Nigeria in the spotlight for fresh kidnap/terror attacks and a deadly airstrike prompt; long-running security and humanitarian crises persist. Nigeria — Federal Republic of Nigeria, West Africa.
Recent heavy rains in Kenya have caused deadly floods, with 81 deaths and thousands displaced. Meanwhile, England's water levels remain stable after a wetter-than-normal winter, but drought warnings persist due to dry March conditions. Authorities in both regions continue monitoring and responding to ongoing weather impacts.
President Bola Tinubu's two-day state visit to the UK, the first in 37 years, focused on deepening diplomatic, economic, and security relations. Discussions included trade, regional stability, and cultural ties, with agreements on trade summits and security cooperation. The visit highlights Nigeria's progress and strategic partnership with the UK.
The US has deployed MQ-9 drones and approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to support local forces against Islamist militants. The deployment focuses on intelligence gathering and training, following recent attacks and US strikes. This marks the first time US soldiers are involved in combat support in Nigeria since 2024.
Nigeria has reported 146 deaths from Lassa fever between January and mid-March, with a case fatality rate of 25.1%. The outbreak affects 21 states, mainly young adults, and continues to challenge health systems due to infection control gaps and environmental factors.
Former Nigerian international Michael Eneramo has died at age 40 after collapsing during a friendly match in Kaduna. He appeared to suffer a cardiac arrest five minutes into the second half, with efforts to revive him unsuccessful. Eneramo had a notable career in North Africa and Turkey, and represented Nigeria in international matches.
On March 25, 2026, the UN General Assembly adopted a non-binding resolution supporting reparations for the transatlantic slave trade. The resolution, supported by 123 countries, calls for acknowledgment, apologies, return of cultural artifacts, and measures to address systemic racism. The US, Israel, and Argentina opposed; 52 abstained. The move aims to promote justice and healing for victims.
Zimbabwean authorities are working to repatriate 66 citizens deceived by fraudulent recruitment schemes promising jobs abroad. Instead, they were coerced into fighting in Russia's Ukraine conflict, with some killed and others still in captivity. Similar cases are reported across Africa, highlighting regional trafficking issues.
Iran's national soccer team wore backpacks and black armbands before a match in Turkey to honor children killed in a US-led missile strike on a school in Iran. The attack, on February 28, killed over 165 people, mostly children. Iran requests to move World Cup matches from the US due to safety concerns, but FIFA aims to keep the schedule unchanged.
African countries are experiencing rising fuel prices due to global energy shocks linked to conflicts in the Middle East and supply disruptions. Governments are implementing measures to mitigate impacts, but dependence on imported refined petroleum exposes the continent to external risks, affecting economies and daily life.
The US embassy in Namibia emphasizes strict adherence to visa rules, warning travelers about overstays and document fraud. Meanwhile, the UK issues broad travel warnings for multiple countries, citing safety and legal concerns. Both stories highlight increased scrutiny on international travel and visa compliance as global mobility rises.
Ten years after the Panama Papers leak, Nigerian investigations prompted legal reforms, including a Beneficial Ownership Register, but no prosecutions have followed. The revelations exposed offshore assets of prominent figures, shaping Nigeria's financial transparency efforts.
The conflict in the Middle East has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting aid supply chains to Africa and increasing costs for humanitarian operations. Aid groups face delays, higher expenses, and potential shortages of medicines and food, with impacts expected to last for months.
Reform UK announced plans to block visas from countries demanding slavery reparations, citing Britain’s sacrifices in abolishing slavery. This stance follows recent UN resolutions recognizing slavery as a crime against humanity and calls for reparative justice, which many nations and leaders support, but the UK opposes, framing reparations as insulting and a threat to sovereignty. The debate highlights tensions over historical accountability and Britain’s global relations.
Cameroon's foreign ministry confirmed the deaths of 16 nationals fighting as contractors in Ukraine for Russia, marking the first official acknowledgment. The government is contacting families and investigating how citizens were recruited, amid reports of Africans being misled with promises of jobs and training.
The US has issued travel warnings and ordered non-essential staff to leave Nigeria due to escalating violence, terrorism, and kidnapping. Nigeria's government criticizes the advisories as unbalanced, citing ongoing security efforts and progress. The situation remains volatile across many states, with US warnings covering over half of Nigeria's regions.
Multiple attacks by Boko Haram and Ansaru have targeted military bases in Nigeria, resulting in casualties. Recent assaults in Borno and Kwara states have killed soldiers and injured others, with insurgents increasing pressure on overstretched Nigerian forces amid ongoing military operations.
Nigeria has prosecuted over 500 Boko Haram and ISWAP suspects, securing 386 convictions in a series of fast-tracked trials. Sentences range from five years to life imprisonment, with rehabilitation mandated. The trials, monitored by international observers, address a decade-long insurgency that has caused thousands of deaths and displacements.
Eight OPEC+ countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, have agreed to increase oil production by 206,000 barrels per day starting in May 2026. The move follows a recent surge in oil prices caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted exports from key Gulf producers. Nigeria remains sidelined due to its inability to meet quotas. The decision reflects a cautious approach to market stability as disruptions continue.
Airstrikes by the Nigerian military on Jilli village in Yobe State have resulted in over 200 casualties, according to local sources and international organizations. The military targeted Boko Haram fighters during a pursuit, but civilian casualties have been reported near a market. An investigation is underway.
Recent Nigerian military airstrikes near Jilli and Jilli market have resulted in high civilian casualties, with reports indicating over 100 deaths. The strikes targeted suspected terrorist enclaves linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP, but local authorities and human rights groups dispute the military's claims, citing civilian harm and misfires. The situation highlights ongoing security challenges in Nigeria's northeast.
The Central Bank of Liberia has announced a phased increase in minimum capital requirements for commercial banks, raising the threshold from $10 million to $15 million by 2028. The move aims to strengthen financial stability, attract serious investors, and support economic resilience amid ongoing sector reforms.
UNICEF has issued its first Child Alert in 20 years for Darfur, saying children have been pushed into extreme hunger, disease, displacement and violence as fighting between Sudan's army and the RSF has intensified. The agency has warned that needs are larger than in 2005 and that international funding and access are dangerously low.
Nigerian military airstrikes in northeast Nigeria have caused civilian casualties, with reports of over 100 deaths. The strikes targeted Islamist militants but have been criticized for affecting markets and local populations. The government has ordered an investigation amid ongoing conflict with Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Armed gangs in Nigeria have abducted students and travelers, with ongoing rescue efforts. Recent incidents include the kidnapping of 14 passengers on the Otukpo-Makurdi highway, prompting government and security responses. The insecurity continues to disrupt education and travel in Nigeria's northern region as of April 24, 2026.
A Colombia‑ and Netherlands‑hosted summit in Santa Marta has convened more than 50 countries (April 24–29) to open political debate on phasing out oil, gas and coal. Organisers are focusing on renewable energy, energy security and finance while major producers such as Saudi Arabia and some large economies are not attending.
A French family has issued a formal apology for their ancestors' role in transatlantic slavery, coinciding with ongoing debates about reparations worldwide. The UN has recently recognized slavery as the 'gravest crime against humanity' and called for reparations, while discussions continue in France, the UK, and the US about addressing historical injustices.
Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission has issued a directive to broadcasters to enforce stricter rules on political content, citing breaches of the broadcasting code. Critics argue the move aims to suppress dissent and limit press freedom during the upcoming elections. Amnesty International and SERAP condemn the measures as unlawful and dangerous for democracy. The government maintains it is safeguarding electoral integrity.
A new memoir by Rachel Goldberg-Polin recounts the two-year aftermath of her son Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s abduction and death after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. The book details her family’s search for information, the grief of losing Hersh, and their ongoing advocacy amid a protracted conflict.
Nigeria has filed 13 charges against six suspects linked to an alleged coup plot to overthrow President Tinubu. The defendants include a retired major-general and a serving police inspector; a seventh figure, former Bayelsa governor Timipre Sylva, remains at large. Proceedings begin in Abuja as the case highlights ongoing security concerns in West Africa.
Updated assessments show 7.8 million South Sudan residents, 1.24 million in Lebanon, and rising numbers in DRC, Yemen, and Gaza facing high to extreme hunger. Conflict, climate shocks, displacement, and funding shortfalls are driving a widening global food-security crisis with famine feared in several areas.
Global fertiliser trade remains under pressure as the Strait of Hormuz disruption continues to affect urea, ammonia and sulphur shipments. With several regions facing rising costs and tighter supplies, farmers face higher input prices and potential yield impacts in the coming seasons.
A Ghana-based campaign, Mindful May, has launched to normalise mental health conversations in everyday spaces, with weekly focuses, TikTok and Instagram content, and school visits aimed at reducing stigma and increasing access to resources.
The UK government argues that a decentralised grid of wind, solar and storage strengthens national security by reducing reliance on large fossil fuel plants and vulnerable interconnectors, while stressing resilience against cyber and physical threats. Ministers point to Ukraine lessons and ongoing undersea-cable protections as proof of progress.
The Middle East conflict has pushed up fuel, fertiliser and packaging costs, feeding higher food prices globally. Retailers warn inflation is likely to continue if the war persists, while farmers face rising input costs and potential production cuts.
UNAIDS warns that shrinking international funding is undermining HIV prevention, treatment and community programs across developing countries, with concrete drops in PrEP uptake and clinic access in several nations. In the US, Maine faces an outbreak clustered in 2023-24 as public health services expand testing and syringe programs.
The Trump administration is using third-country deportation deals to move migrants out of the United States. Nine migrants have arrived in Sierra Leone under a West African arrangement, with others previously planned. The program has drawn questions about rights, transparency, and the pace of removals.
A Science study has found that large-scale, sudden cuts to USAID funding have correlated with a significant rise in conflict in Africa’s USAID-dependent regions. Researchers say the abrupt withdrawal disrupted contracts, staffing and procurement, and note the finding shows the effect of an unexpected disruption rather than that aid alone reduces conflict.
Armed attackers have abducted dozens of students from a primary school in Mussa, Borno State, and at least 40 more from a Baptist school in Oyo State. Authorities are assessing numbers while rights groups warn that abductions are driving families to pull children from school.
The New York Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian report that Donald Trump has announced a joint US-Nigerian operation has killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as a top ISIS leader. The White House-linked posts credit Nigerian forces and American support, while Nigeria confirms involvement and states the compound was near Lake Chad. The US has previously deployed troops to Nigeria for training and support, with no combat role stated by Abuja.
A joint Nigerian-US operation in the Lake Chad Basin has killed Abu Bakr al-Minuki, a senior ISWAP commander linked to ISIL, with authorities saying no US or Nigerian forces were harmed. The strike, described as highly precise, follows a period of intensified security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
Sierra Leone has signed a Third Country National agreement with the United States to accept up to 300 ECOWAS nationals deported from the US each year, with a maximum of 25 a month. The first group of 25 deportees from Senegal, Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria is expected to arrive on May 20, 2026. The arrangement has drawn criticism over legal basis and treatment of deportees, and it remains unclear what Sierra Leone receives in return.
The African Development Bank has approved a CFA112.8 billion facility to back Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises across infrastructure, transport, agro-food processing, health, pharmaceuticals and green industries. At least 30% of the finance is earmarked for women-owned and youth-led businesses, with a $650,000 technical assistance grant to boost capacity and climate-smart initiatives.