Latest news from East and Central Africa, covering politics, security, economies, and regional relations. Reporting from countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, DRC, and Rwanda.
A passenger plane carrying 55 people overshot the runway and ended up in the sea during an emergency landing in Somalia today. Remarkably, emergency teams reported that most passengers were rescued, though several sustained injuries during the crash.
Ethiopia has issued a stern diplomatic demand for neighbouring Eritrea to “immediately withdraw” its troops from Ethiopian territory, accusing Asmara of supporting local rebel fighters and raising fears of a return to widespread conflict in the Horn of Africa.
Kenyan court arraigns controversial cult leader Paul Mackenzie and seven associates on fresh charges over the deaths of 52 people whose bodies were found in shallow graves in southeast Kenya in 2025. The defendants all pleaded not guilty.
Rwanda has officially launched the second phase of its drone delivery network, transitioning from strictly medical supplies to general commercial parcels. The move makes Rwanda the first country in the world to have a fully integrated, nationwide autonomous delivery system for consumer goods.
With Valentine’s Day approaching, the Central Bank of Kenya has issued a stern warning against the trend of gifting bouquets made of folded banknotes. The bank reminded citizens that "mutilating" or pinning currency is a criminal offense punishable by heavy fines or imprisonment under Kenyan law.
UNICEF and the WHO have issued an urgent health alert as a cholera outbreak in South Sudan threatens nearly 450,000 children. The situation is exacerbated by severe flooding and the influx of refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Sudan, putting immense pressure on fragile water and sanitation systems.
The United Nations has launched a massive funding appeal to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With over 7 million people displaced by ongoing conflict, the UN warns that without immediate funding, life-saving aid for food and medicine will run out by mid-year.
Addis Ababa has completed extensive urban preparations ahead of the 39th African Union Summit beginning on 14 February 2026, where regional security crises and economic integration are expected to dominate discussions.
Kenya’s Cabinet has endorsed a KSh4.7 trillion national budget for 2026/27, allocating KSh495.7 billion in transfers to county governments ahead of Parliament’s review.
Maritime policymakers from across Africa convened in Mombasa, Kenya, this week to craft a unified stance on the International Maritime Organization’s “Net Zero Framework,” aiming to protect African trade competitiveness as shipping decarbonizes.
