Eyder Peralta

The hope was that if people weren't out drinking, they wouldn't be spreading the coronavirus. There were unforeseen benefits to the ban, which ended last month — and negative impacts as well.

Officially, South Africa has reported 53,000 COVID-19 deaths. Scientists believe that in reality the death toll may surpass 100,000 — which has many questioning everything from faith to rationality.

South Africa banned alcohol to enforce social distancing during the worst of the pandemic, but the ban also had a surprising effect, exposing the country's complicated relationship with alcohol.

The civil strife in Ethiopia has continued unabated, killing thousands as Western governments and rights groups raise the alarm on the shocking level of violence.

The second-oldest colonial city in South Africa, Port Elizabeth, has a new name. It mixes some of the unique linguistics of the Xhosa language, yet many South Africans are struggling to pronounce it.

Magufuli had not been seen in public since the end of February, fueling speculation that he was ill. Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced his death on state television.

South Africa has registered over 1.5 million cases of COVID-19 — one of the worst-affected countries in the world. Cases are now down, restrictions have eased and South Africans are looking forward.

More and more countries are getting shipments of vaccines and starting to inoculate their populations. But it's an unequal picture across the globe.

An activist in Uganda, who has fought an authoritarian government with vulgar poetry, is now in exile. Fleeing a broad crackdown against the opposition in the country.

People were dying of a disease that could be treated — but in poor countries, they did not have access to medicines that could help. That was the story of HIV — and now of COVID-19.

Sub-Saharan Africa has only administered a few dozen COVID-19 vaccines. It brings back memories of the AIDS epidemic when hundreds of thousands died because life-saving drugs were delayed.

Coronavirus infection rates in Kenya are the lowest they have been since the beginning of the pandemic, and life seems back to normal. A new song is capturing that moment.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR's Eyder Peralta, who lives in Nairobi, about why Kenya hasn't been hit as hard with COVID-19 as other countries around the world.

Young Ugandan voters had placed so much hope in elections this month to unseat longtime ruler Yoweri Museveni. Now with their dreams dashed, they're searching for answers.

In Uganda, a presidential election campaign was marred by violence against protesters and the opposition.

Ugandans voters on Thursday are deciding between a man who has been in power for more than three decades and a singer turned politician who has galvanized the youth in the East African country.

Uganda's youth are turning out in force ahead of Thursday's presidential election, challenging longtime leader Yoweri Museveni.

President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, spoke to NPR ahead of Thursday's election. His main challenger, Bobi Wine, said Tuesday the military had killed his driver and his home had been raided.

Ugandans go to the polls this week to elect a leader. President Museveni is running for a sixth time. He faces a big challenge from a young singer turned politician.

Uganda is a week away from its contentious presidential election. And after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, some Ugandans are worried about what will happen in their country.