The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to two new provinces — Tshopo and Ituri — with nearly 2,000 confirmed cases and more than 700 deaths recorded since May. Africa's leading public health agency has declared it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded, and aid workers on the ground warn that the response urgently needs to be scaled up. Here is a full breakdown of the latest major stories from across the African continent.
How Far Has Ebola Spread in the DRC in 2025?
Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed on Sunday that the Ebola virus has now reached the provinces of Tshopo and Ituri in the northeast of the country. Of particular alarm is a cluster of four cases discovered in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo — a densely populated city where aid workers say there is now a high likelihood of further community spread.
The outbreak was first declared on May 15th, with its epicenter in the eastern province of North Kivu. Since then, Congo's government has repeatedly insisted the epidemic is under control — a claim that is increasingly difficult to sustain. The latest official figures show nearly 2,000 confirmed cases and more than 700 deaths, though aid workers note that many cases go undetected, meaning the true scale of the outbreak is likely far larger.
France 24 correspondent Emmet Livingston, reporting from Kinshasa, described the spread to Tshopo and Ituri as "a huge blow to health responders who have been trying desperately to slow the spread." The Africa CDC has labelled this the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history, and frontline workers are calling for an immediate and significant escalation of the international response.
Who Is Hemeti and Why Was He Sentenced to Death?
A Sudanese court in Port Sudan has sentenced paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — widely known as Hemeti — along with his two brothers and 13 others, to death in absentia for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The charges relate to massacres carried out in West Darfur in 2023, when Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under Hemeti's command seized the city of El Geneina, killed the state governor, mutilated his body, and massacred more than 10,000 civilians.
This is the first ruling issued against the RSF leadership since the conflict between Sudan's military and the RSF broke out in April 2023. The anti-terrorism court that issued the ruling operates in Port Sudan, the de facto capital currently under military control.
But what does the verdict actually mean in practice? France 24's East Africa correspondent Bastien Renouil was frank about its limitations. Hemeti and his brothers are not in areas controlled by the Sudanese military, making a domestic arrest essentially impossible. However, the ruling does allow Sudan to request an Interpol Red Notice, which could theoretically lead to arrests if the convicted individuals travel internationally.
The catch: Hemeti has traveled extensively — particularly to Kenya and the United Arab Emirates, both of which have maintained supportive ties with the RSF. As Renouil noted, it remains "very unlikely" that these countries would act on such a notice. Still, the verdict marks a significant symbolic moment and adds to the growing international legal pressure surrounding the Sudan conflict. It is also worth noting that Sudan's army itself has faced credible accusations of war crimes, including attacks on civilians.
What Is Causing the Toxic Gas Crisis in Nigeria's Niger Delta?
In the Nigerian Niger Delta town of Bele, residents have taken to the streets demanding urgent government action after months of toxic, flammable gas seeping from the ground. The gas — which has been leaking since November of last year — is bubbling up through water wells, contaminating drinking water, destroying mangrove forests, and killing the aquatic life that local communities depend on for food and income.
France 24's Sam Olukoya reported from Lagos on the human cost of the crisis. Residents describe fires igniting in residential neighbourhoods, sometimes right at people's doorsteps. Health effects are widespread: respiratory problems, skin irritation, nausea, and headaches are all being reported. The local secondary school has been shut after gas began seeping up around the classrooms.
One resident described the situation vividly: "There's this bubbling that comes from the ground. Immediately you strike your match, you see that it connects to it — it's flammable. And in our wells, we also observe these bubblings. The water is no longer safe."
Experts from the oil and gas industry are now investigating. Several aging oil and gas fields operate in the surrounding area, and locals believe that poorly maintained, high-pressure infrastructure may be responsible. Civil society activists have joined residents in street protests, calling on the Nigerian government to investigate and act. This is the latest in a long and grim history of environmental disasters in the Niger Delta, a region that has borne disproportionate harm from decades of oil extraction.
Why Was Senegal's World Cup Coach Pap Thiaw Fired?
Senegal's Football Federation has terminated the contract of head coach Pap Thiaw less than two weeks after the team's exit from the FIFA World Cup. The decision came after a review of the team's performance and future prospects. Thiaw's side had been on the verge of a historic moment — they led Belgium 2-0 going into the 86th minute — before an extraordinary collapse saw Belgium score twice and convert a penalty to eliminate Senegal.
African football journalist Ojara Babatunde, speaking to France 24, said the sacking was not a surprise given how the campaign ended. But he stressed that the issues go well beyond football. After the loss, a player publicly posted on Instagram that he was stepping back from national duty until new coaching staff were appointed. It also emerged that the team doctor during the World Cup was a gynecologist — a revelation that prompted the federation president to announce his removal as well. The squad was also reportedly delayed in the United States for five to six days before flying home after elimination.
Who Could Replace Pap Thiaw as Senegal's Head Coach?
Several names are already circulating as potential successors. According to reports, the leading candidates include:
- Habib Beye — A former French and Senegalese professional footballer with coaching experience.
- Patrick Vieira — The iconic French midfielder, who has managed OGC Nice and Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
- Hervé Renard — A highly experienced French coach who has won two Africa Cup of Nations titles and is deeply familiar with African football.
Babatunde suggested that one of these three is likely to take the job, with the expectation that the new coach will rebuild the squad and push for a second AFCON title — though how many AFCON trophies Senegal have officially won remains a matter of some debate among fans.
What Happened to South African Footballer Jayden Adams?
South African football is in mourning after the body of midfielder Jayden Adams was discovered at a property in Cape Town. The 25-year-old died just two weeks after helping Bafana Bafana reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time. No cause of death has been officially given, and Cape Town police have launched an investigation. His family is awaiting the results of an autopsy.
Adams had enjoyed a remarkable run of form in the weeks before his death. He played in all three of South Africa's World Cup group stage matches, starting two of them — against Mexico and the Czech Republic. Earlier this year, he won the African Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns, and in 2024 he was part of the squad that finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations.
South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said it was "with profound shock and a heavy heart" that he had learned of Adams' passing. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also offered his condolences, calling Adams "one of the brightest young talents" the game had seen. The investigation by Cape Town police is ongoing.
