Africa Bulletin No 7

Executive Summary

Africa’s security landscape remained volatile during 9–16 October 2026, with conflict continuing to undermine civilian protection, essential services and regional stability. In Sudan, renewed allegations of deadly airstrikes accompanied worsening humanitarian conditions, displacement and fuel shortages. US pressure for a humanitarian truce encountered disagreement at the UN Security Council over sanctions and restrictions on weapons supplies. In the DRC, Joseph Kabila’s leadership of a new political-military coalition and restrictions on opposition-party activities widened the confrontation with Kinshasa. Renewed fighting in Tigray heightened concern over Ethiopia–Eritrea escalation, while insurgent attacks and competition between armed groups sustained insecurity across the Sahel, Nigeria and Somalia. Diplomatic engagement continued alongside these conflicts. Sahel governments pursued IMF negotiations, commercial contacts and regional customs cooperation while maintaining prominent security relationships with Russia. Morocco installed a new government, combining continuity in key diplomatic and security portfolios with changes affecting economic and resource policy. Relations between the DRC and Belgium deteriorated following searches linked to an investigation into alleged laundering of mining revenues; the allegations remained unproven. The expanding Ebola emergency also increased the importance of cross-border health coordination and transparent reporting of international assistance. Energy and mining developments highlighted efforts to secure financing, improve infrastructure and retain more value domestically. Nigeria’s contractor-financing framework, Ghana’s gas-processing expansion and South African storage and nuclear-fuel proposals addressed different constraints on future supply. Niger’s continuing oil-well blowout and methane emissions underscored the environmental risks accompanying production growth. Mining priorities centred on revenue retention in the DRC, stronger operating results in Burkina Faso, renewed permit processing in Mali and additional processing capacity in Guinea and Zimbabwe. Across these initiatives, the decisive tests remain financing, reliable power and transport, effective oversight and measurable benefits for workers and communities.