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Today in Africa — July 31, 2026: HRW Alleges Russia-Backed Air Strike Killed Civilians in Mali, Church of England Reaffirms £100 Million Slavery Reparations Fund

OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On July 31, coverage includes: renewed calls for an investigation into eight civilian deaths during Mali’s military campaign against Islamist groups; the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit to Ghana, where she acknowledged the Church’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and defended its reparative justice efforts; and more.

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Lihle Z. Mtshali Today in Africa & Newsletter Editor
Camouflage-clad Mali junta leader, Assimi Goïta, seated at a desk in a graphic cutout illustration.
HRW is calling on the Mali government, led by General Assimi Goïta, to investigate the attack, saying the government also bears responsibility for abuses committed by allied forces.

Standing intro blurb: 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.

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HRW Accuses Africa Corps of Killing Eight Civilians in Mali Air Strike

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps killed eight civilians, including three children, in air strikes on the central Malian village of Kyrnia on June 15. The rights group said the strikes appeared to be indiscriminate and found no evidence that fighters from the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM, which controls the village, were among those killed.

Calls for Accountability

  • HRW said one strike hit near the village chief’s home, while another struck a cattle market.

  • Africa Corps released aerial footage claiming it had targeted a gathering of “terrorist groups,” which HRW said it geolocated to Kyrnia.

  • Residents told HRW that JNIM fighters were in the village but gathered at a mosque that was not hit.

  • Russia and Mali had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.

  • HRW called on Mali to investigate the attack, saying the government also bears responsibility for abuses committed by allied forces.

  • Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project found that Malian forces and their Russian allies killed 918 civilians last year, nearly four times as many as their main Islamist opponents.

Archbishop of Canterbury Reaffirms £100 Million Reparations Fund in Ghana

The Archbishop of Canterbury has reaffirmed the Church of England’s commitment to its £100 million (about $135 million) reparative justice fund during a visit to Ghana’s Cape Coast Castle, where enslaved Africans were held before being shipped across the Atlantic. Dame Sarah Mullally said the Church played a clear role in the transatlantic slave trade and that repentance requires action to support communities still living with its legacy.

The Bigger Picture

  • Cape Coast Castle came under British control in the 1660s and served as a major departure point for enslaved Africans.

  • The Church established the fund three years ago after an audit found its historical endowment had ties to slavery, including investments in a slave-trading company.

  • The fund will support investment, research, and engagement in communities affected by the transatlantic slave trade.

  • The initiative has faced criticism from some who dispute the Church’s level of involvement or oppose the fund on legal and ideological grounds.

  • Ghana, which has called for global reparations for slavery, praised the Archbishop’s visit as an important step toward accountability.

At Least 57 Migrants Die During Rush Across Morocco-Spain Border

Spain says it has reversed a surge in mass migration into the North African enclave of Ceuta, with most of the more than 50,000 people who crossed from Morocco by land and sea over just 24 hours voluntarily returning. Spanish authorities said at least 57 bodies have been recovered on the Spanish side of the border, some of whom drowned and some were crushed trying to climb the breakwater that holds the border fence. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the crossings a violation of the country’s territorial sovereignty and pledged to speed up repatriations with Morocco’s cooperation.

Regional Fallout

  • Moroccan security forces used batons and tear gas to stop more people from crossing into Ceuta.

  • Some migrants returned voluntarily, saying they could not find food or shelter after entering the enclave.

  • France tightened checks at its border with Spain, while Italy threatened to suspend Spain from the Schengen free-travel area over the crisis.

  • Spanish officials said a recent Supreme Court ruling on migrants intercepted at sea may have contributed to the surge, though experts say it does not prevent deportations.

  • The mass crossing has intensified debate over migration policy across Europe, with Spain defending its approach while facing criticism from other European governments.

In Brief: More Stories Today

At Least 25 Killed in Algeria Bus Crash

At least 25 people were killed and 44 injured after a passenger bus overturned in Algeria’s Boumerdès governorate, according to the Civil Protection agency. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, while Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited victims receiving treatment at the University Hospital of Boumerdès.

DR Congo’s Ebola Outbreak Becomes World’s Second Largest

DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has become the world’s second largest on record, with 3,532 confirmed cases and 1,556 deaths less than three months after it began. Health officials say the Bundibugyo strain continues to spread faster than response efforts can keep pace, while insecurity, funding shortfalls, and aid restrictions hamper containment.

UN Condemns Uganda’s Crackdown on Opposition

The United Nations has accused Uganda of intensifying its crackdown on dissent, citing arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, and growing restrictions on opposition groups, journalists, and civil society. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the government is creating a climate of fear, with the criticism coming a day after opposition leader Kizza Besigye was hospitalized after collapsing in court.

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