Editor's note

The ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading - so far there have been 458 cases, including 271 deaths. What’s particularly concerning is that cases have been identified in some urban areas. The big questions are: why is the epidemic spreading, and what can be done to stop it? Mosoka Fallah shares lessons from the massive outbreak in Liberia in 2014 and 2015 that was eventually brought under control.

Forests cover about 10% of Nigeria. Their size makes them hard to manage and a lack of government presence means that they’re being exploited by criminals. The forests are being used as a sanctuary by a range of groups ranging from terrorists to kidnappers, cattle rustlers and robbers. Azeez Olaniyan explains why this poses a security threat.

Moina Spooner

Commissioning Editor: East Africa

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Since 2014 the Ebola outbreak in Liberia killed over 4,800 people. UNMEER/Flickr

Ebola in the DRC: expert sets out critical lessons learnt in Liberia

Mosoka Fallah, Harvard Medical School

It could be a matter of days before the ebola epidemic in the DRC spreads to urban centres or spills over into neighbouring countries.

Across the world forests have been exploited as a source of cover from which to launch attacks. Rettet den Regenwald/shutterstock

How poor management of Nigerian forests led to exploitation by criminals

Azeez Olaniyan, Ekiti State University

Nigeria's forests are used by terrorists, kidnappers, cannabis cultivators, cattle rustlers and robbers.

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