Africa

Soldiers in Burkina Faso say a military junta now controls the country

7:28am January 25, 2022

In the latest setback for democracy in Africa, a military coup has removed the democratically elected president of Burkina Faso. There have been recent coups in the region: Mali, Guinea and Chad.

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People cheer in support of putschist soldiers near the national television station in Ouagadougou on Monday. Two mutinous soldiers told The Associated Press that Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore is being held by the rebellious soldiers.

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Soldiers say a military junta now controls Burkina Faso

1:54pm January 24, 2022

by The Associated Press

The mutiny came a day after a public demonstration calling for Kabore's resignation.

Opinion: 5 steps we must take to vaccinate the world's vulnerable—and end the pandemic

7:05pm January 19, 2022

Three doctors present their proposal to get vaccines to everyone in the world. "We already have the resources, knowledge and systems," they write. Global leaders just have to make it happen.

Sudan's pro-democracy movement hopes to force a transition to civilian rule

5:38pm January 17, 2022

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly chats with Kholood Khair, managing partner of a think tank in Khartoum, about ongoing pro-democracy protests in Sudan.

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Congo Basin peatlands have trapped years' worth of carbon. How can they be protected?

4:47pm January 14, 2022

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with journalist John Cannon about the dangers of destroying a hidden peatland in the Congo Basin that has locked in as much carbon dioxide as the world emits in three years.

Top scientists say Africa may have reached a less threatening phase of COVID

4:31pm January 14, 2022

by Nurith Aizenman

In the United States there's lots of discussion about when the coronavirus will finally become endemic the way colds are. But African scientists say that may have already happened on their continent.

A world map highlighting the countries that remain below 10% fully vaccinated, mostly in Africa.

For the 36 countries with the lowest vaccination rates, supply isn't the only issue

12:42pm January 14, 2022

by Jason Beaubien

Even as wealthy countries hit 80% vaccination rates, a number of countries have not even vaccinated 1 in 10 citizens. Our interactive map shows the vaccination landscape.

Roqia Qasqari, right, who lives in Gero village in Afghanistan's Bamyan Province, inspects potatoes stored from a previous harvest. Snow was scarce over the winter, raising fears of a severe drought in 2021.

10 global crises to pay attention to in 2022, according to 'The New Humanitarian'

12:09pm January 14, 2022

by Joanne Lu

The New Humanitarian has compiled its list of the conflicts, disasters and threats to watch this year. Editor Josephine Schmidt discusses how they came up with the list.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed poses for the media after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 10, 2019. The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Thursday issued a very rare admonition to Abiy over the war and humanitarian crisis in his

World News

Nobel body criticizes Ethiopian prime minister, a Peace Prize winner, over Tigray war

4:32pm January 13, 2022

by The Associated Press

"As prime minister and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Abiy Ahmed has a special responsibility to end the conflict and contribute to peace," the Oslo-based committee said in a statement.

People gather Tuesday evening for a candlelight vigil outside the Bronx apartment building which was the scene of the city's deadliest fire in decades.

Many of those who died in the Bronx apartment fire were from West Africa

9:25pm January 11, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

The dead included 11 people from Gambia. A spokesperson for the medical examiner's office said officials are working to confirm the identities of the victims — nine adults and eight children.