Today in Africa — September 9, 2025: Prominent Egyptian Arab Spring Activist on List for Presidential Pardon, ICC Presents Evidence in War Crimes Case Against Uganda’s Joseph Kony, Walmart Is Coming to South Africa

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’s President Orders Review of Pardon for Jailed Activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has directed authorities to study a possible pardon for jailed activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a leading figure from the Arab Spring who has spent most of the past decade behind bars. Abd el-Fattah, 43, began another hunger strike earlier this month in protest of his detention. In 2022, he went on a seven-month hunger strike and ended it when he collapsed and was near death. His name has now been listed among eight prisoners under review by Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights. 

A member of Egypt’s presidential pardons committee said a decision could come within days, while Abd el-Fattah’s sister called the development “promising.” The UK government, which has lobbied for his release since he gained British citizenship in 2021, said it remains committed to reuniting him with his family. Convicted in 2021 over a social media post about a prisoner’s death, Abd el-Fattah has long challenged Egypt’s crackdown on dissent under al-Sisi’s rule, making his case a focal point for both local and international rights campaigns. His 69-year-old mother, Laila Soueif, went on an eight-month-long hunger strike earlier this year, only suspending it after being hospitalized. 

ICC Opens First In Absentia War Crimes Case Against Ugandan Warlord Joseph Kony

The International Criminal Court has begun its first in absentia hearing, presenting evidence against fugitive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, who faces 39 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for leading the Lord’s Resistance Army. Prosecutors described how Kony’s militia abducted children, enslaved women, mutilated civilians, and terrorized northern Uganda and neighboring countries for decades, leaving survivors deeply scarred. Judges will decide whether to confirm the charges, though Kony cannot be tried unless he is captured.

The proceedings are seen as a test case for the ICC, which has never moved forward without a suspect in custody. Kony, wanted since 2005 and thrust into the global spotlight after a 2012 viral campaign, remains at large despite U.S. rewards for his capture. While survivors in Uganda welcome the case, some critics say trying him in his absence undermines justice. Another LRA commander, Dominic Ongwen, was convicted in 2020 and is serving a 25-year sentence in Norway.

Walmart to Open First Stores in South Africa by Year-End

Walmart, the largest retailer in the U.S., will launch its first branded stores in South Africa before the end of 2025, marking its direct entry into Africa’s competitive grocery and retail market. The move places Walmart in head-to-head competition with Shoprite, Woolworths, and Pick n Pay, all of which dominate South African retail.

The company, which already owns Massmart chains like Makro and Game, said the new stores will stock groceries, household goods, apparel, and tech products, while also featuring locally sourced merchandise. Walmart President and CEO Kath McLay said the expansion reflects a commitment to bringing “everyday low prices” to South Africa while partnering with small and medium-sized African suppliers. Store openings are expected to be announced in October.

President Donald Trump to Skip G20 Summit in Johannesburg, VP JD Vance to Attend

U.S. President Donald Trump says he will not attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg this November, instead sending Vice President JD Vance to represent Washington. His decision comes amid tensions with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, including clashes over Trump’s claims of “white farmer genocide,” 30 percent tariffs on South African exports, and disagreements on Israel’s war in Gaza. South African officials, however, welcomed Vance’s participation, saying the summit’s success depends on dialogue, not any one leader. This year’s gathering — the first G20 hosted on African soil — will focus on the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”

Islamic State-Linked Rebels Kill Over 50 at Congo Funeral

Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels killed more than 50 people during a funeral in Ntoyo village, North Kivu province, last night, Monday, September 8, according to local officials. Most victims were hacked to death with machetes, while others were shot, and vehicles were set on fire. Residents said the army arrived only after the massacre had already occurred, and searches continue for the missing. The ADF, originally an uprising in Uganda but now based in eastern Congo, is recognized as an affiliate of the Islamic State group and has stepped up its attacks in recent months, killing more than 50 civilians in raids last month and leaving 38 dead in a church assault in July. The latest attack underscores the worsening insecurity in eastern Congo, where ADF and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels continue offensives despite joint Congolese and Ugandan military operations.

Côte d'Ivoire Bars Thiam and Gbagbo From Election, Clears Simone Gbagbo to Run

Côte d'Ivoire’s Constitutional Council has barred ex-Credit Suisse chief Tidjane Thiam and former president Laurent Gbagbo from next month’s presidential election, while allowing Gbagbo’s former wife, Simone, to contest against incumbent Alassane Ouattara. The ruling, announced yesterday, Monday, September 9, validated only five out of 60 candidacies, including Ouattara, despite opposition claims that his bid for a fourth term is unconstitutional. Thiam was disqualified over dual nationality, and Gbagbo, acquitted by the ICC but convicted domestically after the 2011 civil war, was also excluded. Simone Gbagbo’s surprise inclusion has stirred debate, raising fears of unrest in a country with a history of election-linked violence. The vote is set for October 25.

Uganda Opposition Official Detained Outside Court

Ugandan police detained Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, deputy spokesperson of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), yesterday, Monday, September 8, as he attended a bail hearing for party members in Kampala, witnesses said. NUP leader Joel Ssenyonyi accused security forces of violently forcing Mufumbiro into a vehicle in what he described as “cowardice and criminality.” Police confirmed the arrest but declined to explain why or say when he would be brought to court. The detention adds to growing claims of abductions and torture of opposition figures under President Yoweri Museveni’s government, which denies targeting critics and insists it only arrests criminal suspects.

RSF Drone Strikes Plunge Khartoum Into Darkness

Drone strikes by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) knocked out power across Khartoum today, Tuesday, September 9, after hitting a power station, oil refinery, military air base, and reportedly a weapons factory. The blackout comes as residents slowly return to a capital left in ruins since fighting began in April 2023, which has killed an estimated 40,000 people and displaced more than 12 million. The army-backed government recently launched a $300 million plan to restore basic services in Khartoum and is expected to deploy anti-aircraft defenses to protect key facilities, while clashes with the RSF continue in Darfur’s El Fasher.

Mali Launches Airstrikes After Militant Fuel Blockade

Mali’s army says it has carried out airstrikes and hostage rescues in the Kayes region after al-Qaeda-linked militants imposed a blockade on fuel imports into Bamako and restricted movement near the Senegalese and Mauritanian borders. The group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has stopped fuel trucks and targeted businesses, including mines run by Barrick and B2Gold, as transport companies suspend operations and key trade routes remain blocked. Analysts warn that the militants are trying to choke supply lines and destabilize Mali’s transitional government by sparking civilian unrest.

US Partners With Group to Resettle White South Africans

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has enlisted a group called Amerikaners to help identify more white South Africans for the refugee program offering resettlement in the U.S. for those it claims face “unjust racial discrimination.” The group, which was established after Trump signed the executive order in favor of white Afrikaners, will act as a referral partner to the State Department, screening applicants and forwarding cases for admission under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. South Africa’s government has condemned the move, calling the discrimination claims unfounded and stressing that white South Africans — the country’s most economically privileged group — do not qualify as refugees. Washington has floated resettling up to 30,000 people under the scheme, though fewer than 100 have arrived so far.

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