Written by: Rachel Berman Introduction Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that attacks the CD4 cells in a person’s body. HIV weakens the immune system and makes a person susceptible to other infections or infection related cancers. If HIV is not treated, a person can develop Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which…
Category: Sub-Saharan Africa
The Invisible Cost of School Closures
Written by: Kamika Patel The tremendous impact of the global COVID-19 school closures on young people worldwide is detrimental to children’s academic wellbeing, social development, and future career prospects. The extended school closures since March 2020 left more than 1.6 billion children out of school during the beginning months of the pandemic. Globally, around 1…
Islamic Insurgency in Mozambique Requires Nuanced Response
Written by: Peter LaBelle A long-running conflict in Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado escalated at the end of last month as Islamic insurgents belonging to the extremist group ‘Al-Shabaab’ invaded the town of Palma. The town is a strategically important one in the far north of the state and houses a project by French…
Political Turmoil in Sudan
Written by: Jadalyn Eagens In December, riots broke out in Sudan as the price of bread went up by about 300 percent. People took to the streets to demand higher wages and lower prices for basic goods from the government. As the protests gained traction, they shifted from a request for individual reforms to an…
Progress for Africa’s LGBTQ+ Community
Written by: McKenna Ross Rafiki is a lesbian love story that takes place in Kenya, and recently won several awards at African film festivals. The movie is currently banned in Kenya for promoting homosexuality, but it continues to be shown all over the world. Rafiki has recently been screened at several African film festivals, including…
Women’s Empowerment Prevails in Sudan
Written by: Mollie Crook A woman wearing all white and gold earrings is chanting on top of a car in a sea of people who, phones in hand, video her as she emphatically chants to the crowd. They respond back with a resounding, “Revolution!” This was the scene outside of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and it…
Burkina Faso: The Linchpin of West Africa
Written by: Jadalyn Eagens Burkina Faso is a small, West African country about the size of Colorado with a population of about 19 million people. The country has largely managed to avoid the terrorist activity which has plagued neighboring countries Mali and Niger. In the past year or two, however, Islamic militants have been moving…
Cyclone Idai Devastates Africa, UN Notes “Alarm Bell” for Climate Change
Written by: Tom Quinn On March 15, Cyclone Idai slammed the Southeast African countries of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, leaving approximately 1.85 million people in need of assistance. The African coastline — where a majority of the continent’s population resides — has only just begun to recuperate from the 100mph winds which destroyed tens of…
Smoke and Mirrors? The Delicate Future of Democracy in the DRC Amid Rumors of Rigged Election
Written by: Jasmine Owens On December 30, 2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) held what could be their first truly democratic presidential elections. The election, which was originally supposed to be held in 2016 but was delayed two years, came a week late from the originally scheduled date of December 23. Felix Tshisekedi, the…
Can a Defectors Program Bring Peace to Nigeria?
Written by: Mollie Crook The United States State Department is projected to invest millions in an effort to de-radicalize Nigerian fighters. This project will be the jumping point for the fight against terrorism around the world. Boko Haram, an anti-West terrorists group has been tormenting its people by recruiting young impressionable men and violently killing…
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