Drone Strikes Kill over 1,000 Civilians in Sudan in the First 5 Months of 2026, UN Rights Chief Says
Drone strikes killed more than 1,000 civilians in war-torn Sudan in the first five months of 2026, a senior United Nations official said Monday as the unmanned aerial vehicles turn the conflict deadlier for civilians. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said his office has documented a “sharp increase” in drone attacks as well as rape and sexual violence in the Sudan war, now in its fourth year. He said his office registered the killing of over 1,000 civilians by drone strikes between January and May this year. … At least 2,670 people, including combatants and civilians, were killed in 2025, marking a 600% increase in drone-related deaths and an 81% increase in drone attacks compared to 2024, according to ACLED. … Both warring parties have increasingly launched explosive-laden drones that, in multiple cases, targeted civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, dams, schools, markets, and displacement camps. AP
Nigeria: Rabe Abubakar’s Widow Rescued as Military Intensifies Katsina Offensive
Amina Abubakar, widow of the late Rabe Abubakar, a retired major general, has been rescued by troops during ongoing military operations against bandits in Katsina State, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said on Monday. Mrs Abubakar was abducted alongside her husband on 30 May along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of the state. Her rescue comes two days after the retired military officer, a former Director of Defence Information, was confirmed dead in captivity. In a statement issued on Monday, the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, said troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, rescued Mrs Abubakar during intensified search-and-rescue operations targeting the bandits responsible for the abduction. … He disclosed that the bandits shot Mrs Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing under pressure from advancing troops. … Mrs Abubakar’s rescue comes amid Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, a military offensive launched following the abduction and death of the retired general. The operation, being conducted by troops of Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, targets terrorist and bandit enclaves in Matazu Local Government Area and adjoining communities. Premium Times
Nigeria: Defence Minister Calls for Community-Led Security Framework
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has called for a unified whole-of-society approach to addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, stressing that sustainable national security can no longer be achieved through military efforts alone. Speaking at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 held on Saturday at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre in Abuja, the minister said effective security management requires strong collaboration among government institutions, the private sector and local communities. According to him, contemporary security threats such as terrorism, banditry, cybercrime and infrastructure vandalism have become increasingly complex, technology-driven and often sustained by local support networks. General Musa noted that citizens play a critical role in national security through the provision of timely intelligence and by denying criminal elements safe havens within communities. … To advance the country’s security objectives, he identified five priority areas, including strengthening legal and policy frameworks, establishing secure information-sharing platforms, promoting local defence manufacturing, investing in training and professional development, and deepening community engagement. PR Nigeria
Uganda Opposition Figure Seized by Soldiers as Army Chief Vows ‘Hurt and Pain’
An opposition figure in Uganda was detained Monday on the orders of the army chief, whose increased role in his father’s administration has worried opposition and human rights defenders. Erias Lukwago was taken from his house by armed soldiers after he had sought to serve Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is army chief and the president’s son, with court papers related to Kainerugaba’s threats against another opposition figure, according to Lukwago’s party. Kainerugaba confirmed the arrest on his social media and threatened to inflict “hurt and pain” against him. Lukwago is a former mayor of the Ugandan capital of Kampala and the president of the People’s Front for Freedom opposition group. He is the attorney for Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate who faces treason charges in a criminal case that his supporters see as politically motivated. Kainerugaba, the eldest son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, is an increasingly controversial figure in national politics. He has posted offensive tweets over the years and asserted that he will succeed his father in the presidency. … Before his arrest, Lukwago told reporters he had been trying to hold Kainerugaba accountable for his alleged role in the violation of Besigye’s rights — including his abduction in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, in November 2024 and his subsequent jailing without bail in Uganda. Kainerugaba has threatened to hang Besigye, accusing him of plotting to kill Museveni. AP
Former CAR President on Trial in Absentia over Crimes against Humanity
A United Nations-backed court in the Central African Republic (CAR) has begun the trial in absentia of former president Francois Bozize over crimes against humanity, including murder, enforced disappearances, torture and rape. Bozize, who seized power in a coup in 2003 and was overthrown 10 years later by rebels, has lived in exile in Guinea-Bissau since March 2023. Three of his former senior military officers, Eugene Barret Ngaikosset, Vianney Semndiro and Firmin Junior Danboy, are all in pre-trial detention in the CAR. The trial is being held in the capital Bangui by a Special Criminal Court (SCC), a hybrid jurisdiction with CAR and foreign judges. In 2024, the SCC issued an international arrest warrant for the former president as part of an investigation into crimes against humanity committed by Bozize’s Presidential Guard in a civilian prison and a military training centre in the central town of Bossembele. The judges concluded that there was “serious and consistent evidence against Bozize, likely to incur his criminal liability, in his capacity as hierarchical superior and military leader.” Al Jazeera with AFP
Rwanda: Ingabire Opposes Trial, Cites Rights Violations in Prison
Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza has opposed the continuation of her criminal trial, arguing that restrictions on her fundamental rights make a fair hearing impossible. Appearing before a panel of judges on Monday, Ingabire said she was not prepared to begin her defence because prison authorities had allegedly denied her access to basic rights, leaving her emotionally, physically and spiritually unfit to stand trial. According to Ingabire, the restrictions include limited communication with family members, inadequate access to medical treatment and obstacles to practising her faith. She told the court that the conditions had undermined her wellbeing and ability to participate effectively in the proceedings. Having been in custody for a year, she said she had only been able to speak to her bedridden husband and had not been allowed to contact any of her children, who could assist her legal team. … The proceedings continue to attract scrutiny from political observers, legal analysts and international human rights groups, some of whom have accused the Rwandan government of restricting dissent. The East African
Red Cross Says Congo Ebola Epidemic yet to Peak, May Last a Year
A Red Cross official said on Tuesday that the Ebola epidemic in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo had not yet peaked, and could last for a year. Over 800 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no proven treatment or vaccine, have been reported in Congo, 192 of them fatal. The disease, transmitted through body fluids even after death, is spreading fast across three provinces, government data shows. “It’s very difficult to know exactly to what extent the epidemic is spreading … but yes, the peak is, I think, not behind us, but in front of us,” Bruno Michon, operations manager for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told reporters by video link from eastern Congo. “We are afraid that this could last one year, to end this disease.” The response has been hampered by a lack of treatment centres and by community resistance to stringent hygiene measures, and health officials say that, over a month since the outbreak was declared, the true scale is still unknown. Reuters
WHO Commends Uganda’s Ebola Response, Urges Vigilance and Regional Cooperation
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has praised Uganda’s response to an Ebola outbreak that has spread from neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while warning that continued vigilance and cross-border cooperation will be critical to stopping transmission. The outbreak, confirmed in both the DRC and Uganda in May, is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine. Health officials say the response is taking place in a challenging environment marked by humanitarian pressures, insecurity and significant cross-border movement. Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and one probable case to date, with infections largely linked to transmission from the DRC. Despite the challenges, a senior WHO official who spent the past three weeks in the country expressed confidence that the outbreak can be contained. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director for the Health Emergencies Programme, pointed to encouraging signs, including strong community cooperation, newly opened laboratories and the recovery and discharge of some patients. … The current outbreak is Uganda’s ninth experience with Ebola. WHO said lessons from previous outbreaks have helped strengthen the country’s surveillance systems, laboratory networks and emergency medical teams. UN News
Kenya to Pay Compensation to Almost 2,000 Victims of Violent Protests
Kenya will pay compensation to almost 2,000 victims of protest-related human rights abuses, President William Ruto said on Monday, marking a rare national reparations process outside the judicial system. Violent protests in the East African nation have left a trail of destruction in which hundreds of people have died, were injured, or suffered business losses. … The victims of human rights abuses will begin receiving compensation from next week after vetting by the state-funded human rights commission. The total pay out is expected to total $15 million. Ruto, speaking during the release of a national Reparations Framework Report, said the compensation represents “a state acknowledgment that harm occurred” and was not an “admission” of guilt. Dozens of people died and hundreds of others were injured in annual anti-government protests against increased taxes in June 2024 and June 2025. Property worth millions of dollars was destroyed in a series of protests that the government said were infiltrated by criminals. AP
Mauritania Crackdown Slows Migrant Departures but Not Dreams of Europe
Nouadhibou, a fishing city on Mauritania’s Atlantic coast, has long been one of West Africa’s main departure points for migrants hoping to reach Spain’s Canary Islands. Thousands of migrants from Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea and beyond have passed through the city, often working for months to save enough money for a dangerous sea crossing aboard overcrowded wooden pirogues. But over the past year, Mauritanian authorities have intensified patrols, strengthened coastal surveillance and arrested suspected smuggling networks as part of a migration management partnership backed by the European Union. … While authorities point to falling numbers, many migrants say increased security has left them trapped rather than discouraged. … [F]or migrants waiting in Nouadhibou, stricter controls do not address the underlying reasons people leave home. Many cite unemployment, poverty and the lack of legal migration pathways as the real drivers of migration. Africanews with AFP
UN Secretary-General Appoints Nigerian as Special Adviser on Africa
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Ahunna Eziakonwa of Nigeria as Special Adviser on Africa. … Ms Eziakonwa brings nearly three decades of United Nations (UN) leadership to her new role. In her current role as UN Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Africa, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she oversees the organisation’s support to 46 African countries in pursuing Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063. … She has served as UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in three countries – Ethiopia, Uganda and Lesotho – where she coordinated humanitarian action, development strategy and political engagement. As Chief of the Africa Section at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in New York, she managed humanitarian operations across 15 African countries and held senior posts in Liberia and Sierra Leone during critical periods in those nations. At UN Headquarters, she contributed to peacekeeping and political analysis and strategic communications pertaining to UN engagement in Africa, working with the UN Departments of Peacekeeping Operations, Political Affairs and Public Information. Premium Times
The 40-year-old Keeper Who Inspired Cape Verde’s Historic Debut
As the final whistle rang out around the Atlanta Stadium, the cameras cut to Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. Tears streamed down the 40-year-old’s face as the magnitude of what he had just achieved was starting to sink in, after his side’s 0-0 draw with World Cup favourites Spain. Against European champions Spain, veteran goalkeeper Vozinha had delivered the performance of his life to earn a heroic clean sheet and the most memorable result in his country’s history. … “Everyone thought that we came here just to enjoy the World Cup, but no, we know that we have teams that we will always respect, because this is our first time, but we are here to compete, and we are here to fight for our country.” … At 40 years and 12 days, he became the oldest player to appear in a nation’s debut World Cup match, surpassing the record set on Sunday by Curacao’s Eloy Room. … Roared on by thousands of Cape Verde supporters, he stood firm against Spain’s relentless attack, making seven crucial saves – the only goalkeeper over 40 years of age to have made more in a World Cup match was Pat Jennings with 10 on his 41st birthday for Northern Ireland against Brazil in 1986. Each save was greeted like a Cape Verde goal by those in the stands in Atlanta. BBC