Africa Environment Digest

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14-20 May, 2026

A weekly digest of news, analysis & opinions on environment and development from Africa.

Health authorities are racing to contain Ebola in the DRC and Uganda. Here’s what’s making it so challenging

Bundibugyo strain drives largest-ever Ebola outbreak as limited testing, delayed diagnosis and cross-border spread strain DRC and Uganda health systems

Environment News | Analysis | Research

Agriculture in Africa: Science and research can’t make an impact without investment and good policies

In the end, the impact of science is a collective responsibility

Two key targets — reversing forest loss and eliminating extreme poverty among forest-dependent populations remain off track, finds UN report

Poverty reduction remains uneven, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where extreme poverty levels remain close to 46 per cent

AI boom masks deepening cracks in global economy, developing nations most exposed

Geopolitics replaces trade wars as biggest threat to global economy

The 2026 El Niño is developing unusually fast — and may rival the strongest ever recorded

NOAA says there is an 82% chance of El Niño developing between May and July, with early projections suggesting the Pacific warming event could rival the 1876-78 event, which contributed to severe global droughts and famine

Obesity among children is rising fastest in low- and middle-income countries, study finds

The research found that obesity rates among school-aged children and adolescents increased in nearly every country between 1980 and 2024, but the pace of growth now differs sharply by region

Gut health: Why food alone won’t fix childhood stunting

Studies must measure gut function — not only weight and height

DRC is sending in the military to guard mines and critical minerals. Will it be enough?

As Kinshasa deploys 20,000 ‘mining guards’, experts warn security alone cannot fix deep-rooted corruption, weak enforcement and community rights abuses in the cobalt-rich nation

Reports