AfricaLink
News, Analysis and Service from Germany and Europe - in 30 Languages
Why are elderly Kenyan women being abandoned?
Rights defenders in Kenya want more community protections for elderly women, especially in rural areas. It follows reports of old women being accused of witchcraft, denied inheritance, forced out of their marital homes, and abandoned. Josephine Mahachi speaks to DW’s Andrew Wasike and Anne Rose Chege, a social worker and…
Malawi’s largest refugee camp could close due to lack of funds
Malawi’s biggest refugee camp, Dzaleka Refugee Camp, currently home to around 56,500 people, faces a bleak future as UNHCR withdraws funding and staff. What could this mean for a facility that human rights activists say is already as a source of human trafficking and crime? Josey Mahachi speaks to Jessie…
Rwanda-DRC peace deal 'ignored atrocities' committed against civilians
Human rights groups say a US-backed peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo fails to hold any parties accountable for fighting that has left thousands dead. President Donald Trump touts the deal as a way to access mineral resources. Josey Mahachi speaks with political commentator Gonza Mugi…
How Malawi's justice system is failing GBV survivors
A Malawi-based human rights body says survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) are punished instead of being protected, with little recourse to state protection from abusive partners. So why is it that laws meant to protect have become a barrier to justice? Josey Mahachi talks to Victor Mhango, executive director of…
Kenya's Gen Z anniversary protests turn violent
Police fired tear gas into the streets and sealed off government buildings with barbed wire. At least 16 people were killed, according Amnesty International, and a government minister said the protests were 'terrorism disguised as dissent'. But how did this unfold? Josey Mahachi talks to analyst Martin Oloo and DW's…
Nigeria: Can President Tinubu transform Benue state after deadly attacks?
After deadly attacks in central Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu promised support to the region and turn tragedy into prosperity. The government plans to support farmers in the bread basket region. Josey Mahachi talks to Rildwan Bello, an agriculture economist, and DW's Jamiu Abiodun in Nigeria.
ECOWAS pledges to end human trafficking and boost security
During last weekend’s summit in Abuja, Nigeria, West Africa’s political and economic bloc, ECOWAS, acknowledged growing unrest and political instability in the region. ECOWAS leaders pledged to combat human trafficking, hunger and gender-based violence. Josey Mahachi speaks with Grace Yohanna, head of Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria,…
Hope for victims of sexual violence fade in DR Congo and Cameroon
Conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls has surged in the DRC, with over 67,000 cases reported in the first four months of 2025 alone. But major funding cuts mean health centers have run out of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kits —vital in treatment following rape. Eddy Micah talks to Amadou…
How Ghana is assisting refugees to become self sufficient
In Ghana, a new refugee agribusiness and sustainability program is hoping to empower more than 20,000 refugees to be self-reliant as countries mitigate impact of aid cuts. Eddy Micah Jr. talks to Tetteh Padi, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Board, and Adwoa Domena, DW correspondent in Accra.
Kenyans protest police brutality
Activists in Kenya and the father of a man who was shot at close range by Kenyan police during a protest over the police custody death of influencer Albert Ojwang want justice. The Ojwang case has triggered a series of protests and the arrest of Nairobi police officers. DW's Eddy…
Nigeria: Why are opposition members defecting?
Two governors of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), along with their cabinet members and other lawmakers have abandoned the opposition and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). DW’s Eddy Micah Jr speaks to Dr. Timothy Golu, a former member of the House of Representatives and current Adviser to…
Is democracy delivering for South African youth?
On Youth Day, South Africans honor the young people who were killed by apartheid police in Soweto on June 16, 1976. More than 500 people lost their lives in a tragedy that became a rallying point, inspiring a nation to rise up against the apartheid regime. Eddy Micah Jr. speaks…
South Africa chokes in continent-leading air pollution
Greenpeace Africa says 42,000 South Africans died because of air pollution in 2023, and wants South African energy producers to be held to account. But how will the country balance environmental risks with its energy demands? Eddy Micah Jr. talks to Greenpeace campaign lead Cynthia Moyo, and DW's Thuso Khumalo…
Child Labor Day: The plight of child laborers in Uganda
As the world marks World Day Against Child Labor, Uganda is grappling with millions of children trapped in child labor. Experts say laws protecting children from hazardous labor in sub-Saharan Africa are still poorly enforced and many communities are unaware of available support.
Kenya: Blogger's death in custody reignites protest fears
Kenyan President William Ruto has condemned the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody. The case has sparked anger online and small protests at a tense moment for Kenya, which is marking a year since protests over tax rises and corruption that triggered a deadly police response.
The legacy of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu
Zambia is mourning the death of former president Edgar Lungu, who served from 2015-2021. Lungu died last Thursday in a hospital in South Africa at the age of 68. Eddy Micah Jr. speaks to Kelly Kaunda, who served at the Zambian Embassy in Berlin during President Edgar Lungu's rule, and…
Kidney disease on the rise in Nigeria
A surge in chronic kidney disease is alarming health officials in Nigeria. An increasing number of patients require dialysis and transplants, with the cause unknown. DW's Eddy Micah Jr talks to Dr. Goni Waru of Yobe State University Teaching Hospital Damaturu and Mohammed Al-Amin, DW correspondent in Nigeria.
How to restore trust amid Nigeria's economic struggles
Nigeria’s public debt is projected to exceed $100 billion following President Bola Tinubu’s request for new loans. The latest push to borrow is fueling concern over debt sustainability. Josey Mahachi talks to Mma Amara Ekeruche, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa…
Why Cameroon tops displacement crisis list
Cameroon is the world's most neglected displacement crisis, according to a Norwegian Refugee Council report, which warns that rising nationalism and waning international support have deepened the crisis.
US military announces plans to adjust Africa strategy
US Africa Command chief Gen. Michael Langley has called on fragile states to take greater ownership of their security. It's a move analysts interpret as part of a broader shift in the Trump administration's defense strategy — one that emphasizes homeland security and a reduced overseas military presence.