Editor's note

In Nigeria, as is the case in most African countries, same-sex sexual activities and same-sex marriage are criminalised. Research has shown repeatedly that being part of a minority group can cause enormous stress. Olakunle Oginni explores how gay and bisexual men in Nigeria deal with this stress and the stigma that surrounds their sexuality in the West African nation.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be hoping that a new unit he's established in his office, the Policy Analysis and Research Services, will help to strengthen his government's policy capacity. Alan Hirsch sets out what the unit must do and what it's up against.

Julius Maina

Regional Editor East Africa

Top Stories

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How do Nigerian gay and bisexual men cope? This is what they told us

Olakunle Oginni, King's College London

The negative effects of lower levels of self-stigma can be offset by positive coping strategies.

The Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, the country’s seat of government. Shutterstock

South Africa has a new presidential advisory unit. Will it improve policy?

Alan Hirsch, University of Cape Town

President Cyril Ramaphosa has revived a presidential advisory unit shut down by his predecessor. He needs it if he is to use his power effectively to improve his government's policy coherence.

Politics + Society

Why the African Union shouldn’t ease up on Sudan’s coup leaders

Laurie Nathan, University of Notre Dame

The African Union's policy offers no wriggle room for a discretionary response to coups, a scourge that imperils the consolidation of democracy.

Rwanda and Sri Lanka: A tale of two genocides

Sharry Aiken, Queen's University, Ontario; Cheran Rudhramoorthy, University of Windsor

This spring marks the 25th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide and the 10th year since the Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka. The world knows what happened in Rwanda. What about Sri Lanka?

Science + Technology

With engagement and education, reusing wastewater can become the norm

Dalia Saad, University of South Africa

Wastewater reuse suffers from a perception problem.

South Africans don’t trust companies to protect their data privacy

Adele Da Veiga, University of South Africa

South African consumers aren't confident that organisations always use their information lawfully and for agreed purposes.

From our international editions

Hydropower dams can harm coastal areas far downstream

Paula Ezcurra, University of California San Diego; Octavio Aburto, University of California San Diego

Thousands of hydropower dams are under construction around the world. New research shows that by cutting off sediment flow, these dams can have big ecological effects on far-off bays and deltas.

Scott Morrison hails ‘miracle’ as Coalition snatches unexpected victory

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

The outcome is completely opposite to the polls, which all had Labor ahead going into the election, albeit narrowly and with some tightening during the campaign.

Viruses to stop cholera infections – the viral enemy of deadly bacteria could be humanity’s friend

Andrew Camilli, Tufts University; Minmin Yen, Tufts University

Cholera kills fast, and outbreaks are common in war-torn regions and after natural disasters where clean water is scarce. A new strategy to prevent cholera infections is a 'cocktail' of live virus.

How to make health news interesting — without overselling the claims

Petroc Sumner, Cardiff University; Rachel Adams, Cardiff University

Journalists have to communicate research without reducing interest or readability — but the public needs accuracy.

En français

Le retour des frontières en Europe : une fausse bonne idée

Frédérique Berrod, Sciences Po Strasbourg — Université de Strasbourg

Face à l’afflux des migrants, des pays au cœur de l’Europe ont temporairement réintroduit les contrôles à leurs frontières. Est-ce une implosion de Schengen ?

Comment les acousticiens peuvent reconstruire le « son » de Notre-Dame

Brian FG Katz, Sorbonne Université; Mylène Pardoen, Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme (FMSH) – USPC

Des mesures acoustiques ont été réalisées dans la cathédrale en 2013 et un modèle acoustique géométrique 3D de la nef a été créé. Ce travail sera très utile pour reconstruire le « son » de Notre-Dame.

En español

El territorio del Rioja ante el desafío del cambio climático

Sergio Andrés Cabello, Universidad de la Rioja; Enrique Ramalle-Gomara, UNED - Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia; Joaquin Giró Miranda, Universidad de la Rioja; Lya Arpón Sáinz, Universidad de la Rioja; María Paz Diago Santamaria, Universidad de la Rioja; Nuria Pascual Bellido, Universidad de la Rioja

La temperatura ha aumentado en la región alrededor de un grado entre 1950 y 2014, produciendo cambios en los modelos vitivinícolas y repercutiendo en la actividad de los profesionales del sector.

El experimento más famoso de Galileo probablemente nunca tuvo lugar

José Manuel Montejo Bernardo, Universidad de Oviedo

Es una de las anécdotas más famosas de la historia de la ciencia, pero hay poca evidencia histórica que la apoye.

 
 
 
 

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