Africa

China's massive infrastructure initiative across Asia, Europe and Africa hits snags

5:48am October 06, 2021

by Jackie Northam

China invested heavily in a plan to rebuild Pakistan's infrastructure. It is part of the Belt and Road Initiative. But many projects have stalled because of corruption and COVID-19.

The Baron de Mackau of France presenting demands to Jean-Pierre Boyer, President of Haiti, in 1825

'The Greatest Heist In History': How Haiti Was Forced To Pay Reparations For Freedom

10:40am October 05, 2021

by Greg Rosalsky

Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world, and rich countries have their fingerprints all over the nation's stunted development.

The Pandora Papers cite a number of leaders from lower-income countries or nations with great levels of inequality, among them Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (from left), Chilean President Sebastián Piñera and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Pandora Papers show how tax havens are part of the global inequity problem

7:52pm October 04, 2021

by Jason Beaubien

Of 12 sitting heads of state implicated in the Pandora Papers, most are from low- or middle-income countries. So are many other politicians and elites named in the leaked documents.

What former President Zuma's popularity says about South Africa's political climate

5:13pm October 04, 2021

by Eyder Peralta

Former South African President Jacob Zuma is still at the center of the country's politics, even though he faces a corruption trial. His popularity is indicative of the country's racial polarization.

Bassirou Ndao's horse ran away. He needed the animal for his farmwork and couldn't afford a replacement. Posting a photo on the Trouvés ou Perdus Facebook page led to an equine reunion.

So you lost a wallet or a phone — or a horse. Senegal has a Facebook page for that

7:21am October 03, 2021

by Nick Roll

It started when Moustapha Sané lost his wallet in Dakar. He created the Facebook page "Trouvés ou Perdus" (French for found or lost). It often leads to a reunion, though some pigeons are still M.I.A.

Tunisia's New Prime Minister Is The First Woman To Hold The Role In An Arab Country

5:00pm September 30, 2021

by Eleanor Beardsley

Facing criticism after recent steps threatening Tunisia's young democracy, the country's president has named a new prime minister — the first woman to hold that position in an Arab country.

A report issued by the World Health Organization this week detailed 83 allegations of sexual abuse by its employees during the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo that started in 2018. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called it a "

Health & Safety

World Health Organization Says Its Staff Perpetrated "Harrowing" Sexual Abuse In Congo

5:45pm September 29, 2021

by Jason Beaubien

It was during the Ebola crisis and was first reported in 2020 by The New Humanitarian. Now WHO has issued its own report, citing 83 allegations. And it's drawing criticism for investigating itself.

The Cover of Scientific African's first issue.

African Researchers Say They Face Bias In The World Of Science. Here's One Solution

9:24am September 28, 2021

by Kia Mackey

The new journal Scientific African was launched to provide a prejudice-free platform for research from African scientists. And it's already winning awards.

Religion

Rev. Rose Okeno's Historic Ordination Adds To Women's Progress In Kenya

7:43am September 27, 2021

Rev. Rose Okeno is the first woman elected as a full Anglican bishop in Kenya. Her ordination defies a church movement that put a moratorium on female bishops.

It seemed as if the 2005 album by Kenneth Kaunda, We Shall Fight HIV/AIDS, had vanished. But then ... it was found! Here's what could be the sole surviving copy, now being remastered for re-release this year.

They Found It! The Long-Lost Album By Zambia's President: 'We Shall Fight HIV/AIDS'

10:48am September 26, 2021

by Aaron Cohen

Kenneth Kaunda spoke out about HIV when African leaders would not even acknowledge its existence. He sang about it, too, in a 2005 album that made a splash, then vanished. And so a search began.