Today in Africa — July 23, 2026: South Africa Faces ICC Petition Over Attacks on African Migrants, Sahel States Advance AFCON 2032 Bid

The petition accuses President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of failing to prevent or prosecute attacks on migrants, while South Africa has dismissed it as “opportunistic” and defended its legal framework.

Ramaphosa has previously condemned attacks on foreign nationals and warned against blaming immigrants for the country’s economic and social challenges.

Companies joining the Trusted Employer Scheme must ensure at least 60% of their workforce consists of South African citizens or permanent residents.

The expanded program offers faster visa processing for executives, technical specialists, professionals, and investors at approved companies in strategic sectors.

The International Criminal Court has not yet responded to the request for a preliminary investigation.

CAF recently invited its 54 member associations to bid for the 2028, 2032, and 2036 AFCON tournaments.

The governing body says the selection process will follow a transparent framework developed with support from PwC and other technical, financial, and legal advisers.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe met with the three countries’ football federation presidents in New York on July 18 and encouraged them to continue preparing their bid.

The 2027 AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, continuing the trend toward multi-country tournaments.

If selected, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger would become the first three neighboring Sahel countries to jointly host the competition.

Nearly 90% of cases are concentrated in Ituri province, though infections have also been confirmed in five provinces, including Kisangani, and in neighboring Uganda.

Only about 77% of known contacts are being monitored, well below the 95% target needed to interrupt transmission.

The World Health Organization says the risk remains “very high” in DR Congo and “high” in neighboring countries, but assesses the global risk as low.

Researchers have launched the first clinical trial of two experimental treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, though results could take months.

Fighting involving armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces, continues to disrupt surveillance, testing, and access to affected communities.