The latest news from East Africa, summarised in English country by country — Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda… — from the local press. 484 articles published.
✓Updated around the clock from 400+ African and international news outlets in 54 countries. Every article names its source. Our method
Former Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo rejected the election timetable announced by the Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which schedules parliamentary elections for 15 April 2027 and the presidential election for 15 May. He accuses the process of lacking consultation and calls for dialogue to continue to organise an inclusive vote, according to Caasimada Online.
Kenyan senator Oburu Odinga, 83, spoke from his hospital bed in Nairobi and thanked the medical staff caring for him. He said his recovery was progressing on his birthday, 15 October, which also marked the first anniversary of his brother Raila Odinga’s death, Tuko reports.
Uganda plans to use the national identification number as the tax identifier for individuals to broaden the tax base and eliminate duplicate registrations, Minister of State for Finance Amos Lugoloobi said. The country has 5.7 million registered taxpayers, of whom 3.3 million are active, and the government estimates the reform could raise 420 billion shillings, according to Watchdoguganda.
Tanzanian Agriculture Minister Daniel Chongolo has called on savings and credit cooperatives to invest more of their members’ funds in productive sectors rather than limiting themselves to loans. The approach is intended to support agriculture, livestock, fishing, industry and trade, according to Mwananchi, which reports his remarks at a congress in Dar es Salaam.
The United Nations and Switzerland will prepare a sixth meeting in Geneva to coordinate peace initiatives in Sudan. The meeting will bring together neighbouring countries, regional organisations and permanent members of the Security Council to prepare an inclusive political dialogue, according to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
Shot in Camp-Levieux, Mauritius, Élodie Thomas is recovering after surgery and can now walk with assistance. While convalescing, she also wrote a message to her husband Jonathan, Defimedia reports, updating her condition as of 15 October 2026.
Yoel Yohannes, diplomatic representative of Eritrea’s Blue Revolution People’s Movement, says Ethiopia’s access to the sea could promote prosperity for both countries rather than threaten Eritrea. He accuses the authorities in Asmara of opposing this prospect, according to the FMC agency, which reported his remarks on 15 October 2026.
Comorian courts sentenced Fahami Moustoifa to death for the murder of Naïcha Mmadi Abdou, while Athoumane received 25 years in prison and El Amine was acquitted. Prosecutor General Ahamada Hamidou announced an appeal against the latter two decisions, according to Comores Infos and Al-Watwan.
Ethiopia has reaffirmed its intention to host the 2029 Africa Cup of Nations and presented its preparations to a delegation from the Confederation of African Football. The five-day assessment mission is to examine the country’s capacity to host the continent’s leading football competition, according to Fanamc.
In the hills of northern Burundi, getting condoms can mean travelling several kilometres, while beer is easier to find. The report explores their availability and obstacles related to distance and cost, drawing on accounts gathered around Ngozi and Busiga, among other places, according to Yaga Burundi.
Two hundred and twenty primary and secondary schools in Kigali have begun teaching pupils the values of heroism, patriotism and cohesion. The campaign, launched on 15 October 2026, is also intended to prevent alcohol and drug use among young people, according to Rwaka Nicholas, head of research at CHENO.
Michael Malith Dak Deng, described as South Sudan’s tallest man, and his wife remain in hospital in stable condition after a road accident on the Juba-Bor road. Bodyguard Gatluak Ker Wuol left hospital on Wednesday evening, according to the Ayod County Commissioner’s office, which issued a statement on Thursday.
South Sudanese presidential envoy Adut Kiir has asked South Korea to expand scholarships and university partnerships available to South Sudanese students, including through the Global Korea Scholarship programme. At a meeting in Seoul with Han Sangshin, president of the National Institute for International Education, she also called for literacy programmes for women, Eyeradio reports.
The East African Community’s political confederation project is progressing despite public consultations being deemed limited and insufficiently inclusive by a committee of the East African Legislative Assembly. A lack of funding and information is delaying public participation, while adoption of a constitution has now been postponed, Burunditimes reports.
Tanzanian Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has urged African savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOS) to invest more of their deposits to support businesses and production and create jobs. He was speaking on 15 October 2026 in Dar es Salaam at the 26th African SACCOS congress, and also called for digital services and access to loans for young people, according to Jamhurimedia.
Madagascar celebrated its first Freedom Day on 14 October, marking the proclamation of the First Republic in 1958 and coinciding with the first anniversary of Michaël Randrianirina coming to power. The president travelled to Anahidrano to pay tribute to Philibert Tsiranana, in a commemoration that historian Solofo Randrianja also interprets as an attempt to legitimise the regime, RFI reports.
A Nigerian military delegation praised Ethiopia’s smart border surveillance system, developed using artificial intelligence for the Customs Commission. During a visit to the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute in Addis Ababa, the officers examined its applications in security, customs and crime prevention, according to Fanamc.
SK Macharia, founder of Royal Media Services, revealed that he funded the helicopter, pilot and fuel used for Raila Odinga’s presidential campaigns, including in 2022. He made the disclosure at a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the death of the former ODM leader, according to Tuko.
