Today in Africa — November 21, 2025: Another School Kidnapping in Nigeria as President Bola Tinubu Suspends Foreign Trips, South African Women Stage Lie-Down Protest as President Declares GBVF a National Crisis, ISIS-Affiliated Rebels Kill 89 in Eastern DRC

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 Hit by Another School Kidnapping as Tinubu Cancels Foreign Trips

Gunmen abducted students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state early today, Friday, November 21, in the latest in a string of attacks across northwestern and north-central Nigeria. Police confirmed the kidnapping but did not specify how many students were taken, while local reports said as many as 52 were abducted. State officials said the school had ignored orders to close boarding facilities after intelligence pointed to a high risk of attacks. Security forces are now searching nearby forests for the missing students.

The abductions come during a week of escalating violence, including the kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi and an attack on a church in Kwara, where dozens of worshippers were taken and a ransom demand issued. The surge in attacks follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of “fast” military action over what he calls persecution of Christians — a claim Nigeria’s government strongly disputes. President Bola Tinubu has canceled planned trips to South Africa’s G20 summit and an AU-EU meeting in Angola, instead sending his national security adviser to Washington for talks with U.S. lawmakers.

South Africa Declares Gender Violence and Femicide a National Crisis as Women Stage Nationwide Lie-Down Protest

Hundreds of women dressed in black staged a 15-minute lie-down protest in Johannesburg today, Friday, November 21, each minute symbolizing one of the 15 women killed daily in South Africa due to gender-based violence and femicide. The action, organized by Women for Change, echoed across several cities, drew survivors, activists, and public figures demanding urgent action as the country prepares to host the G20 summit. Protesters held signs reading “Why do you hate us?” and “My body is not your crime scene,” while a petition backing the movement gained over a million signatures.

In response, the government formally declared gender-based violence a national crisis, committing to direct resources toward prevention and accountability. President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the crisis during a G20 civil society event, saying women “need much more focus on the issue.” Experts say the protest’s timing was strategic, highlighting gender violence as a barrier to global development and noting rising rates of child sex trafficking. Women for Change is calling for tougher prosecutions, no bail in major GBV cases, and consequences for justice officials who mishandle complaints.

Islamic State-Linked ADF Rebels Kill 89 Civilians in Week of Attacks in Eastern DRC

Islamic State-affiliated ADF fighters killed at least 89 civilians across several villages in North Kivu’s Lubero territory between November 13 and 19, the United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO said today, Friday, November 21. The dead include at least 20 women and an unknown number of children. In one of the deadliest incidents, rebels stormed a Catholic Church–run health center in Byambwe, killing at least 17 people — including women seeking maternity care — and burning four patient wards. The group also carried out abductions and looted medical supplies.

Local officials say the ADF continues to strike despite joint operations by Congo’s army and Ugandan forces. The group, which began as a Ugandan rebel movement in the 1990s, is now recognized by the Islamic State as an affiliate and has claimed responsibility for several mass killings this year, including a September attack that killed more than 60 people at a funeral. North Kivu also remains destabilized by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, and mediators, including the U.S. and Qatar, are pushing for progress in parallel peace talks.

South Africa Opens First-Ever African G20 Summit Under Shadow of U.S. Boycott

World leaders arrived in Johannesburg today, Friday, November 21, for Africa’s first G20 summit, but the historic moment is being overshadowed by a rift between host South Africa and the U.S., which is boycotting the meeting. President Donald Trump ordered the boycott over his claims that South Africa persecutes its white Afrikaner minority, a stance Pretoria rejects. With the U.S. refusing to take part in talks, South Africa’s agenda — focused on climate impacts on poor nations, crushing debt burdens, and global inequality — faces strong headwinds. President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Washington of trying to block a traditional leaders’ declaration and insisted South Africa “will not be bullied.”

Despite the tension, 18 delegations from major economies are attending, including China and Russia, whose leaders sent senior officials instead of appearing in person. The European Union announced a new critical minerals deal with South Africa, and leaders like Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the summit remains key for global cooperation. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged G20 countries to act on the needs of developing nations, noting that African countries remain stuck at the bottom of global value chains. Ramaphosa summed up the mood ahead of the talks: the U.S. absence, he said, “is their loss.”

EU Sanctions Senior RSF Commander Over Atrocities in Darfur

The European Union has sanctioned Abdel-Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the Rapid Support Forces’ second-in-command, accusing the group of committing “grave and ongoing atrocities” during Sudan’s war. The move follows the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher last month, where fighters allegedly killed civilians, carried out sexual assaults, and blocked aid after a 500-day siege. EU officials said the deliberate targeting of civilians, ethnically driven killings, sexual violence, starvation tactics, and aid obstruction amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The RSF did not comment directly on the sanctions but said it welcomes international efforts for a ceasefire, blaming the Sudanese army for blocking peace. Sudan’s conflict has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced 12 million, though aid agencies warn the real toll is far higher.

Algerian Activist and ‘Hirak Poet’ Begins Hunger Strike Ahead of Trial That Could Carry Death Penalty

Algerian poet and activist Mohamed Tadjadit has launched a hunger strike as he awaits a new trial on charges that rights groups say are politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent. Tadjadit — known as the “poet of the Hirak” for his role in Algeria’s 2019 pro-democracy protests — was sentenced earlier this month to five years in prison on accusations of “condoning terrorism” and “spreading extremist ideas,” which Amnesty International and PEN America have called baseless. He now faces a separate case on November 30 with charges that include “conspiring to incite citizens against the state,” a crime punishable by death, though Algeria has not executed anyone since 1993. Rights organizations say Tadjadit’s repeated arrests — at least six since 2019 — reflect a broader crackdown on peaceful critics, journalists, and Hirak activists. Index on Censorship, which awarded him its Freedom of Expression prize this week, urged authorities to release him immediately.