AFRICA

  New investments from technology companies suggest AI is becoming as important to Africa’s creative economy as affordable cameras and smartphones were a decade ago. Rather than focusing solely on discovering talent, companies are increasingly investing in the tools, financing and infrastructure that allow African creators to produce world-class content …

  People feel they are being held hostage by the ongoing conflict between Kiir and his former vice-president Riek Machar   Juba, South Sudan | AGENCIES | South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, on July 9 marked the 15th anniversary of its independence, following decades of war with Sudan, a …

NEWS ANALYSIS | URN | For more than three decades, African peace mediation rested on a framework that became familiar across the continent. Wars were to be stopped through ceasefires and security arrangements, followed by negotiations over power-sharing, wealth-sharing, transitional justice and, eventually, national dialogue. The approach helped resolve some …

Kinshasa, DRC | URN | Health experts responding to the ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have revealed that despite the high number of people who continue to get confirmed positive for virus, they are still getting only half of the people they are …

Juba, South Sudan | URN | South Sudan has regained limited access to advance financing against its future crude oil exports after reaching an agreement with commodities trader BB Energy to partially settle a dispute that had led to restrictions imposed by a London court. The agreement comes weeks after the …

  Nigeria’s decision to bid for a Formula 1 Grand Prix shows that Africa’s campaign to return the championship has evolved into a continent-wide competition rather than a select countries’ ambition   SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Nigeria has officially entered Africa’s race to host a Formula 1 Grand …

Kampala, Uganda | URN | As conflicts multiply across the Horn of Africa and external powers deepen their involvement in the continent’s crises, African mediation is facing searching questions about its future. Diplomats and peace negotiators who helped end some of the region’s past wars are increasingly asking whether the …

  KHARTOUM | Xinhua |  Sudan’s mango industry, once a thriving sector employing thousands and generating significant export revenue, has been devastated by over two years of war, with local farmers, exporters and experts warning that disrupted supply chains, rising transport costs and damaged infrastructure are pushing the sector to …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | THE INDEPENDENT | The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and partners have launched the third phase of the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP), expanding the continent-wide initiative to 38 countries as governments intensify efforts to curb the …

  Uganda’s latest push to promote the Pearl of Africa abroad reflects a wider African trend, with governments increasingly using national brands to drive tourism, investment, trade, and international partnerships   SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY |  Uganda’s latest “Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa” campaign has turned buses in …