Egypt’s FM Mourns Journalist Gamal Nkrumah, Son of Ghana’s Founding President

Ahram Online 

Thursday 15 Oct 2026

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty mourned Al-Ahram Weekly veteran journalist Gamal Nkrumah, son of Ghana’s founding president Kwame Nkrumah, on Thursday following his death in Cairo.

Al-Ahram Weekly veteran journalist Gamal Nkrumah dies in Cairo

Nkrumah worked as a journalist and editor at Al-Ahram Weekly and was the son of the Ghanaian leader and his Egyptian wife, Fathia.

“With deep sorrow, I mourn Mr. Gamal Nkrumah, son of African leader Kwame Nkrumah, named after Gamal Abdel Nasser,” Abdelatty wrote on his official X account.

Nkrumah died on Wednesday, 14 October, after a prolonged illness, according to Ghana’s Graphic Online, which carried a statement from his sister, Samia Nkrumah. The family said he had been receiving care at a rehabilitation centre after suffering a stroke.

The family paid tribute to his commitment to justice, human dignity, African unity and international solidarity, saying his journalism examined the political, social, and cultural forces shaping Africa and the wider world.

It thanked the medical professionals and caregivers who supported him in Cairo, as well as the governments and people of Egypt and Ghana. The family said the memorial arrangements would be announced in due course.

Egypt’s National Press Authority has also mourned veteran journalist Gamal Nkrumah, who spent three decades at Al-Ahram Weekly, covering African and international affairs.

In a statement, the authority said Nkrumah made significant journalistic and intellectual contributions, bringing extensive knowledge to his work and highlighting issues of freedom and people’s independence, with a particular focus on Africa’s history, cultures, and challenges.

The authority noted that Nkrumah embodied a connection between Egypt and Ghana. He was the son of Ghanaian independence leader Kwame Nkrumah and his Egyptian wife, Fathia Nkrumah.

The authority’s chairman and members extended their condolences to Nkrumah’s family, friends, Al-Ahram Establishment, and his colleagues at Al-Ahram Weekly, praying for his soul to rest in peace.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina Director Ahmed Zayed also offered condolences for the death of the veteran journalist.

In a statement, Zayed extended condolences on behalf of himself and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina staff to Samia Nkrumah, a prominent Ghanaian politician and member of the library’s Board of Trustees, who was the deceased’s sister, as well as to Nkrumah’s children and the editorial staff of Al-Ahram Weekly.

“Gamal Nkrumah helped establish Al-Ahram Weekly, one of the Al-Ahram Establishment’s leading English-language publications. Over four decades of journalistic work, he became an expert on African affairs and one of the continent’s leading analysts based in Cairo,” he said in his statement.

Al-Ahram Weekly Veteran Journalist Gamal Nkrumah Dies in Cairo

Ahram Online 

Thursday 15 Oct 2026

​The son of Ghana’s founding president and his Egyptian wife, Nkrumah spent three decades at Al-Ahram Weekly covering African and international affairs.

Gamal Nkrumah, the veteran Al-Ahram Weekly journalist and son of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, died in Cairo on Wednesday, 14 October, following a prolonged illness, according to his family and reports in the Ghanaian press.

Al-Ahram’s chairman, board members, editors-in-chief, journalists and staff mourned Nkrumah, paying tribute to his contribution to Al-Ahram Weekly over three decades. The institution honoured his journalistic and intellectual work, particularly his coverage of African and international affairs and his commitment to the aspirations of African peoples for freedom, justice and development.

Al-Ahram said his life and work embodied the depth of Egyptian-African ties and extended its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at Al-Ahram Weekly.

In a statement carried by Ghana’s Citi Newsroom, the family said Nkrumah had died peacefully while receiving care at a rehabilitation centre after suffering a stroke. It paid tribute to his intellectual independence and lifelong commitment to justice, human dignity, African unity and international solidarity.

His burial is scheduled for Saturday, 17 October, in Egypt, according to a family source quoted by Ghana’s MyJoyOnline.

Nkrumah’s career at Al-Ahram Weekly spanned three decades. A journalist and editor specialising in international affairs, he wrote extensively about African politics, the legacy of colonialism and the continent’s relations with the wider world. Ghanaian coverage of his death highlighted his engagement with Pan-Africanism and his role in connecting Ghana’s political heritage with Egypt’s media landscape.

Born in Accra, Gamal Gorkeh Nkrumah was the son of Kwame Nkrumah and his Egyptian wife, Fathia. His father led Ghana to independence from Britain in 1957 and became the country’s first president in 1960. Gamal was named after Egyptian president Gamal Abdel-Nasser, whose close relationship with his father formed part of the wider cooperation between African liberation leaders.

His ties to Egypt deepened after the military coup that overthrew his father in February 1966. With Nasser’s assistance, his mother brought Gamal and his siblings, Samia and Sekou, to Cairo, where they attended Al-Nasr College in Maadi. In a 2002 interview with Al-Bayan, Nkrumah recalled Nasser’s support for the family and the impression his personal warmth had left on him as a child.

According to biographical accounts cited by MyJoyOnline, Nkrumah studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, where he obtained a doctorate in political science. He also spent several years teaching development and economics in Zimbabwe before eventually settling in Cairo with his Egyptian wife, as he recounted in the Al-Bayan interview.

His work in Egypt extended beyond political reporting to an interest in African literature and cultural exchange. He advocated closer contact between Arab and sub-Saharan African intellectual communities, arguing that limited translation and reliance on Western cultural channels impeded their knowledge of one another.

Tributes in Ghana reflected his continuing connection to his father’s political ideals. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle, described him as “an accomplished journalist and a proud Pan-Africanist” and offered condolences to the Nkrumah family on behalf of the constituency.

His sister, Samia Nkrumah, previously represented Jomoro in Ghana’s parliament and chaired the Convention People’s Party, founded by their father. His younger brother, Sekou, is a writer and political activist.

The family thanked the medical professionals and caregivers who had cared for Nkrumah in Cairo, as well as the governments and peoples of Egypt and Ghana for their support, and requested privacy as it mourned.

Egyptian Analyst Rebukes Egypt's Leaders for Trying to Block Ethiopia’s Sovereign Right to Red Sea

Addis Ababa, October 15, 2026 (ENA) — The Egyptian political analyst Magdi Khalil has strongly criticized the leaders of Egypt for opposing and fighting Ethiopia's right of access to the Red Sea. 

“If there were leaders in Egypt with vision and foresight, they would work to help Ethiopia gain access to the Red Sea instead of opposing and fighting it,” he said.

The Egyptian analyst criticized the country's opposition to Ethiopia’s efforts to secure access to the Red Sea and called on Egypt to reassess its policy toward Ethiopia and shift from confrontation to cooperation.

In a Zoom interview with ENA, Khalil said that Ethiopia, as a large landlocked country, has the sovereign right to gain access to the Red Sea.

“Ethiopia has the sovereign right to conclude agreements with countries to secure one or more outlets on the Red Sea, provided this is done peacefully, whether for fifty or one hundred years,” he added.

The analyst further questioned the reasons behind opposition to Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea, noting that Ethiopia’s historical coastal presence had not been a source of harm to neighboring countries.

Ethiopia’s demands should therefore be addressed through cooperation and mutual interests rather than political confrontation and hostility.

Khalil called for a meeting involving the countries bordering the Red Sea to discuss shared interests and reach regional understandings.

The Egyptian analyst stressed the importance of replacing hostile competition with cooperation, emphasizing that peaceful agreements could provide a practical framework for addressing Ethiopia’s maritime needs.

According to him, some countries were willing to reach agreements with Ethiopia to provide maritime access, arguing that long-term arrangements could strengthen cooperation and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

Furthermore, Khalil criticized Egypt’s historical position on the Eritrean issue, noting that Egypt, alongside other Arab countries, participated in supporting the Eritrean Liberation Front, which was established in Cairo in 1960.

He argued that Eritrea’s independence in 1991 and Ethiopia’s subsequent landlocked status necessitate a reassessment of the regional positions that contributed to this situation. 

The analyst described Egypt’s support for the Eritrean movement as a historical mistake that harmed relations that should have been based on cooperation between the two countries.

Ethiopia’s New Political Chapter: Sovereign Sea Access at the Heart of National Ambition

By Staff Writer

October 15, 2026 (ENA) 

Ethiopia’s new five-year political chapter opens with a defining national ambition: building a peaceful, democratic and prosperous state while pursuing sovereign access to the sea. Under the Medemer Government, the government is highly anticipated to translating its electoral mandate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives while strengthening Ethiopia’s strategic position in the Horn of Africa.

At the heart of this agenda lies Ethiopia’s sovereign sea access aspiration. As one of the world’s most populous landlocked countries, Ethiopia has a compelling economic interest in reliable access to maritime trade. Securing such access through mutually beneficial arrangements could ease logistical constraints, improve export competitiveness, attract investment and deepen regional economic integration. 

Yet, maritime access is part of a broader national transformation. The success of Ethiopia’s new political chapter will depend equally on consolidating peace, strengthening democratic institutions, advancing national reconciliation and building an inclusive economy. The Medemer philosophy, which emphasizes cooperation, synergy and collective progress, offers a framework for pursuing these priorities. Its credibility will ultimately rest on the government’s ability to translate political commitments into measurable results.

Ethiopia’s domestic progress also carries regional significance. As host of the African Union headquarters and a major political and economic actor in the Horn of Africa, the country has both a strategic interest in regional stability and an opportunity to contribute to it. A stronger Ethiopia, supported by trusted institutions and a resilient economy, would be better positioned to advance its national interests while promoting peace and cooperation across the region.

Sovereign Sea Access: A Strategic National Priority

For Ethiopia, access to the sea is more than a question of geography. It is closely connected to security, trade, economic competitiveness, national development and long-term strategic interests. Dependence on external maritime corridors exposes the country’s economy to transport costs, logistical bottlenecks and disruptions in international trade. Reliable and diversified access to maritime infrastructure could help Ethiopian businesses reach international markets more efficiently, strengthen supply chains and improve the competitiveness of exports.

Ethiopia must be an integral part of the Red Sea security architecture. As a major regional actor with longstanding contributions to peacekeeping under the United Nations and peace and security efforts across the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia has a compelling strategic interest in the security of this vital maritime corridor and a meaningful contribution to make. Excluding a country of Ethiopia’s regional significance from decisions affecting Red Sea security would leave a critical stakeholder outside a process with direct implications for its economic and national interests. Ethiopia should therefore have a meaningful seat at the table, enabling it to contribute to maritime security, protect international shipping, strengthen regional stability and help safeguard one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. 

Ultimately, the measure of progress will be whether Ethiopia can expand its maritime options, reduce trade constraints and strengthen its economic resilience while contributing to stability across the Horn of Africa.

National Unity as Foundation of Strategic Ambition

No national ambition can be sustained without internal stability and a shared sense of purpose. Ethiopia’s new political chapter must therefore begin with the responsibility to strengthen national unity, address longstanding grievances and rebuild public confidence. The country’s cultural diversity, complex history and competing political interests make inclusive state building essential. Unity cannot be achieved through declarations alone. It requires equal citizenship, constitutional protection, fair access to opportunities and institutions capable of managing disagreements peacefully.

The Medemer approach can help create common ground among political parties, government institutions, civil society organizations, religious institutions, traditional leaders and communities. The national dialogue process offers an opportunity to address historical grievances, identify shared interests and build a stronger foundation for consensus.

For this process to succeed, participation must be meaningful, diverse perspectives must be heard, and recommendations must inform practical reforms. National reconciliation should not be reduced to a political slogan; it must produce greater trust, improved relations among communities and more effective mechanisms for resolving disputes.

Democratic Institutions: Turning the Mandate into Public Trust

The durability of Ethiopia’s political transition will depend heavily on the performance of its democratic institutions. Parliament, the judiciary, electoral bodies and executive institutions must operate within their constitutional mandates and provide effective mechanisms for accountability.

The House of Peoples’ Representatives has a responsibility not only to enact legislation but also to scrutinize government performance, examine public expenditure and ensure that national policies respond to citizens’ needs. Effective parliamentary oversight can help identify implementation gaps, improve public spending and strengthen accountability. An independent and accessible judiciary is equally important. Citizens must be able to seek remedies when their rights are violated, while disputes should be resolved through impartial legal procedures. Consistent application of the law would reinforce equal protection and improve confidence in public institutions.

Political parties also have a responsibility to strengthen democratic practices by presenting credible policy alternatives, engaging in constructive debate and respecting constitutional procedures. The government, in turn, must protect lawful political participation, civic engagement and public criticism.

Combating corruption, reducing administrative inefficiency and improving public services are equally important. Transparent procurement, responsible financial management and accessible complaint mechanisms would help ensure that public resources serve their intended purposes.

These reforms are directly connected to Ethiopia’s broader strategic ambitions. Predictable institutions and accountable governance can strengthen investor confidence, improve the business environment and support the effective implementation of infrastructure and development projects. A government that earns public trust at home is also better positioned to build credible partnerships abroad. Democratic accountability is therefore not separate from national strategy; it is one of the foundations on which sustainable national progress depends.

Economic Transformation and Building the Capacity for Sovereignty

Ethiopia’s pursuit of sea access must be supported by an economy capable of turning improved connectivity into prosperity. Access to ports and international markets can create opportunities, but the benefits will depend on domestic productivity, competitive industries and the capacity to generate value.

In this regard, Ethiopia’s “Made in Ethiopia” industrial movement is playing an important role in strengthening domestic production, advancing import substitution and expanding the country’s manufacturing capacity. By encouraging local industries to produce goods previously sourced from abroad, the initiative supports economic self-reliance, reduces import dependence and creates opportunities for domestic investment and job creation.

Agriculture remains central to Ethiopia’s food security and economy. Under the Medemer philosophy, the country has made notable progress, particularly in wheat production. Expanding irrigation, mechanization, research and agro-processing can further boost productivity, reduce climate vulnerability and increase farmers’ incomes.

Industrialization, manufacturing and digital transformation are equally vital to diversifying exports, creating jobs and strengthening domestic production. Reliable power, efficient logistics, access to finance and a skilled workforce will be essential to building competitive businesses.

Improved maritime connectivity could lower trade barriers and connect Ethiopian producers to global markets, while stronger domestic industries would help the country capture greater value from international trade.

Horn of Africa and Red Sea Region Cooperation for Shared Prosperity

Ethiopia’s national future is closely connected to developments across the Horn of Africa. Conflict, displacement, food insecurity and climate pressures frequently cross borders, while political tensions can disrupt trade and threaten the livelihoods of border communities.

The pursuit of sea access must therefore be approached within a wider framework of regional cooperation. Ethiopia’s strategic and economic interests must be connected to the Red Sea coast in the near future for mutual benefits. 

Port operations, transport corridors, logistics services and cross-border infrastructure can create commercial opportunities for participating countries. Improved connectivity can strengthen regional supply chains, expand markets and encourage investment in transport, manufacturing and trade-related services. A more stable and connected Horn of Africa would benefit Ethiopia’s maritime aspirations while supporting the development priorities of its neighbors. 

Ethiopia’s regional influence will therefore depend not only on the scale of its ambitions but also on its ability to build trust, sustain dialogue and demonstrate that cooperation can deliver tangible benefits.

Climate Resilience and Water Security on Nile River 

Equally important to Ethiopia’s ambition for sovereign sea access, the new Medemer Government must maximize the development potential of the Abay (Blue Nile) River by advancing additional hydropower and irrigation projects. Harnessing this strategic resource is vital to expanding electricity generation, strengthening food security and accelerating economic transformation.

Climate resilience remains central to this ambition. Droughts, floods and shifting rainfall patterns threaten agriculture, water supplies, infrastructure and livelihoods across the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia’s investment in hydropower and irrigation must therefore go hand in hand with sustainable water management, environmental protection and climate adaptation.

For Ethiopia, maximizing the Abay River’s potential is not merely an energy or irrigation priority; it is a strategic pillar of economic sovereignty, food security and long-term national development.

Youth and Women: Expanding the Foundations of National Progress

Ethiopia’s young population represents a major opportunity for economic growth, innovation and national renewal. Realizing this potential requires more than expanding education; it demands relevant skills, productive employment, entrepreneurship and meaningful participation in public life.

Limited employment opportunities can deepen frustration, particularly when young people feel excluded from decisions affecting their future. Investment in technical and vocational education, digital skills and employment-intensive sectors would help connect education with the needs of the economy. Stronger links between schools, universities, training institutions and employers could improve the transition from education to employment. Support for entrepreneurship and small businesses could also enable young people to turn their skills and ideas into productive economic activity.

Youth participation is equally important in national reconciliation, community development and public debate. Providing meaningful opportunities for young people to contribute to public affairs would strengthen social cohesion and ensure that national policies respond to their priorities.

Women’s participation is another essential component of inclusive development. Expanding access to education, employment, finance, public services and leadership would allow more citizens to contribute to national progress and strengthen household welfare.

These investments have strategic significance. A skilled, productive and economically empowered population would strengthen domestic industries, improve export competitiveness and help Ethiopia benefit from expanded regional and international trade.

National ambition becomes more sustainable when citizens have a genuine stake in its realization. Empowering young people and women is therefore not simply a social objective; it is an investment in Ethiopia’s productive capacity, stability and long-term prosperity.

From National Ambition to Measurable Results

The credibility of Ethiopia’s new political chapter will ultimately depend on implementation. The government must translate its priorities into clear targets, allocate resources according to national needs and establish mechanisms for assessing progress.  Security, employment, public service delivery, institutional accountability and economic resilience should be central measures of performance. 

Public reporting would enable citizens to evaluate government commitments and identify areas requiring corrective action. Federal and regional authorities must coordinate their responsibilities while respecting constitutional mandates and local circumstances.

Consultation with communities, businesses, professional associations and civil society can improve decision-making and help identify emerging problems. Efficient public financial management, stronger procurement systems and effective anti-corruption measures would help ensure that limited resources deliver meaningful results.

The government must also balance long-term infrastructure investments with immediate public needs. Citizens expect improved access to health care, education, affordable food, employment and personal security. Progress in these areas will shape public confidence in the administration.

Strategic ambitions and domestic responsibilities should reinforce each other. Maritime access can expand economic opportunities and its full value should depend on productive industries, capable institutions, skilled workers and a stable political environment.

The ultimate test is whether national policies improve the lives of citizens while strengthening Ethiopia’s ability to pursue its interests through peaceful and constructive engagement.

All in all, Ethiopia’s new five-year political chapter presents an opportunity to strengthen the foundations of a peaceful, democratic and prosperous state. Its success will depend on the government’s ability to translate its electoral mandate and the Medemer philosophy into tangible progress in national unity, security, institutional accountability and living standards.

At the heart of the country’s strategic ambition is sovereign access to the sea. Pursued through mutually beneficial arrangements, maritime connectivity could help ease trade constraints, strengthen export competitiveness and deepen regional economic integration as well as ensure lasting peace.

Beyond its borders, Ethiopia must strengthen constructive relations with neighboring states, advance cooperation on trade, infrastructure, energy and climate resilience, and support regional efforts to prevent conflict. Its engagement with the African Union and IGAD can help advance these goals when backed by consistent diplomacy and practical commitments.

The government’s responsibility is therefore both national and regional: to build a state that citizens trust, an economy that expands opportunities and a foreign policy that advances national interests while respecting the legitimate interests of others.

Sovereign access to the sea may be at the heart of Ethiopia’s national ambition, but national unity, democratic governance and economic transformation will determine its success.

The defining measure of the Medemer State will be its ability to turn this ambition into lasting improvements in citizens’ lives while contributing to a more peaceful, stable and economically integrated Horn of Africa.

PSI Calls for Responsible Social Media Use to Foster Unity, Respect Ethiopia’s Diversity

Addis Ababa, October 14, 2026 (ENA) — Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute (PSI) emphasizes the importance of responsible social media use to promote understanding, respect for Ethiopia’s diversity, and social cohesion among its various communities.

Speaking at a study validation workshop on social media use and misuse in Ethiopia, PSI Director General Fikadu Tsega said digital platforms could help bridge social and political differences and bring citizens together around common national goals. 

He emphasized that Ethiopia’s diverse cultures, beliefs and identities should be brought together through constructive dialogue and shared values, enabling social media to contribute to national cohesion rather than deepen divisions. The Director General noted that social media could also support this effort by promoting positive content, strengthening mutual understanding and encouraging dialogue on the country’s political, economic and cultural issues. 

 He said addressing misuse required both public awareness and accountability, explaining that harmful content resulting from a lack of awareness could be addressed through education, while deliberate actions required appropriate accountability measures. 

 While acknowledging the role of existing laws addressing hate speech and false information, he stressed that legal enforcement should be complemented by awareness-building to encourage responsible use and protect the rights of others. 

The validation workshop brought together researchers from Addis Ababa University, the Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute (PSI) and the Ethiopian Media Authority. 

It aims to validate the study’s findings and draw on participants’ expertise and perspectives to identify policy approaches that promote responsible social media use and strengthen its contribution to national unity and shared values. 

Ethiopia: TPLF-Aligned Tigray Fighters Claim Recapture of Abiy Adi and Two Other Towns

Tigray fighters report counteroffensive gains in Tembien amid disputed territorial control.

October 16, 2026

By Kulu Media News Desk

TPLF-aligned Tigray fighters marching as group claims recapture of Abiy Adi

Armed fighters march along a rural road in Tigray, Ethiopia. TPLF-aligned forces claim to have recaptured Abiy Adi and two other towns in Central Tigray. File photo. Photo TPLF

TPLF-aligned Tigray fighters claim to have recaptured Abiy Adi and two other towns in Central Tigray, just over a week after Ethiopian federal forces and their Tigray Peace Force (TPF) allies took control of the strategically important town.

The Tigray Defense Forces (TDF), aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), said its fighters launched a counteroffensive on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and regained control of Abiy Adi, Shewate Higum and Yechila in the Tembien area.Shop African Art

According to a statement attributed to the group and and posted on Sheraro communication office facebook page on Thursday, October 15, TPLF-aligned fighters attacked government positions and claimed to have inflicted losses on opposing forces.

The group also claimed that its fighters had carried out several operations in recent days, targeting positions of Ethiopian government-aligned forces and capturing weapons.

The reported recapture of the three towns has not been independently verified. Ethiopian federal authorities and the TPF had not issued a publicly verified response to the latest claims at the time of the report.

Abiy Adi, the main town of Tembien in Central Tigray, is strategically important because of its position west of Mekelle and its connections to surrounding districts.

The latest claims follow the earlier capture of the town by Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and allied TPF fighters during their offensive against TPLF-aligned forces.Shop African Art

As previously documented by Kulu Media, government-aligned forces entered Abiy Adi on October 6, following fighting with TPLF-aligned fighters.

At the time, TPF commander General Gebreigziabher Beyene confirmed the advance to Agence France-Presse (AFP), while eyewitnesses contacted by Kulu Media separately confirmed the presence of ENDF and TPF fighters in the town.

If the latest counteroffensive claims are confirmed, the development would represent a significant reversal of territorial control in Central Tigray and demonstrate the continued ability of TPLF-aligned forces to launch attacks despite recent government advances.Shop African Art

The reported operation also follows earlier indications that TPLF-aligned forces intended to adopt more mobile military tactics rather than defend every town against advancing federal troops.

In an October 1 televised address, TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael signaled that his forces could increasingly rely on mobile warfare and counteroffensives.

As detailed in Kulu Media’s earlier coverage of Debretsion’s war strategy, the TPLF leadership argued that withdrawals from towns should not necessarily be interpreted as a decisive military defeat.

The latest claims from Tembien appear consistent with that previously announced approach, although the extent of the reported counteroffensive remains uncertain.

The fighting comes as Ethiopian federal forces and their TPF allies have expanded control over several major towns across Tigray.

In recent days, government-aligned forces have entered Shire, Adigrat, Adwa and Aksum following the withdrawal of TPLF-aligned fighters from several urban areas.

The advances followed the withdrawal of TPLF-aligned fighters from Mekelle in early October, after which Ethiopian federal police began operating in the regional capital.

Despite these territorial gains, the presence of TPLF-aligned fighters in rural and mountainous areas has raised questions about whether government forces can maintain control beyond the main towns and transport routes.

The renewed fighting has also intensified tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with Addis Ababa accusing Eritrean forces of entering Tigray and supporting armed groups opposed to the federal government.

International concern over the escalating confrontation has increased. On October 14, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed about the growing tensions and the need for de-escalation.

The fighting has placed further pressure on the November 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which ended the previous two-year war in northern Ethiopia.

For Central Tigray, the latest claims highlight the continuing uncertainty over territorial control as opposing forces conduct military operations across urban and rural areas.

Whether TPLF-aligned fighters have established lasting control over Abiy Adi, Shewate Higum and Yechila remains unclear.

Independent confirmation of the reported counteroffensive, including the situation on the ground and any casualties, is still needed.

Ethiopian Forces Enter Aksum as Eritrea Denies Heavy Military Losses

Federal Troops Enter Historic Aksum Amid Disputed Eritrean Military Casualty Claims

October 15, 2026

By Kulu Media News Desk

Ethiopian Forces Enter Aksum, historic Stelae Park in Tigray, Ethiopia

The historic Stelae Park in Aksum, Tigray, where Ethiopian federal forces and allied TPF fighters reportedly entered on October 14, 2026. File photo. 

Ethiopian federal forces and allied Tigray Peace Force (TPF) fighters have entered the historic city of Aksum in northern Tigray, extending government-aligned territorial control as Eritrea rejects claims that its troops suffered heavy casualties during recent fighting.Shop African Art

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) documented the entry of Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and TPF fighters into Aksum in an update dated October 14, 2026.

According to the conflict monitor, TPLF-aligned Tigray fighters withdrew from the city and remained in the mountainous rural areas of Adet and Chila, near Aksum.

The development marks another significant shift in territorial control across northern Tigray following weeks of renewed fighting between Ethiopian government forces and armed groups aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

On Thursday, October 15, TPF spokesperson Solomon Hailemariam claimed that Eritrean troops had suffered substantial casualties during recent military operations and were retreating toward the border.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the allegations as false, according to Anadolu Agency.

Neither the scale of the alleged casualties nor the TPF’s account of the fighting could be independently verified.

The competing claims come amid rapidly changing military positions along the Ethiopia–Eritrea border, where both countries have accused each other of escalating hostilities.

ACLED reported that Eritrean forces previously stationed along the Zalambessa–Fatsi corridor withdrew from Tigray and crossed back into Eritrea through Zalambessa on October 12.

The withdrawal preceded further advances by Ethiopian government troops and their TPF allies, who established control over Fatsi and Zalambessa after TPLF-aligned fighters moved toward Debre Damo and Irob.

As previously covered by Kulu Media, Ethiopian forces reached the strategically important border town of Zalambessa, raising concerns about a wider confrontation between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

ACLED also documented a substantial movement of Ethiopian tanks and heavy weaponry from Adigrat toward Fatsi and Zalambessa during the night of October 12 and into October 13.

The military movements followed earlier territorial gains by federal forces and their allies across Tigray.

On October 10, federal forces entered Adigrat after TPLF-aligned fighters withdrew from the city.

Government-aligned forces subsequently entered Adwa on October 11, further expanding their presence across northern Tigray before the reported advance into Aksum.

Despite these gains, TPLF-aligned fighters continue to maintain positions in mountainous areas outside several towns, indicating that control over the wider region remains contested.

The changing military situation has unfolded alongside an increasingly serious diplomatic confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea.Shop African Art

Addis Ababa has accused Eritrean forces of crossing into Ethiopian territory and supporting armed groups fighting the federal government. Eritrea has rejected the accusations and accused Ethiopia of threatening its sovereignty.

The two countries, which fought a devastating border war between 1998 and 2000, were military allies during the 2020–2022 Tigray conflict before relations deteriorated.

Their latest confrontation has prompted growing international concern over the possibility of another regional war.

On October 14, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged de-escalation during discussions with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, emphasizing diplomacy and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the Associated Press.

The renewed fighting has also placed additional pressure on the November 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which ended the previous two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia.

Although Ethiopian government forces and their allies have expanded control over several major towns, the continued presence of TPLF-aligned fighters in surrounding areas and the unresolved confrontation with Eritrea leave the region’s security situation uncertain.

The reported Eritrean troop withdrawals and the latest advances into Aksum represent significant developments in the military landscape. However, the disputed casualty claims and continued deployment of heavy weaponry near the international border underscore the risk of further escalation.

Ethiopian Forces Expand Control in Tigray as Militia Claims Heavy Eritrean Losses

Government troops, allied fighters enter historic city of Aksum as conflict monitor documents Eritrean withdrawals near border

Andrew Wasike

15 October 2026

NAIROBI, Kenya

Ethiopian government forces and allied Tigray Peace Force (TPF) fighters have expanded their control across northern Tigray, entering the historic city of Aksum, as the pro-government militia claimed Eritrean troops suffered heavy losses and retreated toward the border.

Solomon Hailemariam, spokesperson for the TPF, claimed Thursday that Eritrean forces had sustained significant casualties during the fighting.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the claims as false in comments to local media. The extent of the reported losses could not be independently verified.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), an independent conflict-monitoring organization, documented Ethiopian government forces and TPF fighters entering the historic city of Aksum, while rival Tigrayan fighters remained in surrounding mountainous areas.

ACLED also reported Eritrean troops withdrawing across the border through Zalambessa following advances by Ethiopian forces and their allies into several strategic towns.

The organization documented Ethiopian tanks and heavy weapons moving toward the Eritrean border Tuesday, raising concerns about a possible confrontation between the neighboring countries.

Eritrea has denied accusations that its forces entered Tigray to support armed opposition groups, accusing Ethiopia of threatening its sovereignty.

The developments come amid growing international pressure to prevent further fighting. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the tensions with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and called for de-escalation.

“The Secretary emphasized that the region cannot tolerate more conflict,” the US State Department said.

The TPF supports Ethiopia’s federal government in its campaign against rival Tigrayan forces linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The renewed fighting threatens the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which ended a two-year war in Tigray. Ethiopia and Eritrea, allies during that conflict, have since fallen out over regional security and Addis Ababa’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea.

Eritrean Forces Suffer 'Heavy Losses' in Tigray, Ethiopian Militia Says

By Africa News

Eritrean troops have suffered "heavy losses" and are retreating towards their border, a spokesperson for an Ethiopian pro-government militia told AFP on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian federal forces and their allies were closing in on a town near Eritrea's border on Wednesday, according to a pro-government militia commander and a resident, raising fears of a regional war.

Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which launched a major offensive against government forces on September 23 before being pushed back and losing control of its strongholds.

A foreign security source has estimated that between 5,000 and 8,000 Eritrean forces were deployed in Ethiopian territory to support the rebels but were also forced into an apparent retreat.

"The Eritrean army crossed into Ethiopia and violated its sovereignty, but it has suffered heavy losses and retreated towards the border," Solomon Hailemariam, spokesperson for the Tigray Peace Force, a pro-government militia, told AFP.

AFP was unable to independently verify this information.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel told AFP the pro-government militia was "not trustworthy". He also dismissed rumours of Ethiopian troops crossing the border, calling them "absolutely false".

The rebel TPLF once controlled the whole of Ethiopia but lost power with the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who hails from the Oromia region, in 2018.

It remained in control of the northern state of Tigray and fought a brutal civil war against Abiy's federal government from 2020 to 2022 that was never fully resolved.

'Avoid escalation'

With the government counter-offensive over the past fortnight, the TPLF lost control of the Tigrayan capital, Mekelle, and other towns and cities.

"The TPLF is no longer in a position to stand and fight, we have either seized or destroyed its weapons," the pro-government militia spokesperson said.

He said pro-government forces were now gathered in areas bordering Eritrea.

The International Crisis Group, an NGO, warned on Monday that Ethiopia and Eritrea were "perilously close to all-out war" as clashes drew nearer the border.

It urged the international community to "press both sides to avoid escalation".

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 and they fought a border war from 1998 to 2000.

They briefly mended relations when Abiy came to power, but have again fallen out, and severed relations entirely this month over the Tigrayan conflict.

Eritrea accuses landlocked Ethiopia of planning to use the conflict as a justification to invade its territory and seize control of Assab port on the Red Sea.

UK Threatens Eritreans with Total Visa Ban Over Migrant Return Policy

Shabana Mahmood, Britain's Home Secretary arrives for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street in London, 21 July 2026.

By Africa News

United Kingdom

Britain’s Home Secretary has threated to ban all Eritreans from entering the country unless Asmara agrees to the return of more small boat migrants and convicted criminals.

Shabana Mahmood said on Thursday that VIPs and officials from Eritrea have already been stripped of fast-track access to UK visas.

And as of today, diplomats based in the UK will face restrictions on their movements outside London.

It said they will now be barred from travelling 60 kilometres beyond the capital without permission from the Foreign Office.

The Home Office said the warning comes after Eritrea abruptly withdrew returns cooperation earlier this year and after months of efforts by London to resolve the matter privately.

Eritreans were the most common nationality arriving in the UK by small boat in the year ending June 2026.

The British government said returns arrangements are vital for failed asylum seekers and criminals.

It says less than 4 per cent of the 2,626 Eritreans whose asylum claims were rejected in the past four years have been deported.

Mahmood says other nations could face similar visa restrictions if they fail to accept migrant returns.

Black Panther Party Stalwarts to Celebrate 1966 Founding in Oakland, Programs That Aided the Poor

By COREY WILLIAMS

12:07 AM EDT, October 15, 2026

The legacy of the Black Panther Party lives on six decades after its founding, in the work of a Seattle medical center started to address systemic health disparities in the African American community, particularly among Black children.

Originally known as the Sidney Miller Free Medical Clinic in 1969, it put into practice the national Black Panther Party’s Ten-Point Program to uplift African Americans as the Black Power movement gained momentum. Now, as the Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center, it, along with the affiliated Country Doctor Community Clinic, sees tens of thousands of patients in a year.

As the celebration begins Thursday for the Black Panther Party’s Oct. 15, 1966, founding in Oakland, California, former members are looking beyond the iconic black leather jackets, berets and clenched fists to highlight programs aimed at healing disenfranchised and forgotten communities.

From free medical clinics and pushing nationally for sickle cell anemia testing to providing free breakfasts for children and community schools promoting education and literacy, the Black Panthers understood what was needed during the racially turbulent 1960s, said Fredrika Newton, widow of co-founder Huey P. Newton.

“We sought to meet the basic needs of the Black community, not only the Black, but all oppressed communities,” she told The Associated Press Tuesday. “Children were going to school hungry. People couldn’t get medical care. People were sleeping in the streets, just like today.”

A planned four-day conference this weekend in downtown Oakland includes a gala. Surviving original members and other Black Panther Party veterans are expected to attend.

Co-founders Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale were students at Merritt College in Oakland, where they formed the Panthers during the Civil Rights Movement. Both became active in Bay Area politics during the mid-1960s and believed the Civil Rights movement may have addressed the plight of Blacks in Southern states, but it failed to bring about any real change in the U.S. West and North.

With Newton as minister of defense and Seale as the group’s chair, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense advocated for political and economic empowerment and initiatives to improve life for the city’s Black residents in addition to standing up to what they saw as racist and heavy-handed policing in the Black community.

“We knew that Black people were getting brutalized by the police,” said Fredrika Newton, who joined the Black Panther Party in 1971 after meeting Huey P. Newton. “We wanted to make sure that they were getting educated and taught how to protect themselves.”

Confrontations with law enforcement — broadcast to households across the country — galvanized Black support for the organization but also worried many white people. Seale, declaring that the Second Amendment right to bear arms also applied to Blacks, led a small group of armed Panthers in 1967 into the California state legislature.

The Black Panther Party was targeted by the FBI, which put its leaders and members under surveillance and operated a yearslong disruption and discrediting campaign.

John “Bunchy” Crear was caught up in the maelstrom of race and politics sweeping across California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Crear, along with some friends, began attending Black Panther political education classes in 1970. He joined at age 19.

“I was at home in my bedroom listening to my music when my mother comes in and says two white gentlemen from the FBI were in the living room wanting to talk to me,” recalled Crear, 74, who lives in Houston. “I walked in and there were the men in black. They asked if I was a member of the Black Panther Party, then pulled a book out with photos asking if I knew this person, if I knew that person.”

“‘Well, John, if you stay in school and get you a good job, you’ll never hear from us again,’” Crear said the men told him before leaving.

Healthcare part of community survival programs

The Black Panther Party purchased buildings and homes that served as safe houses and centers for their community survival programs, which mostly addressed food insecurity, lack of healthcare, unequal education and other issues in Black communities.

Chapters were started in about 70 other cities. The chapter in Seattle started one of the 13 original Black Panther Party-founded healthcare clinics across the country and is the only one still in operation.

“Thinking especially about Black folks in the 1960s and 70s, it was impossible to try to address one need and not all because they were vulnerable and under threat in so many areas,” said Brandy Taylor, chief executive of the Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center and Country Doctor Community Clinic.

“It wasn’t just about medical care. It was about free speech, social services, food security and knowing your rights. There were so many doors closed that you couldn’t survive without addressing them all,” she said.

From the end to emulation

The Black Panther Party folded in 1982 after years of police surveillance, as well as dwindling national membership, infighting, allegations of embezzlement and scandals in which Huey P. Newton was implicated and criminally charged.

Newton’s addictions to alcohol and drugs overtook him. He was murdered in Oakland, California, in 1989 by a drug dealer.

In 2021, a bronze bust of Huey P. Newton was unveiled in Oakland.

However, some see similarities in why the Black Panthers were started with the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement following the 2013 acquittal of the man who killed Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager in Sanford, Florida.

“We want to let young people know exactly what we did and what could be done,” said Fredrika Newton, who also is president and co-founder of the Huey P. Newton Foundation.

“This is not a blueprint for what they can do now, but they can certainly see what we did, take what we did, apply them to the conditions today and organize,” she said. “Organize around the needs that exist today.”

_____________

Williams is a Detroit-based member of AP’s Race & Ethnicity team.

Emergency Aid Reaches Climate-Affected Communities in Afar

Addis Ababa, October 14, 2026 (ENA)— Emergency humanitarian assistance is reaching drought-affected communities in Afar Region, Ethiopia, targeting vulnerable households and people in need following climate-induced challenges.

The first round of relief supplies, dispatched from the central grain warehouse in Adama city, is being delivered to high-priority individuals and families across the region.

In Girifo Kebele of Bidu Woreda, residents have begun receiving the assistance, which beneficiaries say has arrived at a critical time as drought continues to strain their livelihoods and access to food.

Meyrem Abdu, one of the beneficiaries, said the assistance would help support her children and other family members who have been facing food shortages.

She expressed appreciation for the government’s response to the situation affecting communities in the region.

Asiya Mohammed, another beneficiary, said the intervention would help ease the hardship facing her family and other residents.

He further noted that the support was particularly important given their difficult circumstances.

On his part, Team Leader of Inventory Quality and Control at the Afar Region Disaster Risk Management Commission, Mohammed Abdella said the distribution was targeting the most vulnerable groups in affected areas.

He explained that the region had previously been mobilizing its own resources to support drought-affected communities and was now supplementing those efforts with additional relief supplies dispatched by the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission.

Bidu Woreda Agriculture and Natural Resources Office Head, Yesuf Mohammed said drought associated with climate change had caused significant hardship for local residents, describing the humanitarian intervention as timely and essential.

The ongoing distribution is intended to provide immediate relief to affected households as authorities mobilize assistance for communities facing the impacts of drought.

The humanitarian supply comes amid ongoing efforts by regional and federal authorities to support drought-affected communities and address food shortages in vulnerable areas, as ENA learned. 

Ethiopian Forces Seize Tigray Cities as Tensions With Eritrea Rise

By Al Mayadeen English

13 Oct 2026 14:27

Ethiopian forces and allied groups enter Shire, Adigrat and Adwa in Tigray as tensions with Eritrea escalate and fears of a wider conflict grow.

Ethiopian government forces and their allies have expanded their control over cities in the northern Tigray region after entering Shire and Adigrat following the withdrawal of fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), amid reports of a military advance toward the Eritrean border and mounting tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

Government-aligned forces entered Shire in northwestern Tigray on Friday with little resistance after TPLF fighters and the local administration withdrew from the city two days earlier, witnesses told the African News Agency.

Residents said shops had closed and neighborhood groups had been formed to guard against looting. Four people were reportedly killed in exchanges of fire linked to incidents of looting and the deteriorating security situation.

In Adigrat, a city close to the Eritrean border, Ethiopian forces and allied armed groups entered on Saturday after Eritrean troops that had been deployed in the area in previous days withdrew, Reuters reported.

Witnesses said Ethiopian soldiers and military vehicles were seen in the streets. Reuters also verified footage showing government-aligned forces inside the city.

The developments followed reports of Ethiopian drone strikes against Eritrean forces near Adigrat, while Addis Ababa accused Asmara of entering its territory and supporting armed groups opposed to the Ethiopian government.

Government forces also entered the city of Adwa on Sunday without fighting after TPLF fighters withdrew, AFP reported, marking another advance by forces aligned with Addis Ababa across northern Tigray.

TPLF fighters withdraw toward Sheraro

A representative of a breakaway TPLF faction told the African News Agency that withdrawing fighters were moving toward Sheraro, a city near the Eritrean border.

The official also said some fighters had left the TPLF and returned to their villages amid the group's recent battlefield setbacks.

The Ethiopian army and its allies regained control of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, on October 3 after the TPLF announced its withdrawal from the city and said it would temporarily relocate its administration while continuing military operations.

Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties

The Ethiopian advance comes amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara, with the two countries severing diplomatic ties last week.

Ethiopia accused Eritrea of deploying forces as far as 60 kilometers into Tigray, describing the alleged move as an attack on its sovereignty that warranted defending its territory.

Eritrea denied the accusations and appealed to the UN Security Council, calling for action against Ethiopia. Asmara accused Addis Ababa of using allegations of an Eritrean military incursion to justify an attack against Eritrea.

The Ethiopian government has also accused Eritrea of supporting the armed coalition led by the TPLF, which resumed operations against government forces in late September. Eritrea has rejected the allegations.

Tigray advance raises fears of wider regional war

The latest developments have revived fears of a broader regional conflict after years of fighting in northern Ethiopia between 2020 and 2022.

That conflict ended with a peace agreement, but key political and security disputes between the parties remained unresolved.

The Ethiopian forces' advance across Tigray has further shifted the military balance, but the situation remains fluid, particularly around areas close to the Eritrean border.

The escalation between Addis Ababa and Asmara has raised concerns that fighting could spread into border areas and develop into a wider military confrontation, threatening to reopen a conflict that the 2022 peace agreement had sought to end.

Zimbabwe’s Caine Prize Winner Rejects Claim He Used AI to Write His Story

A customer browses for books at a bookstore in Harare, Zimbabwe, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Ufumeli)

By Farai Mutsaka

4:15 PM EDT, October 14, 2026

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwean author Simbarashe Kundizeza, whose prize for a short story is under review over allegations of AI use, denied using artificial intelligence to write what he said was a story inspired by his family’s experiences, and he suggested that AI-detection technology is biased.

Kundizeza’s “The Blue Fighter” won this year’s $10,000 Caine Prize for African Writing last week, but a report in The Atlantic magazine said the AI detection tool Pangram had indicated the entire story was AI-generated with the exception of an excerpt from a poem by another author.

Kundizeza posted a denial on X late Tuesday, and in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press said that African writers and readers should challenge such accusations.

“There is need to use technology responsibly so that it is not deployed to create a bias against natives who seek to write about their own experiences and cultures,” he said. “Although I am not too well versed with these technologies, it is well known that AI is in certain ways biased against us, it’s something that really needs to be looked at because this kind of treatment I got is not going to stop,” he added.

The Caine Prize organizers have not retracted the prize, but have said that it is under review and that they have a responsibility to examine such AI claims. “We aim to do this by taking a human-centered approach, ensuring that writers are supported and cared for during the process. We have initiated that process in this case,” the organizers said this week.

In his statement on X, Kundizeza insisted that his story, centered on family relationships and economic hardship, was entirely his own work. He said it had gone through standard editorial processes. He said the story reflected his family’s life during Zimbabwe’s years of economic turmoil.

“Aspects of the story, including characters and the setting, are drawn from events in my own life,” he said, describing it as “a deeply personal story about economic collapse and familial relationships.”

He challenged the suggestion that differences between the winning story and his earlier work should cast doubt on his authorship.

“As writers, we develop recurring interests, but we don’t produce work from a single fixed template. To suggest that a writer cannot write in different styles or genres, or improve his writing substantially after five or more years, fundamentally misunderstands the craft of writing,” he said in his X post.

The allegations have prompted a wider debate on social media, with some questioning whether Black authors are being unfairly targeted by AI-related accusations.

Radical Books Collective, an international group that organizes online book clubs, literary events and podcasts focused on political literature and ideas, described the controversy as part of a broader pattern. “The digital lynchings continue as Black authors are being targeted in AI/plagiarism scandals: Jamir Nazir, Jerry Falade, Thélyson Orélien and now Simbarashe Kundizeza,” the collective posted.

Nhlandla Duba, a linguist from Zimbabwe who researches English literature at the University of Pretoria, said Kundizeza’s story rings true.

“That story sounds human. Zimbabwean literature is alive!” Duba proclaimed on X.

Environmentalists Picket African Energy Week, Urging an End to New Oil and Gas Exploration

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

10:09 AM EDT, October 13, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Climate activists picketed outside the African Energy Week conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday, calling for an end to new oil and gas exploration across the continent and accusing energy companies of prioritizing profits over people and the environment.

Greenpeace Africa and Extinction Rebellion campaigners challenged efforts to position Africa as a new frontier for fossil fuel development, arguing that further investment would worsen climate change and threaten communities already grappling with its effects.

“Oil companies from overseas have made billions in profits this year alone at the expense of people’s lives, at the expense of ecosystems, at the expense of African lives,” Siya Myeza, a climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace Africa, told The Associated Press.

Myeza branded the gathering “Africa Exploitation Week,” accusing the industry of driving environmental destruction and poverty. Police removed the protesters, who wore T-shirts bearing the slogan “Make polluters pay.”

The protests come as South Africa seeks to expand oil and gas development to attract investment and bolster energy security. The government presents natural gas as a complement to renewable energy, saying gas-fired plants could provide electricity when wind and solar output drops.

Despite legal setbacks, British energy giant Shell plans to drill up to five deepwater wells in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep block off South Africa’s west coast to explore for and assess oil and gas deposits. The project’s environmental approval has drawn appeals.

Protesters say such plans risk prolonging dependence on fossil fuels at a time when countries should be cutting emissions.

Judy Scott-Goldman, a representative of Extinction Rebellion in Cape Town, acknowledged that renewable energy would feature at the conference but said campaigners opposed promoting new oil and gas exploration.

She said expanding fossil fuel use would run counter to commitments under the Paris climate agreement to reduce emissions.

“We’re here to say we don’t want to see any exploration of oil and gas on this continent,” she told the AP.

She pointed to fires, floods and rising food prices as consequences of climate change, warning that its effects could also drive migration and social unrest.

DR Congo’s Confirmed Ebola Cases Exceed 9,000 as Containment Efforts Falter

2:42 PM EDT, October 13, 2026

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Confirmed cases in Congo’s Ebola outbreak have surpassed 9,000, with more than 4,300 deaths, as health authorities struggle to contain an outbreak spreading across seven provinces, according to government figures released Tuesday.

The Health Ministry reported 9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths, with the death toll approaching half the number of confirmed cases.

The rising death toll has alarmed health workers and authorities, with a large share of recorded deaths occurring outside treatment centers. The latest report recorded 88 new cases and warned that “community transmission remains a concern.”

The outbreak has created new hot spots as it spreads to more communities, with 65 health zones across seven provinces now affected.

Officials say the confirmed cases account for only a third of all cases, with many going undetected. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

Efforts to contain the virus have been impaired by several factors, including fighting between government forces and rebel groups, which has created one of the world’s direst humanitarian crises, widespread disregard for health precautions, intense population movements and shortages of medical supplies and treatment centers.

The outbreak has surpassed Congo’s 16 previous outbreaks in scale and is on track to top the 2014-2016 West Africa regional outbreak that killed 11,000 people.

“I feel that the government is overwhelmed by events. But there is nothing else to say. The government needs to fully shoulder its responsibilities to ensure the effectiveness of the response against Ebola,” said Samuel Buju, a resident of Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, one of the outbreak’s hot spots.

Last week, Kenya became the second country after Uganda to report an Ebola case imported from Congo, deepening concerns about the virus spreading across borders.

A Gunman Kills at Least 4 People in Shooting After South Africa Memorial Service

5:30 AM EDT, October 14, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A gunman fired on a group of mourners leaving a memorial service for a local politician in South Africa, killing at least four people and injuring three others, police said Wednesday.

At least one of those wounded in the shooting late Tuesday in Katlehong township was a child, according to police, who said the suspect was in custody after turning himself in.

Police initially said two men died at the scene southeast of Johannesburg, but authorities raised the death toll to four after two more people died in a hospital on Wednesday.

The shooting is being investigated by a political killings task team, the South African Police Service said in a statement.

Some of the victims were members of the youth league of the African National Congress party, the largest party in South Africa’s Parliament, according to local media reports, which said the memorial service was for a woman who served as a local ANC leader and died in what was suspected to be a politically motivated shooting earlier this month.

Police did not immediately confirm the identity of the victims and only said they had attended a memorial for a “member of a political party.”

South Africa has high rates of gun crime, including shootings related to local political rivalries.

A report earlier this month by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said there had been 43 killings in South Africa this year that were suspected to be politically motivated.

South Africa will hold local elections on Nov. 4 to decide which parties control municipal councils.

Neo-Colonial Libya Executing People Based on Secret Trials and Confessions Extracted Under Torture, Group Says

This is a locator map for Libya with its capital, Tripoli. (AP Photo)

10:27 AM EDT, October 14, 2026

CAIRO (AP) — Libya has executed at least 31 people since late August following military trials, marking the country’s first known executions since 2010, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.

The rights group said it had documented the executions carried out by the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) as of Sept. 10. It warned that at least 50 other people held at Gernada military prison were at imminent risk of execution.

The LNA, also known as the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, is an east-based military force commanded by decades-long Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) asset Gen. Khalifa Hifter that controls eastern and southern Libya.

“The Libyan Arab Armed Forces are putting people to death after secret trials built on confessions allegedly extracted through torture, in courts that Libya’s own Supreme Court has said should not be trying civilians,” Bassam Khawaja, HRW’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director, said in a report. “Every execution carried out under these conditions is an irreversible injustice.”

Human Rights Watch called on the army to immediately halt executions and impose a moratorium on the death penalty.

The LNA military prosecutor announced in late August that a firing squad executed 10 people after they were convicted of murder and terrorism-related charges, according to the rights group.

Many of those executed were arrested in Derna and Benghazi cities during or after conflicts between the LNA and opposing armed groups between 2014 and 2018, according to the Wednesday report.

In September, Amnesty International reported that military courts in eastern Libya had convicted hundreds of civilians between 2018 and 2021 in secret trials targeting people accused of criticizing the LNA. At least 22 were sentenced to death during this period. The group also said torture was reportedly used to extract confessions.

International rights groups have repeatedly criticized the detention and, in some cases, execution of people after unfair trials. Amnesty International has said Libya retains the death penalty for a wide range of offenses, with courts in both the east and west continuing to impose death sentences for murder following “grossly unfair trials.”

Libya was plunged into chaos and division after a CIA-Pentagon-NATO-backed counter-revolution that toppled and killed its longtime Pan-Africanist statesman Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country has been divided for years between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments.

Kenya Confirms Second Ebola Case, Rules Out Community Spread

The Kenya's health ministry has identified 128 cases of first patient contact, although it dismisses having detected "no contagion" on a large scale in the country

October 14, 2026 Hour: 7:28 pm

Kenya announced a second Ebola case on Wednesday, a relative of the country’s first patient, but said it has detected no large-scale spread of the virus, according to a Health Ministry statement.

Kenya confirmed its first imported case: a Kenyan citizen who traveled from DR Congo through Ugandan territory before dying in Nairobi. On Wednesday, Kenya’s Health Ministry confirmed a second case after relatives of the first patient tested positive while in quarantine.

The second case also emerged from within the quarantined group, which means the patient was being monitored before symptoms appeared.

The Ministry detailed that the second patient, a 39-year-old man, is a relative of Kenya’s first Ebola case and developed symptoms on Tuesday. He was among the people placed in quarantine after the first case was identified. The agency said early detection of the infection “improves his chances of recovery” and that the two cases are linked.

The first patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan, had been living in Congo, where he fell ill and received treatment at two health centers, according to the ministry. He traveled through three Ebola-affected provinces before leaving the country and arriving in neighboring Uganda on October 1. He then flew to Kenya, where a relative picked him up at the airport and drove him to a hospital. He began receiving treatment and tested positive for Ebola on October 5. He died the same day.

Since then, the Ministry has identified 128 contacts of the first patient. Of these, 113 were located and 108 were placed in quarantine in Kenya, while fifteen contacts have not yet been located. Five of the contacts are abroad, and the health authorities of those countries have been notified, the Ministry said. In this sense, the Ministry stressed that “early” detection increases the chances of recovery and limits the risk of transmission. It said there has been no large-scale spread of the virus in the country.

Kenya has strengthened controls at border crossings and airports since detecting its first case, and has urged the public to report suspected infections through an emergency telephone line, according to earlier reports on the ministry’s response.

Health authorities in the region, including the World Health Organization, have warned of a continuing risk of cross-border spread because of the constant movement of people. Uganda, which reported about 20 cases earlier this year, declared itself free of the disease in August. Whether more of the quarantined contacts test positive in the coming days will determine how contained the situation is in Kenya.

The cases come as the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, has surpassed 9,000 confirmed cases, according to Congolese health authorities. The World Health Organization has warned of a continuing risk of cross-border spread because of constant movement of people in the region.

The National Institute of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed in its most recent epidemiological report that “the total number of cases of Ebola infection has exceeded the 9,000-case barrier.” The official data updated to this October 14 reveal that “the number of positive cases totaled 9,144 registered and confirmed”, while “cumulative deaths rose to 4,410 people due to the disease.”

No Vaccine Available

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus and began to spread rapidly after it was officially declared in May. Local medical teams and health agencies are struggling to curb community transmission across multiple critical hotspots in the country, according to the report.

Health experts say the situation is made harder by the absence of approved vaccines and specific drug treatments for this variant, which limits clinical options in affected health centers.

Regional health authorities warned that the impact of the outbreak has crossed national borders, creating what they called a regional crisis in Africa. They cautioned that, if not contained, the outbreak could spread beyond its current boundaries. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has warned of an ongoing risk of cross-border spread because of constant movement of people in the region.

Uganda reported about 20 cases and two deaths earlier this year, but its health authorities declared the country free of the disease in August.

Globally, the epidemic is the second-largest on record, behind only the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which according to W.H.O. statistics affected more than 28,600 people and killed more than 11,000 in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Recent reports from specialized agencies continue to add dozens of new infections each week in the hardest-hit provinces.

Experts note that containing outbreaks of this kind has historically required large financial resources, specialized logistics and close cooperation between affected governments. Without effective vaccines for this strain, and with high population mobility, mitigation efforts remain difficult.

Kenya Confirms Second Ebola Case, a Relative of First Patient

Health workers and officials walk outside a Ebola isolation facility at The Nairobi Hospital, Kenya, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) License this photo

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s Health Ministry confirmed the country’s second Ebola case Wednesday, saying a relative of the man who died two days after arriving from Congo had tested positive while in quarantine.

The ministry said the 39-year-old man had been identified as a close relative of Kenya’s first Ebola case and developed symptoms Tuesday.

The first patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan, had been living in Congo, where he fell ill and was treated at two health facilities. He traveled through three Ebola-affected provinces before leaving the country and arriving in neighboring Uganda on Oct. 1. He flew to Kenya, where a relative picked him up at the airport and drove him to a hospital. He began receiving treatment and tested positive for Ebola on Oct. 5. He died that day.

Health officials identified about 128 contacts linked to the first case, and placed 108 of them in quarantine. Five of the contacts are outside Kenya, and authorities in those countries have been notified, according to Kenya’s Ministry of Health.

The second patient was among those quarantined. The health ministry said early detection of the infection “improves his chances of recovery.”

The ministry said the two cases were linked and there was “no evidence of spread in the community”.

Kenya has tightened screening at border crossings and airports since detecting its first Ebola case and urged the public to take precautions and report suspected infections through an emergency hotline.

Mauritius Imposes Curfew to Calm Days of Protests After Woman Shot by Police

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

1:22 PM EDT, October 14, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Mauritius imposed an overnight curfew after a police shooting fueled rare civil unrest on the Indian Ocean island, better known as an idyllic holiday destination and one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

Police said on Wednesday that the situation was under control and the curfew had been lifted after days of protests that intensified when an officer shot and wounded a woman on Friday.

Protesters clashed with police, blocked roads with burning tires and other debris, and damaged public buildings, according to local reports. Videos published by a Mauritian news outlet showed protesters firing what appeared to be fireworks at police officers.

The paramilitary Special Mobile Force police unit was mobilized.

The curfew required everyone in the capital, Port Louis, and several other towns to remain indoors from 8:30 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The protests began last week over water shortages and the cost of living but escalated after the shooting in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, southwest of Port Louis.

Financial services and tourism underpin Mauritius’ economy. The island, known for its luxury beach resorts, last experienced similar unrest in 1999, when the death of a popular musician in police custody sparked days of rioting.

The wounded woman was taken to hospital. Police said they had arrested one officer, suspended three others and were investigating the shooting. The three were suspended for “failing to provide assistance to a person whose life was in danger,” according to a police statement.

The national public prosecutor’s office said the investigation should also cover Special Mobile Force officers present at the time of the shooting.

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who ordered the curfew, warned in a televised address Tuesday that protesters involved in violence and destruction would face “very heavy consequences.”

Police reported several arrests but gave no exact number. There were no immediate reports of injuries other than those suffered by the woman who was shot. Schools and public transport services were also closed during the protests.

___

AP writer Gerald Imray in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

Somalia: UAE Backing Armed Opposition, Fueling Unrest

By Al Mayadeen English

13 Oct 2026 18:01

Somalia's defense minister accuses the UAE of backing opposition forces as tensions rise over armed groups in Mogadishu and the country's political future.

Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs, fueling political divisions, and supporting opposition figures challenging the federal government, amid warnings over armed mobilization threatening security in the capital, Mogadishu.

Fiqi accused foreign actors of providing money and weapons to opposition forces to weaken President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and obstruct its efforts to consolidate federal authority. He said some opposition figures were mobilizing armed groups and stockpiling weapons in the capital, warning that the government would not tolerate the use of force to pursue political objectives or undermine stability.

The defense minister said armed men had entered the home of former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, accusing them of gathering there to carry out provocative activities.

“Sharif’s house has become a haven for chaos, and armed militias have been assembled there to engage in provocations,” Fiqi said.

Somalia warns against armed mobilization in Mogadishu

Speaking on Tuesday, Fiqi stressed that Mogadishu would not become a gathering point for armed militias, emphasizing the responsibility of security institutions to protect civilians and prevent movements threatening the capital’s security.

He said government forces had removed a group of 260 armed men from a location in Mogadishu. He also accused opposition figures of attempting to organize armed formations and transfer personnel from some federal member states to the capital.

Fiqi added that the government would confront attempts to stockpile weapons or establish armed formations outside legal frameworks, stressing that security agencies would continue carrying out their duties.

The accusations come amid a wider political dispute over constitutional amendments, elections, and the tenure of federal institutions, with the government and opposition exchanging warnings as tensions over the country’s political future intensify.

Opposition met with RSF in Abu Dhabi

Earlier in October, Fiqi accused opposition figures of holding meetings in Abu Dhabi with parties he said were linked to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The defense minister said that the meetings were intended to draw on methods used to organize armed militias, warning against efforts that could return Somalia to an era of conflict between rival armed factions.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed rejected the accusations, claiming his visit to the UAE was for family reasons. He accused the federal government of exploiting its political disagreements with the opposition to justify security measures against its rivals.

The former president called for political disputes to be resolved through dialogue, warning that using security forces in political conflicts could push the country toward another internal confrontation.

Deterioration of Somalia-UAE relations 

The latest accusations come against the backdrop of a sharp deterioration in relations between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi. In January 2026, Somalia’s Council of Ministers terminated agreements with the UAE covering government agencies, affiliated entities, and regional administrations. The decision extended to cooperation involving the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo, as well as existing bilateral security and defense arrangements.

The Somali government said the move followed evidence of actions undermining the country’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence. The foreign ministry was instructed to formally notify the UAE and coordinate the implementation of the cancellations, while informing international and regional partners, including the African Union and the United Nations.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has also accused the UAE of encouraging the Somaliland administration to secede from Somalia, in what represents a major source of tension between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi. He said the UAE had previously been an important partner, particularly in security cooperation, but relations deteriorated over what he described as Abu Dhabi’s bias toward Somaliland and its dealings with the administration separately from the federal government.

According to the Somali president, his government repeatedly raised concerns with Emirati officials and presented evidence of practices it considered detrimental to Somalia’s unity and sovereignty, but did not receive the response it expected.

Tensions have also been compounded by allegations concerning Emirati military activity in Somalia. Puntland security officials accused the UAE of carrying out a drone strike on January 26, 2025, in the Togga Kharaago area of the Al-Miskaad mountains in the Bari region.

The strike, which reportedly took place during military operations against ISIS, killed four members of a family and wounded five others, according to an investigation published by Drop Site and cited by Somalia Now.