East Africa in March 2026: the most important developments in security
East Africa in March 2026 was dominated by violence in South Sudan. Attacks in the Ruweng area at the start of the month killed scores of civilians, and the death toll rose to 169. Thousands fled Akobo on 8 March after the army issued a forced evacuation order, and the army retook Akobo on 13 March. Fears of a civil war accompanied the fighting. On 30 March gunmen killed more than 70 people in South Sudan after a dispute at a gold mine.
Elsewhere, Rwanda warned on 14 March that it may withdraw the troops securing the Mozambique LNG area. In Kenya, dozens of bodies, mostly infants, were discovered in a mass grave on 25 March, and Equity Bank was hit by a string of heists from Kigali to Nairobi. Kenya also arrested a Nigerian and one other person over suspected narcotics trafficking.
The war involving Iran drew comment from the region. Kenya braced for the escalation of the Middle East conflict, and Uganda's military chief said the war must end but that Uganda would join it if Israel were at risk of defeat. In Zimbabwe, an opposition leader claimed a police assault at a meeting against President Mnangagwa, and 15 Zimbabweans were reported killed in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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