August 09, 2023
Kenya: The Fast, Furious, and Brutally Short Life of an African Male Lion
The death of a lion in Kenya's picturesque savannas rarely tugs at people's hearts, even in a country where wildlife tourism is a key pillar of the nation's economy. But when one… Read more »
August 06, 2023
Kenya: Living in Nairobi's Informal Areas Spikes Chances of Having High Blood Pressure
Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is a non-communicable disease that occurs when there is a sustained elevation in the pressure of the blood that flows… Read more »
August 03, 2023
Tanzania: Conflict Between Humans and Wildlife in Tanzania Is Being Poorly Managed - and Climate Change Is Making Things Worse
Human-wildlife conflicts are a challenge for authorities in African countries where people live near protected areas. Programmes for communities to participate in wildlife tourism… Read more »
August 01, 2023
Sudan: Sudan Needs to Accept Its Cultural Diversity - Urban Planning Can Help Rebuild the Country and Prevent Future Conflict
Sudan is rich in cultural, ethnic and racial diversity. The country's 48 million people come from 56 ethnic groups, with over 595 sub-ethnic groups, speaking more than 115… Read more »
July 28, 2023
Africa: Putin Offers Unconvincing Giveaways to Make Up for Killing Ukraine Grain Deal
The second Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg on July 27 and 28 was predictably overshadowed by the war in Ukraine - and especially Russia's refusal to agree an extension of the… Read more »
July 26, 2023
Egypt: Egypt and Ethiopia Are Finally Working On a Water Deal - What That Means for Other Nile River States
Egypt and Ethiopia have waged a diplomatic war of words over Ethiopia's massive new dam - the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam - on the Blue Nile, which started filling up in July… Read more »
July 22, 2023
Kenya: Kenya's Logging Ban Has Been Lifted - It's a Political Decision and a Likely Setback for Conservation
Kenyan president William Ruto has lifted a six-year ban on logging, despite public objections. Ruto said it would create jobs and boost economic growth. Lisa E. Fuchs has studied… Read more »
July 17, 2023
Uganda: What Does It Mean to Be 'Educated'? In Uganda It's Not Just Schooling That Counts
How do you gauge whether someone is educated or not? In many parts of the world, the answer relates to the level of formal qualifications they achieve when they are young - do they… Read more »
July 16, 2023
Kenya: Queer Theory Offers New Views On Daily Life - Even On Infrastructure Projects in Kenya
I'll confess I've raised quite a few eyebrows when I've told people about my research linking queer theory and infrastructure development. Read more »
July 12, 2023
Tanzania: Tanzania's Gas Boom That Never Was - When Local Hopes Are Dashed By Global Realities
Rising international commodity prices can shape or reshape the fortunes of places. When large mining and oil and gas prospectors suddenly show an interest, a remote area can become… Read more »
July 11, 2023
Ethiopia: Ethiopia's Bid to Join BRICS - Expert Weighs Pros and Cons
A few years ago, the BRICS grouping - Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa - had lost salience because three of its members were in severe economic difficulty. Brazil,… Read more »
July 09, 2023
Somalia: Somaliland - Berbera City's Growth Is Being Held Back By a Power Supply Monopoly
Somaliland's main port, at the city of Berbera, accounted for two-thirds of the country's revenues in 2020. Over the years, these revenues have mostly gone into the central state… Read more »
Kenya: Kenya At 60 - Six Key Moments That Shaped Post-Colonial Politics
Kenya celebrates 60 years of independence this year. As a political scientist who has studied Kenya for the past 20 years, I consider a turning point from each decade that helped… Read more »
July 06, 2023
East Africa: Kiswahili - How a Standard Version of the East African Language Was Formed - and Spread Across the World
Kiswahili originated in east Africa, spreading around the continent and the globe. It's been adopted as a working language at the African Union and there's a push for it to become… Read more »
June 26, 2023
Tanzania: Baby Deaths in Tanzania - Being Born in a City No Longer Increases Their Chances of Survival
Five million children under five years old died in 2021. Of these, nearly half occurred within the first month - a time of high vulnerability. Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest… Read more »
June 22, 2023
Uganda: U.S. Talks Sanctions Against Uganda After a Harsh Anti-Gay Law
Uganda recently signed an anti-gay bill into law. Called by some the "worst of its kind in the world," the law imposes life imprisonment for same-sex relations while using colonial… Read more »
June 21, 2023
Rwanda: Rwanda - Paul Kagame Is a Dictator Who Clings to Power but It's Not Just for His Own Gain
Rwanda's president Paul Kagame recently said he was looking forward to his retirement after 23 years in power. Speaking to the press in April 2023, he claimed he "may join… Read more »
Kenya: Kenya's Population - 5 Key Findings in the Past 20 Years of Research
Like many countries on the African continent, Kenya's population is growing - fast. The country's population was 8.1 million in 1963; today it stands at about 55 million people.… Read more »
June 19, 2023
Tanzania: Tanzanian Students Who Struggle With English Feel Bullied - a Major Barrier to Learning
In many postcolonial contexts, early learning is conducted, and assessed, in a language that is unfamiliar to learners. About 40% of the world's population cannot access schooling… Read more »
June 18, 2023
Uganda: Ugandan Church Waged Rebellion Against Tradition - Today's Homophobic Views Are At Odds With History
On 26 May Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, assented to the "anti-homosexuality bill" of 2023. The bill's aim is to protect the "cherished culture of the people of Uganda, (and… Read more »
Kenya: Gold Fraud - the Goldenberg Scam That Cost Kenya Billions of Dollars in the 1990s - and No One Was Jailed
The Goldenberg scandal in the early 1990s is Kenya's largest documented gold fraud. The scheme involved Goldenberg International Limited, which pretended to export gold and… Read more »
June 15, 2023
Kenya: Mama Ngina Kenyatta At 90 - the Quiet Power Behind Kenya's Famous Political Family
Few witnessed the building of the young Kenyan state from within as did Ngina Kenyatta, the widow of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta. Mama Ngina, as she is known, will mark… Read more »
June 14, 2023
Nigeria: Nigeria's Response to the Sudan Crisis Is Lacking - It Could Play a Leading Role in Bringing Peace
Hostilities between rival military parties in Sudan had claimed more than 600 lives by May 2023. Read more »
June 13, 2023
Kenya: Kenya's Budget Doesn't Allocate Funds for New Education Initiatives - This Will Stall Innovation in the Country
President William Ruto's first budget for Kenya sets no education priorities. The Finance Bill 2023 doesn't make it clear what Kenya is trying to achieve - stronger foundational… Read more »
June 12, 2023
Kenya: Kenya's First Budget Under Ruto - Three Experts Review Its Key Points
President William Ruto's first budget comes to the national assembly on 15 June against the backdrop of massive public debt and public disquiet over high inflation. The KSh3.663… Read more »