Every day, OkayAfrica shares a roundup of news we’re following but haven’t published as full articles. These short updates cover what’s happening on the continent — in culture, politics, and beyond. For more on stories like these, be sure to check out our News page, with stories from across the regions.

RSF Forms Rival Government in Sudan as Conflict Deepens, Famine Spreads

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied rebel and political groups have named General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo head of a new 15-member presidential council, effectively creating a parallel government to rival the military-led administration. Announced Saturday from Nyala in RSF-controlled Darfur, the lineup includes Abdel Aziz al-Hilu as deputy and Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi as prime minister, alongside regional governors for contested and army-held areas. The army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has condemned the move and vowed to continue fighting until it secures control of the entire country.

The announcement follows a February pledge by the RSF and its allies to form a secular “New Sudan” and challenge the army’s legitimacy. Both Dagalo and Burhan are under U.S. sanctions — Dagalo for alleged genocide, and Burhan for rejecting peace talks. The country remains locked in a devastating 27-month war that has killed tens of thousands and pushed half the population toward hunger and famine, according to the UN.

Cameroon Election Board Blocks Main Opposition Leader From Presidential Race as Biya Seeks Seventh Term

Cameroon’s main opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, has been barred from running in the October 12 presidential election, according to a list released Saturday by the electoral commission, ELECAM. No explanation was given for excluding Kamto, who placed second in the 2018 vote and was widely seen as President Paul Biya’s strongest challenger. Thirteen candidates were approved, including Biya. Kamto has two days to appeal the decision.

The move has sparked fears of unrest, with heavy security deployed across the capital, Yaoundé, and the economic hub Douala. The UN warned Friday that the announcement could trigger protests. Biya, 92, is the world’s oldest serving head of state and has been in power since 1982. His long tenure has been marked by corruption allegations and a violent separatist conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions.

Trump’s South Africa Refugee Program Questioned After U.S. Says Only Whites Qualify

A July diplomatic cable from the U.S. embassy in South Africa reveals internal confusion over President Donald Trump’s refugee program for South Africans, which originally prioritized white Afrikaners facing alleged discrimination. Embassy officials asked Washington whether other minority groups — such as Coloured South Africans and Khoisan people — could qualify. The response from a senior U.S. State Department official indicated the program was intended for white applicants, contradicting the agency’s public statements that broader racial minorities are eligible.

Since Trump’s executive order in February, 88 white South Africans have been resettled under the program, with more expected soon. Critics say the policy reflects far-right claims of white persecution and undermines the U.S.’s broader refugee approach. South Africa’s government rejects the idea that white South Africans are being systematically targeted, while some Jewish and Coloured South African families have already shown interest or been admitted. The State Department has yet to clarify who officially qualifies for this designation.

Christopher Nolan Slammed for Filming in Occupied Western Sahara Amid Repression Fears

British American filmmaker Christopher Nolan is facing backlash from Sahrawi activists and the FiSahara film festival for shooting scenes of The Odyssey in Dakhla, a city in occupied Western Sahara. Critics say the production helps whitewash Morocco’s decades-long military occupation and repression of the region’s Indigenous people. FiSahara says filming in a place where Sahrawis are barred from telling their own stories undermines their struggle for self-determination and normalizes human rights abuses that the UN and Amnesty International continue to document. The film stars Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, and others.

U.S. Suspends All Visa Services in Niger, Citing Government Concerns and High Overstay Rates

The U.S. embassy in Niamey has halted all routine visa processing, immigrant and non-immigrant, amid rising diplomatic tensions with Niger’s junta-led government. While official and diplomatic visas are still being handled, an internal cable now instructs embassies to scrutinize all applicants from Niger more closely, citing high overstay rates, especially among student visa holders. The move follows last year’s U.S. troop withdrawal from Niger and forms part of a broader Trump-era immigration crackdown led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

ISIS-Linked Rebels Kill 38 Worshippers in Church Attack in Eastern Congo

At least 38 people were killed and 15 injured in a brutal attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, eastern DRC, early yesterday morning, Sunday, July 27. City officials say the assailants were members of the Islamic State-backed ADF rebel group, who stormed a night mass with guns and machetes. Several people remain missing. A local human rights activist said victims were mostly Christians gathered for overnight prayers. The UN mission in Congo condemned the surge in violence in the region, which has been plagued by repeated attacks from armed groups.

Overloaded Boat Capsizes in Niger State, 13 Dead and Dozens Missing

At least 13 people died and dozens are missing after a wooden boat carrying about 100 passengers capsized on Saturday, July 26, in Niger state, north central Nigeria. The passengers were on their way to a local market when the overloaded boat went down. Emergency officials rescued 26 people, mostly women and children. The boat driver survived but couldn’t confirm the total number onboard. Boat accidents are common in the area, which is home to Nigeria’s major hydroelectric dams. Rescue efforts briefly paused yesterday, Sunday, July 27, for a river ritual before recovery resumed.

Al-Shabab Seizes Strategic Somali Town After Suicide Blasts and Troop Pullback

Al-Shabab fighters captured the town of Mahaas in central Somalia yesterday, Sunday, July 27, after suicide explosions and heavy gunfire forced government troops and allied militias to withdraw. Located in the Hiraan region, Mahaas had been a key base in Somalia’s fight against the extremist group and was under government control for over a decade. A local intelligence official was reportedly killed, but full casualty numbers remain unclear. The loss of the town highlights ongoing challenges in Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts despite recent gains by federal forces.

Ghana Sends Troops to Bawku as Chieftaincy Violence Escalates, Students Killed

Ghana has deployed more soldiers to the northeastern town of Bawku following a deadly flare-up in the decades-long chieftaincy dispute between the Mamprusi and Kusaasi communities. The violence last week left a local Kusaasi chief and three high school students dead, prompting the government to impose a curfew and bolster security. Presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said recent killings had disrupted near-final mediation efforts by the Asantehene and called for “drastic actions” to contain the unrest. The region, near the Burkina Faso border, remains tense.

Mali’s Ex-PM Choguel Maïga Probed for Alleged $3.3M Public Funds Misuse

Mali’s former Prime Minister Choguel Maïga is under investigation for alleged embezzlement and irregular spending amounting to nearly 2 billion CFA francs ($3.3 million) during his tenure. The probe, led by the Office of the Auditor General, focuses on questionable project inauguration costs and mission-related payments. Judicial authorities are reviewing the “Choguel Maïga Files,” which could lead to his questioning by the Supreme Court. Maïga’s supporters claim the case is politically motivated due to his outspoken criticism of the military-led government, while allies warn he holds his own evidence to challenge the accusations.

Every day, OkayAfrica shares a roundup of news we’re following but haven’t published as full articles. These short updates cover what’s happening on the continent — in culture, politics, and beyond. For more on stories like these, be sure to check out our News page, with stories from across the regions.

Cholera Crisis Deepens in Sudan, WHO Warns of Spillover Into Chad Refugee Camps

The World Health Organization has raised alarms over the rapid spread of cholera in Sudan, warning the outbreak could cross borders into neighboring Chad, where nearly 300,000 Sudanese refugees live in overcrowded, unsanitary camps. The disease has reached 13 Sudanese states and killed at least 1,854 people, with high transmission risk fueled by war-damaged infrastructure and the onset of the rainy season. WHO officials say the situation is especially critical in Darfur, near the Chad border, where surveillance is low and mass vaccination efforts are hindered by ongoing conflict and lack of humanitarian access.

The WHO is calling for urgent investment in prevention, mass vaccinations, and the creation of humanitarian corridors to avoid a regional health catastrophe. In Chad, suspected cases near the border town of Geneina have sparked fears of an imminent outbreak. Officials stress that unless funding and international support ramp up fast, refugee populations weakened by war and displacement face a devastating new threat.

Tinubu’s Pardon of Ogoni Nine Rejected by Activists Demanding Full Exoneration

President Bola Tinubu’s posthumous pardon of the Ogoni Nine, including renowned writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, has been flatly rejected by Ogoni activists who say the gesture falls short of justice. The group was executed by Nigeria’s military regime in 1995 for protesting Shell’s oil pollution in the Niger Delta. Activists argue that a pardon implies guilt and insist on full exoneration, calling the pardon “insulting” and demanding accountability from the Nigerian state for decades of environmental and human rights abuses in Ogoniland.

The pardon, announced yesterday on Democracy Day, is widely seen as a symbolic gesture, but critics say it coincides with Tinubu’s push to resume oil drilling in the region, despite unresolved environmental damage. Local leaders warn that true reconciliation must begin with restoring the legacy of the Ogoni Nine and giving the community a real say in its land and resources. Shell has long denied wrongdoing, and activists maintain that the core issues of pollution, displacement, and justice remain unresolved.

Teen Wins Right to Rechallenge Parents Who Sent Him from UK to Ghana Against His Will

A 14-year-old boy who was sent from London to Ghana by his parents without his consent has won a major legal victory in the UK Court of Appeal. The teenager had been told he was visiting a sick relative, only to find himself enrolled in a Ghanaian school. His parents claimed they acted out of love, trying to shield him from gang involvement in London. But the boy, who described his life in Ghana as “hell,” took legal action to return to the UK, arguing he feels abandoned and culturally alienated.

The High Court initially sided with the parents, but the Court of Appeal has now overturned that ruling, stating the original judge failed to fully consider the boy’s maturity and best interests. The case will be reheard by a new judge. Lawyers say the decision is a landmark moment in international family law, as it underscores the need to center children’s voices in legal decisions that deeply impact their lives.

Lesotho Garment Industry Reels as U.S. Tariff Threat Triggers Factory Shutdowns

Thousands of garment workers in Lesotho are facing unpaid layoffs after U.S. buyers pulled back orders, fearing a possible 50 percent import tariff under the Trump administration. Once protected by African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade terms, Lesotho’s clothing exports, 80 percent of which go to the U.S., are now in limbo, with many factories suspending operations for at least three months. Union leaders warn that up to 20,000 jobs could be lost, and the government says it has no resources to provide support. While some factories cling to South African orders, others are preparing to shut down or relocate. A final U.S. decision on the tariffs is expected by July 8.

Somalia Tells Donors: Stop Treating Us Like a Transitional State

Somalia has formally called for the dissolution of the C6+ coordination group — a body of international donors and partners formed after the country’s civil conflict — arguing that it no longer reflects Somalia’s political progress or sovereign status. In a letter to the UN and major stakeholders like the US, UK, AU, and EU, the government declared that it has functioning institutions, a democratic system, and a clear national vision. The statement also reiterated Somalia’s readiness to continue cooperation, but strictly on state-to-state terms, not under legacy oversight frameworks.This assertive shift comes as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government faces pressure over political reforms and upcoming elections. It also follows Somalia’s earlier push to close the UN political office in the country. Behind the scenes, diplomatic tensions are rising, especially with the US and UK, over issues like national reconciliation and opposition boycotts. Somalia’s latest move signals a deepening demand for control over its political trajectory — and could reshape how international aid and diplomacy operate in the country.

Tinubu Denies One-Party State Ambitions Amid Defections and Backlash

President Bola Tinubu has rejected claims that Nigeria is veering toward a one-party system, following a wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Speaking on Democracy Day, Tinubu said he opposes any shift away from multiparty democracy. But critics, including the opposition PDP, accuse him of using state power to pressure rivals into switching sides. Protesters in Lagos slammed the government for corruption and misrule, while some APC members also warned that a dominant-party system would threaten Nigeria’s democratic future.

US Scales Back Military Role in Africa, Urges Local Ownership of Security

The US is pulling back its military footprint in Africa, shifting focus toward homeland defense and encouraging African nations to shoulder more of their own security. General Michael Langley, head of US Africa Command (USAFRICOM), says the goal is “burden sharing,” but analysts warn the change could leave a power vacuum, emboldening extremist groups and undermining years of counterterrorism progress.

The move comes amid global competition, with China and Russia ramping up their security partnerships on the continent. While some see this as a chance for Africa to take charge, experts argue that most countries still lack the resources and infrastructure to handle these challenges alone. As US priorities pivot, the question is whether African nations will be ready or left vulnerable.

UK Soldier Accused of Rape in Kenya Allegedly Assaulted British Woman, Not Kenyan

The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the woman allegedly raped by a British soldier near the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) last month is British, not Kenyan as initially reported. The soldier was arrested, repatriated to the UK, and is under investigation by the UK Defence Serious Crime Command. The Batuk base, located near Nanyuki, has faced years of controversy, including the unresolved 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman whose body was found in a septic tank. A public inquiry in Kenya has since revealed a pattern of misconduct by British troops, from alleged abuse to abandoned children fathered by soldiers.