South Africa faces growing crisis as girls make up more than half of trafficking victims

Human trafficking of girls in South Africa is an escalating crisis, with females accounting for 55,5% of all trafficked individuals in the country. Tears Foundation - a non-profit organisation says South Africa operates as a source, transit, and destination country for syndicates exploiting highly …

Illegal gambling costs African economies billions and leaves consumers vulnerable

Illegal gambling is emerging as a major challenge for African regulators, with industry experts warning that unlicensed operators are taking billions in potential revenue away from the regulated market and leaving consumers without adequate protection. The issue has come under the spotlight at the …

Haiti gangs: Can the new UN-backed force succeed where Kenya’s mission struggled?

On today's The Discourse, we focus on Haiti, which remains in the grip of a devastating gang crisis, with armed groups controlling large parts of Port-au-Prince and violence continuing to displace and kill civilians. For nearly two years, Kenyan police were at the centre of an international effort …

New global mpox vaccine stockpile aims to speed up access during outbreaks

A new global stockpile of mpox vaccines is being established to help countries respond more quickly to outbreaks and ensure timely and equitable access to vaccines. The initiative, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is expected to begin operations later this month and builds on lessons from the …

Two South African sisters rescued from human trafficking network and returned home from Malawi

Two South African sisters, aged nine and 15, have been rescued from an international human trafficking network and returned to South Africa from Malawi. The girls were received by South Africa's Social Development Minister, Dina Pule, at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Their return …

UN to vote on African-backed push for more accurate maps showing the continent’s true size

The U.N. General Assembly will vote today on an African-led effort to change how the world sees itself on a map. The draft resolution argues that the centuries-old Mercator projection dramatically enlarges landmasses farther from the Equator -- leaving Africa appearing disproportionately small. Bac…

WMO says El Niño is certain to persist through February 2027

The World Meteorological Organization says there is a 100 percent likelihood that the El Niño climate pattern will persist through to February 2027. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo says the climate phenomenon is now firmly established. She was speaking at a press conference in Geneva. Thuto Ngo…

Reparatory justice is a legal, economic and moral imperative for Africa : Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley

Reparatory justice is not charity or aid, it is a legal, economic, and moral imperative to correct centuries of systemic exploitation and address the structural development deficit across our continent. Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley has more 

Senegal secures 2.2 billion dollar IMF deal to tackle debt and restore economic stability

Senegal and the International Monetary Fund have reached a new 2.2 billion dollar loan agreement, aimed at helping the West African nation address its mounting debt and restore economic stability. The deal comes after a major revision of Senegal's public finances revealed previously undisclosed deb…

Kenya’s maize shortage raises food security concerns as GMO restrictions limit import options

Kenya is facing a looming maize shortage, with drought severely affecting domestic production and the country potentially needing to import around two million tonnes of maize. South Africa has a significant surplus, but restrictions on genetically modified maize could prevent it from supplying the …