Region of 16 states facing regional security, public health, and development challenges
Health officials warn crowd settings at the World Cup heighten risks of infectious diseases, with measles and flu among the leading threats. Surveillance is tight as officials monitor stadiums, airports and bars for early signs of outbreaks. Experts stress vaccination and rapid response as travel ramps up.
The Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak has increased cases across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, with Ugandan cross-border transmissions. Health workers warn that contact tracing remains weak and beds for isolation are scarce, complicating containment efforts.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has sparked a large outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Health officials have confirmed hundreds of cases and dozens of deaths across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu as tracing remains challenging amid conflict. Uganda reports cases linked to Congo and authorities warn the outbreak could last months or longer.
Multiple attacks in Nigeria have left students dead or missing and communities in turmoil. In Borno and Plateau states, gunmen attacked schools, abducting pupils and killing staff, with security forces conducting rescues and authorities coordinating with local leaders.
Nigeria is becoming central to a new model of counterterrorism. AFRICOM says security outcomes depend on intelligence sharing and coordinated action, with Nigeria at the heart of operations against ISIS and other groups. US forces have withdrawn most personnel, but partnerships continue through intelligence and joint actions.
Burkina Faso has cut diplomatic relations with France with effect from June 26, 2026, accusing Paris of neo-colonial ambitions and backing subversive networks. France regrets the move and says reciprocal measures are under review. The junta cites non-interference and sovereignty as reasons; France seeks safety for its personnel as violence in the region persists.
A patient at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is being tested for Ebola. Public Health Scotland says there are no confirmed cases in Scotland, and UK authorities are coordinating with international partners as they monitor evolving outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda.
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.
El Niño has strengthened, with forecasters warning it will be among the strongest on record. Regions across Africa, South Asia, and the Americas face droughts, floods, and rising food prices as climate impacts intensify. Aid groups warn that vulnerable communities and smallholder farmers will bear the brunt as aid budgets tighten.
A cross-border cocaine trafficking operation involving Liberia, Spain and the UK has been revealed. Liberia’s case centers on a 237.6-kilogram seizure linked to Paul King and Global Logistics Services, with prosecutors alleging a web of false documentation and warehousing. Spain’s investigation ties a 13-ton haul to a money-laundering network connected to a California SPAC founders. San Diego’s gang sweep uncovers a retail-to-wholesale cocaine market, with 20 pounds seizing weekly. Authorities warn of Liberia as a transit hub and Europe-bound shipments.
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.
Uganda, Kenya and other African health leaders are pushing for integrated sickle cell care, newborn screening and sustained domestic financing to expand treatment, prevent poverty from illness, and improve outcomes for patients.
ECOWAS members have endorsed the Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a 6,800-km conduit linking 13 West African states with potential to export 30 bcm of gas annually. The project aims to diversify energy supplies, boost regional integration and support electricity generation, while weighing security and financing risks as construction eyes 2028 start.
Three new osprey chicks have been ringed at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, Cumbria, with a long-standing pair producing three healthy youngsters. The release notes that the Birds’ life history is tracked to understand habitat needs amid ongoing conservation pressures.
Kenya has described intensified talks with the United Kingdom and a strengthening security and economic partnership as part of broader regional and Commonwealth engagement. Kenyan leaders say the partnerships are essential for stability, trade and development across the Horn of Africa and beyond.
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.
A continent-wide spectacle has unfolded as Europe tracks a rare total solar eclipse. From Russia to Spain, observers have witnessed moments of darkness and a corona glow, with Spain hosting some of the best views. Partial coverage has affected parts of the UK and Europe, while live coverage from ESA and NASA accompanies crowds gathered to view the event.
The IB Atlantic IV has been the subject of a Liberian maritime saga. Liberia’s LiMA rejected a docking request for a vessel in distress off Sierra Leone, while authorities accuse the ship’s pursuers of delaying action. A wider government shake-up coincides with the ongoing cocaine scandal that has swept multiple agencies. The story centers on accountability, jurisdiction and what this may mean for Liberian governance.
Nigeria has announced the rescue of 308 kidnapped citizens in a coordinated operation involving the military, police, and intelligence services. Of the rescued, 163 were abducted from Woro in Kwara State and 145 from Niger State. Victims are receiving medical care and will be reunited with families as security agencies pledge to strengthen early-warning systems.
Nigeria's security forces have freed 308 hostages abducted in recent months, including 163 from Woro in Kwara state and 145 from Niger state. The operation involved the military, police, and counter-terrorism units and is described by officials as the largest rescue carried out in a single day.
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has accelerated. More than 4,300 cases and over 2,000 deaths are recorded as WHO and local authorities confront a fast-moving crisis driven by the Bundibugyo strain, which lacks approved vaccines or treatments. Response is hampered by conflict, logistics, and strikes over pay.
The Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC has killed over 2,000 people amid more than 4,000 confirmed cases. WHO warns the outbreak could eclipse West Africa’s 2014-16 toll if access to affected communities does not improve. Vaccines and treatments remain limited, with trials under way and a push for a vaccine strategy.
Mali has granted clemency to Yann Vezilier, a French agent accused of destabilising the government, amid ongoing security battles and a deteriorating relationship with France. Paris denies involvement, while Bamako says the act is compatible with adversarial judgments and will see the agent removed from Mali. The move comes as Mali faces renewed jihadist and separatist assaults and as Franco-MMali tensions deepen.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Bundibugyo-variant Ebola outbreak has reached 4,945 confirmed cases and at least 2,325 deaths. The outbreak, the largest in the country’s history, is expanding rapidly with many cases detected late, and care access remains severely limited. Global health authorities are evaluating experimental options while vaccines and treatments remain limited.