All articles tagged with #east africa
A new reconstruction of the DAN5/P1 cranium from Gona, Ethiopia, reveals a unique combination of early Homo and H. erectus features, suggesting complex population structure and evolution in African Homo during the Early Pleistocene, with implications for understanding the emergence of H. erectus.
The African continent is undergoing a significant geological transformation as tectonic forces are splitting the landmass along the Great Rift Valley, potentially leading to the formation of a new ocean, with ongoing seismic activity and plate movements providing valuable insights into Earth's geological processes.
Researchers discovered fossils of a new human-like species, Ledi-Geraru Australopithecus, dating back 2.6 to 2.8 million years in Ethiopia, suggesting multiple hominin lineages coexisted in East Africa, challenging the linear view of human evolution.
Researchers in Ethiopia discovered fossils of a previously unknown human species from about 2.65 million years ago, coexisting with early Homo species, indicating a complex and overlapping human evolutionary history in East Africa.
A more severe strain of mpox, known as clade I, has been detected in the U.S. for the first time, with a case confirmed in California. The patient contracted the disease after traveling from East Africa, where there is an ongoing outbreak. The CDC states that the strain poses a low risk to the general public, advising against close contact with infected individuals and recommending vaccination for those eligible. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic disease endemic to Central and West Africa.
Three decades after the genocide, Rwanda has made significant progress in rebuilding its society, but the scars of the past still linger. The country has focused on reconciliation and development, with efforts to promote unity and economic growth, but challenges remain as it continues to heal from the trauma of the genocide.
Sudan has suspended its membership in the East African regional bloc, IGAD, accusing it of violating the country's sovereignty by inviting RSF chief to a summit. The announcement was made by the foreign ministry loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, amid the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF paramilitary group. The government had already frozen its relations with IGAD and accused the bloc of setting a dangerous precedent. IGAD, along with the US and Saudi Arabia, had attempted to mediate between the warring parties without success.
Incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has threatened to declare war on Rwanda if re-elected, accusing them of backing the M23 rebel group. Tensions between the two countries have been escalating, with the DRC blaming Rwanda for the violence in its volatile east. While some analysts believe Tshisekedi's rhetoric is aimed at gaining more votes, experts warn that such strong language could have severe consequences and destabilize East Africa. The DRC has a history of instability and conflict, and efforts to end the war have so far been unsuccessful.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported anthrax outbreaks in five East and Southern African countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, resulting in over 1,100 suspected cases and 20 deaths this year. While these countries experience seasonal outbreaks annually, Zambia is currently facing its worst outbreak since 2011, and Malawi has reported its first human case this year. The outbreaks are likely driven by various factors, including climatic shocks, food insecurity, low-risk perception, and exposure to infected animals. WHO has warned of a high risk of the Zambian outbreak spreading to neighboring countries.
The first Miocene mammal fossils have been discovered in the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, providing valuable insights into the evolution of African ecosystems and the hominin lineage. The findings include fossil teeth, radiometric dates for the geological formation, reconstructions of paleovegetation, and a diverse range of fossils, including a new species of giant hyraxes. This discovery sheds light on a previously paleontologically empty region and is part of an international scientific collaboration aimed at protecting biodiversity and promoting local development.
Russia's decision to halt the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed the export of Ukrainian agricultural goods to East African countries, is causing concern over rising consumer prices and potential food shortages. The agreement, which facilitated the export of millions of tonnes of grain, including donations to aid organizations, has been crucial for countries grappling with climate change-induced challenges like drought. The end of the deal could exacerbate food insecurity and strain farmers and aid organizations already struggling to respond to crises. Activists and economists are calling for climate-smart solutions to support local farmers and reduce import dependency, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency and regional trade.
Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan are considering enacting anti-LGBTQ laws similar to Uganda's, which punishes gay sex with prison or even death in some cases. The proposed Kenyan law mirrors many aspects of the Ugandan law, including the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality". The anti-gay bill is being vetted by a parliamentary committee, and the LGBT community fears the worst. The proposed law would signal the death knell for Kenya's status as a place of relative refuge for gay people in East Africa as the only country in the region to host refugees fleeing persecution because they are LGBTQ.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has visited Ethiopia and Kenya to discuss peace and stability in Africa, green energy, and the consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine. Scholz praised the African Union's bid to join the G20 and promised Germany's help in finding a peaceful solution to the troubles in Sudan. He also raised the question of support for Ukraine in its war against Russia and discussed food security in the region. In Kenya, Scholz will aim to press Germany's role as a reliable partner as a counter to growing Chinese influence in the region and discuss investment in the country's renewable energy sector.
The worst drought in East Africa in at least 40 years, which has displaced over a million people and pushed millions more to the brink of famine, would not have happened if not for human-caused climate change, according to a network of extreme weather scientists. Rising global temperatures, largely from burning fossil fuels, have disrupted the weather patterns that typically bring rainfall to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. With global temperatures about 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than the preindustrial average, droughts like this one are 100 times more likely than they would have been in a cooler world.
Human-caused climate change has made droughts in East Africa at least 100 times as likely as they were in the preindustrial era, according to a study by an international team of scientists. The region's string of weak rainy seasons is now the longest in around 70 years of reliable rainfall records. The study estimated that periods as hot and dry as the recent one now have a roughly 5 percent chance of developing each year in the region. Climate groups have for years pointed to the calamity in East Africa as evidence of the immense harm inflicted on poor regions by global warming from emissions of heat-trapping gases.