African news feeds (<front>)

[Daily Maverick] A fierce blaze hit Table Mountain National Park, affecting Newlands and Kirstenbosch. Helicopters and firefighters rushed to control the fire.

[CAF] South Sudan, the world's youngest nation will soon be making their second appearance in the qualifiers of the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Women's Cup of Nations (WAFCON), since their attempt for the 2024 finals.

[The Conversation Africa] As Mali's mining sector faces growing tensions -- highlighted by the recent seizure of gold stocks from the Canadian company Barrick by the military government -- questions about economic sovereignty and mining governance have become more relevant than ever.

[The Conversation Africa] Visibility has always been important in people's decisions about where to live and how to arrange their spaces. People make connections with what they can see. Being able to see prominent landmarks, such as certain mountain peaks, rivers or ancestral sites, could help reinforce a community's connection to its cultural and spiritual landscape.

[The Conversation Africa] As the armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rages on, calls are being made for non-military solutions.

[UN News] Every day, almost one in five young women are married off while still children, according to the UN reproductive and sexual health agency, UNFPA, which is urging countries to say "I don't" to child marriage, an illegal practice that is almost universally condemned and yet remains widespread globally.

[Crisis Group] The Sudanese army is pushing to take over Khartoum. Should it prevail, it would record a major victory, though one that would be unlikely to end the country's devastating conflict. Mediators should keep exploring openings for peace talks.

[The Conversation Africa] South Africa's finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, cancelled the unveiling of the country's 2025 budget as it was due to be released. The move is unprecedented in the country's history.

[MSF] In recent days, the security situation around the city of Uvira, in South Kivu province of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has rapidly deteriorated, reaching a critical point on 15 February. Residents describe scenes of looting, increased violence, and clashes within the city between the Congolese army (FARDC) and the Wazalendo fighters. Medical facilities have not been spared from gunfire, impacting patient care. Staff from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) who were present at the onset of

[MSF] It is with great sadness that we are sharing the news of the passing of our colleague, Jerry Muhindo Kavali, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He died today from the gunshot wound he suffered while at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) base in Masisi town, North Kivu, during clashes between the VDP/Wazalendo and the M23/AFC on 20 February.

[African Arguments] Zambia is wooing international investors to develop its copper resources but communities dependent on illegal mining want a better deal.

[Chatham House] How the Libyan conflict transformed human trafficking routes in West Africa, and why Europe's response has so far failed.

A growing number of women are choosing to be sterilised, bucking traditional norms.

A growing number of women are choosing to be sterilised, bucking traditional norms.

A growing number of women are choosing to be sterilised, bucking traditional norms.

Tuareg separatists accuse Russian Wagner fighters and Malian soldiers of killing 24 civilians.

Tuareg separatists accuse Russian Wagner fighters and Malian soldiers of killing 24 civilians.

[allAfrica] Today I am heading to Kigali, Rwanda where more than 400 leading global academics, policy makers and health care experts will gather at the Pan-African Surgical Conference to address a major global health problem: bringing access to comprehensive surgical care closer to patients' homes.

Colleagues say Jerry Muhindo Kavali, 49, was kind, committed and "always had a smile on his face".

What is it like to be a Congolese Tutsi - the people for whom the M23 rebels say they are fighting?