August 22, 2022
South Africa: Fuel Price Subsidies - A Close Analysis Shows They Don't Reduce Poverty
Consumers in South Africa continue to grapple with a high cost of living, particularly with the latest rising fuel costs. In the last several months, the price for one litre of 95… Read more »
August 21, 2022
Nigeria: Nigeria Wants to Ban Motorcycle Sales to Dent Terror Attacks. Why It Won't Work
Insecurity in Nigeria has worsened. In the north-east region, despite gains recorded by the military, the activities of jihadist terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic… Read more »
East Africa: Alarm Bells As Somalia's New President Sours Relationship With Ethiopia
The new government in Somalia that won elections held in May has got off to a rocky political start in its relations with the relatively powerful and influential neighbour,… Read more »
Africa: South Africa's Nuclear Sector Has Failed Its Test - the Koeberg Nuclear Plant Life Extension
South Africa's only nuclear power plant, Koeberg, has frequently been in the news in 2022, all for the wrong reasons. Read more »
Nigeria: Nigerians Feel the Pinch As Food Prices Continue to Spiral. There Aren't Easy Solutions
Nigeria is grappling with rising food prices, as reflected in the spike in inflation. The annual inflation rate accelerated for a sixth straight month to 19.64% in July 2022, the… Read more »
Uganda: Idi Amin's 'Economic War' Victimised Uganda's Africans and Asians Alike
Fifty years ago - in early August 1972 - President Idi Amin summarily decreed the expulsion of Uganda's "Asian" (that is, Indian and Pakistani) community. Over 50,000 people were… Read more »
August 19, 2022
Africa: The African Union Has Had a Shaky Two Decades but Problems Can Be Solved
On 9 September 1999, the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity issued the Sirte declaration calling for the establishment of an African Union (AU). Read more »
Nigeria: No Justification for Fines Imposed On Nigeria's Media Houses Over Bandits Documentary
Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission recently imposed a fine of N5 million (about US$11,922) each on MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, NTA-Startimes and Telcom Satellites Limited… Read more »
Africa: Summer Colds - This May Explain Why So Many Have Suffered Them This Year
Most of us associate colds and the flu with colder weather. But that doesn't mean you can't still catch a cold during the summer. Some viruses are even more common in summer than… Read more »
Africa: How African Countries Coordinated the Response to Covid-19 - Lessons for Public Health
The COVID-19 pandemic spread much slower on the African continent than in the rest of the world, contrary to predictions. Read more »
Nigeria: Biyi Bandele, a Serial Storyteller Who Elevated Nigerian Culture
The writer, film-maker and theatre creator Biyi Bandele has passed away at the age of 54, news that has stunned the West African arts community where he was a creative icon who… Read more »
August 18, 2022
Kenya: Will Women's Rights Be Safe Under William Ruto? Why They Might Not Be
William Ruto has been declared the winner of Kenya's presidential election. The final outcome, however, remains in the balance following a challenge from his main competitor, Raila… Read more »
Africa: Mosquito Species From Asia Poses Growing Risk to Africa's Anti-Malaria Efforts
The spread of the mosquito species Anopheles stephensi across Africa poses a significant problem to a continent already heavily burdened by malaria. Most - 90% - of the world's… Read more »
Africa: Why Are Bigger Animals More Energy-Efficient? A New Answer to a Centuries-Old Biological Puzzle
If you think about "unravelling the mysteries of the universe", you probably think of physics: astronomers peering through telescopes at distant galaxies, or experimenters smashing… Read more »
Africa: How a Bike Accident Changed Me, By a Philosopher of Hope
Cycling once made me feel free unlike anything else. I loved the sensation of slicing through the air, flying past pedestrians and cars stalled in traffic. Where I live (in… Read more »
Africa: We Studied How Covid Affects Mental Health and Brain Disorders - Here's What We Found
The occurrence of mental health conditions and neurological disorders among people recovering from COVID has been a concern since early in the pandemic. Several studies have shown… Read more »
Somalia: Constant Fear of Eviction - How Poor People Experience Life in Somaliland's Growing Cities
Many cities in Somaliland are growing rapidly. Climate change-induced displacement, insecurity, and population growth accelerate urbanisation. Yet, many urban residents live in… Read more »
Africa: Fake Research Can Be Harmful to Your Health - a New Study Offers a Tool for Rooting It Out
If you are suffering with chronic pain, diabetes, heart problems or any other condition, you want to be confident that your doctor will offer you an effective treatment. You… Read more »
Ghana: Ghana Has Developed a Maritime Policy. Here Is What It Means
Ghana has an abundance of marine resources. They include fisheries, hydrocarbon reserves, inland waterways and ports that are located along important international shipping lanes.… Read more »
South Africa: Foreign Policy - New Paper Sets the Scene, But Falls Short On Specifics
South Africa's international relations department published a document on 1 August setting out the country's new foreign policy. The outline of South Africa's national interests is… Read more »
Africa: Mosquitoes - There's Malaria, Plus 5 Other Diseases They Pass On to Humans
Most people instantly associate mosquitoes with malaria. But these tiny flying insects can transmit a number of other diseases too. Read more »
Africa: Social Network BeReal Shares Unfiltered and Unedited Moments From Our Lives - Will It Last?
BeReal hit the social networking scene in late 2019 but didn't take off until downloads started skyrocketing in 2022. So, what is BeReal all about, and is it here to stay? Read more »
Africa: A Dog Has Caught Monkeypox From One of Its Owners, Highlighting Risk of the Virus Infecting Pets and Wild Animals
A dog in Paris has caught monkeypox from one of its owners, both of whom were infected with the virus, according to a scientific paper published on Aug. 10, 2022. This is the first… Read more »
South Africa: South African Reedman Linda Sikhakhane's New Album Is a Revelation
People were listening to (Duke Ellington and Count Basie) at home because we felt this is our music and these are our black heroes. The attraction ... was that the rhythms were… Read more »
August 17, 2022
Senegal: Why 2022 Election Results Herald a Big Political Shift
Senegalese voters went to the polls in July 2022, continuing a tradition of robust multiparty competition in the country. It is one of a handful of African countries that have… Read more »