Africa: All of Africa Today - August 31, 2026

On August 31, 2026, Russia confirmed that its African Corps troops assisted Nigerien forces in quelling a failed coup attempt in the capital, Niamey. Explosions and gunfire erupted near a military airbase and the presidential palace, but President Abdourahmane Tiani's government later declared the rebellion contained. The Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, denounced the coup as an attempt to destabilize the nation.

The incident underscores ongoing security concerns in Niger, where jihadist violence endures despite the country's closer ties with Russia and its estrangement from Western allies.

Meanwhile, in Zambia, opposition leader Brian Mundubile, along with 17 others, has been charged with treason following political unrest stemming from the recent presidential election. Mundubile, who alleged President Hakainde Hichilema's victory was fraudulent, went into hiding after security forces raided a property linked to him in Lusaka.

They also killed a former cabinet minister and arrested several other politicians, claiming to have recovered weapons during the operation. Mundubile's party disavowed any intention of instigating an armed insurgency. Hichilema is set to assume office for a second term on September 1.

In a separate development, Turkish and Somali forces successfully liberated a hijacked ship off the coast of Somalia after a 10-day operation. Four pirate boats were destroyed, and the remaining attackers abandoned the vessel, which has since continued its voyage. At least eight crew members, including a Turkish national, were aboard the MV LATUF.

Authorities have not disclosed casualty details or their condition. The operation unfolds as piracy along Somalia's coast has surged, with at least 15 attacks reported this year, the highest since 2013. These incidents exacerbate challenges for international shipping in the Middle East, where vessels must also circumvent the Strait of Hormuz and evade Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

Amnesty International Kenya urged the Kenyan government to go beyond rhetoric and take tangible steps to eradicate enforced disappearances, uncover the locations of missing individuals, and punish those responsible. The organization commended President William Ruto's recent pledge that no Kenyan should suffer loss of life, liberty, or dignity for criticizing the government or engaging in peaceful protests.

However, Amnesty noted that Ruto's words must be accompanied by action. The group cited 19 enforced disappearances and 69 police killings in 2026, as well as 35 verified cases in a recent reparations framework. Amnesty called for independent investigations, accountability, reparations for victims and their families, and stronger safeguards for journalists, human rights defenders and protesters ahead of the 2027 elections.

Finally, Zimbabwe declared a State of Disaster following a tragic highway accident on the Harare-Masvingo road, which claimed 27 lives and left seven others gravely injured. A hauling truck carrying mining equipment from South Africa and a commuter minibus carrying members of the African Apostolic (Mwazha) Church collided head-on and ignited, trapping several passengers in the minibus.

Twenty-four fatalities occurred at the scene, while three others died at Chivhu General Hospital. The truck driver survived and was transferred to Harare for treatment. The disaster declaration enables the government to allocate additional resources and coordinate aid for survivors and bereaved families.