Today in Africa: DR Congo Ebola outbreak becomes deadliest, Cameroon wins first WAFCON title

Cholera Outbreak Spreads Across Northern Cameroon, Killing 28

More than 1,000 cholera cases and 28 deaths have been reported across northern Cameroon since mid-July, health authorities say. At Mora District Hospital, staff have set up separate tents for suspected and confirmed patients, while community health workers go door-to-door urging better hygiene as officials race to contain the outbreak before the rainy season worsens it.

Morocco Arrests Hundreds Attempting New Ceuta Crossing

Moroccan security forces arrested 294 migrants and 61 Moroccans accused of facilitating their crossing attempts into Ceuta, Spain’s territory in Morocco, over the weekend, state broadcaster Medi 1 TV reported. The arrests come two weeks after a deadly surge saw tens of thousands rush the border, killing at least 90 people, with authorities now citing more than 20,000 security personnel deployed daily to prevent a repeat.

Canada Tightens Study Permit Rules, Making Path to Residency Harder for African Students

Canada is cutting study-permit targets and adding new requirements to its Post-Graduation Work Permit, including language proficiency and labor-market alignment, changes likely to hit African students hard. Nigeria was Canada’s fourth-largest source of international students in 2024, with nearly 59,000 permit holders, as Ottawa moves to shrink its temporary population below 5% by the end of 2027.

Somali Federal Troops Retake Baidoa After Deadly Clashes

Somali federal troops drove opposition forces loyal to Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen out of Baidoa today, Monday, August 17, after hours of fighting that left multiple people dead, residents said. The clashes were the city’s fiercest since March, when federal forces first seized Baidoa after Laftagareen’s administration split from the federal government; the defense ministry says its troops killed about 30 attackers who struck before dawn using explosive-laden vehicles.

Egypt Warns Ethiopia Against Unilateral Control of Nile Water Flows

Egypt has warned Ethiopia against taking unilateral control of water flows from Africa’s biggest dam, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, reigniting a decade-long dispute now centered on who controls the Blue Nile rather than the dam’s construction. The warning follows remarks attributed to Ethiopia’s water and energy minister about building additional dams, with Egypt — Africa’s strongest military power — arguing such moves would violate international law.