Today in Africa — November 25, 2025: Amnesty International Details RSF Atrocities in El Fasher, US Bill Seeks to Cut South Africa From AGOA, WFP Warns of “Catastrophic Hunger” in Northern Nigeria

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.

Amnesty Details Atrocities by Sudan's RSF

Amnesty International has detailed over two dozen survivors’ harrowing experiences of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killing unarmed civilians and sexually assaulting women and girls during the attack on and eventual capture of El Fasher. The testimonies portray an atmosphere of indiscriminate violence, with one survivor recounting that RSF fighters said, “In El Fasher, there are no civilians, everybody is a soldier,” before executing his brother and two other men. Another survivor shared that “RSF were killing people as if they were flies. It was a massacre. None of the people killed that I have seen were armed soldiers.”

Amnesty Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated that “the world must not look away as more details emerge about the RSF’s brutal attack on El Fasher,” adding that the atrocities committed constitute war crimes. Amnesty also implicated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its report, accusing the Gulf country of backing the paramilitary. Interestingly, the UAE is part of the quad, alongside the U.S., Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, a contingent trying to mediate a ceasefire and peace deal between the RSF and Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF).

RSF affirmed its readiness to enter a three-month humanitarian truce yesterday, Monday, November 24. However, the army has criticized the proposed ceasefire for being “biased,” and today, Tuesday, November 25, the army said it stopped an RSF attack on a base in Babanusa in West Kordofan state. The proposal has been on the table for a few months now, with analysts stating that RSF’s acceptance only came after it captured El Fasher.

U.S. Senator Pushes AGOA Renewal Bill That Would Cut Out South Africa

A U.S. Senate bill to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for two years would explicitly remove South Africa from the trade programme, according to details confirmed by South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC). The bill, introduced by Senator John Kennedy when AGOA lapsed at the end of September, ties eligibility to whether countries “support U.S. interests” and accuses South Africa of aligning with China, Russia, and other American adversaries. While the DTIC told lawmakers this week that bipartisan support exists for AGOA’s revival and that the White House backs a one-year rollover that includes South Africa, Kennedy’s proposal — called “AGOA 2.0” — seeks to end South Africa’s eligibility entirely.

The bill also calls for a full review of U.S.–South Africa relations, a presidential certification on whether Pretoria undermines U.S. national security, and a classified list of ANC and government officials who could face Global Magnitsky sanctions. It follows months of rising tensions between the two countries, which escalated at the G20 summit after the U.S. boycotted the meeting and pressured South Africa not to issue a leaders’ declaration — a move ultimately ignored by attending nations. South Africa plans a low-level handover of the G20 gavel to the U.S. today, Tuesday, November 25, after rejecting Washington’s request for President Cyril Ramaphosa to preside over the ceremony.

Northern Nigeria May Face Severe Hunger in 2026

The World Food Programme (WFP) says it’s expecting food insecurity in northern Nigeria to reach severe heights, largely due to a spike in attacks by Islamist insurgent groups. About 15,000 people may face “catastrophic hunger” in Borno state, northeast Nigeria, in 2026, according to the WFP’s report. This means Borno will be given a Phase 5 classification, the agency’s highest food insecurity classification, similar to those in parts of Sudan and Gaza. About 35 million people in the entire northern region are projected to face severe hunger.

“When we see Phase Five, things have really gone very, very extreme,” WFP food security analysis director Jean-Martin Bauer said, adding that extremist groups could “exploit hunger to pursue agendas that could destabilize neighboring areas.” Farmers are finding it hard to work on their farmlands due to Nigeria’s long-term security issues getting worse, as terrorists have increased their abduction-for-profit activities recently. Last weekend, 13 teenage female farmers were kidnapped by terrorists belonging to the Islamic State – West African Province (ISWAP), and the kidnappers have demanded a N10 million (about $7,000) ransom for their release.

Nollywood Actor and Content Creator Odira Nwobu Passes Away at 43 in South Africa

Nigerian actor and influencer Odira Nwobu has died in South Africa at the age of 43, his lawyer and the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria confirmed, shocking fans and colleagues across the country. Nwobu, known for his comedic roles and baby-faced charm in more than 60 Nollywood films, was found gasping for breath in his hotel room in Benoni after a night out with colleagues, and paramedics were unable to revive him. A coroner’s report is pending, and his family has not yet commented. Born in Enugu, Nwobu built a large following on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube after turning to content creation to escape typecasting. He had traveled to South Africa with other influencers to promote a Nigerian-owned real estate company.

Uganda Detains More Than 300 Bobi Wine Supporters as Election Campaign Heats Up

Ugandan security forces have arrested over 300 supporters and officials from popular opposition leader Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform since campaigns began last month, the party said, accusing President Yoweri Museveni’s government of using fear and intimidation ahead of January’s election. NUP spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi says the detentions include campaign coordinators and aides, with at least 100 people arrested yesterday, Monday, November 24, alone, as police used tear gas, water cannons, pepper spray, and even canes to break up Wine’s rallies in Kampala. 

Police deny targeting the opposition, saying they detained seven people for allegedly injuring officers during clashes. Wine, who is challenging Museveni for the second time after a disputed 2021 race, has long accused the government of rigging elections and cracking down on dissent. Museveni, now Africa’s fourth longest-ruling leader, has been in power since 1986 after removing constitutional age and term limits. If he wins again, his rule would approach 50 years.

Independence Day Celebrations Cancelled in Tanzania

The Tanzanian government has cancelled celebrations for Independence Day, December 9, with previously allocated funds now to be deployed in repairing damaged infrastructure during post-election protests a few weeks ago. Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba announced on the back of calls for protests on Independence Day by the opposition. “I urge my fellow Tanzanians to come together and discuss the issues affecting us. Let us not return to what we went through, because the consequences are irreparable,” Nchemba said. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who won her first term in office with a highly disputed 98 percent of the vote, set up a commission of inquiry into the violent events that transpired during and after the election. Opposition parties claim over 700 people were killed in the violent crackdown on protesters, while the government has yet to share a death toll.