Today in Africa — December 3, 2025: RSF Ransom Killings, Kenya vs UK Troops, Donald Trump’s Anti-Somali Remarks

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.

Sudan’s RSF Accused of Systematic Ransom Killings and New Atrocities After Fall of El Fasher

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which captured El Fasher in late October, are detaining civilians in surrounding villages and killing or assaulting those whose families cannot pay ransoms, according to former captives, aid workers, and researchers interviewed by Reuters. Survivors described being held in sites across North Darfur, paying ransoms ranging from $1,400 to $17,000, and witnessing executions of people who could not raise the money. Many of the missing from El Fasher — which was once home to more than 250,000 people — are believed to be trapped in RSF-controlled villages such as Garney, Korma, Um Jalbakh, and Tora. In contrast, others have fled to Chad with gunshot wounds and injuries consistent with severe beatings. The RSF denies widespread responsibility and blames abuses on a rival group wearing RSF uniforms, but its own investigative committee admitted receiving more than 100 complaints a day.

Testimonies include accounts of mass killings, torture, racial abuse, and sexual violence, with some captives forced to drink sewage water in overcrowded sites inside El Fasher. Survivors said fighters used Starlink terminals to demand ransom payments from families via video calls — echoing tactics used by trafficking gangs in Libya. Aid agencies estimate more than 100,000 people have fled El Fasher since its fall, but many remain trapped because they cannot afford transport or are too sick to escape. Satellite images show large clusters of newly built shelters in Garney, suggesting long-term detentions.

In a separate report, Amnesty International said the RSF’s April attack on Zamzam displacement camp — part of the group’s siege of El Fasher — involved killings, rape, hostage-taking, and the destruction of clinics, schools, and mosques, calling the assault a war crime. The rights group also criticized the United Arab Emirates for allegedly continuing to support the RSF despite documented atrocities, a charge the UAE denies. The war between Sudan’s army and the RSF, now in its 20th month, has killed more than 40,000 people, displaced over 14 million, and created what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Kenyan Inquiry Accuses British Troops of Sexual Abuse, Killings, and Environmental Harm

A Kenyan parliamentary inquiry has accused British troops training in the country of decades of sexual violence, killings, workplace abuses, and environmental damage, saying the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) is now viewed by many communities as an “occupying presence.” The two-year investigation gathered testimony from civilians, victims, community leaders, and rights groups, who described rape, assault, abandoned children, fatal explosions from unexploded ordnance, and toxic waste from military exercises. The report highlights long-standing anger over the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru — whose alleged killer, former soldier Robert Purkiss, was arrested in the UK last month — and cites other unresolved cases, including the shooting of herder Tilam Leresh. MPs said BATUK repeatedly avoided appearing before the committee and relied on diplomatic immunity.

British officials said they regret the “challenges” raised and are willing to investigate new allegations once evidence is provided, while BATUK maintained it has zero tolerance for abuse and complies with environmental rules. But the inquiry found major flaws in the defence cooperation agreement between Kenya and the UK, including gaps that make murder prosecutions difficult and weak oversight mechanisms. It called for a renegotiated contract with strict codes of conduct, stronger environmental obligations, civilian oversight, and measures to ensure British soldiers can be held accountable for child support and other violations.

U.S. President Calls Somali Immigrants “Garbage”

Somali nationals in the U.S. are a primary target in the Trump administration’s new directive to freeze all immigration applications from 19 countries already subject to a travel ban. This pause includes green card applications and naturalization ceremonies for those on the verge of becoming citizens. U.S. President Donald Trump has targeted Somali immigrants, particularly the large Somali community in Minnesota. During a televised cabinet meeting, he called Somali immigrants “garbage,” adding that he doesn’t “want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you.” He described Somalia as “barely a country … they just run around killing each other. There’s no structure.”

Last month, he said his administration is working towards ending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali residents living in Minnesota, which would affect hundreds if achieved. Trump also claimed Somali gangs are terrorizing the state of Minneapolis without providing any evidence. “Somebody will say, 'Oh, that's not politically correct.' I don't care. I don't want them in our country,” Trump said in his remarks to the press after yesterday’s cabinet meeting. He also shared disparaging comments on U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, the first Somali American to be elected to Congress, calling her “an incompetent person.”

Omar responded in a social media post saying, “[Trump’s] obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.” Somalian Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre was more diplomatic in his response to the remarks, saying the U.S. president has “insulted many countries, including Nigeria, South Africa. There are things that do not need comment; we just leave and skip. It is better to ignore than to make his words look like an issue.”

Family of Cameroonian Opposition Leader Opposes Rushed Autopsy Process

A lawyer for the family of Cameroonian opposition leader Anicet Ekane says they can’t trust forensic scientists working for the government. Ekane died earlier this week in police detention, and his family refuses to allow an official autopsy, which was scheduled for Tuesday, December 2. The family says they were concerned about the rush of the procedure and would prefer that the autopsy be carried out by doctors they appoint. Ekane, 74, was arrested by soldiers after post-election protests, which were caused by 92-year-old incumbent President Paul Biya, the oldest sitting president in the world, emerging as the winner. The election results were widely marred by allegations of electoral fraud. Ekane’s party, African Movement for New Independence and Democracy, has called his death a “crime of state,” alleging that Ekane was denied proper care while in detention.

Nigerian Government Sets New Cash Withdrawal Limits

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced new limits to the amounts that can be withdrawn using ATMs and point-of-sale (POS) devices. From January 1, 2026, individuals can withdraw a maximum amount of N100,000 ($69) daily and a weekly limit of N500,000 ($345), while corporate accounts have been limited to N5 million ($3,450). In its circular to banks and financial institutions, CBN said the measures “aim to moderate the rising cost of cash management, address security concerns, and reduce the potential for money laundering.” The apex bank also hopes that the new policy will help improve the use of digital payment services, as it continues to push the agenda for an increasingly cashless economy. Withdrawals above the new limits will attract 3% and 5% fines for individuals and corporations, respectively.

Pope Leo XIV Says He Hopes to Visit Africa in 2026, With Algeria as a Key Stop

Pope Leo XIV ended his six-day trip to Turkey and Lebanon yesterday, Tuesday, December 2, and said his next major journey could be to Africa in 2026, highlighting Algeria as a country he especially wants to visit to follow the life of Saint Augustine. He said such a trip would support dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities, noting Augustine’s continued influence in the mostly Muslim nation. The Vatican added that Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea may also be included. Leo, the first U.S.-born pope and an Augustinian, praised Lebanon’s tradition of religious coexistence during his visit and met with Christian, Sunni, Shiite, and Druze leaders. He also shared hopes to travel to Latin America, including Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru, where he previously served as a missionary.

Gabon’s Tourism Minister Put Under House Arrest in $18 Million Embezzlement Probe

Gabon’s tourism minister, Pascal Ogowé Siffon, has been placed under house arrest after authorities detained him on a highway as he appeared to be fleeing Libreville. Investigators accuse him of mismanaging or embezzling nearly $18 million in public funds earmarked for tourism development over the past two years, including money from state-owned hotels and investment mechanisms tied to the oil and gas sector. Officials say they are examining how the funds were used and why several operations lacked proper accounting records, calling Siffon a flight risk given his attempted departure from the capital. Appointed in 2023, he had launched audits and infrastructure projects to revive Gabon’s tourism sector.

Gunman Hijacks South Sudan Aid Plane, Forces Hours-Long Flight Before Arrest in Wau

South Sudanese police say a gunman hijacked a small Samaritan’s Purse aid plane yesterday, Tuesday, December 2, forcing the pilot to stay in the air for hours before landing safely in Wau, where the suspect was arrested. The Cessna Grand Caravan had taken off from Juba carrying medical supplies to Maiwut when the man — identified as Yasir Mohammed Yusuf — emerged from the rear cabin and tried to divert the flight to Chad, a country that does not border South Sudan. Authorities say they still do not know his motive. The pilot persuaded him to land by claiming the aircraft needed fuel. Police said the hijacker wore a vest with the logo of a local air charter company, which denied employing him. No injuries were reported, and the aid group thanked authorities for the safe resolution. The incident happened days after another Samaritan’s Purse-chartered plane crashed in Unity State, killing all three crew members.