Africa Horn Now

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Africa Horn Now

Archives for August 2016

An oil boom made it the most expensive city in the world. Now it’s in crisis.

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Kevin Sieff | August 2, 2016 | The Washington Post LUANDA, Angola — As the price of oil rose earlier this decade, this capital city did as well. Glass skyscrapers soared above the rubble of a 27-year civil war. American pop stars such as Mariah Carey were flown in to play private concerts. Luanda would become, its government announced, “a new Dubai.”But as oil prices … [Read more...] about An oil boom made it the most expensive city in the world. Now it’s in crisis.

A Breathtaking Tour of Running in the Kenyan Rift Valley

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Author: Nadine Ajaka, Video by Spencer MacDonald | Aug 01, 2016 | The Atlantic Kenyan runners are among some of the best in the world, and this stunning short documentary, Kukimbia, explores their culture and dedication—some of the runners featured in it will be competing in the 2016 Olympics. The film was directed by Spencer MacDonald in collaboration with Eva Verbeeck. … [Read more...] about A Breathtaking Tour of Running in the Kenyan Rift Valley

Former Zanu-PF acolyte calls Mugabe corrupt, likens leader to colonial prime minister

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Kiri Rupiah | 05 Aug 2016 | Mail & Guardian The tables could finally be turning for the Zimbabwean strongman. A press conference was held in Harare on Wednesday by former Zanu-PF youth chairman for Mashonaland Central Godfery Tsenengamu. Tsenengamu made some statements quite unlike the usual reverence reserved for Zimbabwe’s president. The former youth chairman … [Read more...] about Former Zanu-PF acolyte calls Mugabe corrupt, likens leader to colonial prime minister

WATCH: Challenges and opportunities in electrifying Africa

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Staff Writer  | August 01 2016 | Business Day AFRICA has an electricity problem, with 620-million people on the continent lacking access to power. The continent’s power sector is largely underdeveloped and those with access to electricity do not have reliable electricity. Residential and industrial sectors regularly battle with electricity shortages and countries … [Read more...] about WATCH: Challenges and opportunities in electrifying Africa

Who’s to Blame in South Sudan?

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Mahmood Mamdani | June 28, 2016 | Boston Review Colonial rule ended in Sudan in 1956. As the British and Egyptian flags were lowered, a struggle for power between rival factions was already under way. Fifty-five years later Sudan was partitioned and a new nation came into existence: South Sudan, whose population had spent decades waging a succession of wars against the … [Read more...] about Who’s to Blame in South Sudan?

How Africa is helping expand the global antimalarial drug pipeline

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Kelly Chibale | August 4, 2016  | The Conversation Globally more than three billion people are at risk of contracting malaria. In 2015 alone, an estimated 214 million new cases were recorded. Of these 88% occurred in Africa, which shoulders the heaviest malaria burden. And of the 438,000 malaria deaths worldwide in the same year, 90% were in Africa. One of the … [Read more...] about How Africa is helping expand the global antimalarial drug pipeline

European Union working with African despots to deter refugees

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Martin Kreickenbaum | 11 July 2016 | wsws.org “The refugee crisis is not resolved, but the solution is progressing well in Europe and very well in Germany,” claimed interior minister Thomas de Maizière at the announcement of the latest figures for asylum applications in Germany. It is possible for someone to make such a cynical appearance before the press only if they … [Read more...] about European Union working with African despots to deter refugees

Ring of fire: Africa awaits September first annular eclipse of the sun

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Graham Jones | 05 Aug 2016 | Mail & Guardian On September 1st, the continent will play host to a natural wonder of the astronomical kind: an annular eclipse of the sun. From the coral reefs of the Red Sea to the flooded plains of the Okavango Delta, Africa is home to some of the greatest natural wonders on earth. But for two-and-a-half hours on September 1st, the … [Read more...] about Ring of fire: Africa awaits September first annular eclipse of the sun

South Africa’s ANC faces worst election losses since apartheid

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PRETORIA | Nqobile Dludla and Tanisha Heiberg | Fri Aug 5, 2016 | Reuters South Africa's ANC was on track for its worst electoral performance since the end of apartheid on Friday as voters vented anger about high unemployment and corruption in municipal elections that herald a sea change in politics and society. The African National Congress has ruled virtually unopposed … [Read more...] about South Africa’s ANC faces worst election losses since apartheid