All of Africa Today - August 19, 2026

Police in Zimbabwe have identified an additional 39 victims of the Kariba RIDA boat tragedy, increasing the total number of positively identified victims to 83. This latest group includes 21 children, among them a one-month-old baby, and 18 adults. The overall death toll has now climbed to 92, according to the latest police update. Efforts to identify the remaining victims are continuing in cooperation with families and authorities.

Authorities have urged relatives of those still missing following the accident to contact their nearest police station or the command center in Kariba. In a related development, the government has pointed to the Mbuya Nehanda ferry captain, Sign Patsikadova, as being responsible for the Kariba disaster.

Meanwhile, South Africa has officially taken over the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The nation's tenure will prioritize boosting regional trade, industrialization, and infrastructure development. This focus comes at a time of concerns over weak economic growth and persistent trade barriers within the bloc. SADC's latest assessment indicated that intra-regional trade reached 20% in 2025, but nine non-tariff barriers remain unresolved, and the manufacturing sector's contribution to GDP has fallen to 10.9%, significantly below the 2030 target.

President Cyril Ramaphosa also addressed the sensitive issue of undocumented migrants, expressing concern over discrimination faced by nationals from neighboring countries. During its year-long chairmanship, South Africa aims to promote regional value chains, including the processing of critical minerals and agricultural products, and to strengthen the bloc's Regional Development Fund.

In Nigeria, at least 25 people, predominantly women and children, were killed during an attack on the village of Bin-Per in Plateau State. Reports indicate the attackers moved from house to house, using machetes to kill residents. This incident is part of a series of retaliatory attacks in the region. Local officials and community groups have voiced criticism, accusing authorities of failing to adequately protect residents amidst ongoing violence between predominantly Christian farmers and Fulani herders over land and resources. Amnesty International estimates that at least 2,630 people have been killed in Plateau State between 2023 and May 2025.

In Tigray, a new general education curriculum has been launched after 16 years under the previous framework. The new curriculum aims to integrate indigenous knowledge with modern competency-based teaching and adapt to technological advancements, including artificial intelligence. However, the Tigray Education Bureau has cautioned that funding shortages and a lack of textbooks could impede its implementation when the new academic year begins. The curriculum was developed by university scholars and education experts with $550,000 in UNICEF funding. Yet, federal budget blockages mean only approximately $200,000 is reportedly available.