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.
Nigeria Buries Former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura
Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari, was buried today, Tuesday, July 15, in his hometown of Daura following his death in London at the age of 82 on Sunday, July 13. His body arrived in Katsina today, received by President Bola Tinubu and other high-profile dignitaries, including Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Embaló and former Nigerian leaders. Buhari, who ruled both as a military head and a civilian president, was to be laid to rest after funeral prayers at the Emir’s palace.
A national mourning period has been declared, with flags flying at half-mast, and Tuesday has been marked as a public holiday. Mourners, including political heavyweights and traditional rulers, have gathered in Daura to pay their final respects. Buhari is remembered for being the first opposition candidate to unseat a sitting president in Nigeria and for his austere leadership style.
South African Mother Charged with Murder of 11-Year-Old Son, Community Calls for More Arrests
Tiffany Nicole Meek, the mother of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, was charged yesterday, Monday, July 14, with his murder and several other offenses after her son was found dead in their Johannesburg apartment complex in May. The case has shaken the Fleurhof community, which had rallied behind her during the initial search for her son. Jayden was reported missing by his mother, only to be discovered unconscious and half-naked on the building’s staircase the next day, just meters from their front door.
The arrest has reignited anger over police delays and alleged negligence during the early stages of the investigation. Community members and activists, who had organized vigils and petitioned Parliament for answers, now believe Meek did not act alone and are demanding more arrests. Police say further charges are possible as the investigation continues. The case echoes the recent conviction of another South African mother, Kelly Smith, who was found guilty of trafficking her missing 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin. Smith was sentenced to life in prison in May, alongside her boyfriend and another man.
France Responds to Colonial Atrocity Claims in Niger, But Stops Short of Admitting Guilt
France has replied to a UN complaint from four Nigerien communities demanding accountability for atrocities committed during the brutal 1899 Voulet-Chanoine colonial mission, which left thousands dead and entire villages destroyed. In a letter seen by The Guardian, France said it remains open to dialogue and provenance research but did not accept responsibility or acknowledge the atrocities. The government cited international law’s non-retroactivity clause, arguing that treaties cited in the complaint did not exist at the time of the massacres.
Survivors’ descendants have spent a decade pushing for recognition, memorials, and the return of looted artefacts, but France claims it has not received official restitution requests. Activists say that even today, French troops’ graves remain in affected Nigerien communities, while victims have yet to be honored. The UN will include the case in its next human rights report, to be presented to the General Assembly in October. The African Union has declared 2025 the Year of Reparations, adding fresh urgency to longstanding calls for colonial reckoning.
Nearly 300 Killed in RSF Attacks on Villages in Sudan’s North Kordofan
Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers says almost 300 civilians were killed in a wave of RSF-led attacks around the city of Bara in North Kordofan over the weekend. In Shag Alnom village alone, over 200 people were reportedly shot or burned alive, while dozens more died in nearby raids, including pregnant women and children. The area has become a major flashpoint in Sudan’s civil war between the RSF and national army, which has left tens of thousands dead and over 13 million displaced since April 2023. Aid groups are urging immediate international action.
Kenya Pledges Lawful Handling of Protests After Deadly Crackdown Draws Global Criticism
Following weeks of unrest and a deadly police crackdown that left at least 38 dead, Kenya’s government says it will now uphold the constitutional right to peaceful protest. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, speaking to diplomats in Nairobi yesterday, Monday, July 14, promised future demonstrations would be handled within the law, acknowledging that excessive force had undermined public trust. Protests over police brutality and government corruption have rocked the country since last year, with recent killings and abductions of critics triggering more outrage. Human rights groups and Western governments have slammed the state’s violent response, while youth-led demonstrations continue to demand reform.
Top South African Police Official Sent on Leave Over Allegations of Obstructing Justice
South Africa’s deputy police commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya, has been placed on a “leave of absence” following serious claims by KwaZulu-Natal province police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that he obstructed justice and interfered with over 120 high-profile investigations. The allegations include shielding politically connected suspects and halting probes into assassinations and organised crime. Parliament’s police committee chair Ian Cameron raised alarm over the decision to sidestep formal suspension procedures, saying the move undermines accountability and violates police regulations. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a commission of inquiry into the matter on Sunday and placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, also accused by Mkhwanazi of obstructing justice, on immediate leave.
Over 100 Migrants Freed from Ransom Gang in Eastern Libya
Libyan authorities have rescued more than 100 migrants, including five women, who were held captive and tortured by a trafficking ring in Ajdabiya, east of Benghazi. The gang, made up of suspects from Libya, Sudan, and Egypt, allegedly abused the victims to extort ransoms from their families. Images retrieved from the suspects’ phones show migrants bound and beaten. Libya remains a key transit point for migrants trying to reach Europe, with growing concerns over human rights abuses. UN data from late 2024 shows over 825,000 migrants from 47 countries currently in Libya.
Tensions High in Spain as Moroccan Migrants Face Far-Right Violence and Hate Speech
At least 14 people have been arrested in the Spanish town of Torre Pacheco after days of violent clashes between Moroccan migrants and far-right groups. The unrest erupted after a local man was assaulted, allegedly by three Moroccans, one of whom was arrested in northern Spain. Far-right activists called for anti-migrant protests, prompting police to deploy 120 officers to maintain order. As xenophobic threats spread online, Moroccan community leaders urged calm, and Spain’s top hate crimes prosecutor confirmed investigations into incitement and far-right rhetoric targeting immigrants.
Equatorial Guinea Accuses France of “Neo-Colonialism” Over Seized Paris Mansion
Equatorial Guinea has asked the International Court of Justice to stop France from selling a luxury mansion in Paris, claiming the move violates international law and undermines its sovereignty. The property, seized during a corruption case against Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, was ruled a private residence — not a diplomatic building — in a 2020 court decision. Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, was convicted in France for embezzling millions, and other countries have probed his finances. Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea say France’s actions are “neo-colonial,” while French officials dismiss the case as a political ploy.