The Conversation Africa

theconversation.comEthiopia’s peace deal is unravelling – what went wrong with the Tigray agreementPretoria stopped one phase of one war. Its incomplete implementation left unresolved disputes that are now colliding.

Ethiopia’s Tigray peace deal is under strain. What went wrong—and what does it mean for the country’s fragile peace? theconversation.com/ethiopias-pe... #Politics

theconversation.comJohannesburg and Medellín: what South Africa can learn from Colombia about fixing a broken cityThe recovery of Medellín in Colombia depended on a city government that could combine security, investment and capable utilities.

What can Johannesburg learn from Medellín? 🇿🇦🇨🇴 A look at how Colombia’s city transformed—and what South Africa could take from its experience. theconversation.com/johannesburg... #Politics

theconversation.comPollen season: new map of South Africa’s allergy hotspots gives you time to prepareSouth Africa’s first five-year pollen calendars reveal when allergy seasons hit seven cities, and how sufferers can prepare before symptoms start.

Pollen season is here. 🌿 A new map shows where allergy hotspots are across South Africa—helping people know what to expect and when to prepare. theconversation.com/pollen-seaso... #HealthAndMedicine

theconversation.comChild malnutrition is one of Africa’s biggest health challenges: food aid is only part of the solutionA lack of food is not the only cause of malnutrition. Poverty, disease, poor sanitation, climate pressures and limited access to healthcare also shape it.

Child malnutrition remains one of Africa’s biggest health challenges. Food aid can help—but it’s only part of the solution. What else is needed? theconversation.com/child-malnut... #HealthAndMedicine

theconversation.comSenegal’s Youth Olympics legacy: who pays after the Games?For the Youth Olympic Games, Senegal has relied heavily on substantial direct public funding with support from its partners.

Senegal hosted the Youth Olympics. But what happens to the venues—and the costs—after the Games? A look at the country’s Olympic legacy. 🇸🇳 theconversation.com/senegals-you... #ArtsCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comMore land, better life? South African farming study asks if that’s the road to rural developmentThere is no single pathway from small-scale farming to improved livelihoods.

Does more land mean better lives in rural South Africa? New research examines whether farming alone can drive rural development. 🌱 theconversation.com/more-land-be... #BusinessAndEconomy

theconversation.comIan Berry’s Sharpeville images exposed apartheid violence to the worldIan Berry’s photographs of the Sharpeville massacre provided evidence of a crime against humanity.

How one photographer’s images brought the violence of apartheid’s Sharpeville massacre to the world—and helped shape its memory. theconversation.com/ian-berrys-s... #ArtsCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comNigeria faces the world’s highest projected death toll from super El Niño heat: what could save livesThe super El Niño could cause 31,400 extra heat deaths in Nigeria alone. Heat warnings, cooling centres and worker protections could help save lives.

Extreme heat could have devastating consequences for Nigeria. New research points to practical measures that could help protect lives as temperatures rise. theconversation.com/nigeria-face... #Climate

theconversation.comOnline attacks on Kenyan journalists: what makes audiences join in, push back or stay silentWhether the public rallies to defend journalists can depend on whether audiences believe they deserve that support.

Why do audiences join online attacks on journalists—or push back or stay silent? New research examines what drives these responses among Kenyan audiences. theconversation.com/online-attac... #ArtsCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comAfrica’s mineral strength is wasted if countries don’t work together – new reportAfrica has the minerals to power the green transition. Capturing more value means countries must pool market power and build shared capabilities.

Africa’s mineral wealth could drive development—but only if countries work together to build stronger regional value chains. A new report explains why. theconversation.com/africas-mine... #Climate

theconversation.comBilling culture: Nigerian rapper eLDee takes on modern dating in I Wish You WellHas romance turned into a marketplace where intimacy is measured through transactions?

What does “billing culture” say about modern dating? Nigerian rapper eLDee’s I Wish You Well explores money, expectations and relationships. theconversation.com/billing-cult... #ArtsCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comMaps can be misleading – on purpose – and their story becomes history. The case of EthiopiaPolitical groups use social media ‘maptivism’ to spread exaggerated regional maps to stake a claim to territory.

Maps don’t just show history — they can shape it. Ethiopia’s case reveals how maps can mislead, influence perceptions and become part of the historical record. theconversation.com/maps-can-be-... #Politics

theconversation.comSouth Africans and migrants: study tracks the barriers to being good neighboursMutual suspicion and prejudice continue to undermine relations between South Africans and African immigrants.

What does it take to be good neighbours? A new study explores the barriers between South Africans and migrants — and what can help build stronger communities. theconversation.com/south-africa... l #ArtsCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comSouth Africa’s green building upgrades are rising – but major cities still dominate, study findsGreen ratings are growing in South Africa, mainly for upgraded older buildings, but some low scores suggest buildings may appear greener than they are.

South Africa’s green building upgrades are growing — but major cities still dominate. What’s driving the trend, and where are the gaps? theconversation.com/south-africa... #EnvironmentAndEnergy

theconversation.comMorocco’s deadly wall across Western Sahara: why the 2,700km Berm was built and the damage it doesThe wall in Western Sahara marks the practical frontline of a conflict most of the world has stopped watching.

A 2,700km wall cuts across Western Sahara. Why was it built, and what impact does it still have on people and the land? theconversation.com/moroccos-dea... #Politics

theconversation.comStreet names carry stories with them. What they tell us about Gauteng in South AfricaRather than telling a single story, street names preserve several layers of public memory.

Street names tell stories. In Gauteng, they reveal layers of history, memory and identity — and how South Africa’s past lives on in its places. theconversation.com/street-names... #ArtsCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comVaccination rates are falling in Africa, but a new strategy aims to turn things around. Five things it needs to get rightThere are five priorities African countries must pursue to achieve vaccination success.

Africa’s vaccination rates are falling. A new strategy aims to turn the tide — but what will it take to succeed? Five things matter. R theconversation.com/vaccination-... #HealthAndMedicine

theconversation.comEthiopia’s armed opposition unites against Abiy Ahmed: 5 reads on the country’s political strugglesA culture of solving political differences with conflict has led to persistent disagreements about the Ethiopian state.

22 Sept

🇪🇹 Ethiopia’s political struggles are deepening. Five reads unpack the country’s armed opposition, political tensions and what lies ahead. theconversation.com/ethiopias-ar... #Politics

theconversation.comSouth Africa’s minibus taxi industry has lessons for policymakers on how informal systems workSouth Africa’s minibus taxi industry contains extensive knowledge, organisation and social practices developed by the people who work in and depend on it.

22 Sept

🚐 South Africa’s minibus taxi industry offers policymakers valuable lessons on how informal systems work — and why they matter. theconversation.com/south-africa... #BusinessAndEconomy

theconversation.comClimate change is fuelling African conflict – governments are developing a shared responseAfrican countries are now crafting the first continent-wide framework to tackle how climate disasters can worsen hunger, displacement and conflict.

22 Sept

🌍 Climate change is reshaping the security landscape in Africa, with environmental pressures contributing to conflict risks across the continent. African governments are developing a shared response. What does this mean for climate, peace and security? theconversation.com/climate-chan... #Climate

theconversation.comKing Sunny Adé at 80: six decades of Nigerian musical innovation, global acclaim and cultural preservationSunny Adé is celebrated as the King of Jùjú music.

21 Sept

From juju pioneer to global icon, King Sunny Adé has shaped Nigerian music for six decades. New research explores his musical legacy and cultural impact. theconversation.com/king-sunny-a... #ArtCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comYoung South Africans move for work and opportunity. What happens to their health when they do?Moving can change the conditions that shape health, so health and social policy must plan for a mobile population.

21 Sept

Moving for work can open new opportunities — but what happens to young South Africans’ health when they leave home? New research explores the health challenges that can come with mobility. theconversation.com/young-south-... #HealthAndMedicine

theconversation.comA decade on, Somalia’s federal pact benefits elites and al-Shabaab – but it fails the peopleSomalia’s status quo profits the elite while bringing questionable benefits to the majority of the public.

21 Sept

Somalia’s federal experiment was meant to bring stability and representation. A decade later, new analysis asks what it has actually delivered for the country’s people. theconversation.com/a-decade-on-... #Politics

theconversation.comTeenage girls may know how to prevent pregnancy – that doesn’t mean they have the power to do itTeenage pregnancy makes visible the pressures, relationships and reproductive conditions that shape young people’s lives across southern Africa.

Knowing how to prevent pregnancy is only part of the picture. For many teenage girls, social and economic barriers can make that knowledge difficult to act on. theconversation.com/teenage-girl... #HealthAndMedicine

theconversation.comAfrica’s Red Sea states face growing risks as Houthi rebels expand their reachThe African shoreline is now much more valuable to outsiders who want to monitor, contain or outflank the waterway opposite them.

The Red Sea is becoming an increasingly dangerous corridor — with consequences that stretch far beyond the waterway itself. 🌍 What does the changing security landscape mean for Africa’s Red Sea states? theconversation.com/africas-red-... #Politics

theconversation.comDemolishing Lagos informal settlements also destroys the city’s best defences against climate changeResidents whose homes cluster along waterways, canals and shorelines have built organised systems for living with climate change.

Lagos’ informal settlements may look vulnerable to climate change — but they also help protect the city from its impacts. 🌧️ What happens when they’re demolished? theconversation.com/demolishing-... #Climate

theconversation.comTonnes of fishing gear and plastic are washing up on Seychelles beaches. We tracked where it was coming fromSatellite tracking data was used to look at which ships and boats were active in the Seychelles waters.

What washes up on Seychelles’ shores can reveal a lot about what’s happening far beyond its waters. 🌊 Researchers traced the origins of marine debris — with lessons for tackling ocean plastic. theconversation.com/tonnes-of-fi... #EnvironmentAndEnergy

theconversation.comAcademics in South Africa have to focus on ‘outputs’: what’s lost when other work’s not countedTransformation in South Africa’s institutions of higher education has been slow and uneven.

17 Sept

South African academics face growing pressure to produce measurable outputs. But what gets lost when other forms of academic work don’t count? theconversation.com/academics-in... #Education

theconversation.comKofi Agawu: the scholar who showed the world that African music isn’t just about rhythmAmong contemporary African musicologists, Agawu has been one of the most distinctive voices over the past half-century.

17 Sept

Kofi Agawu transformed how the world understands African music, challenging the idea that it is defined by rhythm alone. theconversation.com/kofi-agawu-t... #ArtsCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comBrown is beautiful: what Namibia’s capital Windhoek can teach African cities as they get hotter and drierNew research shows how Windhoek’s ‘Brown is Beautiful’ approach could use its dry landscape to protect the city from heat, drought and floods.

17 Sept

As African cities get hotter and drier, Windhoek offers lessons in designing for climate resilience — and embracing brown, not just green, urban spaces. theconversation.com/brown-is-bea... #EnvironmentAndEnergy

theconversation.comSpekboom is nutritious, water-wise and edible – so why aren’t more South Africans eating it?Could spekboom move from garden hedge to dinner plate? Scientists found most people surveyed would eat it.

Spekboom is nutritious, water-wise and edible — yet it remains largely absent from South African plates. Why? theconversation.com/spekboom-is-... #EnvironmentAndEnergy

theconversation.comAI has arrived in South Africa’s boardrooms – but company law hasn’t caught upClear rules are urgently needed to prevent a legal vacuum in South African boardrooms.

AI is entering South Africa’s boardrooms, but company law is struggling to keep pace. What does this mean for corporate accountability? theconversation.com/ai-has-arriv... #BusinessAndEconomy

theconversation.com3 African wild dogs travelled over 4,000km to find mates – why that’s good news for the endangered speciesNew GPS tracking on African wild dogs found they could travel long distances to find mates, but more than half did not survive the journey.

Three African wild dogs travelled more than 4,000km in search of mates — a remarkable journey that could help boost genetic diversity in this endangered species. theconversation.com/3-african-wi... #EnvironmentAndEnergy

theconversation.comSacred springs of South Africa: pure waters or polluted? We found tiny bits of plastic in the samples we testedEven South Africa’s remote sacred springs are not untouched: research found microplastics in all nine tested, including waters used for healing and drinking.

Sacred springs are important sources of water and cultural meaning in South Africa. New research found microplastics in some spring water samples, highlighting a hidden threat to these valued sites. theconversation.com/sacred-sprin... #EnvironmentAndEnergy

theconversation.comWas there really a female king in ancient Egypt 5,000 years ago? New study says yesMeretneith was buried in a tomb fit for a male ruler. But for decades, debate has raged over her true royal status.

New research is challenging what we thought we knew about power and gender in ancient Egypt. Could one of its earliest rulers have been a woman? theconversation.com/was-there-re... #ScienceAndTech

theconversation.comSocial workers who protect children in South Africa carry a burden of trauma – better preparation could helpSouth Africa’s social workers face a huge burden without much support, and burnout is a risk.

Protecting vulnerable children can take a heavy toll on those doing the work. In South Africa, social workers face significant trauma – and need better support and preparation. theconversation.com/social-worke... #Education

theconversation.comHistory is being rewritten at an archaeological site in Morocco. What the discovery of an ancient wall tells usCommunities in the north-west Maghreb were able to coordinate large construction projects thousands of years ago.

What can one ancient wall tell us about Morocco’s past? Archaeologists are uncovering clues that challenge long-held assumptions. theconversation.com/history-is-b... #ArtsCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comHave South Africans always been hostile to migrants? Historians map a chequered historySouth Africa’s history shows that anti-immigrant violence is neither an aberration nor the country’s only possible path.

Have South Africans always been hostile to migrants? History reveals a far more complicated story. theconversation.com/have-south-a... #Politics

theconversation.comGhana’s local architecture has adapted to change for centuries. It can teach us about climate resilienceModern styles of architecture can learn from traditional approaches to building.

Ghana’s architecture has adapted to environmental and social change for centuries. What can traditional building practices teach us about climate resilience today? theconversation.com/ghanas-local... #ArtsCultureAndSociety

theconversation.comFrom split livers to machine perfusion: the 20-year evolution of liver transplants in South AfricaSouth Africa runs a single waiting list for all transplant recipients, whether from the private or public sector.

South Africa’s liver transplant journey has evolved dramatically over two decades — from split-liver transplants to advanced machine perfusion. What’s changed, and what’s next? theconversation.com/from-split-l... #HealthAndMedicine

theconversation.comAfrica’s air travel is reliant on distant hubs: why it’s time to fix thisThe war against Iran has exposed Africa’s dependence on external transit hubs for international and even intra-African connectivity.

Africa’s air travel is too often routed through distant hubs. Why does this matter — and what can be done to build better connections within the continent? theconversation.com/africas-air-... #BusinessAndEconomy

theconversation.comAfrican Union peacekeeping is growing as UN missions decline: research finds a mixed record of successAt a time when UN peace operations are declining, African organisations are often the first responders to emerging crises.

As UN peacekeeping declines, African-led missions are taking on a bigger role. But are they succeeding? New research finds a mixed record. theconversation.com/african-unio... #Politics

theconversation.comSudan’s military is accused of using chlorine bombs: here’s how they work and what the law saysThe use of chemical weapons has been outlawed for nearly a century.

What happens when chlorine is used as a weapon? A researcher explains how these attacks work, their devastating effects and what international law says. theconversation.com/sudans-milit... #Politics

theconversation.comAfrica’s climate services need local detail and knowledge, say people who use the informationPeople restoring Africa’s ecosystems need climate services that combine forecasts with Indigenous knowledge and information about land, water and livelihoods.

Climate information only helps if it reflects what communities actually experience. New research highlights why local knowledge and detail matter across Africa. 🌍 theconversation.com/africas-clim... #Climate

theconversation.comSouth Africa has good water laws but bad services. What’s stopping fair accessSouth Africa’s water law promises fairness, but ageing infrastructure, weak governance and unequal power leave many without reliable water.

Why does access to water remain so unequal in South Africa? Researchers look beyond the law at the gaps between policy, infrastructure and delivery. theconversation.com/south-africa... #EnvironmentAndEnergy

theconversation.comNew world map makes Africa look bigger: what’s the fuss about? Cartographers explainCorrecting the mental map of global leaders is an important step in amplifying Africa’s relevance and rights.

A new world map puts the continent’s true scale into sharper perspective. But what’s behind the change — and why does the way we map the world matter? Cartographers explain👇 theconversation.com/new-world-ma... #ScienceAndTech

theconversation.comFrom drought to floods in North Africa: What could the super El Niño do next?After seven years of drought and one extraordinary wet winter, northwestern Africa now faces another season of uncertainty.

10 Sept

From drought to floods, a super El Niño could bring extreme weather to North Africa. What happens next? theconversation.com/from-drought... #EnvironmentAndEnergy

theconversation.comDRC’s cobalt exports contain unreported uranium – our study estimates the global nuclear riskThe amount of undeclared uranium from the DRC’s cobalt mines could – if processed – produce enough material for 600-1,500 nuclear weapons.

10 Sept

DRC cobalt exports may contain unreported uranium — raising questions about the global nuclear risk. This study estimates the scale of the threat. 👇 theconversation.com/drcs-cobalt-... #EnvironmentAndEnergy