The week in Africa
The most important events on the continent from 10 October to 16 October 2026, chosen by our newsroom: one story per country, every region and every topic.
Ukraine struck a Rosneft refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region, causing a fire, according to the local governor. The attack came after Kyiv abandoned an energy truce announced by Donald Trump, while Russia continued strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, Daily Maverick reports.
Source: Daily Maverick
Two Ebola cases have been confirmed in Nord-Ubangi, bringing to eight the number of provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo affected by the outbreak. The Bundibugyo strain outbreak has exceeded 9,000 cases and 4,000 deaths, according to health officials cited by Reuters.
Source: TimesLIVE
Two cargo ships sank in or near the Strait of Hormuz after being hit in attacks, as Iranian operations continued in the strategic area. The 21 crew members of the GFS Pride were evacuated without injury, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and maritime security sources.
Source: Caasimada Online
Donald Trump referred to Somaliland as a “country” at an election rally in Ohio, without formally announcing recognition. Somalia called on Washington to respect its sovereignty, while Somaliland authorities welcomed remarks they said offered hope, RFI reports.
Source: RFI
The Abidjan Regional Water Forum put hydro-diplomacy at the centre of managing West Africa’s 28 shared river basins. Participants presented, among other things, cooperation by the OMVS and joint ownership of its infrastructure as regional models, according to Matin Libre.
Source: Matin Libre
The president of Libya’s House of Representatives, Al-Salheen Abdel-Nabi, has asked the Central Bank of Libya to end any increase in the official exchange rate based on a tax that expired on 31 December 2024. He says maintaining it without a new legal basis is irregular, according to the House of Representatives’ spokesman, quoted by Libya Herald.
Source: Libya Herald
The Mauritian government has extended a curfew after riots sparked by water shortages and the rising cost of living. At least 94 people have been arrested, seven police officers injured and classes suspended, after a woman was hit by police gunfire, The Namibian reports.
Source: The Namibian
Since August, the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims has been fighting Islamic State in the Sahel near the borders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The 9 October clashes in Gonadaouri, in Oudalan, are reported to have caused several hundred deaths in a fight for control of territory, according to RFI.
Source: RFI
Formula 1 has signed a 10-year agreement with Rwanda to organise an African Grand Prix in the early 2030s on a circuit to be built in Bugesera. The project, led with the Rwanda Development Board, must meet the highest standards of the International Automobile Federation, according to Formula 1.
Source: MyJoyOnline
Nigeria recorded an additional 17.9 million multidimensionally poor people between 2021 and 2024, bringing the total to 90.07 million and the poverty rate to 38.7%. The increase, the largest in the world in absolute terms, is reported in the 2026 index by the UNDP and the University of Oxford.
Source: Leadership
Gabonese cardiologist, academic and former minister Pierre-André Kombila Koumba died in Libreville on 15 October 2026, aged 85, according to several Gabonese media outlets. In 1978, he helped establish the cardiology department at Libreville Hospital and was also a prominent figure in the political opposition.
Source: Infosgabon
Princess Lalla Asmaa inaugurated Lalla Asmaa University in Rabat, bringing deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing students together in shared programmes. The institution offers 16 qualifications across four schools, from certificate to master’s level, according to a statement from the Lalla Asmaa Foundation.
Source: Telquel
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