How South Africa’s Shift from Coal to Renewables Is Going in 2025
Just over 74% of South Africa’s electricity still comes from burning coal. In 2021, the country negotiated the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Germany, the UK, France, the US and the European Union. They committed to providing South Africa with US$8.5 billion (R157 billion) to move away from coal to renewable energy. (In March 2025, […]
Mali: 22 Men Found Dead After Arrest by Soldiers
Independently Investigate Apparent Summary Executions in Diafarabé Town Mali’s government should credibly and independently investigate the apparent extrajudicial executions of at least 22 men taken in military custody on May 12, 2025, in the town of Diafarabé, central Mali, Human Rights Watch said today. Residents who saw the bodies three days later said the victims […]
Are Rwanda’s Green Villages Improving Lives? A Look at the Impact
After the devastating 1994 genocide, Rwandans returning from the violence established homes and began farming where they could find land. Since then, the Rwandan government has aimed to bring people scattered across rural parts of the country into grouped settlements which they have called “model villages”. These are intended to provide extra support for highly […]
Chad: Opposition Leader Arrested
Detention of Succès Masra Emblematic of Shrinking Political Space Chadian authorities arrested Succès Masra, the former prime minister and leader of Chad’s main opposition party, at his residence in N’Djamena early on May 16, 2025, Human Rights Watch said today. Masra’s arrest raises concerns of escalating harassment and threats against the opposition party Les Transformateurs […]
UN Security Council Should Renew South Sudan Arms Embargo
Amid Renewed Fighting, Enforcement Needs to be Bolstered As hostilities escalate across South Sudan, the United Nations Security Council should renew its arms embargo on the country. The council should also act to prevent additional weapons from reaching the warring parties and foreign forces from adding to the violations. In recent months, government forces have […]
Rising Food Prices Deepen Nigeria’s Poverty Crisis
Authorities Should Strengthen Social Security Several West African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Gambia, proudly compete over who makes the best “jollof rice,” rice cooked in spicy tomato sauce. But in Nigeria, this cultural staple is becoming a luxury because of soaring inflation, while government support remains slow and inadequate. Last month, SBM Intelligence, […]
Why Wealthy Nations Owe Africa Climate Funds—and How They Could Fuel Urban Growth
Wealthy nations fuelled their industrial growth and urbanisation by burning fossil fuels. This was the biggest cause of climate change, which now affects every country in the world, even developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa which are responsible for less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Wealthy nations owe a climate debt. Africa is urbanising […]
Justice Vital for Durable Peace in Africa’s Great Lakes Region
Crucial that Talks Include Accountability for Grave Abuses United States-led efforts to end the current armed conflict in Africa’s Great Lakes region appear oblivious to one of the key drivers of the hostilities: the region’s history of failing to punish those responsible for atrocities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. So far, talks have resulted in […]
How Climate Change and Conflict Are Threatening Somalia’s Exports: A 30-Year Data Review
In the sun-scorched lands of Somalia, farmers and livestock keepers have grown accustomed to the extremes of climate. In 2022, for example, the country suffered the longest drought in 40 years. This affected nearly half the national population of 18 million people. The following year, heavy and widespread flooding devastated the country’s farmlands and infrastructure. […]
Top African Rights Court to Consider States’ Climate Obligations
Advisory Opinion Could Further Cement Rights in Climate Action A coalition of African lawyers and civil society groups has asked the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for an advisory opinion on 55 African Union member states’ human rights duties in the climate emergency. Led by the Pan African Lawyers Union and the African Climate […]