Today in Africa — Mar 2, 2026: South Sudan Attack Kills at Least 169, Middle East War Could Drive Fuel and Food Prices Higher in Africa

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.

South Sudan Village Attack Kills at Least 169 as Violence Escalates

At least 169 people were killed after armed attackers raided a village in Abiemnom county in northern South Sudan, according to local officials. The assault, which occurred yesterday, Sunday, March 1, killed at least 90 civilians, including women and children, along with 79 government soldiers, James Monyluak of the Ruweng administrative area says. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, says about 1,000 people fled to its base for protection and warns that civilians face grave risk as violence spreads.

The attack comes amid intensifying clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and armed groups believed to be linked to opposition leader Riek Machar, though Machar’s party denied responsibility and says it has no presence in the area. Machar has been under house arrest in Juba since September after facing charges his supporters call politically motivated. The renewed fighting threatens a fragile 2018 peace deal, with the UN estimating that recent violence has displaced about 280,000 people as government counteroffensives continue despite commitments to the accord.

Africa Warns Middle East Conflict Could Drive Fuel Prices Higher and Hit Living Costs

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union have warned that escalating military action in the Middle East could have serious economic consequences for Africa. The statements came after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, raising fears of wider instability. ECOWAS says the conflict could disrupt global energy markets, trade, and food supply chains, while the African Union called for restraint and urgent de-escalation, warning that Africa remains especially vulnerable to external shocks.

The warnings follow a sharp jump in oil prices, with Brent crude briefly surging above $80 a barrel amid concerns about disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply. Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko says higher energy prices could quickly push up the cost of living across Africa. For most African countries, oil shocks hit quickly because they import refined fuel, meaning spikes in global crude prices quickly feed into local petrol prices. Higher fuel costs raise transport fares, push up food prices, and strain food security as distribution costs rise. In fuel-importing economies like South Africa, analysts warn that sustained oil prices above $80 a barrel could reverse recent progress on inflation and squeeze households already facing high electricity costs. Even oil producers are not spared. In Nigeria, higher crude prices may boost state revenues, but consumers still face rising pump prices because the country continues to import large volumes of refined fuel. Economists say prolonged price increases risk weakening currencies, widening budget deficits, and triggering a new wave of inflation across the continent.

Senegal PM Warns His Party Could Quit Senegal Government Amid Tensions With President Faye

Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko says he is prepared to pull his Pastef party out of government and return to opposition if President Bassirou Diomaye Faye breaks from the party’s political vision, fueling speculation about a power struggle at the top of the state. Speaking during a live broadcast yesterday, Sunday, March 1, Sonko said governing only works if the president remains aligned with Pastef, which holds a majority in parliament. If that alignment fails, he said Senegal could face a difficult cohabitation or see Pastef exit the government altogether — an outcome he said the party is ready for.

The warning comes as Senegal faces mounting pressure from student unrest, fiscal strain, and stalled talks with the International Monetary Fund. The IMF froze a $1.8 billion program in 2024 after Sonko’s government revealed more than $11 billion in misreported debt left by the previous administration. Any sign of division between Sonko and Faye risks further delaying negotiations, especially after past comments by Sonko rejecting debt restructuring proposals rattled bond markets. Sonko, barred from running in the 2024 election, backed Faye as Pastef’s candidate before being appointed prime minister, but conflicting statements and policy disagreements since then have exposed growing strains within Senegal’s ruling alliance.

Drones Target Airport in DRC’s Kisangani, Officials Blame M23 Rebels

Local authorities in Kisangani, in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo, say drones attacked the city’s airport last month, an area far from the main front lines of fighting in the east. Tshopo provincial officials say four kamikaze drones were intercepted and shot down near the airport between yesterday afternoon and evening, some as a passenger plane was preparing to land, with no casualties reported. Authorities blame the M23 rebel group and neighboring Rwanda, which the UN says backs the rebels, a claim Kigali denies. A Reuters witness reported explosions and gunfire that sent staff and residents fleeing before operations later resumed. The incident comes amid continued clashes in eastern DRC despite mediation efforts, and days after the DRC’s army killed M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma in a drone strike near the coltan hub of Rubaya last week.

Guinea-Bissau Opposition Calls for Talks With Military Rulers After November Coup

Guinea-Bissau’s two main opposition parties have publicly called for dialogue with the military junta that seized power in a coup last November, as the country’s political crisis deepens. The junta suspended the electoral process after ousting President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, prompting opposition figures, including allies of Domingos Simões Pereira, to seek negotiations over a path back to constitutional order. The appeal comes after opposition leaders rejected offers to join a transitional government, describing them as symbolic and insufficient. Regional bloc ECOWAS has repeatedly urged restraint and a swift return to civilian rule, as Guinea-Bissau faces one of its most volatile political moments in years.

DRC’s Main Minerals Export Route to Reopen After Flood Damage

The main export corridor for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s copper and cobalt shipments is set to reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3, after heavy rains damaged the road, Zambia’s infrastructure minister said. Traffic through Kasumbalesa, the busiest crossing for Congo’s mineral exports to China and the United States, was suspended yesterday, Sunday, March 2, after part of the road was washed away. While no mining companies have reported shipment delays, freight has been diverted to longer alternative routes through Zambia. Congo is Africa’s largest copper producer and supplies more than 70% of the world’s cobalt, with major operators including CMOC, Glencore, Ivanhoe Mines, and Eurasian Resources Group.

Kidnappings of Foreigners Surge in Mali and Niger as Jihadist Tactics Shift

Kidnappings of foreign nationals surged across the Sahel in 2025, with Mali and Niger accounting for about 70% of reported cases, according to conflict data cited by analysts. The trend has been driven largely by al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which has increasingly targeted foreigners for ransom and economic pressure on military governments. At least 30 kidnapping incidents involving foreigners were recorded in Mali and Niger by late November, including Chinese mine workers, Emirati nationals released after a reported $50 million ransom, and European humanitarian workers. Analysts say ransoms may account for as much as 40% of JNIM’s revenue and are part of a broader strategy to choke off investment and destabilize Mali, where insecurity has worsened since the 2020 coup.