Today in Africa — Feb 26, 2026: Ukraine Says 1,700 Africans Fighting for Russia, UN Sanctions Sudan’s RSF Commanders Over El Fasher Atrocities

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.

Ukraine Says Over 1,700 Africans Are Fighting for Russia as Recruitment Networks Face Scrutiny

Ukraine says more than 1,700 African citizens are currently fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, many of them allegedly deceived with promises of civilian jobs. Speaking in Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says the fighters come from 36 African countries and accused Moscow of using trafficking networks to lure untrained civilians onto the front lines. Russia has denied illegally recruiting Africans. Ghana’s foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says many recruits were misled online with offers of ordinary work and urged African governments to step up efforts to block such schemes.

The issue has drawn fresh attention after Kenyan authorities arrested Festus Omwamba, who was charged today, Thursday, February 25, with trafficking at least 25 Kenyans to Russia last year. Kenyan officials say more than 1,000 citizens were recruited to fight for Russia, with dozens still missing, hospitalized, or on the front line. Investigators allege rogue recruitment agencies colluded with officials to move Kenyans abroad under false pretenses. Families have protested disappearances and deaths, while Kenya’s government says it is pursuing diplomatic talks with Moscow and seeking the release of citizens held in Ukraine. 

Ghana has also entered talks with Ukraine over two Ghanaian nationals captured while fighting for Russian forces. Ablakwa, on a rare visit to Kyiv, asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to release the men on humanitarian grounds, describing them as victims of deception and trafficking. Ukrainian officials say discussions are underway and urge African states to increase public awareness about recruitment scams as the war enters its fourth year.

UN Sanctions Four RSF Commanders Over Darfur Atrocities

The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on four senior commanders from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces over alleged atrocities committed during the takeover of El Fasher in North Darfur, actions UN experts say bear the hallmarks of genocide. The measures include travel bans and asset freezes and follow a recent report documenting mass killings, targeted executions of non-Arab communities, sexual violence, and kidnappings after an 18-month siege that ended with the city’s fall on October 26. UN officials say several thousand civilians were killed, and only about 40% of El Fasher’s residents managed to flee.

Those sanctioned include two RSF deputy commanders, Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo and Lt. Gen. Gedo Hamdan Ahmed, as well as Brig. Gen. Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, known as “the Butcher of El Fasher,” and field commander Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed. UN investigators cited video evidence showing commanders issuing orders to kill civilians and carrying out executions. The sanctions build on similar measures imposed by the UK in December, as pressure grows on the UN to expand accountability efforts for crimes committed during Sudan’s ongoing war.

Militant Attacks Surge Across Niger–Benin–Nigeria Borderlands, Report Says

Attacks by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State are rising sharply across the border region shared by Niger, Benin and Nigeria, turning once-quiet transit routes into active conflict zones, according to a new report by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project. Violent incidents in the tri-border area jumped 90% between 2024 and 2025, while deaths more than doubled to over 1,000. The report says fighters have expanded their presence in northern Benin, southwestern Niger and parts of northwestern Nigeria, with growing risks to civilians as attacks become more frequent and lethal.

The findings highlight the widening spread of jihadist groups in West Africa, beyond their traditional strongholds in northeastern Nigeria. Vast forests, weak state control and porous borders have helped armed groups linked to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and Islamic State in the Sahel deepen operations, particularly in Nigeria’s northwest. ACLED warned that increased propaganda and claims of attacks may point to competition between rival factions, a trend likely to fuel further violence as regional security coordination continues to weaken.

Renewed Fighting in South Sudan’s Jonglei Leaves Civilians Wounded, Displaced, and Without Aid

Renewed fighting between South Sudan’s government forces and opposition fighters in Jonglei state has displaced about 280,000 people in the past two months, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Residents and aid workers say government airstrikes and ground assaults have killed parents, wounded children, and forced families to flee long distances to seek safety in towns like Akobo near the Ethiopian border. The clashes threaten a fragile 2018 peace deal and have escalated since December, despite official commitments to uphold it. Humanitarian conditions are worsening as health facilities are looted or destroyed, food and medicine run out, and reports of sexual violence rise, while aid groups struggle with funding cuts and access restrictions. The United Nations has warned that South Sudan, the world’s youngest country which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is becoming one of the world’s most neglected crises as displaced families remain unsure when the violence will end.

Fears of Renewed Conflict Drive Exodus From Ethiopia’s Tigray Region

Fears that war could return to northern Ethiopia are pushing residents of the Tigray region to leave, just over three years after a devastating war officially ended in November 2022. People in Mekelle say those with means are flying out while others take buses to Addis Ababa, as prices surge, banks limit cash withdrawals, and shortages echo wartime conditions. Tensions have risen amid reports of troop mobilization, brief clashes, drone strikes, and growing disputes between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front over contested territory, elections, and the party’s legal status. The United Nations has described the situation as highly volatile, warning that unresolved disputes involving Eritrea and the neighboring Amhara region risk unraveling the fragile peace and plunging Tigray — and possibly the wider Horn of Africa — back into conflict.

Inquest Set for Death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Toddler Son in Lagos

An inquest into the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, will begin on April 14, a Lagos court ruled during a preliminary hearing yesterday, Wednesday, February 25. Adichie and her family accuse Euracare hospital of negligence, alleging doctors denied the toddler oxygen and over-sedated him, leading to cardiac arrest after an MRI and spinal tap; the hospital denies wrongdoing and says its care met international standards. The coroner will hear evidence from medical experts and hospital staff to establish the cause and circumstances of the January 7 death, which has sparked wider concern about patient safety in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

South Africans Can Legally Claim Maintenance From Siblings, NPA Says

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority says the country’s maintenance laws allow people to claim financial support from siblings in certain cases, not just from parents or children. Speaking during a maintenance awareness webinar, the NPA said the duty to support is based on blood relations, adoption, or marriage, and can apply to adult family members who cannot support themselves. To succeed, the person seeking maintenance must prove financial need, while the sibling must have the means to help and the amount claimed must be reasonable. The NPA stressed that courts assess both need and affordability, and said maintenance enforcement is part of broader efforts to protect vulnerable people, including in the fight against gender-based violence.