Today in Africa — Feb 3, 2026: U.S. Deploys Troops to Nigeria, Ghana Pauses Diaspora Citizenship Applications

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.

U.S. Deploys Small Troop Team to Nigeria After Christmas Airstrikes

The United States has sent a small team of troops to Nigeria, confirming a limited on-the-ground presence weeks after U.S. airstrikes hit what Washington described as Islamic State targets. The move follows an agreement between the two countries to deepen cooperation against militant groups in West Africa, according to Gen. Dagvin Anderson, head of U.S. Africa Command. Nigerian Defense Minister Christopher Musa confirmed the team is operating in the country, though neither side disclosed details about its size or mission. A former U.S. official said the team is focused on intelligence support to help Nigerian forces target militants.

The deployment comes amid growing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians from Islamist violence and warned of further U.S. military action. Nigeria’s government rejects claims of religious persecution, saying armed groups target both Christians and Muslims. Attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have intensified, with the northwest still at the center of the long-running insurgency. AFRICOM said a December strike in Sokoto state, carried out with Nigerian authorities, killed multiple ISIS-linked fighters.

Ghana Pauses Diaspora Citizenship Applications to Fix Process

Ghana has temporarily suspended citizenship applications for people of African descent in the diaspora, saying it wants to make the system more accessible and easier to use. Since 2016, descendants of Africans taken in the transatlantic slave trade have been eligible for Ghanaian nationality, with more than 1,000 people approved so far, including Stevie Wonder. But applicants have raised concerns about the number of steps involved, tight deadlines, and high costs, including a requirement to submit DNA evidence within a week and fees that can exceed $2,400.

Dr. Erieka Bennet of the Diaspora African Forum told the BBC the process has been especially difficult for people planning relocations or investments. Ghana’s government says updated timelines and guidelines will be shared in due course. The citizenship pathway is part of Ghana’s long-standing Pan-African vision, first championed by Kwame Nkrumah and renewed in recent years through initiatives like the Year of Return. Many diaspora members seek citizenship to own property, vote, and access services, with Ghana joining countries like Benin and Sierra Leone in offering nationality based on verified African ancestry.

Sudanese Army Says It Has Broken RSF Siege of Kadugli

Sudan’s army says it has broken a years-long siege on the city of Kadugli in South Kordofan, opening a key road to nearby al-Dalanj and offering relief to tens of thousands of civilians cut off by fighting. The move comes as the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has displaced millions and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis since April 2023. Kadugli and al-Dalanj had faced repeated blockades since the conflict began, with conditions worsening after the SPLM-N joined forces with the RSF last year. The army said it secured the Kadugli–Dalanj road after heavy fighting; the RSF did not comment.

The siege had pushed Kadugli into famine, with aid groups reporting soaring food prices, widespread hunger, and continued drone attacks even after access routes reopened. Jan Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council said civilians who fled described months of starvation followed by bombardment as they tried to escape. More than 80% of Kadugli’s population has been displaced, according to the United Nations. Army sources say the advance was helped by drone strikes and disruptions to RSF supply lines from Libya, amid signs of deeper regional involvement, including drone activity near Sudan’s borders. Egeland warned that shifting front lines have not eased civilian suffering, while diplomatic efforts to end the war have failed to protect those caught in it.

Somali Woman Executed for Killing 14-Year-Old Domestic Worker

Authorities in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia, have executed a woman convicted of murdering a 14-year-old girl, a rare use of the death penalty against a woman in the region. Hodan Mohamud Diiriye, 34, was killed by firing squad today, Tuesday, February 3, in Galkayo after a court found she beat Saabirin Saylaan to death while the teenager worked as a domestic helper. The sentence was carried out under qisas, an Islamic legal principle that allows a victim’s family to demand execution instead of compensation, and followed protests and public outrage after police revealed evidence of repeated abuse documented on Diiriye’s phone. Officials said this was the first retaliatory execution of a woman in Puntland in more than a decade, and the case has renewed calls for stronger protections for children and domestic workers.

S&P Warns Africa’s Debt Pressures Are Peaking in 2026

Credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings says African governments face rising debt risks as hard-currency repayments surge, with external debt payments now more than three times higher than in 2012 and expected to exceed $90 billion this year. Egypt alone accounts for nearly a third, followed by Angola, South Africa, and Nigeria, putting pressure on foreign exchange buffers and increasing rollover risks. While sovereign ratings have improved to their strongest levels since late 2020 on reform momentum and steadier growth, S&P says this reflects stabilization rather than real improvement, with debt still high at about 61% of GDP on average. Some countries are regaining access to global markets as conditions ease, though often at costly double-digit yields, pushing others toward off-market deals and liability management moves like buybacks and maturity extensions to manage refinancing risks.

Kenya Central Bank Cracks Down on Valentine’s Cash Bouquets

The Central Bank of Kenya has warned Kenyans to stop using banknotes to make decorative cash bouquets, saying the trend amounts to defacing currency and could carry penalties of up to seven years in jail. The bank said notes are often folded, glued, stapled, or pinned together, damaging their integrity and causing problems for ATMs and cash-counting machines, while increasing the cost of replacing rejected notes. While the CBK stressed it is not against giving cash as a gift, it urged the public to find ways that do not damage banknotes. The notice comes ahead of Valentine’s Day, when the bouquets are most popular, and has sparked amused reactions online, with some welcoming a return to traditional flower bouquets.

Demolitions in Lagos’ Makoko Displace Thousands as Residents Accuse State of Land Grab

Homes are being torn down in Makoko, Nigeria’s largest informal waterfront settlement, leaving thousands displaced and fueling accusations that authorities are clearing prime lagoon land for gentrification. Residents say demolitions began just before Christmas, with excavators and armed police moving in, burning homes and forcing families to sleep on broken platforms or in the open, while NGOs estimate more than 10,000 people have been displaced and over 3,000 structures destroyed. Lagos State officials deny any land-grab motive, saying the action targets homes built near high-voltage power lines and vital waterways to prevent a potential disaster, and insist claims of deaths linked to tear gas use will be investigated. The demolitions have sparked protests, including a march of over 1,000 residents to the state assembly last week that was dispersed with tear gas, as debates over housing, safety, and the city’s widening affordability crisis intensify.

Morocco to Appeal CAF Sanctions After Chaotic AFCON Final Loss to Senegal

Morocco’s football federation, FRMF, says it will appeal disciplinary rulings by CAF following last month’s turbulent Africa Cup of Nations final, which hosts Morocco lost 1–0 to Senegal after extra time. The January 18 match was disrupted for 14 minutes after Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch over a VAR call, amid a pitch invasion and clashes involving players, staff, and fans. CAF banned Senegal coach Pape Thiaw for five matches and fined him $100,000, while Senegal’s federation was hit with $615,000 in fines and player bans. Morocco was also fined $315,000, with captain Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari suspended for incidents including interference near the VAR area and unsporting conduct. FRMF called the sanctions disproportionate and said it is appealing to protect its rights, while CAF said the penalties stand across its competitions despite record tournament revenues.

Nigeria Charges Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami With Terrorism-Linked Offences

Nigerian state police have charged former justice minister Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, with five terrorism-related and firearms offences, deepening the ex-official’s legal troubles months after separate money-laundering charges. Prosecutors allege Malami knowingly enabled terrorism financing in November 2022 by refusing to prosecute suspected financiers while serving as attorney general, and also accuse the pair of possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Both pleaded not guilty and were ordered held by the Department of State Security after rejecting oral bail, with trial set to begin on February 20. The case comes alongside ongoing money-laundering proceedings, including 16 counts filed in December involving billions of naira and a related asset-forfeiture case before the Federal High Court.

South Sudan President Fires Aides After Dead Man Named to Election Panel

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has fired two senior aides after an official order mistakenly appointed a man who died five years ago to a panel meant to guide talks on elections scheduled for December. The blunder, which sparked widespread ridicule online, involved Steward Soroba Budia, an opposition figure whose death was quickly flagged by local media. Without giving a specific reason, Kiir dismissed his press secretary, David Amour Major, and the chief administrator in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Valentino Dhel Maluet. Amour later said the president’s office relied on unverified names submitted by stakeholders. The incident has added to doubts over South Sudan’s election plans, as fighting continues in parts of the country, elections have been repeatedly delayed, and tensions persist within the fragile unity government formed after the 2018 peace deal.