The last few weeks have been marked by major developments across the continent. We wanted to share the best-read articles of the month ranging from politics to science and the environment, health and medicine, economics as well as arts and culture.

The top reads included a number of articles about Ethiopia where a political transition is being watched with keen interest. A recent explosion targeting the new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has raised concerns about resistance to reforms he’s trying to introduce. Girma Mohammed sets out the context behind the attack while Yohannes Gedamu looks at the implications for the region as Ethiopia and Eritrea move towards a credible peace deal.

In West Africa, Nigeria is facing several challenges as it prepares for elections early next year. Olayinka Ajala argues that the conflict between farmers and herders and the security threat posed by Boko Haram need urgent attention if the country is to hold a credible poll. And Cameroon heads to the polls in October as the conflict between the Anglophone part of the country and the majority-Francophone intensifies. Phyllis Taoua offers suggestions to calm the situation.