In South Africa, wind turbine projects on the border of a large national park are facing fierce resistance. The turbines could disrupt communication among elephants and make them aggressive, according to local concerns.

Wind turbine projects on the border of a large national park in South Africa are facing fierce resistance due to concerns that they could disrupt communication among elephants and make them aggressive. Patricia Huon, reporting from Addo National Park, relays the distress of Joe Manjoko, who views the turbines as a monstrosity.

Nearly ten years after the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, former South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on January 5. The case highlights issues of femicide and domestic violence, with Pistorius having shot Steenkamp through a bathroom door, claiming he mistook her for an intruder. Initially convicted of culpable homicide, his sentence was later increased to murder by the Supreme Court in 2017, resulting in over 13 years of detention. Pistorius's release after serving half his sentence has been met with criticism from those fighting impunity for violence against women in South Africa. While in prison, Pistorius lived in a facility suited for disabled inmates and will remain under surveillance for six years, with conditions including therapy and anger management training.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has avoided impeachment following a parliamentary vote against adopting the recommendations of the 'Phala Phala' report, which involved a burglary at one of his properties and the theft of a large sum of cash of dubious origin. The ANC, holding a majority in Parliament, has shown full support for Ramaphosa, with the report being rejected by 214 votes to 148. The refusal to allow a secret ballot minimized the chance of dissenting voices, with only five ANC members, including Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, voting for the report. The ANC continues to protect its interests within the Assembly.

Somalia is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis due to its fifth year of drought, with half of its population being undernourished. The United Nations estimates that nearly 7 million people are threatened by famine, which is about half of the country's population. Victor Chinyama, the communication chief of UNICEF in Somalia, warns that half a million people, mostly children, could be in a situation of acute malnutrition by December.

Desmond Tutu, the last icon of the anti-apartheid struggle, was honored with a national funeral on January 1, 2022, at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town, where he served as the first black Anglican archbishop. The funeral was attended by notable figures, including former Irish President Mary Robinson and current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who praised Tutu as a moral compass and national conscience. Tutu, who passed away on December 26, was remembered for his nonviolent resistance against apartheid and his unwavering hope for South Africa. The ceremony was modest, as per his wishes, with a small bouquet of white carnations on a plain pine coffin. Thousands visited the cathedral to pay their respects, and Tutu's ashes will rest inside the cathedral.

The Malian army, supported by the European Union and France, is accused of committing more civilian deaths than the jihadist insurgents they are fighting. Despite documented human rights violations, the EU continues to provide training and equipment without a vetting mechanism to prevent contributions to rights abuses. The EU-backed army's actions are believed to be driving radicalization and extremism. The European Training Mission to Mali (EUTM) lacks a mandate for human rights monitoring, and there is no post-training tracking of soldiers' conduct. The French Ministry of Armed Forces trusts the Malian military to apply the law of armed conflicts, despite the EU parliament's call for redefining military training missions to include human rights monitoring. Mali's army has been losing ground to insurgents and is described as under-equipped and poorly trained. The EU spends around 30 million euros annually on training Malian forces, which is criticized for not effectively combating the insurgency and for being part of a corrupt system. The French troop drawdown and the push for European armies to deploy in the Sahel raise concerns about the effectiveness and ethical implications of foreign military support in the region.

An investigation by The New Humanitarian and Der Spiegel into France's anti-jihadist Operation Barkhane in Mali reveals a higher civilian death toll than officially acknowledged. Eyewitness accounts and leaked documents suggest at least 25 more civilian deaths since 2013, with the UN and survivors disputing French claims of targeting only jihadists. The French military's lack of transparency and accountability is criticized, and local grievances over civilian casualties are believed to be boosting jihadist recruitment. The UN has called for an independent inquiry into the Bounti village attack, where 19 civilian casualties were confirmed, but France has not complied. The French military's reliance on air power and special forces is expected to increase, raising concerns about adherence to international humanitarian law.

South Africa's progressive constitution prohibits discrimination, prompting legislators to consider a new marriage bill that includes polyandry, currently a national debate. Polygamy is legal for men (polygyny) but not for women, raising questions of gender equality. Religious party officials and social media debate the proposal, citing cultural inappropriateness and family values, while others view it as a step towards a less patriarchal society. The bill also aims to recognize unions from various religious and cultural minorities and to ban child marriage.

South Africa has the highest rate of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the world, a legacy of colonial history where Dutch settlers made slaves alcohol-dependent. This practice continued, with white winemakers paying workers in wine, illegal since 1961 but with lasting effects. Many children are born with growth delays, neurodevelopmental disorders, and in severe cases, brain damage due to maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. In some towns, up to one in fifteen children suffer from FAS-related disorders. Despite the high alcohol consumption across all classes and races, the issue remains taboo, and public support structures for affected children are lacking. Ironically, major alcohol brands fund the few organizations fighting fetal alcoholism, such as FARR, but contributions are minimal compared to their profits.

In the Mopti region of Central Mali, civilians are caught between jihadists, community self-defense groups of the Fulani and Dogon, and the Malian army. The report details an incident recounted by Khadija Hamadoun Diallo, where military forces conducted searches and arrests in her village, returned a month later, opened fire, and burned down houses, leaving the villagers with nothing.

In the Mopti region of Mali, civilians are caught between jihadists, community self-defense groups of the Fulani and Dogon, and the Malian army. Khadija Hamadoun Diallo recounts how the military conducted searches and arrests in her village before returning a month later, shooting indiscriminately, and burning down houses to ensure nothing was left for the villagers.

As Africa faces a second wave of COVID-19, voices are condemning the moral failure of wealthy countries. While millions in the United States and China have been vaccinated and Israel is aiming for herd immunity in the short term, only three African countries – Seychelles, Egypt, and Mauritius – have started a real vaccination campaign.

A series of brutal xenophobic attacks targeting foreign truck drivers in South Africa has escalated, with dozens of trucks torched, cargoes looted, and drivers injured or killed. The violence, which has not been claimed by any group, is suspected to be xenophobic, with most victims being African foreign nationals. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the attacks, which threaten the economic recovery process amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The trucking industry is described as being under siege, with competition over routes and employment of cheaper foreign drivers over South Africans being a contentious issue. Human Rights Watch reported approximately 200 driver deaths between March 2018 and July 2019. The recent attacks have led to arrests and discussions about potentially deploying the army. The situation could lead to increased food prices and commodities while unemployment and poverty are at record levels.

A decade after South Africa began to emerge from the AIDS pandemic, which claimed 3 million lives, the country faces the COVID-19 pandemic with memories of past struggles. Despite significant progress in HIV treatment, about 70,000 people still die annually from related illnesses. The current pandemic brings back fears of government denial, lack of necessary medication in hospitals, and the trauma of unnecessary deaths. While the middle class in predominantly white neighborhoods flirts with illegality to enjoy simple pleasures, those in townships struggle to survive, facing hunger and the anxiety of providing for their children post-crisis. The government's proactive stance offers some reassurance, but with a recession looming and the worst of the epidemic yet to come, the nation is resigned yet apprehensive, hoping to avoid a repeat of past devastation.

In South Africa, state aid promised to the poorest is slow to materialize. In the black neighborhoods of the townships, hunger is added to the fear of the virus. In Melville, a cosmopolitan neighborhood of Johannesburg inhabited mostly by the middle class, people enjoy some freedom after two months of strict lockdown, despite the country being the most affected by Covid-19 on the continent with over 21,000 confirmed cases.

African artists across the continent are using their music and popularity to spread prevention messages against coronavirus, raise funds, and support response efforts. Catchy rhythms and lyrics in multiple languages promote practices like social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing. In Senegal, artists like Didier Awadi and Youssou N’Dour have released a song, 'Daan Corona,' with proceeds going to the Ministry of Health. Burkina Faso's rapper Smarty, with UNICEF's support, combats rumors and misinformation. Ugandan rapper and opposition leader Bobi Wine, along with Nubian Li, has also been vocal in the fight against the virus, providing advice and listing symptoms through their music.

Guinean President Alpha Condé, at 82 years old and after a decade in power, is compared to Nelson Mandela but criticized for his determination to cling to power. Despite a political crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, Guinea held a constitutional referendum on March 22, which could allow Condé to seek a third term. The new constitution was approved with 91.5% 'yes' votes. Condé, who has been an opposition figure for forty years, is described as intelligent, authoritarian, and stubborn. His tenure has seen growth without development, benefiting only a small network of politicians and businessmen, with social indicators below West African averages. Condé, reelected in 2015 amid fraud suspicions, believes he needs more time, and within his party, the RPG, dissent is scarce.