Africa

NBA Africa-Africell collaboration points to the growing influence of private sector in Africa sport

By Bonface Orucho, via bird story agency The recent unveiling of a new indoor basketball court by NBA Africa and Angolan telecoms company Africell is another example of how private sector partnerships are helping to fast-forward sports development across Africa, while governments are missing the opportunity, according to a Nigerian sports analyst. Sports and entertainment expert Adedamilola Adedotun, lead sports strategist at The Temple in Nigeria, […]

17 April, 2024

Africa

bird TenX: African countries with the highest number of EVs

By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Despite recent headwinds, a growing shift from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles continues apace in Africa. Last year, the global sale of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose by 31% compared to 2022, according to a 2024 report by market research firm Rho Motion. Despite the high cost of conversion and a lack of adequate enabling infrastructure such as […]

16 April, 2024

Africa

New e-mobility policies are pushing EV fleet expansions in Africa

By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency African countries are welcoming a new era of more robust e-mobility policies as countries seek to scale their electric vehicle (EV) fleets after successful tests and pilots. According to Lusanda Madikizela, the head of Zero Emission Transport at C40 Cities in South Africa, better policies provide confidence for investors, manufacturers and operators. “Manufacturers need policy certainty so they can adjust specifications... financiers […]

16 April, 2024

Africa

Africa’s wildebeest: those that can’t migrate are becoming genetically weaker – new study

By Joseph Ogutu, University of Hohenheim Wildebeest – large African antelopes with distinctively curved horns – are famous for their great migrations on the grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. One hundred and fifty years ago, they migrated in huge numbers across the continent, in search of grazing and water and to find suitable areas for calving. Migration is crucial to sustain their large populations. But their […]

15 April, 2024

Africa

Local manufacturing of drones is on the rise in Africa

By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Rising demand for unmanned aerial vehicles used in various commercial applications is fueling the growth of the local drone manufacturing industry as startups and governments ramp up production within the continent. Following South Africa's successful test flight of the Milkor 380, a groundbreaking unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of carrying up to 1300 kilograms among other unique capabilities, the landscape is […]

11 April, 2024

Environment

Fossil beetles found in a Botswana diamond mine help us to reconstruct the distant past

By Sandiso Mnguni, University of the Witwatersrand When most people think of fossils they probably picture bones. But there’s much more to the global fossil record: plants, shells, minerals and insects. The study of fossil insects is called palaeoentomology. Palaeoentomologists like myself seek out and study fossil insects that were trapped in mud which later became rock sediments, and those found in amber (tree resin). Very few deposits […]

11 April, 2024

Africa

More African founders secure $1M+ Funding in new trend

By Seth Onyango, bird story agency Start-ups in Africa are increasingly hauling in US$1 million or more in funding, even as the investment climate on the continent cools off. Data from Africa: The Big Deal, shows ventures raising over US$1 million thrive due to their bankability, suggesting a selective but keen interest from investors amidst a cautious investment backdrop. "While the amount raised quarterly is […]

10 April, 2024

Africa

Interstate deals fuel drive for African single roaming regime

Seth Onyango, bird story agency Growing interstate deals to end roaming fees are boosting efforts for a unified roaming regime in Africa, essential for a connected digital market. Benin and Ghana are the latest African countries to slash communication costs for their citizens roaming between the two countries. The new rates apply from July 1 and align with a protocol introduced by the ECOWAS region in March […]

10 April, 2024

World

Jihadism in Mozambique: southern African forces are leaving with mixed results

By Thomas Mandrup, Stellenbosch University The Southern African Development Community (SADC) military mission in Mozambique (Samim), which was deployed on 15 July 2021 to fight the Islamic insurgents terrorising the northern Cabo Delgado province since 2017, is scheduled to end by June 2024. Mozambican security forces will then take full responsibility for security. We asked military science and defence expert Thomas Mandrup, who has published a paper […]

8 April, 2024