Africa·4 May 2026
Kenya landslides kill 18; Somali pirates hijack an oil tanker; Sudan's military shows Islamist influence; two US soldiers missing in Morocco during African Lion exercises; Nigeria sees vigilante killings of Fulani herders and bandit retaliation; South Africa faces low-trust local elections and a rodent virus outbreak.
Eastern Africa: Flooding, Piracy, and Sudan’s Instability
Heavy rains and landslides in Kenya have killed at least 18 people, with rescue teams responding across several counties. Authorities warn of heightened risks as more rain is forecast, threatening further flooding. The disaster has affected thousands of households, with most deaths from drowning.
In the Gulf of Aden, Somali pirates hijacked an oil tanker, marking a resurgence of piracy in the region. Reports suggest a potential alliance between Somali pirates and Houthi-linked groups, targeting Red Sea trade routes amid a security vacuum. The incident raises concerns for maritime security on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
In Sudan, reports indicate that the Armed Forces are increasingly falling under the influence of Islamist factions, raising concerns about political stability and regional security. The ongoing civil war continues to displace civilians, with 2,600 people forced to flee North Kordofan in just two days, according to IOM. Meanwhile, psychologists warn of a dangerous trend as child soldiers gain millions of followers on TikTok, glorifying their involvement in conflict. UNICEF reports that 8 million children are out of school due to the war.
West Africa: Security Operations and Political Maneuvering
In Nigeria, a state-backed militia operating alongside the military killed scores of ethnic Fulani herders in a raid on settlements in Borgu, Niger State, accusing them of being informants for jihadist group Ansaru. Vigilantes from Benin also participated. Separately, bandits killed 11 people in Katsina in retaliation after security forces foiled an earlier attack.
On the political front, the ruling APC in Benue State declared a truce after crisis talks, though divisions remain on automatic tickets. In Gombe, former minister Isa Pantami rejected the APC’s consensus governorship candidate, while the party selected Jamilu Gwamna as its consensus candidate for the 2027 elections. The opposition PDP extended the sale of nomination forms to May 7, and the Labour Party set a N50 million fee for presidential forms, scheduling primaries for May 2027.
Nigeria assumed the chairmanship of the African Union's Peace and Security Council, the only AU member to have served continuously since 2004. The Dangote mega refinery is transforming Nigeria's economy, boosted by the Iran crisis, with orders overwhelming capacity. Meanwhile, the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg issued a security advisory to Nigerians in South Africa ahead of planned anti-foreigner protests, and 130 Nigerians have applied for voluntary evacuation.
North Africa: Missing US Soldiers and Western Sahara Talks
Two US service members participating in the African Lion 2026 exercise are missing near the Cap Draa Training Area in Tan-Tan, Morocco. AFRICOM and Moroccan forces have launched search operations; a US defence official suggested the soldiers may have fallen into the ocean after a cliff accident. Multiple reports indicate a massive search is underway.
The UN is reviewing its MINURSO mission in Western Sahara as Morocco and the Polisario Front resume talks with US mediation. Washington is calling for reduced UN functions while mediating between Rabat and Algiers.
Southern Africa: Local Elections and Public Health Concerns
South Africa approaches its most challenging local election in decades, with trust in government at historic lows and nearly half of voters feeling unrepresented. The country is also grappling with delayed coal power station closures, raising questions about the energy transition.
An outbreak of a serious rodent-borne virus on a cruise ship in South African waters has killed three people. Additionally, no arrests have been made in the kidnapping case of Vosloorus spaza shop owner Mazwi Kubheka, who was released after a month in captivity.