insert_link Africa Kenya state-backed rights body says 22 killed in Tuesday protests Twenty-two people were killed in Tuesday's protests in Kenya, a state-funded rights organisation said, vowing an investigation into what it described as "the largest number of deaths (in) a single day protest." "We have recorded 22 deaths... we are going to launch an inquiry," said Roseline Odede, chairwoman of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, adding that 19 people had died in the capital Nairobi, where […] todayJune 26, 2024 11
Africa DR Congo mortar attack kills two S.African soldiers A mortar attack in the turbulent east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed two South African soldiers and wounded 20 others, the army said Wednesday. South African troops have been deployed in the DRC as part of a Southern African Development Community force helping the government put down a rebellion. The South African National Defence Force said one of its bases was hit by a "mortar attack" on […] todayJune 26, 2024 4
insert_link Africa Kenyan police and protests: researchers on a violent, corrupt security force that’s beyond reform By Moina Spooner, The Conversation Kenya’s police are being criticised for their violent response to protests over the past week against government proposals to raise US$2.7 billion in additional taxes. Hundreds of thousands of people, across 35 of Kenya’s 37 counties, have poured out onto the streets in opposition to the tax hikes. The police have reacted with force, using live bullets and […] todayJune 26, 2024 17
insert_link Africa Lake Victoria: why so many fishers are dying and what can be done about it By Ranaivo Rasolofoson, University of Toronto and Kathryn Fiorella, Cornell University Small-scale fishers on Lake Victoria (Africa’s largest freshwater lake, shared by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) are drowning. Safety issues such as storms, a lack of available life jackets, and a shortage of navigational equipment and rescue services are a major cause of this. Existing studies have found that climate change is projected to […] todayJune 26, 2024 18
insert_link Africa South Africa’s coalition government – making the case for hope By Brian Levy, Johns Hopkins University In the aftermath of South Africa’s recent election, renewed hope has made an unexpected appearance. In difficult times, even small gains can be valuable. But, on occasion, much more is possible. Small gains can feed on each other; momentum can build; a virtuous spiral can take hold. This may be such a moment. It’s not ordinarily a […] todayJune 26, 2024 12
insert_link Africa Terror attacks and kidnappings spread in Nigeria: why Lagos could be a target By Adewumi I. Badiora, Olabisi Onabanjo University Crimes that were previously associated with Nigeria’s northern region – like kidnapping for ransom and terrorism – appear to be spreading to the south-west region, including Lagos. Adewumi Badiora, an urban and community safety researcher, outlines urgent steps that must be taken to keep banditry and insecurity out of Lagos. What is the current state of banditry […] todayJune 26, 2024 12
insert_link Africa What’s next after Kenya’s deadly protests? By Rose TROUP BUCHANAN, Simon VALMARY After an unprecedented day of chaos and deadly violence, Kenya finds itself plunged into uncertainty on Wednesday, with lawmakers due to vote this week on deeply unpopular tax hikes that have sparked widespread protests. How did East Africa's economic powerhouse get to this point and what happens now? Tuesday's national strike against proposed tax hikes began peacefully, with […] todayJune 26, 2024 12
insert_link Africa ‘Shaken to the core’: Kenya shocked as protests turn deadly By Dylan GAMBA, Rose TROUP BUCHANAN Kenya was in a state of shock Wednesday following unprecedented scenes that left parts of parliament ablaze and gutted, as protests over proposed tax hikes turned deadly, prompting President William Ruto's government to deploy the military. "Deaths, mayhem", read the front-page headline on the Standard newspaper, while the Daily Nation described the situation as "Pandemonium", saying: "The […] todayJune 26, 2024 14
insert_link Africa WHO Urges Urgent Action on Mpox Surge in Africa Amid Dangerous Congo Strain The World Health Organization has called for urgent action to address the rising spread of mpox in Africa. Rosamund Lewis, WHO's technical lead for mpox, highlighted the critical need for intervention. Meanwhile, John Claude Udahemuka from the University of Rwanda warned about a highly dangerous strain in Congo's South Kivu province, a mutated version of the clade I mpox. This strain has fatality rates of approximately 5% in adults and […] todayJune 26, 2024 8
