Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Islam: Impacts, Legal Frameworks, and Asylum Relief in the USA

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Islam: Impacts, Legal Frameworks, and Asylum Relief in the USA

By Esther Claudette Gittens | Editorial credit: Ms Jane Campbell / shutterstock.com  Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), sometimes referred to as female circumcision, is a deeply controversial practice with cultural, religious, and social implications. It is practiced in various Muslim-majority countries, but it is not an Islamic requirement. Rather, it is rooted in cultural traditions that […]

Trump’s Executive Order 14204, Titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa”

Trump’s Executive Order 14204, Titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa”

By Esther Claudette Gittens In February 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14204, titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa,” effectively halting all U.S. financial assistance to South Africa. This decision was primarily driven by concerns over South Africa’s land expropriation policies and its legal actions against Israel at the International […]

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s Black History Month Tradition Returns With Evening of Rare African Art, Musical Performances, and More

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s Black History Month Tradition Returns With Evening of Rare African Art, Musical Performances, and More

***IMAGES HERE*** |Photos courtesy: Brooklyn Borough President Office Brooklyn, NY – On Monday, February 24th, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso commemorated Black History Month with “Brooklyn is Africa: Lineage & Power Through the Arts,” an annual event co-hosted with Eric Edwards and the Cultural Museum of African Art.  In keeping with Black History Month’s national theme “African […]

Rwanda’s Involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Motivations, Support, and Human Rights Implications

Rwanda’s Involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Motivations, Support, and Human Rights Implications

By Esther Claudette Gittens | Editorial credit: atm2003 / Shutterstock.com The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been embroiled in conflict for decades, with neighboring Rwanda playing a significant role in the region’s instability. Rwanda’s involvement, particularly through support of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, has led to territorial gains in eastern DRC, […]

China Flexes Its Media Muscle in Africa – Encouraging Positive Headlines as Part of a Soft Power Agenda

China Flexes Its Media Muscle in Africa – Encouraging Positive Headlines as Part of a Soft Power Agenda

By:Mitchell Gallagher | theconversation.com Every year, China’s minister of foreign affairs embarks on what has now become a customary odyssey across Africa. The tradition began in the late 1980s and sees Beijing’s top diplomat visit several African nations to reaffirm ties. The most recent visit, by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, took place in mid-January 2025 and included stops in Namibia, the […]

WHO in Africa: Three Ways the Continent Stands to Lose from Trump’s Decision to Pull Out

WHO in Africa: Three Ways the Continent Stands to Lose from Trump’s Decision to Pull Out

By:Lawrence O. Gostin & Alexandra Finch | theconversation.com President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) will be keenly felt across the globe, with profound implications for health in Africa. In the executive order putting the withdrawal process in place, Trump also paused the transfer of US funds, support and resources to the […]

Heart attacks and high blood pressure are on the rise in Africa – what does air pollution have to do with it?

Heart attacks and high blood pressure are on the rise in Africa – what does air pollution have to do with it?

Air pollution has an alarming effect on global health. In 2019, it was responsible for 4.2 million global deaths. Inhaling air pollution harms health in many different ways beyond simply having effects on the lungs. Over 70% of air pollution deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases – diseases of the heart and blood vessels, such as […]

Jimmy Carter: the American president whose commitment to Africa went beyond his term

Jimmy Carter: the American president whose commitment to Africa went beyond his term

By: John J Stremlau | TheConversation.com| Editorial Credit:Drew Angerer/Getty Images Former US president Jimmy Carter, who had been frail for some time, has died at the age of 100. His opposition to racism and his support for human rights are legendary, made more compelling by his life-long commitment to live among rural Georgians where segregation was severe and […]

Ghana Set World Record, Grants Free Citizenship To Black Americans & Caribbeans

Ghana Set World Record, Grants Free Citizenship To Black Americans & Caribbeans

Ghana Grants Over 524 Black Americans & Caribbeans Citizenship – History unfolded on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, as Ghana made a powerful statement of unity and restoration by granting citizenship to 524 African diaspora members in a groundbreaking ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre. The atmosphere was electric as the recipients, hailing from various […]

Many Wealthy Members of Congress are Descendants of Rich Slaveholders − New study Demonstrates the Enduring Legacy of Slavery

Many Wealthy Members of Congress are Descendants of Rich Slaveholders − New study Demonstrates the Enduring Legacy of Slavery

By THECONVERSATION| Editorial Credit: Mark Reinstein/ shutterstock.com The legacy of slavery in America remains a divisive issue, with sharp political divides. Some argue that slavery still contributes to modern economic inequalities. Others believe its effects have largely faded. One way to measure the legacy of slavery is to determine whether the disproportionate riches of slaveholders have been passed down to their […]