Pope Leo XIV has issued the first papal apology for the Catholic Church’s role in legitimising the transatlantic slave trade. Writing in his inaugural encyclical, the Pope describes slavery as a “grave violation of human dignity” and acknowledges the Church’s failure to condemn it for centuries. The intervention has reignited debate about historical accountability, reparatory justice and the enduring legacy of slavery. But in his own words, acknowledgement is only the beginning. When will institutions be prepared to move from apology to action? Read our full article and join the conversation: eu1.hubs.ly/H0w0_-q0

In 2024, Senegal delivered a democratic transfer of power driven by youth and a grassroots movement; in a region increasingly turning to soldiers for change, it stood apart. Two years on, debt has risen to 132% of GDP, Sonko has been dismissed as Prime Minister, and the movement that won power is now publicly asserting its authority over the President it helped elect. Is Senegal's democratic experiment strong enough to survive its own internal tensions? Read more and tell us your thoughts: eu1.hubs.ly/H0w0Djs0

Renowned French philosopher and sociologist, Edgar Morin, has died aged 104. Author of over 60 books and proponent of a less divided world anchored on “conscious humankind and cultural symbiosis”, Morin spoke to New African just after his 100th birthday. We celebrate his life and ideas - eu1.hubs.ly/H0vT7zZ0

Two Nigerian nationals are dead. Ghana and Nigeria have announced chartered flights to repatriate their citizens. A pattern that has repeated itself many times before shows no sign of ending. Thebe Ikalafeng argues that the rage targeting African migrants doesn't touch the structural inequalities at the root of South Africa's crisis, and that redirecting it at the nearest African face has never solved the problem it claims to address. Is Africa turning on itself? Read more and tell us your thoughts: eu1.hubs.ly/H0vzS9y0

Malaria affects millions of Africans every year, killing hundreds of thousands and burdening businesses with lost productivity, healthcare costs and disrupted supply chains. Yet, private sector investment in the fight against the disease remains minimal. With increased gaps in public funding and mosquitoes building resistance to existing insecticides, Krystal Birungi of Target Malaria argues that the private sector can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines. Read more and tell us what you think: eu1.hubs.ly/H0vzPMl0

With Africa's infrastructure financing gap estimated at up to $170bn a year, every phantom MOU is developmental momentum lost. A proposed $100bn green energy investment in the DRC never left the study phase, while Akon's $6bn crypto metropolis was granted 2,000 hectares of Senegalese land only to be abandoned after seven years of no progress. Can Africa really afford to waste valuable time and resources on pie-in-the-sky projects when pragmatic solutions are needed on the ground? Read more and join the conversation: eu1.hubs.ly/H0vq6W30

While President Tinubu's rivals form an unlikely coalition in an attempt to unseat him in next January's elections, we revisit our May 1992 issue when Nigeria stood at a similar crossroads. Read the article here: eu1.hubs.ly/H0vrzWv0 Enjoy this #blastfromthepast and explore the rest of our archive at: eu1.hubs.ly/H0vrzln0

Africa loses $4.2bn annually in economic opportunities due to negative stereotypes spread by international media. Benin offers a compelling case study: the Voodoo Days festival in Ouidah grew from 97,000 attendees at launch to 700,000 in this January, proof that a country being in charge of its own narrative rewards its culture and economy. As the continent continues to grow, how can more African voices lead the conversation in how their homes are portrayed? Read more and tell us your thoughts: eu1.hubs.ly/H0vpYnS0