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While it is true that “too many young people struggle to find their first job” (SONA), imposing the primary responsibility on young people to ‘do better’, by completing well-meaning programmes designed by adults who know what is best, absolves institutions of the responsibility to re-think their assumptions, approaches, and programming to more effectively address structural challenges. (Oupa Nkosi)
2026 STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

“Inactive” youth, Sona’s panacea of digital skills and missed creative opportunities

If a commitment to youth-led initiative is to be taken seriously, it is imperative to include youth in decision making on where to direct investment, how to design curricula for…

  • Nokukhanya Mncwabe
  • Rike Sitas
  • Naomi Roux
7 min read
Across festivals, indigenous knowledge exchanges, and cross-border tourism, Southern Africans are integrating themselves long before policymakers catch up. Photo: Lake of Stars
6TH SADC REGIONAL POLICY WORKSHOP ON INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

How culture, not politics, is quietly uniting Southern Africa

Member States creating a regional identity built from lived experience rather than official agreements

  • Collins Mtika
7 min read
Moroccan forces destroy a camp near Western Sahara’s capital in 2019. Photo: File
AFRICAN UNION

The last colony: Western Sahara and Africa’s unfinished liberation

A referendum must take place allowing the people of Western Sahara to decide their future freely, to uphold African solidarity, justice, self-determination and dignity

  • Kamal Fadel
5 min read
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
AFRICAN UNION

Modi says Africa is top priority for India

The prime minister said that India’s freedom struggles had inspired independence struggles in the global south

  • MG Reporter
12 min read
Next month, the UN Security Council (UNSC) will reconvene to consider the implementation of the arms embargo it imposed on South Sudan’s territory in 2018, which expires on 31 May 2023. Photo: Supplied. Photo: AFP
AFRICAN UNION

How South Sudan downplays gross human rights’ violations

The lead-up to next year’s first-ever elections will likely see heightened political disputes, competition and defections – developments that can quickly turn deadly

  • Tigere Chagutah
5 min read
Empty graves after exhumation of bodies in the mass grave created during the Russian’s occupation in Izyum, Kharkiv region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)
AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SOMALIA

Human rights dealt a blow by 2022

New and ongoing conflicts and rise of authoritarianism undermine vision for universal human rights

  • Deprose Muchena
11 min read
Intra-Africa trade: A container ship in the Suez Canal, Egypt. Photo: Camille Delbos/Getty Images
AFRICA CDC

African Union 20 years on: A retrospective

Assessing the successes and ongoing challenges of the African Union 20 years on

  • Craig Moffat
7 min read
Having committed to pursuing a much closer partnership with African governments and the African Union, the European Union must consider how it can best contribute to Africa’s security and economic prospects. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
AFRICA

EU/AU summit: Another missed opportunity?

Between Africa and Europe, is it possible to talk of a win-win partnership, of complementarity and common interests?

  • Landry Ninteretse
5 min read
Bitter pill for complementary medicine sector
ACCESS

Time for Africa to take control of its own health

Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya among 27 countries yet to sign the treaty for the establishment of the African Medicines Agency.

  • Githinji Gitahi
4 min read
Clear mandate: Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus
AFRICA CDC

WHO director-general gives African public health conference thumbs up

Ghebreyesus says Covid-19 pandemic highlights the importance of nurturing strong science and research on the continent.

  • Marcia Zali
2 min read
Photo: File
AFRICAN UNION

What’s the fuss about Israel’s observer status at the AU?

Nongovernmental organisations applying for observer status at the African Union are subjected to intense scrutiny but a non-African state merely needs the approval of the AU…

  • Craig Moffat
  • EM Hoza
10 min read
The health department will not buy some medicine for cancer and rare diseases as they are not ‘essential’ but there are legal ways to get drugs unavailable here
AFCFTA

Four factors blocking medicines being manufactured in Africa

Setting up a continent-wide medicine regulator could be crucial to getting Africa’s people the treatments and Covid vaccines they need. Here’s why more countries need to put…

  • Francis Aboagye-Nyame
6 min read
AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS

UN security council needs A3’s leadership on African crises

International intervention needed in Tigray region of Ethiopia and Anglophone areas of Cameroon

  • Carine Kaneza Nantulya
  • Louis Charbonneau
4 min read
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize. (Photo Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
AFRICAN UNION

How SA wants to sell the AstraZeneca vaccine for half the price and what the loss could be

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says selling on the vaccines will stem wasteful expenditure, but people close to the discussions with AU say they will be sold on the cheap

  • Lizeka Tandwa
  • Chris Bateman
4 min read