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MYSTERIOUS: Conversation africa | Mind Blowing Facts

Brics: African countries face opportunities and risks in alienating China or the US - an expert weighs in

South Africa recently hosted a Brics summit. The event attracted international attention because the group has recently begun to emerge as a possible rival against US dominance of world affairs. The US and China lie at the heart of this debate. They are the two biggest trading partners of most…

The Conversation

Elections can lead to conflict if they are not free and fair - what role observers play to make sure they are

At least two dozen presidential, national, regional and local elections are held across the African continent each year. The sometimes fierce electoral competition, a history of violence or vote rigging make it especially important to know that elections are free, fair and credible. This is where election observers come in.…

The Conversation

The world's first Islamic art biennale shines a light on Muslim African artists

The inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale is underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Biennales are large and prestigious international art exhibitions held every two years.) This important new event for the Muslim world features numerous African artists. And the biennale’s artistic director is Sumayya Vally, a South African architecture professor and principal…

The Conversation

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Nigeria's election was nearly derailed by technology - but biometric devices weren't the problem

Technology nearly derailed the conclusion of the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria. The Independent National Electoral Commission could not fulfil its promise to transmit election results from the polling units on its result viewing portal (IReV). This led to calls by some political parties for cancellation and fresh elections. The…

The Conversation

South Africa has been grey listed for not stopping money laundering and terrorism funding. What it means

The Financial Action Task Force has placed South Africa on a list of countries under increased monitoring, commonly known as the grey list, after it failed to address all of the shortcomings on money laundering and the financing of terrorism that the task force identified in its 2019 evaluation of…

The Conversation

Water cuts in South Africa are hurting hospitals and clinics - there's an increased risk of infections

South Africa is a water scarce country. Changing rainfall patterns and the escalating electricity crisis are making the situation worse. Treating and distributing water requires electricity. Some of the country’s biggest cities have had to impose water restrictions and residents in other parts have gone months without regular water supply.…

The Conversation

Contempt of court in Nigeria - what the cases of three convicted security officials tell us

Three security chiefs in Nigeria were convicted of contempt of court in November 2022 after failing to comply with various court orders. This is the first time that officials at this level have been held to account in this way. The Electronic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman, the inspector general…

The Conversation

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Over 12% of South African adults have diabetes - education is critical to achieve good outcomes

Over 12% of adults in South Africa have diabetes. Since 2019, researchers at the University of Pretoria have been working on the Tshwane Insulin Project. The project consists of delivering training workshops on comprehensive diabetes and hypertension management in primary care. The researchers also provide technical assistance to healthcare professionals…

The Conversation

Crime, COVID and climate change - South African tourism faces many threats, but it’s resilient

South Africa’s tourism industry has been rocked by the murder of a German visitor during an attempted robbery. The development resulted in negative media publicity, with a potentially adverse impact on the country’s image as a safe tourist destination. This comes at a time when the sector is recovering from…

The Conversation

Lesotho elections: newcomers score impressive win, but politics will still be unstable

The 2022 national elections in Lesotho will go down in the country’s history as among the most eventful. A party formed only six months ahead of the legislative election, Revolution for Prosperity, emphatically ended the reign of the All Basotho Convention and the Democratic Congress, which have dominated politics in…

The Conversation

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

17 strikes in 23 years: a unionist explains why Nigeria’s university lecturers won’t back down

Lecturers at Nigeria’s public universities have been on strike 16 times since 1999. On 14 February 2022 they went back on strike to make it the 17th. Only 11 of Nigeria’s 59 state universities haven’t taken part in the current strike action. The Conversation Africa asked Dele Ashiru, a lecturer…

The Conversation

How migrants who move between Zimbabwe and South Africa access healthcare in border towns

Zimbabwe and South Africa share a 225 km common border. There is only one official border crossing, at Beitbridge. An estimated 15,000 migrants and refugees from Zimbabwe and other countries cross daily either through the official border post or at illegal crossing points. Migrants’ access to healthcare, particularly in the…

The Conversation

Foot-and-mouth disease: the gaps in South Africa's efforts to keep it under control

In mid August, South Africa’s minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development Thoko Didiza responded to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease with a nationwide ban on the movement of cattle for 21 days. By late August, 127 cases of the disease had been recorded in six of the country’s nine…

The Conversation

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The Conversation

Migrants in South Africa have access to healthcare: why it's kicking up a storm

A political storm has erupted in South Africa after a video went viral showing the health minister for the Limpopo province – which borders Zimbabwe – berating a Zimbabwean woman who was seeking healthcare. Responses have been divided. Some have called for Phophi Ramathuba to step down on the grounds…

The Conversation

Nigerians feel the pinch as food prices continue to spiral. There aren't easy solutions

Nigeria is grappling with rising food prices, as reflected in the spike in inflation. The annual inflation rate accelerated for a sixth straight month to 19.64% in July 2022, the highest rate since January 2017. The Conversation Africa asked economist Ndubisi Nwokoma about the spike, and what steps government can…

The Conversation

No justification for fines imposed on Nigeria's media houses over bandits documentary

Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission recently imposed a fine of N5 million (about US$11,922) each on MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, NTA-Startimes and Telcom Satellites Limited for airing a BBC Africa Eye documentary titled The Bandit Warlords of Zamfara. It said the documentary “glorified the activities of bandits and undermines national security in…

The Conversation

Monkeypox vaccines: what's available and why they aren't a silver bullet

In July 2022 the World Health Organization declared the recent current monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency. Since the start of the year thousands of cases have been reported from over 80 countries. The current outbreak is unlike any previous ones. Infections are happening in non-endemic countries outside of Africa.…

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The Conversation

Nigeria's jailbreaks point to a prison system out of step with reality

On the night of 5 July 2022, 879 inmates escaped from the Kuje correctional facility in Abuja, Nigeria after an attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists. Prior to this, the largest jailbreak was on 5 April 2021 when gunmen attacked Owerri correctional centre, Imo State and freed 1,844 inmates. There…

The Conversation

Why sexual and reproductive law for east African countries is being resisted

Six of the countries of the East African Community – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania – recently concluded public hearings on a new sexual and reproductive health bill. Proponents of the bill argue that it will improve access to sexual and reproductive health which, in turn, will…

The Conversation

COVID vaccines and pregnancy: a review of the evidence shows they are safe

COVID vaccines have been contentious ever since they were developed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, though the evidence is that they are safe and effective. One of the concerns has been whether the vaccines were safe for pregnant women. A recent review looked at the evidence available from North…

The Conversation

Africans make up a tiny portion of genomics data: why there's an urgent need for change

A group of Nigerian scientists, in conjunction with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, established the Noncommunicable Diseases Genetic Heritage Study consortium in February 2020. The aim is to produce a comprehensive catalogue of human genetic variation in Nigeria and assess the burden of noncommunicable diseases in 100,000…

The Conversation

Nigeria's top judge leaves the justice system in a mess. Here's how his successor can fix it

Nigeria’s Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad has resigned in the wake of corruption allegations. President Muhammadu Buhari immediately swore in the most senior judge of the Supreme Court, Olukayode Ariwoola, as Acting Chief Justice. Justice Muhammad leaves behind a dysfunctional justice system. The Conversation Africa asked public law expert Abiodun Odusote…

The Conversation

Money is breaking democracy in Nigeria

Nigeria has had 23 years of unbroken civilian rule since 1999, and commemorates this return to democratic governance on 12 June. The Conversation Africa asked political scientist Ayo Olukotun to reflect on the nation’s democratic journey so far and the problems hindering this system of government.

The Conversation

COVID in South Africa: what to expect in the short and long term

In light of the approaching winter months combined with the recent lifting of the national disaster act, South Africans have anxiously been watching an increase in COVID infections. The Conversation Africa spoke to infectious disease specialist Veronica Ueckermann about the current trajectory of the pandemic in the country.

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