insert_link Africa Africans discovered dinosaur fossils long before the term ‘palaeontology’ existed By Julien Benoit, University of the Witwatersrand; Cameron Penn-Clarke, University of the Witwatersrand, and Charles Helm, Nelson Mandela University Credit for discovering the first dinosaur bones usually goes to British gentlemen for their finds between the 17th and 19th centuries in England. Robert Plot, an English natural history scholar, was the first of these to describe a dinosaur bone, in his 1676 book The Natural History of Oxfordshire. Over […] todayJanuary 8, 2024 14
insert_link Africa Young Africans could disrupt authoritarian states but they don’t – here’s why By Lovise Aalen, Chr. Michelsen Institute and Marjoke Oosterom, Institute of Development Studies Africa has the world’s largest youth population. By 2030, 75% of the African population will be under the age of 35. The number of young Africans aged 15-24 is projected to reach 500 million in 2080. While population dynamics vary across the continent, most sub-Saharan countries have a median age below 19. Niger is the youngest country […] todayJanuary 8, 2024 33
Africa African Development Bank President Wins Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize The President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, has been awarded the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership. The award which promotes the legacy and democratic ideals of the late Nigerian nationalist and federalist leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo, also “recognises and celebrates excellence in leadership.” The Foundation’s Executive Director, Ambassador Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu said, “Dr Adesina was the unanimous choice of the Foundation’s Selection Committee, which described Adesina as […] todayDecember 22, 2023 11
insert_link Africa Isabel dos Santos loses legal battle as court freezes assets Billionaire Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of former Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, on Wednesday lost her fight against an application to freeze up to $735 million of her assets. The AFP news agency reports that Dos Santos was sued by Unitel, a telecoms operator in Angola. The company had asked London's High Court to grant a worldwide freezing order over the assets at a hearing last month. todayDecember 21, 2023 89
insert_link Africa Hand counting and delays in DRC elections amid fraud claims In the Democratic Republic of the Cong votes are being counted by hand in parts of the capital city, Kinshasa, in a general election marred by delays and claims of fraud. The BBC reports that for the first time since 2006, voting has been extended to a second day in some parts of the country. todayDecember 21, 2023 32
insert_link Africa Ambassador Naanda supports Africa’s bid for a UN Security Council seat Ambassador Penda Naanda, the executive director of the Ministry of International Relations led the Namibian delegation to the 10th High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa, in Oran, Algeria. Speaking at the seminar, Naanda said that Africa is ready to take a permanent seat in the council to take back the continent's power. todayDecember 21, 2023 46
insert_link Africa Mozambique: EIB Global and Moza Banco provide €20 million to grow women-led businesses The EIB Global and Moza Banco initiative, as part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, will offer financing for small and medium-sized businesses in Mozambique, with a focus on businesses owned or run by women. Women are less likely to be able to access appropriate finance for their business, and the EIB-Moza Banco facility will address that financing gap. The project will support economic growth, […] todayDecember 21, 2023 31
insert_link Africa Cameroonian girls combat menstrual stigma through school clubs and education By Brenda Kiven, via bird story At 12 years old, a shy Wendy Musi had never heard of a menstrual cycle. The fourth child and one of two girls in a family with six boys, menstruation was simply not a topic discussed at home. Then, one day, Wendy’s world changed. When she got to school, she felt pains in her lower belly. When her French language teacher failed to […] todayDecember 21, 2023 23
insert_link Africa Gavi approves $1.8B African vaccine manufacturing accelerator for self-reliance By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Recent approval by the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) of a US$1.8 billion African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), a financing instrument that will support sustainable vaccine manufacturing in Africa is being hailed as a game changer for the continent. “The targeted US$1 billion from Gavi to African manufacturers is a game changer for the continent and advances our efforts towards vaccine self-reliance,” said Jean Kaseya, Africa […] todayDecember 21, 2023 36