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Today in Africa — September 8, 2026: Burundians Still Seek Exit From Kenya Despite Amnesty, UK Requires African Students to Show $19,100 in Savings

OkayAfrica has scoured the Internet for today’s major news stories, so you don't have to. On Sept. 8, coverage includes: Kenya's foreign trader crackdown continuing to fuel fear and mistrust among Burundians; the UK's new visa rules adding fresh financial hurdles for African students hoping to study abroad; and more.

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Lihle Z. Mtshali Today in Africa & Newsletters Editor
A dense crowd gathers outside a tree-lined embassy compound in Nairobi, with people wearing colorful clothing.
Burundian nationals gather outside their embassy in Nairobi on September 7, 2026, to apply for border passes as they prepare to return to their country.

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.

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Kenya Offers Amnesty as Burundians Rush to Leave Amid Trader Crackdown Fears

Kenya's government offered a temporary 90-day amnesty to undocumented East African nationals after hundreds of Burundians flocked to their embassy in Nairobi seeking travel documents, fearing violence following President William Ruto's order to shut down foreign-run small businesses. Many Burundians say they've faced threats from neighbors since Ruto's announcement, and despite the amnesty, they told Reuters they still want to leave, with some camping outside the embassy for two days without food. Presidential spokesperson Hussein Mohamed says the government has "zero tolerance" for xenophobia and urged undocumented nationals to register at their embassies to access health, banking, and legal protections during the amnesty period.

A Deepening Rift

  • About 16,000 Burundian refugees and asylum seekers live in Kenya, many working in small trades like selling coffee or used clothes, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

  • Burundian motorcycle taxi driver Habonimana Jacques says the amnesty felt like "an afterthought" and that harassment from Kenyans would continue regardless.

  • Reports also emerged of Ugandans in Kenya heading back across the border, though this couldn't be independently verified.

  • Critics accuse Ruto, who faces re-election next year, of scapegoating foreigners for Kenya's economic troubles — a pattern also seen in his recent order for India's Tata Chemicals to halt its Kenya operations.

African Students Face Higher Financial Bar for UK Study Visas Starting November

Starting November 30, 2026, international students planning to study in the UK, including many from Africa, will need to show more money in savings under new immigration rules presented to Parliament on September 3. Students in London must now prove they can cover £1,570 ($2,120) per month of living costs, up from £1,529 ($2,065), while those outside London need £1,203 ($1,625), up from £1,171 ($1,582). Over nine months, that adds up to a maximum of £14,130 ($19,090) in London and £10,827 ($14,625) elsewhere — increases of £369 ($498) and £288 ($389), respectively.

Who's Affected and What Else It'll Cost

  • The rule applies broadly to African applicants, including students from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon.

  • Nigeria was the UK's third-largest source of Sponsored Study visas globally in the year ending June 2026, with 26,060 granted, behind only China and India.

  • Applicants must also pay a £558 ($754) student visa fee and a £776 ($1,048) annual Immigration Health Surcharge, on top of tuition costs.

  • Funds must sit in an applicant's account for at least 28 consecutive days before the visa application is submitted.

  • The changes build on rules introduced since 2024 restricting dependents and visa-switching for postgraduate students, even though a 2024 government review found no evidence of widespread abuse of the student visa system.

Tunisian Journalists Protest Arrest of Prominent Reporter

Tunisian journalists and activists protested today, Tuesday, September 8, outside a courthouse demanding the release of Mohamed Yousfi, editor-in-chief of investigative outlet Al-Qatiba, who was arrested last Friday on illicit enrichment and money laundering charges his supporters call fabricated. Yousfi, a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, was detained as he prepared to enter a radio station for a scheduled program, sparking widespread condemnation from rights groups who say the case is meant to spread fear among journalists. Zied Dabbar, head of the journalists' syndicate SNJT, said "journalists who disturb the authorities are facing legal persecution and fabricated charges," adding that reporters today "either end up in exile or in prison."

Part of a Broader Crackdown

  • Several other media figures have been jailed this year, including Zied Heni, Mourad Zghidi, and Borhen Bsaies, while Khaoula Boukrim was sentenced in absentia in June to four years.

  • Tunisia's main opposition party leaders have also been jailed over the past three years, alongside dozens of politicians, activists, and businessmen, on charges including conspiracy against state security and corruption.

  • Critics say Saied's 2021 power grab and subsequent decrees have dismantled democratic safeguards, though Saied insists he won't become a dictator and that freedoms remain guaranteed in Tunisia.

In Brief: More Stories Today

Ebola Response in DR Congo Hits Staffing and Funding Bottleneck

The World Health Organization says shortages of trained staff, partner organizations, and funding are slowing efforts to expand Ebola treatment capacity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the outbreak has killed 3,175 people and infected more than 6,000. Technical officer Luca Fontana says nearly 1,400 treatment beds have been built so far, but another 1,600 are needed, requiring roughly 5,000 more trained health workers at a time when few international organizations remain equipped to run such centers.

Man Charged in UK Family Murders Admits Gun Charges in South Africa

Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, the man accused of killing his wife and two daughters in the UK, has admitted to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition in South Africa, where he was arrested in Johannesburg after fleeing the UK. Tshuma faces three murder charges authorized by British prosecutors, with an extradition hearing scheduled for Thursday, while the UK's police watchdog investigates Bedfordshire Police's earlier contact with the family before their bodies were found.

Gambia Protests Erupt Over Prolonged Power Cuts

Police used tear gas to disperse overnight protesters in Gambia's capital, Banjul, and near President Adama Barrow's residence, as residents vented anger over blackouts lasting up to 48 hours ahead of December's presidential election. The national utility, NAWEC, blamed the outages on a heat-driven surge in electricity demand and a technical fault, while Information Minister Ismaila Ceesay apologized for the disruption and said officials are working to restore stability.

Senegal to Reprofile $3.5 Billion in Debt Instead of Restructuring

Senegal must clear 1.956 trillion CFA francs ($3.5 billion) in payment arrears, Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo said today, Tuesday, September 8, warning the backlog risks stalling economic activity and costing jobs. Rather than pursue a full debt restructuring, Senegal plans to "reprofile" its debt by extending maturities and renegotiating interest rates, a move that follows the country's staff-level agreement with the IMF last week for a $2.2 billion loan.

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