Zambia heads to the polls on 13 August in a tightly contested election pitting President Hakainde Hichilema’s ruling United Party for National Development against the Tonse-Pamodzi opposition alliance, led by Brian Mundubile and backed by structures from the former Patriotic Front government. The vote is widely seen as a referendum on Hichilema’s record, which includes progress on debt restructuring, economic growth and inflation control, though the high cost of living remains a dominant voter concern. The campaign has unfolded amid allegations of state interference, restrictions on opposition activity and controversial legislative changes, positioning the election as a critical test for Zambia’s democratic institutions.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola response is falling behind, with more than 1,900 deaths recorded in the current outbreak. Between 60 and 70 percent of fatalities occur in communities before patients reach treatment centres. The concentration of healthcare services in Bunia, Ituri province, forces patients to travel long distances, delaying care and potentially increasing transmission due to poor transport systems. The WHO plans to expand treatment facilities closer to affected communities, add 400 Ebola beds and strengthen public awareness and early referral systems. In Aru, no new cases have been reported for two weeks after authorities broadened surveillance and response efforts beyond individual patients to surrounding communities.
Nigeria has confirmed 1,000 cases of Lassa fever and 237 deaths across 23 states and 116 local government areas in 2026. Five states — Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue — account for 86 percent of confirmed cases. At least 53 healthcare workers have been infected, prompting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to implement a 30-day protection plan for frontline staff. The agency attributes the outbreak and high fatality rate to late presentation, high treatment costs, poor sanitation and limited public awareness. Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease, is transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rodents.
In Malawi, the Ministry of Lands is preparing to release findings from a pilot land ownership audit in Lilongwe that reportedly uncovered irregularities in plot allocations in the affluent Area 3 and Area 10. Launched in February 2026 to improve transparency in land administration, the audit allegedly identified politically exposed individuals, including current and former ministers, judges and members of parliament, linked to irregular acquisitions. The findings risk triggering political controversy, with questions unresolved over whether those implicated will be publicly named or face legal or disciplinary action.
The UN Support Office in Somalia has opened a tender to auction vehicles, generators, IT equipment, medical supplies, construction machinery and other assets as Washington prepares to end funding for the mission’s logistical support by the end of 2026. UNSOS provides critical transport, fuel, food and supplies to roughly 12,000 African troops and police serving under AUSSOM in the fight against al-Shabab. The auction has raised concerns among civil society groups over transparency and oversight. Regional leaders warn that any premature reduction in international support could create a security vacuum as al-Shabab continues to operate in parts of the country.
A new study published in Nature indicates that climate change is reshaping malaria risk across Africa. Rising temperatures are making parts of southern Africa and high-elevation areas of East Africa increasingly suitable for transmission, while some areas of West and Central Africa may have become too hot for optimal transmission. The continent still bears about 95 percent of the global malaria burden. Experts caution that climate change is only one factor, with funding gaps, drug and insecticide resistance, and weak health systems remaining major threats. They urge countries in emerging risk zones to strengthen prevention and surveillance while maintaining elimination efforts in high-burden areas.
