Weekly Human Rights Monitor Across 12 African Countries
19–25 October 2026 | Cumulative record: 1 January–25 October 2026 | Last updated: 25 October 2026
The African Human Rights Index (AHRI), an independent research initiative of the El Hak Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Human Rights, monitored varied developments during the week ending 25 October 2026. Civilian-protection and displacement risks intensified in southern Ethiopia; Ebola continued to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and police used tear gas during protests in Tunisia. In Sierra Leone, a human rights warning raised concerns about the principle of non-refoulement. Regional and international reviews also created opportunities for scrutiny and follow-up, without in themselves demonstrating improved human rights conditions on the ground.
Key developments of the week
Ethiopia
Displacement from the Moyale area
According to an Anadolu Agency report published on 24 October, citing the Kenya Red Cross and humanitarian officials, more than 14,000 people crossed from Ethiopia into Kenya after clashes began between Oromo and Somali communities on 21 October. At least nine deaths had been reported by 23 October, while temporary shelters faced growing shortages of food, water and sanitation. Casualty figures and other field-level details require independent follow-up. This episode must be monitored separately from the conflict in Tigray.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The rights to health and life
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported 9,704 confirmed Ebola cases and 4,687 deaths in the outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, based on data through 20 October 2026 and published in an update available on 23 October. Compared with figures through 18 October (9,552 cases and 4,602 deaths), this represents an additional 152 reported cases and 85 deaths over the two-day comparison period; it is not a complete weekly total.
Tunisia
Protests and the use of force
Reuters reported on 22 October that police used tear gas in Ettadhamen near Tunis, with confrontations also reported in Jebeniana and Agareb. The protests followed deaths that families linked to security operations, while differing accounts of the causes remain unresolved by an independent investigation. Students in Sfax also protested alleged shortcomings in emergency medical services. These incidents warrant scrutiny of the investigations and of the necessity and proportionality of police force.
Sierra Leone
Risk of refoulement
On 23 October, Amnesty International warned against returning three people previously deported by the United States to Sierra Leone. The individuals had received US judicial protection against return to their countries of origin because of the risk of serious abuse. The warning concerns possible onward removal, not a confirmed completed return; their current legal status, access to asylum procedures and legal assistance require verification.
Dashboard of the 12 monitored countries
The “Monitoring signal” column describes only the nature of developments recorded during this week. It is not a final country classification or a revision to annual AHRI scores. “No documented change” means no new evidence was identified in the reviewed material; it does not establish human rights stability.
| Country | Development during the week | Monitoring signal |
|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia | More than 14,000 people fled to Kenya following clashes around Moyale; at least nine deaths reported by 23 October. | Field deterioration |
| DR Congo | Ebola: 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths (data through 20 October); continuing pressure on health protection. | Field deterioration |
| Tunisia | Tear gas used at protests on 22 October; competing accounts of deaths and calls for investigation. | Field deterioration |
| Sierra Leone | Amnesty warned of possible onward removal of three US deportees to countries where they may face serious harm. | Protection alert |
| Cameroon | UN Human Rights Committee dialogue on military trials of civilians, torture, demonstrations and institutional independence. | International scrutiny |
| Mauritius | The African Commission examined the 11th periodic report; concluding observations and implementation remain to be followed up. | Procedural follow-up |
| Zambia | Examination of the eighth periodic report, first Maputo Protocol report and initial report on internally displaced persons. | Procedural follow-up |
| Algeria | The Forum des Juristes Algériens was granted observer status at the African Commission, modestly improving access to a regional mechanism. | Positive civic access |
| Tanzania | No new field incident documented in this week’s material; the WJP index released on 21 October shows a 3.5% annual decline. | New comparative data |
| Guinea | No material new development documented in the material reviewed; up-to-date evidence on implementation and accountability remains needed. | Insufficient evidence |
| Eswatini | No new reform or other verified change recorded this week; prior cumulative assessment remains under review. | No material update |
| Benin | No new change confirmed in the submitted material; evidence gaps remain concerning more recent national developments. | Evidence gap |
On mobile devices: scroll the table horizontally to view all columns.
Regional and international accountability
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights closed its 89th Ordinary Session in Dakar on 21 October 2026, after examining Mauritius’s 11th periodic report and Zambia’s eighth periodic report, alongside Zambia’s first report under the Maputo Protocol and its initial report on internally displaced persons. The Commission also granted the Forum des Juristes Algériens observer status. These are important procedural steps, but any assessment of their practical impact requires subsequent examination of recommendations and their implementation. [Official final communiqué]
On 22–23 October, the UN Human Rights Committee considered Cameroon’s sixth periodic report and raised questions about trials of civilians by military courts, allegations of torture, the use of force during demonstrations, and the independence of institutions. Questions from committee experts and responses by the state delegation must be distinguished from the committee’s later concluding observations. [Official dialogue summary]
Rule of Law Index 2026: supporting comparative evidence
On 21 October, the World Justice Project released the 2026 edition of its Rule of Law Index, covering 143 countries and jurisdictions. Relevant findings for AHRI countries include an annual 3.5% decline in Tanzania’s score, a rank of 89th of 143 and a score of 0.48 for Tunisia, and a rank of 85th of 143 and a score of 0.49 for Algeria. These figures must be treated as independent analytical evidence rather than newly documented violations, and should not be directly converted into AHRI composite scores without applying AHRI’s own methodology. [Global report] and [Algeria profile].
Methodological note
AHRI combines structural indicators (Structure), implementation and institutional-process indicators (Process), and actual outcomes (Outcome), while assessing the gap between legal commitments and effective protection (Implementation Gap). This is a preliminary monitoring update, not a new country ranking or a release of final 2026 scores. Allegations attributed to particular parties remain qualified by source and verification status.