insert_link Africa Study: A third of Africa’s great apes at risk from mining of transition metals Rising demand for the metals needed to power the global renewable energy transition potentially threatens more than a third of Africa’s great apes. Nearly 180,000 gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos face potential fallout from current and future mining projects for these transition metals, particularly in West Africa. Direct and indirect potential impacts from mining on apes include habitat destruction, health threats from light pollution and disease transmission, […] todayJuly 1, 2024 28
insert_link Africa Fossil insects help to reconstruct the past: how I ended up studying them (and you can too) By Sandiso Mnguni, University of the Witwatersrand When I tell people that I study fossils, many assume I am talking about dinosaurs or some equally impressive extinct creatures. But there’s far more to be found in the global fossil record, like plants, fish and insects. Researchers who study fossil insects preserved in rock or amber deposits are called palaeoentomologists – and I’m one of […] todayJuly 1, 2024 5
insert_link Africa Hotbed of corruption: Kenya’s elite have captured the state – unrest is inevitable By Gedion Onyango, London School of Economics and Political Science A strong undercurrent driving the unprecedented anti-tax protests in Kenya is outrage over theft of public resources coupled with the extravagant lifestyles of public servants. There are widespread frustrations that President William Ruto also failed to deliver on his electoral promises to address corruption. He’s even earned a new nickname — “Zakayo”, a reference […] todayJuly 1, 2024 6
insert_link Africa Unrest in Kenya Challenges IMF Targets and Borrowing Costs Violent unrest that compelled Kenya's president to withdraw support for a finance bill has cast uncertainty over the country's ability to meet International Monetary Fund targets and could increase borrowing costs, according to investors and analysts. The bill, which proposed taxes on bread, vegetable oil, sugar, mobile-money transfers, and certain imports, aimed to generate US$2.68 billion, equivalent to 3% of GDP, in additional revenue, as noted by Morgan Stanley's, Neville […] todayJuly 1, 2024 9
insert_link Africa Nigeria Imposes Curfew Following Deadly Blasts Nigeria’s military has imposed a curfew in parts of the country after a series of deadly blasts in northeastern Borno state killed at least 18 people and injured 30 others. Officials report that the victims include children and pregnant women. One of the attacks reportedly claimed six lives at a wedding ceremony. Suspected suicide bombers also targeted a funeral and a hospital in the town of Gwoza. A 15-year insurgency […] todayJuly 1, 2024 5
insert_link Africa Nigeria Begins Dialogue for Cholera Vaccine Supply Nigeria has initiated talks with Gavi Alliance, a global health partnership to obtain the oral cholera vaccine from them. This is in the wake of an outbreak of cholera in the country. As Tesem Akende reports from Jos. todayJune 28, 2024 19
insert_link Africa Kenya’s protests happened in every major urban centre – why these spaces are explosive By Lena Gutheil, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Kenya has a long history of protests. Mass protests took place during the colonial period and continued in the post-independence era. Important democratic gains were achieved through protests, such as the introduction of multi-party politics in 1991. Many will also remember the violent clampdown that followed the disputed 2007 elections, which left more […] todayJune 28, 2024 18
insert_link Africa Sudan Faces Rising Famine Risk Amid Ongoing Conflict A global monitor warned on Thursday that 14 areas in Sudan could face famine if the conflict that began in April last year intensifies. According to Reuters, the World Food Programme described the situation as the world's largest hunger crisis. The at-risk areas include the capital Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, and El Gezira state, which have experienced the most intense fighting, according to an update from the Integrated Food Security Phase […] todayJune 28, 2024 12
insert_link Africa Kenyan police used teargas on dozens of protesters in Nairobi Kenyan police used teargas on dozens of protesters in Nairobi and blocked roads to the presidential palace on Thursday as nationwide demonstrations continued, despite the president's decision to withdraw a tax hike bill. Reuters reports that protesters in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and other cities called for President William Ruto to resign. However, the turnout was lower compared to the peak of the mass rallies triggered by the tax measures over […] todayJune 28, 2024 10
