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.
Dozens of Ethiopians, Somalis, and Egyptians Face Execution in Saudi Arabia, Rights Groups Warn
Thirty-two African and international human rights groups have raised the alarm over the “imminent risk” of execution facing at least 37 Ethiopian, 27 Somalian, and at least 26 Egyptian men held in Saudi prisons for drug-related charges. In a joint statement, the organizations said the detainees — many of whom may be victims of human trafficking — were denied fair trials and coerced into confessions, often under torture. The report highlights that 19 Somali, seven Ethiopian, and three Egyptian nationals have already been executed in 2025, including two Egyptians in May, and three Ethiopians on June 16 alone. Most of the men are on death row in Najran Central Prison in the kingdom’s southwest.
The statement accuses Saudi authorities of systemic violations, including a lack of legal representation, consular support, and failure to notify families before executions. Of the 154 people executed in Saudi Arabia this year, 98 were for non-lethal drug crimes — 69 of them foreign nationals, including Africans. The NGOs are urging Saudi Arabia to commute the sentences, declare a moratorium on executions, and revise its laws to align with international human rights standards. The United Nations Special Rapporteur has also called the sentences arbitrary and unlawful.
Rwandan Opposition Leader Victoire Ingabire Arrested Again, Lawyer Cries Political Harassment
Rwandan authorities have arrested opposition leader Victoire Ingabire on charges of inciting public disorder and allegedly helping to form a criminal organization, according to the Rwanda Investigations Bureau. Ingabire, who leads the unregistered DALFA–Umurinzi party, previously spent six years in prison on charges she denied, and was released in 2018. Her lawyer, Iain Edwards, called the latest arrest a politically motivated move to silence dissent, saying, “I certainly fear for her life.”
Ingabire has long been a critic of President Paul Kagame, who has ruled Rwanda for over two decades and won re-election last year with more than 99% of the vote. While Kagame is praised internationally for Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery, rights groups say his administration crushes political opposition and limits free speech. The government has not responded to the lawyer’s claims, and no court date for Ingabire has been announced.
U.S. Aid Cuts Leave African Refugees Hungry and HIV Prevention Across the Continent in Crisis
U.S. President Donald Trump’s suspension of key foreign aid programs is hitting vulnerable communities across Africa hard. In Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, food rations have been halved, monthly cash transfers scrapped, and malnutrition is surging. With just 3kg (6.6 pounds) of rice, 1kg (2.2 pounds) of lentils, and half a liter (17 ounces) of oil per person, families are skipping meals, and children are dying from hunger-related complications. Hospital staff say the number of malnourished children has more than doubled in recent months, and critical supplies like fortified porridge and peanut paste are set to run out by August.
Meanwhile, HIV prevention efforts are collapsing. The U.S.-funded PEPFAR program, once the backbone of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) distribution in Africa, has slashed access to vulnerable groups like gay men, sex workers, and injecting drug users. In Nigeria, several men have already tested positive since losing access to the medication. In South Africa, clinics serving key populations have closed, despite the country’s ability to fund PrEP broadly. Experts warn that without urgent intervention, the gains made in HIV prevention could quickly unravel, putting millions at renewed risk.
Senegal Cancels US Basketball Training After Players Denied Visas
Senegal’s women’s basketball team has cancelled a planned training camp in the U.S. after five players and seven officials were denied visas. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko slammed the move and ordered the team to train in Dakar instead, calling it a matter of sovereignty. The U.S. recently banned citizens from 12 countries — seven of them African — and placed partial restrictions on seven more. Now, reports say 25 additional African countries, including Senegal, could face fresh travel limits. The team was preparing for next month’s AfroBasket tournament in Ivory Coast.
Tunis Court Jails Opposition Politician Sahbi Atig for 15 Years in Money Laundering Case
A Tunisian court has sentenced Sahbi Atig, a senior figure in the opposition Ennahda party, to 15 years in prison for alleged money laundering, his lawyer announced today. Atig, detained in 2023, is among dozens of critics jailed since President Kais Saied began consolidating power in 2021. His lawyer dismissed the case as politically driven and lacking evidence, calling it part of a broader crackdown on dissent. Most of Saied’s political rivals are now behind bars, raising alarms over Tunisia’s shrinking democratic space.
Kenyan Court Hands 30-Year Sentences to Two Men for Aiding 2019 Dusit Hotel Attack
Two men have been sentenced to 30 years in prison by a Kenyan court for helping al Shabaab militants carry out the 2019 attack on Nairobi’s Dusit hotel and office complex that killed 21 people. Hussein Mohammed Abdile and Mohamed Abdi Ali were convicted of facilitating terrorism by providing forged IDs and financial support to the attackers. Judge Diana Mochache said their role was critical to enabling the assault, which turned the upscale complex into a 12-hour siege. Both men have 14 days to appeal.
34 Soldiers Killed in Niger Ambush Near Mali-Burkina Faso Border
At least 34 soldiers were killed and 14 were wounded yesterday in a deadly ambush near Banibangou, a western Niger town close to the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso. According to Niger’s defense ministry, the attackers used eight vehicles and more than 200 motorbikes to carry out the assault. Authorities say dozens of the assailants — described as terrorists — were killed in retaliation, and search operations by land and air are still underway. The attack comes as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso continue to face escalating violence from armed jihadist groups linked to al-Qaida and ISIS. Despite forming the Alliance of Sahel States and replacing French forces with Russian military support after recent coups, the security situation in the region has only deteriorated.
Coltan Mine Collapse in Eastern DRC Kills 12
At least 12 people died when a coltan mine collapsed near Rubaya in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province, local sources confirmed. Dozens of other miners managed to escape the artisanal site, which sits in a region under the control of M23 rebels who tax coltan output at 15%. The area is a key global supplier of the metallic ore used in smartphones, and the cause of the collapse remains unclear
Kenya Passes Finance Law, Drops Controversial Tax Data Proposal
Kenya’s parliament has passed the 2025 Finance Bill, rejecting a widely criticized proposal that would have given tax authorities unrestricted access to personal financial data. The law aims to raise $233 million mainly through better tax compliance, but it avoids some of the more controversial measures that sparked deadly protests last year. With memories of the Gen Z-led #EndFinanceBill demonstrations still fresh, lawmakers played it safe, scrapping the data access clause and backing privacy protections already in place. The bill now heads to President William Ruto for signing.
Lungu to Be Buried in South Africa After Funeral Dispute with Zambian Government
Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu will be buried in South Africa in a private ceremony, after his family blocked plans for a state funeral in Lusaka, citing broken agreements with the government. President Hakainde Hichilema ended the national mourning period early, saying the dispute had disrupted unity and dignity. It’s the first time a former head of state from another country will be laid to rest in South Africa.
Nigerian Communities Win Key Step in UK Oil Pollution Case Against Shell
Two Niger Delta communities, Bille and Ogale, will take oil giant Shell and its former Nigerian subsidiary to trial in the UK high court in 2027, after a judge ruled that Shell can be held liable for some oil spills caused by third-party vandalism. The communities, with a combined population of 50,000, are seeking compensation and cleanup over decades of oil pollution that has contaminated their water and land. The judge also ruled that new claims can arise as long as oil remains in the affected areas, giving the case renewed momentum after nearly a decade of legal battles.
Cameroon’s Civil Society Urges Voters to Reject 92-Year-Old President at 2025 Polls
As Cameroon heads toward the October 2025 presidential election, a coalition of academics, traditional leaders, and civil society voices is calling on voters to block President Paul Biya from extending his 43-year rule. They say the 92-year-old leader’s continued hold on power is out of touch with a country facing deepening economic struggles, worsening conflict in anglophone regions, and widespread corruption. Supporters argue Biya represents stability, but critics, including church leaders, call his potential re-election unrealistic and dangerous for democracy. With more than 65% of the population under 30, the vote could become a turning point between the political status quo and the demand for real change.
