Today in Africa — December 31, 2025: Junta Leader Wins Guinea Vote, Anthony Joshua Crash Probe Deepens, South Africa Reports 41 Initiation Deaths

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.

Doumbouya Declared Winner of Guinea’s Presidential Vote

Guinea’s coup leader, Mamady Doumbouya, has been elected president, provisional results announced yesterday, Tuesday, December 30, show, securing 86.72 percent of the December 28 vote and avoiding a runoff. The former special forces commander seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted Alpha Condé, then reversed an earlier pledge not to run after a new constitution passed in September removed the ban on junta members contesting elections. The win gives Doumbouya a seven-year mandate, pending Supreme Court validation within eight days, in a race where major opposition figures were in exile, and the field was fragmented.

Election officials put turnout at 80.95 percent, a figure disputed by opposition politicians who say participation appeared low in Conakry. Doumbouya has promoted a push for resource nationalism in the bauxite- and iron ore-rich country, citing progress on the long-delayed Simandou iron ore project and a tougher stance on mining firms. Critics say political space has narrowed under his rule, with civil society groups accusing the government of banning protests and curbing press freedom. The United Nations rights chief, Volker Türk, said the campaign was severely restricted, while an opposition candidate alleged systematic fraud and limits on election monitoring.

Anthony Joshua Remains Hospitalized as Probe Points to Speeding in Fatal Nigeria Crash

British Nigerian heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua is spending a second night in hospital in Nigeria following a deadly road crash that killed two members of his team. Investigators say early findings point to excessive speed and a flat tire as key factors in the accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. Joshua survived the crash, but his personal trainer, Kevin “Latif” Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami died at the scene.

Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps said the vehicle suffered a tire failure before hitting a stationary truck, after an attempted overtake. A source familiar with the investigation said the driver could face prosecution for reckless driving, as speeding and wrongful overtaking are serious offenses when fatalities occur. Authorities say investigations are ongoing as they weigh possible charges.

South Africa Reports 41 Deaths Linked to Traditional Initiation Circumcisions

At least 41 young men have died during traditional initiation circumcision rituals in South Africa over the November–December summer season, authorities said yesterday, Tuesday, December 30. The rites, practiced by communities including the Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho, and Venda, are meant to mark the transition into manhood but continue to carry deadly risks. Despite laws requiring initiation schools to be registered, officials say illegal schools remain widespread, often driven by parents’ payments and weak oversight.

Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa blames negligence by both initiation schools and parents, citing failures to follow health standards and dangerous advice, such as discouraging initiates from drinking water. The Eastern Cape has been the hardest hit, with 21 deaths reported so far. Authorities have arrested 41 people in connection with illegal schools, including parents accused of falsifying children’s ages. South African law allows only boys aged 16 and older to attend initiation schools with parental consent.

UNICEF Warns Sexual Violence Against Children Is Worsening Across DR Congo

Sexual violence against children is widespread and escalating across the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said yesterday, Tuesday, December 30, citing new data from protection and gender-based violence services. More than 35,000 cases were recorded nationwide in the first nine months of 2025, with children accounting for nearly 40 percent of all reported sexual violence last year — almost triple the share seen in 2022. While conflict is a major driver, the abuse has been documented in every province. UNICEF says it supported over 24,000 children in 2024 with medical care, psychosocial support, and case management, but rising insecurity and global funding cuts threaten to scale back services, putting hundreds of thousands of children at risk, especially in eastern DRC.

Mali and Burkina Faso Impose Travel Ban on U.S. Citizens Over Reciprocity

Mali and Burkina Faso announced yesterday, Tuesday, December 30, that they are banning travel by U.S. citizens, citing reciprocity after the administration of President Donald Trump added both countries to a new U.S. travel ban list earlier this month. In separate statements, the two West African governments said Washington’s decision, announced on December 16 and set to take effect January 1, was made without consultation and was not justified by conditions on the ground. The White House said the ban targets countries with serious gaps in security screening and information sharing. Mali and Burkina Faso follow a growing list of states responding in kind: Niger said on December 25 it would stop issuing visas to Americans, while Chad suspended U.S. visas in June after being placed on an earlier travel ban list.

Uganda Detains Rights Activist as Election Nears

Police in Uganda have detained prominent human rights activist Sarah Bireete, signaling a widening crackdown on dissent ahead of the January 15 general election. Police confirmed yesterday, Tuesday, December 30, that Bireete, a lawyer and executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, is in custody and will be charged, though no date or charges were disclosed. Her detention comes as President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, faces a challenge from opposition leader Bobi Wine. Wine’s National Unity Platform says hundreds of its members have been detained this year, while the UN reports at least 550 opposition supporters arrested amid what it calls an intensifying crackdown. Another opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, remains jailed on treason charges, as concerns grow over political freedoms during the campaign period.

U.S. Audits Citizenship Cases of Somali Americans Amid Fraud Claims

The Trump administration says it is auditing immigration cases involving U.S. citizens of Somali origin to look for fraud that could lead to denaturalization, a rare process used when citizenship was obtained unlawfully. Homeland Security said the reviews follow broader fraud investigations centered on Minnesota, home to a large Somali community, as President Donald Trump pushes a hardline immigration agenda that includes deportations, visa revocations, and heightened screening. Rights groups argue the effort unfairly targets Somali Americans, while federal officials say it is about security and misuse of public funds. The FBI has sent more investigators to Minnesota, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has frozen child care payments to the state pending stricter documentation. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz pushed back, saying the state has long worked to combat fraud and accused the administration of politicizing the issue to cut programs.

Nigeria Pushes Ahead With New Tax Laws Despite Dispute Over Final Text

Nigeria will begin enforcing sweeping new tax laws from January 1, President Bola Tinubu said yesterday, Tuesday, December 30, rejecting calls to pause the rollout despite controversy over the final gazetted text. Tinubu, who has already ended fuel subsidies and devalued the naira as part of broader economic reforms, framed the tax overhaul as a “once-in-a-generation” reset aimed at boosting revenue and efficiency in Nigeria. Opposition lawmakers argue the published laws include provisions never approved by parliament, including expanded powers for tax authorities to seize assets without court orders and demand upfront payments before disputes are heard, raising constitutional concerns. Tinubu said no serious issue had been shown to justify delaying implementation and pledged to address lawmakers’ concerns while moving ahead with enforcement.

U.S. and Côte d’Ivoire Sign $480M Health Pact Under ‘America First’ Framework

The United States and Côte d’Ivoire have signed a new health agreement committing $480 million to support programs on HIV, malaria, maternal and child health, and global health security, as Washington reshapes its foreign assistance under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy. Signed yesterday, Tuesday, December 30, in Abidjan, the deal requires Côte d’Ivoire to cover 60% of the total cost, pledging up to 163 billion CFA francs by 2030, according to Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé. U.S. Ambassador Jessica Davis Ba said the agreement moves away from traditional aid toward shared responsibility, trade, and innovation, replacing earlier USAID-backed programs that included $115 million in support for health and other sectors. The pact comes as U.S. aid cuts have strained health systems across Africa, with analysts noting the deal reflects a more transactional approach to diplomacy and development.