The democrat was considered the architect of the Southern African country’s economic rise and a pioneer in the fight against AIDS Gaborone, Botswana | AGENCIES | The political career of Botswana’s ex-President Festus Gontebanye Mogae can be summarized under one heading: “good governance.” During his time in office from 1998 …
Read More »MAKANO: More like a Basquiat ‘protégé’
COMMENT | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | MAKANO has just returned from Zambia for the opening of his debut solo show, Red Flags 2026, in this Central African Republic. He looks relaxed and is not showing any sign of anxiety that one would expect from an artist of his age …
Read More »National interests, competition fears hindering Africa’s Single Air Transport Market
Kampala, Uganda | URN | Uganda and several other African countries are yet to join the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a delay that continues to make air travel across the continent expensive and less seamless compared to other regions. Speaking at a continental aviation workshop in Kampala, Octavio …
Read More »Airtel Africa posts strong FY2026 results, profit at record $815 million
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Airtel Africa reported strong FY’26 results, with profit after tax rising to $813m, driven by a 29.5% increase in reported revenue to $6,415m, as data became the largest revenue component. The customer base increased to 183.5 million, with Airtel Money processing over $215bn in …
Read More »South Africa chasing fellow Africans; cry beloved rainbow nation
COMMENT | OBED K KATUREEBE | South Africans are at it again. Just weeks ago, there was outrage coming from South African cities, especially Johannesburg. A group of South Africans attacked fellow Africans, accusing them of many ills, including “taking their jobs” in that huge and powerful economy on the …
Read More »Africa turns gold refineries into reserve diversification engines
African central banks are increasingly linking domestic gold refining to reserve management as countries move to retain more value from minerals. The shift reflects a broader effort to diversify away from foreign currency assets while strengthening local supply chains. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Uganda’s foreign exchange …
Read More »Kenya’s next election is being built now, and Gen Z is driving it
Kenya’s Gen Z is converting protest momentum into voter registration. With millions of new voters entering the roll, youth-driven campaigns like ‘Niko Kadi’ are beginning to reshape the country’s electoral arithmetic. NEWS ANALYSIS | BIRD AGENCY | By mid-morning on a Wednesday, the voter registration desk at Moi Primary …
Read More »Ending malaria in Africa: 5 essential reads on gains and challenges
In 2024, Africa accounted for 95% of malaria cases (265 million) and 95% (579,000) of malaria deaths NEWS ANALYSIS | WALE FATADE | Malaria, a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes, is preventable and curable. The World Malaria Report 2025 shows that in 2024, there were …
Read More »GSMA Africa Policy Group chair calls for urgent tax reforms to accelerate digital inclusion
Kinshasa, DRC | NEWS CORRESPONDENT | The Chief Regulatory Officer of Airtel Africa and Chair of GSMA Africa’s Policy Group, Daddy Mukadi, has called on African governments to recognise telecommunications as a core economic pillar and to implement two specific tax reforms that could dramatically accelerate digital inclusion across the continent. …
Read More »Young South Sudanese models ‘take up space’ in quest to showcase talent
Longing to stride down runways of international fashion weeks often collides with realities of conservatism and lack of structural support. ARTS | MAURA AJAK | Growing up, Khloe Nyanda and the women and girls around her were taught “to be small and not take up spaces”, the 21-year-old says. …
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