News, economies and societies across Africa

Society

A young population, fast-growing cities and new leaders: this section examines how African societies are changing, and the social debates that echo from other parts of the world.

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Features look at the potential of the continent’s youth, the influence of women in leadership in 2026, the pace of urbanisation and the obstacles and openings in education. Sport appears as a unifying force, including the South African rowing team’s first appearance at a Boston regatta.

Humanitarian and civic stories sit alongside them: aid groups in Sudan, a clean water drive funded by well-known online creators, disputed election results in Benin. Global social trends such as falling birth rates and online romance scams complete the picture.

Those researching demographic change should begin with the youth and urbanisation features, which frame much of the other coverage.

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12 min read

The power of african women leaders in 2026

The power of African women leaders in 2026 is visible across the United Nations and other multilateral bodies, where a new generation of African women…

12 min read

The rise of urbanization in african cities

The rise of urbanization in African cities is transforming the continent: projections indicate the urban population will double to 1.4 billion by 2050, with roughly…