Jamaica is testing a new legal route in its long-running campaign for slavery reparations, asking Britain’s monarch to put key questions before the Privy Council. A Jamaican government delegation is set to submit a petition to King Charles III in London on Monday as the Caribbean nation steps up its campaign for reparations over slavery…
The first five years of life lay an important foundation for children’s future schooling, health and earnings. Yet over 77% (table 2) of children in sub-Saharan Africa don’t have access to early childhood care and education. This places them at risk of not reaching their development potential. In response, governments across Africa are increasingly committing…
The United Nations General Assembly backed a move toward world maps that show continents in their correct relative sizes, supporting an Africa-led campaign to reduce use of the Mercator projection. The resolution passed on September 4 with 164 countries voting in favor, 1 against and 6 abstaining. Togo led the proposal with support from the…
Nigeria Reportedly Agrees to Secret Ceasefire With Boko Haram Nigeria has reportedly maintained a secret ceasefire with Boko Haram for the past three months, following negotiations that helped secure the release of 360 civilians abducted from Ngoshe village in Borno State. Three sources with contacts within the jihadist group told The New Humanitarian that the truce, which…
Since 2023, 14 African countries have introduced export restrictions on unprocessed critical minerals, requiring “local beneficiation” – or in-country processing and manufacturing – prior to export, and demanding technology and financing. Wealthier countries are also supporting the idea of local beneficiation and stepping up investments in resource-rich countries, promising this will help to lift them…
Nairobi — Kenya has stepped up its ambitions to become East Africa’s leading digital hub with the launch of the NBO2 data centre in Nairobi, expanding infrastructure needed to support artificial intelligence, cloud computing, financial technology and regional digital connectivity. The facility, operated by Digital Realty following its acquisition of iColo, is designed to provide…
France will stop using maps based on the traditional Mercator projection, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Friday – backing an African push for a more accurate representation of the continent. The announcement comes as the United Nations General Assembly votes on Friday on a resolution calling for the world to move away from Mercator…
The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to encourage governments, schools and tech companies worldwide to stop using maps that make Africa look far smaller than it really is. By 164 votes to one, Member States on Friday endorsed a resolution promoting map projections that more accurately reflect the true size of continents – the…
This piece was a shortlisted finalist for the Canon Collins 2026 essay competition. The annual competition invites essays that demonstrate thought leadership and offer fresh perspectives on issues affecting southern Africa. Some of my earliest memories are not of places but of words. One of those words was kwerekwere. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn…
Africa is facing its 17th Ebola outbreak, and this time the continent is meeting it with the most capable response architecture it has ever assembled. The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was declared on 15th May 2026, and both WHO and Africa CDC have classified it as a public health emergency. The…
