding. African countries had committed $120m, he said, while the rest is meant to come from international donors including the US, the UK and the EU.

“We need this money now,” he said. “We must understand that failure to provide funding now to African countries [will result in more being spent] because the outbreak will continue to move. If we have other countries affected we’ll be talking about trillions of dollars because it will require a lot of support to stop this outbreak.”

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.

80% of new cases in Congo are outside of monitored contacts

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.

More than five months since the outbreak was declared, health workers are still being attacked by angry villagers, including on Saturday when a nurse was killed and another health worker severely injured while responding to an Ebola alert in Bafwasende, Tshopo province.

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.

US Imposes Sanctions on Rwandan Defense Ministry Over Involvement in Eastern DR Congo Conflict

Rwandan president Paul Kagame speaks during an announcement that Formula 1 will return to Africa with a grand prix in the country starting early next decade, in Kigali, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo)

By MONIKA PRONCZUK

3:28 PM EDT, October 28, 2026

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The U.S. imposed sanctions on Rwanda ‘s defense ministry on Wednesday over the country’s involvement in mineral-rich eastern Congo, where fighting continues between the Congolese government and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels despite peace efforts from the Trump administration.

The sanctions come after a U.S.-mediated peace agreement was signed late last year by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington, alongside U.S. President Donald Trump.

Following the signing of the deal, Trump proudly announced: “Today, we’re succeeding where so many others have failed.” However, these efforts have so far had little impact on the situation on the ground, where fighting continues.

The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement on Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on the Rwandan ministry of defense, which it said “deployed thousands of troops across eastern DRC’s North and South Kivu provinces, where they conduct operations alongside M23 and provide the armed group with military equipment, supplies, logistical support, and training.”

Rwandan authorities have also “introduced advanced weaponry to the battlefield, including surface-to-air missile systems and jamming equipment, creating risks for civilian aviation in eastern DRC,” the statement added.

Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press that “Rwanda remains ready to fully implement the Washington Accords, concurrently with the willingness of the DRC to fulfill those commitments, and with the mediator holding all parties accountable.” She said the commitments from the DRC “are wholly unmet, and with no accountability,” including the promise to neutralize forces.

M23 is one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, along the border with Rwanda, in a decades-long conflict that has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. M23 took control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, as well as other key cities in eastern Congo in a lightning assault last year.

Congo, the United States and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing the M23. Rwanda’s government has consistently denied backing armed groups in Congo, though U.N. experts have said they found evidence that Rwandan troops have fought alongside and directed M23.

“Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on social media on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the U.S. also announced sanctions on Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a Rwandan financial institution which it said has “played a key role in facilitating Rwanda’s support” to M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance.

Earlier this year, the U.S. imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defense Forces and four of its senior officials for supporting M23.

The U.N. has called the conflict in eastern Congo “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.”

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.