NEWS ANALYSIS

 COMMENT | DANIEL LITVIN  – Project Syndicate | The West’s dependence on China for so-called critical minerals once worried only a handful of experts and policy wonks. Now, the anxiety has gone mainstream, capturing headlines and becoming the subject of a BBC documentary series. But we have yet to answer …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | These are the top stories in this week’s THE INDEPENDENT. COVER STORY Ebola lockdown fear: Lessons from COVID show it’s a bad idea THE LAST WORD A return to Rwanda Part 3: Why how Rwandans tend public spaces with dedication and care shows they see …

Research shows content rules on Twitter help preserve free speech from bots and other manipulation | FILIPPO MENCZER | Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter on Oct. 27, 2022 has triggered renewed debate about what it means for the future of the social media platform, which plays an important role in …

EAC governments advised to take advantage of huge demand for ‘critical minerals’ Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | As demand for the so-called critical minerals which are needed to power renewable energy plants and hi-tech transport systems around the world gathers pace, the big question is whether East Africans can …

Local and foreign-backed forces wage war over mineral riches Some residents of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo simply call it la guerre sans fin — the war without end. One morning in August, Abigael Bahati felt it in her skin as she searched for cassava leaves close to the …

Kenya recently lifted a ban on the cultivation and importation of genetically modified crops amid the worst drought in 40 years and soaring food prices. This includes white maize, the country’s main staple. The decision was welcomed by scientists who see GM crops as the answer for food security. But …

And other implications of Kenya’s new law on Uganda ANALAYSIS  | THE INDEPENDENT | Kenya’s neighbours have begun reacting to its recent move to allow cultivation and importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) with moves that could lead to a slew of new legislation either for or against the cultivation, …

Brasilia, Brazil | Xinhua | After winning the second round of voting on Sunday, President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers’ Party is expected to remodel the largest Latin American economy during the four-year presidential term starting from Jan. 1, 2023. Analysts believe that the victory of Lula, …

  In Rwanda’s case, here was a man (Kagame) willing to impose harsh discipline on his lieutenants. They were willing to accept it because the alternative of living forever as refugees was not appealing to most of them THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M MWENDA | Post genocide Rwanda is …

Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | Kenya’s new government took full charge of affairs on Thursday, following the swearing-in of the cabinet ministers. All ministers except Peninah Malonza, who was nominated for Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage, successfully went through the vetting process by the vetting committee that concluded work on …