insert_link Africa WHO Declares Mpox a Global Public Health Emergency Amid Congo Outbreak The World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency on Wednesday, marking the second such declaration in two years reports Reuters. This decision follows an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has spread to neighboring countries. An emergency committee convened earlier in the day to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the severity of the situation, leading to the classification of the outbreak as a […] today15 August, 2024
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s highest court says local governments can spend their funds without interference: why this matters By Abiodun Odusote, University of Lagos Nigeria’s Supreme Court has affirmed the financial autonomy of the country’s 774 local government areas. It upheld the suit brought by the federal government to strengthen the independence of local governments in the country. Nigeria’s attorney-general and minister of justice filed the suit in May. Local governments have been hampered in most states, where the governors seize their federal allocations and only […] today14 August, 2024
insert_link Africa Air pollution in South Africa: affordable new devices use AI to monitor hotspots in real time By Bruce Mellado, University of the Witwatersrand Air quality has become one of the most important public health issues in Africa. Poor air quality kills more people globally every year than HIV, TB and malaria combined. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Air pollution makes people less productive because they get headaches and feel tired. India, for example, has poor air quality. The impact of India’s […] today14 August, 2024
insert_link Africa Is Africa Becoming a New Battlefront in the Russia-Ukraine War? By Damilola Banjo, via PassBlue Ukraine’s military intelligence recently claimed to have had a role in the massive ambush coordinated with Tuareg rebels that killed Russian troops operating alongside Malian armed forces in Mali, the Francophone West African country. The assertion has sparked fears that parts of Africa might become a proxy war zone for Russia and Ukraine. As the war in Ukraine continues, President Volodymyr Zelensky is […] today14 August, 2024
insert_link Africa International Organization for Migration Urges Increased Global Support for Sudan’s Displacement Crisis The International Organization for Migration has called on countries to significantly increase their donations to address Sudan's severe displacement crisis. Reuters says, Mohamed Refaat, head of the IOM's Sudan mission, cautioned that the organization has only secured 21% of the required funding. Without additional support, the ongoing conflict, combined with widespread hunger, disease, and floods, could result in the loss of tens of thousands of lives. today14 August, 2024
insert_link Africa Sierra Leone’s president pleads with the United Nations Security Council for reform Sierra Leone's president Julius Maada Bio has pleaded with the United Nations Security Council for reform. Chairing a session on addressing the historical injustice, he advocated for Africa’s permanent membership to enhance the council's effectiveness. Bio highlighted the need for increased African representation for maintaining international peace and security: today14 August, 2024
insert_link Africa Detained opposition leaders released in Tanzania Tanzania has released 520 opposition members who were detained in a bid to prevent them from holding a youth rally that the authorities said could have triggered unrest. Bloomberg Africa reports that those freed late Monday without any charges include Chadema party Chairperson Freeman Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu. Authorities banned an International Youth Day gathering that had been planned for Monday in the central Mbeya region, alleging that Chadema’s […] today13 August, 2024
insert_link Africa Mpox cases are soaring in Africa – what must be done to prevent a global pandemic By Cheryl Walter, University of Hull Alarmed by the surge in mpox cases, the Africa Centres for Disease Control has taken the unprecedented step of declaring the outbreak sweeping through African countries a continental public health emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also meeting to decide whether to trigger its highest global alert level over the epidemic. These moves come after a virulent strain of the disease […] today13 August, 2024
insert_link Africa Sudan’s catastrophe: farmers could offer quick post-war recovery, if peace is found By Khalid Siddig, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ; James Thurlow, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ; Josée Randriamamonjy, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ; Mariam Raouf, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) , and Mosab Ahmed, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) More than a year of conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has weakened the country’s fragile […] today13 August, 2024
