Laureen Fagan

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Laureen is a freelance journalist creating high-quality, informed content on international affairs, politics and technology. She has worked both in and out of newsrooms since 2000. She is a former paramedic with significant experience in community resilience and nonprofit community development initiatives, and maintains "a passion for action" on sustainability and climate change. She also is trained in conflict resolution and diversity, and has special interests in science and medical reporting, and culture and religion issues. Laureen received her MSJ from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in the United States, and completed additional graduate study in theology at University of Notre Dame. Follow Laureen on Mastodon at @laureen@m.ai6yr.org

U.S. VP Harris begins Africa tour in Ghana

U.S. VP Harris begins Africa tour in Ghana

Vice President Kamala Harris of the United States arrived in Accra on Sunday, beginning a three-nation tour that focuses on investment and African economic growth. “Today begins a weeklong journey, first here in Ghana, then on to Tanzania and then Zambia,” said Harris during public remarks. “I’m very excited about…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Nigerian leaders confirm moon sighting, mark the start of Ramadan

Nigerian leaders confirm moon sighting, mark the start of Ramadan

Nigerians will begin their observance of Ramadan on Thursday, following an announcement from the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and its National Moon Sighting Committee that the crescent moon was observed, marking the start of the holy month of fasting and prayer. “May Allah make it a blessed…

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Eritrea denies U.S. claims of war crimes in Tigray

The government of Eritrea has denied allegations that its military forces engaged in war crimes during the Tigray conflict in northern Ethiopia, a conflict in which it has often claimed its personnel were not involved. The denial issued Tuesday followed a statement from Tony Blinken, the United States Secretary of…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Malawi death toll rises to 447 as storm Freddy recovery begins

The death toll following tropical storm Freddy has risen to at least 447 in hard-hit Malawi, where President Lazarus Chakwera has declared a two-week period of mourning and closed schools in affected areas through the end of the month. Another 282 people were still missing as of Saturday, according to…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Top U.S. diplomat Blinken heads for Niger after Ethiopia visit

Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States has announced US$331 million in new funding for humanitarian aid in Ethiopia, where he met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other leaders on Wednesday as part of an African tour that continues through the end of the week. Blinken said…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Freddy’s rains continue as Malawi flooding death toll rises

Tropical storm Freddy continues to impact Malawi with flooding rains and mudslides that have claimed some 200 lives, although some improvement in storm conditions is forecast by Wednesday evening. “However, the threat of flooding remains high in some areas,” warned the country’s Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services in…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

African tech founders speak up about Silicon Valley Bank impacts

Africa’s startup founders and investors are watching what happens next for Silicon Valley Bank (SBV), which was shutdown by regulatory authorities in the United States on Friday—essentially freezing thousands of accounts at the tech-friendly bank and raising questions about what happens to startup funds. “Check in on your fellow tech…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Freddy delivers a deluge at second landfall in Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Freddy has made its second landfall in Mozambique, hitting the Zambezi region with extreme rainfall and winds as agencies in neighboring Malawi keep a close eye on the forecast track. The storm’s winds measured at least 150 kilometers per hour as it approached the mainland. Météo France, reporting…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

AfDB launches project to combat money laundering, corruption

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA), an independent African forum, announce a three-year project to help curb money laundering, bribery and other illicit financial flows (IFF) in African nations. The formal launch of the African Financial Integrity and Accountability Support Project (AFIAP) was…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Freddy, now the longest tropical storm, returns to Madagascar

At 32 days, Tropical Cyclone Freddy has now become the longest-lived tropical storm ever recorded, with impacts that still haven’t quit as it makes another pass at Madagascar and Mozambique following its long journey across the entire Indian Ocean. The storm’s winds measured 150 kilometers per hour at about 9:30…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

African delegates welcome long-awaited UN High Seas Treaty

African leaders are celebrating news of successful negotiations for a High Seas Treaty, the long-awaited United Nations agreement to protect global oceans and ecosystems through international cooperation. The treaty, approved by delegates to the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), follows years of talks that…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Macron’s Africa trip highlights Angola space deal, Gabon forests

French President Emmanuel Macron continues his African tour through Sunday, completing stops in Angola and Congo Brazzaville on Friday as he seeks to reassure leaders of France’s commitment to Africa while acknowledging that the vestiges of the colonial era are forever in the past. Macron met with his Angolan counterpart,…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times