AllAfrica Roundup: Key Stories from the Continent, May 12, 2026

Today’s headlines from across Africa focus on regional elections, economic shifts, and public health. The African Union confirmed the start of a major peacekeeping mission in the Sahel region, deploying 3,000 troops to counter rising insurgent activity. In Nigeria, the naira gained 2% against the dollar after the central bank announced new foreign exchange reforms. Meanwhile, Kenya opened a new high-speed rail link between Nairobi and Mombasa, cutting travel time to under four hours. On the health front, the World Health Organization declared a new malaria vaccine rollout successful in Ghana, with a 40% reduction in severe cases among children under five. Finally, South Africa’s energy grid showed stability for the third consecutive day, easing fears of further blackouts.