Today in Africa — Mar 23, 2026: Sudan Hospital Strike Kills Dozens, Fuel Crisis Drives Up Africa Airfares

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.

Dozens Killed in Strike on Darfur Hospital as Sudan War Hits Health System

At least 64 people, including 13 children, were killed in a strike on Al Daein Teaching Hospital in Sudan’s East Darfur over the weekend, the World Health Organization says, with 89 others injured and the facility left non-functional. The attack is part of Sudan’s ongoing war between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023. The RSF blamed the army for the strike, while the military denied targeting the hospital, saying the intended target was a nearby police station.

The incident adds to mounting concern over attacks on healthcare in the conflict, with the WHO reporting more than 2,000 people killed in strikes on medical facilities since the war began. The conflict has already killed over 40,000 people, though aid groups say the real toll is likely much higher. WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus called for de-escalation, saying the level of violence and suffering has gone too far.

Jet Fuel Shortages Push Up Airfares Across Africa Amid Middle East Conflict

African airlines are facing rising costs and potential shortages as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupts global fuel supply routes, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 70% of the continent’s jet fuel imports. Shipping through the route has slowed sharply, pushing jet fuel prices to near-record highs and creating instability for carriers. Industry operators say prices can change within hours, making it difficult to plan routes or quote fares, while fuel now accounts for up to 40% or more of airline operating costs in Africa, far above the global average.

Stockpiles are also thinning, with South Africa holding about three to four weeks of supply, Kenya around 50 days, and Zambia just 10 days. Airlines have begun adding fuel surcharges, adjusting fares, and considering reducing flight capacity to manage costs. Analysts warn that countries like Kenya, Madagascar, and South Africa are especially vulnerable due to heavy reliance on imports and limited refining capacity, raising concerns that prolonged disruption could drive up ticket prices and strain air travel across the region.

Floods Kill Over 80 in Kenya as Thousands Displaced

At least 81 people have died in Kenya this month due to torrential rains and flash floods, with widespread damage reported across multiple regions. In Kisumu County, flooding has submerged entire villages, destroyed about 1,200 hectares of farmland, and displaced more than 3,000 families, especially in Nyakach, after the Sondu Miriu River overflowed. Residents say their homes are completely flooded, forcing families to seek shelter in evacuation centers while they struggle to find shelter.

In Nairobi, floods have killed 37 people and damaged homes and infrastructure, while other deaths have been reported in Kiambu and landslides in Kasaka. Authorities are urging extreme caution as heavy rains are expected to continue, with scientists warning that climate change is worsening extreme weather patterns across East Africa, increasing the frequency and intensity of both floods and droughts.

Kenya’s Raphael Tuju Reappears After Disappearance Scare, Cites Surveillance Fears

Former Kenyan Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju has resurfaced after going missing over the weekend, saying he went into hiding after being followed by an unmarked vehicle. Tuju told Citizen TV he evaded the car, abandoned his own vehicle, and chose not to seek police help due to fears linked to past abductions and killings in Kenya. His disappearance had sparked concern after his car was found with hazard lights on in Nairobi and his phone switched off, prompting police to open an investigation and opposition figures to raise an alarm about a possible abduction. Tuju’s family had reported him missing while he was on his way to a radio interview, and his lawyer said he had already filed a police report about being trailed before disappearing. The incident comes amid a long-running legal battle over properties tied to a debt of more than $15 million, with Tuju alleging that powerful officials are trying to seize his assets — claims the government has not addressed.

Deported Into Limbo: Refugees Sent to Equatorial Guinea Despite U.S. Protections

A 28-year-old East African refugee says he remains detained in Equatorial Guinea after a U.S. immigration judge ruled he could not be deported to his home country due to risk of harm, highlighting a growing practice of sending migrants to third countries under opaque deals. He is among at least 29 people from nine countries deported to the authoritarian state, which has no asylum system and pressures detainees to return home. Legal experts say these transfers exploit a loophole that bypasses protections against returning people to danger, leaving many facing indefinite detention or forced return. The man described months in U.S. detention, alleged abuse by immigration officers, and a secretive overnight deportation flight, while U.S. officials deny wrongdoing and say all deportees received due process. A Senate report found the U.S. has spent over $40 million on such deportations, including $7.5 million to Equatorial Guinea, raising concerns about transparency and human rights as detainees remain stuck in worsening conditions with little hope of release.

Benin Candidate Pledges Local Police Forces to Tackle Rising Jihadist Attacks

Benin’s ruling party candidate Romuald Wadagni has pledged to create municipal police forces in northern border towns to respond to escalating jihadist attacks ahead of the April 12 presidential election, where he is the frontrunner. The current finance minister under President Patrice Talon says local youth would be trained and equipped to defend their communities, while stressing the need for regional cooperation with neighbors as violence spreads across the Niger–Benin–Nigeria borderlands. Benin already deploys national police and soldiers in the north, but attacks have intensified, including a recent assault that killed 15 soldiers and an earlier one that left 54 dead. Security concerns remain a major issue, with a failed coup attempt in December reportedly driven by frustration over worsening conditions and losses among troops.

U.S. Deploys Drones and Troops to Support Nigeria’s Fight Against Militants

The U.S. military has deployed multiple MQ-9 drones and about 200 troops to Nigeria to support operations against Islamist militants, with officials from both countries saying the mission focuses on training and intelligence, not combat. Operating from Bauchi airfield, the drones are used to gather intelligence to help Nigerian forces “identify, track and respond” to threats, as insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to carry out attacks across the north. The deployment follows U.S. airstrikes in late 2025 and marks a renewed American role in West Africa after its withdrawal from Niger in 2024, where it had maintained a major drone base. Nigerian officials say the partnership includes an intelligence fusion cell delivering actionable insights to commanders, as violence persists, including a recent suicide attack on a northeastern garrison town and growing militant activity in the northwest near the Benin and Niger borders.

Kenya Offers Amnesty to Citizens Recruited to Fight for Russia

Kenya will grant amnesty to citizens recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said after talks in Moscow, where both countries agreed to stop further recruitment and allow those unwilling to continue to return home. The government estimates 252 Kenyans were illegally conscripted over the past six months, many reportedly lured with promises of civilian jobs before being forced into combat, often signing contracts in Russian. So far, 44 have been repatriated, 11 are reported dead or missing, 38 are hospitalized in Russia, and about 160 remain on the front lines. Kenya, where joining foreign armies without approval can carry up to 10 years in prison, also plans to crack down on trafficking and illegal recruitment after shutting down more than 600 agencies linked to the scheme.

Mali Frees Over 100 Suspected Militants in Deal to Ease Fuel Crisis

Mali has released more than 100 suspected jihadists as part of a deal with the al Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) to stop attacks on fuel convoys that had crippled supplies to the capital, Bamako, according to official and security sources. The agreement opens a corridor for tanker trucks to move safely after months of assaults that caused severe fuel shortages since September. Sources say the truce is expected to last until Eid al-Adha at the end of May, and that some Fulani detainees, often wrongly associated with militant groups, were also freed. The move comes as Mali continues to face a long-running security crisis driven by jihadist groups and criminal networks.

Guinea Arrests 11 in Alleged Jihadist Network Linked to Sahel Militants

Guinean authorities say they have dismantled a suspected terrorist network tied to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), arresting and charging 11 people in April 2025, including nationals from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. Prosecutors said one suspect admitted involvement in a hostage-for-ransom operation used to fund militant activity, while two Guineans were accused of playing active roles in online radicalization networks. Investigators also uncovered multiple GSIM-linked WhatsApp groups with more than 500 members, including dozens of Guineans, used to recruit and coordinate. The arrests come as jihadist activity rises in southern Mali near Guinea’s border, with authorities calling on the public to stay alert and report suspicious activity as the government steps up counterterrorism efforts.