Press Freedom: Reporters Without Borders raise alarm over security risks journalists in Sahel region face
At least two community radio journalists were killed and two kidnapped by armed groups in Mali and Chad since November last year, Reporters Without Borders said in a statement calling for the protection of local journalists.
Population of rhinos rises in range states just as poaching peaks, with South Africa most affected
Known as mega herbivores that mow the parks and create inroads for other herbivores, rhinos are also good for establishing forests by ingesting seeds and spreading them across the parks in their dung.
Why West Africa has emerged as world’s centre of terrorism, taking over from Middle East, Asia
Fifteen diplomats and experts said the swathes of territory under jihadist control also risk becoming training grounds and launchpads for more attacks on major cities such as Bamako or neighbouring states and Western targets, in the region or beyond.
Congo’s largest prison frees 1,700 from custody, but won’t ease overcrowding at Makala jail that holds 12,000 inmates
Inmates had increasingly grown frustrated with the poor conditions in the facility, including inadequate beds, poor feeding and poor sanitation. However, authorities failed to act despite warnings, said Cole, whose foundation has visited the prison in the past.
Tree of life: Why African baobab is a ‘superfood’ consumers in US and Europe are jostling for
The global market for baobab products has spiked, turning rural African areas with an abundance of the trees into source markets. The trees, known for surviving even under severe conditions like drought or fire, need more than 20 years to start producing fruit and aren’t cultivated but foraged.
Ghana’s former president John Dramani leads nationwide opposition protests over alleged voter roll
Ghana has held peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections for nearly two decades. The general election on December 7 will be the ninth consecutive election since the country’s return to multi-party democracy in 1992.
Zimbabwe and Namibia will kill elephants, other wildlife to feed starving citizens as drought bites
The Namibian government last month approved the culling of 723 animals, including 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 300 zebras and 100 elands, among others. The animals will be sourced from five of Namibia’s national parks, where it is also looking to reduce its elephant numbers amid conflicts between people and wildlife.
Nigerians resort to fortified bouillon to cut steep rise in malnutrition as Africa grapples with climate-enforced hunger
If public health advocates and the Nigerian government have their way, malnourished households in the West African nation soon will have a simple ingredient available to improve their intake of key vitamins and minerals. Government regulators on September 17 are launching a code of standards for adding iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin B12 to bouillon cubes at minimum levels recommended by experts.
Al Qaeda-allied militants strike military training facility at airport in Mali’s capital, inflict casualties
Mali, along with its neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger, has for over a decade battled an insurgency fought by armed groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following military coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russian mercenary units for security assistance instead.
Microsoft founder, philanthropist Bill Gates calls for debt relief for burdened African countries
Progress towards reducing the number of children whose growth and potential are irrevocably harmed by malnutrition is not fast enough, nor is it happening equally around the world and within communities, said Habtamu Fekadu, managing director for nutrition for the nonprofit Save the Children. He said prevention efforts at scale are needed, and the most cost-effective intervention is to encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children in the first six months of their lives.
