There is mismatch between what the government asks and expects South African National Defense Forces (SANDF) to do and the money allocated to carry out its missions. The SANDF budget declined again for this fiscal year and stands at only around 1 percent of GDP. (By contrast, the budget for education is just under 5 percent of GDP.) 

On March 20, Ghana's parliament passed the Narcotics Control Commission (NCC) bill in response to the dramatic growth in domestic drug consumption. The NCC treats illicit drug use as a public health crisis rather than strictly a law enforcement issue by decriminalizing certain narcotics and prioritizing treatment and rehabilitation for drug addicts. This is an important shift in Africa’s approach to combating the trade and use of illicit drugs.

When it comes to fighting COVID, the Biden Administration has made it clear that tamping down the threat domestically is its first priority. 

A DNA study of a sample gathered from African Americans shows that their African genetic origin accords closely to the documentary, historical record. 

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers November 2 to November 8.