insert_link Africa Belief in democracy is on the decline in Africa. Traditional institutions can help restore its importance By Vladimir Chlouba, University of Richmond Democracy in Africa has not had a good year. Military juntas from Mali to Niger appear to have cemented their grip on power. Sudan’s democratic dreams were dashed when the country’s two most powerful strongmen opted for war. And there’s now evidence that ordinary Africans may be losing faith in democracy as the best form of government. Afrobarometer, an organisation […] today17 May, 2024
insert_link Africa Gabon: post-coup dialogue has mapped out path to democracy – now military leaders must act By Douglas Yates, American Graduate School in Paris (AGS) At the end of April 2024, a long and peaceful process of national dialogue in Gabon between the military junta, presided over by coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema, and civil society, represented by 580 civilians, came to an end. The national dialogue followed an August 2023 coup that removed Ali Bongo Ondimba from office and ended […] today17 May, 2024
insert_link Africa Chad hepatitis E outbreak: how the dangerous liver disease spreads and how it can be treated By Kolawole Oluseyi Akande, University of Ibadan The World Health Organization recently announced an outbreak of hepatitis E in the eastern Ouaddai province of Chad. Between January and April 2024, 2,093 suspected hepatitis E cases were reported from two health districts. The Conversation Africa asked Kolawole Oluseyi Akande, a consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist, to explain the causes, symptoms, spread and treatment of hepatitis E. What is […] today17 May, 2024
insert_link Africa Angola’s untold history: archive project explores LGBTIQ+ lives and struggles By Caio Simões de Araújo, University of the Western Cape As I write these lines, I mourn the passing of Carlos Fernandes, a leading queer activist and organiser in Angola. Carlos was found dead in his home earlier this year under circumstances that are still being investigated. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people everywhere, there has commonly been a profound connection between […] today17 May, 2024
insert_link Africa TikTok in Kenya: the government wants to restrict it, but my study shows it can be useful and empowering By Stephen Mutie, Kenyatta University Every day, 750 million people around the world engage with Tiktok – the short-video sharing app. Kenyans are among its top users. According to a Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2023, 54% of Kenyans sampled used TikTok for general purposes, the highest proportion among the countries in the survey. They also use TikTok to express themselves and connect with others. The app, […] today17 May, 2024
insert_link Africa Week in Review: Namibia’s Green Hydrogen deal, Soth Africa’s unemployment crisis, and More https://youtu.be/2avUM787GnY Top Stories: Namibia's Green Hydrogen Deal: President Nangolo Mbumba led Namibia’s participation at the World Hydrogen 2024 Summit in the Netherlands, securing green hydrogen supply agreements with the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Government Election Spending: The Institute for Public Policy Research's Quarterly Economic Review examines government spending on elections since independence. IPPR Executive Director Graham Hopwood provides insights. Pending Allowances: Despite National Assembly approval, increased allowances for pensioners […] today17 May, 2024
insert_link Africa WFP calls for swift action as Sudan conflict worsens Amidst ongoing armed conflict in Sudan, where millions of civilians are left displaced and food insecure, Deputy Executive Director for the World Food Programme, Carl Skau, visited the country where he said a window of opportunity to reach civilians is rapidly closing as the rainy season app. today16 May, 2024
insert_link Africa More than half of Zimbabwean population needs food aid Zimbabwe’s cabinet has revealed that more than half of the nation’s population of about 15 million people will immediately need food aid until March next year, as the country reels from the impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon that’s already slashed corn output and led to a national state of disaster being declared. Bloomberg reports that the southern African nation’s rural areas are the most affected with 6 million […] today16 May, 2024
insert_link Africa Nigeria suspends cybersecurity law Nigeria has suspended a planned levy on electronic transfers to fund cybersecurity. The Central Bank of Nigeria had in a circular last week directed all banks and mobile money operators to charge 0.5% of the value of electronic transfers as a cybersecurity levy. Ajeck Mangut reports. today15 May, 2024