insert_link Africa This popular floating restaurant was on the rocks until Frida Njeri took over By Velma Pamela, bird story agency There are no land rates for this bar and restaurant that floats on the sea waters of the Lamu Island in Kenya. People have lived here for over 700 years. Lamu Old Town is older than Zanzibar, and other settlements in East Africa where Bantu, Arabic, Persian, Indian, and European influences fused into the Swahili culture. The town, with its relatively […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 11
insert_link Africa Zimbabwe’s “Biker Queen” rides full throttle against gender norms By Mike Saburi, via bird story agency Evonne Mudzingwa is in her happy place. The roar of an engine at full throttle is music to the ears of Evonne Mudzingwa and the glint in her eye is from light reflecting off brilliant chrome on powerful two-wheelers filling a parking lot in Harare. It’s a Sunday afternoon, which means the country’s highways have little traffic - every biker’s dream. […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 19
insert_link Africa Ethiopia’s peace pacts with the Oromo Liberation Front have failed: here’s what was missing By Marew Abebe Salemot, Debark University Two attempts have been made over the past six years to broker peace between the Ethiopian government and the armed rebel group Oromo Liberation Front. The armed group was formed half a century ago with the goal of carving out an independent state for Oromia, the country’s largest regional state. Both attempts at brokering peace – in 2018 and again in […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 9
insert_link Africa BMW bets big on Africa’s green hydrogen industry with SA fuel cell test vehicle By Seth Onyango, via bird story agency BMW has claimed its place as the breakout star in Africa's race for commercial hydrogen mobility with the unveiling of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in South Africa. In a shot in the arm for Africa's fledgling green hydrogen industry, the automaker chose Southern Africa for the test drive of its BMW iX5 Hydrogen. The continent has been seeking to […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 3
insert_link Africa Antibiotic use on Kenya’s dairy farms is putting consumers and animals at risk By Dishon Muloi, International Livestock Research Institute and Arshnee Moodley, CGIAR System Organization Farmers often use antibiotics to keep their livestock healthy. They’re sometimes used as “quick fixes”, to avoid more costly management measures like regular disinfection, waste management, routine vaccination or provision of clean drinking water. Animal husbandry now accounts for about two thirds of the global consumption of antibiotics. As livestock and fish production […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 10
insert_link Africa Africa’s debt crisis needs a bold new approach: expert outlines a way forward By Danny Bradlow, University of Pretoria It hasn’t been easy for African states to finance their developmental and environmental policy objectives over the past few years. Recent events suggest that the situation may be improving. For the first time in two years, three African states have been able to access international financial markets, albeit at high interest rates. Kenya, for example, is now paying over 10% compared to […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 6
insert_link Africa New date set for African leadership event The African Leadership Organisation is rescheduling the African Persons of the Year Ceremony originally set for 22-23 February 2024 due to a scheduling conflict with the late President Hage Geingob's funeral proceedings. The event will now be held on 14-15 March 2024 at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The ceremony convenes policymakers, private sector leaders, civil society figures, and stakeholders globally. todayFebruary 21, 2024 11
insert_link Africa DRC launches appeal for humanitarian aid The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the humanitarian community have launched an appeal for US$ 2.6 billion to fund the country's 2024 humanitarian response plan. The funds are aimed at providing life-saving assistance and protection to 8.7 million people in need. Diane Penn reports. Meanwhile, according to Xinhua News Agency, for more than a year, the humanitarian crisis in the DRC has reached alarming levels, as […] todayFebruary 21, 2024 11
insert_link Africa Lagos: drugs, firearms and youth unemployment are creating a lethal cocktail in Nigeria’s commercial capital By Adewumi I. Badiora, Olabisi Onabanjo University Lagos is the most populous city in Africa and a regional economic giant, having west Africa’s busiest seaport. It is the centre of commercial and economic activities in Nigeria. The city’s population is estimated to be 20 million people. The existence of informal settlements makes it difficult to come up with a more precise number. Lagos has grown rapidly since […] todayFebruary 21, 2024 13
