The Conversation Africa

South Sudan's 2011 independence from Sudan ended the north-south civil war but did not resolve internal power struggles over revenue and coercion. The political elite have found ways to profit from both peace and conflict in the newly independent state.

South Sudan's 2011 independence ended the north-south civil war but did not resolve internal power struggles over revenue and coercion. The political elite have found ways to profit from both peace and war in the newly independent state.

Young people in low- and middle-income countries show greater optimism about AI's potential to improve work prospects and social lives compared to their Western peers, according to a survey of ten countries in Africa and South Asia.

When civil war broke out in South Sudan in December 2013, civil servants became central to a political and economic crisis. The article explores why these civil servants did not resign despite the conflict.

Tanzania has banned political rallies again in June 2026, the second such ban in a decade. The first ban was under President John Magufuli in 2016, lifted by President Samia Hassan in 2023, but now reimposed. Dan Paget has studied the democracy movement's struggles with repression, focusing on mass rallies.

Urban farming in Johannesburg is helping the city's poorest households address food insecurity and adapt to climate change. The practice, promoted as a solution to these challenges, now requires greater investment to scale its impact.

The world's food systems face challenges like climate change, nutrition insecurity, food safety, and unequal market access. Research has developed practical solutions that could benefit millions, but scaling these solutions remains a critical barrier.

South Africa is experiencing a significant anti-immigrant mobilization. The article argues that blaming migrants ignores the real causes of the country's economic crisis.

Morocco's role in ancient Mediterranean history has been overlooked, with traditional narratives focusing on Greece, Rome, Phoenicia, and Egypt. New archaeological methods like DNA analysis and carbon dating are reshaping understanding of North-west Africa's pre-Phoenician past.

A study analyzed oxygen atoms in 15-million-year-old giant eggshells to reveal how plants responded to a hotter Earth during the Miocene Epoch. Scientists are particularly interested in this intermediate geological period between the age of dinosaurs and more recent eras like the Ice Age.

Scientists are mapping and monitoring Africa's underground water supplies as surface waters become increasingly erratic due to rising global temperatures. The hotter climate causes rapid swings between intense evaporation and extreme rainfall, threatening water stability.

South Africa's funding for postgraduate students is linked to enhanced research productivity and national competitiveness. The article highlights how advanced academic degrees contribute to thriving economies through innovation and research capabilities.

Climate-induced crop failures, livestock deaths, and water shortages in Somalia are exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition. These challenges make it difficult for families to maintain stable incomes and consistent food supplies.

Africa faces declining aid, rising debt, climate pressure, and a weakening global order. Official development assistance fell by 23.1% in 2025, with a further 5.8% decline projected for 2026, exacerbated by the Middle East crisis.

Vaccine uptake has declined in Brazil and South Africa over the last decade, reversing gains in protecting children against diseases like measles, polio, diphtheria, and whooping cough. The article highlights that vaccine hesitancy in these regions cannot be attributed to a single factor.

Student mental health in South Africa is highlighted as a major challenge in universities, with reports focusing on anxiety, burnout, and academic pressure. The article emphasizes the need for expanded student counselling and crisis services to address these issues.

South African scientists have made a breakthrough in decoding cancer's most effective survival strategy by studying the Mucin-1 (MUC1) protein in the epithelium, which acts as a defensive barrier in healthy organs such as the breast, colon, and lungs.

Andimba Toivo ya Toivo was a celebrated Namibian liberation leader who played a significant role in his country's development. He is noted for prioritizing justice over power, though his international recognition remains limited.

Transactional sex, defined as exchanging sex for money, food, or favours, is prevalent among young people in Africa. Studies show 10% in South Africa, 23% in Nigeria, and 25% in Uganda have engaged in this practice, linked to unintended pregnancies, sexual violence, and HIV infections.

Malawi faces education challenges following aid cuts after the Trump administration dismantled USAID, cutting over 5,000 programs and $40 billion in global funding. The article discusses the impact of these cuts on Malawi's education system a year later.

South Africa faces renewed anti-immigrant violence, including marches, murders of Mozambicans, and state-sponsored evacuations. The situation threatens the country's tourism, trade, and constitutional democracy, with the state's alleged complicity in violence against immigrants.

Banditry is widespread in Nigeria, involving criminal groups engaged in kidnap-for-ransom, armed robbery, cattle rustling, rape, and attacks on communities, particularly in the northwest region. Residents report frequent violence, with one village stating a month rarely passes without a killing.

In South Africa, disaster warnings often fail to reach communities that speak minority or Indigenous languages, as highlighted by ineffective flood alerts. Despite modern communication tools like smartphones and sirens, these groups remain underserved.

The first half of 2026 has seen outbreaks of Ebola, hantavirus, and diphtheria in Africa and Australia, highlighting vulnerabilities in disease detection, communication, and response systems. The article attributes these challenges to distrust in healthcare systems.