Author: The Exchange

Among those severely affected are pregnant women, the elderly and children who have had little food to eat. Neighbouring countries Malawi and Eswatini have received thousands of refugees from Mozambique. UN refugee agency UNHCR is raising concerns over the escalating displacement and its impact on the affected populations. Mozambique is in the vice-like grip of post-election violence that is forcing thousands of people to flee their homes into neighbouring countries for safety. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in neighbouring Malawi, the government identified over 2,000 people who crossed into the country in the past week.…

When she tested positive for mpox, the news left Anna, a Ugandan, deeply shocked. Anna had never imagined that the disease she had been reading about on her smartphone was what she was suffering from. Yet, she did not lose hope. As of 18 December 2024, Uganda’s Ministry of Health reports show that 1,089 cumulative mpox cases had been confirmed. Twenty-year-old Anna Akola smiles, a beautiful wide smile that lights up her whole face. She speaks very softly, and if you are not attentive, you can miss her words. It is hard to believe that this is the same person…

Ghana’s president-elect, John Dramani Mahama, will take office on January 7 for his second term after his tenure from 2012 to 2016. Mahama has outlined an ambitious agenda to stabilise the economy, improve governance, and create opportunities for all Ghanaians.  Mahama’s administration must balance fiscal discipline with the urgent need for economic relief and social reforms. Ghana’s president-elect, John Dramani Mahama, will take office on January 7, returning to leadership after his tenure from 2012 to 2016. With a decisive victory, securing 56.55 per cent of the vote, Mahama inherits a nation grappling with economic hardships, inflation, and challenges in…

Ethiopia and Somalia had been building momentum towards a potential conflict for some time. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s stance on regaining sea access as a key matter has made people in East Africa and beyond uneasy. Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to collaborate to address their disputes in a Turkey-brokered deal. Ethiopia and Somalia Dispute Ethiopia and Somalia had been building momentum towards a potential conflict for some time. Somalia, a country slowly emerging from decades of instability and extremism, is especially sensitive to catalysts of chaos. On the other hand, Ethiopia is already experiencing economic turbulence and major…

Experts call for a shift from short-term political cycles to forward-looking, long-term effort to address the climate crisis effectively. Carbon taxation taxes carbon, it doesn’t tax energy. It creates incentives for the private sector to move from fossil fuels to alternative sources of energy. Globally, countries pump $5 to $7 trillion dollars a year into fossil fuel subsidies. Experts argue that if you stopped that and put it into clean technologies, we would have solved the problem. In a world increasingly shaped by the dual crises of climate change and economic instability, the Oxford Department of Economics, in collaboration with…

Ghana’s former President, John Mahama, has won the country’s presidential elections. Mahama’s main competitor, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded an early defeat. Mahama’s anticipated return to the presidency marks a new chapter in Ghana’s political landscape. Ghana’s former President John Mahama has won the country’s presidential elections after his main competitor, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat. Bawumia said he had called John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to congratulate him. Mahama confirmed on his X (formerly Twitter) profile that he had received Bawumia’s congratulatory call over his “emphatic victory.” Blaring horns and jubilation, John Mahama’s supporters were…

Nigeria’s food security has deepened even as more people face hunger in the coming year.  Economic hardship, combined with record-high inflation, a record increase in food prices, and record-high transportation costs, has made life unbearable for the majority of Nigerians. To combat hunger in the West African nation, the Nigerian Senate has approved a bill that would criminalise the export of significant amounts of unprocessed maize. Economic Hardship and Cost of Living Crisis Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is grappling with a cost of living crisis that led to deadly protests in August. The West African nation is experiencing one…

The new Trump administration faces a policy conundrum in pushing for democracy in Africa’s most fragile zones. Trump’s previous skepticism toward multilateralism and international aid raises questions about how his administration will engage with regional bodies like the AU. Trump’s previous focus on trade could provide a framework for re-engagement like AGOA and perhaps supporting AfCFTA. As Donald Trump prepares to begin his second term as President of the United States in February 2025, his administration will need to confront the complexities of U.S.-Africa relations. Africa, home to over 1.4 billion people and rich in resources, remains a key player…

The AI World Championship, which will take place Jan 30 to Feb 2, 2025, is tailored to be a defining moment for the AI community, a global platform for breakthroughs. The contest will challenge and advance the multiple frontiers, creativity, expertise, and innovation presented by AI across 14 thematic focus areas. The grand finals set to be hosted live on April 8, 2025, at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi during AIM Congress 2025. Tech enthusiasts, developers, AI specialists, investors, and government representatives have a chance to showcase cutting-edge developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the maiden AI World Championship in Abu…

Ghana’s economy is in its worst condition before the country elects a successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo on December 7. The December elections come amid an increasingly polarized atmosphere and a challenging economic landscape precipitated by the nation’s first-ever sovereign debt default. According to the most recent Afrobarometer survey, 40 per cent of Ghanaians identified unemployment as the dominant issue facing the nation that requires governmental intervention. Ghanaians will vote for a new president and 276 lawmakers on December 7, 2024, in the ninth election since the West African country transitioned to a democratic system in January 1993. Voters will…