B-Empire Live
Continuous news feed — flashes, briefs and explainers, with cited sources. Times shown in Africa/Lagos, UTC+1.
IOM expands Ebola surveillance beyond DR Congo amid rising cases
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is expanding Ebola surveillance beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo's borders in response to the country's escalating outbreak, which has surpassed 7,700 cases and 3,700 deaths. Screening efforts at key transit points like Kinshasa's Bende-Bende port include temperature checks and health questionnaires, with suspected cases referred for testing. IOM is also collaborating with neighboring countries to enhance preparedness and reduce cross-border transmission risks.
Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu urges fair verdict in treason trial
Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has called on judges to deliver a fair and courageous verdict in his treason trial, which accuses him of inciting rebellion to disrupt the 2025 election. Lissu, detained since April 2025 and barred from running for president, denies the charges he says are politically motivated. The trial highlights concerns over democratic backsliding in Tanzania under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Africa CDC unveils Continental Immunisation Strategy 2026-2030 to improve vaccine coverage
Africa faces slowing vaccination progress with 7.1 million children missing routine vaccines in 2025. The Africa CDC has launched the Continental Immunisation Strategy 2026-2030 to address financing, data, healthcare integration, community engagement, vaccine manufacturing, and epidemic preparedness. Key priorities include sustainable domestic financing, digital systems, primary healthcare integration, community partnerships, and vaccine sovereignty.
Morocco’s 2,700km Berm in Western Sahara: History and Ecological Impact
Morocco’s Berm, a 2,700km-long wall built between 1980 and 1987, divides Western Sahara into Moroccan-controlled and Polisario Front-controlled areas. It is heavily militarized, surrounded by the world's longest continuous minefield, and disrupts Sahrawi pastoral life and desert ecosystems. The conflict remains unresolved, with significant humanitarian and ecological consequences.
Gauteng street names map shows apartheid and anti-apartheid legacies
A recent mapping project analyzing nearly 44,000 street names across Gauteng, South Africa's economic hub, found that 57% are named after people, reflecting complex historical narratives including apartheid and anti-apartheid legacies. The study highlights how these names serve as a dispersed memorial landscape, influencing residents' sense of belonging in a region where many feel disconnected from their communities.
South Sudan’s Election Commission calls for peaceful December polls
South Sudan's National Elections Commission has urged politicians and parties to ensure a peaceful electoral process ahead of the general elections scheduled for 22 December. This call follows President Salva Kiir's dissolution of the transitional government, clearing the way for the country's first polls since independence in 2011. Preparations including voter registration and voting card distribution are underway.
Study finds South Africa’s green building growth centered in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Sandton
A study tracking 510 green building certifications in South Africa between 2011 and 2023 reveals growth in green building upgrades, predominantly in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Sandton. Most certifications are mid-level, with few achieving the highest rating, and some low ratings suggest possible greenwashing. The trend mainly involves upgrading existing buildings rather than new constructions.
Senegal Signs IMF Deal to Restore Confidence, Debt Amount Unchanged
Senegal concluded a technical agreement with the IMF on September 1, 2026, for a $2.2 billion program over 36 months. The deal changes debt management by setting a fiscal framework and enabling negotiations with creditors but has not yet decreased the debt amount. The country's debt remains high, with ratings downgraded and market confidence low, especially on international eurobonds compared to regional CFA franc debt.
Ebola response in DR Congo includes awareness efforts for deaf people
Ebola response teams in Kisangani, DR Congo, held a meeting with deaf people to raise awareness of Ebola symptoms and prevention. Doctor Gloris Esaa emphasized the vulnerability of people with disabilities during the outbreak, noting communication challenges in healthcare. The outbreak has recorded over 7,500 cases and 3,600 deaths, with the WHO warning it remains out of control.
UN warns up to 10,000 Yemenis may flee to Djibouti amid renewed fighting
The UN has warned that renewed fighting in Yemen could cause up to 10,000 Yemenis to flee across the Red Sea to Djibouti in the coming months, while internal displacement in Yemen could rise to over 230,000. Djibouti, already hosting refugees, faces funding shortfalls for aid operations.
US deports migrants to Eswatini, a country that rejects them
Migrants convicted in US courts have been deported to Eswatini, Africa's last absolute monarchy, where they face imprisonment and local suspicion. This follows a secret deportation agreement made under the Trump administration, as revealed by The Deportation Project.
African Union’s peace missions yield mixed outcomes, research reveals
The African Union (AU) has become a key actor in peace and security in Africa over the past two decades, deploying missions in countries like Burundi, Sudan, Somalia, Mali, and the Central African Republic. A recent review of 186 academic articles published between 2000 and 2026 shows that AU interventions produce mixed results, reflecting both growing African agency and ongoing challenges such as limited capacities and dependence on external support. The study underscores the complex realities of AU peace operations, which neither fully succeed nor fail, but increasingly shape conflict responses in collaboration with international partners.
Somalia’s federal system enriches elites and al-Shabaab, leaving public behind
Since the establishment of Somalia's federal government in 2013, political elites at federal and state levels have profited from corruption linked to international aid and control over transport chokepoints. Meanwhile, al-Shabaab remains entrenched, taxing and regulating trade. This situation benefits elites and militants but fails the Somali population, perpetuating conflict and instability.
Research tracks health changes in young South African migrants
A longitudinal study of 3,000 young adults from rural Mpumalanga, South Africa, shows that migration influences health in complex ways. Conducted by South African and US researchers, the Migrant Health Follow-Up Study finds that health changes vary by condition and are shaped by individual traits and destination circumstances. This highlights the nuanced relationship between migration, urbanisation, and health in South Africa.
King Sunny Adé Celebrates 80 Years of Shaping Nigerian Jùjú Music and Culture
King Sunny Adé, born Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, celebrates his 80th birthday in 2026, marking a career spanning more than six decades in Nigerian jùjú music. His work has been pivotal in promoting Yoruba cultural identity, social reflection, and innovation within African popular music, earning him global acclaim as the 'King of Jùjú.'
Fabien Eboussi Boulaga’s Legacy: Rethinking African Intellectual Freedom
Fabien Eboussi Boulaga, a Cameroonian philosopher and former Jesuit priest, critically explored the challenges of African intellectual freedom under colonial and postcolonial influences. His work questions how African thinkers can assert independent thought beyond imposed identities and ideologies.
Seven Ethiopian armed groups unite against PM Abiy Ahmed in new alliance
In September 2026, seven Ethiopian armed groups announced the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. This alliance emerges amid ongoing armed conflicts in the Amhara and Tigray regions and deepening political and ethnic divisions. The national dialogue process initiated in 2022 has struggled to include key armed groups, contributing to persistent instability.
Shared African strategy aims to tackle climate-fueled conflicts
African governments face growing security challenges exacerbated by climate change, including failed harvests, water scarcity, and extreme weather. These conditions increase competition for resources, fueling conflicts especially in regions like the Sahel and Horn of Africa. To tackle these interconnected issues, governments are developing a Common African Position on Climate, Peace and Security, aiming for coordinated action to improve stability and livelihoods.
Research highlights lessons from South Africa’s minibus taxi industry for policymakers
Recent research presented in two books explores South Africa's minibus taxi industry, challenging common labels like 'informal' or 'unregulated'. The studies reveal the sector's complex organisation, knowledge systems, and social practices developed by those involved. They argue that understanding this industry requires acknowledging its historical, economic, and governance contexts, and question the benefits and losses of formalisation efforts.