Photo : AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AFP
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Ebola outbreak worsens as 131 dead in DR Congo
On 19 May, the BBC reported that the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo had worsened, with at least 131 deaths and more than 513 suspected cases reported as infections spread into new areas including Goma, Ituri and North Kivu provinces. The World Health Organization has declared the Bundibugyo strain outbreak an international emergency, while there have also been two confirmed cases and one death in Uganda. Health authorities warned that the true scale of the outbreak could be much larger than currently detected, with neighbouring states strengthening border screening and surveillance measures amid fears of wider regional spread. (“At least 131 dead in Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, official says,” BBC, 19 May 2026)
MALI
Military drone strikes kill 10 civilians in Mali
On 18 May, Al Jazeera reported that at least 10 civilians were killed in drone strikes by Mali’s army in the Tene locality of the central San region as residents prepared for a traditional collective wedding celebration. Local residents and security sources said the strikes hit a procession of motorcycles and turned what was meant to be a community celebration into mourning. The incident comes amid worsening insecurity following coordinated offensives launched in late April by the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Azawad Liberation Front, which have seized territory in northern Mali and intensified pressure on the military government. Rights groups have previously accused Mali of indiscriminately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. (“Mali drone strikes kill at least 10 civilians at wedding,” Al Jazeera, 18 May 2026)
KENYA
Fuel protests turn deadly in Kenya as four killed
On 18 May, Africa News reported that at least four people were killed during nationwide transport protests in Kenya triggered by rising fuel prices that paralysed major cities including Nairobi, Mombasa and Eldoret. The unrest began after public transport operators launched a strike over sharp fuel price increases, including a 23.5 per cent rise in diesel prices, prompting road blockades, bonfires and clashes with security forces. Officials linked the increases to global energy disruptions tied to instability in the Middle East and Strait of Hormuz disruptions, while critics argued that domestic fuel taxes had worsened the cost-of-living burden on already struggling households. (“Kenya transport protests turn deadly as four killed in fuel price unrest,” Africa News, 18 May 2026)
RWANDA
DR Congo-Rwanda border closed amid Ebola fears
On 18 May, Africa News reported that the border between Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda around Goma and Gisenyi had been closed, with eyewitnesses reporting that movement in both directions had been halted. While neither the Rwandan government nor the M23, which controls Goma, issued an official explanation, the closure comes amid heightened regional concern after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda a global public health emergency. Observers believe the measure may be intended to curb cross-border transmission of the virus along one of the region’s busiest transit corridors. (“Rwanda closes Goma border crossing following Ebola emergency,” Africa News, 18 May 2026)
NIGERIA
US & Nigeria conduct joint airstrikes against ISWAP
On 18 May, Africa News reported that Nigeria faced a renewed surge in violence as Nigerian and US forces carried out joint airstrikes against Islamic State West Africa Province fighters in the northeast, with authorities claiming more than 20 militants were killed in coordinated operations targeting insurgent gathering points. At the same time, insecurity worsened in the southwest, where officials and church groups reported that 46 people, mostly children aged between two and 16, were abducted in coordinated attacks on three schools in Oyo State, highlighting the country’s expanding security crisis as authorities continue battling both jihadist groups and criminal armed gangs. (“Nigeria: Joint US strikes hit militants as 46 kidnapped in school raids,” Africa News, 18 May 2026)
SOMALIA
Somaliland renews recognition push on independence day
On 19 May, Africa News reported that Somaliland marked its independence day with renewed calls for international recognition, five months after Israel became the first country to formally recognise the breakaway region. Speaking during celebrations in Hargeisa, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi said Somaliland had fulfilled the requirements of a peaceful and democratic state and urged the international community to move beyond debating its legitimacy. Although Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, no other country has yet followed Israel’s recognition, leaving its broader diplomatic ambitions unresolved. (“Somaliland marks independence day with renewed push for international recognition,” Africa News, 19 May 2026)