Today in Africa — November 13, 2025: US Targets Sudan’s RSF Weapons Flow, Tanzania Installs New Prime Minister, South Sudan Fires Vice-President

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.

U.S. Government Calls For End to Weapons Access for Sudan Paramilitary Group

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for action to be taken to stop the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from accessing more weapons. Rubio made the call at a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada, marking the U.S. government’s strongest statement on the civil war in Sudan. “They're committing acts of sexual violence and atrocities against women, children, and innocent civilians of the most horrific kind. And it needs to end immediately,” Rubio said.

The U.S. has been attempting to spearhead a ceasefire agreement between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the RSF; however, efforts have been met with several hitches, including the SAF’s objection to the United Arab Emirates being part of the efforts – the UAE has been accused of backing the RSF. Rubio added that he wasn’t “calling anybody out at a press conference today, because what we want is a good outcome here.” The RSF only accepted a proposed truce in September after its violent capture of El Fasher, and the SAF has said the RSF has already violated the truce.

Tanzania Names New Prime Minister as Post-Election Turmoil Deepens

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed longtime ally and former finance minister Mwigulu Nchemba as prime minister, days after a disputed October 29 election that sparked deadly unrest. Parliament confirmed Nchemba in a near-unanimous vote, reflecting the ruling party’s dominance after Hassan was declared the landslide winner. Rights groups and opposition leaders say hundreds of protesters were killed in clashes that followed the vote, while the government has dismissed the opposition’s death toll of more than 1,000 as exaggerated and has yet to provide its own figure.

Nchemba, who also served under former President John Magufuli and has never been removed in cabinet reshuffles, pledged to work diligently as Tanzania pushes ahead with major infrastructure spending and forecasts 6% economic growth this year. Critics continue to accuse Hassan’s government of rigging the election and suppressing dissent, accusations she rejects as she defends the credibility of the poll and her human rights record.

South Sudan’s Kiir Fires Vice-President Bol Mel in Surprise Shake-Up

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has unexpectedly dismissed Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel, stripped him of his military rank, and removed several of his key allies from top government posts, including the central bank governor and the revenue authority chief. The announcement, delivered by decree on state TV, did not explain, but it is happening amid deepening political tensions and growing fears that the country could slide back into conflict after the collapse of its power-sharing deal with opposition leader Riek Machar. Bol Mel, seen by analysts as a potential successor to the 74-year-old president, responded with a calm letter thanking Kiir for the opportunity to serve.

Bol Mel’s abrupt removal follows rising speculation about internal rifts within the ruling SPLM and public frustration over corruption allegations, including U.S. sanctions accusing him of serving as Kiir’s “principal financial advisor,” a claim the presidency denies. His security detail was reportedly withdrawn hours before the sacking, which some in Juba welcomed as necessary. The shake-up adds to a volatile political climate: Machar was himself dismissed and charged earlier this year, planned elections remain delayed, and clashes between rival forces continue to escalate in the world’s youngest nation.

Central African Republic Court Weighs Bid to Bar Touadéra From December Election

The Central African Republic’s constitutional court has begun reviewing a petition seeking to disqualify President Faustin Archange Touadéra from running in December’s election, after a civil society group claimed he does not meet constitutional requirements on proving lineage. The Observatory for Democratic Governance argues that the president’s surname suggests an untraceable paternal origin, which they say violates the Family Code. The government has dismissed the request as an attempt to mislead the public, and it remains unclear when the court will rule. The dispute unfolds as Touadéra pursues a third term made possible by last year’s removal of term limits, and as opposition figure Anicet Georges Dologuélé faces obstacles obtaining a passport amid the country’s ongoing security crisis and Russia-backed stability efforts.

Ethiopia Probes Suspected Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in Omo Region

Ethiopian health officials are investigating a possible outbreak of an unidentified viral hemorrhagic fever in the southern Omo region after eight suspected cases were reported, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The Health Ministry is expected to release findings tomorrow, Friday, November 14, while the World Health Organization has deployed 11 technical officers and sent protective gear, infection-control supplies, and an isolation tent to support the response. The Africa CDC warned that the situation is worrying, given Omo’s proximity to South Sudan, which already has a fragile health system. Several East and Central African countries have recently faced outbreaks of similar epidemic-prone diseases, including Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

Nigerian Regulatory Body Halts Proposed Import Duty on Petrol and Diesel

A proposed 15 percent import duty on petrol and diesel by the Nigerian government has been placed on hold by the country’s regulatory body. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said the duty, which was widely greeted with displeasure, “is no longer in view.” In its statement, the authority said it will closely monitor the supply situation of fuel and take appropriate regulatory measures to prevent disruption, especially during the festive period when Detty December activities and interstate travel will hold sway. Nigeria is susceptible to periods of fuel scarcity, as the oil-producing country imports a significant amount of its refined crude oil products, with the only functioning refinery being the one owned by billionaire mogul Aliko Dangote.

South Africa Eyes Bid to Host 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games

South Africa says it will bid to host the 2036 or 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games, aiming to become the first African nation to stage the event. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the government is in ongoing talks with the International Olympic Committee, led by Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry, about the bid’s viability. Cape Town, which finished third in the race for the 2004 Games and is seen as the strongest contender, is likely to be proposed as the host city. South Africa has previously hosted major global tournaments, including the Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup, and FIFA World Cup, and is preparing to co-host the 2027 Cricket World Cup.

Cameroon Rights Groups Say Protest Death Toll Nearly Double Official Count

Rights groups in Cameroon say the government’s claim that 16 people were killed in post-election protests severely understates the true toll, arguing that about 30 demonstrators died and that some bodies were removed from hospital morgues by security forces. Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji said 13 protesters were killed in Douala and three in the North Region, with more than 800 arrests made, but Human Rights Watch and opposition figures say the number is far higher. The unrest erupted after 92-year-old President Paul Biya was declared the winner of the October 12 election, securing an eighth term in a result heavily disputed by opposition candidates.

Kenya Says More Than 200 Citizens Recruited to Fight for Russia in Ukraine

Kenya’s government says over 200 of its citizens have been recruited, some through deception, to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine, with former security officers among those involved. Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi said recruitment networks are active both in Kenya and Russia, and some of the recruits have reported injuries, unsafe working conditions, and being forced to assemble drones and handle chemicals without training. Kenya has rescued several nationals preparing to join the conflict and arrested an alleged recruiter, while President William Ruto has asked Ukraine to help secure the release of Kenyans trapped in the war zone. Authorities warn that forced recruitment abroad, including into criminal activity and forced labor, poses a growing national and global security risk.

Mali Dismisses Fears Jihadists Could Seize Bamako

Mali’s foreign minister, Abdoulaye Diop, has rejected growing international alarm that al Qaeda-linked militants could soon threaten the capital, saying such warnings are far removed from reality. Speaking in Bamako, Diop said the government is managing the effects of a fuel blockade announced by JNIM in September — a move that caused long queues and temporary school closures — and insisted the group is “no match” for Mali’s security forces. His comments follow evacuation advisories from the U.S., France, Britain, and Italy, and an African Union call for an urgent international response to worsening security conditions. Diop said the blockade aimed to provoke unrest and topple the military-led government, adding that Mali remains safe and open to foreigners despite the political shift away from Western partners and closer security ties with Russia.

Ramaphosa Says U.S. Boycott of G20 Summit Is “Their Loss”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to boycott next week’s G20 summit in Johannesburg, saying Washington is “giving up” its role as the world’s biggest economy and that the summit will proceed without them. Trump announced that no U.S. officials would attend, citing false claims that white South Africans are being persecuted and stripped of land — accusations Ramaphosa’s government says stem from misinformation. The boycott comes amid the lowest point in U.S.–South Africa relations since apartheid, with Trump and senior U.S. officials repeatedly criticizing Pretoria’s policies, including its case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice.

Nigeria Scraps Mother-Tongue Teaching Policy, Reinstates English in Early Grades

Nigeria has cancelled its three-year-old policy requiring pupils to be taught in indigenous languages in the early years of schooling, with Education Minister Tunji Alausa saying the program failed to improve learning outcomes. English will again be used as the medium of instruction from pre-primary through university, after exam data from WAEC, NECO, and JAMB showed poor results in regions that adopted mother-tongue teaching. The reversal has split opinion: some education experts and parents say the policy was poorly implemented and Nigeria lacks trained teachers and materials in dozens of local languages, while others argue it was abandoned too quickly and needed more investment to succeed.

Google, Meta, and TikTok Agree to Major Support Measures After South Africa Digital Media Inquiry

South Africa’s Competition Commission says global tech giants have agreed to a range of remedies — including a R688 million ($40 million) media support package from Google and YouTube — after a broad investigation into how digital platforms impact the country’s news industry. The package will fund national, community, and non-English newsrooms through content licensing, innovation grants, and training. The inquiry found that platforms like Google, YouTube, Meta, TikTok, X, Microsoft, and AI firms now dominate access to news and revenue streams, eroding traditional media business models. As part of the outcomes, YouTube will help local publishers monetize their content, Meta will offer ad credits and training, and TikTok will roll out new publisher programs. Most companies have agreed to the measures, while X Corp has been ordered to make all its monetization tools available in South Africa.