May 08, 2025
Somalia: Somaliland's 30-Year Quest for Recognition - Could U.S. Interests Make the Difference?
More than three decades after unilaterally declaring independence from Somalia, Somaliland still seeks international recognition as a sovereign state. Despite a lack of formal… Read more »
Africa: David Attenborough's Ocean Reveals How Bottom Trawling Is Hurting Sealife in Horrifying Detail
In one of the most powerful scenes of Sir David Attenborough's new film Ocean, the audience sees industrial fishing from a fish's perspective. Read more »
Africa: How to Tell If a Photo's Fake? You Probably Can't. That's Why New Rules Are Needed
The problem is simple: it's hard to know whether a photo's real or not anymore. Photo manipulation tools are so good, so common and easy to use, that a picture's truthfulness is no… Read more »
Kenya: We Set Out to Improve Literacy Among Struggling Readers in Kenya - What We Learnt
Literacy - being able to read, write and understand written or spoken language - is a cornerstone of educational achievement. Yet, for millions of children worldwide, acquiring… Read more »
May 07, 2025
Congo-Kinshasa: Fighting in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Is Worsening Gender-Based Violence Against Women
In early 2025, the March 23 Movement (M23) armed group seized control of Goma and then Bukavu, two major cities in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Read more »
Egypt: TikTok in Egypt - Where Rich and Poor Meet - and the State Watches Everything
After being released from detention in 2011, Egyptian engineer and activist Wael Ghonim told the media: Read more »
South Africa: Digital Government Can Benefit Citizens - How South Africa Can Reduce the Risks and Get It Right
The digital revolution is reshaping governance worldwide. From the electronic filing of taxes to digital visa applications, technology is making government services more… Read more »
Somalia: Somalia's Exports Are Threatened By Climate Change and Conflict - What 30 Years of Data Tell Us
In the sun-scorched lands of Somalia, farmers and livestock keepers have grown accustomed to the extremes of climate. In 2022, for example, the country suffered the longest drought… Read more »
Burundi: Does Free Schooling Give Girls a Better Chance in Life? Burundi Study Shows the Poorest Benefited Most
Teenage pregnancy rates remain high across many parts of the developing world: In Africa, on average, about one in ten girls between the ages of 15 and 19 has already given birth.… Read more »
Africa: The Conversation Africa's First 10 Years - a Story of New Media Powered By Generosity
Starting from scratch is daunting. And exhilarating. Your heart pounds, you can taste adrenaline, the sense of urgency and anticipation makes you high. I can recall each of these… Read more »
May 06, 2025
Africa: Covid Is Still Around and a Risk to Vulnerable People. What Are the Symptoms in 2025? and How Long Does It Last?
Five years ago, COVID was all we could think about. Today, we'd rather forget about lockdowns, testing queues and social distancing. But the virus that sparked the pandemic,… Read more »
Africa: African Women At Higher Risk of Pre-Eclampsia - a Dangerous Pregnancy Complication
Pre-eclampsia is a danger to pregnant women. It's a complication characterised by high blood pressure and organ damage, arising during the second half of pregnancy, in labour or in… Read more »
Zambia: Solar Power in Zambia - 'If It Works for My Neighbour, I'll Try It Too'
In sunny Zambia, fewer than 6% of rural people have access to electricity, leaving over 94% in darkness. Read more »
Africa: Valentin-Yves Mudimbe - the Philosopher Who Reshaped How the World Thinks About Africa
Congolese thinker, philosopher and linguist Valentin-Yves Mudimbe died on 21 April 2025 at the age of 83. He was in the US, where he had lived for many years. Read more »
May 05, 2025
South Africa: Marine Fossil Found in South Africa Is One of a Kind, Thanks to Unusual Preservation
A fossilised creature found in a South African roadside quarry 25 years ago has finally got an official name. The small, segmented, crustacean-like creature, dated to 444 million… Read more »
South Africa: A Basic Income Support Grant Can Address Extreme Poverty and Inequality in South Africa - Economic Model Shows How
South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. The country's per-capita expenditure Gini coefficient, a measure of how spending from income is distributed,… Read more »
Ghana: 30 Years of Free Basic Education in Ghana - a Report Card
Ghana, like many sub-Saharan Africa countries, began investing substantially in free education three decades ago. This led to an increase in the number of children that attend… Read more »
Africa: Investing in Agriculture Reduces Poverty and Inequality - Economic Model Finds the Best Funding Mix for 10 African Countries
Africa faces challenges in reducing extreme poverty and inequality. In 2024, 8.5% of the global population was living in extreme poverty (that is, on less than US$2.15 a day).… Read more »
South Africa: City Police in South Africa's Capital Have a Bad Image - How to Fix It
Corruption in South Africa's public institutions has been a pressing issue for the past two decades. From national government offices to local municipalities, stories of officials… Read more »
May 04, 2025
Africa: African Wild Dogs - DNA Tests of Their Faeces Reveal Surprises About What They Eat
The African wild dog is one of Africa's most endangered predators. African wild dogs are highly elusive, avoiding human contact and utilising vast, remote territories to remain out… Read more »
Africa: Reform or Retreat? the Catholic Church in Africa After Pope Francis
The Catholic church faces a fundamental question as it prepares to elect a new pope. That is, whether to go back to a monarchical papacy with its pomp and pageantry, or to build on… Read more »
May 02, 2025
Africa: Glitter's Sparkle Hides a Darker Side - It Can Change the Chemistry of Our Oceans
Glitter is festive and fun - a favourite for decorations, makeup and art projects. But while it may look harmless, beautiful even, glitter's sparkle hides a darker side. Those… Read more »
May 01, 2025
Africa: Current Legal Frameworks Can't Protect the Oceans From Deep-Sea Mining and the Negative Impacts On Humankind
The international legal order is floundering. The geopolitical and resource policy priorities of the United States are shifting. Read more »
Africa: Using Fire to Produce Nanoparticles Could Revolutionize Various Industries
Fire is arguably humanity's earliest discovery. It was pivotal in advancing society -- underpinning many of humanity's most transformative inventions, from cooking and forging… Read more »
October 10, 2024
West Africa: Discovery of 5,000-Year-Old Farming Society in Morocco Fills a Major Gap in History - North-West Africa Was a Central Player in Trade and Culture
A new discovery of an ancient farming society at Oued Beht in Morocco fills a centuries-old gap in history. It reveals that, 5,000 years ago, the Maghreb (north-west Africa) was… Read more »
