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Today in Africa — May 14, 2026: African World Cup Fans Get U.S. Visa Relief, Somalia Faces Record Hunger Crisis

OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On May 14, coverage includes: the Trump administration suspending costly visa bond requirements for fans from five African countries traveling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup; aid agencies warning that drought, displacement, and shrinking humanitarian funding are pushing millions in Somalia toward catastrophe; and more.

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Lihle Z. Mtshali Today in Africa & Newsletter Editor
Smiling Cabo Verde fans hold a blue inflatable shark and a team scarf at a football stadium.
These Cabo Verde football fans will be happy to know they will no longer have to pay exorbitant visa fees to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S.

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.

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U.S. Waives World Cup Visa Bond for Fans From Five African Countries

Fans from Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia traveling to the U.S. for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will no longer have to pay visa bonds of up to $15,000 after the Trump administration announced a temporary waiver for ticket holders. The bond requirement was introduced last year as part of a wider immigration crackdown targeting countries with high visa overstay rates, but U.S. officials say eligible fans who use FIFA’s expedited visa system will now be exempt from the requirement during the tournament.

What Changed:

  • The waiver applies only to fans with valid World Cup tickets who enroll in FIFA’s visa appointment system.

  • The U.S., Canada, and Mexico will co-host the tournament, which begins on June 11.

  • Players, coaches, and team staff had already been exempt from the bond requirement before the new decision.

  • Travelers from Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal still face partial restrictions under an expanded U.S. travel ban.

  • Human rights groups and hotel industry advocates have warned that visa barriers and immigration policies could reduce international attendance at the tournament.

Somalia Faces Worst Drought in History and Deepening Hunger Crisis as Aid Shrinks

Somalia is facing what aid agencies say could become one of the worst droughts in the country’s history, as failed rains, rising food prices, and major aid cuts push millions toward hunger and displacement. The Somali government and United Nations estimate that 6.5 million people — about a third of the population — are facing crisis-level hunger, while humanitarian groups warn that nearly 500,000 children could suffer severe acute malnutrition amid collapsing livestock, dry rivers, and shrinking emergency support.

Why the Crisis Is Growing:

  • The UN World Food Program (WFP) says 2026 is Somalia’s worst drought year on record, with child deaths already being reported.

  • Aid funding to Somalia dropped to $531 million this year, down sharply from $2.38 billion during the 2022 drought response.

  • Around 200,000 people have been displaced by drought this year alone, adding to the displacement caused by decades of conflict.

  • WFP planned to reach 2 million people with food aid this year, but has reached only about 300,000 due to funding shortages.

  • Health workers in Puntland say supplies of therapeutic milk for severely malnourished children are running low, forcing hospitals to use homemade substitutes.

More Than 19 Million People Face Hunger in Sudan as War and Drone Attacks Escalate

More than 19.5 million people in Sudan — over 40% of the population — are facing acute hunger as the country’s war continues to devastate food systems, displace millions, and block aid deliveries, according to a new United Nations-backed hunger report. The report warns that 14 areas across Darfur and Kordofan remain at risk of famine, while worsening violence, drone attacks, and rising food and fuel prices linked to the regional Iran crisis threaten to deepen what is already the world’s worst hunger crisis.

What the Report Found:

  • About 135,000 people are facing “catastrophic” hunger levels in areas including El Fasher and Kadugli.

  • The UN says drones have killed at least 880 civilians since January, with attacks hitting markets, hospitals, and power stations.

  • Around 825,000 children are expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition as aid access shrinks and funding cuts worsen conditions.

  • Fighting around key supply routes, including El Obeid in North Kordofan, continues to disrupt food access and humanitarian deliveries.

  • Sudan’s rainy season, expected to begin around July, could worsen food insecurity during the country’s lean planting period.

In Brief: More Stories Today

Zimbabweans Recruited Into Russia’s War as Families Plead for Help

Families in Zimbabwe are calling on authorities in Harare and Moscow to help bring home citizens allegedly trafficked into fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Zimbabwean officials say at least 18 citizens have died after being recruited through networks promising high-paying jobs, while four suspects recently appeared in court on human trafficking charges linked to sending Zimbabweans to Russia.

UN Urges Equatorial Guinea Not to Deport U.S. Migrants to Dangerous Home Countries

United Nations human rights experts are urging Equatorial Guinea to halt plans to deport migrants sent there by the United States, through its third-country deportation deal, back to countries where they could face torture, violence, or death. Deportees described being held in “prison-like” conditions in a guarded hotel in Malabo, while lawyers say several had already received U.S. legal protections against being returned to their home countries.

Human Rights Watch Accuses M23 Rebels and Rwandan Army of Abuses in Eastern Congo

Human Rights Watch says M23 rebels and the Rwandan army carried out killings, rapes, and enforced disappearances during their occupation of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between late 2025 and early 2026. The group documented at least 53 summary executions and said fighters targeted civilians accused of links to pro-government militias before withdrawing from the city under U.S. pressure.

China Tightens Grip on Africa’s Critical Minerals Sector

China is deepening its control over Africa’s lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth industries through early investments, financing, infrastructure projects, and dominance in processing, according to a new industry analysis. Analysts say the U.S. and Europe are struggling to compete because Chinese firms often secure long-term supply deals years before Western companies enter projects.

Former Nigerian Power Minister Sentenced to 75 Years for Corruption

A Nigerian court sentenced former power minister Saleh Mamman to 75 years in prison after convicting him of laundering 33.8 billion naira (about $24.7 million), tied to major hydroelectric power projects. The court ordered security agencies to arrest Mamman, who was sentenced in absentia, in one of Nigeria’s rare high-profile corruption convictions involving a former senior official.

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