Posts in Africa
Bleaching to Breathing: Kenya’s Transformation of its Dying Coral Reefs
Bleaching to Breathing: Kenya’s Transformation of its Dying Coral Reefs

Climate change, rising ocean temperatures, and destructive fishing practices have bleached and destroyed Kenya’s coral reefs, which has generated a domino effect of declining fish stocks and diminished income for fishers across the Swahili Coast. Nonetheless, through restoration efforts by nonprofits, supported by the Kenyan government, as well as conservation projects by local activists, reef stocks have come back to life. Kenya–and its coastal neighbors–must continue balancing coral reefs as both a profitable economic endowment, and a scarce natural resource vital for biodiversity. 

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AfricaBy Nikhil MaharajCoral, Reef, Ocean, Kenya, Biodiversity, overfishing, climate change, tourism, conservation, restoration
Lesotho: A Country that the U.S. Has Certainly Heard of–and Economically Swayed
Lesotho: A Country that the U.S. Has Certainly Heard of–and Economically Swayed

Lesotho and the United States have a long history of diplomatic relations, a relationship  that was recently dismissed by President Trump as an ‘unknown country.’ However, Lesotho and the United States maintain strong economic ties and Lesotho remains a prominent figure in regional and international affairs.

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AfricaBy Katie KunkleLesotho, Sub-Saharan Africa, U.S.-Africa Relations, Donald Trump, Development
Empowering communities: Benefits of Local-Driven Solar Energy Growth in Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa
Empowering communities: Benefits of Local-Driven Solar Energy Growth in Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa

In January 2025, the World Bank, African Development Bank, and various investors provided a $35 billion loan to expand electricity access across Africa. Half of the funds were allocated to solar and wind projects, reflecting a global shift away from fossil fuels. Despite Africa’s high solar potential, many regions face unique challenges that hinder this transition. The experiences of Tunisia, Tanzania, and Kenya highlight the importance of prioritizing local development over large-scale, centralized projects.

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AfricaBy Josephine Kalbfleisch#solar #cleanenergy #tunisia #kenya #tanzania #renewables #sustainability #electricity #agriculture #infrastructure #development #power #energy #resources #community #technology
Looking at the past and future when dealing with South Africa’s expropriation laws
Looking at the past and future when dealing with South Africa’s expropriation laws

The issue of South African wealth inequality, the highest in the world, stemming from Apartheid, has haunted the Rainbow Nation for decades. However, the government has recently imposed the controversial Expropriation Act of 2024, which allows for expropriation without compensation. The question is whether these laws will help the country, based on previous failed expropriation without compensation measures by other African countries such as Zimbabwe, as well as, South Africa having to deal with vital US aid being cut off by President Donald Trump who opposes these laws.

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AfricaBy Nikhil MaharajSouth Africa, Apartheid, Aid, Cyril Ramaphosa, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe, Expropriation Law of 2024, African National Congress, inequality
USAID’s Rollback Threatens Ethiopia’s Healthcare System
USAID’s Rollback Threatens Ethiopia’s Healthcare System

Soon after returning to office for a second term, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that halted international spending for ninety days, a primary target being USAID. As one of the largest recipients of USAID, Ethiopia heavily relied on the agency’s funding for critical healthcare initiatives, many of which have since ended. As Ethiopia seeks alternative funding, the sudden loss of aid threatens to destabilize the healthcare system and leave millions vulnerable.

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AfricaBy Katie KunkleEthiopia, foreign assistance, foreign funding, humanitarian aid, USAID, International aid, Sub-Saharan Africa, global health care, trauma informed care
President Saied of Tunisia Wins Landslide Victory, Not Without Controversy
President Saied of Tunisia Wins Landslide Victory, Not Without Controversy

On Sunday, October 6, 2024 President Kais Saied of Tunisia won reelection in a landslide victory. The election has drawn significant attention and controversy due to its stark departure from the democratic norms embraced in Tunisia in the decade following the 2011 Tunisian revolution, in which citizens revolted against and ousted ruling dictator Ben Ali.

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AfricaBy Tommy ColeTunisia, Elections, democracy, North Africa
The Search for Truth in South Africa's Political Landscape
The Search for Truth in South Africa's Political Landscape

The recent search and seizure operation at the residence of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, South Africa's Speaker of Parliament, on March 19, 2024, has ignited concerns about corruption and accountability within the nation's political landscape. Yet, amidst the turmoil, South Africa's democratic system remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding integrity and transparency.

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AfricaBy Cindy Pinocorruption, South Africa, political reform, law enforcement, bribery
Spiraling Security in Nigeria reflected by Mass Kidnappings
Spiraling Security in Nigeria reflected by Mass Kidnappings

Four mass kidnappings in the northern region of Nigeria have pointed to the resurfacing of the country’s kidnaping crisis. The crisis began in 2014 following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls, and has since spread to bandit groups seeking ransom. This security threat points not only to gender-based insecurity, but the overall decline of Nigeria’s social, political and economic situation.

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AfricaBy Caterina TomassiniSecurity, kidnapping, Nigeria, Terrorism
Turmoil in Ethiopia's Amhara Region Signals Urgent Need for Unity and Resolution
Turmoil in Ethiopia's Amhara Region Signals Urgent Need for Unity and Resolution

Ethiopia faces one of its gravest crises as federal security forces are implicated in the killing of civilians in the Amhara region, sparking escalating turmoil. The roots of this conflict trace back to historical grievances and the exclusion of the Fano militia from peace negotiations following the Tigray conflict, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive dialogue and internal reconciliation to achieve lasting peace.

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AfricaBy Cindy Pinoregional unrest, human rights, security, Amhara region, conflict resolution
Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multifaceted Disease
Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multifaceted Disease

There are approximately 200 million cases of the parasitic disease, malaria, reported worldwide per year, 90 percent of which occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Beyond its direct health consequences, malaria perpetuates structural inequities, affecting vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. The economic toll, estimated at $12 billion annually, exacerbates existing challenges, specifically in the agriculture sector. Despite global efforts, the persistent societal effects require continued intervention to address the far-reaching implications of malaria worldwide. 

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AfricaBy Koel Rhea Patelafrica, malaria, disease, population, sickness
At the Crossroads: Climate Change Increases Gender Inequality in Africa
At the Crossroads: Climate Change Increases Gender Inequality in Africa

African societies are suffering from the impact of climate change. This environmental issue is affecting women at a greater rate than the men who exist in the same society. This article delves into the socioeconomic role women have and continue to serve in African societies and how climate change directly impacts their daily endeavors.

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AfricaBy Koel Rhea Patelenvironment, gender, africa, economy, climate change
Development, Deposits, And Debts: A Decade of BRI in Africa
Development, Deposits, And Debts: A Decade of BRI in Africa

In September 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping formally announced the Belt and Road Initiative, a sprawling infrastructure investment program intended to connect the world over land, air, and sea. A decade later, nearly every African nation has signed on, leading to a variety of results within the continent, ranging from shiny development projects to saddles of debt.

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AfricaBy Isabel Chamberseconomic, economic development, BRI, infrastructure, debt, default, globalization, trade, exports, imports, transportation, China, loans