Featured stories about Sub-Saharan Africa
Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa
20 August 2019
Mozambique pushes for SIM card registration, raising privacy concerns
The measure would make it easier for the authorities to identify the owners of registered SIM cards.
19 August 2019
Will Zimbabwe succeed in overturning a ban on the ivory trade?
Zimbabwe is currently sitting on a stockpile of seized ivory worth hundreds of millions.
16 August 2019
Apprehension rises over the abduction of a Nigerian government critic
Dadiyata, a fierce critic of Kano State Governor Umar Ganduje, was abducted on August 1 and nothing has been heard of him since.
13 August 2019
Who are the presidential candidates in Mozambique's October elections?
On July 31, Mozambique's Constitutional Council approved four candidates: Filipe Nyusi, Ossufo Momade, Daviz Simango and Mário Albino.
Malaria has affected over 5 million people in Burundi so far this year
In Burundi, so far this year, malaria has affected 5,738,661 million people — that's about half its population. Yet, the government hesitates to declare an epidemic.
9 August 2019
Nigerian activist arrested for calling for a nationwide #RevolutionNow protest movement
Omoyele Sowore was detained and charged under Nigeria's 2011 counter-terrorism law. He could face life imprisonment.
8 August 2019
Kenyan MP and her baby ordered out of parliament: ‘What was I supposed to do? Miss my duties?’
"I had an emergency, so what was I supposed to do? Miss parliament and my duties — just because I have a baby?"
7 August 2019
Tanzanian journalist faces trumped-up charges after abduction and detention
Freelance ournalist Erick Kabendera has written critically of Tanzanian President John Magufuli's increasingly repressive administration. Yesterday, authorities charged him with economic crimes, but critics say his only "crime" is journalism.
6 August 2019
Nigerian creatives bid farewell to Toni Morrison, who wrote race into American consciousness
"The function, the very serious function of racism, is distraction. It keeps you explaining over and over again, your reason for being." — Toni Morrison
Mozambique criminalizes child marriage
According to one study, Mozambique is the 11th country in the world with the highest rate of child marriages.
Security forces in Guinea now have the right to use deadly force
Human rights and opposition groups fear the law could be used to grant impunity and target dissent ahead of 2020 elections when President Alpha Condé will seek a third term.
4 August 2019
Mozambique, Cote d'Ivoire make legal strides for women and children’s rights
In July 2019, Mozambique and Cote d'Ivoire were the latest countries in sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen marriage laws to empower girls and women. But implementation and enforcement remain a challenge.
2 August 2019
Tech innovators in Tanzania connect 5,000 tutors with students in new online platform
Smartclass, a new online platform that connects tutors to students of all ages, is changing the learning environment in Tanzania.
1 August 2019
The Gambia's truth commission continues to confront abuses under past president's regime
"Between 1994 to 2016, under President Yahya Jammeh’s regime, Gambian citizens suffered numerous human rights violations. These included murder, extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, physical assaults..."
26 July 2019
Nigerian schoolgirl abducted by Boko Haram allegedly dies in captivity
"The president assured me that Leah would come back and that the government was working hard on it...After that, it was silence because we haven’t seen Leah."
From Nigeria to Zanzibar, Africa quietly played a critical role in US moon landing
To this day, few people know about Project Mercury space stations in Nigeria and Zanzibar, part of a groundbreaking global communications network that helped pave the way for Apollo 11.
Video of the military using violent methods divides public opinion and highlights gravity of the attacks in northern Mozambique
"Mozambican president, Filipe Nyusi, called the attacks acts of terrorism and promised the military would continue the combat on the ground and would not rest until peace is restored."
23 July 2019
Is Mandarin Chinese the language of East Africa’s future?
As China strengthens its already robust trade and infrastructural ties with Africa, Chinese-government funded Confucius Institutes to teach Chinese Mandarin are on the rise.
22 July 2019
How US arms supplies to Saudi Arabia threatens Sudan's hard-won peace
The Saudis supply Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces with money and arms. When the US does arms deals with Saudi Arabia they’re essentially supporting RSF.
About our Sub-Saharan Africa coverage
Amanda Lichtenstein is the Sub-Saharan Africa editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Lova Rakotomalala is the Francophone (French) editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
Dércio Tsandzana is the Lusophone (Portuguese) editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
