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Simandou Iron Ore Project: A New Era for Guinea In a significant development for West Africa's economic landscape, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Guinea's military leader, Mamadou Doumbouya, have officially inaugurated the Simandou Iron Ore Project in Conakry. This historic project, often heralded as one of the largest mineral development initiatives globally, promises not only to reshape Guinea's economy but also to significantly influence the international iron ore market. A Long-Awaited Vision Decades in the making,…

G20 in Johannesburg: A test of multilateralism as the Global South takes the stage The 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg will be historic: the first time the grouping meets on African soil. Under South Africa’s presidency and the banner "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability," Pretoria aims to pivot the world’s premier economic forum toward issues that disproportionately affect the Global South — debt distress, climate resilience, and stark global wealth gaps. But the summit opens under an unusual cloud. President Donald…

Rising Diabetes Epidemic in Africa: An Urgent Call for Action As World Diabetes Day approaches on November 14, alarming new statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlight an ongoing health crisis across Africa. The WHO has raised the alarm about the escalating rates of diabetes on the continent, which it attributes primarily to rapidly changing lifestyles, significant increases in overweight and obesity, and limited access to essential health services. The need for immediate attention and action cannot be…

South Africa allows 153 Palestinians to disembark after 12 hours held on plane South African authorities have permitted a group of 153 Palestinians who had been kept on board an aircraft for about 12 hours to leave the plane after it landed in Johannesburg, officials said. What happened The group arrived on a chartered Global Airways flight and was initially kept on the aircraft for roughly 12 hours, the Border Management Authority (BMA) said. After that period, BMA officials allowed the passengers to disembark and enter…

A Rising Tide of Terror: The West African Coast in Crisis As the sun rises over the sprawling landscapes of West Africa, a dark undercurrent looms. The once-thriving coastal regions are now grappling with an alarming surge in violence, driven by terror groups operating from the heart of the Sahel. In an effort to stem this tide of chaos, many African nations have fortified their borders, standing as a bulwark against the growing menace. The Sahel: A Hotbed for Terrorism The Sahel region, nestled between the Sahara Desert…

In Search of Justice: The Trial of Roger Lumbala Tshitenga As a tangible symbol of hope for accountability, the trial of former Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala Tshitenga opened its doors in Paris recently. It signifies a pivotal moment not only for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) but also for the global fight against impunity for war crimes. Amidst the shadow of past atrocities from the Second Congo War (1998-2003), this courtroom drama unfolds with reverberations that could transcend borders and resonate deeply…

TotalEnergies’ $4.5 billion demand tests Mozambique’s post-conflict recovery When the French energy giant TotalEnergies pressed Mozambican authorities this month to cover U.S.$4.5 billion in “costs of closure” as a precondition for returning to its troubled northern operations, it handed a politically combustible problem to a country still wrestling with violence, displacement and fragile state finances. The demand — disclosed in a letter to the presidency and reported by Mozambican sources — bundles several company…

Remembering the Ogoni Nine: A Struggle for Justice in the Niger Delta The echoes of anguish from the Niger Delta reverberate once again as we mark the 30th anniversary of the execution of the Ogoni Nine. These nine gallant voices were silenced on November 10, 1995, after courageously leading protests against the environmental devastation wrought by oil giant Shell and the Nigerian government. As activists continue to demand justice, this anniversary serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing battle for human rights and…

Conflict, poverty and collapsing services: why cholera is surging again "Peace is health," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus repeats in briefings, a blunt reminder that infectious disease is not merely a biological problem but a political and social one. In late August 2025, WHO warned the world that cholera is resurging — and that the drivers are familiar: armed conflict, broken water and sanitation systems, deepening poverty and strained vaccine supplies. The warning is not abstract.…

Healthcare Crisis Deepens in Nigeria Amid Ongoing Doctors' Strike As Nigeria grapples with a healthcare crisis, the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has entered its tenth day, leaving countless patients stranded and desperate for care. Over 11,000 resident doctors are participating in this industrial action, which has effectively paralyzed medical services across the country. The line between life and death has become uncomfortably thin as hospitals reduce their operations due to the…