Today in Africa — Mar 3, 2026: U.S. Sanctions Rwanda Military Leaders, Congo-Brazzaville Gears Up for March 15 Election

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. Sanctions Rwanda Military Leaders Over Eastern DRC Fighting

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on senior officials in the Rwanda Defence Force, accusing them of backing the AFC/M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Those sanctioned include the army chief of staff, Vincent Nyakarundi; Ruki Karusisi, a major-general; Mubarakh Muganga, chief of defense staff; and Stanislas Gashugi, special operations force commander, with Washington saying that M23’s territorial gains and alleged human rights abuses would not have been possible without Rwandan support. The U.S. called for the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops, weapons, and equipment from the DRC. Rwanda rejected the sanctions as unjust and unfairly singling out Kigali, saying they distort the facts, insisting it remains committed to disengagement under U.S.-led mediation while accusing the DRC of failing to meet its own obligations through indiscriminate drone strikes and ground offensives.

The move comes despite a peace deal signed in Washington in December between Rwanda and the DRC, brokered by President Donald Trump, and a separate accord in Qatar between M23 and Kinshasa. Fighting has continued, with M23 briefly seizing Uvira days after the Washington agreement and still holding key cities including Goma and Bukavu. The Congolese government welcomed the sanctions as a strong signal in support of its sovereignty. The conflict, involving about 100 armed groups in mineral-rich eastern Congo, has displaced more than seven million people, according to the UN.

Congo’s Sassou Nguesso Seeks Re-Election as Skepticism Shadows March 15 Vote

Campaigning is underway in the Republic of Congo ahead of the March 15 presidential election, with incumbent Denis Sassou Nguesso launching his bid in Pointe-Noire and drawing large crowds. The 82-year-old leader, who has ruled the oil-rich country for more than four decades, faces six other candidates, though many see the fragmented opposition as having little chance. Civil society group Tournons la Page Congo says electoral reforms it has long recommended remain unaddressed, warning the vote lacks full transparency. While the ruling party insists elections are held regularly and reflect the president’s commitment to prosperity, some citizens openly question whether the outcome is already decided.

In an interview, Sassou Nguesso said he is preparing the ground for a new generation and stressed that current leaders will not stay in power forever. He rejected criticism that Congo’s oil wealth has been squandered, saying resources have been used to develop the country, even as nearly half of its six million people live below the poverty line. He also addressed the continued detention of former presidential candidates Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and André Okombi Salissa, saying they will be released one day but denying they are political opponents. If re-elected, this would be his final five-year term under the constitution, though he declined to name a successor.

Anglican Leaders Meet in Nigeria as Global Split Debate Deepens

Conservative Anglican leaders from across the Global South are gathering in Abuja, Nigeria, this week to consider a plan that could reshape — or potentially split — the Anglican Communion. The meeting, organized by the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon), brings together primates, bishops, clergy, and lay members who oppose liberal shifts such as same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly LGBTQ+ clergy in parts of Europe and North America. Gafcon chairman Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda previously called for a reordered “Global Anglican Communion” led by elected chairmen rather than centered on the archbishop of Canterbury. The Abuja talks could see that proposal adopted, revised, or rejected, though leaders say they are seeking reform rather than forming a new church body.

At the same time, the historic Anglican Communion has announced its own restructuring proposal aimed at decentralizing authority away from England and sharing leadership more broadly, reflecting that most of its estimated 85 million members now live in the Global South. The plan would reduce Canterbury’s central role and go before the Anglican Consultative Council for review in the next few months. Tensions have grown for years, especially around LGBTQ+ inclusion, and some national churches have already pulled back from Communion gatherings. Whether the rival proposals ease divisions or push the global church closer to a formal break remains uncertain.

Tunisian Court Sentences Tycoon Mabrouk to 20 Years, Ex-PM Chahed to Six

A Tunisian court has sentenced businessman Marouan Mabrouk, son-in-law of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, to 20 years in prison in a corruption case, while former prime minister Youssef Chahed received a six-year sentence, lawyers said today, Tuesday, March 3. Mabrouk, who has been detained since late 2023, was convicted of money laundering, misusing state company funds, and gaining illegal benefits under Chahed’s government. Chahed, who served from 2016 to 2020 and is currently abroad, was sentenced for his cabinet’s role in lifting a freeze on Mabrouk’s European bank assets. Six former ministers were also given six-year terms on similar charges. President Kais Saied, who took sweeping powers in 2021, has pushed anti-corruption efforts and previously vowed to recover at least $5 billion from business figures accused of financial crimes, though no sums have been publicly confirmed as recovered.

Death Toll Rises to Nine in South Africa Building Collapse

The death toll from a building collapse in South Africa’s biggest city, Johannesburg, has risen to nine, as emergency crews recover more bodies from the rubble of a partially constructed structure in the suburb of Ormonde. City officials say the upper floor of the building gave way yesterday, Monday, March 2, crashing down on people below and trapping workers at the business park site. Authorities confirmed that no formal building plans had been submitted, in violation of city bylaws, and Mayor Dada Morero says the structure will be demolished once investigations are complete. President Cyril Ramaphosa offered condolences and said he expects the probe to provide answers. Building collapses remain a serious risk in South Africa’s construction sector, with a similar disaster in George last year killing 34 people after safety breaches were uncovered.

Zimbabwe Begins Releasing Over 4,000 Inmates Under Presidential Amnesty

Zimbabwe has begun releasing more than 4,300 prisoners under a presidential amnesty aimed at easing overcrowding in its prisons, with Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi saying the 2026 clemency order targets vulnerable inmates and those who have shown progress in rehabilitation. The release, which excludes people convicted of serious crimes and those charged under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, comes after the cabinet approved constitutional changes that could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term to 2030. Zimbabwe’s prisons held just over 24,000 inmates in mid-2025. Some newly freed prisoners publicly thanked the president, while critics have accused the proposed constitutional amendments — which would scrap general presidential elections and give parliament the power to choose the president — of undermining democracy.

Benin Issues Wanted Notice for Suspected Coup Leaders, Offers €30,000 Reward

Benin’s Republican Police have issued a wanted notice for nine people accused of leading an attempted coup nearly three months ago, offering a reward of more than €30,000 (over $34,000) for information on their whereabouts. Authorities say the plot targeted President Patrice Talon and his government, with the rebels accusing them of failing to address growing insecurity in the country’s north, where Islamist insurgents have inflicted heavy losses on the army near the Niger and Burkina Faso borders. The coup collapsed after Nigeria deployed fighter jets at Talon’s request to retake a military base and state media facilities from mutineers. Topping the wanted list is Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, a former elite unit commander whom Beninese officials claim is hiding in Lomé, Togo — an allegation the Togolese government has not addressed.

Guinea Says President Doumbouya ‘In Good Health’ Amid Absence Speculation

Guinea’s presidency says President Mamady Doumbouya is in good health following speculation over his absence since leaving the country on February 13 for an African Union summit in Addis Ababa. Advisors told local media he stayed on for a few days of rest and a routine medical checkup, describing the results as reassuring and saying he will return to Conakry in the coming days. Doumbouya, 41, seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted former president Alpha Condé and has since faced criticism for restricting civil liberties and banning protests. In December, he was elected to a seven-year term in a vote in which major opposition figures were barred, after months largely out of public view, apart from his swearing-in and AU appearance.