At least 60 people have lost their lives in a series of coordinated assaults targeting Christian communities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The violence unfolded across three locations in the Shirka district, where dozens of homes were set ablaze and five children were among the fatalities. Witnesses described the attackers as surrounding the settlement, launching an ambush that left residents with little chance to escape. Church officials labeled the incident a massacre, noting that security forces arrived on the scene but were unable to halt the bloodshed, prompting many residents to flee. Local authorities have pointed fingers at a newly formed rebel alliance known as the Alliance for Survival, which incorporates the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The OLA has not responded to the accusations and has previously denied involvement in similar attacks. The Orthodox Church condemned the bloodshed, reporting a surge in anti‑Christian attacks and criticising the government’s failure to address chronic insecurity. A July 2026 report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council documented 458 deaths in the region over the preceding four years, highlighting Orthodox Christians as frequent targets. However, the same report noted that Muslims have also been affected, indicating that the violence carries both ethnic and religious dimensions.
Algeria’s parliament has green‑lighted a historic overseas military deployment, voting 148‑to‑0 (out of 174 senators) in favour of sending troops to neighbouring Niger. The decision follows a visit by Niger’s defence minister to Algiers, as Niamey seeks assistance against armed groups linked to al‑Qaeda and the Islamic State. This marks Algeria’s first foreign deployment since its involvement in the 1973 Arab‑Israeli war and the first use of a 2020 constitutional clause that authorises overseas operations. While the exact number of personnel and timing remain undisclosed, officials indicate the mission will focus on safeguarding critical energy infrastructure in northern Niger, close to the Libyan border. The move reflects Algeria’s growing economic stakes in the region, notably a proposed gas pipeline that would transport Nigerian gas through Niger to Algeria. Government statements emphasise that the deployment is defensive in nature, aimed at protecting economic assets rather than engaging in combat.
A 2026 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report warns that roughly 3.6 million Ugandans currently endure acute food insecurity, with projections indicating the figure could climb to 4.4 million between February and June 2027. The Karamoja sub‑region and refugee communities are expected to bear the brunt of the escalating shortages. The assessment estimates that 465 900 children under five and 246 300 pregnant or lactating women will require treatment for acute malnutrition over the year‑long period from April 2026 to March 2027. Multiple factors drive the crisis, including recurring climate shocks, declining agricultural output, pests and livestock diseases, soaring food prices, eroding livelihoods, and limited access to health care, clean water, sanitation, and social protection. United Nations Resident Coordinator Leonard Zulu has called for urgent action to shield vulnerable households and reinforce food systems before conditions deteriorate further. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja urged the government, donors, and humanitarian agencies to invest in sustainable solutions that empower communities to produce their own food and reduce reliance on emergency aid. Conducted across 60 districts in August–September 2026, the study launched a $50 million joint appeal by the UN and partners to support emergency responses in Karamoja and early interventions in 37 districts and eight refugee settlements. The proposed response includes cash assistance, agricultural and livestock support, nutrition screening and treatment, health care, child protection, gender‑based violence prevention, water and sanitation programmes, and disaster preparedness. The report cautions that without continued investment and coordinated effort, vulnerable populations face worsening hunger and malnutrition in the months ahead.
Amnesty International has issued a stark warning that the Central African Republic’s Special Criminal Court (SCC) could be forced to close before its mandate expires in October 2028 unless it secures urgent funding. The court, established in 2018, has adjudicated six cases and obtained convictions against 19 individuals for war crimes and crimes against humanity, awarding reparations to victims in one instance. Nonetheless, many survivors of atrocities committed during the 2003 coup and the 2012‑2014 armed conflict continue to await justice. The United States withdrew its financial support in 2025, leaving more than US$4.15 million in unpaid commitments and plunging the court into an unprecedented fiscal emergency. Presently, the UN and the European Union are its sole donors. Funding shortfalls have already led to staff reductions, including cuts to the witness‑protection unit, and have prevented prosecutors from opening new investigations. Amnesty stresses that without additional resources, the court’s vital work could be halted, allowing suspected perpetrators—including senior officials—to evade accountability.
Ukraine faces mounting scrutiny over its alleged involvement in providing support to Tuareg fighters in northern Mali, a development that could extend Kyiv’s rivalry with Russia into Africa’s Sahel region. A September 2026 CNN investigation reported that around 15 Ukrainian drone specialists were assisting the Tuareg militants, though Deutsche Welle noted it had not independently verified the claims and Ukraine has not confirmed any specific operation. Analysts suggest that any such engagement would align with Kyiv’s broader strategy of diminishing Russian influence worldwide, especially in countries where Moscow supplies military aid to governments. Mali’s military leadership has increasingly turned to Russia for security assistance since seizing power in coups in 2020 and 2021, with Russia’s Africa Corps replacing the Wagner Group’s role in 2025. The allegations have heightened concerns about the geopolitical contest unfolding across the Sahel.
