Central Africa in April 2026: the most important developments in politics
In Central Africa in April 2026, the most covered political story was in Gabon, where opposition figure Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze was placed in custody on 17 April. Gabon also saw debate over a new electoral law, which critics said aimed to weaken the opposition, and over a reform of the nationality code, which the opposition criticised and which divided public opinion. The government introduced new rules for digital platforms. In Cameroon, the approval of a vice-president's role alongside the 93-year-old president Paul Biya was reported.
Pope Leo XIV toured the region during the month, travelling to Cameroon and then to Equatorial Guinea, where on 21 April he held a mass and met local leaders. The tour also included Angola.
On 21 and 22 April, reports said the United States was in talks to resettle about 1,100 Afghans who had aided U.S. forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the Republic of Congo also named in some reports. An activist said Afghans were being told to choose between returning to Taliban rule and relocation to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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