Today in Africa — January 16, 2026: Southern Africa Deadly Rainfall, WAFCON 2026 Group Stage Draw

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.

Deadly Floods Sweep Southern Africa as Heavy Rains Trigger Fresh Warnings

Torrential rains and flooding have killed more than 100 people across southern Africa, with South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe among the hardest hit. South Africa has reported at least 19 deaths in Limpopo and Mpumalanga after weeks of heavy rain, forcing helicopter evacuations of tourists and staff from flooded camps in the famed Kruger National Park, which remains closed as roads and bridges were washed away. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who toured affected areas, says some districts received about 400 millimeters (about 16 inches) of rain in less than a week, leaving entire neighborhoods destroyed.

Mozambique has recorded 103 deaths since late last year in an unusually severe rainy season, with causes including flooding, lightning strikes, infrastructure collapse, and cholera. More than 200,000 people have been affected, thousands of homes damaged, and tens of thousands face evacuation, according to disaster authorities and the World Food Program, which warned that over 70,000 hectares of crops have been waterlogged. Zimbabwe has reported 70 deaths and the destruction of more than 1,000 homes, while flooding has also hit Madagascar, Malawi, and Zambia. Weather agencies say the La Niña phenomenon may be driving the extreme conditions, with further heavy rains expected in several countries.

Group Stage Draw Brings WAFCON 2026 Closer

Nigeria and Morocco lead the list of contenders at this year’s Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to take place between mid-March and early April. Draws for the group stage took place yesterday, Thursday, January 15. In Group C, defending champions Nigeria will face Zambia, one of the teams it beat on the way to winning its record-extending tenth WAFCON title last year. Morocco will face Algeria, Senegal, and Kenya as it gears up to win its ever-elusive first title. 2022 champions South Africa is expected to cruise over Group B opponents, which include Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania, while Ghana and Cameroon headline Group D.

Cape Verde and Malawi will be making their debut appearances. Cape Verde won a hard-fought two-legged tie against Mali, while Malawi beat out Angola to confirm its place at WAFCON 2026. A handful of countries are returning to the competition after missing out at the last edition: Burkina Faso and Kenya are making their second appearances, while Egypt, Cȏte d’Ivoire, and Tanzania will be competing for the third time. Morocco will serve as hosts for the third consecutive edition. The competition has also been expanded to 16 teams for the first time, with the four teams that make it to the semifinals guaranteed to qualify for the 2027 women’s World Cup in Brazil.

UN Human Rights Chief Meets with Civil Society in Sudan Amidst Ongoing War

United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk met with dozens of civil society representatives and NGOs in Dongola, the capital of Northern State in Sudan. The meeting, which took place yesterday, Thursday, January 15, was part of his visit to the country, which has been faced with a brutal civil war that has displaced millions and led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Türk says he listened to accounts and details of “the horrible plight that many people, many survivors of this horrific war, are going through every day,” as well as challenges like “repeated displacements, unmet basic needs, lack of support for people with disabilities and survivors of sexual abuse.”

Türk arrived in Sudan a day before his visit to Dongola and had met with civil society reps in Port Sudan. He posted a picture on social media, praising the efforts of Sudanese civil society in finding “ways to serve communities and defend human rights” despite limited resources. Despite the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recently returning to the capital Khartoum, there’s still no visible timeline for when fighting will stop, with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) looking to expand in the Kordofan region, after its violent takeover of El Fasher. Türk stressed the need for an all-out effort both within Sudan and from the international community “to enable Sudanese civil society to help where it is most needed.”

Seven Killed in Central Uganda After Vote as Museveni Nears Another Term

At least seven people were killed overnight in central Uganda after presidential elections that appear set to extend President Yoweri Museveni’s rule into a fifth decade, police said today, Friday, January 16. With results from 59 percent of polling stations counted, Museveni was leading with more than 75 percent of the vote, while his main challenger, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, trailed on about 21 percent. Violence broke out in Butambala, southwest of Kampala, with police saying opposition supporters attacked a police station and tallying center, prompting security forces to open fire in what they called self-defense and arrest 25 people. Local MP Muwanga Kivumbi disputed that account, saying people were shot inside his home while waiting for parliamentary results. The vote followed a tense campaign marked by clashes and allegations of repression, and took place under an internet blackout, as Wine alleged fraud and said security forces had surrounded his home, a claim police said they were not aware of.

Tanzania President Acknowledges Disruption Caused by Internet Shutdown During Election

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has expressed regret for imposing an internet shutdown during last October’s controversy-riddled elections. It’s the first time Hassan has addressed the event with a semblance of empathy, stating that her government “acknowledge(s) the challenges of the unrest and violence on the election day and shortly thereafter. Our response was essential to maintain constitutional order and ensure the safety of all citizens and the diplomatic community.” Protests broke out during and after the vote, in which Hassan was announced the winner with 97%, amidst the barring of opposition and allegations of electoral fraud.

The government has continued to claim appropriate force was used to quell protests, while opposition claims hundreds were killed by security forces in the unrest. A new DW report has alleged that unarmed civilians were executed in cities like Kisesa and Mwema, while ballistic analysis points to AK‑47‑type weapons used by police and military. The Tanzanian government set up a committee to investigate the post-election chaos, but has continued to deny claims that hundreds were killed or disappeared. Hassan says she has “pardoned 1,787 convicts associated with the unrest and violence of 29th October last year.”

UN Warns Aid Cuts Could Push Northeast Nigeria Toward Famine

Thousands of people in northeast Nigeria face the risk of catastrophic food shortages for the first time in nearly a decade as aid cuts deepen hunger and malnutrition, the United Nations World Food Program said today, Friday, January 16. About 15,000 people are at risk in Borno state alone, while across West and Central Africa, some 55 million people face severe food shortages, most of them in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. The WFP says more than 13 million children in the region are expected to suffer malnutrition this year, with funding shortfalls already forcing cuts to nutrition programs in Nigeria that supported over 300,000 children. Ongoing conflict, displacement, and economic strain have long driven food insecurity, but reduced humanitarian funding in 2025 has pushed many communities beyond their ability to cope, the agency says, adding it needs more than $453 million over the next six months to sustain aid efforts.

Cameroon Opposition Leader Rejects Talks With Biya Government After Disputed Vote

Cameroonian opposition leader Issa Tchiroma has denied reports that he is in talks with President Paul Biya’s government, pushing back against rumors of dialogue after last year’s contested presidential election. Speaking through his spokeswoman, Tchiroma says there will be no negotiations or compromise, insisting he won the October vote that returned Biya, the oldest sitting president in the world at 92, to power for an eighth term. Now living in exile in The Gambia, Tchiroma says he never intended to negotiate what he calls his electoral victory. His party, the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon, also announced it will boycott upcoming parliamentary and municipal elections, saying participation would legitimize an electoral process it views as flawed, as political tensions remain high in Cameroon.

Nigeria Orders Health Safety Review After Deaths Spark Negligence Outcry

Nigeria’s health minister has announced a national task force on clinical governance and patient safety after a wave of public anger over alleged medical negligence, including the death of the 21-month-old son of author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in a private hospital in Lagos. Her family says the child, Nkanu Nnamdi, was denied oxygen and over-sedated, claims the hospital denies, as it faces a state-ordered probe. Outrage deepened days later with the death of Aisha Umar in Kano, whose family says surgical scissors were left inside her during an operation at a state facility; three staff members have been suspended as investigations continue. The cases have reignited long-standing complaints about systemic failures in Nigeria’s healthcare system, including severe doctor shortages, underfunding, and weak accountability, with surveys showing about 43% of Nigerians have experienced or witnessed medical errors.

EU Removes Six African Countries From High-Risk Money Laundering List

Nigeria and five other African countries have been removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk jurisdictions for money laundering and terrorism financing, following reforms that also led to its exit from the Financial Action Task Force greylist in 2025. The European Commission announced the update alongside the delisting of South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, and Tanzania, while adding Bolivia and the British Virgin Islands. Once approved by the European Parliament and Council, enhanced due diligence on Nigeria-linked transactions will be lifted from January 29, 2026, a move expected to ease cross-border trade and lower compliance costs. Nigeria’s finance minister of state, Doris Uzoka-Anite, welcomed the decision, calling it a boost for investor confidence.

South Africa Probes Iran’s Role in BRICS+ Naval Drills Amid U.S. Tensions

South Africa’s defense ministry has opened an investigation into Iran’s participation in the BRICS+ naval exercises held near Cape Town, after media reports said President Cyril Ramaphosa had asked Iran to withdraw to avoid straining ties with the U.S. Iranian ships were seen operating alongside vessels from China and Russia despite claims that South Africa wanted Iran excluded, prompting confusion and U.S. criticism. Defense Minister Angie Motshekga denied that the military defied presidential orders, while the ministry said the probe will determine whether instructions were misrepresented or ignored. The issue comes as U.S. lawmakers debate the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, with Washington warning that Iran’s presence undermines maritime security and South Africa’s stance of non-alignment.