Author: Agencies

What these stories all have in common is that these nations rose from poverty by embracing a common formula: more economic freedom and free trade.

The Guardian, AFP, Al Jazeera, and Reuters top index for most balanced media coverage of Africa, American outlets lag at the bottom.

Although EFRIS is not a tax, some traders have described it as double taxation, hence calling on government to suspend it.

On March 12, Kenyan author Mukoma wa Ngugi announced on X (formerly Twitter) and on Facebook that his father, the renowned Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, had “physically abused” his late mother, Nyambura. This revelation has attracted significant attention. At the time of writing this piece, the Twitter post had amassed millions of views, thousands of reposts, and close to a thousand comments. A tweet by South African author Zakes Mda, in which he praises Mukoma’s statement as “the bravest thing any son of an icon can do,” has also gained substantial traction. In the days following the initial post, Mukoma has…

With Africa disproportionately affected by climate change and its impacts worsening other structural deficiencies, climate-resilient development is urgent. African countries are well aware of this and are committed to adapting to and mitigating climate change as demonstrated by their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The difficulty is that implementing these national climate plans costs around $2.8 trillion between 2020 and 2030 (or about $250 billion a year). African governments can barely cover 10% of this total. At least 77% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions envisaged by African NDCs are conditional on international support. The result has been huge shortfalls in what is needed. In 2020, for instance,…

Intelligent women possesses a rich tapestry of traits that contribute not only to their personal success but also to the advancement of society. By celebrating and nurturing these traits, we can empower more women to break barriers, pursue their passions and make lasting contributions in their fields of endevour. But one may not recognise characteristics of intelligent women without exploring some of the remarkable traits, which not only reflect their brilliance but also inspire others to reach the stars. Deeply curious When it comes to highly intelligent women, one characteristic that often stands out is their deep-rooted curiosity. This isn’t…

Uganda entered into agreements in 2012 with two foreign oil entities to exploit its oil resources. Total Energies holds 56.67% of the joint venture partnership and China National Oil Offshore Company (CNOOC) has 28.33%. Through Uganda National Oil Company, the government owns the remaining 15%. Production is due to start in 2025. As part of the production sharing agreement, the production licences are valid for 25 years upon extracting the first oil. To secure the best possible outcome for Uganda, the government needs to focus on three issues: the production sharing agreement, completion of the development stage, and export timing. My co-authors and I identified…

What if handwashing, a simple measure to prevent the common flu, could also offer protection against skin cancer? The idea may sound audacious, but it wasn’t conceived by an Anderson Centre laureate; rather, it emerged from the mind of a 14-year-old. Heman Bekele, a 9th-grade student at W.T. Woodson High School in Annandale, Virginia, clinched the grand prize of $25,000 as the victor of the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge, presenting a melanoma treatment in the form of a soap bar. As the champion of the nation’s premier middle school science competition, now celebrating its 16th year, Bekele has been…

Military rulers in Gabon on Tuesday threatened to arrest the heads of businesses who have collected money for work that was not performed. While ordering the resumption of work at utility and construction sites after years of abandonment, Gabon’s military-appointed Prime Minister, Raymond Ndong Sima, told state TV that the junta-led government will ask contractors who abandoned work after collecting money to resume their projects or face arrest. The announcement was part of a promised crackdown on corruption. Sima said that scores of companies have resumed work after the central African state’s coup leader, Gen. Brice Oligui Neguema, visited several…

The prestigious Caine Prize for African Writing in 2023 has been secured by a dynamic duo from Senegal. The duo’s short story, “A Soul of Small Places,” resonates with profound literary trends in the country while delving into the burgeoning realms of horror and speculative fiction across the African continent. Specialist in African literature, Caroline D. Laurent, provides insights into their achievement. What is the Caine Prize, and what significance does winning it hold? The Caine Prize, bestowed annually since 2000, recognises a short story crafted in English by an African author. Its primary objective is to introduce African literature…