Today in Africa — September 22, 2025: Prominent Egyptian Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah Pardoned, Colombian Mercenaries Found Fighting in Sudan War, It’s World Rhino Day

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.

Egypt Pardons Alaa Abdel Fattah After Years in Prison

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has pardoned Alaa Abdel Fattah, the British Egyptian activist who became one of the most prominent voices of the 2011 Arab Spring, after nearly a decade behind bars. The 43-year-old blogger and software developer had been serving a five-year sentence since 2019 for sharing a social media post about a prisoner’s death. His release follows years of hunger strikes, appeals from his family, and pressure from the British government, including a direct plea from Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this year. Five other detainees were also pardoned.

Abdel Fattah’s imprisonment made him a global symbol of Egypt’s crackdown on dissent under Sisi, who took power in 2013 after ousting Mohamed Morsi. Human rights groups say tens of thousands of political prisoners remain detained, many without due process. Abdel Fattah’s writings, smuggled out of prison and published in the book You Have Not Yet Been Defeated, chronicled his belief that the revolution’s ideals had been betrayed. His mother, Laila Soueif, also staged a hunger strike last year demanding his freedom. Rights advocates have welcomed his pardon but note that it comes amid continued repression of opposition voices in Egypt.

Colombian Mercenaries Found Fighting in Sudan’s War

At least 20 Colombian mercenaries lie unclaimed in a Sudanese morgue, the grim result of a growing recruitment pipeline that lures young ex-soldiers with promises of well-paid security jobs in the Gulf, only to send them into Sudan’s brutal war. Many recruits, some barely out of their teens, say they were deceived into believing they would guard hotels or oil sites in the UAE, only to have their passports confiscated and be diverted through Libya or Somalia into RSF-controlled Darfur. Once there, they have been training child soldiers, guarding airports, and fighting on the frontlines, according to both witnesses and Sudanese army officers.

Human rights monitors say the RSF’s use of child fighters — sometimes trained by foreign mercenaries — is a war crime. The Colombian presence highlights a booming global market for mercenaries, with ex-soldiers from Latin America often hired cheaply compared to U.S. or European veterans. Some Colombians in Sudan have complained of withheld pay, late salaries, and threats against families if they speak out. Bogotá has promised to tighten laws on mercenary recruitment, but families of fighters say they face intimidation and obstacles even in gathering information. The Sudanese government has accused UAE-linked private security firms of orchestrating the recruitment, charges Abu Dhabi strongly denies.

South Africa Marks World Rhino Day Amid Ongoing Poaching Threat

South Africa, home to the largest populations of black and southern white rhinos, marks World Rhino Day today, Monday, September 22, with cautious optimism. Conservation efforts have helped reduce annual poaching deaths from over 1,000 a decade ago to 420 last year, but government figures show 195 rhinos were still killed in the first half of 2025 — an average of one a day. Reserves like Dinokeng are using drones, K-9 units, motion-sensing cameras, and tracking devices to protect their herds, while scientists have begun testing a controversial program that injects small amounts of radioactive material into rhino horns to deter smuggling.

Despite the challenges, relocation projects are bringing hope. Nearly 50 rhinos have been moved to Mozambique’s Zinave National Park for the first time in 40 years, with eight calves already born there. Uganda, where rhinos were once wiped out, celebrated its first-ever naming ceremony for 17 calves this week, bringing its national population to 50. Conservationists say these wins show progress, but warn that poaching networks remain deeply entrenched, fueled by demand for horn products that sometimes sell for more than gold.

Mutharika Takes Early Lead as Malawi Election Faces Fraud Claims

Malawi’s former president, Peter Mutharika, has taken an early lead in last week’s election, securing about 51% of votes counted so far against incumbent Lazarus Chakwera’s 39%, according to provisional tallies from nine of the country’s 36 councils. A candidate needs more than 50% for an outright win; otherwise, the race goes to a run-off. The election commission has until September 24 to release full results and has urged candidates not to declare victory prematurely as it verifies tally sheets. Tensions rose over the weekend as police arrested eight data entry clerks for allegedly manipulating figures, reviving memories of the 2019 annulled vote. Both Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party and the United Democratic Front have filed complaints over alleged irregularities. The election took place against the backdrop of a worsening economic crisis, with inflation near 30% and basic goods out of reach for many Malawians.

South Sudan Opens Treason Trial Against Suspended VP Riek Machar

The treason trial of South Sudan’s suspended First Vice President Riek Machar began today, Monday, September 22, in Juba under heavy security, with his lawyer arguing the court lacked authority to try him while he still holds office. Machar, seen in public for the first time since being placed under house arrest in March, faces charges of treason, murder, and crimes against humanity alongside 20 others, including seven close allies. The government accuses Machar of backing the Nuer-led White Army militia in the March attacks in Nasir that killed civilians and displaced more than 80,000 people. His party, the SPLM-IO, rejects the charges, calling them politically motivated. Machar’s suspension by President Salva Kiir earlier this month has revived fears of renewed conflict between their rival factions, which fought a brutal civil war from 2013 to 2018 before entering a fragile unity government.

Red Cross Appeals for Urgent Aid as Ebola Overwhelms Congo Clinics

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says health facilities in Bulape, the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak, are stretched beyond capacity, with supplies of clean water and protective gear nearly gone. The IFRC is calling for $25 million to support containment efforts, warning that without urgent help, the virus could spread rapidly through vulnerable communities. The country declared its first Ebola outbreak in three years earlier this month. So far, 48 confirmed and probable cases and 31 deaths have been reported. The World Health Organization has begun vaccinating health workers in Kasai Province, but the main isolation ward in Bulape is already at 119% capacity. “Protecting health workers means protecting communities,” said DRC Red Cross President Gregoire Mateso, urging immediate international support to prevent another regional health crisis.

Ethiopia Arrests Journalists in Pre-Election Crackdown

Ethiopian security forces have stepped up arrests of journalists and media workers since August, with Human Rights Watch warning the crackdown is aimed at silencing independent voices ahead of the 2026 elections. Among those detained are staff from Sheger FM, a senior editor from The Reporter, and regional TV reporters, some held incommunicado or subjected to enforced disappearance. Authorities have also raided outlets, suspended programs, and used broad hate speech laws to justify detentions, while new media law amendments further tighten government control. Rights groups say the wave of arrests deepens fears of shrinking civic space in a country already facing rising political tension.

DA Picks Helen Zille for Johannesburg Mayor Bid

South Africa’s Democratic Alliance has named its former leader, Helen Zille, as its candidate for Johannesburg mayor in next year’s local elections. The 74-year-old, seen as the strategist behind the DA’s strong showing in last year’s national vote, will spearhead the party’s push to reclaim control of the city, which has struggled under unstable coalitions. Accepting her nomination, Zille promised to fix water, electricity, roads, and waste collection, vowing to “wrestle our city back from a criminal mafia.” The DA last held the mayoral seat in 2022 and hopes Zille’s experience will help it replicate its Cape Town governance model in South Africa’s economic hub.

Nigeria Police Arrest Six After Deadly Ambush in Benue

Nigerian police say six suspects have been arrested after a violent ambush in Benue State left three officers dead and seven missing. The attack happened on Friday in Agu Centre, Katsina-Ala/Ukum, when suspected herdsmen and militias opened fire on police tactical teams, also destroying vehicles and stealing motorcycles. Authorities have launched a search-and-rescue mission for the missing officers, while more tactical units have been deployed to the area to restore order. Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun condemned the assault as “cruel” and vowed that those responsible would face justice.

Congo to End Cobalt Export Ban, Introduce Quotas

The Democratic Republic of Congo will lift its suspension on cobalt exports starting October 16 and replace it with annual quotas to stabilize global supply, the country’s strategic minerals regulator announced. Export caps will allow 18,125 tons to be shipped for the rest of 2025, followed by yearly limits of 96,600 tons in 2026 and 2027. Congo, which produces about 70% of the world’s cobalt, halted exports in February after prices hit a nine-year low, forcing producers like Glencore and China’s CMOC Group to declare force majeure. The new quota system, supported by Glencore but opposed by CMOC, is meant to reduce oversupply and support prices, while also reserving 10% of volumes for national projects. Regulators say they may revise quotas depending on market conditions and progress in local refining, as conflict in eastern Congo continues to complicate traceability and fuel illegal mining.

South African Police Dismantle $20M Meth Lab

South African police have shut down a crystal meth lab worth an estimated $20 million after raiding a farm in Volksrust, Mpumalanga. Five suspects from a North American country were arrested, while two, believed to be from West Africa, escaped. Officers seized industrial-scale drug equipment, pellet guns, and containers filled with the drug following a community tip-off about a “strange chemical smell.” Authorities say the bust highlights South Africa’s role as both a consumer hub and a key transit point in the global meth trade, with police vowing to intensify operations against illicit networks.

M23 Rebels Extend Border Hours Between DRC and Rwanda

M23 rebels controlling Goma have extended opening hours at the Grande Barrière border crossing with Rwanda from 6 a.m.–3 p.m. to 6 a.m.–midnight, easing pressure on one of the busiest borders in the world. Rebel leaders say the change will benefit cross-border traders and respond to surging movement, though Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing the group, a charge Kigali denies. Local civil society welcomed the move for its economic benefits but warned it could sharpen political tensions, as Goma remains cut off from its airport since rebels took control in January.