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Today in Africa — August 5, 2026: Southern Africa Faces Growing Hunger Risk, Ceuta Struggles With Stranded Migrant Children

OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On Aug. 5, coverage includes: the World Food Programme’s warning that a powerful El Niño could sharply increase food insecurity across Southern Africa and other vulnerable regions; Spain’s efforts to relocate more than 1,100 unaccompanied migrant children left in Ceuta after last week’s deadly mass crossing from Morocco; and more.

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Lihle Z. Mtshali Today in Africa & Newsletter Editor
Baobab trees in a dry maize field beneath a cloudy sky in southern Malawi.
Baobab trees in a dry maize field in southern Malawi, after a failed harvest caused by drought from the effects of El Niño. The WFP says Southern Africa could see an almost 75% increase in acute hunger by the end of next year.

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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WFP Warns El Niño Could Deepen Hunger Across Southern Africa

A powerful El Niño weather event could push nearly 49 million more people globally into acute food insecurity by the end of next year, with Southern Africa expected to be among the hardest-hit regions, according to the World Food Programme. The UN agency says the region could see an almost 75% increase in acute hunger, adding more than 12 million people to those already struggling, as drought and shifting rainfall patterns threaten crops and livelihoods across Africa and other vulnerable parts of the world.

What to Watch

  • The WFP says rainfall deficits are also forecast in parts of East Africa and the Sahel, while Somalia and neighboring areas face a higher risk of flooding.

  • Across 45 vulnerable countries, the number of people facing acute food insecurity could rise to 274 million, a 22% increase from current levels.

  • Funding cuts from U.S. and European donors have reduced food security monitoring, making it harder to quickly identify emerging hunger crises.

  • The WFP has expanded anticipatory action programs in 18 countries, reaching more than 1.3 million people this year with cash and other assistance ahead of extreme weather.

  • The agency says forecasts remain uncertain, but governments and aid organizations should prepare now for the potential humanitarian impact.

Ceuta Seeks Help as More Than 1,100 Migrant Children Remain Stranded

Spain’s territory of Ceuta, on African soil, is asking to transfer more than 1,100 unaccompanied migrant children to mainland Spain after last week’s mass border crossing overwhelmed local services. Most of the 72,000 migrants who crossed from Morocco have returned, but minors cannot be immediately deported under Spanish law, leaving many in overcrowded shelters, warehouses, or on the streets as families on the Moroccan side continue searching for missing relatives.

Families Wait, Politics Deepen Crisis

  • Spain approved €25 million ($29 million) to help Ceuta care for the children, while local leaders say the situation is unsustainable.

  • Under Spain’s 2025 immigration reforms, unaccompanied minors should be relocated from overstretched territories within 15 days after their cases are processed.

  • The issue has reopened political divisions, with the far-right Vox party opposing support for the minors while other officials insist the law must be followed.

  • Families are using the same Facebook groups that spread rumors about the border opening to post photos of missing relatives and search for loved ones.

  • Italian restrictions on travel from Spain and disagreements over migrant relocation have added to tensions across Europe following the border crisis.

Ebola Workers Protest Unpaid Wages as Congo Outbreak Worsens

Health workers responding to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have staged protests over salaries and allowances they say are nearly three months overdue, warning that the payment delays are threatening the response. The demonstrations come as the outbreak continues to spread, with nearly 3,900 confirmed cases and more than 1,750 deaths, while security incidents and community mistrust keep disrupting efforts to contain what is now the world’s second-largest Ebola outbreak.

Response Under Pressure

  • Police dispersed protesters in Mongbwalu after demonstrations disrupted activity outside a hospital.

  • Incidents this week included a crowd blocking a UN World Food Programme helicopter, attacks on an Ebola treatment center, and an ambulance being vandalized.

  • The U.S. pledged an additional $242 million for the Ebola response, bringing its total direct assistance to $512 million.

  • Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) said the situation is “more critical than ever,” noting the outbreak has killed more than five times as many people in its first 11 weeks as the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic did over the same period.

  • The World Health Organization says the true scale of the outbreak could be two to four times larger than official figures because of gaps in case detection and contact tracing.

In Brief: More Stories Today

Invasive Mosquito Threatens to Drive Urban Malaria Across Africa

Scientists are warning that the invasive mosquito Anopheles stephensi could fuel a rise in malaria across Africa’s cities because it breeds in urban water containers and is resistant to most major insecticides. Researchers are now racing to develop new control methods, including biological approaches and next-generation insecticides, as the species continues to spread.

Nigeria Approves Military Pay Raises of Up to 80%

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has approved salary increases of up to 80% for members of the armed forces, with the largest increases going to lower-ranking soldiers, effective from September 1. The government said the move is meant to improve troop welfare as security forces continue battling Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, kidnappers, and separatist-linked violence.

Mass Jail Escape Follows Clashes West of Tripoli

Libyan authorities have launched an investigation after inmates escaped from Surman prison while armed clashes broke out in Surman and Zawiya, west of Tripoli. Local officials said three civilians were killed and several others injured before a neutral force restored relative calm, while the country’s largest operating oil refinery urged workers to avoid conflict areas.

Egypt Arrests Suspects in Fake Judge Fraud Scheme

Egyptian authorities have arrested several people accused of posing as judges to scam victims with false promises of securing government housing. Investigators say the suspects staged fake courtroom scenes, posted videos on social media, and used fake judicial IDs and clothing to convince people they held official positions.

Jacob Zuma Names Son as MK Party Deputy Leader

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has appointed his son, Duduzane Zuma, as First Deputy President of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party during a major leadership shake-up. The restructuring also removed several senior officials, dissolved a key internal body, and restored the party’s Presidential Task Team as Zuma tightened control over the opposition movement.

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