Editor's note

The future of health in sub-Saharan Africa is the focus of a major new Lancet Commission report, the outcome of a four-year long project involving, among others, African academics, policymakers, business leaders and civil society. The report concludes that the gap between sub-Saharan Africa and other regions is most accentuated in terms of research and higher education. Alex Ezeh, Nelson Sewankambo, Peter Piot set out its findings.

Yesterday marked International Day of Democracy. Africa is in much better shape than it’s ever been as countries have ditched repressive regimes and deepened democratic systems. But, Nic Cheeseman warns, there’s still a long way to go. Political repression and economic inequality have increased over the past five years, calling into question the extent of the continent’s democratic gains.

Angola’s parliament will swear in João Lourenço as president today, the first change in the post since the country’s independence in 1975. But, warns Claudia Gastrow, Lourenço is likely to face a crisis of legitimacy given the loss of support for the ruling MPLA.

Julius Maina

Editor

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Why the path to longer and healthier lives for all Africans is within reach

Alex Ezeh, African Population and Health Research Center; Nelson Sewankambo, Makerere University; Peter Piot, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Sub-Saharan countries have unprecedented opportunities to substantially improve health outcomes within a generation, largely with their own resources.

Democratic breakthroughs in Africa: time to celebrate but worries still linger

Nic Cheeseman, University of Birmingham

Until African political systems become less majoritarian and do a better job of protecting the rights of minorities, the true benefits of a democratic government are unlikely to be realised.

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