Africa

COVID-19 spike worsens Africa's severe poverty, hunger woes

3:19am December 24, 2021

by The Associated Press

In Zimbabwe and other African nations, the virus's resurgence is threatening the survival of millions. The United Nations says about 9 in 10 of the world's extremely poor live in Africa.

Why elections in Libya have been delayed

5:07pm December 22, 2021

by Ruth Sherlock

Libya's plans to hold national elections are in doubt as the country breaks down into regions controlled by local faction leaders — including the son of the former dictator.

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The mysterious death of a human rights lawyer during political turmoil in Ethiopia

5:29pm December 21, 2021

by Eyder Peralta

Ethiopia prime minister Abiy Ahmed is waging war against Tigrayans in the north and stamping out dissent among ethnic Oromos in the south.

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Omicron may be less severe in South Africa. That may not be the case for the U.S.

7:47pm December 17, 2021

Researchers in South Africa have found that people infected with omicron, on average, are less likely to end up in the hospital. But the variant may act differently here in the U.S.

Sikhulile Moyo, the laboratory director at the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership and a research associate with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, headed the team that identified the omicron variant.

The scientist in Botswana who identified omicron was saddened by the world's reaction

7:19pm December 16, 2021

by Melody Schrieber

He and his team were stunned by the number of mutations. They felt they'd made a contribution by alerting the world to a dangerous variant. Then came the travel bans for residents of southern Africa.

A woman is vaccinated against COVID-19 at a clinic in Johannesburg on Dec. 6. A new study from South Africa looks at the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine in preventing infection and severe disease.

Vaccine protection vs. omicron infection may drop to 30% but does cut severe disease

5:05pm December 14, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Data from 78,000 South Africans with COVID show the Pfizer vaccine is far less effective in preventing infection by the omicron variant. But there is still significant protection from severe illness.

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Migrants head toward a border checkpoint on the Belarusian-Polish border on Nov. 15. U.S. officials have accused Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of taking advantage of desperate migrants.

Authoritarians are using migrants as weapons. The White House frets it's on the rise

5:57pm December 13, 2021

by Franco Ordoñez

The White House is concerned migrants will be increasingly used as a geopolitical tool as migration increases because of instability and climate change.

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Even as omicron cases rise, South African experts find good news

5:15pm December 11, 2021

by Eyder Peralta

South African scientists say the omicron variant is the most contagious to hit the country, but is causing fewer severe cases than other variants.

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A line chart showing the rapid rise of COVID-19 test positivity driven by the omicron variant.

What omicron's fast spread could mean for the U.S. – and the world

7:57pm December 10, 2021

by Will Stone

The variant has spread through South Africa with remarkable speed — and been detected in at least 60 other countries. Specialists are trying to figure out the next stage for this unwelcome variant.

Jacqueline Muna Musiitwa, left, and her mom, Anne Sikwibele, at the airport in Lusaka, Zambia, in November. Musiitwa, who lives in Washington, D.C., is worried that her mom may not be able to visit the U.S. for Christmas. In an effort to stem the spread o

Opinion: I want my mom to see her grandkids for Christmas. Travel bans make it tough

4:55pm December 09, 2021

by Jacqueline Muna Musiitwa

Jacqueline Muna Musiitwa was planning for her mom to fly from Zambia to the U.S. for Christmas. Ever-changing travel bans are making it seem like a holiday dream that won't come true.