Today in Africa — Mar 10, 2026: Madagascar Dissolves Government, Eliud Kipchoge to Run First-Ever Marathon on African Soil

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.

Madagascar Military Leader Dissolves Government, Dismisses Prime Minister

Madagascar’s military ruler, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, has dissolved the government and dismissed the prime minister and the entire cabinet in an unexpected move, according to a statement from his spokesperson. The announcement says the government had “ceased its functions,” adding that Randrianirina will appoint a new prime minister in line with constitutional provisions. Permanent secretaries will temporarily oversee ministries while a new cabinet is formed. No official reason was given for the mass dismissals.

Randrianirina seized power last October after weeks of youth-led protests over persistent power and water shortages, which ended when the army sided with demonstrators against then-president Andry Rajoelina, who had won a disputed third term in 2023. The military leader has pledged to hold elections within two years, though regional bloc SADC previously urged authorities to present a clear roadmap toward democratic rule. Activist groups that helped drive the protests have recently criticized the transition process and demanded greater inclusion in decision-making, while some leaders even issued a 72-hour ultimatum calling for Randrianirina’s resignation.

Eliud Kipchoge to Launch Global Marathon Tour in Cape Town

Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has announced that the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will be the first stop on his new global running initiative, Eliud’s Running World, a seven-race tour in which he plans to run marathons on every continent. The race, scheduled for May 24, will mark Kipchoge’s first-ever marathon on African soil. The two-time Olympic champion and the first person to run a marathon in under two hours said starting the tour in Cape Town holds special meaning because Africa is where his running journey began.

The project will unfold over the next two years and aims to inspire people worldwide to embrace running while raising funds for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, which supports education and environmental conservation in underserved communities. Organizers expect more than 27,000 runners at the 2026 race, as the Cape Town Marathon continues its push to become Africa’s first event in the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. More locations for Kipchoge’s seven-continent tour are expected to be announced later this week.

Congo-Brazzaville’s Sassou Nguesso Seeks to Extend Decades-Long Rule in Election

Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso is expected to extend his decades-long rule in Sunday’s election, as the 82-year-old leader faces six challengers in a vote critics say lacks transparency. Sassou first seized power in a 1979 coup, lost the country’s first multiparty election in 1992, then returned to power after a 1997 civil war. He has ruled for nearly 42 years in total, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Two major opposition parties are boycotting the election, and several potential challengers are either jailed or in exile, while the electoral commission is dominated by figures linked to the ruling Congolese Labour Party.

A 2015 constitutional reform reset presidential term limits and allowed Sassou to remain in power, but it also set a cap of three five-year mandates, meaning this could be his final term unless the rules change again. Analysts say attention is already turning to who might succeed him, with possible contenders including his son Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso and close allies within the ruling circle. While the government points to modest economic growth after a decade-long downturn, poverty remains widespread, with more than half the country’s 6.1 million people living below the poverty line and youth unemployment around 42%.

U.S. Embassy in Nigeria Warns of Possible Terror Threat to American Facilities

The U.S. embassy in Nigeria has warned American citizens of a possible terrorist threat targeting U.S. facilities and affiliated schools in the country. In a security alert issued yesterday, Monday, March 9, the embassy urged Americans to take extra precautions when visiting the embassy in Abuja and the U.S. consulate in Lagos, as well as U.S.-affiliated schools. The warning comes as the embassy remains on heightened alert following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. Nigerian authorities have recently increased security in Abuja amid threats of pro-Iranian protests. In northern Nigeria, where there is a sizable Shi’ite Muslim minority influenced by Iran, thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in support of Iran. The embassy did not provide specific details about the nature of the potential threat.

Lawsuit Seeks to Block End of U.S. Protections for Somali Immigrants

Immigrant rights advocates have filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 1,100 Somali immigrants living in the United States. The case, filed in federal court in Boston by four Somali plaintiffs and two advocacy groups, challenges the Department of Homeland Security’s plan to terminate the program on March 17. TPS allows eligible migrants to live and work legally in the U.S., and Somalia has held the designation since 1991 due to ongoing instability and conflict. The lawsuit argues the decision was procedurally flawed and driven by discriminatory bias rather than conditions in Somalia, where fighting with al-Shabaab militants continues. The plaintiffs also cite public remarks by President Donald Trump about Somalis as evidence of prejudice. The administration says TPS was never intended to be a permanent immigration program and has moved to end the status for several countries, while legal challenges are also underway over plans to terminate protections for Haitians and Syrians.

UN Refuses South Sudan Order to Close Peacekeeping Base in Akobo

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan says it will not comply with a government order to shut down its peacekeeping base in the opposition-held town of Akobo, near the Ethiopian border, where tens of thousands of displaced civilians have sought refuge. The South Sudanese army ordered UN peacekeepers, aid groups, and residents to leave the town ahead of a planned military assault, but the mission says it will remain to provide protection for civilians and warned that any military operation there could endanger lives. The standoff comes as fighting between government forces and opposition troops has intensified since the collapse of a 2018 peace deal, displacing more than 280,000 people. Aid groups say civilians fleeing Akobo face severe shortages of food, medicine, and medical equipment, while Western governments involved in the peace process have urged President Salva Kiir to revoke the evacuation order to avoid further deaths and displacement.

U.S., Mali Near Deal to Resume Intelligence Flights Over Sahel

The United States is close to reaching a deal with Mali that would allow American aircraft and drones to fly over the country to gather intelligence on jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda, according to U.S. officials. The move follows Washington’s decision last month to lift sanctions on Mali’s defense minister and other senior officials, a step Mali had requested to improve relations. U.S. officials hope the agreement will help monitor militant groups operating across Mali’s vast territory and assist in efforts to locate an American pilot kidnapped in neighboring Niger and believed to be held in Mali by the al–Qaeda–linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin.