Africa needs strong institutions. But they can only be built if there’s a change in leadership.
A strong judiciary isn’t enough to keep democracy in place. Kenya’s Supreme Court decision nullifying the re-election of Uhuru Kenyatta is a case in point.
Reuters/Baz Ratner
The past 12 months provided further evidence of the danger of democratic backsliding in Africa. But it also saw powerful presidents suffer embarrassing setbacks in a number of countries.
Anglophone Cameroonians want to secede from the Francophone part of the country.
Erin Alexis Randolph/Shutterstock
Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis that’s pitted its English speaking citizens against the central government could result in the country being denied preferential trade agreements with the US.
The Oluwole Urban Market near Marina in Lagos. Being middle class is more than just being a consumer.
Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye
The idea that terror groups like Boko Haram fund their activities through ivory poaching in Africa is a compelling narrative. But it’s undermining wildlife conservation and human rights.
The Monkeypox virus was isolated most recently in 2012 from a dead infant mangabey (species of monkey) in Ivory Coast.
Shutterstock
A disease suspected to be monkeypox is on the rampage in Nigeria. In less than one month, it has spread to seven of the country’s 36 states and infected 31 people.
Advertising in Paris’ Château d'Eau subway station for products designed “for black and mixed skin,” April 24, 2018.
Sonia Zannad/TCF
Despite their dangers, skin-bleaching products are grow in popularity in Africa, Asia and even Europe. France’s colonial history holds one of the keys to better understanding this trend.
Presidents Issoufou, Yayi, Deby and Buhari at a meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the body in charge of the lake replenishment project
REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde
The transnational project conceived 30 years ago to replenish the drying waters of Lake Chad finally seems poised to take off. But first, internal politics within member states must be overcome.
National science academies must do more to draw women in.
Mitchell Maher/International Food Policy Research Institute/Flickr
Academies simply don’t know how they’re doing when it comes to the representation of women compared to their counterparts within the science-policy environment.
In Lower Fungom, Cameroon men sing while working, highlighting the local culture.
Duylinh Nguyen
Despite being led by different presidents over the past six decades, the French government’s policy on Africa has been faithful to its neo-colonial roots. Will Macron’s government be any different?
The highway connecting Cameroon and Nigeria has brought economic benefits and forest degradation.
Arend de Haas/ACF
A time-series analysis of tree cover loss before, during and after road construction reveals a strong relationship between infrastructure development and accelerating deforestation.
In Cameroon efforts are underway to halt rainforest loss and develop opportunities with locals.
Arend de Haas
Combining new technologies, including Global Forest Watch, a Forest Monitoring App and Participatory 3D Modelling, brings out traditional knowledge of the elders.
West Africans who play professional football in Poland rest at halftime. Warsaw, Summer 2016.
Paweł Banaś/GLOBALSPORT
Many talented African footballers follow the exodus to Europe’s football leagues. But many are stuck in the lower leagues, without the glory and wealth they dream of.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is seen as having promoted economic growth at the expense of human rights.
Ruben Sprich/Reuters
To improve, African countries need to find a balance between political and economic matters. This is where leadership becomes particularly important. But this is currently lacking on the continent.
A pastoralist refugee in Cameroon.
Mouadjamou Ahmadou
The marked increase in the number of Nigerian pastoralists fleeing Boko Haram terror in northeastern Nigeria last year reflects a trend that started three years ago.
It’s time for Africa to produce the technology it needs, rather than being largely a consumer.
EPA/Nic Bothma
Conservation Director, Wildlife Ecologist and Microbiologist at the African Conservation Foundation. Lecturer and board member at the Institute of Biodiversity and Non-Profit Studies, University of Buea