Today in Africa — October 2, 2025: Morocco Youth-Led Protests Turn Deadly, UN Says 91 Killed in Sudan’s El Fasher Last Month, Kenyan Activists Abducted in Uganda

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.

Morocco’s Youth-Led Protests Turn Deadly as Anger Spreads Across Cities

Two people were killed near Agadir after security forces used firearms during clashes with protesters who attempted to storm a gendarmerie facility on Wednesday night, October 1. Local officials said demonstrators armed with knives set fire to part of the building and a vehicle, forcing officers to respond after tear gas failed to disperse the crowd. The deaths mark the first fatalities in a movement that began Saturday, September 27, when an anonymous youth collective called “GenZ 212” rallied for better education and healthcare. The group has quickly gained traction, with its Discord server swelling from 3,000 members last week to more than 130,000 today, Thursday, October 2.

The unrest has since spread nationwide, from violent street battles in Salé, Tangier, Taroudant, and Marrakech to looted shops and torched police vehicles in smaller towns near Agadir. In contrast, protests in Casablanca, Oujda, and Taza remained peaceful, with demonstrators calling for Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch’s resignation and an end to corruption. Authorities said 263 security personnel and 23 civilians were injured Tuesday night alone, and more than 400 people have been detained, with nearly 200 set to face trial. Youth unemployment in Morocco stands at 35.8%, fueling frustrations that have now erupted into the most violent protests since the Rif uprisings of 2016–2017.

UN Says 91 Killed in RSF Attacks on Sudan’s El Fasher

At least 91 civilians were killed in Sudan’s El Fasher within 10 days last month during heavy attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the UN said today, Thursday, October 2. The city’s Daraja Oula neighborhood was repeatedly shelled and struck by drones between September 19 and 29, with the Sudan Doctors Network describing the targeting of homes as a “massacre.” The latest assault came yesterday, Wednesday, October 1, when an RSF missile killed 16 people and injured 21 others, including children. The fighting has turned El Fasher, the army’s last stronghold in Darfur, into the center of the war alongside Kordofan.

The violence adds to Sudan’s worsening humanitarian crisis, with more than 40,000 people killed since 2023, and over 12 million displaced. Trapped residents and journalists in El Fasher are facing starvation, lack of clean water, and attacks. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported arrests, assaults, and rape targeting local reporters, with fighters using informants to track them. The Sudanese army made a rare airdrop of aid this week, while Egypt said it is backing efforts to end the siege. Despite this, the RSF and military continue deadly battles for control of the city.

Kenyan Activists Vanish in Uganda After Attending Bobi Wine Rally

Two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were abducted by armed men in Uganda while attending opposition leader Bobi Wine’s campaign event, witnesses said. Wine, who is challenging longtime President Yoweri Museveni in next year’s election, accused the government of targeting his supporters and condemned what he called a “mafia-style” abduction. Ugandan police and army officials denied holding the pair, saying they were unaware of the matter.

Rights groups, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya, have demanded Ugandan authorities disclose the activists’ whereabouts, calling it part of a troubling pattern of abductions in the region. Njagi had previously been abducted in Kenya last year and held for over a month. The disappearances echo other recent cases in East Africa, where activists and opposition figures have either been detained or vanished, fueling fears of cross-border crackdowns on dissent.

Namibia Reports 20,000 Children Exploited Online Each Year

A new survey by the Disrupting Harm Project estimates that 20,000 Namibian children aged 12 to 17 are exposed to online sexual exploitation annually, with many facing coercion to share sexual images or engage in explicit conversations. The report highlights widespread internet use among children — 81% overall, with most online daily — and points to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram as platforms frequently misused in abuse cases. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has pledged stronger child protection measures under the country’s new development plan. These include better coordination of services, data collection, and efforts to combat child marriage, amid growing concerns over Namibia’s high rates of abuse and limited social worker capacity.

Madagascar Youth Protests Pause in Capital After 22 Deaths

Madagascar’s youth-led protest movement paused marches in the capital Antananarivo for 24 hours today, Thursday, October 2, citing health concerns for demonstrators. However, rallies continued in other cities, including Toliara and Diego Suarez. The week-long unrest, the country’s largest in years, has left at least 22 people dead and more than 100 injured, according to the UN — though the government disputes those figures. Sparked by anger over water shortages and power cuts, protesters are demanding President Andry Rajoelina resign, along with the dissolution of key state institutions, in what activists say is a rejection of decades of elite control and entrenched poverty. The embassies of Germany, France, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the European Union delegation issued a joint statement urging all parties to engage in “constructive dialogue.”

U.S. Backs $10 Billion Airport Project in Ethiopia

The U.S. has pledged support for Ethiopia’s $10 billion Bishoftu International Airport, set to become Africa’s largest once completed in 2029. Announced by U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos, the project involves the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and Boeing. An $8 billion funding agreement between Ethiopian Airlines and the African Development Bank (AfDB) forms part of the agreement. The AfDB has committed $500 million. Located 40 km south of Addis Ababa, the new airport will feature four runways, an airport city, and capacity for 110 million passengers and nearly 4 million tonnes of cargo annually, positioning Ethiopia as a key regional aviation hub.

WWF Warns Africa’s Freshwater Fish Face Extinction Crisis

A new WWF report says Africa’s freshwater fish stocks are collapsing, with more than a quarter of species at risk of extinction due to overfishing, invasive species, and pollution. On Lake Victoria, once-abundant catches have dropped so sharply that traders now struggle to get even a fraction of past hauls, while in the Zambezi floodplain, catches are down 90 percent. In Lake Malawi, chambo tilapia populations have plunged by 94 percent. WWF is calling for an Emergency Recovery Plan to clean up waterways, tackle invasive species, and stop unsustainable fishing before more species disappear.