Today in Africa — December 11, 2025: DRC Conflict Escalates, Kenya Halts U.S. Health Deal, Ghana Deports Israelis

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.

Fighting Deepens Crisis in Eastern DRC and Cuts Off Maternal Care

M23 rebels tightened their grip on eastern Democratic Republic of Congo today, Thursday, December 11, seizing the strategic border town of Uvira after days of heavy fighting that forced tens of thousands to flee toward Burundi. Residents reported gunfire on the town’s outskirts and described chaos as families searched for missing children and food. The rebel coalition, known as the Alliance Fleuve Congo, said civilians were safe, but the government warns that the advance threatens the U.S.-brokered peace deal signed in Washington last week. The United Nations says more than 200,000 people have fled since early December, as DRC accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 offensive — an allegation Rwanda denies. Officials say more than 400 civilians have been killed since the rebels escalated their offensive in eastern DRC. 

The fall of Uvira raises fears of regional spillover. Burundi says the capture of the lakeside city poses a direct threat to its economic capital, Bujumbura, as the number of refugees arriving from Congo continues to climb. Burundian officials urged stronger U.S. pressure on Rwanda, claiming the rebel force cannot operate without Rwandan support. Fighting has also intensified in the highlands around Uvira, where M23 says Burundian troops are using heavy artillery that is killing civilians. Diplomats worry the violence is outpacing diplomatic efforts in both the Washington and Doha peace tracks.

As the conflict spreads, essential services across eastern DRC are collapsing. In Goma, pregnant women say they can no longer access maternal care after a government program offering free consultations and treatment ended in June. Health workers report severe medicine shortages, staff fleeing hospitals, and rising numbers of women giving birth at home in unsafe conditions. With banks closed, prices soaring, and more than 7 million people displaced across the east, many families now struggle to afford even a $5 delivery fee. “We risk dying in our homes while giving birth,” one expectant mother told the Associated Press.

Kenyan Court Halts Part of U.S. Health Funding Deal Over Data Privacy Concerns

A Kenyan court has paused part of a new $1.6 billion health funding agreement with the United States after a consumer protection group raised concerns about how sensitive medical data would be handled. The Consumers Federation of Kenya asked the High Court to stop the deal until safeguards are put in place to ensure that health data is publicly accountable, independently overseen, and not shared without proper protections. Judge Bahati Mwamuye ordered a suspension of any element involving the transfer or sharing of personal or epidemiological data until a hearing next year.

The agreement, signed in Washington on December 4, is the first of its kind under the Trump administration’s redesigned foreign aid strategy and requires Kenya to boost its own health spending. Rwanda and Uganda have already signed similar pacts. Civil society groups across the region warn that the deals could give the U.S. too much leverage and pose risks to sovereignty and human rights. President William Ruto has defended the pact, saying Kenya’s Attorney General reviewed it thoroughly to ensure Kenyan law governs all data protections.

Ghana Deports Three Israelis After Ghanaians Allegedly Mistreated at Ben Gurion Airport

Ghana has deported three Israeli nationals in what officials describe as a direct response to the alleged mistreatment of seven Ghanaians detained at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport yesterday, Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Four of the Ghanaians were part of an official delegation headed to a cyber-security conference in Tel Aviv; all seven were held for hours without explanation, and three were deported. Ghana’s foreign ministry condemned the “humiliating treatment,” summoned a senior Israeli diplomat in Accra, and said the two countries have agreed to address the dispute, though Israel has not publicly commented.

Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told local media that Ghana would deport one Israeli for every Ghanaian sent back from Israel. Analysts say recent tensions over Ghana’s outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and its support for Palestinians may have contributed to the strain, though Ghana says Israel framed the issue as a dispute over embassy cooperation on deportations. Accra maintains its mission in Tel Aviv, has followed international law, and expects its citizens to be treated with dignity abroad.

U.S. Warns South Sudan of Aid Cuts Over “Illicit” Fees on Humanitarian Supplies

The United States has warned it may sharply reduce foreign assistance to South Sudan, accusing Juba of imposing “exorbitant” and unlawful fees on humanitarian shipments and obstructing United Nations peacekeeping operations. In a strongly worded statement issued today, Thursday, December 11, the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs said these actions violate South Sudan’s international obligations and urged the transitional government to end the practices immediately or face a broad review of U.S. aid — with “significant reductions” likely. South Sudan, which relies heavily on U.S. support and continues to struggle with conflict and widespread hunger, has faced repeated criticism from donors for trying to tax relief goods. Juba has rejected claims that corruption is driving the crisis, blaming conflict, climate pressures, and disruptions tied to the war in Sudan.

Côte d’Ivoire Asks U.S. to Base Spy Planes for Sahel Counterterror Operations

Côte d’Ivoire wants the Trump administration to station U.S. surveillance aircraft in the country’s north to help track Al Qaeda-linked militants across the Sahel, two senior Ivorian security officials told Reuters. They said Abidjan and Washington agree on the regional security priorities and expect a decision next year, though the Pentagon says it has no current plans for operations in Côte d’Ivoire. The request comes after the U.S. lost access to its major drone base in Niger and amid rising jihadist violence in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. U.S. officials are now reassessing ties in the region, including exploring renewed cooperation with Mali, as Washington warns that insurgent groups are tightening their grip across West Africa.

U.S. Excludes South Africa From First G20 Planning Meeting Under Its Presidency

The U.S. will hold its first G20 planning meeting on Monday, December 15, 2025, as it begins its year-long presidency, but South Africa — this year’s host — was not invited, sources told Reuters. Washington has said it will bar Africa’s largest economy from all G20 events next year amid a deepening feud, fueled by President Donald Trump’s accusations that South Africa’s government persecutes its white minority, claims Pretoria rejects. U.S. officials say they plan to refocus the G20 on economic growth and internal reforms as they prepare to host the 2026 leaders’ summit in Miami at a Trump-owned resort.

Senegal Walks Back Talk of Nationalizing Yakaar-Teranga Gas Field

Senegal’s energy ministry has clarified that it does not plan to nationalize the Yakaar-Teranga gas field, reversing comments made earlier this week by Energy Minister Birame Souleye Diop. U.S. firm Kosmos Energy, which holds a 90% stake and became operator after BP’s exit, says it will work with state-owned Petrosen to return the licence to Senegal by its July 2026 expiry after failing to secure a new development partner. The ministry called Kosmos a strategic partner and said it will coordinate with both companies to ensure a smooth transfer, while confirming the licence handover — not nationalization — is the government’s intended path.

Egypt Opens Bidding for Private Firms to Run Hurghada International Airport

Egypt has launched a bidding process for private companies to manage and develop Hurghada International Airport, its second-busiest hub and a major entry point for Red Sea tourism. The Civil Aviation Ministry says applications are open to individual firms or consortia, marking the first step in a wider plan to introduce private-sector operations at 11 airports with support from the International Finance Corporation. The government says the strategy aims to boost efficiency, improve passenger services, and strengthen the country’s aviation competitiveness, as more than 50 million passengers traveled through Egyptian airports in 2024.