Notices by The Continent (thecontinent@mas.to)

Building up: The annual replastering of the Djinguereber Mosque, also known as Djingareyber, in Timbuktu. It was erected in the 14th century during the reign of Mansa Kankou Moussa and is 700 years old.

Photo: Hameye Capii/AFP

Since its independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has weathered political upheaval. By 2009, it was on its third coup – after ones in 1971 and 1975. The bloodless coup that deposed Marc Ravalomanana made the then 34-year-old opposition leader Andry Rajoelina the world’s youngest leader. https://continent.substack.com/p/military-wins-rajoelina-flees

Zimbabwean authorities took farmlands back from white farmers in the early 2000s to redress colonial imbalances. Two decades later, in lithium-rich areas, land is parceled off again – this time to Chinese miners. https://continent.substack.com/p/zimbabwes-lithium-boom-uproots-locals

In May 2022, an Israeli sniper shot and killed Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh. Last week, Israel targeted and killed five journalists in one attack. In between those dates, Israel became the largest killer of journalists in the world. https://continent.substack.com/p/the-worlds-greatest-killer-of-journalists

All Protocol Observed.

Welcome to Issue 212 of The Continent.

We join more than 250 newsrooms in 70 countries blacking out front pages in solidarity with journalists in Gaza.

Read Ansam al-Kitaa’s despatch from Gaza City: https://bit.ly/212_TC

Andabluesian: An elder descends through the distinctive alleys of the Medina of the northwestern Moroccan city of Chefchaouen, where the blue hues of its buildings are complemented by ornate mosaics.

Photo: Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP

With the state absent and armed groups in control, Goma, in eastern DRC, feels like purgatory. Edizon Musavuli, a local artist, turns to drawing to capture life in the uncertainty of occupation. https://continent.substack.com/p/baraka-and-the-unpredictable-life

All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 210 of The Continent

With the state absent and armed groups in control, Goma, in eastern DRC, feels like purgatory. One local artist turns to drawing to capture life in the uncertainty of occupation.

Get your copy here: https://bit.ly/210_TC

Aid is dead. Grandma is not. But taking her pension to build a road might kill her. https://continent.substack.com/p/how-to-fund-african-development-and

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved injectable lenacapavir for HIV treatment. But there is always a but. The drug could cost as much as $28,000 or as little as $100 – depending on where you get it. https://continent.substack.com/p/once-in-a-generation-hiv-drug-has

Eid al-Adha is here, but in Algeria, sacrificial lambs are in short supply. Years of drought have decimated herds. To keep the tradition alive, the government is importing sheep from Spain and Romania — then distributing them through lotteries and raffles. https://continent.substack.com/p/this-eid-algeria-is-short-on-sheep

Two DJs played a 24-hour set in an unfinished arts centre in Kampala — not for clout, but to help build it. Locals danced, kids joined in, and their livestreamed gig raised money to get the job done. As DJ Kampire puts it, "The only antidote to despair is to do something." https://continent.substack.com/p/a-24-hour-rave-to-build-ugandas-first

If The Continent matters to you, it might matter to someone you know. It’s free and you get a copy delivered straight to your device. https://thecontinent.org/subscribe

All Protocol Observed.

Welcome to Issue 200 of The Continent.

In an exclusive investigation, reporters went undercover to expose how Zimbabwe's ruling party, Zanu-PF, helped rig Mozambique’s election.

Get your copy of this week's edition here: https://bit.ly/200_TC

COMMENT: Africans will solve their own problems. But the loss of Western funding means local philanthropists, intellectuals and other leaders need to put funds and quality time into civil society – and hurry up about it. https://continent.substack.com/p/the-future-of-african-democracy-now

Diamonds account for 30% of Botswana’s entire economy. But lab-grown gems mean less demand for ones dug out of the soil. For now, Botswana is trying to get more control over the money still to be made from its precious stones. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/the-panic-behind-botswanas-big-sparkly

Angolan civil society groups are asking the Constitutional Court to repeal a law passed by Parliament in mid-July that seeks to penalise “crimes of vandalism of public goods and services” with up to 25 years in prison – the same as murder. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/angola-vandalism-law-seen-as-backdoor

While platforms like X and Facebook
– where algorithms hype content that
spreads division and hate – have been
key in spreading the violence, print
newspapers have a long history of doing
the same. The UK’s press is not required
to act in the public interest, or balance
free speech rights with responsibilities,
as is common in republican democracies. https://open.substack.com/pub/continent/p/islamophobic-violence-rips-through?r=481jks&utm_medium=ios

All Protocol Observed.

Welcome to Issue 169 of The Continent.

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap: Artificial Intelligence is not as artificial as it says on the box. In fact, programs like ChatGPT and Copilot rely on millions of data workers – actual humans – to do the grunt work. It’s tedious, underpaid, and often traumatic. No wonder much of the work is outsourced to vulnerable communities in the global south.

All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 168 of The Continent:

A century ago, Eritrean cyclists were forbidden from riding competitively by their European overlords. Now, an Eritrean cyclist has won three stages of Europe’s most prestigious bike race – overcoming enormous odds to do so.