Today in Africa — October 16, 2025: Four Killed at Raila Odinga Memorial, Joseph Kabila Resurfaces in Kenya, Madagascar’s Junta Defies African Union Suspension

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.

Four Killed as Chaos Erupts at Raila Odinga’s Memorial in Nairobi

At least four people were killed and several others injured in Nairobi today, Thursday, October 16, after security forces fired shots and tear gas to disperse huge crowds gathered to view the body of the late opposition leader Raila Odinga. Thousands packed the city’s main stadium to pay their respects to the 80-year-old political icon, who passed yesterday, Wednesday, October 15, in India while receiving medical treatment. The violence erupted when mourners forced their way through a stadium gate, prompting soldiers to fire into the air before the police moved in.

Earlier in the day, mourners flooded the streets and briefly stormed Nairobi’s international airport, disrupting a ceremony for President William Ruto and other officials who had gathered to receive Odinga’s body with military honors. The chaos led to a two-hour suspension of airport operations. Odinga, a former prime minister and democracy champion who ran for president five times, commanded deep loyalty from his supporters, many of whom credited him with securing Kenya’s multi-party democracy, and affectionately called him “Baba.”

Joseph Kabila Reappears in Kenya After Congo Death Sentence

Former Congolese president Joseph Kabila made his first public appearance since being sentenced to death in absentia for treason and war crimes, attending a meeting in Nairobi with other Congolese opposition leaders yesterday, Wednesday, October 15. The group announced the formation of a new political movement aimed at “ending tyranny” and restoring democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kabila’s presence in Kenya is expected to spark diplomatic tensions, as Kinshasa has accused Nairobi of backing the M23 rebel group, which has captured key cities in eastern Congo.

Kabila, who was president from 2001 to 2019 after succeeding his assassinated father, has been accused by the Congolese government of collaborating with Rwanda and the M23 rebels — charges he denies. His party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, says the September 30 death sentence handed down by Congo’s military court was politically driven. Kabila has previously voiced sympathy for the rebels’ cause, deepening the rift with President Félix Tshisekedi, whose 2019 election ended Kabila’s 18-year rule.

Madagascar’s Junta Ruler to Be Sworn In Despite AU Suspension

Madagascar’s new military leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, says he will be sworn in as president tomorrow, Friday, October 17, defying the African Union’s suspension of the island nation following last week’s coup. Randrianirina announced that the High Constitutional Court will oversee his oath-taking as “President for the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar,” after the army seized power and forced President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country aboard a French military plane.

Rajoelina has refused to step down, accusing parliament of colluding with the military in the takeover, which followed weeks of deadly Gen Z protests over corruption and power shortages. The AU has called for a swift return to civilian rule and elections, warning that the junta risks international isolation. Madagascar now joins a growing list of former French colonies under military control, including Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

Yinka Ilori Launches Foundation to Bring Joy and Creativity to Communities, Starting in Nigeria

British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori MBE has launched the Yinka Ilori Foundation, a global non-profit dedicated to creating joyful, community-driven spaces that promote creativity and opportunity. The foundation’s first flagship site will open in Nigeria, featuring a co-created playscape with free yearlong programs in music, craft, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. Rooted in Ilori’s signature colorful aesthetic and Nigerian heritage, the initiative aims to make art and design accessible to all while empowering local communities to sustain and shape their own spaces.

Yale Study Finds RSF Committing War Crimes in Sudan’s El Fasher

New satellite images analyzed by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab reveal that Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are deliberately targeting civilians in the besieged city of El Fasher — attacks the researchers say constitute war crimes. The findings show more than 60 new graves in just two weeks, along with evidence of bombed mosques, hospitals, and shelters, where people were reportedly burned alive. Residents say food has completely run out as the RSF tightens its 57-kilometer wall around the city, trapping about 300,000 civilians. Aid groups warn of starvation and call for safe passage and humanitarian access to what has become one of the deadliest sieges of Sudan’s 18-month war.

Mnangagwa Accuses Deputy Chiwenga of Treason as ZANU-PF Rift Widens

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accused his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, of incitement and treason after Chiwenga submitted a corruption dossier criticizing alleged party capture and opposing plans to extend Mnangagwa’s rule beyond two terms. In a sharp rebuttal read by ZANU-PF’s legal affairs secretary, Ziyambi Ziyambi, the president dismissed the report as “fundamentally flawed” and “treasonous,” saying it sought to unlawfully remove a constitutionally elected leader. The dispute comes ahead of the party’s National People’s Conference in Mutare, where tensions between the two leaders are expected to dominate discussions, signaling a deepening succession battle within ZANU-PF.

South Africa Welcomes $115M U.S. HIV Funding Lifeline as Lesotho Faces Crisis

South Africa today, Thursday, October 16, praised a new $115 million U.S. “bridge plan” to restore HIV treatment and prevention funding until March 2026, calling it a positive step after months of tension between the two countries. The temporary deal comes after former U.S. President Donald Trump froze all foreign aid to South Africa earlier this year, cutting off the $400 million annual U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) contribution that supported thousands of health workers and HIV clinics. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the move shows goodwill and helps rebuild cooperation after the funding freeze disrupted services and cost more than 8,000 jobs.

But the crisis has hit neighboring Lesotho even harder. The U.S. aid suspension gutted HIV programs in the small, mountainous nation — once hailed as a success story in the global fight against AIDS — forcing clinic closures and leaving communities without access to treatment. Health workers warn that the setback could reverse nearly two decades of progress and fuel new infections in a country with the world’s second-highest HIV rate. U.S. officials have pledged temporary relief through six-month bridge programs, but experts say rebuilding trust and systems on the ground will take much longer.

Tunisian Protesters Clash With Police Over Toxic Pollution in Gabes

Thousands of residents in Gabes, Tunisia, clashed with police yesterday, Wednesday, October 15, during mass protests over worsening air pollution from a nearby phosphate-processing plant. Riot police fired tear gas as demonstrators tried to reach the state-owned Chemical Group of Tunisia complex, following a recent gas leak that sent dozens, including children, to hospitals. Protesters accuse the plant — long blamed for poisoning air, water, and marine life — of committing “environmental crimes” and demanded its closure after decades of unfulfilled promises to relocate it. President Kais Saied has since ordered an urgent investigation, pledging accountability for what he called “serious failures” that caused the leaks.

Seychelles’ President-Elect Vows to Halt Qatari Resort on Protected Island

Seychelles’ incoming president, Patrick Herminie, says he will suspend construction of a Qatari-funded luxury resort on Assumption Island once sworn in on October 26, calling the 70-year lease deal “unacceptable.” The $20 million project, backed by Qatar’s Assets Group, includes 40 villas and an expanded airstrip near the UNESCO-listed Aldabra atoll, home to hundreds of rare species. Environmental groups have warned that it threatens one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. Herminie, who defeated incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan in last week’s election, said he will meet investors to renegotiate the contract, pledging that no further chalets will be built.