insert_link Africa Africa’s renewable energy sector is shattering gender norms By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Africa's fast-evolving renewable energy landscape is catalysing a shift in gender dynamics, with more women seizing employment opportunities than in the traditional energy sector, according to a new report. According to the report, “more women are assuming positions as business creators, energy producers, distributors, and service providers,” challenging longstanding gender norms prevalent in the energy industry. The report, “Empowering Women in Clean […] todayMarch 8, 2024 21
Africa Nigeria is the second fastest-growing country in the world for software developers, Egypt seventh Conrad Onyango, bird story agency The latest data from GitHub, a global hub for software development, has listed the two African economies - Nigeria and Egypt - as among the world’s 10 fastest-growing countries for software development in 2023. It may come as no surprise that software development is on the rise in Africa. Vibrant startup hubs across the continent have become famous, with Silicon Cape, Silicon Savannah and Silicon […] todayMarch 8, 2024 13
insert_link Africa After Ivory Coast’s thrilling AFCON 2023 can Ghana’s Africa Games 2023 shape up? By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency After the eventful, action-filled AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast that concluded last month, West Africa is now hosting another sporting extravaganza, as Ghana hosts the 13th edition of the Africa Games. This promises a month packed with athleticism, passion, and continental unity, with surge in the number of participating countries. The pan-African multi-sport event, organized under the African Union's Sports […] todayMarch 8, 2024 19
insert_link Africa Women battle when trying to take climate change cases to court – South Africa and Nigeria study shows why Pedi Obani, University of Bradford Across domestic courts in Africa, climate cases have been decided in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, with some cases pending in Uganda. However, climate litigation is still fairly new. Climate lawsuits are an important way to access justice. This is particularly true for African women because, as research has shown, climate change affects women more than men in key areas including farming, […] todayMarch 8, 2024 9
insert_link Africa Bobi Wine: The People’s President – a gripping Oscar-nominated film about Uganda’s fight for freedom By Julia Cain, University of Cape Town Bobi Wine is a pop star in Uganda who uses his music for political protest and social activism. Born Robert Kyagulanyi, he became a member of parliament (MP) in 2017 and has gone on to lead a popular opposition movement in the face of state violence and repression. His political journey is now the subject of a documentary. Bobi Wine: The […] todayMarch 8, 2024 13
insert_link Africa Senegal avoids power vacuum with March 24 election plan Senegal's government has announced that the country's presidential election will take place on 24 March. The announcement, the BBC reports, follows tension in the country after President Macky Sall postponed the election last month, sparking widespread protests while Bloomberg News reports that the plan to hold the vote before Sall’s mandate expires on 2 April 2024 removes the risk of a power vacuum in the West African nation. todayMarch 7, 2024 11
insert_link Africa Crisis in Abyei: South Sudan must act and stop violence between Dinka groups By Jan Pospisil, Coventry University Abyei – a territory roughly the size of Jamaica – is being contested by two countries, Sudan and South Sudan. Abyei, which covers just over 10,000km², is under special administrative status following the terms of a 2005 peace agreement between the two countries. The disagreement has led to increasingly violent inter-communal tensions. Although the roots of these stretch back decades, they […] todayMarch 7, 2024 12
insert_link Africa Dry weather hits southern Africa’s farmers, putting key maize supplies at risk: how to blunt the impact By Wandile Sihlobo, Stellenbosch University South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have recently published reports indicating a potential decline in grain harvest because of intense El Niño-induced dryness. These developments could put the entire Southern Africa maize supply chain at risk, with Zambia and South Africa hard hit by heatwaves and dryness. The neighbouring small producers such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia are also struggling with dryness. […] todayMarch 7, 2024 25
Africa West Africa’s coast was a haven for piracy and illegal fishing – how technology is changing the picture By Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood, University of St Andrews The Gulf of Guinea – a coastal region that stretches from Senegal to Angola – is endowed with vast reserves of hydrocarbon, mineral and fisheries resources. It is also an important route for international commerce, making it critical to the development of countries in the region. For a long time, however, countries in the Gulf of Guinea haven’t properly monitored […] todayMarch 7, 2024 17
