insert_link Africa Mozambique’s cyclone flooding was devastating to animals – we studied how body size affected survival By Jason P. Marshal, University of the Witwatersrand and Francesca Parrini, University of the Witwatersrand Anyone who watches the news will have seen the devastation that tropical cyclones can cause when they reach land, with very strong winds, high rainfall and flooding. A cyclone like this, Idai, moved over Gorongosa National Park in central Mozambique in March 2019. At that time, it was the deadliest storm in Africa. Rainfall […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Africa DR Congo’s election – the key to Félix Tshisekedi’s victory By Albert Kasanda, Czech Academy of Sciences On Sunday 31 December 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced the preliminary results of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential election held on 20 December. The incumbent president, Félix Tshisékédi, was declared the winner with 73.34% of the votes cast, while Moise Katumbi was credited with 18.03% and Martin Fayulu with 5.33%. There have been calls to cancel the elections […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenyan Cult Leader and Followers Ordered for Mental Health Evaluations in Child Murder Case Reuters reports that a Kenyan judge has issued a directive for cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 30 associates to undergo mental health evaluations before facing charges related to the murder of 191 children. The victims' bodies were exhumed from the Shakahola forest since April last year. Mackenzie, the leader of the Good News International Church, is accused of instructing his followers in southeastern Kenya to intentionally starve themselves and their […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Explosions Rock Nigeria’s Oyo State: Two Dead, Dozens Injured Nigeria's Oyo state faced a tragic incident as explosions originating from stored explosives in a private residence resulted in at least two fatalities and numerous injuries, according to the state governor on Wednesday. Witnessed by Reuters, the aftermath included collapsed houses and damaged cars, causing panic among residents. The blast occurred on Tuesday, prompting emergency services and security officials to initiate a search and rescue operation in Ibadan, Oyo state's […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Africa More than 200 starve to death in Tigray More than 200 people have starved to death since July in Edaga Arbi town, in Ethiopia's drought-hit and war-scarred Tigray region. Local authorities say another 16 have died in nearby Adwa town. According to the BBC, officials in Tigray have warned that the region is on the brink of famine on a scale last seen in 1984, prompting the global fundraising music event Live Aid the following year. The central […] today17 January, 2024
insert_link Africa AfCFTA to boost regional trade by 80% More than half of African countries will use the rules of a continental free-trade pact this year as the continent moves closer to fully integrating into a single market. According to Bloomberg News, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene told a World Economic Forum panel in Davos Tuesday that of the 47 countries that have ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area, 31 will join the trade initiative, up from seven in […] today17 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Cabo Verde’s malaria victory is a blueprint for Africa By Bonface Orucho, via bird story agency Cabo Verde has achieved a significant milestone in the battle against malaria, securing malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). In news released on Friday, January 12, WHO explained that indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes across the archipelago of 10 islands has been halted nationwide for the past three consecutive years. The country's certification is the fourth on the continent, […] today17 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Culinary passion ignites Botswana’s spice industry: the flavorful journey of chef Cathy By Mmapula Molapong, bird story agency "My memories of food are very powerful. My earliest memory dates back to when I was about eight years old. I absolutely adored going to the farm with my grandmother, we used to get up really early in the morning on weekends to harvest vegetables, sorghum and maize,” said Ompelege Moreosele, who is better known both in Botswana and South Africa as food […] today17 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Uganda’s battle for the youth vote – how Museveni keeps Bobi Wine’s reach in check By Rebecca Tapscott, University of York and Anna Macdonald, University of East Anglia Uganda is one of the youngest countries in the world, with an average age of 15.9 years. Young people aged below 30 make up about 77% of the country’s population of 47 million people. Young people have legitimate and wide-ranging grievances, from unemployment to disenfranchisement. Opportunities remain limited, with two-thirds of Ugandans working for themselves or […] today17 January, 2024
