Today in Africa — October 10, 2025: Burkina Faso Rejects Deportees from the U.S., Nigeria’s President Pardons Wrongfully Executed Ogoni Nine, Five African Countries Look to Secure Spots at 2026 FIFA World Cup

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.

Burkina Faso Rejects Taking In Deportations from the U.S.

Authorities in Burkina Faso have rejected the U.S. government’s proposal for the west African country to receive deportees, including non-citizens and its own nationals expelled from the U.S. It’s a defiant stance at a time when the Trump administration has successfully pressured multiple African governments into accepting deported individuals not originally from those countries. Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré called the proposal “indecent,” adding that Burkina Faso under its junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, is “a land of dignity, not deportation.”

Visa services to the U.S. have been suspended in Burkina Faso, allegedly in response to the Burkinabe government’s stance, with all applications redirected to neighboring Togo. This pressure tactic isn’t dissimilar to the modified visa eligibility rules for Nigeria, ostensibly tied to its government’s refusal to take on deportees. Countries that have taken on deportees have reportedly been rewarded, with Ghana’s visa eligibility positively reviewed after its government accepted deportees, while Eswatini and Rwanda are set to receive border management funding according to Human Rights Watch.

Five African Slots to the 2026 FIFA World Cup are Still Up for Grabs

The stakes are incredibly high heading into next week’s final round of qualifying fixtures for next year’s FIFA men’s world cup, as over half the number of slots for African teams are still up for grabs. Egypt and Algeria booked their places earlier this week, joining Tunisia and Morocco as the confirmed African teams so far. The remaining five groups are yet to be sorted, setting the stage for a nail-biting finale next week.

In Group C, three hopefuls — Nigeria, Benin Republic and South Africa — are in the running, following the deduction of three points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho. Nigeria and Benin will play each other, with the latter currently at the top of the table, while South Africa will face Rwanda. Cape Verde could qualify for the world cup for the first time ever with a win over Eswatini, while Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana will be looking to cement their spots with wins over Kenya and Comoros, respectively.

Nigerian President Posthumously Pardons Ogoni Nine

Three decades after they were executed following a widely-condemned trial under a brutal military dictatorship, the nine activists from oil-rich Ogoni region have received pardons from the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government. The nine men were executed alongside Ken Saro-Wiwa for the alleged murder of several Ogoni chiefs, charges that were deemed unsubstantiated by many at the time. This pardon now confirms that the trial was a way for the military junta then to get rid of the group seeking justice for the harmful oil drilling practices on their land.

The Nigerian government also extended clemency to dozens of inmates across the country and also issued posthumous pardons to historical figures. Herbert Macaulay, the father of Nigerian nationalism, was pardoned for a conviction from a harsh trial by British colonial forces, while military officer Major-General Mamman Vatsa was granted pardon for allegedly masterminding a coup back in 1986, a charge which he was executed for without tangible evidence.

South African Police Commissioner Links Crime Syndicate with Police Minister

South Africa’s police commissioner Fannie Masemola has supported allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal top cop Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who rocked the country months ago with claims that police minister Senzo Mchunu was working with crime syndicates to stall police investigations. Masemola was speaking at a hearing of a parliament ad hoc committee to look into the claims made by Mkhwanazi, and he suggested that the head of crime intelligence, Dumisani Khumalo, was targeted for setting up the political killings task team (PKTT), which was implicating Mchunu’s alleged allies. It’s the latest twist in one of the biggest scandals to face the South African police top brass.

Rajoelina Seeks One More Year as Madagascar’s Youth Protests Continue

Police fired rubber bullets and teargas at protesters on Thursday, as demonstrations in Madagascar enter their second week. The Youth-led movement has demanded the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina, who dissolved his government and subsequently appointed an army general as his new prime minister, moves that didn’t placate protesters. At the national dialogue that was boycotted by the representative group for the protests, Rajoelina asked for one more year, stating that “If power cuts persist in the capital within a year, I will resign.”

Nigerian President Nominates New Electoral Body Chief

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has nominated Joash Ojo Amupitan, a law professor, to head the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). A long-time law lecturer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Amupitan is considered an apolitical choice that should be confirmed by the Nigerian legislature in the near future. He’ll take over from Mahmood Yakubu, who recently resigned as INEC chairman and has a fraught legacy for many Nigerians, after overseeing the 2023 presidential elections that was marred by rigging allegations. Amupitan will be coming into the job at a time when many Nigerians are looking for signs of increased transparency from INEC, leading up to the 2027 general election.