Today in Africa — October 31, 2025: Tanzania Opposition Says 700 Killed in Post-Election Protests, RSF Arrests One of Its Own for El Fasher Atrocities, Cameroon Opposition Leader Goes Into Hiding

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. 

Opposition Says At Least 700 People Have Been Killed in Tanzania’s Post-Election Protests

A spokesman for the Tanzanian opposition party Chadema has placed the number of casualties in the ongoing post-election process at around 700 people. “As we speak, the figure for deaths in Dar (es Salaam) is around 350, and for Mwanza it is 200-plus. Added to figures from other places around the country, the overall figure is around 700,” John Kitoka said, adding that the numbers could be “much higher” due to suspected killings that may be taking place during curfew hours.

Official figures for those killed and injured during the protests, which are now in their third day, have been difficult to obtain due to internet restrictions, while foreign observers and journalists have been largely banned from covering the elections. Incumbent Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to return to office, amidst repression of opposition parties and the barring of two main contenders from contesting in the election. The ongoing protests echo the 2000-2001 demonstrations in the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island of Zanzibar, which stemmed from similar election grievances and led to the death of over 35 people.

Currently, protesters are defying warnings from the army chief that the military could step in to end the demonstrations, while a curfew has been placed on the economic hub, Dar es Salaam, and civil servants have been ordered to work from home.

RSF Arrests Fighter Linked to Executions as UN Warns of Atrocities in El Fasher

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) say they have detained one of their own, a fighter identified as Abu Lulu, after videos surfaced showing him carrying out executions in the recently captured city of El Fasher. The group released footage of the arrest, claiming it was ordered by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and conducted “professionally.” Witnesses, however, described widespread killings by RSF fighters when they seized the city on Sunday, October 26, after a 500-day siege.

The United Nations says there are “credible reports” of mass executions and civilians being trapped by RSF-built barriers as they tried to flee. Over 36,000 people have escaped El Fasher in recent days, many on foot at night, as satellite images reveal what experts call a “kill box” surrounding the city. The conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s military has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced 14 million since April 2023, deepening fears that Sudan could fracture along territorial lines.

Cameroon Opposition Leader Claims Army Support as Tensions Deepen After Disputed Vote

Cameroon’s opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary said today, Friday, October 31, that soldiers “loyal” to him had escorted him to a safe location for protection, raising concerns of a possible split within the military following a contested presidential election. Tchiroma, who claimed victory over President Paul Biya in the October 12 vote, said the troops were safeguarding him after days of unrest in which at least 23 people were reportedly killed and hundreds arrested.

Biya, 92, was declared the winner earlier this week, extending his 43-year rule and sparking nationwide protests. Tchiroma, rejecting the result, called for a three-day national lockdown starting Monday, November 3, urging Cameroonians to stay home “in silence” as an act of resistance. Authorities have not commented on his claims or the reported divisions within the army.

UN Security Council Vote on Western Sahara Autonomy Draws Sahrawi Protests

Dozens of Sahrawi refugees in the Algerian desert region of Tindouf have been demonstrating all week against a proposed U.S.-backed plan that gives Morocco sovereignty over Western Sahara. The plan also establishes “genuine autonomy” for Western Sahara, which gives the local governing body the right to establish a local legislative, executive, and judicial authority for the territory, while Morocco would control defense, foreign affairs, and religion. The UN Security Council is set to vote on the plan today, October 31.

“This plan does not represent me. It is an unfair plan. Who is Trump to decide on the Sahrawi people?” a protester said this week. Since proclaiming the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as an independent state, following the exit of Spain as its colonial rulers, the Polisario Front has been pushing for sovereignty for almost 50 years. However, Morocco and Mauritania have laid claim to the territory; Morocco now controls most of Western Sahara, while the Polisario Front only controls about one-fifth. The plan for Moroccan sovereignty has been backed by the U.S. government since 2020, following the signing of the Abraham Accords, which aimed at stabilizing relations between Israel and Arab countries.

Trump Administration Slashes U.S. Refugee Cap by 117,500, Prioritizing White South Africans

The Trump administration has announced it will admit no more than 7,500 refugees in 2026, with most places reserved for white South Africans, marking the lowest refugee cap in U.S. history. The decision, published yesterday, Thursday, October 30, in the Federal Register, dramatically cuts the previous ceiling of 125,000 and signals a shift in U.S. refugee policy toward favoring one group. Rights organizations called the move discriminatory and a betrayal of the nation’s humanitarian commitments, warning that it politicizes a program meant to protect the world’s most vulnerable.

South Africa’s government condemned Washington’s decision, dismissing claims that white farmers face persecution as baseless and racially motivated. Critics say the policy sidelines refugees from countries in crisis, including Afghanistan, while reinforcing false narratives of “white victimhood.” Trump, who previously suspended the refugee program, has defended prioritizing Afrikaners, arguing they face land seizures under new reforms in South Africa — a claim widely disputed by local and international observers.

Guinea-Bissau Arrests Senior Officers Over Alleged Coup Plot Ahead of Elections

Guinea-Bissau’s army has arrested several high-ranking officers accused of plotting a coup, Deputy Chief of Staff Mamadou Kourouma announced today, Friday, October 31. Among those detained are General Dahaba Na Walna and Commanders Domingos Nhanke and Mario Midana, who were taken from their homes in Bissau. Authorities say the attempted power grab came just weeks before the country’s presidential and legislative elections on November 23. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who has faced two previous coup attempts and disputes over the length of his term, recently confirmed plans to seek re-election despite earlier promises to step down.

Tunisian Government Suspends Leading Independent Media Group Nawaat

Tunisian authorities have suspended the journalists’ group Nawaat for one month, citing financial audits linked to foreign funding in what critics call another attempt to silence independent voices. The move follows similar crackdowns on civil society groups known for defending rights and freedoms. The National Union of Tunisian Journalists condemned the decision as a “dangerous escalation” against press freedom, warning that the gains made since Tunisia’s 2011 revolution are being dismantled under President Kais Saied’s rule. Nawaat, founded in 2004 and known for exposing corruption and rights abuses, said it will not be intimidated by what it called politically motivated repression.

WHO Reports Ongoing Mpox Transmission in 17 African Countries

The World Health Organization says 17 African countries have reported active mpox transmission in the past six weeks, with 2,862 confirmed cases and 17 deaths recorded between September 14 and October 19. The viral infection, which spreads through close contact and can cause flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, remains a public health concern across the continent. WHO also confirmed that Malaysia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain have detected the Clade Ib strain of mpox for the first time since its last update.