Today in Africa — December 10, 2025: US Weighs AGOA Without South Africa, M23 Rebels Seize Uvira, Morocco Building Collapse Kills 22

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.

U.S. Lawmakers Weigh AGOA Extension as South Africa Faces Possible Exclusion

A U.S. House committee meets today, Wednesday, December 10, to review a proposed three-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The program, a key trade pact for Sub-Saharan Africa, expired in September. But South Africa’s place in the deal is now uncertain, as tensions between South Africa and the Trump administration have grown over tariffs and U.S. criticism of South Africa’s domestic policies. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says the administration is open to only a one-year renewal and warned that South Africa could be excluded unless it lowers barriers on U.S. goods.

The House Ways and Means Committee will consider amendments before deciding whether to advance the bill, while a separate Senate proposal for a two-year renewal has yet to move. South Africa, which says U.S. tariffs are based on an inaccurate view of the trade relationship, insists it remains committed to staying in AGOA — a program credited with supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across the continent.

AFC/M23 Rebel Group Takes Control of Strategic Border Town in Eastern DR Congo

Rebel group Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 has announced that it is now in control of Uvira, a strategic border city in eastern DR Congo. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka shared a statement on X asserting that “Uvira is now liberated.” This development is the result of an offensive launched by M23 at the beginning of this month. Uvira borders Burundi and is less than 20 KM from Burundi’s capital city; M23’s control of Uvira enables it to block further entrance of Burundian troops into eastern DRC. The rebel group has repeatedly accused the Congolese government of working with Burundi in violating the terms of a ceasefire negotiation.

Residents said that Uvira has been on lockdown throughout today, with reports of soldiers fleeing the town. “It's chaotic, nobody’s in charge. Uvira is done for,” a Burundian officer told the AFP news agency. Meanwhile, Kanyuka has called on the city’s residents “to resume their activities with complete peace of mind: the AFC/M23 is present to ensure their protection. We also invite those who had fled to return to their homes, now freed from all harassment and all violence.”

Just last Friday, the presidents of DR Congo and Rwanda signed a peace accord to bring an end to the conflict in eastern DR Congo. Rwanda is believed to be sponsoring M23, and its army is said to be participating in the group’s offensive, including the capture of Goma and Bukavu, the two largest cities in the region. The U.S.-backed deal, touted by President Donald Trump as a definitive step in ending the conflict, has yet to yield any positive fruits – as some analysts sadly predicted.

Morocco: 22 Dead After Two Buildings Collapse in Fez

At least 22 people were killed, and 16 were injured when two adjacent buildings collapsed overnight in Fez, Moroccan authorities said today, Wednesday, December 10, 2025. One of the buildings was empty, while the other was hosting an Aqiqah (an Islamic ceremony celebrating a newborn’s birth) ceremony with multiple families present. Witnesses told local media the structures had shown cracks for some time. Rescue crews spent the morning digging through rubble as officials opened a judicial investigation and launched a technical probe to determine the cause.

The four-storey buildings were constructed in 2006 under a government housing scheme for former shantytown residents. The collapse is among Morocco’s deadliest in years and comes as Fez grapples with long-standing poverty, strained public services, and recent youth-led protests over living conditions. The city is set to host matches for the Africa Cup of Nations this month and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Guinea-Bissau Junta Adopts Charter that Mandates Election Within a Year

The military junta in Guinea-Bissau has adopted a charter that mandates fresh presidential and legislative elections at the end of its one-year transitional rule. The 29-article charter notably bars the interim president and prime minister from running in the elections, which will be held on a date scheduled by the interim president in 2026. Mutinous soldiers displaced former President Umaro Sissoco Embalo two weeks ago, just before official results of last month’s presidential election were to be announced. Major-General Horta Inta-a was installed as head of state, and former finance minister Ilidio Vieira Te was appointed as prime minister. It remains to be seen if both leaders will honor the terms of the charter, as African junta leaders are known to hold on to power even when transitioning into democracy.

Former President’s Daughter Replaces Sister as Parliament Member for South African Opposition Party

A daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma has been sworn into the country’s parliament, shortly after one of her sisters resigned as an MP due to allegations of tricking 17 men into fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war. Brumelda Zuma joined three others as the new MPs for South Africa’s main opposition party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), ensuring that the Zuma family remains represented in parliament. MK party said the newly sworn-in MPs “bring a wealth of experience and dedication,” adding that they will help strengthen the party’s effort to serve South Africans. Brumelda Zuma didn’t have a national profile until this appointment, and MK said she has a degree in public administration. Her sister Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla said her resignation was to enable her to focus on bringing back the 17 men fighting in Donbas, Donetsk.

Benin Demands Togo Extradite Alleged Attempted Coup Leader Pascal Tigri

Benin is demanding the immediate extradition of Colonel Pascal Tigri, the alleged leader of Sunday’s failed coup, after two government officials told Reuters he has taken refuge in neighboring Togo. Soldiers briefly seized state television and claimed to remove President Patrice Talon before loyal forces, supported by Nigerian air power and French intelligence, regained control. A Beninese intelligence memo seen by Reuters says four soldiers fled to Togo and that Tigri received a call from a Togolese number on the day of the coup. Benin has arrested 14 people so far, and Talon has vowed that “treachery will not go unpunished,” as the country heads toward a pivotal presidential election in April.

Witnesses Say Soldiers Killed Nine Women at Adamawa Protest in Nigeria

Nine women were shot dead, and ten others were injured when Nigerian Army soldiers opened fire on a protest in Lamurde, Adamawa state, witnesses and Amnesty International told the Associated Press. The protesters had blocked a road on Monday, December 8, 2025, to condemn what they saw as the military’s failure to enforce a curfew amid recurring clashes between the Bachama and Chobo communities. Relatives of the victims said soldiers first fired into the air before shooting directly at the group. The army denied responsibility, blaming the deaths on a local militia it claims mishandled weapons. Amnesty International said its own interviews confirm the women were killed by soldiers and called for an investigation.

Sudan Military Cargo Plane Crashes in Port Sudan, Killing Entire Crew

A Sudanese military cargo plane crashed while trying to land at Port Sudan’s Osman Digna Air Base yesterday, Tuesday, December 9, killing everyone on board, military officials told reporters. The Ilyushin Il-76 suffered a technical failure during its descent, and the army has not disclosed how many personnel were on the flight. Among the dead was pilot Omran Mirghani, confirmed by his family. The crash comes as the military faces major losses in its war with the Rapid Support Forces, which recently seized El Fasher and forced army withdrawals from key sites, including the country’s largest oil processing facility. The U.N. says the conflict continues to produce widespread atrocities and warns of escalating RSF attacks in Kordofan.

Burkina Faso Releases 11 Nigerian Soldiers After Disputed Emergency Landing

Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military personnel detained after a Nigerian C-130 cargo plane made what Ouagadougou called an “unauthorized” emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso. The breakaway Association of Sahel States described the incident as an “unfriendly act,” though Nigeria said the aircraft diverted due to a technical issue while en route to Portugal. Abuja confirmed the soldiers were treated well and allowed to return, while an investigation continues. The timing drew regional attention, coming a day after Nigerian airstrikes in Benin during a response to a failed coup. ECOWAS leaders warned that the region faces a democratic and security crisis, as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger continue to distance themselves from the bloc.

Uganda Secures Up to $1.7 Billion in U.S. Health Funding Under New Aid Framework

Uganda will receive up to $1.7 billion in U.S. health-sector support over the next five years, becoming the latest African country to sign onto the Trump administration’s foreign-aid overhaul. The U.S. embassy says the funds will back HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, polio, and other priority programs, while Uganda has committed to raising its own health spending by $500 million as it moves toward greater financial responsibility. Finance Minister Matia Kasaija says the partnership aims to strengthen national systems and workforce capacity. The support comes as overall U.S. aid to Uganda has dropped this year following U.S. President Donald Trump’s budget cuts and the closure of USAID.