At Least 24 Children Killed in Fire at Rebel-Held Bukavu
A fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo's rebel-controlled city of Bukavu killed at least 24 children, 19 girls and five boys, after destroying two schools and around 300 wooden houses, an official from the AFC/M23-appointed administration said. Twenty-nine people were injured in the blaze, and the death toll may still rise, with one witness describing helping load 17 bodies into an ambulance.
Tunisian Hunger Striker's Health Worsens as Flotilla Activists Remain Jailed
Six months after Tunisian authorities began arresting organizers of a pro-Palestinian flotilla, four activists remain in pre-trial detention, with Wael Naouar now 24 days into a hunger strike his lawyer describes as "very serious." Naouar has lost 18 kilograms and suffers low blood pressure and difficulty breathing, while supporters say the case against the four — accused of financial crimes tied to flotilla fundraising — is really an effort to criminalize solidarity with Palestinians; the group is due in court September 16.
Police Point Guns at US Deportees in Equatorial Guinea
Police in Equatorial Guinea pointed firearms at migrants deported there from the U.S., according to witnesses and video reviewed by Reuters, after a dispute over confiscated mobile phones escalated at a Malabo hotel. One deportee, Egyptian national Ahmed Soliman, says officers forced him to his knees at gunpoint for 10-15 minutes before the hotel director intervened, adding to concerns from rights groups about the safety of the 31 deportees currently held there.
Chad Lifts Import Duties, Bans Grain Exports to Avert Food Shortages
Chad is lifting import duties on grains like wheat, corn, millet, and rice while banning exports of the same crops after intense heat and drought damaged harvests across the country. Agriculture Minister Keda Ballah says the central, eastern, and northern regions were hit hardest, as the World Food Programme warned more than 3 million people would face acute food insecurity during the June-to-August lean season.
Cairo's Informal Trash Collectors Clash Over New Recycling Machines
A plan to expand reverse vending machines that trade phone credit for bottles and cans sparked controversy in Cairo after two units appeared in the Dokki district, angering the "zabaleen," informal waste collectors who've gathered the city's trash by hand for nearly a century. The dispute has since cooled after Giza governorate agreed the zabaleen could empty the machines themselves and be paid for the contents, though the clash highlights long-running tensions over integrating informal workers into Cairo's waste system.
Kenya Set to Receive $400 Million From World Bank for Ebola, El Niño Risks
Kenya is expected to receive about $400 million in emergency financing from the World Bank within six weeks to address risks including a regional Ebola outbreak and El Niño-related disruptions, a source told Reuters. Kenya originally applied for the funds after the Iran war drove up oil prices, but the World Bank says the financing will also help cushion the health sector from Ebola and protect agriculture and water resources from El Niño's effects.
Russia Expands Cultural Centers Across Africa
Russia is opening eight new "Russian House" cultural and educational centers across Africa, including in DR Congo, Kenya, Mali, and Senegal, as part of a push to deepen ties beyond military cooperation. The expansion comes as Russia's Africa Corps remains a key security partner for juntas in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, even as Kenya has reported a surge in citizens recruited to fight in Russia's war with Ukraine.
