Central Africa in April 2026: the most important developments in society
In Central Africa in April 2026, the most covered story was Pope Leo XIV's tour of the region. In Cameroon he said the world was "ravaged by tyrants" and, on 17 April, urged young people to resist the twin temptations of migration and corruption. In Angola he celebrated his first mass on 19 April before a crowd reported at 130,000, urging the country to heal its divisions. Reports described strong affection for the American-born pope in Angola, in contrast with disapproval of the U.S. president. During the Angola visit he also criticised what he called the "logic of extractivism" and the exploitation of natural resources, and spoke against exploitation by the world's "authoritarians". He ended the tour in Equatorial Guinea, where he criticised conditions in the country's prisons.
On 17 April the United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed an agreement on the deportation of migrants. On 19 April the Congolese government and M23 rebels reached an agreement to ease aid access and release prisoners.
Earlier in the month, floods in Angola killed at least 15 people and displaced thousands; the reported death toll later rose to 30. In France, workers at TotalEnergies went on strike over fuel prices.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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