Today in Africa — August 3, 2026: Hundreds of Ethiopians Flee to Sudan after Tigray Fighting, Uganda Unveils Statue of Yonatan Netanyahu at Entebbe Airport

OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On August 3, coverage includes: displacement of hundreds of civilians in Ethiopia’s Tigray region following renewed fighting between federal forces and a regional armed group; the unveiling of a statue in honor of Yonatan Netanyahu, an Israeli soldier and older brother of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who died in a rescue operation at Entebbe Airport in 1976; and more.

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IK Nwosu Lagos-based Special Projects Editor
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) smiles as South African Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen (C) shakes hands with South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile (R) at the sitting of the South African Parliament for the swearing in of Cabinet Ministers, on July 03, 2024, in Cape Town.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (L), DA leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen (C), and Deputy President Paul Mashatile (R) at the sitting of the South African Parliament for the swearing in of Cabinet Ministers, on July 03, 2024, in Cape Town.

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.

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Fighting In Ethiopia’s Tigray Region Sees Hundreds of Civilians Fleeing to Sudan

Fighting between Ethiopia's federal forces and regional fighters on Saturday saw hundreds of civilians in the Tigray region flee into neighboring Sudan. The fighting, which reports say involved heavy artillery and drone strikes, is one of the most severe escalations in Tigray since the cessation of major hostilities in 2022. 

Renewed Escalation Concerns

  • The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) forces have traded blames, with the latter accusing the former of launching an infantry offensive, and the former saying the latter provoked the clashes.

  • The influx adds pressure to Sudan which is currently in a 3-year war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) armed group.

  • The displacement also comes amid strained relations between Ethiopia and Sudan, with the former accusing the latter of backing TPLF-linked mercenaries, and the latter accusing the former of allowing drones to be launched from within its territory.

South Africa’s Second-Largest Coalition Party Challenges Land Law In Court

Tensions in South Africa’s coalition government continues to rise as its biggest partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is challenging the Expropriation Act, which was signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, and was at the center of the country’s strained tensions with the Donald Trump-led U.S. government last year. The law, signed in 2025, allows the government to acquire private property if it deems it in the interest of the public. It replaces the 1975 apartheid-era Expropriation Act. No land has been seized under the new law as of now.

Legal Disputes and Political and International Friction

  • The DA argues that the legislation grants the state vague, sweeping powers to seize land without compensation, warning it will severely deter foreign investment. It is asking the court to declare the law invalid before its full implementation.

  • President Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) defends the law as a vital milestone to address apartheid-era racial inequalities, where the white minority still holds most private farmland.

  • The legal battle has heightened friction within the coalition government ahead of upcoming municipal elections in November, though analysts view the move as political sparring that is unlikely to break the alliance.

  • U.S. President Donald Trump cited the land reform legislation last year when cutting off aid to South Africa, alleging discrimination against Afrikaners, a claim the South African government vehemently rejects.

Uganda Unveils Statue of Yonatan Netanyahu To Mark 50 Years of Entebbe Rescue Mission

In a ceremony led by army chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda unveiled a monument at the Entebbe airport in honor of Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The unveiling commemorates 50 years since the 1976 hostage rescue operation where Netanyahu was killed as they battled hijackers and members of the Idi Amin-led Ugandan army.

The 1976 Mission and Evolving Relations

  • Netanyahu was the leader of the Israeli commandos — and the sole military casualty — that stormed Entebbe airport in an effort to rescue hostages after an Air France flight, which initially took off from Tel Aviv, was hijacked to Uganda.

  • The Paris-bound plane took off on June 27, 1976, and made a stop in Athens, where the hijackers — from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — boarded. It was then diverted to Libya, and then to Uganda, where it was welcomed by Idi Amin.

  • The Israeli commandos landed in Entebbe on July 3, and launched the operation that lasted 90 minutes. After which the hostages were rescued, and the hijackers and their accomplices in Uganda were killed.

  • Gen. Kainerugaba described the raid as one of the most significant episodes in modern history, praising Netanyahu for his courage and selfless service, and acknowledging the Ugandan soldiers for fighting valiantly for “what they believed was a justified cause.” he described the close relations between both countries as a "remarkable journey."

In Brief: More Stories Today

King Mohammed VI of Morocco Confirms Naming of Highway after Trump

In a letter dated July 2 and released this past weekend, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI told U.S. President Donald Trump that renaming the highway was "a personal expression of my high regard." Formerly known as the Tiznit-Dakhla Highway, the road connects Morocco’s Tiznit region to Dakhla in Western Sahara — a disputed territory claimed by Morocco, where the indigenous Sahrawi people continue to fight for sovereignty.

Ceuta Mass Crossing Death Toll Rises to 72

At least 72 people have been confirmed dead following an unprecedented surge where over 50,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week, with many drowning or being crushed along border breakwaters. Spanish authorities say that more than 48,000 of the crossers have returned to Morocco. Official accounts from Morocco put the crossers at 40,000, and the death toll at 11.

George Weah Confirms Running For Liberian Presidency

Liberia’s former President George Weah has said he’ll run for office again in 2029, ending months of speculation about his political future. He made the announcement while speaking to supporters at the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) USA Convention over the weekend. "I will be a candidate in 2029... for the Presidency of the Republic of Liberia in 2029, with your support and blessings, and the mandate of the Congress of the Congress for Democratic Change," the former professional footballer and Ballon d’Or winner said.

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