Ethiopia’s Tigray Rebels Urged to Disarm as Commander Vows to Fight On

By KHALED KAZZIHA

12:15 PM EDT, October 23, 2026

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.

Hours earlier, Lt. Gen. Fisseha Kidanu, who was identified in a television broadcast as commander of the Tigray army, pledged to reverse recent military setbacks.

“Local militias across the region — alongside all volunteers joining the resistance — are expected to engage the enemy,” he said Thursday on Tigray Broadcast Media, a new rebel television station. His location was not disclosed.

Fisseha urged attacks on government-held positions despite his opponents’ advantages in drones and heavy weapons. The TPLF has also claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on government forces. The Associated Press could not independently verify those claims.

Ethiopia’s government subsequently established a six-month caretaker administration promising to restore services, help displaced people return and prepare for elections.

The government’s allies include the Tigray Peace Force, comprising former members of the TPLF’s armed wing — a division within Tigrayan forces that has complicated the renewed conflict.

Redae said Ethiopian troops and allied forces were conducting joint security operations, including measures to prevent looting. He promised preparations for displaced residents to return but gave no timetable.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, speaking Monday to the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, accused the TPLF of acquiring weapons and forcibly recruiting young people instead of disarming under the November 2022 Pretoria peace agreement. He said his government had done everything within its capacity to implement the accord.

Wounded men describe drone strike

At Ayder Hospital in Mekelle, Luel Berhanu, 22, and Samuel Belay, 20, said they were loading goats onto a truck in Finariwa, about 80 kilometers (49 miles) south of the city, when a strike hit around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

They said four civilians were killed and about six people wounded. The AP could not independently verify the casualties or establish who carried out the attack.

Luel said the truck’s headlights were on and a drone was hovering overhead shortly before the explosion. He said the blast severely injured his right eye and right arm, leaving him unable to see through that eye.

Samuel said they were working as day laborers loading the animals.

Hospital footage showed Luel with a bloodstained bandage covering his right eye and dressings around his shoulder and arm. Samuel lay on his side with an intravenous line attached to his arm.

A witness interviewed by the AP reported movements earlier that day by fighters identified as Agew Shengo, a militia that has previously fought alongside Tigrayan forces in neighboring Amhara region. Luel said rebel forces had been in the area several hours before the strike but none were present when it occurred.

Losing Mekelle may not end the war

The renewed fighting has effectively shattered the Pretoria agreement, which ended the region’s devastating 2020-2022 war. That conflict caused an estimated 500,000 civilian deaths through violence, famine and collapsed health services, according to researchers at Ghent University in Belgium.

Magnus Taylor, deputy Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group, told the AP last week that controlling towns and roads would not necessarily secure rural areas where Tigrayan fighters regrouped during the previous war.

“We shouldn’t imagine that this conflict is completely over just because the TPLF has lost Mekelle,” he said.

Amir Aman Kiyaro reported from Hamburg, Germany. Filmon Equar Hailu reported from Mekelle, Ethiopia.

Nigerian President Launches Reelection Bid During a Cost-of-living Crisis and a Fractured Opposition

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN

3:33 PM EDT, October 24, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian President Bola Tinubu launched his reelection bid Saturday, campaigning at a rally for a second presidential term during a cost-of-living crisis and a fractured opposition.

The presidential election will be held in January against the backdrop of a worsening economy that has caused anger among voters against Tinubu’s government, but which Tinubu blamed on opposition parties.

“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did,” he said at a rally in the northwestern state of Kaduna. “They created the hunger, they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it.”

Tinubu is being challenged by over a dozen opposition candidates, but analysts predict a three-man race between Tinubu and the two contenders he defeated in 2023. They are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, or ADC, a serial presidential candidate, and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, or NDC, a former state governor who blew the last race wide open with his mass appeal to Nigeria’s youth.

In 2023, Tinubu scrapped a decades-long government-funded subsidy on gasoline moments after his inauguration as president. The move has been touted as a bold economic reform but it contributed to the naira’s devaluation and widespread hardship.

“We have prosperity and consistency, growth, recovery and opportunity, I assure you. Your prosperity is here. Fuel subsidy is in the past, no more corruption, no more lies,” he said.

Political analyst Majeed Dahiru told The Associated Press that Tinubu’s chances of winning a second term are challenged by public discontent over his economic policies.

“It is a tough one. But one thing is certain that is not going to be a walkover for any of the contending parties at all in this election. It is one that you can’t predict,” he said.

Serbia holds a parliamentary election as populist Vucic faces protesting students

The 2023 presidential election saw Tinubu win with over 8.7 million votes. Abubakar followed with over 6.9 million votes and Obi with 6.1 million, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Although Tinubu won the most votes, he recorded one of the lowest vote percentages ever for an elected president, showing how unpopular he was.

The split opposition could give Tinubu a higher chance of winning in 2027 as was the case in 2023.

Opposition candidates Atiku and Obi, among others, formed an alliance in 2025 to unseat Tinubu, but it collapsed before it took off.

Kenya Announces 2nd Ebola Death, a Close Relative of the First Patient

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI

10:07 PM EDT, October 23, 2026

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s Health Ministry announced the country’s second Ebola death Friday, saying a 65-year-old woman who was a close relative of the first patient died after developing symptoms while in quarantine.

The woman began showing symptoms 10 days ago and began receiving supportive care at an infectious disease unit in the capital, Nairobi.

The ministry said medical personnel “did everything possible to save her life,” but she died Friday evening.

Her family was notified, and the ministry said it would arrange a safe and dignified burial in consultation with relatives.

The remaining seven Ebola patients were receiving treatment at two isolation facilities. No new infections were reported.

Kenya announced its first ever Ebola case on Oct. 6 after a 40-year-old Kenyan man who was living in Congo travelled to Kenya via Uganda, arriving on Oct. 3. He was driven by a relative to Nairobi Hospital, where he tested positive for Ebola on Oct. 5 and died the same day.

Authorities have identified some 135 contacts of the first patient, placing 118 in quarantine. Eight tested positive while in quarantine, including four health workers and four close family members.

The health ministry said some contacts who completed the 21-day quarantine period without developing symptoms would be released starting Saturday.

‘Nigerian patient did not travel to Congo’

In Nigeria, authorities said Friday that they were yet to verify how the country’s first Ebola patient contracted the disease. The woman tested positive for the virus upon her return to Nigeria’s capital of Abuja from Uganda.

The woman — married to a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria whom she had been traveling with — did not visit Congo and “is believed to have contracted the virus whilst travelling to Uganda,” Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, or FDFA, told The Associated Press on Friday.

Her husband has not shown any symptoms and remains in isolation, the FDFA added.

Nigeria’s Health Minister Muhammad Pate told reporters on Friday that the Nigerian patient “appears to be closely related” to the first case in Kenya in terms of the nature of their infection. “That may or may not change the understanding of the route of transmission given that the virus itself takes time to change,” Pate said.

The Africa CDC earlier said the first patients in Nigeria and Kenya had traveled through Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport on Oct. 3.

US introduces new protocol for all travelers

United States health officials this week said that all passengers boarding an international flight to the U.S. — no matter from where — must sign a statement attesting that they’ve not been in Congo in the previous 21 days. The U.S. has been screening travelers from Ebola-affected countries during the current outbreak.

Travelers who were in Congo in the three weeks leading to their trip will not be allowed to board flights with U.S. destinations, including Americans, the U.S. CDC said Thursday.

Ebola is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, including blood and vomit, or through contact with contaminated materials and surfaces, such as bedding and clothing. Congo is experiencing its deadliest outbreak, with at least 4,000 deaths since May.

——

Dyepkazah Shibayan in Abuja, Nigeria and Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.

Severe Bread Shortage Hits Sudan Capital as Flour Supplies Dwindle

20/10/2026 16:23 KHARTOUM / EL GEZIRA

Traditional Sudanese bread (Archive photo: Creative Commons)

A sharp flour shortage is leaving families in Khartoum state with less bread available in the markets as prices soar, with consumers now getting half as much for the same money, the state’s bakers’ association says. More encouraging reports from elsewhere say prices of maize and other crops have fallen in markets across El Gezira state, as restrictions on crop movements and increased supplies from the new harvest drive down prices.

Families in Khartoum state are facing growing difficulties securing bread as flour supplies dry up and prices surge, says Issam Akkasha, spokesperson for the Khartoum State Bakers’ Association.

Akkasha told Radio Dabanga that the price of a sack of flour had risen from SDG 87,000 to SDG 117,000, before reaching SDG 180,000.

He said flour was now available only through traders at Hilal Stadium, while suppliers’ warehouses serving bakeries had run completely dry.

The shortage has sharply reduced the amount of bread consumers can buy. Previously, SDG 1 bought two loaves; now, it buys only one.

The crisis has been compounded by rising production costs, including the prices of flour, oil and yeast, as well as workers’ wages.

Prices of maize and other crops have fallen in markets across El Gezira state, as restrictions on crop movements and increased supplies from the new harvest drive down prices, a farmers’ representative says.

Prices of maize and several other crops have fallen significantly in markets across El Gezira state, with the arrival of the new maize harvest increasing supplies and restrictions on the movement of wheat and maize contributing to the decline. 

Mustafa El Tarifi, a member of the general assembly of El Gezira Farmers’ Association, told Radio Dabanga that the fall in prices was due to two main factors: decisions by the state security committee prohibiting wheat and maize from being transported outside El Gezira, and a rise in the volume of produce available in local markets.

El Tarifi said the new maize harvest had already begun reaching markets, directly increasing supplies and pushing down prices, particularly for maize. Prices of other crops, including wheat and pigeon peas, had also fallen slightly.

The decline has been recorded in several major markets across the state, including El Huda, El Hosh, El Meilag, El Musallamiyya and El Madina El Arab.

El Tarifi said the combination of regulatory measures introduced by the state security committee and the arrival of the new maize crop had helped stabilise markets and lower prices for consumers.

African Union Condemns Deadly Drone Strikes in Sudan, Abyei

22/10/2026 21:48 

ADDIS ABABA

African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Photo: Wang Guansen for Xinhua)

The African Union (AU) has added its voice to a chorus of international condemnation after reported drone attacks kill scores of civilians in West Kordofan, South Darfur, Khartoum, and Abyei. AU Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

The African Union has condemned a series of deadly drone attacks in Sudan and the disputed Abyei area, amid reports that more than 250 people have been killed in strikes over several days.

As reported by Radio Dabanga yesterday, the UN secretary-general has strongly condemned drone attacks in Abyei on Monday that reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including women and children, near Amiet and Todach markets, and injured many others.

Today, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, expressed deep concern over the civilian toll of the attacks, which have caused deaths, displacement, destruction of livelihoods, and disrupted access to food, healthcare, and other essential services. 

Media reports citing local and medical sources say about 80 people were killed in El Dibb, West Kordofan, on 18 October, while 23 people died in Nyala, South Darfur, on 16 October. At least three children were reportedly killed in Khartoum on 19 October.

Separately, reports citing local authorities say the death toll from a drone attack on Ameet market in Abyei on 19 October has exceeded 150.

Call to protect civilians

Youssouf called on all parties to stop attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, protect humanitarian and medical personnel, and ensure safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law.

He also stressed the need to respect Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, urging all parties to refrain from actions that could intensify the conflict, threaten the country’s unity, or endanger neighbouring states. BuyMaps

The AU Commission chairperson reaffirmed his support for ongoing regional and international mediation efforts, calling for coordinated action to secure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and launch an inclusive, Sudanese-led political process.

Sudan War: ‘Many Still Missing’ as Abyei Market Drone Strike Toll Rises

21/10/2026 10:00 ABYEI

Damage from drone strike on Amiet market in the disputed Abyei area between Sudan and South Sudan has risen from 73 to 153 (Photo: Supplied via social media) Dronewarfare analysis

The death toll from a drone strike on Amiet market in the disputed Abyei area between Sudan and South Sudan has risen from 73 to 153, local officials say, and is expected to grow, as many people are still listed as ‘missing’. The attack on Monday also forced about 8,000 people to flee, prompting condemnation from the United Nations and the UK.

The UN secretary-general has strongly condemned drone attacks in Abyei on Monday that reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including women and children, near Amiet and Todach markets, and injured many others.

A statement seen by Radio Dabanga warned that the death toll could rise as the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) continues to verify the casualties. Many people remain missing.

UNISFA deployed medical personnel, firefighting equipment and rapid-response forces after the incident to provide emergency treatment, help evacuate the injured and prevent the fire from spreading, the statement said.

The secretary-general stressed that international law prohibits attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. He called on all parties to the armed conflict to meet their obligations under international humanitarian law, including protecting civilians at all times and ensuring accountability for those responsible.

He also urged the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to take all possible steps to prevent further attacks and preserve Abyei’s status as a demilitarised area. 

UK calls for independent investigation

The British embassy expressed deep concern over reports of strikes on Amiet market in Abyei that caused heavy civilian casualties. It condemned attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and called for an independent and comprehensive investigation.

Death toll rises sharply

According to Reuters, the death toll from the drone strike on Amiet market, also known as Al-Naam, has risen to 153.

The attack took place on Monday morning at Amiet market, north of Abyei town. It triggered major explosions and fires after the drone struck a fuel depot. The fires continued to burn until Tuesday, while emergency teams faced considerable difficulties recovering bodies from the rubble.

Yohana Akol Ngor, the acting information minister for the Abyei area, told Reuters that the death toll had risen sharply from the initial figure of 73 to 153. He warned that it could increase further as search and recovery operations continued.

Local authorities said the attack had displaced about 8,000 people.

South Sudan’s government blamed the Sudanese Armed Forces for the strike and summoned Sudan’s ambassador to protest.

A senior Sudanese military official, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, acknowledged that the army had carried out a drone strike. The official claimed it had targeted fuel tankers believed to be intended for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but denied that civilians had been deliberately targeted. The account could not be independently verified.

Medical teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said they had treated more than 20 injured people at Amiet Biek hospital, including patients with severe burns and critical injuries.

Protests were also held in Abyei on Tuesday to condemn the attack. 

Kenya Searches for 7 Missing People After Nairobi Building Collapse

Source: XinhuaEditor: huaxia2026-10-24 16:51:15

Rescuers work at the site of a building collapse in Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 24, 2026. Kenyan authorities on Saturday continued to search for seven people still missing after a multi-story building collapsed in a suburb of Nairobi on Friday. (Photo by John Okoyo/Xinhua)

NAIROBI, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan authorities on Saturday continued to search for seven people still missing after a multi-story building collapsed in a suburb of Nairobi on Friday.

"Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the site of the building collapse in Eastleigh. Two injured people have been taken to Kenyatta National Hospital," the Kenya Red Cross Society said in an update issued late Friday.

Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, said Friday night that 11 shops on the building's ground floor and in the basement were occupied at the time of the collapse.

"Seven people have been reported missing. The rescue team has made contact with some of them, and efforts are underway to rescue those trapped in the rubble," he said.

All 67 construction workers at the site have been accounted for, Murkomen said, adding that 66 escaped unhurt, while one was hospitalized and is in stable condition.

The seven missing people are believed to have been inside the shops when the building collapsed, he said.

Authorities have yet to determine whether the collapse damaged or compromised the structural integrity of adjacent buildings.

Investigations are underway to establish whether any regulatory or professional violations contributed to the collapse, and local authorities have launched a manhunt for the building's owner. The National Construction Authority said it has identified the developer, contractor and registered professionals associated with the building.

"Details regarding rescue operations, the status of the site, and actions being undertaken by the multi-agency team will be shared in due course," the regulatory body said.

Building collapses have occurred repeatedly in Kenya in recent years, with experts blaming weak enforcement of construction regulations and a lack of routine safety inspections by government officials as among the causes.

Chinese Medical Team Provides Free Outreach Services for Residents in Zanzibar

Source: Xinhua| 2026-10-25 01:49:00|Editor: huaxia

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The 36th Chinese medical team to Zanzibar conducted a free medical outreach on Saturday at Chaani Health Center, bringing healthcare services to local communities, with nearly 100 patients treated during the event.

At the outreach venue, the team set up dedicated service areas for surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and dentistry, according to team leader Wang Wei.

With portable medical equipment, the medics delivered integrated one-stop care for local residents,applying characteristic traditional Chinese medicine techniques, including acupuncture, to treat prevalent musculoskeletal complaints such as neck, shoulder, lower-back, and joint pain, Wang noted.

Beyond clinical consultations, the team also held health education sessions focusing on the prevention of Ebola, schistosomiasis and malaria, raising local residents' awareness and enhancing their self care capabilities.

Annia Ibrahim Ndossa, an official with Zanzibar's Ministry of Health, noted that such grassroots initiatives bring healthcare closer to communities and improve residents' access to professional medical advice.

Wang said the team will keep collaborating with local health institutions to address community medical needs. It will boost medical exchanges, support the improvement of local health services and further advance China-Tanzania health cooperation.

Malian Army Says 54 Civilian Bodies Found Near Menaka

Source: Xinhua| 2026-10-25 03:02:30|Editor: huaxia

BAMAKO, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A joint patrol of the Malian Armed Forces and their partners discovered the bodies of 54 civilians at a camp in Tagadayat, about 35 km southeast of Menaka in northeastern Mali, the military said in a statement Saturday.

The patrol was deployed following reports of what the military described as terrorist attacks against civilians in the Menaka operational area. The statement did not specify when the attacks occurred or when the bodies were found.

The victims were buried at the scene. Nine survivors were also found and evacuated to Menaka, where they received care from the local health authorities, according to the statement.

Initial witness accounts attributed the killings to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), the military said.

The armed forces said they had stepped up measures to protect civilians most at risk, including helping residents of threatened camps relocate to Menaka. Patrols and security operations were continuing in the area.

The military condemned the killings and pledged to pursue those responsible.

ISGS is an Islamic State affiliate active in the border areas of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where it has carried out numerous attacks.

Senators Plan to Block Trump’s Nominees over Ukraine Satellite Network Restrictions — NYT

According to the newspaper, disagreements between the senators and the administration may escalate after the November 3 midterm elections

NEW YORK, October 24. /TASS/. Senators from the Republican and Democratic parties have warned the White House that they will block the confirmation of US President Donald Trump’s government nominees unless the administration guarantees the restoration of Ukraine’s access to satellite communications, The New York Times (NYT) reported citing sources.

It is noted that disagreements between the senators and the administration may escalate after the November 3 midterm elections, when Republicans will likely try to secure the confirmation of dozens of Trump’s nominees to various positions before the new Congress begins its work.

Earlier, American Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (a Republican from Florida) called on Democratic lawmakers to stop advocating for the continuation of the Ukrainian conflict and to support Trump’s efforts to resolve it.

The American leader said on Thursday that Ukraine’s access to Starshield military·grade satellite communications was restored. He was commenting on media reports saying he had asked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to lift restrictions on the use of Starshield in Ukraine. However, former adviser to the Ukrainian Defense Minister Sergey Sternenko later said that the restrictions are partially still in place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PM Advisor Getachew Underscores Ethiopia’s Pivotal Geopolitical Position

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ethiopia

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

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

Debretsion also claimed several recent tactical victories.

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

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

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

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

Eastleigh Building Collapse: Two Hospitalized, 26 Missing People Traced

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

by FELIX KIPKEMOI

Kenya Red Cross at the scene of collapsed building in Eastleigh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Vivek Dubey 

TIMESOFINDIA.COM 

Oct 23, 2026, 20:52 IST

The collapse triggered a major emergency response

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 23, 2026

By Brian Walker

Credit: Credit: Sakaja Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Building Collapses in Kenyan Capital, Rescuers on the Scene

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nairobi Building Collapse Raises Safety Concerns as Rescuers Search Rubble

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There have been many concerns over safety over the years.

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

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

Corruption has allowed contractors to cut corners or bypass regulations.

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

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

AU Member States Validate African Continental Health Data Governance Framework

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Africa CDC

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

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

About Transform Health

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

Website: transformhealthcoalition.org

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

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

Ruben Nyanguila

Reporter, Semafor Africa

Oct 23, 2026, 5:47am EDT

Africa

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

Sodiq Adelakun/Reuters

In this article:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Title iconStep Back

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

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

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

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

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

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

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21 October 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Africa CDC

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

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

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

By OPE ADETAYO

12:22 AM EDT, October 22, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By GERALD IMRAY

7:07 AM EDT, October 22, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By OPE ADETAYO

8:26 PM EDT, October 22, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

_____

Dyepkazah Shibayan contributed to this report from Abuja, Nigeria.

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

By MONIKA PRONCZUK

1:28 PM EDT, October 22, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s what to know about the outbreak:

5 countries have been affected, and 3 have active cases

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

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

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

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

Outbreak is unfolding in challenging conditions and across porous borders

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

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

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

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

WHO and Africa CDC are calling for a coordinated response

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

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

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

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

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Millions in Ebola aid re unaccounted for

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

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