Africa

Africa’s quiet emergency: rising suicide rates meet a shrinking safety net When Namibia’s Vice President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah told Parliament this year that 542 people had died by suicide between 2023 and 2024, she broke a painful public silence. Her warning — that Namibia now has the highest suicide rate in Africa — landed alongside a stark global tally from the World Health Organization: more than 720,000 people die by suicide each year, and suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death for 15- to 29‑year‑olds, most…

Niger State’s Sermon Approval Policy: Balancing Law and Freedom In a striking move emblematic of the complex interplay between governance and religious expression, the governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, recently announced a controversial policy requiring local clerics to submit their sermons for government approval. This initiative, presented as a strategy to counter “anti-people and anti-government” messages, has stirred the passions of locals, illuminating the ongoing struggle for religious freedom in emerging…

South Africa’s top court strips a colonial rule from the registry — and opens a conversation about names, identity and equality In a ruling that reaches beyond bureaucratic formality, South Africa’s Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a colonial-era provision that barred husbands from taking their wives’ surnames. The decision — prompted by two couples who challenged the Department of Home Affairs after being denied the right to assume or hyphenate their spouses’ names — requires Parliament to amend the…

Power Struggles: Nigeria's Energy Crisis Deepens Amid Grid Failures As dawn broke over Nigeria, the promise of a bright new day dissipated with the abrupt darkening of homes, businesses, and schools across the nation. This week, the fragile electricity grid experienced yet another unsettling partial collapse, affecting around 30 states and plunging millions into darkness. The incident, which unfolded between 11 am and 12 pm on an otherwise ordinary day, serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges that the…

Simone Gbagbo's Candidacy: A Historic Turn in Ivory Coast's Political Landscape In an unexpected twist within Ivory Coast's tumultuous political arena, former First Lady Simone Gbagbo has been cleared to run in the upcoming presidential elections slated for October 25th. Her candidacy marks not only a significant moment in her personal narrative but also a potentially transformative chapter for a nation still grappling with the scars of conflict and political division. A Legacy of Resilience Simone Gbagbo, once a…

Türkiye-Somalia Relations: A Robust Partnership with Deep Roots In the heart of Mogadishu, the air thrums with the whirl of advanced Turkish-made helicopters, a testament to the deep and evolving relationship between Somalia and Türkiye. This strong cooperative bond has its roots in shared challenges and mutual goals, particularly in defense and economic development, as noted by Somalia's Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi. A Relationship Forged in Adversity Reflecting on the pivotal year of 2011, Fiqi recalled President…

Unraveling the Shadows: A Grieving Community and the Daesh Threat in the DRC Under the guise of night, the village of Ntoyo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) turned from a place of mourning to a scene of tragedy. As villagers gathered to pay their final respects to a departed loved one, death struck again—this time from the hands of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group with ties to Daesh. Tuesday night’s ruthless attack left 71 dead, deepening the scars in a region already marred by violence. A Community…

South Africa at a Crossroads: Donor Cuts Threaten Hard‑Won Gains Against HIV GAUTENG, South Africa — In a conference hall a short drive from Johannesburg’s busy highways, the blunt arithmetic of global aid collided with the realities faced by clinics and families. Scientists, clinicians, activists and people living with HIV spoke in urgent, sometimes angry tones: the era of steady international support that helped turn a tide against HIV may be ebbing, and the consequences could be catastrophic. Stark projections, stark…

Egypt announces troop deployment to Somalia, intensifying Horn of Africa contest Egypt has announced it will deploy troops to Somalia under a bilateral security agreement, a move Cairo says is intended to bolster counter‑terrorism operations and help stabilize the war‑torn Horn of Africa nation. Officials described the steps as the completion of planning for the deployment, but they provided few operational details, leaving open questions about the size, mandate and timetable of the force. What Cairo says Egyptian…

The Shifting Sands of Malian Security: An Unfolding Crisis In the heart of West Africa lies Mali, a nation steeped in rich history, cultural diversity, and remarkable resilience. Yet, beneath its vibrant exterior, a tumultuous struggle for security has been escalating, leading to alarming consequences for its people. The country's complex political landscape, particularly after the military coups of 2020 and 2021, remains under scrutiny as external military alliances continue to prove ineffective. A Legacy of Discontent…