Mauritius lifts its nighttime curfew after violent protests over living costs and water shortages led to at least 188 arrests and a police shooting

Robert Kabera, an exiled critic of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, has been found beheaded near Kampala as Ugandan police investigate his killing

Young Tunisians are considering emigration as high unemployment, limited opportunities and uncertainty drive more people to seek a future abroad

US air strikes in Somalia raise concerns over civilian casualties as families report deaths, injuries and displacement during military operations

The US raises its Kenya travel advisory to Level 3 over Ebola and security risks as Kenyan health authorities confirm eight infections

DR Congo Ebola aid faces scrutiny as nearly $700 million remains unaccounted for, while the deadly outbreak spreads across eight provinces

AI-generated illustration of a hospital ward with mosquito nets in Sudan’s West Darfur, highlighting the malaria outbreak that has reportedly claimed at least 55 lives, including 39 children. The image does not depict an actual healthcare facility

US eases Eritrea sanctions as Secretary of State Marco Rubio warns that rising military tensions with Ethiopia could trigger a wider regional conflict

Kenya has confirmed its eighth Ebola case, raising concerns over the spread of the deadly virus from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) into neighbouring countries. Kenyan health authorities announced the latest infection on Monday, October 19, after one person tested positive among 38 people screened the previous day. According to Al Jazeera, citing AFP, AP and Reuters, the latest patient is a 49-year-old man believed to have been exposed to Kenya’s first confirmed Ebola patient earlier this month. The country remains on heightened alert as health officials work to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission. Kenya Ebola outbreak reaches eight confirmed cases Kenya’s Director-General for Health, Patrick Amoth, confirmed that the latest patient was not a healthcare worker. The 49-year-old man reportedly worked as a patient attendant, cleaning utensils and linens. He developed a fever, headache and muscle pain on Saturday before being quarantined and tested for Ebola. Health authorities believe he was exposed to Kenya’s first confirmed Ebola patient, who travelled from DR Congo to Nairobi and died at a hospital on October 5. The latest infection brings Kenya’s total number of confirmed cases to eight. Healthcare workers among those infected Kenya’s Ministry of Health reported four additional Ebola cases on Saturday, bringing the total at that time to seven. Three of those infected were healthcare workers who had treated the country’s first Ebola patient. The fourth patient was a relative of the deceased man, according to the ministry. The infections have highlighted the risks facing medical personnel and close contacts of Ebola patients. Health authorities continue to monitor potential exposures as part of efforts to limit further transmission. DR Congo Ebola outbreak records thousands of deaths The outbreak originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the virus has spread across several provinces. According to the figures reported by Al Jazeera, DR Congo has recorded at least 9,400 Ebola cases and more than 4,500 deaths since the outbreak began in May 2026. The outbreak has become the deadliest in the country’s history. Ituri province in eastern DR Congo remains the epicentre, accounting for nearly three-quarters of confirmed infections. Meanwhile, authorities announced on Sunday that Ebola had reached North Ubangi, becoming the eighth province affected by the outbreak. North Kivu has also experienced substantial transmission, according to the World Health Organization. DR Congo introduces new restrictions to contain Ebola Authorities in North Kivu are introducing additional measures to reduce the spread of the virus. According to DR Congo’s state-run ACP news agency, a one-week restriction on entry into North Kivu from Ituri was scheduled to begin on Monday. Officials also plan to limit passenger numbers in vehicles and on motorcycles. Large public gatherings are expected to be suspended as part of the containment measures. The restrictions aim to reduce opportunities for transmission between communities and provinces. Bundibugyo Ebola strain raises regional concerns The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, one of the viruses responsible for Ebola disease in humans. Unlike the Zaire strain, for which approved vaccines exist, there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain. There is also no approved virus-specific treatment for this strain, although supportive medical care remains important for patients. The spread of infections beyond DR Congo has increased concerns about cross-border transmission. Neighbouring Uganda previously recorded 20 confirmed cases, including 15 imported from DR Congo, and two deaths. Uganda was declared Ebola-free in August. Kenya strengthens vigilance amid regional outbreak Kenya remains on heightened alert following the detection of eight Ebola cases. The infections, including those involving healthcare workers and people connected to the first patient, underline the importance of identifying contacts and responding quickly to suspected cases. Meanwhile, authorities in DR Congo are introducing additional restrictions as the outbreak continues to affect communities across the country. The regional situation remains a significant public health challenge, with efforts focused on preventing further infections and protecting healthcare workers and vulnerable communities.

Somali piracy is disrupting fishing communities in Puntland as security restrictions, declining catches and surveillance threaten coastal livelihoods

Mali human rights abuses: HRW accuses the army, Russian allies and armed groups of civilian killings and executions of captured soldiers

AI-generated illustration of an empty Ebola treatment facility in eastern DR Congo, highlighting the psychological toll of the outbreak on patients, survivors and families amid ongoing conflict and social stigma. The image does not depict an actual facility

Fuel shortages in Niger leave drivers stranded in Niamey as residents struggle to find gasoline and call for government action

South Africa ranks among the world’s best countries for food in 2026, scoring 94.26% in a global poll and becoming the only African nation listed

Tunisia’s economic crisis deepens as unemployment, rising living costs and failing public services fuel protests against President Kais Saied

Sudan’s medicine crisis forces chronically ill patients to choose between food and treatment as war drives up prices and disrupts healthcare supplies

Hyron Andrews dies aged 31 in France as Lions teammates pay emotional tribute before their Champions Cup match against La Rochelle

Macky Sall withdraws from the UN secretary-general race after Security Council opposition, leaving Uganda’s Olara Otunnu as Africa’s only contender

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi says he will step down in 2030 and rules out constitutional changes to extend his presidency

DR Congo accuses former president Joseph Kabila of planning an armed offensive after he joins M23 figures in a new political-military alliance

Nigeria army chief visits Borno troops after an ISWAP attack reportedly kills 15 soldiers and five militia members at a military base

Yemen’s government offensive faces pressure as Houthi attacks disrupt supply routes around Taiz and the Red Sea coast, raising concerns over military operations

The US extends its Sudan national emergency beyond November 3, 2026, maintaining existing authorities without announcing new sanctions

The US lowers Tanzania’s travel advisory to Level 2 as the country’s tourism earnings reach $4.41 billion and visitor numbers continue to grow