Today in Africa — August 14, 2025: AU Wants World Map to Show Africa’s True Size, Fossils in Ethiopia Reveal New 2.65M-Year-Old Human Ancestor, South Africa Launches Talks on Poverty and Inequality

AU Pushes for Accurate World Map to Show Africa’s True Size

The African Union is backing a campaign to replace the centuries-old Mercator projection with maps that accurately represent Africa’s true size. The Mercator, created in the 1500s for navigation, exaggerates the size of places near the poles while shrinking Africa and South America. AU deputy chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi says the distortion fuels stereotypes that undermine Africa’s importance, despite it being the second-largest continent with over a billion people. Advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa are leading the “Correct The Map” campaign, urging schools, governments, and global institutions to adopt the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately reflects countries’ proportions.

The AU says adopting Equal Earth aligns with its push to “reclaim Africa’s rightful place on the global stage,” especially amid calls for reparations for colonialism and slavery. The campaign is targeting organizations such as the UN and the World Bank, which still use Mercator in some formats, and aims to make Equal Earth the classroom standard across Africa. Support is also growing outside the continent — the Caribbean Community Reparations Commission has endorsed the move as a rejection of the “ideology of power and dominance” embedded in the old map.

Fossils in Ethiopia Reveal New Human Ancestor Species

Scientists have discovered teeth in Ethiopia’s Afar Region that belong to a previously unknown species of Australopithecus — an early human ancestor — dating back about 2.65 million years. The find, from two individuals, adds a seventh known species to the genus and was uncovered alongside three other teeth from the oldest-known Homo species, dating to 2.59 million years ago. Both species appear to have lived in the same area at the same time, raising questions about whether they competed for resources.

The discovery suggests at least four different hominins lived in East Africa during that period, with another two species present in southern Africa. Researchers say the overlap shows human evolution was not a straight line, but a branching process with multiple species coexisting. The team is studying whether the two newly identified species have similar diets, which could hint at competition. Stone tools from the same era were found nearby, likely made by the early Homo species.

South Africa Launches National Dialogue Amid Political Tensions

South Africa kicks off a “national dialogue” in Pretoria tomorrow, Friday, August 15, aiming to gather voices from across society to address deep-rooted problems like poverty, inequality, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in 2024, the talks will include public meetings in all nine provinces and feature prominent figures such as the World Cup-winning South African national rugby team’s captain, Siya Kolisi, actor John Kani, and former judge Edwin Cameron. The process is meant to be inclusive, both in-person and online, and could run into next year.

The dialogue has faced pushback over its estimated $40 million cost, doubts about its impact, and walkouts from key political players. The Democratic Alliance, the country’s main opposition party and a partner in the Government of National Unity, withdrew after a dispute with the ANC and called the talks a waste of money, while the former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party is boycotting entirely. Some foundations also skipped the opening convention, citing rushed planning. Critics accuse the ANC of using the process for political gain ahead of local elections, though Ramaphosa says it’s about reimagining the country’s future.

Gambia Charges Three Women Over Deadly FGM Case

Gambian police have charged three women after a one-month-old girl died from complications linked to female genital mutilation, a practice banned since 2015 but still common in the country. One woman faces life in prison and is in custody, while two others, accused as accomplices, were granted bail. The case has drawn national outrage, with the Human Rights Commission calling it a reminder that FGM is a criminal act and a human rights violation that can be fatal.

Sudan Launches Cholera Vaccination Drive as Outbreak Worsens

Sudan has begun a 10-day cholera vaccination campaign in Khartoum targeting 150,000 people, as aid groups warn of the country’s worst outbreak in years. Heavy rains, mass displacement, and a collapsed health system have fueled the spread, with more than 99,000 suspected cases and 2,470 deaths since July 2024. Darfur has been hit hardest — 40 people died and over 2,300 were infected there in the past week alone — while hospitals like Tawila’s are overwhelmed. The conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has left millions without clean water or sanitation, creating conditions where cholera thrives.

U.S. Backs $346M Weapons Sale to Nigeria

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $346 million weapons sale to Nigeria, pending Congress’ approval, to help the country tackle mounting security threats. The package includes munitions, bombs, and rockets, aimed at boosting operations against Boko Haram insurgents, other armed groups, and illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. Boko Haram attacks have surged in the northeast, killing civilians and overrunning military posts, while violence in the north-central and northwest has left hundreds dead in recent months. The conflict has displaced over 2 million people and killed about 35,000 since 2009.

Former Rebel Stronghold Bouake Rebuilds as Côte d'Ivoire Faces Political Tensions

Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire’s former rebel stronghold, is hosting Independence Day celebrations for the first time in over 60 years, signaling recovery under President Alassane Ouattara, who recently announced his bid for a third term. While the city shows signs of economic growth, former fighters and residents report ongoing struggles, including job discrimination and ethnic tensions between northern Dioula communities and indigenous groups. Bouake was the center of the 2002 rebellion that split the country, and clashes during the 2020 election killed 85 people. With key opposition figures Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam barred from the October 25 vote, the political climate remains tense, even as civil society groups hope for long-term reconciliation.

Nigeria’s Defense Chief Responds to Criticism Over Civilian Casualties

Nigeria’s Defense Chief of Staff General Christopher Musa defended the military’s operations against insurgents and criminal gangs, acknowledging civilian casualties but insisting forces do all they can to prevent loss of life. Speaking in Abuja, Musa said airstrikes and other operations are often paused to avoid harming civilians, even if it limits tactical success. He called for a review of international laws, arguing they constrain state forces while non-state actors act freely. Musa highlighted ongoing human rights and humanitarian law training for troops, responding to rights groups’ concerns about excessive force in Nigeria’s north and central regions.

Congolese Mining Company Denies US Allegations After Sanctions

The Congolese mining company CDMC rejected U.S. sanctions linking it to armed groups and mineral smuggling in eastern DRC, calling itself a victim of conflict. The U.S. Treasury Department this week sanctioned CDMC, the PARECO-FF armed group, and two Hong Kong exporters over illicit mineral sales from Rubaya, a region now controlled by M23 rebels. CDMC said armed groups’ presence and taxation prevented it from legally operating its sites. Rubaya produces 15% of the world’s coltan, a key component in electronics, and ongoing rebel activity has fueled violence and instability in the area.

Novo Nordisk Launches Weight-Loss Drug Wegovy in South Africa

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk introduced its weight-loss drug Wegovy in South Africa today, Thursday, August 14, marking its first launch on the continent and entering the market eight months after Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro. Wegovy is the first once-weekly GLP-1 therapy registered specifically for weight management in South Africa, where one in two adults is living with excess weight or obesity. The drug, already available in 35 countries, will come in five dose strengths, with pricing announced next week. Novo plans to expand Wegovy to other African markets, including Egypt. South Africa has roughly 20 million adults who are overweight or obese, yet less than 1% currently receive treatment. Novo already sells Ozempic locally for diabetes, while Mounjaro is sold for Type 2 diabetes but is sometimes used off-label for weight loss.