Every day, OkayAfrica shares a roundup of news we’re following but haven’t published as full articles. These short updates cover what’s happening on the continent — in culture, politics, and beyond. For more on stories like these, be sure to check out our News page, with stories from across the regions.
Mali Begins Return of Timbuktu’s Historic Manuscripts After 13 Years in Exile
Mali has begun returning thousands of historic Timbuktu manuscripts to their home city, 13 years after they were smuggled out to save them from al-Qaida-linked militants. The first shipment — over 200 crates weighing 5.5 tons — arrived by plane from Bamako on Monday, August 11, with the rest to follow in the coming days. The manuscripts, some dating back to the 13th century, were rescued during the 2012 occupation by local custodians who hid and transported them in rice sacks, on donkey carts, and by boat. Militants destroyed more than 4,000 manuscripts, nine mausoleums, and a mosque door before retreating.
Authorities say the dry Sahara climate in Timbuktu will better preserve the documents than the humidity of Bamako. Covering subjects from theology and astronomy to medicine and mathematics, the manuscripts are a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage treasure and a testament to the intellectual legacy of the Mali and Songhai empires. Local leaders called the return a vital step in preserving the city’s cultural identity, while officials pledged to protect, digitize, and promote the collection despite ongoing militant threats in the region.
Chad Opposition Leader Succès Masra Sentenced to 20 Years After Controversial Trial
A court in Chad has sentenced former prime minister and opposition leader Succès Masra to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of inciting violence, spreading racist messages, and complicity in murder linked to deadly intercommunal clashes in May. Masra, who leads The Transformers party and is a vocal critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby, was arrested in May alongside 74 others; most of them also received the same sentence and a joint fine of 1 billion CFA francs (about $1.8 million). His lawyers plan to appeal, calling the charges politically motivated.
Human Rights Watch says the verdict is a blow to political freedoms in Chad, where opposition parties have faced crackdowns, deadly protest suppression, and intimidation since Déby took power in 2021. Masra fled the country after a violent crackdown in 2022 but returned under the Kinshasa Accord, which guaranteed his political rights. He briefly served as prime minister before resigning last year, alleging election fraud.
RSF Kills Dozens in Latest Attack on Sudan’s El Fasher
At least 40 people have been killed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the latest armed attack on civilians at the Abu Souk displacement camp near El Fasher, the capital of northern Darfur. The Resistance Committees in El Fasher, a network of local activists, condemned the assault as “horrific violations against innocent, defenseless people.”
The camp, home to over 450,000 people displaced by the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, has been targeted multiple times. The latest attack marks another grave violation by the fighting parties, as civilians in north Darfur are being starved to death, and thousands are victims of heinous war crimes.
Deadly Floods in Cape Verde Leave Eight Dead, Thousands Displaced
Torrential rains on Cape Verde’s Sao Vicente island have killed at least eight people, left three missing, and displaced around 1,500 residents, officials said today, Tuesday, August 12. The island, which typically receives just 116mm (about 4.5 inches) of rain annually, was hit with 193mm (about 7.5 inches) in five hours yesterday, Monday, August 11 — more than its yearly average — causing flash floods that swept away people, vehicles, and cut key roads, including access to the international airport. Authorities say rescue and cleanup efforts are ongoing after a night marked by “panic and despair,” as emergency services work to restore transport links and assist those affected.
Nigerian Military Says Air and Ground Strikes Killed Dozens of Bandits in Zamfara
Nigeria’s military says it has killed dozens of armed bandits, including several leaders, in a joint air and ground offensive in Zamfara State’s Makakkari Forest. The operation was launched Sunday, August 10, after more than 400 fighters were spotted preparing to attack a village in Bukuyum. An air strike reportedly took out key kingpins and their men, while ground troops intercepted others trying to escape. The northwest has faced years of kidnappings and deadly raids by armed gangs, despite repeated military campaigns to stamp out the violence.
Rwanda Denies Alleged Role in Civilian Massacre in DR Congo
Rwanda has said it “rejects false accusations” that its soldiers participated in the indiscriminate killing of hundreds in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The office of the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently shared a report alleging that M23 rebels, who took over eastern DRC earlier this year, killed at least 319 civilians in a series of attacks on four villages in North Kivu province in July.
The report also alleged that Rwandan forces aided the killings. In its terse rebuttal statement, Kigali said the OHCHR made its allegations “without any evidence, corroboration or reported motives.” It added that the “sensational allegations could undermine ongoing negotiations and peace processes. Rwanda recently signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement with the DRC to end the conflict in eastern DRC; however, the implementation of the deal is subject to doubts and fears of exploitation by the U.S. government.
South Africa Unemployment Climbs Amidst GNU Negotiations to Lower U.S. Tariffs
The unemployment rate rose for the second straight quarter in South Africa, as the country’s Government of National Unity struggles to stimulate the economy. The country’s statistical body shared that the official unemployment rate stood at 33.2% in April-June, up from 32.9% in January-March, with over 8 million people currently unemployed. Top official at Statistics South Africa, Risenga Maluleke, said it was too early to determine if the 30% tariff on South African exports by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has had any effect on the unemployment numbers.
South African trade minister Parks Tau said the government will be submitting a revised trade offer to the U.S. government, even though previous negotiations have failed. The SA government believes the tariff rate needs to be lowered, as exports to the American market could be pivotal in boosting the country’s economy, which President Cyril Ramaphosa recently declared as being in “a state of emergency.”