Africa·6 May 2026
Sudan faces a sharp escalation in drone warfare, with multiple strikes on Khartoum and Blue Nile, and formal accusations against the UAE and Ethiopia, prompting a Saudi warning and a Sudanese ambassador recall. In Nigeria, IS Sahel fighters are operating Sharia courts in Kebbi State, while ethnic violence against Fulani shepherds spreads across the Sahel. South Africa experiences a surge in xenophobic attacks on African migrants and reports two cases of human-to-human hantavirus on a cruise ship.
Sudan and the Horn of Africa: Escalating Drone Warfare and Regional Tensions
The conflict in Sudan intensified over the past 24 hours with a series of drone strikes and escalating diplomatic accusations involving the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia. Sudan formally accused the UAE and Ethiopia of 'direct aggression' after drone strikes targeted Khartoum International Airport, the first such attack on the airport since October. The Sudanese military presented evidence from a drone downed in March, alleging it was owned by the UAE and launched from Ethiopia. In response, Sudan recalled its ambassador from Ethiopia. A separate drone strike by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) hit a fuel depot in Kosti, killing three people, with Sudanese media again claiming the drones originated from Ethiopia. Another suspected RSF drone attack struck Khartoum International Airport and nearby areas, including Obeid Khatim Street and the El Murkhiyat military base in Omdurman, prompting alarm from the United Nations. Violence also escalated in the Blue Nile region, where the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N El Hilu) reported that a drone strike killed 10 civilians and injured 20 others in the Balila area.
These attacks follow a pattern of cross-border drone incursions. An unknown unmanned aerial vehicle entered Sudanese airspace from Ethiopia, heightening tensions between the three countries. Saudi Arabia issued a warning after drones were launched from Ethiopia targeting Sudan, calling on neighboring states to prevent their territories from being used as launching pads for attacks. Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) Central Committee elected Debretsion Gebremichael to lead the Tigray Interim Administration. Ethiopian military jets were spotted circling above Mekele and Adigrat shortly after the vote, signaling heightened tensions in the region. Getachew Reda, the former head of the Tigray Interim Administration who fled the region last year, accused Sudan of arming Eritrea with drones, adding another layer to the complex regional dynamics. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate: after three years of war, a collapse in humanitarian aid is suffocating Sudanese refugees, with over 3.5 million people in South Sudan, Chad, and Egypt facing severely limited access to essentials.
Nigeria: Militant Governance, Ethnic Violence, and Institutional Responses
In northwestern Nigeria, Islamic State Sahel fighters have established Sharia courts in Kebbi State, operating with impunity. In the latest incident, IS fighters arrived in Gidan Lawal village after villagers set fire to businesses in protest against a man accused of sexually assaulting a young boy. The fighters forced villagers to pay 11 million Naira in compensation for the destroyed properties, then executed the accused man in public. This highlights the Nigerian government's lack of control over its northern regions, where militant groups are effectively enforcing their own law. Separately, over the weekend, militias in Nigeria and Benin massacred dozens of Fulani shepherds in an apparent ethnic attack. Reports indicate anti-Fulani violence is now spreading to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, raising fears of a broader regional crisis.
In response to growing insecurity, Nigeria and the United States launched defence working groups, despite existing troops and drone support. The announcement was made by the Nigerian Defence Headquarters. On the diplomatic front, the Nigerian National Assembly resolved to set up a joint ad hoc committee to investigate rising xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa. The committee, led by the Chairman of the National Assembly, will undertake a fact-finding and diplomatic visit to South Africa aimed at finding lasting solutions to the crisis. This follows a wave of xenophobic attacks on African migrants in South Africa, where Nigerian and other migrants have been attacked, beaten, and killed, with shops torched and families forced into hiding.
Domestically, the Nigerian Senate amended its rules to require presiding officers to have served at least eight consecutive years, effectively barring new lawmakers after the 2027 elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began the final phase of voter registration ahead of the 2027 election. A report indicated that new voting machines and EU technical support did not improve Nigerian elections. President Tinubu met global investors in Paris, with an adviser stating the priority is translating reforms into results for the people. In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun pushed for consensus among APC aspirants, pledging to refund nomination fees to those who fail to secure party tickets. The ADC party reduced nomination form costs and updated its election timetable. Other business developments include Optimus Bank reporting a 69.94% profit increase, and UBA, Redtech, and MoMo PSB partnering to expand merchant payments.
Southern Africa: Xenophobic Violence, Health Alert, and Odd Incidents
South Africa is experiencing a surge in xenophobic violence targeting African migrants. Nigerian and other African migrants have been attacked, beaten, and killed, with shops torched and families forced into hiding. The Nigerian National Assembly's planned fact-finding visit to South Africa is a direct response to this crisis. Meanwhile, South Africa's health minister announced that a cruise ship passenger is infected with the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is transmissible between humans. Two cases of human-to-human hantavirus linked to a cruise ship were reported; the vessel will dock in Tenerife. In a separate unusual incident, a 15-foot crocodile was airlifted from the Komati River after being suspected of eating a missing local businessman. A necropsy uncovered two severed arms, half a rib cage, and chest flesh, believed to belong to the missing man.
In other South African news, Central Gauteng Athletics warned against government intervention in the Soweto Marathon amid delayed prize payments, stressing compliance with international sports governance. The Eastern Cape department ordered the reinstatement of suspended Nelson Mandela Bay city manager Dr Noxolo Nqwazi, but the council has yet to act, leaving metro leadership in flux. A Cape Town clinic is offering a tailored care model for young kidney patients transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare.
Other Developments: Morocco, Libya, Kenya, Egypt
Two U.S. Army soldiers went missing around 9 PM on May 2 near the Cap Draa training area in southern Morocco during the African Lion 2026 exercise. The incident occurred off duty during a recreational hike near coastal cliffs, when one soldier fell into the Atlantic Ocean. Reports suggest the soldiers may have drowned. Search and rescue operations involving helicopters, drones, boats, divers, and mountain rescuers are ongoing. In Libya, the United States is crafting a power-sharing agreement to unify the oil-rich country around the Dbeibeh and Haftar families, aiming to replace each family's leaders with a new generation amid rising oil prices from the war on Iran.
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta warned that a deepening trust deficit poses the greatest threat to peace, stability, and conflict resolution in Africa. In Egypt, scientists identified concerning 'signals' in the chambers of the Great Pyramid of Giza as part of the ScanPyramids research project.