Eye on Africa

The End of an Era: Remembering Raila Odinga, “Baba” of Kenyan Politics In a poignant moment for Kenya and beyond, the longtime opposition leader, Raila Odinga, passed away at the age of 80. His death, confirmed by party officials and Indian media, marks the close of a significant chapter in the nation's political history. Known endearingly as "Baba" (Father), Odinga leaves behind a legacy interwoven with the tumultuous yet transformative journey of Kenyan democracy. A Legacy of Resilience and Reform For over three…

Somalia elects nine EALA lawmakers, taking its full seat in East Africa’s regional house Somalia’s parliament has elected nine lawmakers to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), a procedural step with outsized symbolism. Less than a year after joining the East African Community (EAC), Mogadishu now has a voice in the bloc’s lawmaking chamber in Arusha, Tanzania — where rules on trade, movement, and regional cooperation are hammered out. The joint sitting of both Houses at Villa Hargeisa in Mogadishu capped months…

The Complex Journey of Migrants: Navigating New Challenges in Ghana In an era marked by heightened migration and shifting geopolitical alliances, the arrival of a recent group of migrants at Kotoka International Airport in Accra underscores the complexities facing both the deportees and the welcoming nation. A Boeing 767-200 from Baltimore touched down, bringing with it 14 West African nationals, a somber reminder of the struggles many endure in pursuit of safety and stability. While the specific nationalities of these…

Burkina Faso's Human Rights Crisis: The Detention of Aid Workers Raises Alarm In the heart of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital, a troubling storm is brewing that threatens not only the humanitarian efforts crucial to the nation but also the very fabric of its governance. Recently, several aid workers from a Netherlands-based non-governmental organization (NGO) found themselves enveloped in a web of serious accusations, as the government detained them on charges of spying and treason. This incident has raised serious…

Raila Odinga, Kenya’s tenacious opposition leader and former prime minister, dies at 80 NAIROBI — Raila Odinga, the combative and charismatic politician who embodied Kenya’s long, bruising fight for multiparty democracy and remained the country’s most formidable opposition voice for decades, has died at the age of 80, a person in his office told Reuters on Wednesday. Immediate details were scarce. Indian daily Mathrubhumi reported that Odinga had been receiving treatment in the southern city of Kochi and suffered a cardiac…

Namibia’s president reaches across the aisle — but will words turn into action? President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is sitting down with leaders of the opposition this week in a gesture she said was promised during her State of the Nation address in March: an exchange of views intended to “move the country forward.” The meeting, part of a series of conversations with political rivals, is both plainly practical and highly symbolic in a country where the politics of cooperation have often been fragile. "We may belong to…

Puntland State’s quiet experiment: What a restive Somali state can teach a nation At daybreak in Bosaso, the trucks rumbling down from the Cal Miskaad mountains carry fish, frankincense and the unvarnished news of the day. In this corner of northeastern Somalia, where the mountains meet the sea, Puntland State has spent years testing an idea that feels almost radical in a country long defined by outside interventions: that security, politics and dialogue work best when they are owned, designed and led by communities…

Global Antibiotic Resistance: A Growing Threat to Public Health As the world grapples with a myriad of health crises, a silent but deadly phenomenon is emerging from the shadows—antibiotic resistance. A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that a staggering one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 was resistant to commonly used antibiotic treatments. Over a 40% resistance rate of bacteria-drug combinations from 2018 to 2023 paints an alarming picture of a public health…

A generation protests in Morocco: from delivery-room tragedies to demands for dignity What began as local outrage over the deaths of pregnant women during Caesarean sections has rippled into a broader youth-led movement in Morocco, forcing the kingdom to confront persistent gaps between its gleaming skylines and the battered public services most citizens rely on. Under the banner of GenZ 212 — a name that nods to Morocco’s international dialing code and a generation connected online — young people are calling for better…

Dozens killed as overloaded bus plunges off Limpopo highway near busy Beitbridge border At least 43 people died and dozens more were injured after an overloaded long-distance bus veered off South Africa’s N1 highway and ran into an embankment early Friday near Makhado in Limpopo, roughly 100 kilometres from the Beitbridge border post with Zimbabwe, officials said. The bus was travelling to Harare after departing from Port Elizabeth, picking up passengers at stops along the route. Authorities initially recorded 91 people…