thecontinent

thecontinent, 4 days ago to random

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, 1,000 refugees walked out of its Awlala refugee site on 1 May, complaining of insecurity and insufficient services, and have since been living along a road nearby. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/sudanese-refugees-abandon-un-camp

thecontinent, 4 days ago to random

With at least 17 countries reporting outbreaks in the past year, the world has used up the available stockpile of cholera vaccines and new ones are not being produced fast enough. https://continent.substack.com/p/medicine-for-the-money-not-for-the

thecontinent, 5 days ago to random

Zanu-PF is set to do a backroom deal with leaders from within the Citizen’s Coalition for Change (CCC) party to form a “unity government” and delay the parliamentary and presidential elections. This would in effect extend the term of all sitting politicians. https://continent.substack.com/p/zimbabwe-the-not-so-secret-ploy-for

thecontinent, 8 days ago to random

All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 164 of The Continent

Say what you like, but one thing is not up for debate: in his first year as president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been busy. When he’s not meddling with the national anthem, he’s implementing sweeping macroeconomic changes that are making some economists very happy – and a lot of people very poor.

One thing he hasn’t changed is the working environment for journalists, which remains hostile.
https://thecontinent.org

thecontinent, 9 days ago to random

BIG PICTURE

Right field: A banner supporting Palestine towers over the crowd at the first leg of the CAF final between Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Egypt’s Al-Ahly on Saturday.

Photo: Fethi Belaid/AFP

thecontinent, 9 days ago to random

Save for being stood up by actor Tyler Perry, William Ruto likely considered the trip a success. The US designated Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, making it the first “sub-Saharan” African country to receive the designation. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/washington-completes-the-disneyfication

thecontinent, 11 days ago to random

This week, South Africans will exercise their democratic rights.

With 70 political parties and 11 independent candidates also standing, the ANC will likely still form the government and pick the president.

We hit the campaign trail to see who it’s up against.

https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/photo-essay-on-the-campaign-trail

thecontinent, 11 days ago to random

If you enjoyed our cover story on the South African election, our colleagues at Democracy in Africa are putting together a Twitter space tonight where some of the country's best informed experts will break down what’s at stake in this critical election. #SAelections24 Set your reminder here. https://www.theresistancebureau.com/episodes/saelections24-election-eve-special

thecontinent, 12 days ago to random

Last week, state investigators conducted simultaneous raids at all five of South Africa’s refugee reception centres. They said they were looking for evidence of corruption, but the timing – with an election around the corner – was telling. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/blame-the-neighbours-build-a-bigger

thecontinent, 13 days ago to random

Despite his history of personal scandals and his disastrous tenure as president of South Africa – which ended when the ruling party recalled him in 2017 – Jacob Zuma remains an enormously popular figure in some parts of the country. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/zumas-revenge?r=14kg56&utm_medium=ios

thecontinent, 14 days ago to random

The big takeaway from this election is less about the weaknesses of the African National Congress, and more about its enduring strength. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/south-africa-is-still-anc-country

thecontinent, 14 days ago to random

All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 163 of The Continent

In the rainbow nation’s democracy, the colours do run. Among the 70 political parties and 11 independent candidates on offer, some will be relying on nostalgia, while others lean into their infamy. The African National Congress is still standing, despite its own failures and an increasingly popular breakaway faction at the gate.

thecontinent, 18 days ago to random

Addis is being positioned as the Dubai of Africa. Which means Piassa must change – dramatically. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/the-complex-history-of-addis-ababas?r=14kg56&utm_medium=ios

thecontinent, 18 days ago to random

Bobrisky is hard to define: socialite, social media influencer, transgender woman, queer icon and, now, guest of the Nigerian Correctional Service. For years her hyper-popularity protected her. Until it didn’t. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/for-years-bobriskys-hyper-popularity?r=14kg56&utm_medium=ios

thecontinent, 20 days ago to random

Nairobi's city planners say the only way is up. Well-to-do residents, worried about poor planning, disagree. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/nairobis-high-rise-future-unsettles?r=2d15gt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

thecontinent, 21 days ago to random

All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 162 of The Continent.

Africa is the fastest urbanising continent: 58% of us will live in cities by 2030. We already have 52 cities with a population of one million or higher – same as Europe, according to the African Development Bank. Yet our housing and infrastructure are far more limited by comparison, and half of our urban population lives in high density shanty towns.

thecontinent, 23 days ago to random

BIG PICTURE

Can’t make it drink: A man looks on as a woman rides a horse along a beach in Banjul, Gambia on May the 4th, a day of no particular significance in this galaxy.

Photo: John Wessels/AFP

thecontinent, 26 days ago to random

In the run-up to the US presidential elections in November, America’s democratic institutions are being pressured like never before. Will they survive the test? https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/biden-or-trump-thats-the-wrong-question?r=14kg56&utm_medium=ios

thecontinent, 27 days ago to random

After voting last month, Togo has a new parliament. It looks a lot like all the ones that came before it – totally dominated by the ruling party. But this time around, there is one crucial difference: a newly-amended, highly controversial Constitution. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/the-elections-in-togo-were-a-demoralising?r=14kg56&utm_medium=ios

thecontinent, 28 days ago to random

All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 161 of The Continent

Regulators in South Africa are mulling over what could be Africa’s biggest-ever media deal. French satellite TV broadcaster Canal+ wants to buy South Africa-based MultiChoice. It would then have an audience of 30-million people across Africa. The family group behind Canal+, headed by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, has a habit of turning the media it buys into versions of Fox News, peddling extremist opinions for ratings.

thecontinent, 1 month ago to random

Frustrated in the courts, but intent on deporting asylum seekers to evade its responsibilities under international refugee law, the British government whipped its ruling party MPs into legislating a new reality into place. https://continent.substack.com/p/rwanda-deal-made-possible-by-legislating