Central Africa

World Toilet Day serves as a critical reminder of the pressing need for clean and safe toilets, particularly within Africa. The United Nations highlights a concerning reality— progress is lagging significantly behind in the race to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of providing "safe toilets for all by 2030." Currently, around 3.5 billion individuals across the globe are without access to basic sanitation. In various African nations such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and…

Recent reports reveal that a significant number of Gabon’s 860,000 registered voters have chosen to support a new Constitution, which might mark an end to military governance, as disclosed by State Television. This important referendum has the potential to dismantle a political dynasty that the Bongo family has held onto for nearly six decades. The proposed Constitution is not just a piece of legislation; it embodies one of the key promises made by General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema following his seizure of power during…

A handful of nations have officially punched their tickets to the 35th edition of the renowned African Cup of Nations, all set to unfold in Morocco. Countries like Nigeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Uganda, and Equatorial Guinea stood tall during the intense fifth round of qualifying matches. In a dramatic turn of events, Nigeria's ace striker Victor Osimhen salvaged a point for the Super Eagles against Benin, leveling the score at 1-1 with a late equalizer. Remarkably, the three-time champions had already cemented their…

Let's dive into the latest from the Kenya Medical Research Institute, affectionately known as KEMRI, who is cooking up a storm with a fresh partnership. They're joining forces with Tonix Pharmaceuticals, an innovative biopharma outfit from across the pond in the U.S., to dish out a clinical trial for a brand-new mpox vaccine. Talk about global collaborations shaking things up! On a rather somber note, picture this: a beleaguered patient battling mpox is tended to in a hospital nestled on the periphery of Goma, North Kivu…

A collaborative effort among various firms has welcomed the arrival of the initial set of 275 container wagons, designed to boost the transport capabilities of the Lobito Corridor project. This ambitious railway initiative stretches from Angola's Lobito port, reaching into the Democratic Republic of Congo and extending to Zambia. Unveiled in 2023 as part of the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, this corridor is backed by both the United States and the European Union. Once fully operational, it…

What's cooking in the Tigray region two years after peace was declared? Back in the day, the Pretoria agreements were supposed to put a lid on the Tigray conflict, which had claimed close to 600,000 lives. Ethiopian troops, alongside their Eritrean buddies, had faced off against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Eritrea didn't sign the peace deal, though, and its soldiers are still hanging around like uninvited guests. Folks in these border areas feel like they've been hung out to dry. That's what Clothilde Hazard, our…

In Chad, a chorus of women leaders and activists has brought attention to a significant issue: the glaring scarcity of female candidates in the upcoming legislative, local, and district elections set for December 29. These elections are crucial as they signify the culmination of a transition journey from military to civilian governance. This shift kicked off when General Mahamat Idriss Deby took helm after the passing of his father, the long-serving President Idriss Deby Itno, in 2021. Ahmed Bartchiret, the head of…

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Following Donald Trump's election, African leaders expressed enthusiasm about forging stronger partnerships with the United States. However, many remain skeptical that his presidency will significantly impact the continent's 1.4 billion-strong population. After Trump clinched victory, Kenya's William Ruto affirmed readiness to enhance relations with Washington, while Nigeria's Bola Tinubu looked forward to "earnest and mutually rewarding" collaborations. Despite these greetings, whispers abound that…

The surge in monkeypox cases across Africa has led to a significant response involving the distribution of vaccine doses, with Kenya standing amongst the nine nations in the continent receiving these crucial supplies. The Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) has earmarked an initial batch of 899,000 vaccine doses for these nine African countries, aimed at tackling the monkeypox outbreak. This decision, articulated through a press release from the World Health Organization (WHO), underscores collaboration with the countries…

In a recent article for the Council on Foreign Relations, Michelle Gavin opines that the push to amend the constitution in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will deepen the already palpable skepticism among citizens towards their government. Since assuming the presidency in 2018 through questionable means, Felix Tshisekedi has faced significant challenges in addressing the urgent needs of the Congolese people. "A leopard doesn’t change its spots," as the saying goes, and many citizens are beginning to believe little…