All Africa
First LookMoney in a couch? South Africa's beloved president mired in scandal.South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, an admired anti-apartheid political figure credited with reviving the South African economy, has been exposed for hiding $580,000 in a couch cushion. The African National Congress will vote to decide his fate.聽
Somalia rallies grassroots to oppose jihadist Al Shabab. Will it work?Somalia has made surprising progress in its campaign against Al Shabab. Convincing people the jihadis are the enemy isn鈥檛 hard. The challenge is maintaining unity and solidifying gains.
鈥橈豢I won鈥檛 be ashamed鈥�: Nigerian women fight 鈥橈豢period poverty鈥�A Nigerian NGO is teaching rural women how to make reusable pads, the latest in a slow but sure reversal of outdated attitudes to menstruation.
First LookAs drought grips northern Kenya, human-wildlife tensions riseAs a historic drought grips Kenya and the U.N. prepares for its biodiversity conference, tensions are high between locals and wildlife. Elephants and other animals are wandering into villages in search of food, sometimes resulting in violent clashes.聽
鈥楩ire Mama!鈥� How women are rising through Kenya鈥檚 motorbike taxi ranks.A cost of living crisis and loosening gender roles among younger generations have pushed more women to don helmets as motorbike taxi drivers in Kenya.
First LookIn a democratic step, Sudan inks deal for a civilian-led governmentSudan鈥檚 coup leaders and its main pro-democracy group have signed a deal that would establish a civilian-led transitional government, despite missing key players.聽Facilitators from the US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Britain helped negotiate the agreement.
鈥楾he ocean is what we know.鈥� Can Senegal woo climate refugees inland?Senegal鈥檚 plan to relocate residents from a flood-prone peninsula to a dusty, inland village offers a glimpse into how countries might manage climate refugees.
In Somali capital, a jihadist bombing tests a survivor鈥檚 limitsNot one suicide bombing, but two. That is what one Somali man survived. But his losses have been profound, testing his and Somalia鈥檚 resilience in the face of sustained jihadist attacks.
Somalia on brink of famine. Can new tools, timely aid avert the worst?Somalia鈥檚 worst drought in 40 years has sparked warnings from the U.N. of unprecedented catastrophe. While a functioning government is coordinating relief work, generosity is needed.
Whose land is it, anyway? Sierra Leone gives locals a voice.Small farmers in Sierra Leone who have never benefited from foreign mining projects on their land now have laws with which to enforce their rights.
First LookAfter two years, Ethiopia and Tigray make tentative peaceEthiopia and Tigray have agreed to a coordinated disarmament during peace talks on Wednesday. The conflict, which lasted two years, led to hundreds of thousands of casualties and millions of people displaced.
First LookSurprise surplus: Zimbabwe empowers farmers, averts food shortageZimbabwe could yield its largest wheat harvest yet as the world faces a food crisis in the wake of Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine. Empowering local farmers, improving water infrastructure,聽and increasing private-sector participation was the key to success.
Can Mt. Kenya鈥檚 porters get the same professional respect as Mt. Everest鈥檚?Unlike Mount Everest鈥檚 sherpas, the porters of Mount Kenya still endure low pay and little respect. Can mountaineering culture shift from gratifying Western tourists to achieving best employment practices?
Planting trees 鈥� and hope 鈥� in a flood-prone Nigerian townResidents in the rural outpost of Igbajo, Nigeria, are looking to community solutions to tackle the devastating effects of deforestation and floods.
The triumph of South Africa鈥檚 first Black ultramarathon winnerLeaving behind a remarkable legacy, Sam Tshabalala, the first Black runner to win South Africa鈥檚 Comrades Marathon, broke a 67-year streak of white winners.
First LookTurmoil in Tunisia: Food shortage sparks unrestIn Tunisia, everyday items like sugar, oil, and rice have become scarce or overpriced, triggering supermarket fights and protests across the country. The government blames hoarding and war in Ukraine, but experts say it鈥檚 a sign of a larger budget crisis.
First LookCan Africa provide the oil Europe needs after OPEC+ cut?After the OPEC+ decision to cut oil production, European leaders are looking to Africa to replace the oil they would have received from Russia. Although Africa鈥檚 natural gas reserves are large, the infrastructure is currently unsuitable to ramp up exports.聽
First LookSecond coup in a year: Burkina Faso鈥檚 new junta vows to bring safetySoldiers in Burkina Faso have deposed the country鈥檚 eight-month-old junta, saying it failed to protect the nation against a violent Islamist campaign. Supporters of the new coup are urging its leaders to聽seek military help from Russia, as nearby Mali has.
鈥榃hy do we have a queen?鈥� Complex reactions in the Commonwealth.The death of Queen Elizabeth II has been met with sorrow in the United Kingdom. But in the former colonies of the British Empire, it has stirred up memories of past injustices that dampen sympathy.
First LookKenya鈥檚 new president promises to deepen democracy, uplift poorAfter a fraught, narrowly won election, William Ruto has become Kenya鈥檚 new president. Mr. Ruto, whose campaign highlighted his humble origins selling chickens by the roadside, is promising to deepen his country鈥檚 democracy and uplift its most impoverished.
