DW AfricaLink

A standoff between police and illegal miners at Stilfontein has forced illict mineral extraction into the spotlight. The unsafe and unregulated "zama zama" trade draws many to South Africa where the government doesn't appear to be offering any good alternatives. Eddy Micah Jr. talks to Johannes Qankase, a community leader in Stilfontein and DW correspondent Thuso Khumalo in South Africa.

Protests in Maputo have claimed more than 30 lives. Human rights groups report that police have used excessive force, resulting in the injuries and death among protesters. Pressure is mounting on the 16-member regional body, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to act. Eddy Micah Jnr talks to DW correspondent Privilege Musvahiri and Zimbabwean human rights activist Linda Masarira.

Africa’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are essential for creating jobs, broadening the tax base and growing national revenue. But there are nowhere near enough of them on the continent. Eddy Micah Jr talks to Gideon Brefo, CEO of hapaSpace Innovation Hub in Ghana, and business owner George Antwi-Boasiako of Agrico hub.

As the world gathers for another UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), a pressing question lingers: Have global climate summits lost their meaning for Africans? Eddy Micah Jr. talks to Togolese negotiator Sena Alouko and sustainability and climate journalist Zeynab Wandati.

Conflict over land has gone on for decades in the border town of Bawku in northern Ghana. Experts warn that Islamist extremists fighting in neighboring Burkina Faso and Togo could take advantage of this volatile situation in Ghana. Josey Mahachi talks to Dr. Naazia Ibrahim, a conflict resolution researcher at the University of Development Studies and DW correspondent Maxwell Suuk in Ghana.

Disinformation campaigns in Africa have surged fourfold since 2022, threatening democracy and stability. These attacks now target 39 nations, distorting information systems for political agendas. In Ghana, a coalition of fact-checkers mobilizes to counter this threat. Josey Mahachi talks to Rabiu Alhassan of FactSpace West Africa and Roselena Ahiable of Dubawa Ghana.

Nigerian authorities have released minors facing trial for cost-of-living protests. Among the 76 arrested in August for treason, destruction of property and mutiny, at least 30 were children. The crisis has sparked mass protests, with several reported killed and hundreds arrested. Rights groups are alarmed by the crackdown. Is Nigeria suppressing dissent?

The Rwanda Governance Board is drafting a bill to tax churches and mosques, following President Paul Kagame's call to regulate "nonsense" in religious organizations. After closing over 9,000 prayer sites for failing to meet standards, the government aims to restore order with a strict new model. But how effective will it be?

Medical experts in Uganda are alarmed by the rise in babies born with heart defects. Out of 1.4 million newborns annually, around 16,000 have heart issues. The Uganda Heart Institute can only treat 50%, forcing many to seek help abroad. How can Uganda address this crisis? DW’s Josey Mahachi discusses this with Dr. Twalib Olega and DW correspondent Frank Yiga.

Donald Trump's policies, often transactional and rooted in "America First," could trigger ripple effects across Africa, influencing everything from trade and aid to foreign policy and security. What will another four years of Trump mean for Africa’s economies, leaders and people? Will it bring more investment, or could his critical stance on China lead to more challenges than cooperation?