Today in Africa — Feb 4, 2026: Gaddafi’s Son Killed in Suspected Assassination, Deadly Attacks Rock Northern Nigeria

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.

Son of Former Libyan Dictator Killed in Alleged Assassination

Investigations into the murder of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s late long-term leader Muammar Gaddafi, have commenced. According to prosecutors, Saif al-Islam was killed during a fatal encounter with four unknown gunmen who broke into his home. The 53-year-old was once the second most popular figure in Libya and was considered the heir to power before protests and armed conflicts ended his father’s reign. “The victim died from wounds by gunfire,” Libyan prosecutors stated earlier today, Wednesday, February 4, while his lawyers said that a “four-man commando unit” was responsible for the killing, but there’s still no clarity about who was behind the apparent assassination.

In an alternate claim, Saif al-Islam’s sister told local television that he died near the country’s border with Algeria, contradicting reports that he was killed in his home in Zintan. Authorities said forensic experts have been sent to Zintan to start investigations. At the time of his death, Saif al-Islam had an outstanding arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity. In 2015, a court in Tripoli sentenced him to death for crimes committed during the civil war fought between forces loyal to his father and rebel forces. He was later released by the militia that had captured him during the civil war and was granted amnesty by the factional government in southern Libya. He attempted to run for president in 2022.

Armed Attackers Kill Dozens in Raids on Multiple Communities in Northern Nigeria

Dozens have been killed in an armed attack on Woro, a remote village in Kwara state, north-central Nigeria. It’s the latest bout of casualties in Nigeria’s insecurity crisis, particularly in Kwara, where attacks have increased over the last year. “This morning, I was told that 35 to 40 dead bodies were counted,” local lawmaker Sa’idu Baba Ahmed told the AFP news agency earlier today, Wednesday, February 4, adding that many others fled into surrounding bush areas with gunshot wounds. Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq condemned the attacks, which also extended to nearby Nuku village, as “a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counterterrorism campaigns in parts of the state and the successes so far recorded.”

Yesterday, Tuesday, February 3, at least 13 people were killed by armed men in Doma, a village in Katsina state, northwest Nigeria. Police spokesman Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu says the attackers were “armed with dangerous weapons [and] began shooting sporadically,” adding that investigations were underway to find the perpetrators. Just last week, dozens were killed in attacks targeting an army base and a construction site in Borno state, northeast Nigeria. These frequent attacks are happening amidst American airstrikes, starting with a Christmas Day airstrike whose efficacy has been questioned, as well as the deployment of troops to combat the insurgent groups.

U.S. and UN Launch $700M Aid Push for Sudan as Fighting and Hunger Worsen

The United States and the United Nations have launched a new Sudan Humanitarian Fund, kicking off with $700 million in pledges from the United Arab Emirates and the United States, as they seek to rally global support for a country ravaged by war. The UAE committed $500 million, while Washington pledged $200 million from a global humanitarian pool. Saudi Arabia and others say they will contribute, but did not name specific amounts. United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher says the goal is to deliver life-saving aid quickly, with Ramadan on February 17 set as a target to show visible progress. U.S. officials also say a proposal for a humanitarian truce could be agreed upon in the coming weeks.

Sudan has been at war since 2023, with the army and the Rapid Support Forces battling for power in a conflict that has displaced more than 14 million people and created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Famine has been declared in several areas, including Kadugli, which was under siege for months before the army recently reopened a key road linking it to Dilling. Even so, violence continues. Yesterday, Tuesday, February 3, an RSF drone strike hit a medical center in Kadugli, killing 15 people, including seven children, according to the Sudan Doctors Network.

Trump Renews AGOA Until Year’s End, Leaving Africa With Little Certainty

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a short-term extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), reviving the 26-year-old trade deal after it was allowed to lapse last year. The extension, confirmed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, runs only until December 31 and will be adjusted to reflect new U.S. tariffs under Trump’s America First policy. AGOA gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the U.S. market for about 1,800 products and underpins more than $100 billion in annual trade. African governments welcomed the reprieve but warned the brief timeline creates uncertainty, especially for major beneficiaries like South Africa, while tensions with Washington have also clouded the outlook for economies such as Nigeria.

South Africa’s John Steenhuisen to Step Down as Democratic Alliance Leader

John Steenhuisen has announced he will not seek reelection as leader of South Africa’s second-largest political party, the Democratic Alliance, marking the end of a pivotal chapter for the country’s main opposition party. Steenhuisen led the DA through the 2024 elections, when the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994, and played a key role in negotiating the current government of national unity. He described helping move the DA from opposition into government as a major achievement, saying real change required access to power. Steenhuisen, who was cleared by an internal probe after allegations of misusing party funds, will remain as agriculture minister and said focusing on a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak made it impractical to run a leadership campaign. The DA is expected to elect a new leader at its April conference, ahead of local elections later this year.

Bobi Wine Remains in Hiding as Feud With Uganda’s Military Chief Escalates

Bobi Wine has been in hiding for nearly three weeks after Uganda’s disputed election, as tensions rise between the opposition leader and the country’s military chief. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, says he fled a late-night raid on his home on January 16 and has since posted videos and messages online rejecting the results that declared President Yoweri Museveni the winner with 71.65% of the vote. Wine is disputing this wine. Museveni has lined up six witnesses to defend his reelection at the Supreme Court, including senior ruling party officials and polling agents from stations cited in the legal challenge. From his hideouts, Wine has taunted the security forces and traded barbs with Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s son and the country’s military chief, who issued now-deleted posts threatening Wine and claiming dozens of his supporters had been killed. Wine’s wife says she was assaulted during a raid on their home, a claim denied by the military. Ugandan officials say Wine is not wanted by the state, but his lawyer has warned that the military chief’s statements put Wine at serious risk, as arrests of opposition supporters continue and the election outcome faces legal challenges. 

Appeal Trial of Rwandan Genocide Suspect Opens in French Court

A French Court of Appeal has opened the appeal trial of a man accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Claude Muhayimana was convicted of complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity by a French court in 2021 and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Muhayimana appealed the verdict and is seeking an acquittal. He was released a year after his conviction and has been under judicial supervision pending the appeal trial. He’s accused of transporting armed Hutu fighters to sites where thousands of Tutsis were massacred in the ethnically-charged conflict that resulted in the deaths of over 800,000 people. Muhayimana, who moved to France in 2001 and was arrested in 2014 after a complaint filed by the Committee for the Protection of Civil Rights (CPCR), says he wasn’t present at the time of certain massacres, also saying that he was forced to drive the fighters to save his own life. The appeal trial is expected to last until the end of this month.

Zambia Arrests Tanzanian Drug Kingpin in Major Lusaka Bust

Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission says it has arrested Ahmed Muharram, a Tanzanian national described as a notorious transnational drug trafficker, during intelligence-led raids in the capital, Lusaka. Authorities say the 40-year-old was detained alongside other suspects after officers seized large quantities of cannabis and codeine-based cough syrup. The operation uncovered 221.2 kg (about 488 lbs) of cannabis hidden in a lorry, with a further 1,159.6 kg (about 2,556 lbs) found at Muharram’s home, bringing the total to more than 1.3 metric tons. Several other arrests were made, including Zambian and Burundian nationals linked to cannabis trafficking using concealed compartments. The Drug Enforcement Commission says all suspects will appear in court and stressed that Zambia will not be used as a transit route or destination for drug trafficking.