Kenya’s police still kill with impunity – what needs to be done to stop them: Days ahead of the first anniversary in Kenya of the Gen Z-led anti-government protests that resulted in at least 60 deaths and displays of police brutality, news broke that Albert Ojwang, a young Kenyan blogger, had died in police detention. …
Colonial-era borders create conflict in Africa’s oceans – how to resolve them: Africa has 38 coastal and island nations. Their maritime industries – including energy, tourism, maritime transport, shipping and fishing – play a crucial role in developing these nations. Key to harnessing these resources are Africa’s maritime boundaries – lines on a map showing …
Africa’s data workers are being exploited by foreign tech firms – 4 ways to protect them: Data workers in Africa often have a hard time. They face job insecurities – including temporary contracts, low pay, arbitrary dismissal and worker surveillance – and alarming physical and psychological health risks. The consequences of their work can include …
Africa’s elephants have been in dramatic decline for 50 years. What can be done to save them – new study: Surveying elephants is hard, risky work. Dedicated biologists have been doing this challenging task across Africa for decades. Systematic surveying started in the late 1960s but has been sporadic, as access to remote areas takes …
600 million Africans don’t have electricity – the green energy transition must start with them: The world is fast transitioning towards renewable energy systems. But in many African countries, this transition is not solving historical inequalities or socio-economic challenges. This is because moving away from fossil fuels is costly and governments have largely not involved …
Peacekeeping armies: what are they, why do African states build them and what impact do they have?: Since 1948, more than two million uniformed peacekeepers have served in over 70 United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions. They have come from over 120 UN member states. But a few countries have regularly contributed a significant proportion of …
Babies and toddlers get sunburnt easily: how to keep them safe: Getting just two blistering sunburns in childhood doubles the risk of getting the most dangerous skin cancer later in life. Dermatologist Bianca Tod explains what makes young children’s skins sensitive and how to make sure they are protected from the sun. Are babies and …
Kids should be encouraged to talk back – 5 tips for teaching them critical thinking skills: Teaching kids to think critically sets them up well for life. eli_asenova Whenever school holidays loom, many parents find themselves caught in an emotional tug-of-war: on the one hand, relief at bidding farewell to homework battles, bedtime struggles, and …
‘Don’t touch my pocket!’ South African passengers say airlines must pay for reducing their carbon footprint, not them: Airline travel is a major contributor to anthropogenic climate change, amounting to about 4% of all global greenhouse gas emissions every year. Airlines must take specific measures to reduce, and ideally neutralise, their greenhouse gas emissions and …
Kenya’s forgotten Mau Mau freedom fighters and the impeached deputy president that stood up for them: Kenya’s ousted deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached in October 2024, established his name early enough as a forceful politician unafraid to take a stand. These include his aggressive push for justice for Mau Mau ex-freedom fighters and …
960 million dirty diapers are a big waste problem – what can be done with them: The use of disposable diapers (nappies) is growing in African countries. The disposable diaper undoubtedly makes it easier for many parents to work or spend time on other things, including their own and their child’s wellbeing. At the same …
Russian mercenaries have a bad reputation but some African regimes still employ them: study explores why: Russian mercenaries, like the Wagner group, have an awful reputation. Multiple western outlets have reported on their military ineffectiveness, their abysmal human rights record, and their exploitative nature. For example, in July 2024, the Wagner Group faced a military …
Financial skills like managing debt are key to success, but Ghana’s small businesses don’t have them: Mongta Studio/Shutterstock Financial literacy is vital for individuals and households. Simply put, it’s the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills: budgeting, managing debt, making sound investments, and understanding financial statements. These skills are crucial for businesses, …
Coloured South Africans are all but erased from history textbooks – I asked learners how that makes them feel: South African Grammy winner Tyla is proud of her Coloured identity. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy South African singer-songwriter Tyla made history in February 2024 when she won the inaugural Grammy for Best African …
If your child is watching TV and playing online games, you should do it with them – here’s why: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock Young children spend a lot of time using screens: watching television, playing on touchscreen apps, or facetiming with grandparents. In fact, research on global screen time guidelines has found that around 75% …
Whale sharks on collision course as warming seas may force them into shipping lanes – new study: Global warming has the potential to reshuffle the spaces used by life on Earth, across all ecosystems. And our new research shows whale sharks – the world’s largest fish – could be at risk, as warming oceans may …
Children in west Africa are often sent to live with other families to help them get ahead – but fostering may be doing the opposite: In west Africa, it’s common for families to foster children informally. This helps ease the burden on parents and can give children from poorer families a chance to improve their …
Kenya’s whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption: how a new law could protect them: Kenya has published a draft bill outlining protections for whistleblowers. Long in the making, the Whistleblower Protection Bill 2024 could help to encourage disclosures in a country where 86% of the respondents to a 2023 survey feared what might happen to …