Today in Africa — November 4, 2025: Nigeria Scrambles to Appoint Ambassadors Amid US Threats, UN Says 48 Killed in Cameroon’s Post-Election Protests, Nigeria’s Doctor Strike Enters Day 3

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 Finalizes Ambassadorial Appointments as U.S. Tensions Rise and China Weighs In

President Bola Tinubu is wrapping up the long-delayed appointment of ambassadors after more than two years without envoys in Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions. Officials say the final list is being cleaned up following deaths, retirements, and withdrawals among earlier nominees. The move comes amid heightened diplomatic tension after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military intervention over the alleged persecution of Christians — a claim Nigeria strongly denies.

Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar defended the country’s record on religious freedom, insisting persecution is “impossible” under Nigeria’s constitution, while the Chinese government publicly backed Nigeria and warned against foreign interference. With embassies running on limited authority since 2023, analysts say filling the ambassador posts could help restore smoother communication and strengthen Nigeria’s global standing at such a delicate moment.

Cameroon Security Forces Kill 48 Protesters After Disputed Election

At least 48 civilians were killed by Cameroonian security forces during protests that erupted after President Paul Biya’s re-election, according to the UN data shared with Reuters. Most of the victims were shot dead, while others died from beatings as demonstrations spread across major cities following Biya’s October 12 victory. The 92-year-old leader, in power since 1982, was declared the winner with 53.66% of the vote, while opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who claimed he won, received 35.19%.

Nearly half of the deaths occurred in the Littoral region, home to the commercial hub of Douala, where clashes were fiercest and three gendarmes were also killed. Ten deaths were reported in the northern city of Garoua, Tchiroma’s hometown. Biya’s government has not released an official death toll and has yet to respond to the allegations. The protests have since subsided, but tensions remain high ahead of Biya’s expected swearing-in on Thursday, November 6.

Nigerian Doctors’ Strike Enters Third Day

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has slammed the government’s claims that progress is being made to bring an ongoing strike by the association to an end. In a statement, NARD President Mohammad Suleiman described the claims as “fiction detached from reality,” adding that no headway has been made so far. The strike entered its third day, with reports that many government hospitals across the country are partially operating due to the absence of doctors. The association’s strike is in protest of several unmet demands, including arrears of allowances, irregularities in salary payments, poor working conditions, and many more.

The Nigerian government said it has approved N11.9 billion ($8.27 million) to pay for outstanding arrears, with the health ministry adding that money has been released for arrears payment. Health Minister Iziaq Salako urged the doctors to work while negotiations and efforts to address NARD’s demands are ongoing. Nigeria’s public healthcare system is generally poor and was ranked as one of the world’s worst in a 2024 report, due to infrastructure gaps and a shortage of health workers. Hundreds of doctors emigrate from Nigeria every year due to poor remuneration and horrible working conditions.

Junta Leader Enters Presidential Election Race in Guinea

General Mamady Doumbouya has submitted his bid to be one of the candidates in Guinea’s presidential election, slated to hold on December 28, 2025. Doumbouya’s candidacy contrasts with his initial claims of ensuring the country transitions into civilian rule without a soldier at the helm. After coming to power in 2021 through a coup, the junta leader claimed he wouldn’t run when elections take place; however, his 180 is not surprising considering the last few years, where he has repressed opposition and adopted the image of a statesman. The election follows a constitutional referendum that allows Doumbouya and other military men to run for office, and the head of state is now the favorite to emerge as president, similar to recent elections in Africa with junta leaders as candidates.

Court Bans Operation Dudula from Harassing Foreign Nationals in South Africa

A South African high court has barred members of Operation Dudula from harassing immigrants, demanding identity documents, or spreading hate speech in their anti-foreigner campaign. Judge Leicester Adams ruled that the group’s actions violated constitutional rights and ordered the government to fully implement its National Action Plan to Combat Racism and Xenophobia. The case, brought by several human rights organizations, accused the group of unlawfully evicting, intimidating, and assaulting migrants. In his judgment, Adams said “human dignity has no nationality,” adding that Operation Dudula’s continued acts of violence and intimidation posed an ongoing threat.

Inflation Rocks Tanzanian Cities as Internet Access is Slowly Restored

Several cities across Tanzania are dealing with fuel and food supply shortages, causing an inflation in prices. This was caused by a government order closing all fuel stations during the post-election protests, driving the per-liter price of fuel from Tsh2,752 ($1.12) to Tsh10,000 ($4). Public services were also suspended during the protests, but President Samia Suluhu Hassan ordered the resumption of services during her inauguration speech on Monday, November 3. Internet service is also being partially restored after six days of restriction, while mobile users also received a text saying that sharing unverified images that could cause panic or demean human life would lead to “treason charges.”

Boeing Faces First Civil Trial Over Deadly 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Crash

More than six years after the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 people on board, Boeing faces its first civil trial over compensation for victims’ families. The Chicago trial, beginning this week, will determine how much the company must pay the families of Mercy Ndivo, a Kenyan mother, and Shikha Garg, an Indian UN consultant. Boeing has already accepted responsibility for the 2019 disaster and a similar Lion Air crash in Indonesia months earlier, both linked to faulty flight-control software. While most wrongful death cases have been settled, the victims’ lawyers accuse Boeing of stalling fair compensation talks, calling the crash “senseless and preventable.”

Tunisia Repatriates 10,000 Migrants Amid EU Pressure Over Mediterranean Crossings

Tunisia has repatriated around 10,000 irregular migrants so far this year, most from sub-Saharan Africa, under a voluntary return program coordinated with the International Organization for Migration. Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti told lawmakers that weekly flights are facilitating the returns and reaffirmed Tunisia’s refusal to serve as a “transit zone” for migrants heading to Europe. The country, under pressure from the EU to curb crossings, has intensified border security, leading to fewer arrivals in Europe but leaving thousands of stranded migrants living in makeshift camps in southern Tunisia.