Today in Africa — Mar 26, 2026: UN Backs Ghana’s Slavery Reparations Push, 15 Zimbabwean Citizens Killed in Ukraine War Recruitment Scheme

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.

UN Adopts Ghana-Led Resolution on Slavery as “Gravest Crime” and Calls for Reparations

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a Ghana-led resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity” and calling for reparations, with 123 countries voting in favor, three against, and 52 abstaining. The non-binding measure urges countries to engage in dialogue on reparatory justice, including formal apologies, financial compensation, and the return of looted cultural artifacts. Ghana’s foreign minister, Samuel Ablakwa, said the resolution seeks accountability for a system that saw at least 12.5 million Africans enslaved and whose effects still shape inequality today, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for “far bolder action” to confront historical injustices.

The vote took place on the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, honoring the memory of about 13 million African men, women, and children enslaved over several centuries. The resolution marks a significant step in global recognition of slavery’s impact, though it faced resistance from the U.S., Israel, and European countries, which raised concerns about legal implications and whether current states should be held responsible for past crimes. Supporters, including African and Caribbean nations, say it could help advance a broader reparations framework, while Ghanaian President John Mahama called it “a safeguard against forgetting” and a path toward healing.

Zimbabwe Says 15 Citizens Killed After Being Lured Into Russia-Ukraine War

Zimbabwe says at least 15 of its citizens have been killed after being recruited into the Russia-Ukraine war through deceptive job offers, with authorities now working to repatriate the bodies and bring home 66 others who are still alive. Information Minister Zhemu Soda says victims were targeted by fraudulent agencies using social media, promised well-paying and safe jobs, then stripped of their documents and forced into combat with little or no training. Many were left without pay or support, he says, with families often receiving no information when recruits were injured, captured, or killed.

Zimbabwe’s warning comes as similar cases emerge across Africa, including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria, where citizens have also been lured into the conflict under false pretenses. South African authorities have confirmed deaths and injuries among recruits, while a Kenyan intelligence report suggests up to 1,000 Kenyans may have been sent to the front lines, with dozens missing or injured. Ukrainian officials estimate more than 1,700 Africans may have been recruited, as investigations show networks targeting workers with fake job offers that turn into military contracts.

South Africa Police Chief Faces Charges as Corruption Scandal Deepens

South Africa’s National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola is set to face criminal charges linked to a controversial R360 million (about $21 million) police tender awarded to corruption-accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, deepening a growing corruption scandal within the country’s law enforcement. Police confirmed Masemola has been served with a notice to appear in court on April 21, though the exact charges remain unclear. The case centers on a contract for police health services that prosecutors say was improperly awarded, with 12 officers, Matlala, and a business associate already arrested on charges including fraud and corruption. Masemola has denied receiving any money from Matlala but previously acknowledged “red flags” in the tender process.

If formally charged, Masemola would join a list of senior South African police leaders who have faced criminal allegations, including former commissioner Jackie Selebi, who was convicted, and former acting commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, who has denied wrongdoing. The development comes as South Africa’s police face mounting internal turmoil, with multiple investigations and rival narratives emerging over alleged links between senior officers and organized crime. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he will address the matter in line with the law, as separate inquiries probe claims of cartel infiltration and corruption within police structures. The scandal follows months of arrests, suspensions, and accusations that have exposed deep divisions in law enforcement, raising fresh concerns about stability and accountability at the highest levels of policing.

Senegal Vows Legal Fight After CAF Strips AFCON Title

Senegal’s football federation has launched an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after CAF stripped the country of its Africa Cup of Nations title, with officials vowing a “moral and legal crusade” to overturn the decision. The ruling came after Senegal briefly walked off during the January 18 final in Rabat in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco, despite returning to win 1-0 in extra time. CAF later ruled the walk-off amounted to forfeiture, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory. Senegal’s legal team called the decision “absurd” and warned it could undermine the principle that refereeing decisions are final, arguing the case could reshape global football if upheld. Lawyers say CAF failed to properly justify its ruling and are pushing for a faster decision, though CAS proceedings could take months and may overlap with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “In the face of this administrative robbery, the FSF refuses fatality. We will fight a moral and legal crusade,” Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), said. CAS says it will rule “as swiftly as possible,” but has given no timeline, with some experts suggesting the case could drag on for up to a year. Senegal insists it remains the rightful champion and is pressing ahead with its appeal as tensions around the decision continue to ripple across African football.

Boat Carrying 320 Migrants Capsizes Off Djibouti, Dozens Missing

At least nine people have died, and 45 are missing after a boat carrying 320 passengers capsized off Djibouti’s northern coast near Ombok earlier this week, according to the International Organization for Migration. The agency did not specify where the vessel was headed, but the route is commonly used by migrants from the Horn of Africa trying to reach Yemen and Gulf countries in search of work. The incident highlights ongoing risks along one of the region’s busiest migration corridors, where tens of thousands of people, particularly from Ethiopia and Somalia, pass through Djibouti each year.

Congolese Rapper Gims Arrested in France Over Money Laundering Probe

Congolese rapper Gims, born Gandhi Djuna, was arrested upon arrival at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport yesterday, Wednesday, March 25, as part of a money-laundering investigation, according to reports. French authorities are probing a network of shell companies allegedly used to evade taxes, issue fake invoices, and conceal funds from illegal activities, with several former drug traffickers already implicated in the case. Investigators are also examining Gims’ involvement in a luxury real estate project in Marrakech, while the Kinshasa-born artist was France’s biggest-selling recording artist last year.

Fuel Price Surge Forces Mogadishu Tuk-Tuk Drivers Off the Road

Tuk-tuk drivers in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, are abandoning their vehicles as fuel prices surge due to disruptions linked to the Iran conflict, which has slowed shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route. With fuel costs in some areas more than doubling, drivers say they have raised fares but lost passengers, leaving many unable to keep working as people walk or stay home instead. The crisis is deepening economic strain in a country where about 6.5 million people already face severe hunger, with drivers saying they can no longer support their families as transport demand drops and costs keep rising.

Militants Kill Nine Soldiers in Ambush on Nigerian Security Forces in Kebbi

Armed militants killed nine soldiers, a police officer, and a civilian in an ambush on security forces responding to a distress call in Kebbi state in northwestern Nigeria, authorities said. The attack happened late on Tuesday, March 24, in Giron Masa village in the Shanga area, where troops had been deployed after warnings of a planned assault. Several soldiers were also injured, and photos from the scene showed burned vehicles along a forested road. No group has claimed responsibility, but residents suspect the Islamic State Sahel Province, known locally as Lakurawa, which has become more active in border areas near Niger. The incident adds to ongoing violence in Nigeria’s northwest, where armed groups frequently target security forces and rural communities with limited state presence. Officials say Lakurawa has links to neighboring Niger and has expanded its operations following the 2023 coup there, while the Kebbi state governor has pledged support for families of those killed.

Key Figure in Guinea’s 2009 Stadium Massacre Dies in Custody

Aboubakar Sidiki Diakité, a former presidential guard commander convicted for his role in Guinea’s 2009 stadium massacre, has died in custody in Conakry, the country’s prison service said. Diakité, known as Toumba, was serving a 10-year sentence for crimes linked to the killing of 156 people and the rape of at least 109 women by pro-junta forces during a political rally. He was pronounced dead at a military hospital early yesterday, Wednesday, March 25, becoming at least the second person convicted in the case to die in custody this year. Diakité had been moved to another prison in February after reportedly threatening security officers during a search. Arrested in Senegal in 2016 and extradited a year later, he was due to complete his sentence in 2027. The massacre remains one of Guinea’s darkest episodes, with former junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara also convicted and sentenced to 20 years before later receiving a pardon from current leader Mamady Doumbouya.

WTO Chief Urges Overhaul of Global Trade Rules as Tensions Rise

World Trade Organization chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has called for urgent reforms to the global trade system, warning that the old multilateral order has “irrevocably changed” amid rising geopolitical tensions and the impact of U.S. tariffs. Speaking at a meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, she pointed to major challenges facing the WTO, including a stalled dispute-settlement system, slow decision-making, and lack of transparency around subsidies, which she said are fueling mistrust among member states. Diplomats warned that without reform, countries could abandon rules-based trade and create their own systems. The meeting comes as divisions deepen between major economies: the U.S. backs reform but resists a detailed roadmap, while the EU, Britain, and China support one. Officials also warned of the risk of the WTO losing relevance or even collapsing if no agreement is reached, as debates continue over issues like e-commerce tariffs, with India opposing U.S. efforts to extend a global ban on such duties.