Africa Renewal: May - July 2017

Cover Story

An underwater view of fishes and coral reef in the Red Sea near Marsa Alam, Egypt

It is time to save our oceans

More efforts required to protect marine life and coastal biodiversity from plastic litter

Save Our Seas

Fishermen in Inhaca Island, Mozambique.

Overfishing destroying livelihoods

African waters are powerful magnets for illegal and unregulated foreign fishing operations
A man sorting a sea of plastic bottles at one of the Wecycler hubs in Lagos, Nigeria. Most plastic litter from cities ends up in oceans.

Plastics pose biggest threat to oceans

Oceans choking on millions of plastic water bottles, cups, straws and single use plastic bags
The Sahel has been battered by drought due to climate change.

Africa feeling the heat of climate change

Affected countries require funds to build more resilient and climate-smart economies

Water

Salva Dut (left) pumps water from one of the boreholes he has helped drill in South Sudan. Photo: Water for South Sudan

How South Sudan’s ‘lost boy’ brought water to his village

Salva Dut, a former refugee, has helped drill 300 boreholes in his country

Economic Development

An administrative building at the new Diamniadio industrial park in Dakar, Senegal. Photo: Reuters/Nellie Peyton

Urban growth a boon for Africa’s industrialization

The 2017 Economic Report on Africa calls for harnessing urban growth
An advertisement for a mobile phone money transfer company hangs over stalls of fruit and vegetables at a covered market in Kigali, Rwanda. Photo: Panos/Sven Torfinn

Africa’s quest for a cashless economy gains momentum

Insufficient financial inclusion, unbanked masses and financial literacy are increasingly attracting investors
A flooded road. Photo: AMO/B. Karlie

Disaster insurance against climate change attracts African countries

Innovative risk-pooling initiative will give a lifeline to countries in distress
A retired couple go through their financial files. Photo: AMO/George Philipas

Pension funds, insurance companies as key drivers of regional integration

Survey shows regional institutional investor base expanding due to favourable demographics

Also

Business

Fumani Mthembi, one of the founders of Pele Energy Group. Photo: Tsidi Bishop

Young South Africans investing in lucrative renewable energy sector

Pele Energy Group joins the league of independent power producers

Conservation

Baby elephants “play soccer” as they graze at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: AMO/Stephen Mudiari Kasabuli

Conservationists take aim at poachers

Newly-created commission will gather evidence to help dismantle organized wildlife crimes

Justice

Fatou Bensouda, ICC Prosecutor (left) and James Stewart, ICC Deputy Prosecutor. Photo: ICC

ICC: Beyond the threats of withdrawal

African countries in dilemma over whether to leave or support the International Criminal Court

Elections

The Gambia’s former president Yahya Jammeh (in white) prepares to depart from Banjul airport to exile in Guinea Bissau on January 21, 2017. Photo: Reuters/Thierry Gouegnon

Gambia’s democracy survives political turbulence

Peaceful transfer of power trending on the continent

Environment

A farmer in the drought-affected area of Senegal watering plants. Photo: UN Photo/Carl Purcell

Paris Agreement on climate change: One year later, how is Africa faring?

and Robert Mgendi
Several African countries have begun implementing climate resilience activities
A farmer in the drought-affected area of Senegal watering plants. Photo: UN Photo/Carl Purcell

Paris Agreement on climate change: One year later, how is Africa faring?

and Robert Mgendi
Several African countries have begun implementing climate resilience activities

Technology

A Kenyan teacher checks his mobile phone while guarding his cattle. Photo: Panos/Sven Torfinn

Africa’s digital rise hooked on innovation

Engineers are adapting technology to suit the specific needs and dynamics of the continent
An official checks data from an internet-based water monitoring device at a borehole in Basbedo, Burkina Faso. Photo: Panos/Andrew McConnell

The Internet of everything water

Local communities boosting water monitoring systems using the Internet
Podcast