Today in Africa — Mar 11, 2026: UNICEF Worker Killed in Goma Drone Strike, Civilians Flee Tigray Amid Rising War Fears

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.

Drone Explosions Rock Goma as Conflict With M23 Escalates

A series of drone explosions struck downtown Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo early this morning, Wednesday, March 11, killing at least one person and shaking areas near Lake Kivu, according to residents and a spokesperson for the M23 rebel group. One strike hit a private residence about 50 meters from the home of former President Joseph Kabila. M23 said three people were killed, though local residents reported seeing one body. Among the victims was Karine Buisset, a French national and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) employee who was inside the residence when the attack occurred.

M23 blamed the Congolese government for the drone strike, while authorities had not responded publicly at the time of reporting. French President Emmanuel Macron offered condolences to Buisset’s family and called for respect for humanitarian law and the protection of aid workers. Fighting between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 has intensified since early 2025 after the rebel group captured key eastern cities, worsening a humanitarian crisis that has already displaced at least 7 million people.

Civilians Flee Tigray as Tensions Rise Between Ethiopian and Regional Forces

Hundreds of civilians are leaving Ethiopia’s Tigray region as fears grow that fighting could resume less than four years after a peace deal ended the civil war there. In the regional capital Mekelle, residents are boarding buses and flights out of the area while federal and Tigrayan forces reportedly mass along their shared border. The 2022 peace agreement that halted the conflict has not been fully implemented, and relations remain tense amid worsening ties between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea, which borders Tigray.

Residents say daily life is already deteriorating. Shortages of fuel and other basic goods are worsening, prices are rising, and many civil servants have gone unpaid as federal subsidies to the region have been cut for months. Towns near the front lines are growing quieter as people leave, with locals saying troops have gathered nearby and sporadic clashes earlier this year have deepened fears of a renewed war. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says he does not want another conflict, but both federal and Tigrayan leaders accuse each other of escalating the crisis.

South Africa Deploys Soldiers to Help Police Tackle Gang Violence and Illegal Mining

South African soldiers were deployed on the streets of Johannesburg today, Wednesday, March 11, as part of a government plan to support police in combating gang violence and illegal mining. A convoy of military vehicles was seen moving through the Riverlea suburb, where soldiers entered apartment blocks during operations in an area long affected by organized crime. President Cyril Ramaphosa previously announced the move in his annual address, calling organized crime the greatest threat to the country’s democracy and economic development.

The initial deployment will place about 550 soldiers in Gauteng province, including Johannesburg, under police command until at least the end of April. Authorities plan to expand the operation across five provinces, targeting illegal mining in Gauteng, North West, and Free State, and gang violence in the Western and Eastern Cape. South Africa continues to face high levels of violent crime, with police reporting 6,351 homicides between October and December 2025, an average of nearly 70 killings a day.

Young Voters Show Little Faith Ahead of Congo-Brazzaville Election

Many young people in the Republic of Congo say they have little expectation that Sunday’s presidential election will bring meaningful change, with longtime leader Denis Sassou N’Guesso widely expected to win another term. Some voters say they plan to boycott the vote, arguing that the outcome is predetermined after decades of the 82-year-old president's rule and a fragmented opposition. Youth unemployment stands at about 41 percent, and critics say the country’s oil wealth has not translated into jobs or improved living conditions for many citizens. Sassou N’Guesso, who first seized power in 1979 and has ruled for a combined 42 years, faces six challengers but little organized opposition. Several major opposition figures are boycotting the vote, citing concerns about fairness, while analysts say the election largely serves to reinforce the ruling party’s hold on power. With nearly half the population under 18, some young Congolese say they still hope for change in the future even as they feel shut out of the current political system.

Middle East War Adds Economic Pressure on Egypt

The U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran is increasing economic pressure on Egypt by raising energy costs, weakening the currency, and triggering foreign investor selloffs of government debt, analysts say. Foreign investors have likely withdrawn between $5 billion and $8 billion from Egyptian treasury markets since the conflict began in late February, pushing the Egyptian pound from around 47 to more than 52 per dollar. Egypt, which relies on foreign investment to help cover its large budget deficit and pay for imports such as gas and wheat, is particularly vulnerable, as it already faces high debt and persistent inflation. Rising energy prices and disruptions to Israeli gas supplies have forced Egypt to raise domestic fuel prices for the second time in less than six months, while higher shipping and insurance costs are also weighing on exports. Early government data showed export declarations dropped sharply in the first days of the conflict, including steep declines in shipments to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Officials say Egypt still has strong foreign reserves and hedging contracts to stabilize energy costs, but economists warn that a prolonged conflict could push inflation higher and further strain the country’s finances.

Bellarmine Mugabe Drops Bail Bid in South Africa Attempted Murder Case

Bellarmine Mugabe, the youngest son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, appeared in a South African court today, Wednesday, March 11, where he withdrew his application for bail in a case in which he faces charges including attempted murder. The 28-year-old is accused of involvement in a shooting that left a 23-year-old man injured at a property in an upscale Johannesburg suburb. Mugabe, who is charged alongside his bodyguard, has not commented publicly on the allegations but agreed to enter plea negotiations with prosecutors. His lawyer says it is too early to say whether Mugabe will plead guilty, and the case is scheduled to return to court next Tuesday. Bellarmine is one of the children of Robert Mugabe and former first lady Grace Mugabe. Members of the Mugabe family have faced scrutiny over the years, including legal controversies involving Bellarmine and his brother Robert Jr., while Grace Mugabe also has an outstanding arrest warrant in South Africa linked to an alleged assault case from 2017.

White South Africans in the U.S. Are Returning Home Despite Refugee Narrative

Thousands of white South Africans who had previously settled in the United States are returning to South Africa and reclaiming their citizenship, even as the Trump administration promotes a refugee program claiming Afrikaners face persecution. South Africa’s government says there is no evidence of such persecution, and official data shows many white South Africans are choosing to return for reasons including family ties, lower living costs, and political or social tensions abroad. Since a 1995 law that stripped some emigrants of citizenship was overturned, about 12,000 people have checked their status through a government portal, and roughly 1,000 have already reclaimed citizenship. Return migration has been rising in recent years, with nearly 15,000 white South Africans returning in 2022 alone, according to official statistics. Recruitment agencies report a surge in inquiries from expats considering moving back, driven in part by the rise of remote work, which allows professionals to keep their overseas jobs while living in South Africa. Officials say the number reclaiming citizenship is expected to grow as the program expands.

Former Congo Football Chief Sentenced to Life for Embezzling FIFA Funds

A court in Brazzaville has sentenced former Republic of Congo football federation president Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas to life in prison for embezzling about $1.1 million in FIFA funds, though he remains at large after being tried in absentia. Prosecutors say Mayolas diverted money meant for the national federation, including a $500,000 grant intended to support women’s football through FIFA’s COVID-19 relief program, and that promised competitions and infrastructure projects were never carried out. His son Lionel Mayolas also received a life sentence in absentia, while federation secretary general Badji Mombo Wantete and treasurer Raoul Kanda were each sentenced to five years for their roles in the scheme. FIFA suspended the Congolese federation last year after the government removed Mayolas from office, a move that led the country to forfeit two 2026 World Cup qualifying matches before the suspension was lifted in May.