Today in Africa — Feb 23, 2026: Nigeria Secretly Paid Boko Haram Ransom, U.S. Deportations Send Protected Migrants Back Into Danger

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.

Report Says Nigeria Paid Millions to Boko Haram to Free Abducted Schoolchildren

An AFP investigation says Nigeria secretly paid millions of dollars to Boko Haram to secure the release of up to 230 children and staff abducted from a Catholic boarding school in central Niger state last November, despite laws banning ransom payments. Intelligence sources tell news agency AFP the money was delivered by helicopter to the group’s stronghold in northeastern Borno state, and that two Boko Haram commanders were freed as part of the deal. The pupils and staff from St. Mary’s boarding school in Papiri were released after about two weeks of negotiations led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, although officials have repeatedly denied any ransom was paid.

Four intelligence sources familiar with the talks tell AFP the payout was “huge,” with estimates ranging from two billion naira to about $7 million in total. The government and Nigeria’s State Security Service insist no money changed hands, but sources say the funds were confirmed before the first group of children was freed. Boko Haram was not initially linked to the kidnapping, but sources identified a notorious commander operating in central Niger state as the mastermind. Nigeria has faced years of mass abductions by criminal gangs and jihadist groups, often involving large ransom demands, with authorities struggling to stop the practice.

Deported via Cameroon, Moroccan Gay Woman Says U.S. Sent Her Back Into Hiding

A 21-year-old gay woman from Morocco says she was deported back to her home country via Cameroon by U.S. authorities, despite holding a protection order from a U.S. immigration judge that barred her removal to Morocco. Identified only as Farah for safety reasons, she tells the Associated Press that she fled family violence linked to her sexuality, crossed multiple countries to seek asylum in the United States, and spent nearly a year in detention. Although she was denied asylum, a judge ruled in August that returning her to Morocco would put her life at risk. Days before a hearing on her release, she says Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flew her to Cameroon — where homosexuality is also illegal — before sending her on to Morocco, where she is now in hiding.

Farah is among dozens of migrants confirmed to have been deported by the Trump administration to third countries despite legal protection orders, according to lawyers and rights groups. Attorneys say many of those sent to Cameroon — including women from Ghana and Congo — also held court protections and were given little chance to contest their removal. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged deportations to Cameroon and says it is enforcing the law as written, while critics argue the practice exploits legal loopholes and violates due process. Cameroon is one of several African countries that have received third-country deportees under U.S. agreements, some involving millions of dollars in payments, as advocates warn the policy is sending vulnerable people back into danger.

Ugandans Hold Prayer Protest as Besigye Remains Jailed Without Trial

Hundreds of supporters of detained Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye gathered inside Lubaga Cathedral today, Monday, February 23, to demand his release after more than a year in detention without trial on treason charges. The prayer service went ahead despite church officials saying it had been postponed, with hymns and prayers led by Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s wife and head of The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Supporters say Besigye’s health is failing and note he has appeared in court in a wheelchair, while his trial has yet to formally begin, and repeated bail requests have been denied.

Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, was charged after going missing in Nairobi in November 2024 and later appearing before a military tribunal in Kampala, before the case moved to a civilian court and was amended to treason, which carries the death penalty. President Yoweri Museveni has said Besigye must answer serious allegations, including plotting to remove him by force, while his son and army chief has publicly threatened him. Calls for Besigye’s release on compassionate grounds have grown, citing his age, 69, and limited access to independent medical care, as critics warn the case reflects a broader crackdown on dissent following Museveni’s latest election win.

Mugabe’s Son Charged in South Africa Over Shooting of Gardener

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, appeared in a South African court today, Monday, February 23, charged with attempted murder after a gardener was shot and wounded at a Johannesburg mansion where he had been staying. Mugabe, believed to be in his late 20s, was not asked to enter a plea and will remain in custody after the case was postponed to March 3 for further investigation. He and a second suspect also face a charge of defeating the ends of justice, as police have not recovered the firearm allegedly used in the shooting. The gardener remains hospitalized, while Mugabe’s lawyer declined to comment on the charges.

Chad Closes Sudan Border After Clashes Kill Five Soldiers

Chad has closed its eastern border with Sudan after weekend clashes linked to Sudan’s war killed five Chadian soldiers, officials say. Fighting in the border town of Tine between Sudanese paramilitary fighters from the Rapid Support Forces and militias aligned with Sudan’s army also killed three civilians and wounded 12 others, according to a Chadian official today, Monday, February 23 The government says the closure will remain in place until further notice, citing repeated cross-border incursions tied to the conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF, which has raged since April 2023. Authorities say more troops are being deployed to protect civilians and refugees, as analysts warn the spillover violence is increasingly pulling Chad into Sudan’s war.

Tunisian Court Orders Release of Prominent Saied Critic Ahmed Souab

A Tunisian court has ordered the release of veteran lawyer and former judge Ahmed Souab, a prominent critic of President Kais Saied, raising hopes among the opposition that other detained critics could follow. Souab had been serving a five-year prison sentence after his arrest last year on terrorism-related charges tied to public comments accusing authorities of destroying judicial independence. The court did not give a reason for Monday’s decision, though his family and lawyers say Souab had been facing health problems in recent weeks. His jailing had sparked anger among political parties and civil society groups, who saw it as part of a wider crackdown on dissent since Saied dissolved parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree. While dozens of opposition figures, activists, and journalists remain in prison, Saied denies interfering with the judiciary or leading Tunisia toward authoritarian rule.

Deadly Night Raid Kills at Least 50 in Nigeria’s Zamfara State

At least 50 people were killed, and several women and children were abducted after armed men attacked Tungan Dutse village in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state, a state lawmaker says. The assault began around 5 p.m. on Thursday and continued into the early hours of Friday, with attackers burning buildings and shooting residents as they tried to escape, according to Hamisu A. Faru, who represents the area. Survivors say warnings about armed men arriving on motorcycles were raised a day earlier but went unanswered. Authorities were still accounting for the missing, and police had not commented. The attack adds to mounting pressure on Nigeria’s government as bandit violence, marked by mass killings and kidnappings, continues to destabilize communities across the country’s north.

Civilians Killed in South Sudan After Fighters Allegedly Lured Them With Aid Promise

More than a dozen civilians were killed in South Sudan’s Jonglei state after fighters allied to the government allegedly lured residents from their homes by claiming they were registering people for food aid, according to survivors and local officials. The attack happened on Saturday in Pankor village, Ayod County, where witnesses say fighters gathered people in a cattle hut, bound several men, and opened fire, killing women and children. Survivors say 22 people were killed, while the government-appointed county commissioner put the toll at 16, with others injured. The commissioner says the gunmen were from the Agwelek militia, which has not been fully integrated into the national army, and claims the killings were revenge for earlier attacks on Shilluk communities, rejecting accusations that civilians were lured with aid. Authorities say several officers have been arrested and 150 fighters disarmed, as the incident adds to fears in Jonglei, where renewed fighting and flooding have left much of the population facing severe food insecurity.

Uganda Plans Rail Link to Tanzania to Boost Mineral Exports

Uganda is planning to link its new Standard Gauge Railway to a line under construction in neighboring Tanzania, potentially opening a new export route through the port of Dar es Salaam, according to a government document seen by Reuters. The proposed line would run from the Tanzania border through southern and southwestern Uganda to Mpondwe, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, aiming to move minerals such as gold, copper, and iron ore faster and at lower cost. Uganda currently ships most of its exports through Kenya’s port of Mombasa and has a plan to connect to Kenya’s rail network, but this would be its first confirmed push to also link with Tanzania. The document says the African Development Bank could fund the project, with the DRC possibly joining the network later.

Probe Finds Years of Corruption in South Africa’s Visa System

South Africa’s immigration system was exploited for years by a small group of officials who took bribes to issue visas and residence permits, according to a government investigation ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The probe, which reviewed cases from 2004 to 2024, found immigration had been treated “as a marketplace,” with applications fast-tracked through WhatsApp and payments funneled to officials’ spouses or hidden in paperwork. Four officials received more than 16 million rand in deposits, with some buying multiple properties or building a mansion, investigators say. The Special Investigating Unit has made 275 criminal referrals, while Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says 20 officials have been dismissed and reforms are underway, including digitising the system to curb fraud.

Two Spectators Killed in Crash on Opening Day of Tour du Rwanda

Two spectators were killed and six others injured after a vehicle lost control in rainy conditions during the opening stage of this year’s Tour du Rwanda, authorities say. The crash happened near Gabiro yesterday, Sunday, February 22, as the 18th edition of the race got underway in Rukomo, with 84 cyclists competing in the 173-kilometer first stage. Officials say investigations are ongoing. Despite the tragedy, racing continued, with Israel’s Itamar Einhorn taking the first yellow jersey after finishing in just over four hours. The incident casts a shadow over an event that Rwanda’s cycling officials say has been growing in global profile, with support from the International Cycling Union helping draw increased international attention to the race.

Sudan Condemns Uganda for Hosting RSF Leader Amid Ongoing War

Sudan’s government has sharply criticized Uganda for hosting Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, calling the meeting an “affront to humanity.” Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni says he met Dagalo at his home in Entebbe as part of his role as African Union mediator in Sudan’s conflict and stressed the need for a peaceful political solution. Sudan’s foreign ministry, aligned with the army, says the visit flouted international law and accused the RSF of widespread atrocities, a claim echoed by recent United Nations findings pointing to possible genocide in El Fasher. Uganda has not responded to the accusations. The condemnation comes as fighting continues in Sudan’s nearly three-year war, which has killed hundreds of thousands, displaced more than 13 million people, and triggered famine, with the RSF announcing fresh territorial gains in North Darfur over the weekend.

DRC–Burundi Border Reopens After Two-Month Closure During M23 Advance

A key border crossing between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi reopened today, Monday, February 23, more than two months after fighting linked to Rwanda-backed M23 rebels forced it shut. The Kavimvira post on Lake Tanganyika, a vital trade route connecting Bujumbura to Uvira, closed in December as M23 fighters advanced toward the Congolese city, triggering mass displacement into Burundi. After M23 withdrew from Uvira in January and Congolese forces regained control, South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi confirmed the crossing reopened at 8 a.m., with officials on the Burundian side reporting that displaced Congolese have begun returning home. Other border posts in M23-held areas remain closed as the conflict in eastern DRC continues.

Trump’s New Envoy Presents Credentials in South Africa Amid Tense Ties

U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambassador to South Africa, conservative activist and writer Leo Brent Bozell III, formally presented his credentials to the South African government today, Monday, February 23, the foreign ministry says. Bozell handed over his letters of credence to Deputy Director-General Clayson Monyela after arriving earlier this month, as relations between Washington and Pretoria remain strained over U.S. accusations that South Africa persecutes its white minority, claims Pretoria rejects, its ties with Russia and China, new tariffs on South African exports, and the cutting of U.S. aid. During his Senate confirmation hearing in October, Bozell said he would serve with respect for South Africans and saw room for a lasting partnership despite differences. South Africa has not had an ambassador in Washington since the Trump administration expelled its previous envoy.