Today in Africa — January 13, 2026: Uganda Under Internet Blackout, African World Cup Fans Face U.S. Travel Ban

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.

Uganda Heads to Polls Under Internet Shutdown and Heavy Security as Museveni Seeks Seventh Term

Ugandans are heading into Thursday, January 15’s presidential election under tight security and an Internet blackout, after authorities ordered mobile providers to shut down public Internet access less than two days before voting. The Uganda Communications Commission states that the move, which commenced at 6 p.m. today, Tuesday, January 13, aims to curb misinformation, electoral fraud, and incitement. Soldiers and armored trucks have also been deployed across Kampala, a show of force that opposition figures say signals rising authoritarianism.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is running for a seventh term, which would extend his rule past four decades. His main challenger is pop star-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine, who has drawn strong support from young and urban voters since his breakout run in 2021. That election saw Museveni win 58 percent to Wine’s 35 percent, his weakest showing since the 1990s. Wine says his supporters have faced tear gas and even live bullets, claims also raised by Amnesty International, while authorities claim troops are deployed only to prevent violence.

The crackdown has deepened as the vote nears. News agency Reuters reports that hundreds of opposition supporters have been detained, and two local rights groups were ordered to stop operating this week, a move the United Nations Human Rights Office says fits an election marked by repression and intimidation. In a show of unity, detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye sent an undisclosed donation to Wine’s campaign through his wife, Winnie Byanyima, calling it a “last push” before polls open. Despite Museveni’s grip on power, fueled by a security apparatus led by his son, many voters say jobs and change remain top of mind as Uganda, a nation of about 45 million people, heads to the ballot box.

AFCON Fans Slam U.S. Travel Ban as Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire Look to 2026 World Cup

Fans from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire are upset after the U.S. added both countries to a travel ban list just months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico. The partial restrictions block most supporters without existing visas from entering the U.S., even though both teams have already qualified for the tournament, which starts in June. At AFCON in Morocco, fans told news agency the Associated Press that the move feels unfair and goes against the spirit of hosting a global tournament. The Trump administration says the ban is due to “screening and vetting deficiencies,” and it also affects fans from Iran and Haiti, though players and team officials are exempt.

Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire are set to play multiple matches in the U.S., including games in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Toronto, leaving many supporters unsure how they will follow their teams and show their support. Coaches and players say they hope a solution is found, pointing to past visa hurdles that were later resolved, but for now, only fans with U.S. residency, valid visas, or dual citizenship can attend. Some supporters also say ticket prices make travel hard even without the ban, raising fears that both teams could face the World Cup with thin backing in the stands.

U.S. to End Deportation Protections for 1,100 Somalis

The Trump administration says it will end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 1,100 Somalis in the United States, a move that would strip them of deportation relief and work permits starting March 17. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says conditions in Somalia have improved enough to no longer qualify for the program, even as fighting with al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist extremist group, al-Shabaab, continues. A Federal Register notice said another 1,400 Somalis have pending TPS applications, and a legal challenge is expected.

TPS lets people stay and work in the U.S. when their home countries face war or disaster, but U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed to roll back the program across multiple nationalities. His administration has also focused heavily on Somali communities, especially in Minnesota, where about 76,000 Somalis live. That state recently saw a surge of federal immigration agents and protests after a U.S. citizen was killed by an immigration officer. While the Trump administration says security has improved in Somalia and that people could return to places like Somaliland, a 2024 notice under the Biden administration had warned that al-Shabaab attacks and serious human rights abuses still made Somalia unsafe for return.

Niger Punishes Drivers as Jihadist Fuel Blockade Deepens Mali Crisis

Niger has stripped licenses from 14 transport companies and 19 drivers after they refused to carry fuel into Mali, where jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda have been attacking tankers and blocking supplies since September. Mali, which depends on imports, had struck a deal for 85 million liters of fuel from Niger, but convoys on the 1,400-kilometer (about 870 miles) route have faced kidnappings and arson by the militant group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). The blockade has already forced school closures and caused major shortages in Bamako. This weekend, JNIM fighters also attacked and burned three industrial sites in western Mali, kidnapping at least three civilians as they step up what security sources say is an effort to cripple the country’s economy.

Somaliland and Two Somali States Reject Mogadishu’s Move to Cut Ties With UAE

Three self-governing regions in Somalia — Somaliland, Puntland, and Jubbaland — say they will ignore the federal government’s decision to end all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, a longtime security and investment partner. Mogadishu accused the UAE of undermining Somalia’s sovereignty and is probing claims that a separatist leader was moved through Somalia with Emirati help, while the UAE has also been linked to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. The UAE has trained Somali troops, pays and supplies thousands of security forces, and runs key ports like Bosaso through a deal with DP World, a Dubai-based global logistics company, and regional leaders say those ties will continue even as Somalia’s central government looks to Qatar or Saudi Arabia for replacement support.

Mozambique’s ‘Miracle Baby’ Rosita Dies at 25 After Long Illness

Rosita Salvador Mabuiango, the girl born in a tree during Mozambique’s devastating 2000 floods, has died at 25 after a long illness, her family told the BBC. Rosita and her mother became global symbols after a helicopter rescued them from floodwaters that killed hundreds and displaced thousands along the Limpopo River, and they later traveled to the U.S. to speak to Congress. Family members say Rosita had struggled with anemia for years and was also battling tuberculosis before dying in the hospital, while President Daniel Chapo called her “a symbol for girls in Mozambique.” She grew up in Chibuto, finished high school, had a daughter of her own, and her death has sparked new calls for better health care in a system still short on staff, medicine, and basic equipment.

Iran Pulls Out of Naval Drills in South Africa as Agoa Pressure Builds

Iran has withdrawn its three warships from South Africa’s joint naval exercise Will for Peace 2026 in False Bay, Cape Town, leaving China, Russia, the UAE, and South Africa to continue the drills, which include live fire and maritime operations. The Iranian ships had already arrived, but sources say South Africa pushed for their exit to avoid upsetting the U.S. as Congress debates renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade deal, which gives South Africa duty-free access to the U.S. market and could be at risk over South Africa’s ties to Iran, China, and Russia. South African officials say the decision was agreed with Iran before protests in Tehran and before the AGOA debate, but Iran’s absence now leaves China leading the exercise as U.S. lawmakers weigh whether South Africa should stay in the trade pact.

Deadly Landslide Hits Eastern Congo as Conflict Blocks Rescue Efforts

At least 13 people were killed, and more than 30 are missing after a landslide hit the village of Burutsi in North Kivu early today, Tuesday, January 13, following hours of heavy rain, local officials say. The collapse cut the main road between Goma and Walikale, making it harder for the government to send help to the area, which already sits in the middle of intense fighting linked to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. The disaster comes as eastern Congo remains gripped by a long-running war involving more than 100 armed groups, with over 7 million people displaced and key cities like Goma and Bukavu recently taken by M23 rebels.