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Today in Africa — May 18, 2026: WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak Global Health Emergency, Kenya Grinds to a Halt Over Fuel Price Protests

OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On May 18, coverage includes: a growing cross-border health crisis deepening in Central Africa as Ebola spreads in the Congo and Uganda; commuters, businesses, and schools across Kenya feeling the impact of a nationwide shutdown driven by rising transport and living costs; and more.

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Lihle Z. Mtshali Today in Africa & Newsletter Editor
People walk along a Nairobi road during a transport strike, with traffic barriers and blurred pedestrians in view.
Kenyans walk to work during a nationwide transport strike over rising fuel prices in Nairobi on May 18, 2026.

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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WHO Declares Congo-Uganda Ebola Outbreak Global Health Emergency

Infographic about Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo with case counts, symptoms, prevention tips, and response steps.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the virus spreads, the symptoms to watch for, and the history of outbreaks in Congo, where Ebola was first identified in 1976.

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern after 80 deaths were linked to the disease. Health officials say the outbreak, centered in eastern Congo’s Ituri province, involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rarer variant with no approved vaccines or treatments, raising concern about further regional spread as cases have already crossed into Uganda.

What Health Officials Are Watching:

  • Uganda has reported two confirmed cases in Kampala, including one death, linked to travelers arriving from Congo.

  • Health officials say delays in identifying the outbreak allowed the virus to spread into rebel-held areas and across borders.

  • Local laboratories initially tested for the more common Zaire strain and failed to identify the current Bundibugyo variant.

  • WHO says contact tracing and surveillance efforts are being complicated by conflict, displacement, and weak health systems in eastern Congo.

  • Aid groups warn that funding cuts have reduced access to protective equipment and weakened disease monitoring systems.

Kenya Transport Strike Grinds Cities to a Halt Over Fuel Price Hikes

Thousands of Kenyans were left stranded as a nationwide transport strike disrupted travel, closed businesses, and kept some students home after public transport operators protested recent fuel price increases. Roads across Nairobi were largely empty as operators and protesters demanded lower fuel costs, arguing that rising prices are worsening an already difficult cost-of-living crisis and driving up transport fares and everyday expenses.

What’s Fueling the Tensions:

  • Fuel prices rose by more than 20%, with diesel and petrol reaching record highs after the latest adjustment by energy regulators.

  • Transport groups are demanding that fuel prices be cut by around 35%.

  • Police used tear gas in some areas after clashes with protesters and reports of road barricades and vehicle harassment.

  • Kenya reduced fuel VAT from 16% to 8% last month through July, but critics say the move has not done enough to ease pressure.

  • Officials say global supply disruptions linked to conflict in the Middle East continue to keep fuel prices elevated.

U.S.-Nigeria Operations Intensify as Airstrikes Target Islamic State Fighters

The U.S. military and Nigerian forces carried out additional joint airstrikes in northeastern Nigeria, targeting suspected Islamic State fighters in Borno state’s Metele area. Nigerian authorities say more than 20 militants were killed in the latest operation, which comes days after a separate mission killed Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, described as a senior Islamic State leader, as both countries deepen military cooperation against insurgent groups operating in the region.

What Else to Know:

  • The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) says no U.S. or Nigerian personnel were injured during the operation.

  • Crisis monitor ACLED says Africa accounted for 86% of Islamic State activity globally during the first three months of 2026.

  • ISWAP remains concentrated in northeastern Nigeria, while affiliated groups also operate across the Sahel, Somalia, Mozambique, and Congo.

  • Analysts say recent operations suggest U.S. involvement has moved beyond training and advisory support into more active cooperation.

  • Nigeria’s military continues to face scrutiny over civilian casualties from airstrikes, including recent allegations by Amnesty International over a strike on a market in northern Nigeria, which the military denies.

In Brief: More Stories Today

Belgian Diplomat Charged Over Lumumba Assassination Dies Before Trial

Etienne Davignon, the 93-year-old former Belgian diplomat who became the first person charged over the assassination of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, has died before standing trial. His death effectively closes Belgium’s long-running investigation into Lumumba’s 1961 killing, one of Africa’s most significant post-independence political assassinations.

Rwanda Genocide Suspect Felicien Kabuga Dies in UN Custody

Felicien Kabuga, one of the last major suspects linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide, has died at 93 while in United Nations custody in The Hague. Kabuga, a former businessman and radio owner accused of financing militias and spreading hate propaganda, had been ruled unfit for trial because of dementia.

At Least 10 Killed in Mali Drone Strike During Wedding Preparations

At least 10 civilians were killed in central Mali after military drone strikes hit a village preparing for a traditional collective wedding ceremony. The attack comes as Mali faces worsening violence from armed groups, with recent offensives by al-Qaeda-linked fighters and Tuareg separatists deepening the country’s security crisis.

Cape Verde Opposition Wins Election, Set for Leadership Change

Cape Verde’s main opposition party, PAICV, has won parliamentary elections, and its leader, Francisco Carvalho, is expected to become the country’s next prime minister. Outgoing Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva conceded defeat, marking a peaceful political transition in one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

Museveni Signs Controversial Foreign Influence Law

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed a new law aimed at limiting foreign influence, despite criticism from rights groups and economic institutions. The law criminalizes promoting foreign interests at the expense of Uganda’s interests and carries penalties of up to 10 years in prison, though lawmakers softened earlier provisions tied to remittances and foreign funding.

Cape Town Data Center Plans Face Environmental Pushback

Plans by Equinix to build two large data centers in Cape Town are facing opposition from activists and community groups who are demanding more information about the project’s environmental impact. Critics say questions remain around water use, electricity demand, emissions, and backup power needs in a city still shaped by memories of its “Day Zero” water crisis.

Jury Begins Deliberations in Diezani Alison-Madueke Bribery Trial

Jurors in London have begun deliberating in the bribery trial of former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke after nearly four months of hearings. Prosecutors accuse her of accepting luxury benefits in exchange for oil-related favors, while Alison-Madueke denies wrongdoing and says she never sought or accepted bribes.

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