Conflicts in Africa vary in scope and intensity. They range from large-scale civil wars to territorial disputes, localised insurgencies, inter-communal violence, political instability, armed conflict and terrorism. The continent has earned the…
South Africa has around 25,653 small-scale sugarcane growers, making the industry a lifeline for rural communities in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. By generating 65,000 direct and 270,000 indirect jobs, its agricultural and…
South Africa’s coal-fired power stations are retiring. The country must replace a huge amount of electricity over the next two decades. Currently, coal still supplies 74% of the country’s power. But the…
Every electric vehicle, smartphone and laptop battery begins with one essential ingredient: lithium. The critical mineral sits at the centre of the global transition to cleaner energy. Lithium powers rechargeable batteries. Securing…
For centuries, useful metals have been developed by starting with one core element and adding small amounts of other elements. Steel, for example, is composed primarily of iron; carbon is added in…
Multiple and often overlapping crises such as floods or drought due to climate change, violent conflict and economic instability are creating new forms of vulnerability. Collectively they’re known as a polycrisis. These…
Zambia’s election, scheduled for 13 August, has shaped up into a battle between two alliances. The ruling United Party for National Development alliance is backed by 15 smaller parties. The Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance…
As South Sudan’s political crisis deepens and the risk of renewed civil war grows, the country’s leaders are betting on gold as the next engine of economic growth. But across the border…
A review of Joe Studwell, “How Africa Works: Success and Failure on the World’s Last Developmental Frontier” (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2026). Many books speak of Africa; far fewer capture its living realities…
Members of Senegal’s National Assembly on Monday adopted a controversial constitutional amendment that expands their role and reduces presidential powers, but the government said it will be put to a referendum. The…