NEWS

Today in Africa — September 16, 2026: Nollywood Mourns Olu Jacobs, Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Kills at Least 82

OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On Sept. 16, coverage includes: tributes pouring in for the Nigerian screen legend behind decades of iconic roles; rescuers digging by hand through sandy soil in Sudan's West Kordofan as the death toll climbs; and more.

Okay avatar
Lihle Z. Mtshali Today in Africa & Newsletters Editor
Olu Jacobs in red traditional clothing and cap seated indoors.
Legendary Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs in a scene from his 2026 Nollywood film, Battle of the Kings.

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 across 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.

RELATED

Nigerian Film Icon Olu Jacobs Passes Away at 84

Olu Jacobs, one of Nigeria's most celebrated actors and a foundational figure in Nollywood, has passed away at 84, his wife, actress Joke Silva, announced. Silva called him "The Lion of Lufodo," saying his life was "well lived and fought," and asked for the family's privacy to be respected during mourning. Jacobs trained at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before building a career spanning more than five decades in theater, television, and film, including roles in My Kingdom, Covert Operation, One Fine Day, and his 2026 film Battle of the Kings.

A Legacy Built Over Decades

  • Jacobs received the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role along with lifetime achievement honors, and was named a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011 for his contributions to Nigerian film.

  • He and Silva co-founded the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, helping train generations of Nigerian performers.

  • Silva revealed in 2021 that Jacobs had been diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy bodies, a degenerative brain disease similar to Parkinson's.

  • Rumors of his death had circulated before, most recently in June 2024, when his eldest son publicly confirmed he was still alive.

Gold Mine Collapse in Sudan Kills at Least 82 Miners

At least 82 people have been killed and 50 wounded after a series of mining shafts collapsed at al-Zaraa gold mine near al-Nuhud town in Sudan's West Kordofan state, according to a source in the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which controls the area. Survivor Amin Suleiman says the shafts were packed so closely together that each collapse pulled down the ones beside it, and residents have been digging through loose, sandy soil with rudimentary tools since no specialized rescue teams have joined the effort. The Kordofan Observatory and Sudan Doctors Network say an unknown number of people remain trapped, with the death toll expected to rise.

A Deadly Pattern in Unregulated Mining

  • Survivor Khair al-Sayyed Jabara says he and fellow miners dug through the night to reach survivors but urgently need heavy equipment.

  • Local sources told Reuters the high death toll stems from a lack of safety procedures and rescue equipment at the site.

  • Sudan Doctors Network condemned what it called "negligence" that put miners' lives at serious risk and called on those controlling the area to end unregulated mining.

  • West Kordofan has been held by the RSF since the group's war with Sudan's army began in April 2023, and smuggled gold remains a key source of revenue for the paramilitary force.

  • Sudan is among Africa's leading gold producers, with most of its output coming from dangerous, informal mining at disused or unofficial sites.

Rubio Announces New Visa Curbs Targeting South African Officials

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced yesterday, Tuesday, September 15, that the U.S. is imposing new visa restrictions on certain South African nationals as President Donald Trump’s administration continues cooling relations with the country. The policy targets "foreign nationals who are responsible for, or complicit in, the enactment or implementation of laws or policies that enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, and/or the incitement of imminent violence against members of minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa," Rubio said, adding that the country "has not adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns." Rubio's statement didn't name any specific individuals, and the South African embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Deepening Tensions

  • Washington has also criticized South Africa's land reform policies, which are legally similar to U.S. eminent domain laws and aim to fix the legacy of apartheid, as well as its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over Gaza.

  • Trump has previously cut aid to South Africa, expelled its ambassador, offered refuge to white Afrikaners, and made false claims of a "white genocide" in the country.

  • South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for global efforts to debunk false narratives about white persecution, saying there's no evidence of discrimination against white South Africans.

  • Despite South Africa having one of the world's highest murder rates, most victims are Black.

In Brief: More Stories Today

South Sudan's President Fires Election Chief Months Before First Vote

South Sudan President Salva Kiir removed Abednego Akok Kacuol as head of the National Elections Commission last night, Tuesday, September 15, without giving a public reason, replacing him with Gabriel Bol Deng Majok just months before the country's first-ever elections set for December 22. Political analyst Abraham Kuol Nyuon called the move "a delay tactic," while policy analyst Boboya James Edmond argued Kiir lacked sole legal authority to remove the chairperson, warning the decision could deepen uncertainty in an already fragile electoral process.

South Africa Drops Charges Against Suspended Police Chief

South African prosecutors have withdrawn criminal charges against suspended police chief General Fannie Masemola, citing insufficient evidence to secure a conviction over allegations he failed to properly oversee a $21 million health contract tied to a fraud investigation. National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi ordered the withdrawal and said his office will now review whether any misconduct occurred in the original decision to prosecute Masemola.

Kenya to Ban Raw Mineral Exports, Build Gold Refineries

Kenya plans to ban exports of unprocessed minerals and build at least three gold refineries, including in Kakamega and Nairobi, President William Ruto announced, following similar moves by Ghana and Zimbabwe. Kenya's gold trade remains largely informal, with more than 90% coming from artisanal miners and the country losing an estimated 1.2 billion shillings in potential annual royalties.

Kenya to Appeal Court Ruling Blocking Safaricom-Vodacom Deal

Kenya's government will appeal a High Court ruling that canceled its sale of an extra 15% stake in Safaricom to South Africa's Vodacom, Finance Minister John Mbadi said today, Wednesday, September 16. The court found the $1.6 billion deal, which had raised Vodacom's stake to 55%, lacked adequate public participation and involved concealment of material information; Vodacom also plans to appeal.

sudan gold mine collapse olu jacobs nollywood news latest home african news west kordofan u.s.-south africa relations today in africa

MORE LIKE THIS