Today in Africa — Mar 18, 2026: Senegal Wants Investigation Into "Suspected Corruption" at CAF, Belgian Diplomat Faces Trial Over Lumumba Assassination

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.

Senegal Vows to Challenge CAF Decision to Declare Morocco AFCON Champions After Appeal

Senegal has condemned the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for stripping it of its Africa Cup of Nations title, calling it “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable.” Morocco was declared the champion yesterday, Tuesday, March 17, after CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal’s 14-minute walk-off during the January 18 final in Rabat violated tournament rules, leading to a forfeited 3-0 result in favor of the hosts. Senegal had originally won the match in extra time after Pape Gueye scored the winner, following Morocco’s missed stoppage-time penalty. The walk-off was triggered by a controversial late penalty decision and was led by coach Papa Bouna Thiaw, who has since been handed a five-game ban in Africa. When play resumed, the referee allowed the game to continue rather than awarding Morocco the win at that moment, a point that could be central to Senegal’s challenge. 

The Senegalese federation says it will appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, arguing that the referee’s decision to continue the match should stand under the laws of the game, with secretary general Abdoulaye Seydou Sow saying, “This decision is a breach of trust that is not based on any rule of law… We will stop at nothing. The law is on our side. The fight is far from over.” The Senegalese government has called for an “independent international investigation” into “suspected corruption” at CAF, rejecting what it described as an “unprecedented and exceptionally serious decision” based on a “manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations” and a “grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision,” adding that “Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession.” 

The ruling has drawn criticism from figures across African football, with some saying it undermines trust in CAF’s decision-making. The case echoes past disputes, including a 2019 Champions League final controversy that also went to arbitration. CAF had previously fined both federations more than $1 million over the incident, but yesterday it reduced Morocco player Ismaël Saibari’s ban from three matches to one and scrapped his $100,000 fine for unsporting behavior. It also reduced the fine against the Moroccan federation for ball-boy conduct from $200,000 to $50,000, while reducing another unspecified fine. Senegal’s players reacted to the decision with sarcasm and defiance on social media, posting photos and pointed messages. Pathe Ciss shared an image of himself with the trophy, writing, “You can give the crybabies three more goals,” while Mamadou Lamine Camara asked, “Who will come and collect our medals?” and joked about Morocco’s parade. Moussa Niakhate added, “This is not AI, this is real,” and El Hadji Malick Diouf wrote, “This trophy is won on the pitch, not by email,” with Boulaye Dia saying, “You don’t create emotions; you have to experience them.” Idrissa Gueye struck a more reflective tone, writing, “Titles, trophies, medals – all of that is fleeting. What really matters is that every fan can go home to their families… We know what we lived that evening in Rabat. And no one can take that away from us.”

Belgian Diplomat to Stand Trial Over Patrice Lumumba Assassination

A Brussels court has ordered former Belgian diplomat Count Etienne Davignon, 93, to stand trial over the 1961 assassination of Congo’s first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, marking the first prosecution linked to the killing. Prosecutors accuse Davignon, who was a junior diplomat at the time, of involvement in Lumumba’s unlawful detention, transfer, and degrading treatment, as well as in the deaths of his political allies Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito. Lumumba was overthrown and killed just months after leading Congo to independence from Belgium in 1960, in a case long tied to colonial and Cold War tensions.

Belgium previously acknowledged “moral responsibility” for Lumumba’s death, but this trial is seen as a key step toward accountability after decades of unanswered questions. Lumumba remains a powerful anti-colonial symbol across Africa, and his family has pushed for justice for years. “It is a step in the right direction,” his granddaughter Yema Lumumba says, adding, “What we want is to search for truth and establish different responsibilities.” Davignon, who later held senior roles in European and global institutions, was not present in court, and his lawyer declined to comment.

Sassou Nguesso Wins Re-Election With 94.8%, Extending Decades-Long Rule in Congo-Brazzaville

Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected with an unsurprising 94.82% of the vote, extending his nearly 42-year hold on power, according to state television. The 82-year-old faced six little-known challengers in a tightly controlled election that the main opposition parties boycotted over concerns about transparency. Voting on Sunday saw reports of late openings at polling stations and a nationwide internet blackout, while observers noted low turnout in parts of the capital despite an official turnout figure of 84.65%. Sassou’s closest rival secured just 1.48% of the vote, and candidates have five days to contest the results before final confirmation.

Sassou, who first took power in 1979 and returned after a civil war in 1997, has remained in office through constitutional changes that removed term and age limits. This new term is expected to be his last, putting focus on succession within the ruling party. While the oil-dependent economy has stabilized after years of downturn and an International Monetary Fund program, more than half the population still lives in poverty, with limited access to basic services. The government also faces ongoing corruption allegations, including investigations abroad into assets linked to Sassou’s family.

Somalia’s South West State Cuts Ties With Federal Government Amid Rising Tensions

Somalia’s South West state has suspended all cooperation with the federal government in Mogadishu, accusing it of arming militias and attempting to unseat regional president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. The move deepens ongoing tensions over constitutional changes, elections, and the balance of power between federal and regional authorities. Relations worsened after Mogadishu pushed through contested constitutional amendments, prompting backlash from some state leaders. The fallout has already disrupted travel, with commercial flights between Mogadishu and Baidoa halted, though humanitarian operations continue. The standoff adds to the broader instability in Somalia’s federal system, where Puntland and Jubbaland have also cut or reduced ties with the central government, and Somaliland remains outside the central government's control.

Nairobi Introduces Menstrual Leave as Kenya Explores Wider Policy

Kenya’s Nairobi county has introduced a menstrual leave policy granting female government employees two paid days off each month, in a move officials say supports health, dignity, and productivity. The policy, which took effect in December 2025, applies to a workforce in which more than half of the 18,000 employees are women and operates on a “no-questions-asked” basis alongside existing sick and annual leave. Governor Johnson Sakaja says the national government and other counties are watching closely, while early feedback from staff shows improved well-being and performance, despite lingering stigma around discussing menstrual health in the workplace. Nairobi joins a small group of places with similar policies, including Japan, which introduced menstrual leave in 1947, and Indonesia, South Korea, and Spain, which adopted it in 2023. In Africa, Zambia is the only country with a nationwide policy, allowing women one day off per month without requiring a medical note. Advocates say such policies recognize menstruation as a legitimate health issue, with doctors noting that many women experience severe symptoms that can make it difficult to work without rest.

Zambian Official Says Women Are Asked for Sex in Exchange for Political Candidacy

A senior Zambian government official says some political parties are demanding sexual favors from women seeking to be selected as candidates ahead of the August 13 general election. Mainga Kabika, head of the gender division in the president’s office, said she has received multiple reports from women alleging they were asked for “sextortion” in exchange for adoption as candidates, calling the situation “unacceptable” and urging victims to document and report cases. Advocates say the practice discourages women from entering politics in a country where only about 15% of lawmakers are female, reflecting deeper structural and cultural barriers. Calls are growing for stronger laws and fast-track courts to address sexual harassment in politics as Zambia prepares to elect a president, MPs, and local leaders.

Rwanda Seeks $134 Million From UK Over Scrapped Migration Deal

Rwanda has told international arbitrators that the United Kingdom still owes it £100 million ($134 million) under a 2022 migrant resettlement deal that was scrapped by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government in 2024. Kigali says it invested heavily in establishing asylum systems, reception facilities, and administrative structures in preparation to receive migrants, only to learn from media reports that the plan had been canceled. The UK argues Rwanda agreed to forgo the payment in a later deal, a claim Rwanda denies, saying London is trying to avoid its legal obligations. The dispute is now before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, with a decision expected to take months. The original agreement, introduced under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, aimed to send migrants arriving in the UK to Rwanda for asylum processing, but it faced legal challenges and was ultimately ruled unlawful by Britain’s Supreme Court. The UK government has since criticized the policy as costly and ineffective, estimating it costs about £700 million ($932 million) in public funds. Rwanda launched arbitration proceedings in January, also alleging that the UK failed to uphold commitments to resettle vulnerable refugees from Rwanda under the same deal.

Fighting Near Sudan-Chad Border Kills 17 as Humanitarian Conditions Worsen

At least 17 people were killed, and dozens were injured in heavy fighting between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces near the border town of Tina, as clashes intensify in the Darfur region. Doctors Without Borders said 66 people were left in serious condition following Monday’s attacks, with many treated across the border in Chad under strained conditions, including limited water, electricity, and dwindling medical supplies. The Sudanese army said it repelled RSF attacks on military positions in the area, which remains one of the last strongholds held by government forces in Darfur. The violence highlights the worsening impact of Sudan’s war, which began in April 2023 and has killed more than 40,000 people, though aid groups say the real toll is higher. Tina’s proximity to key aid routes has made it strategically important, especially as Chad recently closed its border to limit the spread of conflict. The fighting comes amid broader insecurity in Darfur and Kordofan, where continued attacks and supply disruptions are further straining humanitarian efforts.

Bandit Reprisal Attack Kills 18 in Nigeria’s Katsina State

At least 18 people were killed in northwestern Nigeria’s Katsina state yesterday, Tuesday, March 17, after armed bandits carried out a reprisal attack following the killing of three suspected gang members by a vigilante patrol, authorities said. The violence hit Falale village and nearby Kadobe, where 15 people were killed in the retaliatory assault, marking the deadliest attack in the area since early February. The incident highlights the fragile state of local peace deals and amnesty efforts aimed at curbing banditry, as rural communities continue to face raids and cycles of revenge attacks. Armed gangs have destabilized parts of northwest Nigeria for years, carrying out kidnappings and killings that have made travel and farming increasingly dangerous.