The paper examines the use of social media within African–Intercontinental investigative journalism networks, focusing on how journalists navigate challenges such as surveillance and censorship. It discusses the deployment of encrypted social media apps at various stages of the journalism production chain to minimize risks. The study identifies four brokerage roles filled by foreign members of these networks and highlights additional challenges like skill set, Internet access, and fear of state surveillance. The paper calls for more research into social media use in African investigative journalism, considering the broader socio-political context.

Professor Andrew MacLeod, with a team of geneticists and lawyers, is using DNA technology to identify and prosecute foreign aid workers who have sexually abused women and girls in Central and West Africa. His pilot study in the Philippines has already led to the identification of six children fathered by foreign nationals. MacLeod's work is supported by a £44,000 grant from King's College London and involves collaboration with Africa-based NGOs. The study aims to provide justice to the offspring of sexual exploitation by aid workers, holding the perpetrators accountable and offering the children knowledge of their heritage and potential financial support. The article also discusses the broader issue of sexual exploitation in the aid industry, institutional resistance to addressing the problem, and the potential impact of MacLeod's work on the industry's approach to such abuses.

The article discusses the water scarcity issues faced by the villagers of Ha Noha in Lesotho, juxtaposed against the water-intensive operations of MG Health, a company cultivating medical cannabis. Villagers, like Maitumeleng Bocanana, struggle daily to fetch water for basic needs due to drought and the additional strain from COVID-19. MG Health, backed by Canadian investors, uses a significant amount of water for their crops, sourced from the Senqunyane River, and has fenced off natural springs, limiting villagers' access. Despite the Lesotho government's efforts to address water shortages and food insecurity, including international aid, the local community's water challenges persist. The article also touches on the broader context of Lesotho's entry into the global legal cannabis market and the impact on local farmers and landowners.

West and Central Africa have the highest number of child soldiers globally, with over 21,000 children recruited by government forces and armed groups. UNICEF has identified three new areas of concern in West Africa: the Lake Chad Basin, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon. Terror groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, use tactics such as distributing bomb-themed coloring books to train children as fighters. In 2020, at least 73 children were recruited in Chad and Niger, with actual numbers likely higher due to difficulties in verification. Children are often abducted from schools, farms, and hospitals, and the trend of children of fighters joining ranks is emerging.

Der Artikel behandelt das globale Problem des Sandabbaus, der als der am häufigsten abgebaute Rohstoff gilt und gleichzeitig wenig reguliert ist. Der illegale Sandabbau hat zu Umweltschäden und Sicherheitsproblemen in über 70 Ländern geführt, wobei Nigeria als Beispiel für die Auswirkungen und das Ausmaß des Problems hervorgehoben wird. Trotz offizieller Lizenzen für Sandminenbetreiber zeigt sich, dass die meisten Sande aus Gebieten mit den wenigsten Lizenzen stammen. Sand wird für die Herstellung von Beton, Asphalt, Elektronik und Glas verwendet, was seine hohe Nachfrage erklärt. Der Artikel hebt die negativen Folgen des unregulierten Sandabbaus hervor, einschließlich der Zerstörung von Vegetation, Störung des Wasserhaushalts und der Förderung von Konflikten.

Tramadol, often referred to as the poor man's cocaine, is increasingly causing addiction among young people in West Africa. Nigerian musician Chris Obehi, who has become a local celebrity in Palermo, Italy, and Nigerian investigative journalist Ruona Meyer, who discusses the abuse of Codeine and Tramadol in West Africa, are featured in the article.