NEWS

Today in Africa — June 12, 2026: Mali Militant Group Targets Junta Leaders, Niger Criminalizes Same-Sex Relationships

OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On June 12, coverage includes: a multi-million-dollar bounty announced by an al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group for information leading to Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goïta; a newly enacted penal code that introduces prison terms for LGBTQIA+ people in Niger; and more. 

Camouflage-clad Mali junta leader, Assimi Goïta, seated at a desk in a graphic cutout illustration.
JNIM is on the hunt for Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goïta, offering a reward of over $2 million for information on his whereabouts.

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.

JNIM Offers Reward for Information on Mali’s Junta Leader

Mali’s al Qaeda-linked militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has offered millions of euros for information on the whereabouts of transitional president Assimi Goïta and two senior military officials. The announcement comes after Mali’s government issued its own rewards for information leading to the capture of JNIM leader Iyad Ag Ghaly and other militant commanders, underscoring escalating tensions between the junta and insurgent groups.

What to Know:

 • JNIM offered €2 million ($2.3 million) for information leading to Assimi Goita.
• The group also offered €1 million each for information on Colonel Lassina Diallo and General Malik Dicko.
• The rewards were announced in a statement shared by SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity.
• JNIM described Mali’s government as an illegitimate authority.
• The offer follows intensified fighting in northern Mali after al Qaeda-linked attacks in April that killed the country’s defense minister.

Niger Criminalizes Same-Sex Relationships Under New Penal Code

Niger’s military-led government has enacted a new penal code that criminalizes same-sex relationships, introducing prison sentences of five to 10 years and fines for people found guilty of what the law describes as LGBTQIA+ acts. The law, which took effect yesterday, Thursday, June 11, also extends penalties to people involved in organizing or witnessing same-sex marriages, making Niger the latest African country to adopt stricter anti-LGBTQ legislation.

What the Law Does:

 • Justice ministry adviser Hamidou Julien confirmed the new code took effect on June 11.
• Homosexuality was previously not illegal in Niger, though it remained widely stigmatized.
• The law also targets marriage officiants, witnesses, organizers, and others who consent to same-sex marriages.
• More than 30 African countries criminalize same-sex sexual acts.
• In some countries, including Somalia, Uganda, and Mauritania, same-sex relations can carry the death penalty.

First Ebola Deaths Reported in DR Congo Displacement Camp

The United Nations refugee agency has confirmed the first Ebola-related deaths in a displacement camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where aid groups fear the virus could spread rapidly among thousands of people living in overcrowded conditions. A mother and daughter living in the Kpangba camp in Ituri province died after contracting Ebola, as health officials reported 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths across three affected provinces and warned that gaps in surveillance may mean the outbreak is more widespread than official figures show.

Why Aid Groups Are Concerned:

 • Kpangba camp hosts around 30,000 internally displaced people.
• Health officials identified at least eight contacts linked to the infected woman, raising concerns about further transmission.
• The Danish Refugee Council warned that fear of infection could trigger panic and new waves of displacement.
• The World Health Organization says only about 250 isolation beds are available across the three affected provinces.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no approved vaccine or treatment.

In Brief: More Stories Today

Kenyan Killed During Protest Against U.S.-Backed Ebola Facility Was a Teen

The Kenyan who was killed during clashes between police and protesters opposing a planned U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine center at Laikipia Air Base has been identified as 17-year-old Kenyan, Sylvester Muigai Ndung’u. His mother found his body in a mortuary two days after he went missing, while authorities say they are awaiting a post-mortem to determine whether he was killed by a bullet or a tear-gas canister.

Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay Handed Four-Month Doping Ban

Ethiopian distance runner Gudaf Tsegay has been banned for four months after testing positive for a metabolite of letrozole, a substance she said was prescribed to treat a medical condition. The Athletics Integrity Unit said her suspension runs through Sept. 30, and all results dating back to Dec. 5, 2025, have been disqualified after a request for a retroactive therapeutic use exemption was rejected.

Tinubu Pledges Tougher Security Measures Amid Rising Attacks

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu used his country’s Democracy Day celebrations to warn armed groups to surrender or face the full force of the state, as kidnappings and attacks continue to fuel insecurity. He announced plans to recruit more than 50,000 police officers and highlighted increased defense spending, while acknowledging concerns over recent school abductions in Oyo and Borno states.

Somaliland Defends Taiwan Ties Despite Pressure From China and Somalia

Somaliland’s representative in Taiwan says the self-declared republic will continue its relationship with Taipei despite pressure from both China and Somalia. Speaking at the opening of a new Somaliland office in Taiwan, Mahmoud Adam Jama Galaal says Somaliland has the right to choose its own partners and that political pressure has not changed that position.

Nigeria Fines Indian Crew, Vessel $6 Million in Cocaine Case

A Nigerian court has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, after authorities found 31.5 kilograms of cocaine hidden aboard the ship at Lagos’ Apapa port. The court imposed about $6 million in fines, including $5.3 million against the vessel, in what authorities say is part of a wider effort to disrupt international drug trafficking routes.

Sierra Leone First Lady’s London Council Property Reclaimed

Southwark Council in London says it has taken possession of a council-owned property linked to Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio, following a year-long investigation. The council said the home will be returned to its intended purpose of housing families in need, though it did not allege criminal wrongdoing or say Bio had been evicted.

Iranian Activist Deported From U.S. to Central African Republic

An Iranian pro-democracy activist has been deported from the U.S. to the Central African Republic, according to her lawyer, who called the transfer dangerous because the activist has no ties to the country. Rights groups say the case is part of a broader U.S. policy of sending some migrants to third countries under agreements that critics argue bypass legal protections against repatriation.