The Latest Breaking News from Africa

Tuberculosis, a forgotten disease still endemic in South Africa's Cape Town

Zanyiwe Mavebenwane, from Cape Town in South Africa, hasn’t seen her eldest daughter in two months. It’s the fifth time she has had tuberculosis, and is receiving long-term care in hospital. The unemployed mother of five runs a soup kitchen a few times a week and is taking care of…

Radio France Internationale · Oct 30, 2022

Multiparty democracy is in trouble in South Africa – collapsing coalitions are a sure sign

South Africa’s 28-year-old, continuously transforming multiparty democracy was reminded of its own fragility when, in September, a coalition running its biggest city, Johannesburg, collapsed. The speaker and the mayor lost their jobs. A new coalition took office, only to be removed by a high court verdict three weeks later. This…

The Conversation · Oct 27, 2022

Africa CDC: Ebola outbreak in Uganda "not getting out of hand"

Africa's top public health body said on Thursday that the Ebola outbreak in Uganda was "not getting out of hand" and that it was still under control, despite an increase in cases that have spread to the capital Kampala.

Reuters · Oct 27, 2022

South Africa's biggest cities are out of water, but the dams are full: what's gone wrong

South Africa’s major cities in the Gauteng Province – the country’s economic heartland – are experiencing major water shortages. In Johannesburg and Tshwane taps have run dry, with numerous areas experiencing intermittent supply while some areas have no water at all.

The Conversation · Oct 18, 2022

Africa overcomes the odds to produce its own Covid vaccines

Set on redressing vaccine inequality between rich and poor nations, a South African consortium is taking on pharmaceutical giants in its quest to produce Africa's first homegrown mRNA Covid-19 vaccine and share it with the global south.

Radio France Internationale · Oct 10, 2022

Woman King is worth watching: but be aware that its take on history is problematic

The Hollywood movie The Woman King, released in mid-September, became an immediate box-office success. The triumphs of the Agoodjies, the women warriors of the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey in today’s Benin, west Africa, are as magnificent as the public had anticipated. In this epic historical drama, African women take centre…

The Conversation · Oct 5, 2022

Jimi Famurewa: My slow-burning love affair with African food

Ahead of his debut book Settlers, Jimi Famurewa explains why it took him until adulthood to fall for Nigerian cooking that wasn’t his mum’s

Evening Standard · Oct 5, 2022

Africa in space: continent has a lot to gain, but proper plans must be put in place

Every year in October nearly 100 countries organise activities to mark World Space Week. The theme this year is space and sustainability. In this interview, Adejuwon Soyinka, West Africa regional editor at The Conversation Africa, asks Etim Offiong about how far Africa has come in the space age and what…

The Conversation · Oct 4, 2022

German tourist shot dead during dream holiday in South Africa when car ambushed

A German tourist was shot dead in cold blood when his car was ambushed by an armed gang on the first day of a dream holiday with friends in South Africa.

Evening Standard · Oct 4, 2022

South African universities need to better support doctoral supervisors

South Africa’s government has ambitious plans for doctoral education. The country aims to increase its output to 5,000 doctorates annually by 2030. In 2013, the figure stood at 2,051; by 2019 it was up to 3,445.

The Conversation · Sep 30, 2022