All of Africa Today - June 9, 2026

The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported 101 confirmed Ebola deaths amid a worsening outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain. The government has said that it recorded 35 new confirmed cases in the previous 24 hours, including 10 deaths. The outbreak is concentrated in three provinces long beset by armed conflict, Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. Health authorities said that insecurity in areas such as Djugu, Irumu and Mambasa is limiting humanitarian access. Attacks on response teams, including a recent assault on a burial team in Bunia, have further disrupted containment measures. The outbreak, first declared in May, is the DR Congo's 17th since 1976. It has been complicated by the absence of an approved vaccine for this strain, raising fears of wider regional spread despite ongoing international response efforts.

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Somali Referee Omar Artan Dropped from 2026 World Cup After US Entry Denial

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup finals, has been dropped from the 2026 tournament after being denied entry into the United States. Artan, the 2025 CAF men's referee of the year, was stopped at Miami International Airport despite travelling with valid documents and a diplomatic passport issued to ease earlier visa challenges. FIFA confirmed he will no longer officiate at the tournament, saying host countries made immigration decisions. US authorities gave no official reason. Somalia is among the countries affected by a travel ban introduced under President Donald Trump's administration. Artan has since returned to Turkey and said he remains positive and focused on future competitions.