AFRICA

COMMENT | ANDREW PI BESI | When commenting on the 1980–1988 Iraq–Iran war, Henry Kissinger once remarked that it was “a pity both sides can’t lose”. It was a chilling distillation of a worldview in which distant conflicts are not tragedies to be resolved, but instruments to be managed. Alongside Zbigniew …

  From Kyankwanzi to the Moon and beyond: Another case for Regional Integration and Shared Ambition   COMMENT | ANDREW PI BESI | Sometime in 2023, I found myself on a panel at the Kampala Geopolitics Conference, convened by the French Embassy and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung–Uganda in partnership with Makerere University. …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | In one of Africa’s most epidemiologically sensitive ecosystems, the gap between detection and response remains a defining vulnerability. The Greater Virunga Landscape where humans, livestock, and wildlife interact daily has long been identified as a potential hotspot for zoonotic spillovers, with implications that extend …

  Johannesburg, South Africa | AGENCIES |  Uganda’s TWave Ltd , who have pioneered an automated, solar‑powered fish feeding system that optimizes aquaculture productivity, have been selected as one of 10 startups for the fourth year of the Qualcomm Make in Africa Mentorship Program. For this year’s edition of the one-of-a-kind …

  Cairo, Egypt | THE INDEPENDENT | African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) posted a 19% rise in net profit for 2025, driven by strong lending growth and continued financing of key sectors across Africa. The Cairo-based lender said net income reached $1.2 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, up from …

 Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Africa’s place in an increasingly contested global order will come under scrutiny at a two-day geopolitics conference set for April 15–16 at Makerere University, as policymakers and analysts debate whether the continent is shaping or being shaped by intensifying external interest. The conference to be …

  New digital tools are revealing the hidden patterns of lakes, rivers and dams, offering Africa a clearer path to water security   NEWS ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | On the shores of Lake Sulunga in central Tanzania, researcher Nancy Wayua is tracing three decades of change in a water body …

Johannesburg, South Africa | NEWS CORRESPONDENT | Jane Frances Acilo Nkya has dedicated her life to restoring dignity and creating sustainable pathways for empowerment among women, youth, and marginalized communities. On April 10, the Mandela Awards Commission recognised her work, and she was presented with the Mandela Award for Legacy Leadership, …

DAR ES SALAAM | Xinhua | Tanzania and Kenya have agreed to scale up diplomatic and economic cooperation, with a strong focus on boosting trade, removing business barriers and accelerating regional development, Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation said in a statement on Saturday. The renewed commitment …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AGENCIES | Zimbabwe launched its upgraded banknotes on Tuesday with an appeal to national pride and confidence. The BiG5 series features the country’s iconic animals to symbolise national identity and resilience. The rollout begins with 10, 20 and 50 Zimbabwe Gold notes. Higher denominations will follow later, …