Today in Africa — July 30, 2026: Oprah Winfrey to Close South Africa Girls’ School, New U.S. Tariffs Hit Seven African Economies

Ebola Death Toll in DR Congo Surpasses 1,500

The death toll from eastern DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 1,500, making it the fastest-growing outbreak on record as response efforts continue to face major setbacks. Health officials say delayed case reporting, violence, community mistrust, and attacks on treatment facilities have slowed efforts to contain the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccine or treatment.

Ghana Backs Five-Year Presidential Term

Ghana’s government has accepted a recommendation to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from four years to five, saying the change would give administrations more time to govern before election cycles begin. The proposal, along with plans to lower the minimum presidential age to 35, must still go through the legislative process, with the term-limit changes requiring a national referendum.

AU to Debate Migration After Ghana Raises South Africa Xenophobia Concerns

The African Union will hold a broader discussion on migration after rejecting a proposal to single out xenophobic violence in South Africa as a standalone agenda item. South African officials said member states agreed to focus instead on the factors driving migration across the continent following concerns raised by Ghana.

Nigeria Destroys More Than 2,800 Illicit Weapons

Nigeria’s arms control agency destroyed 2,819 illicit, obsolete, and decommissioned weapons in a public exercise aimed at preventing them from returning to circulation. Officials say more than 21,000 illegal weapons have been seized and over 19,000 destroyed since the agency was established in 2021.

U.S. Apologizes After AI-Generated Africa Map Mislabels Every Country

The U.S. State Department apologized after an AI-generated map shown during a presentation at the AIDS 2026 conference mislabeled every African country. The department said it took full responsibility for the mistake, attributing it to a last-minute edit, while OpenAI said it was investigating after Reuters identified its watermark on the image.

South Sudan Replaces Central Bank Governor

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed central bank governor Johnny Ohisa Damian and replaced him with Addis Ababa Othow, who previously held the post. The move comes amid broader government reshuffles as the country grapples with inflation, currency depreciation, cash shortages, and declining oil revenues.

Thousands Cross Into Spain’s Ceuta From Morocco

Thousands of migrants crossed into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, prompting local officials to call for a national emergency and military support at the border. Spain said it would reinforce border security but ruled out declaring a national emergency, while Madrid and Rabat agreed to work together to return people who entered illegally.

New Dinosaur Species Discovered in Zimbabwe

Scientists have identified a new dinosaur species from Zimbabwe, named Musango matusadonaensis, offering fresh insight into the diversity of dinosaurs that lived across southern Africa 210 million years ago. Researchers say the discovery suggests ancient Gondwana was composed of distinct ecosystems rather than a single, uniform environment.

Pesticide Poisoning Suspected in Deaths of 15 Kenya Elephants

Kenyan wildlife officials believe 15 elephants found dead near Amboseli National Park were poisoned after eating tomatoes sprayed with pesticides on nearby farms. Preliminary tests detected cyanide in samples from the carcasses, though authorities say there is no evidence of deliberate poisoning and investigations are continuing.