Today in Africa — September 11, 2025: Ghana Takes in 14 West Africans Deported from US, Kidnappings of Aid Workers Surge in South Sudan, South Africa to Reopen Inquest into Steve Biko’s Death in Custody

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.

Ghana to Host West Africans Deported From the U.S.

Ghana has agreed to take in West African nationals deported from the U.S., with 14 people — including Nigerians and a Gambian — already arriving in Accra, President John Mahama announced yesterday, Wednesday, September 10. He says the deportees were later assisted in returning to their respective home countries.

Mahama explained that the U.S. approached Ghana to accept third-country nationals as part of its third-country removals program, adding that West Africans do not need visas to enter Ghana. The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes high-profile deportations to African countries, having recently sent migrants to Eswatini, South Sudan, and Rwanda. While no cap has been set on how many deportees Ghana will accept, Mahama’s decision is expected to spark debate in a region where forced returns have raised safety concerns.

Kidnappings of Aid Workers Surge in South Sudan Amid Escalating Conflict

South Sudan has seen a sharp rise in kidnappings of aid workers this year, with more than 30 abducted so far — over double the number recorded in 2024, according to humanitarian officials. Many were released after ransom payments, but at least one aid worker, James Unguba, died in captivity this month after being taken in Western Equatoria. The spike comes as fighting between the national army and opposition forces intensifies, deepening fears that the trend could spread across the country and cripple life-saving services.

The United Nations has long labeled South Sudan one of the most dangerous countries for aid staff, but analysts warn that ransom kidnappings are a new and alarming development. Aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, have already suspended operations in some regions following abductions at gunpoint. Observers say the surge reflects both worsening violence and economic desperation as armed groups — from government forces to rebels — seek profit in a collapsing state. The crisis threatens to cut off humanitarian access to hundreds of thousands in need, even as global donors pull back critical funding.

South Africa to Reopen Inquest Into Steve Biko’s Death in Custody

South Africa will reopen an inquest into the 1977 death of anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko, prosecutors announced ahead of the 48th anniversary of his killing in police custody. Biko, who spearheaded the Black Consciousness Movement, was arrested in August 1977, allegedly beaten and tortured by apartheid security forces, and later died from brain injuries and kidney failure after being transported unconscious to a Pretoria prison hospital. An inquest at the time, widely dismissed as a cover-up, cleared the police of responsibility.

The new inquiry follows a wave of reopened cases into suspicious deaths of anti-apartheid activists, including the Cradock Four and lawyer Griffiths Mxenge, amid criticism that post-apartheid governments failed to pursue justice. The National Prosecuting Authority said the move is meant to address past atrocities and provide closure to the Biko family. While it remains unclear if any implicated officers are still alive, Biko’s case remains one of the most symbolic examples of state brutality under apartheid, inspiring global protest, music, and film.

African Governments Expand School Feeding to 20 Million More Children

Governments in sub-Saharan Africa have added nearly 20 million children to school feeding programs over the past two years, bringing the total to 87 million in 2024, the World Food Programme (WFP) says. Countries including Ethiopia, Rwanda, Madagascar, and Chad have multiplied coverage sixfold, showing a major shift from reliance on foreign aid to local investment in children’s education and health.

The growth has also boosted local economies—Benin’s purchases of homegrown food for schools added more than $23 million in 2024, while over a third of meals in Sierra Leone came from smallholder farmers. Still, the WFP warns that millions of children in countries like DRC, Somalia, and South Sudan remain without access to school meals as donor funding falls amid global crises.

Gaza Aid Flotilla Delays Tunisian Departure After Alleged Drone Strikes

The Global Sumud Flotilla, an international mission carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, has postponed its departure from Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port due to bad weather, following two nights of alleged drone attacks on its vessels. Organizers said the British-flagged Alma and the vessel The Family—which had Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau on board—were both struck, though no passengers were harmed. Tunisian authorities are investigating, and UN experts warned that any attempt to block the flotilla would breach international law.

The flotilla, made up of about 20 boats carrying supplies like medicine and baby formula, began its journey from Spain on September 1 and has drawn large crowds of supporters along the way. Despite the attacks, activists, including South African writer Zukiswa Wanner and nine other South Africans, say they remain determined to reach Gaza. Organizers expect to attempt departure again within the next 48 to 72 hours, weather permitting. 

Tanzania Suspends Popular Discussion Forums Ahead of Elections

Tanzania’s authorities have suspended JamiiForums, one of the country’s most popular online discussion platforms, for 90 days, sparking concerns about freedom of expression weeks before the October 29 elections. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority says the site spread misleading content and defamed the president, but critics, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, called the move censorship. JamiiForums founder Maxence Melo says the platform had complied with the order but disputed the allegations. The suspension follows the publication of statements by ex-diplomat Humphrey Polepole, now a government critic, and comes amid wider accusations of repression under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is seeking re-election. Rights groups warn that the ban undermines access to information and stifles political debate ahead of the vote.

Kenya Flooding Displaces Thousands Around Lake Naivasha

Rising water levels in Lake Naivasha have displaced more than 4,000 families, forcing many into rental housing on higher ground as flooding overwhelms estates, farms, and hotels in the Kihoto, Karagita Landing Beach, and North Lake areas. Residents and local leaders warn of severe pollution, with raw sewage, fertilizers, and industrial waste now flowing into the lake, threatening fish stocks and livelihoods. Authorities had earlier issued relocation notices to those living on riparian land, but many resisted, raising fears of worsening displacement, waterborne diseases, and a looming environmental crisis.

Flash Floods Wreak Havoc in Morocco’s Al Haouz Province

Severe thunderstorms triggered flash floods in Morocco’s Al Haouz province this week, sweeping away cars, submerging homes in Akni village, and cutting off traffic between Marrakech and Moulay Brahim. In Imlil, torrents carrying boulders and tree trunks destroyed crops and roads, while flooding in the Drâa-Tafilalet region left major routes blocked and vehicles stranded. Authorities have deployed equipment for emergency repairs, but damage to farmland, shops, and homes remains widespread.

HRW Slams Arrests of Content Creators in Egypt, Mali Bans ‘Dior Parties’

Human Rights Watch has condemned Egypt’s arrest of at least 29 social media creators, including 19 women and a child, for posting videos accused of “indecency” and “undermining family values.” The group called the prosecutions abusive, noting that authorities have frozen assets and banned travel for some of those charged. In Mali, authorities have also moved to restrict online expression, banning “Dior parties” — women-only gatherings featuring food, dance, and traditional boubou Dior outfits that are filmed and shared online. Officials say the celebrations violate public morals, even as the trend spreads to Senegal and Guinea.

South African Men Can Now Adopt Their Wives’ Surnames, Constitutional Court Rules

South Africa’s Constitutional Court has struck down a colonial-era law that barred men from adopting their wives’ surnames, calling it discriminatory and rooted in outdated stereotypes. The ruling comes after two couples challenged the restriction, including Henry van der Merwe, who was denied the right to take his wife Jana Jordaan’s surname, and Andreas Nicolas Bornman, who wanted to hyphenate his name with his wife Jess Donnelly-Bornman’s. Parliament must now amend the Births and Deaths Registration Act to reflect the court’s decision. Judges noted that many African cultures historically allowed women to keep their names and children to carry their mother’s clan names before European colonizers imposed patriarchal norms.

Zambia Seeks More Compensation Over Toxic Mine Spill

Zambia says it will push for more compensation if needed after February’s toxic spill from the Chinese-owned Sino-Metals Leach copper mine, where a dam collapse released heavy metals into the Kafue River. Vice President Mutale Nalumango called citizen safety “non-negotiable” and warned the $580,000 already pledged may not be enough, as residents report ongoing health problems and ruined crops and livestock. Environmental groups say the disaster dumped up to 1.5 million tonnes of hazardous waste — far more than the company initially admitted — with independent tests showing unsafe levels of arsenic, lead, and uranium. While Sino-Metals disputes the findings, embassies, including the U.S. and Finland, have issued health alerts. Human Rights Watch reported fish kills, crop destruction, and livestock deaths, while some families say they have yet to receive compensation. Authorities have banned fishing in the river and deployed the air force to drop lime to neutralize acidity.

Mali Army Escalates Operations After Jihadist Blockade Attempt

Mali’s army has launched airstrikes and stepped up escorts for fuel trucks and other cargo along trade routes from Senegal after al-Qaeda-linked militants tried to blockade the capital, Bamako. The group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), had set fire to trucks and targeted businesses in the gold-rich Kayes region, where multinational companies like Barrick Mining and B2Gold operate. Authorities say the offensive has broken the blockade, but the surge in attacks highlights JNIM’s growing influence in the Sahel, where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger quit ECOWAS last year to form a security alliance with Russia. Despite the shift, data shows militant violence continues to rise across the region.