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Today in Africa — June 16, 2026: DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Could Be Worst on Record, Kenya Launches Reparations for Protest Victims

OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On June 16, coverage includes: growing fears that a rapidly expanding Ebola epidemic could overwhelm response efforts across eastern DR Congo as critical funding and resources fall short; Kenya’s decision to compensate thousands of people affected by protest-related human rights abuses in a bid to support national healing; and more.

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Lihle Z. Mtshali Today in Africa & Newsletter Editor
Protesters stand near a burning barricade with thick black smoke rising in downtown Nairobi.
The Kenyan government says it will begin compensating nearly 2,000 people who suffered human rights abuses during protests.

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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Africa CDC Warns DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Could Become Worst on Record

The head of Africa CDC has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could become the worst ever if major gaps in the response are not addressed quickly. More than 800 cases and 192 deaths from the rare Bundibugyo strain have been reported across three provinces, and officials say shortages of funding, treatment centers, contact tracing, burial teams, and protective equipment are hampering efforts to contain the disease.

Why Officials Are Alarmed:

  • Africa CDC says only 12% of contacts linked to confirmed Ebola cases are currently being monitored.

  • African leaders launched a six-month, $518 million response plan, but less than $100 million has been secured so far.

  • Africa CDC warned funding needs could rise to $1.5 billion within weeks and eventually reach $7.5 billion if the outbreak continues to spread.

  • The Red Cross says the outbreak has not yet peaked and could take up to a year to bring under control.

  • Aid workers report facing threats, attacks, and resistance from communities, while unsafe burial practices continue to drive transmission.

Kenya to Compensate Nearly 2,000 Victims of Protest-Related Abuses

Kenya will begin compensating nearly 2,000 people who suffered human rights abuses during protests, in what President William Ruto described as a national effort to acknowledge harm and support healing. The government expects to pay out about $15 million through a state-led reparations process, with payments set to begin next week after beneficiaries are vetted by the national human rights commission.

What to Know:

  • The compensation program covers victims of protest-related abuses and is administered outside the court system.

  • Recent protests over a planned Ebola quarantine center for Americans left three people dead and dozens injured.

  • Anti-government demonstrations in June 2024 and June 2025 resulted in dozens of deaths, hundreds of injuries, and extensive property damage.

  • Ruto said the payments should not be seen as an admission of government guilt or as a reward for violence.

  • Kenya’s National Commission on Human Rights said the reparations process is intended to promote truth, recognition, remembrance, and national healing.

Ramaphosa Urges South Africans Not to Blame Migrants for Country’s Problems

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against scapegoating migrants for the country’s economic and social challenges, saying issues such as unemployment, crime, and inequality require real solutions rather than blame. His comments come as anti-immigrant tensions continue to rise ahead of a June 30 deadline set by activist groups for undocumented foreigners to leave the country, prompting concern across Africa and renewed debate over xenophobia in South Africa.

What’s Happening:

  • Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said some South African artists and businesses are facing lost opportunities elsewhere in Africa because of growing accusations of xenophobia.

  • Ghana, Nigeria, and Malawi have evacuated some of their citizens from South Africa amid recent tensions.

  • A coalition of more than 120 civil society groups has launched a nationwide campaign opposing vigilante action and anti-migrant rhetoric.

  • The Democratic Alliance has called for Parliament’s security committees to meet urgently over threats linked to anti-immigration protests.

  • Government officials say immigration enforcement has been intensified at South Africa’s borders, but insist private citizens cannot take enforcement into their own hands.

In Brief: More Stories Today

Equatorial Guinea Government Resigns

Equatorial Guinea’s government has resigned after achieving less than 10% of its objectives, according to Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue. Officials did not specify which targets were missed, while the ruling party described the move as part of a broader reorganization of government institutions.

Nigerian Court Orders Deregistration of Opposition Party

A Nigerian court has ordered the electoral commission to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ruling that they failed to meet constitutional requirements for electoral performance. The decision could complicate the opposition’s plans ahead of January’s elections, though the ADC has rejected the ruling and said it will appeal.

Mobile Industry Could Add $290 Billion to Africa’s Economy by 2030

Mobile technologies are expected to contribute $290 billion to Africa’s economy by 2030, according to a new GSMA report. The industry group says the biggest challenge is no longer network coverage but getting more people online, with 63% of Africans living within mobile broadband coverage but not using mobile internet.

Ugandan Opposition Lawyer Arrested

Ugandan opposition figure and lawyer Erias Lukwago has been arrested by security forces, according to his People’s Front for Freedom party. Lukwago represents detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye and has also sued military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who later posted on social media that he had “captured a fool and taken him to the basement.”

Former Central African Republic President Goes on Trial

A United Nations-backed court in the Central African Republic has opened the trial of former President François Bozizé, who is accused of crimes against humanity linked to abuses allegedly committed by his security forces between 2009 and 2013. Bozizé is being tried in absentia from exile in Guinea-Bissau and is the highest-ranking official ever prosecuted by the Special Criminal Court.

Nigeria Puts Hundreds More Suspected Militants on Trial

Nigeria has launched another round of mass terrorism trials, with hundreds of suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) members appearing before a federal court in Abuja. The proceedings are part of the government’s long-running strategy to combat an insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced at least two million people.

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