Today in Africa — October 22, 2025: Cuban Deportee on Hunger Strike in Eswatini, Hakimi and Salah Lead African Footballer of the Year Award Nominees, Simone Gbagbo Challenges Allasane Ouattara as Côte d'Ivoire Heads to the Polls on Saturday

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.

Deported Cuban Man on Hunger Strike in Eswatini

Roberto Mosquera Del Peral, one of the five men deported to Eswatini by the U.S. government, has gone on a hunger strike at the maximum-security prison he’s currently being held in. Mosquera has been held for over three months in Eswatini without access to legal counsel, and his lawyer, Alma David, told AP News that his “client is arbitrarily detained, and now his life is on the line.” David urged Eswatini authorities to grant Mosquera permission to meet with his lawyer and be given adequate medical attention.

Mosquera is one of four remaining deportees in Eswatini, deported under the Trump administration’s third-country program, which has been criticized by rights groups and lawyers for denying due process to deportees. Eswatini is one of several African countries receiving deportees, an arrangement that involves the U.S. providing border management funding to the Southern African nation, according to Human Rights Watch. Eswatini might also be the deportation destination for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador earlier this year and is now in immigration custody.

Hakimi and Salah Headline CAF Player of the Year Shortlist

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah lead the 10-man shortlist for the 2025 CAF African Footballer of the Year Award. Hakimi helped Paris Saint-Germain secure a domestic double and the Champions League title, while Salah claimed the Premier League Golden Boot as Liverpool lifted the league trophy. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye and Pape Matar Sarr, and Cameroon’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are also in contention, alongside players from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, and Morocco.

Cape Verde’s Pedro Leitão Brito, commonly known as Bubista, is among the nominees for Men’s Coach of the Year after guiding his team to its first-ever World Cup qualification, with the Blue Sharks also shortlisted for National Team of the Year. On the women’s side, Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo join Zambia’s Barbra Banda among the top contenders. CAF has yet to announce the date for the awards ceremony.

Simone Gbagbo Runs for President as Ouattara Seeks Fourth Term in Côte d’Ivoire

Former First Lady Simone Gbagbo, once jailed and accused of crimes against humanity, is making a political comeback as she runs in Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election this Saturday, October 25. The 76-year-old “Iron Lady” is among four candidates cleared to challenge incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, 83, who is among a list of Africa’s oldest presidents, and is widely expected to win a fourth term. Gbagbo, who co-founded the Ivorian Popular Front with her ex-husband, Laurent Gbagbo, has pledged a platform of reconciliation, justice, and economic autonomy, including a plan to replace the CFA franc and free political prisoners. Analysts say her campaign is more about rebuilding opposition leadership for the post-Ouattara era than a realistic bid for power.

The election comes amid rising discontent and fears of violence after key opposition figures, including former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, were barred from running. Protests over their exclusion have led to arrests and at least three deaths, as authorities deploy 40,000 security officers nationwide. While supporters credit Ouattara with economic growth and infrastructure expansion, critics accuse his government of repression and inequality in a country where over a third of people live in poverty and most are under 35.

Senegalese Footballer Found Dead in Ghana After Falling Victim to Fake Recruiters

Ghanaian police are investigating the death of 20-year-old Senegalese footballer Cheikh Touré, whose body was taken to a hospital in Kumasi over the weekend by a man claiming to be his brother. Hospital records show Touré was already dead on arrival, with multiple abdominal injuries. Senegal’s government says the young player, from Esprit Foot Academy near Dakar, was lured to Ghana by a group posing as football agents promising trials in Morocco. Authorities allege the scammers kidnapped, extorted, and ultimately killed him after ransom demands to his family failed.

Senegal’s foreign and sports ministries have condemned the killing and warned clubs and parents to verify all recruitment offers. Embassy officials in Accra are assisting Ghanaian investigators and arranging to return Touré’s body home. The tragedy has sparked outrage across Senegal, where the goalkeeper was seen as a rising talent in local football.

At Least 46 Killed in Deadly Bus Collision on Uganda Highway

At least 46 people were killed and several others injured earlier today, Wednesday, October 22, when two buses and two other vehicles collided on a highway near Kiryandongo in western Uganda. Police said both bus drivers were overtaking other vehicles when they crashed head-on after midnight. Initial reports put the death toll at 63 before it was revised down after survivors were found unconscious at the scene. The crash, described as one of Uganda’s worst in recent years, highlights the country’s rising road fatalities — over 5,000 recorded in 2024 — largely blamed on reckless driving and weak traffic enforcement.

Nigeria and Several Eastern African Countries Rank At the Bottom of Global Fraud Index

Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia joined Nigeria near the bottom of the 2025 Global Fraud Index report, which ranks countries according to their citizens’ vulnerability to digital fraud. Nigeria is the worst-ranked African country, placed 110 out of 112 countries. Tanzania and Uganda are ranked at 108 and 107, while Rwanda is at 105 and Ethiopia is at 102. “These findings underline the continent’s continued vulnerability to digital and financial fraud, even as global efforts to strengthen fraud defenses accelerate,” London-based digital security firm Susmub wrote in its report.

Tanzania Arrests Opposition Deputy Ahead of Election as Crackdown Deepens

Tanzanian police today, Wednesday, October 22, arrested John Heche, deputy chair of the main opposition party CHADEMA, outside a Dar es Salaam court where party leader Tundu Lissu’s treason trial was underway, a week before the presidential election. Authorities have not disclosed the reason for his detention, though the immigration department recently accused Heche of leaving the country illegally — a claim his party denies. CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo have both been barred from contesting the October 29 vote, leaving President Samia Suluhu Hassan facing minor candidates. The opposition and rights groups say the government has stepped up arrests and intimidation of rivals ahead of the polls.

At Least 40 Migrants Dead After Boat Sinks Off Tunisia’s Coast

At least 40 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa died today, Wednesday, October 22, after their boat sank near the coastal city of Mahdia, Tunisian officials said. Around 70 people were on board when the vessel went down, making it one of the deadliest migrant tragedies in the region this year. Tunisia remains a major departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, as thousands continue to risk dangerous sea crossings to escape poverty and conflict.

Another Fuel Tanker Explosion Kills Dozens in Nigeria

About 30 people died and at least 40 people were injured in an oil tanker explosion in Niger state, north-central Nigeria, yesterday, Tuesday, October 21, 2025. The tanker crashed and overturned due to bad road conditions, and many villagers rushed to collect fuel after the accident. The overturned tanker suddenly exploded, with the resulting fire burning some of the victims beyond recognition. Tanker explosions occur periodically in Nigeria; the exorbitant price of fuel contributes to many people risking their lives to collect fuel from crashed tankers. Although the government has said it will review guidelines for fuel transportation safety, this latest tragedy casts further doubt on when this will be a priority.