Today in Africa — January 26, 2026: African Films at Sundance, Soldiers Deny Assaulting Bobi Wine’s Wife

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.

African Stories Take Spotlight at 2026 Sundance Film Festival

African cinema is strongly represented at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, with standout premieres from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Tunisia. Among the highlights is LADY, the feature debut by Nigerian filmmaker Olive Nwosu, which follows a Lagos taxi driver navigating survival, fuel subsidy cuts, and a risky alliance with sex workers. Kenya’s Kikuyu Land, directed by journalist Bea Wangondu and Andrew H. Brown, traces a land dispute tied to colonial-era dispossession, blending investigative reporting with personal family history. Tunisian filmmaker Rami Jarboui is also featured with his short The Bird’s Placebo, which follows a young man in a wheelchair whose dream of crossing the Mediterranean shifts after a surreal encounter.

Another major moment is the world premiere of Troublemaker: The Story Behind the Mandela Tapes, a documentary built around more than 70 hours of previously unreleased audio recordings of Nelson Mandela. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and executive produced by anti-apartheid activist Mac Maharaj, the film draws from Mandela’s own words, recorded while he was writing Long Walk to Freedom, alongside archival footage and animation by South African artist Thabang Lehobye. The documentary traces Mandela’s life from childhood to the presidency, offering an intimate look at the anti-apartheid struggle and its lasting impact, with its debut set for Sundance’s Yarrow Theatre in Park City, Utah, tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27.

Uganda Army Chief Denies Assault Claim After Raid on Bobi Wine’s Home

Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has denied claims that soldiers assaulted Barbara Kyagulanyi, the wife of opposition leader Bobi Wine, during an overnight raid on their home. Wine, who is in hiding after rejecting the January 15 election results as fraudulent, says armed officers held his wife at gunpoint, assaulted her, and seized documents and electronic devices while surrounding the house. Speaking from the hospital, Kyagulanyi says officers demanded to know Wine’s whereabouts and beat her when she refused, leaving her with physical and psychological injuries.

Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, dismissed the allegations on X, saying his soldiers did not beat Kyagulanyi and insisting they were looking for Wine. The denial comes amid a broader post-election crackdown, with Kainerugaba claiming security forces killed 30 opposition supporters and detained 2,000 others, allegations that have not been independently verified. The arrest of opposition lawmaker Muwanga Kivumbi and reports of ongoing raids have drawn sharp criticism from the Uganda Law Society, which warned against detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances. Museveni (81), in power since 1986, has begun another term that would extend his rule to 45 years by 2031.

South Sudan Orders Evacuations in Jonglei as Military Prepares Major Offensive

South Sudan’s military has ordered civilians, United Nations staff, and aid workers to evacuate three counties in Jonglei State ahead of what it says is an imminent operation against opposition forces. In a statement yesterday, Sunday, January 25, the army said residents of Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo counties must move to government-controlled areas, while personnel from the UN mission and humanitarian organizations were given 48 hours to leave. The operation, dubbed “Operation Enduring Peace,” comes as fighting in Jonglei intensifies, with UN officials saying clashes are occurring at levels not seen since 2017. More than 180,000 people have already been displaced in the state, according to the UN.

The escalation follows recent gains by fighters loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition, led by suspended Vice President Riek Machar, who has denied charges of murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. The UN has raised alarm over inflammatory rhetoric by senior military figures, including calls urging troops to “spare no one,” including civilians. UNMISS said its peacekeepers in Akobo remain in place and are working to de-escalate tensions, while aid group Doctors Without Borders confirmed it has evacuated key staff due to worsening security. The renewed violence is stoking fears of a return to full-scale conflict in a country where a fragile 2018 peace deal has steadily unraveled.

Global Interpol Operation Arrests 3,700 Suspects, Aids 4,400 Trafficking Victims

A coordinated global crackdown led by Interpol resulted in the arrest of more than 3,700 suspected human traffickers and migrant smugglers and the identification of over 4,400 potential victims, the agency said Monday. Operation Liberterra III, carried out between Nov. 10 and Nov. 21 across 119 countries, involved about 14,000 officers and uncovered nearly 13,000 people caught in illegal migration schemes, with at least 720 new investigations launched. Interpol says the operation revealed shifting trafficking patterns, including South American and Asian victims being exploited in Africa, and ongoing dangers along migration routes in countries such as Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, and Algeria. West and Central African states reported rescuing more than 200 victims, while authorities also flagged growing use of online scams and recruitment schemes that trap victims in cycles of exploitation.

Islamic State-Linked Militants Kill Dozens in Eastern DRC Attacks

Islamic State-linked fighters killed at least 22 civilians in a pre-dawn attack on the village of Apakolu in eastern Congo’s Ituri Province yesterday, Sunday, January 25, according to an internal United Nations report and local civil society leaders. The attackers were identified as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which operates in eastern Congo and is recognized by the Islamic State as an affiliate, with local groups putting the death toll as high as 25 and reporting abductions. The attack followed clashes two days earlier in a nearby village, while separate ADF raids in North Kivu burned homes, shops, and a Catholic church and killed two Congolese soldiers during the army’s response. Islamic State later claimed responsibility for multiple attacks across Ituri and Lubero territories between January 23 and 26, saying 35 people were killed. Despite ongoing joint operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces, the ADF’s raids continue, with the group blamed for 138 killings in eastern Congo in November alone, according to the UN.

Senegal PM Calls AFCON Final Incidents “Deplorable” as CAF Weighs Sanctions

Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko today, Monday, January 26, described the chaos during the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco as “deplorable” and “painful,” marking the first time a senior Senegalese official has publicly acknowledged the fallout. His remarks come as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) considers disciplinary action after Senegal’s players briefly walked off the pitch to protest a VAR-awarded penalty, before returning to win 1–0 after extra time. Eighteen Senegalese fans were arrested following clashes with Moroccan security, while both federations have pursued complaints with CAF and FIFA, whose president Gianni Infantino condemned the behavior. Sonko urged restraint, framing the incidents as emotional excess rather than political or cultural conflict, as leaders from both countries stressed that the episode would not damage long-standing ties between Senegal and Morocco.

Confusion Follows U.S. Airstrikes in Nigeria as Washington and Abuja Give Different Accounts

Uncertainty surrounded surprise U.S. airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria after Washington and Abuja offered differing explanations of what was hit, with both saying the targets were linked to Islamic State but providing limited detail. The strikes, launched from maritime platforms and later described by Nigeria as hitting two IS enclaves in Sokoto State’s Tangaza district, were publicly claimed first by Donald Trump, who said he delayed them on Christmas for symbolism, sparking criticism over sovereignty and transparency. Nigerian officials say intelligence was shared and authorization came from President Bola Tinubu, while later acknowledging debris struck nearby villages. Analysts questioned why the northwest was targeted, given jihadist activity is concentrated in the northeast, and critics said the mixed messaging and timing fueled doubts about the operation’s clarity and impact, even as both countries said more strikes could follow.

Al Shabaab Kills Local Chief and Teacher in Kenya Border Attack

Suspected al Shabaab militants killed a local chief and a teacher in Hulugho, a remote area of northeastern Kenya near the Somalia border, Kenyan police said today, Monday, January 26. Authorities say security had been reinforced and a multi-agency team was pursuing the attackers, urging residents to stay calm and cooperate with security forces. Al Shabaab, which controls large parts of southern and central Somalia, has repeatedly carried out cross-border attacks in the region, which analysts say are meant to pressure Kenya to withdraw its troops from peacekeeping missions in Somalia. The area has seen similar violence before, including deadly attacks reported in June 2023.

One Survivor Rescued as Dozens Feared Dead in Mediterranean Boat Sinking

A migrant was rescued and about 50 others are feared drowned after a boat sank in the Mediterranean, officials said yesterday, Sunday, January 25. The survivor tells Alarm Phone he spent 24 hours at sea and believed everyone else on board had died. The boat had departed from Tunisia, a major launch point for perilous crossings to Europe. The man was picked up by a merchant ship off Tunisia and taken to Malta for medical treatment, according to Malta’s armed forces, which did not specify the rescue time.