February 14
Africa: Wagner Group Is Now Africa Corps. What This Means for Russia's Operations On the Continent
In August 2023, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died after his private jet crashed about an hour after taking off in Moscow. He had been Russia's pointman in Africa since the… Read more »
Africa: African Football Won the 34th Afcon, With Côte d'Ivoire a Close Second
The 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) came to an end in Côte d'Ivoire with millions of viewers around the world shouting at TV screens, and an astonishing performance by… Read more »
February 08
Nigeria: Nigeria's Street Food - Tasty but Toxic? Expert Shares Advice to Make It Safer
In the lively streets of Nigeria's cities, where delicious street food is a daily delight, a wide variety of food can be bought and consumed instantly. From the sizzling suya snack… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigeria's Popular Wara Cheese Has a Short Shelf Life
Cheese is a highly nutritious food produced in hundreds of varieties around the world. It's all made by fermenting milk but the results range widely in flavour, texture and end… Read more »
February 07
Ghana: Kumasi City's Unplanned Boom Is Destroying Two Rivers - Sewage, Heavy Metals and Chemical Pollution Detected
Ghana's urban population has more than tripled in the past three decades, from 4 million to nearly 14 million people. Competition for land in cities has increased among various… Read more »
West Africa: Why Withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso Signals Trouble for the Sahel
On 27 January 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their plan to withdraw from membership of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), despite repeated… Read more »
Senegal: Macky Sall Throws Senegal's Democratic Credentials Into Doubt
Senegal's President Macky Sall announced in early February that presidential elections, originally scheduled for 25 February, would be postponed indefinitely. The announcement has… Read more »
February 06
Nigeria: The Plight of Women Fishers in Lagos's 'Floating Slum'
Makoko, a coastal fishing community in Lagos, Nigeria, was established by fishermen in the 19th century. It is considered the world's largest "floating slum". There are conflicting… Read more »
January 30
Ghana: V&A's Decision to Loan Looted Asante Gold Back to Ghana Has Implications for Other British Museums
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has announced a loan agreement with the Manhyia Palace Museum in the Asante region of Ghana to return gold and silver royal regalia that… Read more »
February 05
West Africa: Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Want to Leave Ecowas. a Political Scientist Explains the Fallout
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have sent Ecowas, west Africa's main political union of 15 countries, a formal notice of their withdrawal from the bloc. The three countries are… Read more »
February 02
Cape Verde: Cape Verde Is the Third African Country to Eliminate Malaria - Here's How
Cape Verde has been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization. Read more »
February 01
Nigeria: Slaves of God - Nigeria's Traditional Osu Slavery Practice Was Stopped, but the Suffering Continues
There are global efforts to fight modern slavery, but a few traditional systems still hold strong in west Africa. These include Osu, Ohu and Trokosi. Read more »
January 30
Nigeria: Nigeria's Plastic Ban - Why It's Good and How It Can Work
Two weeks into January 2024, Nigerian authorities took steps to curb environmental degradation caused by plastic pollution in the country. Read more »
Ghana: Ghana's Looted Asante Gold Comes Home (For Now) - Asante Ruler's Advisor Tells Us About the Deal
After 150 years, 39 artefacts that form part of Asante's royal regalia are due to return to the Asantehene (ruler of the Asante people) in Kumasi, Ghana, in February and April this… Read more »
January 29
Niger: Niger and Russia Are Forming Military Ties - 3 Ways This Could Upset Old Allies
In July 2023, Niger's military took over in a coup just two years after the country's first transition to civilian power. The coup has brought into sharp focus the role of foreign… Read more »
January 28
Nigeria: Lagos City Planning Has a History of Excluding Residents - It's Happening Again
In Lagos, a megacity with a population estimated at 21 million, the state government has been building a satellite city, known as Eko Atlantic. At the same time is has been… Read more »
January 24
Nigeria: Nigeria Has a Democracy Deficit - Corruption and a Lack of Welfare Policies Are to Blame
Democracy refers, at a minimum, to a political system that guarantees some involvement in decision-making. It gives citizens opportunities to choose and replace their leaders or… Read more »
January 23
Liberia: Liberia Transferred Power Peacefully Again - 3 Reasons the Calm Is Holding, and One Red Flag
Joseph Boakai was sworn in as Liberia's 26th president on 22 January 2024. Boakai secured a six year term of office after defeating incumbent president George Weah in a keenly… Read more »
January 22
Ghana: Ghana Wants to Make Importing Food Like Rice and Tomatoes More Costly
Ghana, like many other developing nations, relies heavily on imports of food and consumer goods to feed its population. For instance, Ghana imports 55% of the rice that is consumed… Read more »
January 19
Africa: What Is Genocide? Six Western Countries Want a Broader Application of Genocide - Experts Unpack Why It Matters
In November 2023, six western states filed a joint application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) arguing for an ample and expansive understanding of genocide. This… Read more »
Nigeria: TB Joshua Scandal - the Forces That Shaped Nigeria's Mega Pastor and Made Him Untouchable
TB Joshua was a world famous Nigerian televangelist, faith healer and Pentecostal pastor who established The Synagogue Church of All Nations. Three years after his death a BBC… Read more »
January 18
West Africa: Senegal's Pink Lake Is On the Verge of Disappearing - How to Protect It
Lake Retba, better known as Lac Rose (the Pink Lake), is located around 35km from the city of Dakar, Senegal. It sits in a depression with a shoreline 6.5 metres below sea level. Read more »
January 17
Ghana: Ghana Won Afcon Four Times, but the Last Time Was 40 Years Ago. What Went Wrong With Its Football Team?
_The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is the most important football tournament in Africa. It has been contested by the male national teams of countries on the continent since 1957.… Read more »
January 15
West Africa: Kush - What Is This Dangerous New West African Drug That Supposedly Contains Human Bones?
A new drug called kush is wreaking havoc in west Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone where it is estimated to kill around a dozen people each week and hospitalise thousands. Read more »
Ghana: Ghana Is Behind the Curve On Climate Change Laws - Expert Suggests a Way to Get Corporations On Board
Ghana has introduced some climate change policies and general environmental regulations but has yet to pass a Climate Change Act. This leaves the country without effective legal… Read more »
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