The African Heralds (2025)

11/04/2025

One of the most pressing issues of our time is the wild meat trade. Why? Because it's consumed by millions and puts billions at risk from emerging diseases. It provides food and income for some of the poorest and most remote communities in Africa and Asia, yet over-exploitation makes ecosystems unstable and threatens the destruction of endangered species.

In Africa, wild meat hunting is driven mostly by protein and meat scarcity ("the poor man's meat"). In some regions, like east and south-east Asia, it can be found in restaurants, offered as high-priced exotic delicacies ("the rich man's status").

But consuming wild meat also poses great dangers and challenges. The global wild meat trade can drive biodiversity loss, fuel illegal markets and spread diseases. The wildlife trade and so-called wet markets, where wild animals and wild meat are often sold, are conducive to the emergence of diseases, such as Ebola and HIV, which can be transmitted from animals to people.

These issues are the focus of a recently released landmark study. It takes a new approach to analysing wild animal exploitation: it focuses on consumption and consumers rather than wild animals or hunting communities.

Most previous studies on wild meat have been by people who want to stop it, with a handful on its livelihood and nutrition benefits to poor people. Our study, with its focus on consumption, allows us to balance conservation, community development, animal welfare and plague prevention.

We are specialists in livestock and sustainable development and authors of the report. We worked for over a year to analyse and synthesise wild meat trade with a focus on hotspots in Africa and Asia.

We argue that, because the wild meat trade is here for the foreseeable future, policymakers and implementers should be looking at: better management of the global wild meat trade, reducing and managing the farming of wild animals, and providing alternatives to consumption of wild meat by poor people.

We must find a way to balance the benefits and risks of wild meat consumption in a way that protects human health, wildlife welfare, and our environment.

Importance of wild meat trade

Drawing on previous studies and a systematic literature review, our report found that the global trade in wild meat is extensive. Annual revenues range from US$1 billion in Africa to US$8-11 billion from illegal trade in south-east Asia to US$74 billion from wildlife farming in China.

The volume of wild meat consumed is also significant - and often much higher than that of livestock meat. On average, African foragers consume 38kg of wild meat and farmers 16kg per year. The average annual livestock meat consumption per person in Africa is about 16.7kg.

We found that in at least 60 countries wildlife and wild-caught fish contribute at least 20% of the animal protein in rural household diets. Where poverty is high, wildlife abundant, and affordable domesticated meat and access to markets scarce, many households turn to hunting wild animals.

Not being harvested sustainably

Unlike domesticated meat, which comes from just 20 or so animal species, the wild meat trade involves hundreds of species. In Africa about 500 species are hunted, in south-east Asia about 300.

Current rates of extraction of wild meat are unsustainable, except for some small and fast-reproducing species such as rodents. Ungulates (hoofed animals) generally tend to be the most frequently hunted, followed by large rodents and primates. Near human settlements, larger bodied animals have over time tended to be hunted out and replaced by smaller species (such as duikers and large rodents), which reproduce at faster rates and thus are more sustainably hunted.

The illegal trade in wild meat is increasingly moving online, with Asia as both a major supplier and consumer. Smuggling intensifies hunting pressure, as wildlife is harvested not only for local needs but also for global markets. There is some evidence of declining extraction rates due to over-hunting, resulting in "empty forests". While bans can reduce hunting, they may also drive the trade underground.

Climate change is already driving an increase wild meat extraction by making it harder to grow plants and farm animals. Studies show that in some critical ecosystems, such as the Serengeti in Tanzania, there are rapid declines in wildlife linked to climate change and land-use change.

Addressing the wild meat challenge

Moving away from wild meat practices in poorer countries presents a complex challenge.

Replacing wild protein sources with commercially raised livestock can be prohibitively expensive for low-income households and governments alike. Moreover, it's estimated that increased livestock production to replace the loss of wild meat could increase deforestation and require some 124,000km² of additional agricultural land.

Some solutions do exist - but these depend on the context.

Where wild animal hunting is prevalent, such as the forest margins in Africa and Asia, alternative protein sources could reduce the demand for wild meat by providing sustainable and culturally accepted protein sources. Examples are cane rats, Nile tilapia and African catfish in west and central Africa, cavies (guinea pigs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and bamboo rats in south-east Asia. High-reproducing "mini livestock", such as rabbits, cane rats, cavies, capybara and giant African snails, can provide household meat in a relatively short period. However, attempts to promote alternative animals have met with little success. We suggest paying people not to hunt or subsidising alternative meat may be more effective and feasible.

Hundreds of thousands rely on hunting wild animals. Rather than criminalising hunters or trying to turn them into farmers in unsuitable lands, it may make more sense to pay them not to hunt by giving them free or subsidised livestock meat, which they may prefer.

Promoting disgust triggered by wild meat can be a promising channel, too, for changing consumption behaviours. Societies often, and sometimes quickly, shift from finding "different" meats appealing to finding them appalling. In the UK, for example, offal was eaten by the poor before becoming a fashion-food for the English gentry during the early modern period. Behavioural science can be harnessed to nudge these mind shifts in the right direction.

This study provides new insights into the wild meat trade. Deeply embedded in human culture, hunting wild animals is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. However, sustainable practices can balance human and ecosystem health and wildlife conservation, ensuring a future where both people and nature thrive.

This article originally appeared on The Conservationist.

One of the most pressing issues of our time is the wild meat trade. Why? Because it's consumed by millions and puts billions at risk from emerging diseases. It provides food and income for some of the poorest and most remote communities in Africa and Asia, yet over-exploitation makes ecosystems un

11/04/2025

Acknowledging mounting global policy-induced turbulence, business leaders and policymakers at the Djibouti Forum have called for renewed optimism and enhanced collaboration among African nations to withstand challenges.

The appeal was made as 150 business leaders and policymakers from 51 countries gathered for the second edition of the Djibouti Forum, an international business gathering that aims to engage private and institutional investors to transform the Red Sea nation and the wider African continent.

Held under the theme of "Unleashing Opportunities for Regional and Global Growth" in Djibouti City from Sunday to Tuesday, the forum said that recent global turbulences, much of them self-inflicted, serve as a wakeup call for countries in Africa and beyond to build greater strategic partnerships and domestic resource mobilization.

Speaking at the opening session, Djibouti's Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed emphasized economic diversification as a viable solution in the face of global uncertainties.

He said that amid the rapidly changing world, where yesterday's certainties are no longer guaranteed, Djibouti strives to maintain its stability and adapts to changes.

The prime minister highlighted the Red Sea nation's efforts in diversifying its economy beyond its well-established ports and logistics sector, with investments in renewable energy, the digital economy, tourism, and financial services.

Carlos Lopes, former executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and currently an honorary professor at the Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town, expressed concern over the current geopolitical uncertainties and the rise of protectionism, which pose significant challenges for African economies.

He said that African economies have been adversely affected by the recent "unprecedented" erosion of the multilateral system, exacerbated by a series of crises stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

"It is very difficult for African countries, with their very limited fiscal space, to be able to respond to a succession of crises in such a short period of time," Lopes said.

Acha Leke, senior partner and chairman of McKinsey Africa, expressed optimism regarding Africa's economic prospects despite challenges such as high indebtedness and unequal economic growth across countries.

"Despite all its challenges, Africa is home to approximately 345 businesses valued at over 1 billion U.S. dollars, with cumulative revenues around 1 trillion U.S. dollars," he said.

Slim Feriani, chief executive officer of Djibouti's sovereign wealth fund, said the private sector is a force for good and needs positive regulations to create a conducive environment.

"We want to be an essential tool for directing investment toward the productive sectors of our continental economy, and we already are," he said.

The forum featured more than 50 prominent speakers, engaging in discussions covering topics such as privatization, public-private partnerships, and key economic sectors like technology, connectivity, energy, tourism, financial services, and logistics.

This article originally appeared in Hiiraan

Acknowledging mounting global policy-induced turbulence, business leaders and policymakers at the Djibouti Forum have called for renewed optimism and enhanced collaboration among African nations to withstand challenges. The appeal was made as 150 business leaders and policymakers from 51 countries

11/04/2025

The musician turned opposition leader Bobi Wine has said he will stand again against Uganda’s authoritarian leader, Yoweri Museveni, in next year’s presidential elections. Despite being jailed, attacked, shot, and facing threats of violence, including from Museveni’s son, Wine said he felt he had little choice but to try to advance the hope for change that was energising Ugandans, especially the young.

“We cannot just give the election to General Museveni,” he said, in an interview with the Guardian.

The leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, said he expected the January 2026 election, in which Museveni has said he will stand for what would be his seventh term in office, to be bloody.

But, with 80% of the Ugandan population under the age of 35, Wine believes change can come.

“Young people are so hopeful because they see the possibility,” he said. “Ultimately the good will of the people is what is important for this election and for our campaign. They know if you are not given freedom, you don’t have a life.

“I think I stir a lot of hope because I don’t shut my big mouth, and that’s a big challenge to the regime.”

Museveni, now in his eighties, has held power in Uganda since 1986, one of the world’s longest standing national leaders.

In 2021, Africa Elections Watch observers said the election was conducted with “irregularities”, while the US state department called it “fundamentally flawed”. During that campaign, Wine was imprisoned and faced attacks and death threats.

“I am worried about what is ahead, of course,” said Wine. “Thinking about how brutal it is going to be, it’s going to be terrible. We are already seeing signs it will be more brutal. Last month, we had a byelection and one of my MPs died. Died after being tortured by the regime. Journalists were very badly beaten and observers from the US embassy had to leave the field.”

Among the enemies Wine and his NUP party have made is Museveni’s son, 50-year-old Muhoozi Kainerugaba. He was made chief of defence forces by his father and is also chair of the Patriotic League of Uganda, which lobbies heavily for him to succeed the presidency. Kainerugaba has made vicious public threats to Wine on his social media accounts, including saying he was keeping a bullet specially for him.

“More reason to stand up,” said Wine.

“I am convinced that if the world stands firm with us, 2026 could be a turning point. If the world leaders do not stand on the side of oppression, but help; if they criticise and distance themselves from the absence of human rights and democracy.

“I get the feeling right now that the international community is more concerned with diplomacy rather than democracy; more concerned with business than rights and freedom.”

Asked about the impact of Donald Trump’s populist presidency on Uganda, including the huge aid cuts and disinterest in peacekeeping or humanitarian concerns, he said: “We are now in a situation where there is less concern for Africa. If lifesaving aid is cut then how will aid for democracy fare?

“Aid cuts are going to impact Uganda very negatively. But also much aid is diverted to support this corrupt regime. The aid that was helping in the health sector is not there any more, so we are going to have less medicines and more bullets,” he said.

“We have always been asking for targeted sanctions on those in the regime and asking the US not to send their taxpayers’ money to be spent on things that can be used against our people. The guns that kill our people are American guns. The soldiers who torture our people are trained in America.

“So we want America and other world powers not to be partners in crime, but to call out General Museveni for the absence of human rights.

“I believe foreign aid, in many ways, is lost in patronage and corruption, only to have the burden of repayment on next generations. The aid we need is in sticking to values. If we have a good democracy and human rights, that will bring leaders who will stamp down on corruption.

“We lose two-thirds of our annual revenue to corruption – 10tn Ugandan shillings ($2.5bn) stolen every year. That figure comes from the inspector general of government, so it could be more. He could be giving us a low figure. Whichever way, it is huge,” he said.

“Our debt burden is heavy, it will take us 97 years to pay back and of course we have new predators. But I believe it is fixable. We have human resources, we have a young, energised population. We are endowed with natural wealth and resources. If corruption is stamped out, we can make every sector work that could rise us from poverty and indebtedness.”

Wine’s wife, the author Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi, was a linchpin in Wine’s first parliamentary campaign in 2017 and joined him on the presidential campaign trail in 2020 with her own manifesto for women’s rights.

Their struggle was documented in the Oscar-nominated film Bobi Wine: The People’s President, which was released after the 2021 campaign.

Kyagulanyi was held under an illegal house arrest with her husband in 2021. But she is “energised” for 2026 he says.

“Those who are fighting for freedom, I’m afraid they don’t decide [to do it], they don’t apply. It happens to them,” he said. “For me, I would like to be making music not risking my life, but there is no choice.

“While I am here speaking to you, I don’t know if I’ll be in jail next week. If I am still alive and not in jail by the end of this year, then I’m going to run for presidency, again.”

This story originally appeared in the Guardian

The musician turned opposition leader Bobi Wine has said he will stand again against Uganda’s authoritarian leader, Yoweri Museveni, in next year’s presidential elections. Despite being jailed, attacked, shot, and facing threats of violence, including from Museveni’s son, Wine said he felt he ...

10/04/2025

While much of the world has left capital punishment behind, the most recent report by Amnesty International shows executions last year reached their highest level globally in almost a decade, while a number of African nations are considering reintroducing the death penalty.

A surge in executions, as reported by Amnesty International, has renewed debate over the death penalty - particularly in African nations including Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where governments are considering reintroducing capital punishment.

Human rights advocates warn this move could reverse years of progress in regions already grappling with fragile justice systems.

According to Amnesty International's 2024 report, released on Tuesday, the number of people executed last year reached 1,518 - the highest number since 2015.

While most took place in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the announcement that several African states are considering bringing back the death penalty has raised alarm among campaigners.

The DRC is proposing introducing executions for ordinary crimes, and the ruling military junta in Burkina Faso has announced similar intentions.

These discussions come as Amnesty warns that some regimes are "weaponising" capital punishment in order to stifle dissent, target minorities or enforce political control - trends that observers fear could be replicated if these African states move forward with their plans.

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Accept Manage my choices France, Germany summon Iran envoys to protest against executions

'Most cruel of punishments'

"The death penalty is an abhorrent crime with no place in today's world," said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty's secretary-general.

"Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the most cruel of punishments - particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia - with the death penalty used to silence those brave enough to speak out."

Amnesty's report paints a grim picture of how capital punishment is being misused. Iran was responsible for 64 percent of all known executions last year, many of which were linked to protests or involved vulnerable individuals.

Saudi Arabia doubled its executions from the previous year, often using beheading. Those sentenced to death included political dissidents and members of the Shiite minority.

Death penalty handed down for three albino killers in Malawi

Miscarriage of justice fears

The potential reintroduction of the death penalty in parts of Africa has prompted broader concern over the continent's human rights record as a whole.

In countries where the rule of law is often inconsistent and corruption widespread, rights groups warn that innocent people are especially vulnerable.

While 145 countries globally have either abolished or stopped using the death penalty, several African nations continue to implement it. Botswana, Egypt and Somalia are among those actively using capital punishment.

In 2024, Egypt carried out executions in complete secrecy, making it difficult to assess the true scope of the practice.

Nigeria's possible reintroduction of capital punishment for drug-related offences is also under scrutiny. Amnesty notes that more than 40 percent of executions worldwide are linked to drug crimes - with Iran, China and Singapore among the main offenders.

Under international humanitarian law, drug offences do not meet the criteria of the "most serious crimes" - such as murder - warranting the death penalty.

This legal standard is crucial in Africa, where under-resourced judicial systems and lack of access to fair trials frequently lead to miscarriages of justice. In Nigeria, reports of torture and coerced confessions persist, raising questions about the state's ability to administer irreversible sentences responsibly.

Sierra Leone's parliament abolishes death penalty, but sceptics fear a crime wave

While some governments argue that the death penalty is a necessary deterrent in the face of rising crime or terrorism, many civil society organisations, both local and international, argue there is little evidence that capital punishment reduces crime more effectively.

Across Africa, a slow but steady trend towards abolition had been under way. Chad abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 2020, with Sierra Leone and Malawi following suit in 2021 - with the latter's Supreme Court citing its incompatibility with human rights principles.

This article originally appeared on RFI.

While much of the world has left capital punishment behind, the most recent report by Amnesty International shows executions last year reached their highest level globally in almost a decade, while a number of African nations are considering reintroducing the death penalty. A surge in executions,

10/04/2025

The announcement late last week that a UAE-based investor Rowad Capital Commercial (RCC) is to acquire a 60% stake in Uganda’s national telecom company, Uganda Telecommunications Corporation (UTel), begs a number of questions that are yet to be answered.

The basic idea seems to be to capitalise UTel to take on the management and commercialisation of the ICT National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) in Uganda.

Rowad Capital will take a 60% shareholding in UTel, while government will maintain a 40% share; the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development will have 25% and the ICT Ministry 15%.

The new partnership will see RCC make an initial investment of US$25 million, and thereafter, US$200 million over the next three years.

There have been raised eyebrows about the end of the existing contract with a network planning and design company called Soliton Telmec that was contracted by National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U) to manage the NBI. The government doesn’t want to delay the recapitalisation opportunity for UTel, so Soliton Telmec will, presumably, be paid off after being asked to end its involvement three years early.

Once UTel takes over, the government hopes to turn the NBI into more than just a tool for public agencies, by targeting private sector clients and thus, it hopes, boosting revenue.

A UTel Board has been appointed comprising members from government and RCC, which will make a formal resolution that will create a bank account for the initial investment to be made.

As for the questions that this move might invite, they mainly involve the details of how UTel can be turned around. We reported that Rowad’s involvement was first mooted last August, less than two years after UTel was placed under court-appointed administration.

It’s hard to judge the likely success of the government’s plans at this early stage but it can reasonably be said that turning UTel into an efficient, competitive company probably won’t be easy.

This article originally appeared in Developing Telecoms

The announcement late last week that a UAE-based investor Rowad Capital Commercial (RCC) is to acquire a 60% stake in Uganda’s national telecom company, Uganda Telecommunications Corporation (UTel), begs a number of questions that are yet to be answered. The basic idea seems to be to capitalise UT...

10/04/2025

Tanzanian police arrested the east African nation’s main opposition leader after he addressed a rally to promote democratic reform ahead of October elections, his party said.

Tundu Lissu and other members of the Chadema party were taken into custody in the southern Mbinga district on Wednesday, it said in a statement, adding that police used teargas to disperse his supporters.

“Police raided the public rally and when they tried to arrest Lissu, our supporters resisted,” said Chadema spokeswoman Brenda Rupia. “Police then used excessive force, including firing teargas and live ammunition in the air. Many people were injured, including women and children,” she said.

The police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chadema has vowed to block upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections if the government does not implement key reforms, including the independence of the electoral body.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned that her government will not tolerate troublemakers in the run up to a general election. While Hassan lifted a ban on rallies and some newspapers after succeeding the autocratic John Magufuli in 2021, opposition leaders have accused her of rowing back on promised democratic reforms.

The article originally appeared in Bloomberg

Tanzanian police arrested the east African nation’s main opposition leader after he addressed a rally to promote democratic reform ahead of October elections, his party said. Tundu Lissu and other members of the Chadema party were taken into custody in the southern Mbinga district on Wednesday, it

09/04/2025

The minister noted that the doctor-to-population ratio in Nigeria has dropped to 3.9 per 10,000 people.

Nigeria has lost over 16,000 doctors in the last five to seven years, a situation that has cost the country billions of naira, according to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the seventh annual capacity-building workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA), Mr Pate, a professor, expressed concern over the rising migration of healthcare workers and its economic impact on the health sector.

He said the estimated cost of training a single doctor in Nigeria exceeds $21,000, highlighting the fiscal damage of losing such a large number of trained professionals to other countries.

"This trend is not just about people leaving," the minister said. "It represents a fiscal loss. The estimated cost of training one doctor exceeds $21,000--a figure that reflects the magnitude of public financing walking out of our countries.

"It deeply affects our health systems--leaving many of our rural communities critically underserved."

Doctor-to-population ratio falls

The minister noted that the doctor-to-population ratio in Nigeria has dropped to 3.9 per 10,000 people, far below the World Health Organisation's recommended standard.

"In Nigeria alone, over 16,000 doctors are estimated to have left the country in the last five to seven years, with thousands more leaving in just the past few years. Nurses and midwives have also thinned in numbers. The doctor-to-population ratio now stands at around 3.9 per 10,000--well below the suggested global minimum," he noted.

Mr Pate explained that the exodus is driven by a combination of factors, including better economic prospects, improved working conditions, access to advanced training, and more supportive research environments abroad.

He acknowledged that the migration of health professionals from developing to developed countries is not new, but said it has intensified in recent years, with more healthcare workers aspiring to practice outside Nigeria.

National policy on migration

Despite the challenges, the minister said the situation offers an opportunity to rethink and reshape health workforce management policies.

He referenced the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration as part of the federal government's broader efforts under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

"This policy is designed to address health workforce migration with dignity--dignity for health workers, for the country, and for the profession," he said. "It is not a restrictive policy, nor is it one born out of resignation. It is evidence-based and data-driven."

He explained that the policy aims to retain and motivate health workers still in Nigeria, establish ethical recruitment agreements with destination countries, expand training capacity, reintegrate Nigerian professionals abroad, and strengthen regulatory systems and data management.

Mr Pate acknowledged that the global health workforce shortage is at 18 million, and countries in the Global North face their human resource crises due to demography and other factors.

"But our response is based on stewardship--balancing the rights of health professionals to seek opportunities abroad with our duty to protect the integrity and viability of our national health system," he said.

Call to action

Mr Pate, who praised President Tinubu's role as the African Union's Continental Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery, urged other African countries to join Nigeria in forging a continental response to workforce mobility.

He proposed a new compact based on pan-African training and accreditation standards, shared planning tools, and joint negotiating platforms with countries that recruit African health workers.

Also speaking at the workshop, the President of AMCOA, Joel Okullo, emphasised the need for unity among African nations in regulating healthcare and managing the growing challenge of workforce mobility.

Mr Okullo expressed the belief that the outcome of the workshop would produce actionable strategies to improve healthcare services across Africa.

"This year's theme highlights our commitment to tackling the diverse array of challenges within the health regulatory landscape," he said.

"Let us embark on this journey with enthusiasm and a shared sense of purpose. Our collaborative efforts today and over the next few days will lay the groundwork for transformative changes."

Professional unity, patient focus

The Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Fatima Kyari, welcomed participants and noted that this was Nigeria's first time hosting the AMCOA workshop.

Ms Kyari lauded the alignment of leadership at various levels to ensure patient safety and stronger regulation.

Chairman of MDCN's Governing Board and head of the Local Organising Committee, Afolabi Lesi, stressed the need for healthcare regulators to maintain global standards while tailoring practices to suit the local context.

However, Mr Lesi raised concerns over divisions among health professionals that hinder effective teamwork and patient care.

"The reality is that while we have committed and clear directions at the level of governance, implementation of actions is bedevilled by fractioned and fractious relationships among health workers who ought to be working as a team," he said.

"The patient's well-being and safety must be the primary focus of all our actions."

This article originally appeared on Premium Times.

The minister noted that the doctor-to-population ratio in Nigeria has dropped to 3.9 per 10,000 people. Nigeria has lost over 16,000 doctors in the last five to seven years, a situation that has cost the country billions of naira, according to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare,

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