Today in Africa — Feb 27, 2026: 55 Ghanaians Killed in Ukraine War, Mass Graves Found After M23 Pullback in Eastern DRC

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.

Ghana Says at Least 55 Citizens Killed in Ukraine War as African Recruitment Schemes Draw Scrutiny

At least 55 Ghanaians have been killed fighting in the war in Ukraine, with two others currently held as prisoners of war, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says. Citing Ukrainian authorities during a visit to Ukraine, Ablakwa says about 272 Ghanaians have been drawn into the conflict since 2022, calling the figures “depressing and frightening.” He says Ghana cannot ignore what he describes as illegal recruitment networks that have lured young people into a war that is not theirs. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga confirmed that discussions are underway on the possibility of the return of the two Ghanaian prisoners of war, who are reported to be in good health. 

The Ghanaian deaths come as African governments confront wider recruitment schemes linked to the war. Kenya says about 1,000 of its citizens were recruited to fight for Russia, with dozens still missing, wounded, or on the front line, and it has charged a Kenyan man with trafficking recruits. South Africa’s foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, confirmed yesterday, Thursday, February 26, that two of its citizens have been killed after being lured to Russia under false promises of work or training, while investigations continue into separate recruitment networks. South Africa says 15 citizens have been repatriated so far, while two others remain in Russia receiving treatment for severe injuries. Ukraine says more than 1,700 Africans from 36 countries have been recruited to fight for Russia as the war enters its fourth year.

Mass Graves Found in Eastern Congo After M23 Withdrawal, Officials Say

Authorities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo say two mass graves containing at least 171 bodies were discovered near the city of Uvira after the M23 rebel group withdrew from the area. South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi says one grave with about 30 bodies was found in Kiromoni and another with 141 bodies in Kavimvira, both on the outskirts of the city. A local civil society group says it was blocked by the Congolese army from visiting the sites, but alleged the victims were killed by M23 fighters who suspected them of ties to the army or pro-government militias. The Associated Press says it could not independently verify the claims, and M23 did not respond to requests for comment.

M23 seized Uvira in December during a rapid offensive that regional officials say killed more than 1,500 people and displaced around 300,000, before later announcing a withdrawal it described as a U.S.-requested trust-building step. DRC, the United States, and the United Nations experts accuse Rwanda of backing the group, which the UN says has grown to about 6,500 fighters. Despite a U.S.-brokered deal between Congo and Rwanda and ongoing talks with rebels, fighting continues across mineral-rich eastern Congo, where more than 7 million people have been displaced.

U.S. Plans Rapid Expansion of Refugee Processing for White South Africans

The U.S. is aiming to process up to 4,500 refugee applications per month from white South Africans, far exceeding President Donald Trump’s stated global refugee cap, according to a U.S. State Department contracting document dated January 27. The plan includes installing temporary trailers on U.S. embassy property in Pretoria to speed up processing, after operations at a commercial site in Johannesburg were disrupted by an immigration raid. The effort marks a sharp focus on South Africa at a time when refugee admissions from other regions have been cut back. As of January 31, about 2,000 white South Africans had entered the U.S. under the program launched in May 2025, though admissions increased late last year.

The push has faced delays after the U.S. paused all refugee travel from February 23 to March 9 due to operational issues, creating a backlog that requires case-by-case approval by senior U.S. officials. South Africa’s government says it will not interfere with the program if it remains legal, while rejecting U.S. claims that Afrikaners face systemic persecution. A no-bid $772,000 contract has been awarded to build a temporary processing site in Pretoria, and applicants report that interviews have already begun there, suggesting the scaled-up operation is now underway.

UN Says Civilian Killings in Sudan More Than Doubled in 2025

Civilian killings in Sudan more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year, the United Nations’ human rights chief says, warning that thousands more victims remain missing or unidentified. Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council, Volker Turk blamed both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces for widespread abuses, including summary executions, sexual violence, and arbitrary detentions, with sexual crimes sharply rising this year. Turk highlighted mass civilian harm during RSF attacks on the Zamzam displacement camp and in El Fasher, and warned that escalating drone strikes and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas are pushing the war deeper into regions previously untouched by fighting.

Former Tunisian PM Ali Larayedh Sentenced to 24 Years Over Syria Travel Case

A Tunisian court has sentenced former prime minister Ali Larayedh to 24 years in prison for facilitating the travel of Tunisian jihadists to Syria, state media reported. Larayedh, who led the country from 2013 to 2014 and has been detained since 2022, denies the charges and says he is being treated unjustly, with the right to appeal the ruling. His Islamist party, Ennahda, called the case politically motivated and part of a broader crackdown following President Kais Saied’s power grab in 2021, when he dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree. Prosecutors say the case relates to the post-2011 period when hundreds of Tunisians traveled to conflict zones to join extremist groups, allegations Ennahda has long denied.

Africa CDC Flags Data Risks as U.S. Expands New Health Funding Deals Across Africa

The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has raised concerns about U.S. global health agreements with African countries, warning that provisions on data and pathogen sharing could pose risks. Speaking Thursday, Africa CDC director Jean Kaseya pointed to “huge concerns” over requirements that countries share sensitive health data as a condition for funding, after Zimbabwe pulled out of a proposed $367 million deal and Zambia said it pushed back on parts of its own agreement. The warnings came as the United States signed a $1.2 billion health partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo, committing up to $900 million over five years while the DRC pledges $300 million in domestic health spending. The Trump administration says the bilateral “America First” deals are meant to boost self-sufficiency and replace older aid frameworks, but critics argue the agreements lack guarantees that vaccines or treatments developed from shared data would benefit affected countries.

U.S. Embassy Worker Gets Life Sentence for Sexually Abusing Minors in Burkina Faso

A U.S. citizen has been sentenced to life in prison after a federal jury convicted him of sexually abusing two teenage girls while working at the U.S. embassy in Burkina Faso, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Fode Sitafa Mara, 41, was found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, attempted coercion and enticement, and obstruction of justice for crimes committed in 2022 and 2023 in Ouagadougou. Prosecutors say the abuse took place at a residence leased for U.S. diplomatic staff, placing it under U.S. jurisdiction, and that Mara exploited the girls’ vulnerability, including their mother’s serious illness, to demand sex over about a year. Officials say the life sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes and underscores Washington’s commitment to prosecuting child sexual abuse by Americans, including offenses committed abroad.

Epstein Sought to Buy Moroccan Palace on Eve of 2019 Arrest, Files Show

Late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein signed a $14.95 million wire transfer to buy a luxury palace in Marrakech just one day before his 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges, according to documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice. The files show Epstein had pursued the Bin Ennakhil property in the Palmeraie district since 2011 and agreed to buy the offshore company that owned it for €18 million, making the transfer his last major financial move before U.S. authorities arrested him in New York. His accountant canceled the deal days later, and it was never completed. While local media speculated Epstein may have seen Morocco as a potential refuge, the documents do not show him discussing the country as a sanctuary, and a former associate says the transaction suggests he did not expect to be arrested.

Nigeria Adds Terrorism Charges Against Ex-Justice Minister Abubakar Malami

A Nigerian court has added terrorism-related charges to the case against former justice minister Abubakar Malami, accusing him of knowingly aiding terrorism financing by failing to prosecute suspects linked to insurgent groups. The federal high court in Abuja also charged Malami and his son with engaging in acts of terrorism after authorities said an unlicensed pistol and ammunition were found at his home. Both pleaded not guilty. Malami, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, was already facing money laundering charges involving about $6 million alongside his wife and son. He was granted bail last month but rearrested shortly after. The case comes as Nigeria continues to battle a long-running insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced nearly two million.

Gabon Holds Talks With Meta and TikTok After Social Media Ban

Gabonese authorities say they are in discussions with Meta and TikTok following the country’s suspension of social media platforms earlier this month, a move officials say was driven by unchecked online content fueling division. The media regulator accused platforms of failing to address repeated warnings about defamatory, violent, and pornographic material, calling the inaction unacceptable. TikTok has since contacted regulators, saying it shares the government’s goal of a safe digital space that respects citizens’ rights. Critics have condemned the ban as disproportionate and unconstitutional, while usage has continued through workarounds, with VPN provider Proton reporting a sharp surge in downloads. Authorities insist the measure is temporary and tied to efforts to strengthen regulation.