Congo-Brazzaville: a central African state shaped by oil, politics, and regional ties
The Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo has intensified, with cases rising and deaths increasing. Health workers are striking over unpaid salaries, while international partners warn the official figures may undercount the true toll. Trials for treatments have begun, and vaccination efforts remain limited by the absence of a vaccine for this strain.
Frontline workers at Ituri’s Ebola response facilities have struck over unpaid wages as the Bundibugyo outbreak expands to more provinces. The situation adds strain to an already overwhelmed health system, with clinics at capacity and mistrust hampering containment efforts. New cases have been confirmed in Haut-Uele and Tshopo, raising the outbreak’s regional footprint.
Liberia faces heightened tension as security forces prepare for demonstrations linked to a civil‑rights movement. Authorities warn against violence and illegal activity while promising constitutional protections and professional policing.
The US has expanded travel restrictions for people who have recently been in Congo amid the Congo Ebola outbreak. The policy requires 21 days outside the United States before boarding a commercial flight, with exemptions possible for humanitarian or law-enforcement reasons; several reports note the restrictions may slow deployment of medical staff.
The Trump administration has broadened restrictions on U.S. funding for overseas organizations that address abortion-related issues, potentially affecting up to $30 billion in aid. The move builds on years of activism by U.S. anti-abortion groups, with Africa receiving the most attention as reports detail increased harassment of reproductive-rights workers and rising fears of unsafe abortions.
Two articles report on the Congo’s Ebola response amid ongoing unrest. Health workers warn that strikes and mob attacks are complicating response efforts as the outbreak continues to expand, with thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths across Ituri province.
The UN and world powers are pressing for governance reform as demand for critical minerals rises. Leaders warn that without local processing and stronger rule of law, mining profits will bypass local communities and fuel conflict. New commitments aim to channel wealth into public services and jobs amid a global scramble for cobalt, lithium, nickel and rare earths.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has published a long open letter defending the organisation's management of the 2026 World Cup. He says critics have spread hate and false rumors while millions experienced joy and safety across the tournament, which faced visa, ticketing and disciplinary controversies.
Uganda has declared the end of its 2026 Ebola outbreak after completing a 42‑day monitoring period. Twenty confirmed cases were recorded, 18 recovered and two deaths, with most cases linked to Congo’s outbreak. Authorities say there is no evidence of further transmission and the Bundibugyo strain remains without a vaccine or treatment.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC has intensified, with WHO confirming rapid spread across 48 health zones in five provinces. WFP warns that food assistance is frontline in containment, while UN agencies scale flights, meals, and rations to affected communities amid rising hunger and movement restrictions.
The latest updates show the Bundibugyo-virus outbreak has grown rapidly in Congo, with thousands of cases and over a thousand deaths reported. The virus has no approved vaccines or treatments, distinguishing this outbreak from the 2014-2016 crisis.
Drones have targeted civilian sites in Darfur amid ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF. Emergency Lawyers report casualties at a customary court in Garra al-Zawaya, North Darfur, while authorities warn of mass atrocities and widespread displacement across the region.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has reached unprecedented speed, with cases surpassing 4,000 and deaths above 2,000. Health workers face strikes over pay, security risks rise amid conflict, and aid cuts hinder response as experts warn the outbreak could escalate further.
European football bodies keep pressure on Gianni Infantino after the aborted FFE plan. UEFA has lost confidence and a broad boycott threat remains in motion; multiple confederations express opposition or support as the 2027 election nears.
Tanzania has 222,057 tonnes of seed cotton in 2025/26 and is pushing to keep more value at home by expanding spinning, weaving and garment manufacturing. The Nyamatara Industrial Zone is under development, with land compensation already paid and infrastructure underway. Government and private sector leaders say investment is needed to unlock domestic processing and create high-value jobs.
An Ebola outbreak in Congo is spreading faster than responses can keep up. Health workers report dangerous conditions and unpaid salaries as authorities battle transmission amid mounting cases and deaths. Kinshasa remains on alert as international aid actions unfold.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has cast his vote in Lusaka, launching a one-day election that will decide his bid for a second term amid concerns over rising living costs. Voters are also choosing Parliament members and local councilors; results are expected on Monday. Hichilema faces 13 challengers, with opposition leader Brian Mundubile seen as his main rival.
Vietnam is confronting a major wildlife trafficking problem after authorities reveal a 221-piece ivory haul weighing 1,193 kilograms at Quy Nhơn port. Investigations trace the shipment to the Republic of the Congo, with police launching a criminal probe into protected-animal violations. The case comes amid wider concerns about demand for ivory and wildlife products in Southeast Asia.
Cameroon has defeated Malawi in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw to win the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, securing the title and a first continental trophy for Cameroon as both sides seal spots at the 2027 World Cup.
The first 20 people have arrived at Roberts International Airport under the Liberia–U.S. third-country deportation arrangement. Liberia is set to receive up to 1,200 people within a year, with most transfers involving nationals from Africa and the Western Hemisphere who have been medically cleared. Deportees can seek asylum or leave under Liberian law; the U.S. will facilitate transfers and provide support.
The DRC has recorded the largest-ever Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, with more than 5,600 confirmed cases and over 2,700 deaths, and international agencies are racing to respond. WHO and partners have allocated 70,000 Ervebo doses—20,000 for a Phase III trial and 50,000 for frontline workers—while CEPI has awarded up to $16.5m to advance a Minapharm Bundibugyo vaccine into early human trials. Uganda has received MBP134 antibody vials as a precautionary measure.
Arsenal, boosted by new signings Bruno Guimaraes, Christos Tzolis and Ezri Konsa, hosts Coventry in their Premier League opener as they defend their title. Saka and Rice return to fitness; Saliba and Timber remain out. Coventry look to repeat last season’s Championship success against a reigning champion.
Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of African Parks after a decade of service as the charity undergoes a governance refresh. The move follows earlier revelations that rangers employed by African Parks committed human rights abuses in Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo. The duke remains a supporter of the charity’s mission as the Sussexes plan an extended stay in the UK.
The Trump administration has expanded third-country deportations, sending thousands to several countries, including Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and Uganda. Deportees report harsh conditions, with some arriving in chains. Liberia will host up to 1,200 migrants over the next year under a new arrangement, while critics call the move a loophole that bypasses due process.
A new book on the okapi traces its discovery, its unique biology, and the colonial dynamics that shaped Western knowledge of the animal. It highlights how African trackers and Indigenous knowledge were essential to locating and understanding the okapi, which is the Congo Basin’s striking biodiversity link to the giraffe.
The king of Tooro has died at 34. The government has announced that his heir will be revealed later, and tributes have been issued as Ugandans come to terms with his death. The Tooro Kingdom remains a cultural guardian with no political authority.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is spreading across eastern Congo, with thousands of cases and deaths reported. Health workers are receiving Ervebo under compassionate-use rules as vaccination campaigns expand amid ongoing insecurity and displacement. WHO warns the outbreak remains out of control while vaccines are being tested for effectiveness against Bundibugyo.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has expanded to two new zones—Biena and Manguredjipa—fueling a surge in cases and deaths as health workers face security challenges. Vaccination of frontline workers has begun with Ervebo, and the WHO warns the outbreak is out of control with cross-border risks rising.
The latest deportation flights have carried Afghans, Iranians and others to the Central African Republic as part of a broader U.S. crackdown on asylum seekers. Returnees face risks and uncertain futures amid ongoing legal and diplomatic efforts.
A Tooro Kingdom selection committee has named Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a Uganda Broadcasting Corporation editor and cousin of the late King Oyo, as crown prince. He is expected to be crowned this week to succeed Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who will be buried on Saturday near the Congo border. The decision follows a monarch who died after a cancer battle and sparked a public mourning period.
A fire at Furaha and Ujamaa schools in Bukavu, DR Congo, has killed at least 24 children with many more injured. The blaze destroyed roughly 300 homes in Kadutu; authorities say the cause remains unknown amid Congo’s security challenges and a new spike in Ebola cases.
Africell has announced a loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank to expand its Angola network with American and European technology. The move aligns with Washington’s effort to curb Huawei’s reach in Africa, and Africell operates in Angola, Congo, Sierra Leone and Gambia. Huawei faces a U.S. racketeering case in New York, while the Trump administration has pressed allies to limit Chinese tech in high-speed networks.
King Oyo Nyimba’s funeral concludes nine days of mourning as Tooro elders clash over succession. A committee has named Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma as the next king, while family members insist the late king left behind a son who should inherit. Uganda’s traditional kingdoms remain cultural guardians, not political rulers.
The Malian army faces a major assault by JNIM at the Dioura base on Sept. 10, with hundreds of militants and civilian concerns. In response, Mali’s military leadership proclaims operational pressure while authorities note casualties and the strategic impact on security in the region.
Aliko Dangote has opened a month-long IPO for Dangote Petroleum Refinery, offering roughly 3% of the company to retail investors from 14 September with minimum purchases of 10 shares. The sale will fund plans to double capacity to about 1.4m barrels per day and expand listings outside Africa, while critics warn of concentration of ownership and valuation risks.
AP and Independent profiles converge on photographer Vadim Ghirda, highlighting his advocacy for human stories, night shoots, and risk-filled assignments across conflict zones and iconic landscapes. The interviews underscore photography as a universal language and a lifelong pursuit of ‘soul’ in a moment.
The whistleblower disclosures have prompted lawmakers to demand answers as officials face scrutiny over how voter data is accessed and logged. Officials say state restrictions on voter lookups are at risk of being bypassed as federal probes seek data across multiple states.
Multiple U.S. aid cuts are affecting health, nutrition, environment and disaster relief across all states. A new publicly accessible tracker shows the scale of disrupted grants, while philanthropy and private donors are stepping in to fill gaps, though with uneven impact.
Early voting has begun in multiple states as the federal government has pursued legal and investigative efforts to challenge mail voting and hunt for noncitizen voters. The Supreme Court has blocked new federal limits on mail ballots, states are sending millions of absentee ballots, and the DOJ and DHS have opened investigations and filed charges in several states.
UN leaders gather amid wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and conflicts in Iran and Myanmar. AI, climate change and inequality rise as central challenges. Reforms to the Security Council and global institutions are on the table, with Western arrears and veto power shaping the debate.
Amnesty International has documented alleged abuses by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels at artisanal mines in North and South Kivu, including torture, killings, and forced labor. The report covers January 2025 to March 2026 and cites 26 interviewees across Rubaya and Lomera mines, with claims of smuggling minerals to Rwanda amid ongoing conflict.
A vessel carrying fish traders and goods capsized near Idjwi Island in South Kivu, Congo, killing or trapping many on board. Rescue efforts are under way, with about 15 people rescued so far. Officials say the cause remains unclear as authorities confirm ongoing searches.
A Let 410 UVP crash near Kenge, Kwango province, has killed 14 people, including two senior military officers. An investigation is opened as the Congolese military reports a technical fault and a crash into a residential area while en route to Kinshasa.
UEFA has launched a coordinated push for a challenger to Gianni Infantino, while a growing coalition of European associations withdraws support amid governance concerns. The aim is to secure a credible candidate by the November deadline for entry, with the March election in Rabat now in focus.
Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola after a Kenyan national who fell ill in the Democratic Republic of Congo travelled by road through Uganda and flew to Nairobi on Oct. 3. The patient tested positive, died on Oct. 5 and was buried under safe-burial protocols; Kenyan authorities have identified 28 contacts and are tracing flight passengers and crew.
Senegal has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport after CAF ruled Morocco the champions following Senegal’s walk-off in Rabat. A CAS hearing in Lausanne is underway to determine the rightful winner of the title, with the next AFCON tournament looming.