NEWS
Today in Africa — May 4, 2026: Nigeria Plans Repatriation Flights as South Africa Tensions Rise, Cape Verde Cruise Hantavirus Outbreak Leaves Three Dead
OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On May 4, coverage includes: anti-illegal-immigration tensions in South Africa triggering diplomatic fallout across the continent; a suspected outbreak of a virus off Cape Verde prompting a cross-border health response; and more.
Nigeria says about 130 of its nationals in South Africa have registered for voluntary repatriation following attacks on African foreigners.
by Rajesh Jantilal/AFP via Getty Images
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.
Nigeria Plans Voluntary Repatriation as Fears Grow Over Attacks on Foreigners in South Africa
Nigeria is preparing voluntary repatriation flights for citizens in South Africa who want to return home, as concern grows over attacks on foreign nationals and rising anti-illegal immigration protests. Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu says 130 Nigerians have already registered, while Abuja has summoned South Africa’s acting High Commissioner and warned that recent violence, hate speech, and attacks on migrant-owned businesses are putting lives and bilateral relations at risk.
What’s raising alarm:
Nigeria says two of its citizens were recently killed in separate incidents involving local security personnel.
Reports say four Ethiopian nationals have also been killed in recent weeks.
Anti-immigrant groups have reportedly stopped people outside hospitals and schools demanding identification papers.
Ghana also recently summoned South Africa’s top envoy after a Ghanaian national was publicly challenged over immigration status.
South Africa officially hosts about 2.4 million migrants, though the unofficial number is believed to be higher.
Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Off Cape Verde Leaves Three Dead
A Dutch cruise ship carrying around 150 passengers is waiting off the coast of Cape Verde after a suspected hantavirus outbreak killed three people and left several others seriously ill. Health authorities, the World Health Organization, and the ship’s operator are now assessing the outbreak, while two symptomatic crew members are still on board and urgently need medical care, and no passengers have been allowed to disembark.
What health officials are watching:
A British passenger who tested positive for hantavirus is in critical condition in intensive care in South Africa.
Five other suspected cases on board are still awaiting confirmation through laboratory testing.
South African health authorities are carrying out contact tracing after one passenger died in Johannesburg while trying to fly home.
WHO says the overall public health risk remains low, noting that hantavirus is usually spread by infected rodents and rarely passes between people.
Virus sequencing and epidemiological investigations are underway as officials work to identify the source of the outbreak.
Obi and Kwankwaso Join New Party in Shake-Up Ahead of Nigeria’s Election
Nigeria’s opposition landscape has shifted again after Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), setting up the possibility of a joint presidential ticket ahead of next year’s election. The two former governors, who placed third and fourth in the 2023 race, left the African Democratic Congress after months of internal disputes, raising fresh questions about whether the opposition can unite behind a single challenger to President Bola Tinubu.
What this could mean politically:
Obi remains popular with younger voters, especially in southern Nigeria, while Kwankwaso has strong backing in the north.
The pair has not yet said who would lead any potential presidential ticket.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar remains in the ADC, whose leadership dispute is still tied up in court.
Nigeria’s presidency has dismissed the defections as routine political movement, saying its focus remains on governing.
Elections are scheduled for early January, giving opposition parties limited time to organize and build alliances.
In Brief: More Stories Today
Floods and Landslides Kill 18 as Heavy Rains Batter Kenya
At least 18 people have died in Kenya after flooding and landslides triggered by sustained heavy rains during the peak of the country’s March-to-May rainy season. Police say the severe weather has hit several areas, damaging infrastructure and forcing many people from their homes.
U.S.-Led African Lion Drills Bring 5,000 Troops Across Four African Nations
More than 5,000 troops from over 40 countries have begun Exercise African Lion 2026, the largest annual military drill in Africa, with operations running across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia until May 8. Led by U.S. AFRICOM, the exercises span land, air, maritime, space, and cyber training as global powers deepen security ties on a continent facing insurgencies and growing geopolitical competition.
Stricter U.S. Visa Rules Drive Sharp Drop in African Travel
Travel from several African countries to the United States has dropped sharply under tighter U.S. visa and immigration enforcement, with Nigeria seeing a 46.4% decline in visitors and Zimbabwe down 70%. Sudan and Libya recorded the steepest drops, as stricter scrutiny, especially for first-time applicants, reshapes tourism, business travel, and diaspora movement between Africa and the U.S.
Morocco’s Crown Prince Takes Key Armed Forces Role
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan to a senior coordinating position within the Royal Armed Forces, placing the 22-year-old at the center of military administration. The move mirrors the king’s own early military grooming and marks another step in preparing the crown prince for future leadership.
