SPECIAL FEATURES - The African Mirror

May

30

2026

Unearthing Namibia’s forgotten genocide through forensic archaeology

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

THE Namibian genocide was one of the first genocides of the 20th century. Between 1904 and 1908, tens of thousands of Ovaherero and Nama people were killed under German colonial rule. Despite the scale of these events, the material and human legacy of this genocide remains less understood than later atrocities. Historical accounts exist, but are often incomplete or shaped by the perspectives and priorities of the colonial period in which they were produced. The landscapes of Namibia that testify to this violence still survive, but are under increasing pressure from urban expansion, infrastructure development and environmental change. Archaeological research…

May

27

2026

By WAFULA YENJELA

Kenya’s war on traditional alcohol: a colonial hangover about what it means to be ‘civilised’

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

AT the dawn of Kenya’s colonial era in 1902, consumption of home-made alcohol was deeply embedded in society. For instance, among the Mijikenda of coastal Kenya, palm wine was integral (p.290) to traditional ceremonies, such as marriage and initiations, and in ritual offerings. This partly explains why the colonial authorities did not consider prohibiting African home-made liquors. As early as 1908, however, they did prohibit Africans from consuming or handling European liquors. The prohibition was ratified on the pretext of Europe’s commitment to preserving the presumed innocence of Africans. The ban on Africans’ consumption of European liquor fostered and sustained…

May

26

2026

By EMMET LIVINGSTONE

M23 tax drive in DR Congo puts squeeze on aid groups

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

THE M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is trying to extract money from relief organisations by demanding taxes on staff income, rent on properties, and entry visas, nearly a dozen aid officials told The New Humanitarian. This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian. By Emmet Livingstone Although aid groups have carve-outs permitting them to make payments to rebel-linked institutions, conceding to the taxes means financing – even if indirectly – an internationally sanctioned armed group that has committed massacres and other abuses. Paying also risks angering the Congolese government in the capital Kinshasa, and…

May

20

2026

By OWN CORRESPONDENT

A nation honours its best: from the rugby field to the laboratory, South Africa counts its giants

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

IN the thirty years since South Africa's democratic Constitution was signed into law, the country has produced a generation of achievers whose contributions have redrawn the boundaries of what is possible - on the rugby field, in the medical laboratory, in the community clinic, and in the halls of international science. On Tuesday, the Presidency recognised them. The 2026 National Orders investiture, presided over by President Cyril Ramaphosa at Sefako Makgatho Guest House in Tshwane, was the most substantive public accounting of national excellence in recent memory. The honours cut across every sector that defines a functioning, aspiring nation: sport,…

May

18

2026

By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The Rolls-Royce, the raid and the ruin of Anita Among

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

SHE arrived at President Yoweri Museveni's seventh-term inauguration on 12 May 2026, draped in a UGX 42.5 million Oscar de la Renta ensemble — yellow-gold, embroidered, imperial. It was, unmistakably, the outfit of a woman who believed herself untouchable. Four days later, her Nakasero home was surrounded by armed police officers, CID investigators, and plainclothes intelligence agents, as a joint security team executed a search warrant in connection with a corruption probe into alleged illicit enrichment and money laundering. The raid was sanctioned by Museveni. The fall of Anita Annet Among - Speaker of Uganda's 11th Parliament, National Resistance Movement…

May

16

2026

By MOTORING CORRESPONDENT

The ex-pie guy who could sell you a Rolls-Royce over the phone

MOTORING NEWS

LET'S be honest. When you think "car salesman," you probably picture a man in a slightly-too-shiny suit, hovering at the showroom door like a heat-seeking missile, armed with a handshake that's just a little too firm and a smile that's had professional coaching. You brace yourself. You keep your hands in your pockets. You say "just looking" before he's even opened his mouth. Asanda Nogantsho is not that man. For starters, he doesn't even need a showroom. Or a suit. Or, apparently, a quiet room. Twelve months ago, Nogantsho was navigating the streets of Johannesburg, selling pies. Good honest work,…

May

14

2026

By MOTORING CORRESPONDENT

A son of Africa at the Green Hell: Jonathan Mogotsi set to make history at the Nürburgring 24-hour race

MOTORING NEWS

THERE is a road in the Eifel highlands of western Germany that has swallowed the ambitions of the boldest drivers in the history of motorsport. Carved through pine forests and fog-draped ridgelines, the Nürburgring Nordschleife - 25.378 kilometres of blind crests, savage compressions, and corners that punish the slightest lapse in concentration - has earned a name that needs no translation in any language: the Green Hell. On the weekend of 18 and 19 May 2026, a young South African will line up on that storied asphalt for his 24-hour race debut. Jonathan Mogotsi, 26, Volkswagen Motorsport driver, former Driver…

May

13

2026

By ELENA MOORE and THOKOZILE MADONKO

Pensions for Botswana’s elderly are growing, but care services are lacking – study tracks 20 years

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

BOTSWANA’S economy is projected to contract by 0.4% in 2026, driven largely by a slowdown in the diamond sector. Diamonds account for a third of fiscal revenues and a quarter of GDP. This means the government has less money to spend, even before making any policy choices. At the same time, the government has set about reducing debt as a share of GDP by cutting expenditure to stabilise the economy. This combination is forcing difficult decisions about public spending. A key one is investment in social protection for older people. Over the past two decades, the number of older persons…

May

12

2026

By STEVEN GORDON

South Africans are far less tolerant of migrants than before – hotspots, drivers and solutions

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

ANTI-IMMIGRANT marches in several major South African cities (such as Tshwane and Johannesburg) in early May 2026 once again led to questions being asked about xenophobia in post-apartheid South Africa. In the wake of the protests, President Cyril Ramaphosa called on South Africans to embrace solidarity with their African neighbours. For their part, foreign governments lodged their protests while police sought to curtail violence. The tension in the country was palpable. Are the recent outbreaks of anti-immigrant activism a harbinger of a wider uptick in anti-migrant sentiment amongst South Africans? Recent public opinion data from the Human Sciences Research Council…

May

11

2026

By HASSAN ALI JOHO

Our Ocean, Our Future: Why Kenya is calling the world to act

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

THE Our Ocean Conference was created with a simple but powerful ambition: to move the world from conversation to action for the ocean. Since its inception in 2014, the conference has mobilised governments, the private sector, civil society, and communities to make concrete, measurable commitments that protect ocean health while supporting sustainable development. Over the past decade, Our Ocean has generated thousands of commitments worth billions of dollars, driving progress on marine protection, sustainable fisheries, climate action, pollution reduction, maritime security, and a thriving blue economy. What sets Our Ocean apart is its focus on delivery: commitments are tracked, reported,…