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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 18/09/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 254 of The Continent. Social media made Mauritania’s iron ore train a daredevil adventure. Our photo essay captures the beauty of ordinary life. bit.ly/254_TC

A black-and-white photograph fills the cover of The Continent. It shows a long passenger train travelling through a vast, pale desert landscape in Mauritania. The photograph is taken from alongside the train, looking backwards along its left side. In the foreground, an arm extends through an open train window towards the landscape, with the hand and fingers reaching out into the open air. Another passenger is partly visible leaning from a window further ahead.

The railway tracks run diagonally from the lower centre of the image towards the distant horizon. The surrounding desert is largely flat and barren, with low dunes, scattered shrubs and rocky patches stretching into the distance.

At the top, a yellow-orange strip reads: “AFRICAN JOURNALISM | 19 SEPTEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 254.” Beneath it, in large white lettering, is the title “The Continent.”

On the right side of the photograph, large dark-grey text reads: “Beyond the spectacle of Mauritania’s iron train.” Below the headline is the photo credit: “FETHI SAHRAOUI / THE CONTINENT.”

The overall cover is stark and minimalist, contrasting the dark train and reaching arm with the almost white expanse of the desert.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 11/09/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 253 of The Continent Three years before 9/11, Al-Qaeda carried out its first major attack in Africa. Twenty-five years later, the continent is living with the consequences of a war on terror. bit.ly/253_TC

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 04/09/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 252 of The Continent Egyptians were using the characters of SpongeBob and his friends to talk about their real lives in a Facebook group. In 2 weeks it gained almost two million members. Then it was shut down. bit.ly/252_TC

The cover of The Continent, Issue 252, dated 5 September 2026, is a colourful underwater cartoon.

At the top, on a yellow strip, it reads “AFRICAN JOURNALISM | 5 SEPTEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 252”. Beneath it, the newspaper’s name, “The Continent”, appears in large white letters against a bright turquoise-blue sea.

The main headline, in large white type, reads: “Egypt finds trouble at the bottom of the sea.”

The illustration is a playful underwater scene featuring characters from SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob and Squidward are standing on the seabed with bows and arrows, shooting yellow-tipped arrows towards a large structure on the right.

The structure looks like a giant underwater display or board, with arrows pointing towards labels including “UNEMPLOYMENT”, “COST OF LIVING”, “MIGRATION”, “POOR HEALTH CARE”, “POWER SHORTAGE” and “POWER SHORTAGE” again. It appears to represent Egypt’s social and economic problems.

Behind the board is a large “MINISTRY OF INTERIOR EGYPT” box, with a stern-looking Egyptian official sitting behind a desk and apparently operating or controlling the board.

The seabed contains coral, seaweed and familiar cartoon underwater buildings, including SpongeBob’s pineapple house. The overall image is bright, humorous and deliberately absurd, using the SpongeBob world to satirise Egypt’s domestic troubles. At the bottom left is the credit: “ILLUSTRATION: YEMSRACH YETNEBERK.”

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 28/08/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 251 of The Continent Zambia’s recent election was supposed to be a vote on extending the president’s mandate for a second term. The post-election crackdown has been unprecedented. bit.ly/251_TC

This is the cover for issue 251 of The Continent. This week’s cover image shows a supporter of Zambian president-elect Hakainde Hichilema wearing an election poster as a tie in Lusaka on 16 August 2021, after his first victory in his bid for the top job. The president was declared winner of the latest election last week, securing a second term, but things are tense. (Photo by Marco Longari/AFP)

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 21/08/2026

All Protocol Observed. Welcome to issue 250 of The Continent. The green revolution has failed in Africa. Why are we extending it for another decade? bit.ly/TC_250_

The cover of The Continent, Issue 250, dated 22 August 2026, has a bright, illustrated style.

At the top, on a yellow-orange strip, the words “AFRICAN JOURNALISM | 22 AUGUST 2026 | ISSUE 250” appear in black. Below it, against a large deep-blue sky, the newspaper’s name, “The Continent”, is printed prominently in large white lettering.

The headline reads “A grim revolution” in large white type.

The main illustration shows three people standing around a large, unusual maize plant growing from dry, reddish-orange earth. The plant has money notes and cobs growing from or floating around its stalks.

On the left, a person dressed in a white protective suit, face mask, gloves and yellow boots carries a backpack sprayer and sprays the ground or plant. In the centre, a Black man in a dark suit stands with one hand raised, appearing to inspect or gesture towards the plant. On the right, a Black agricultural worker wearing blue work clothes, a wide-brimmed hat and rubber boots pours white seeds or fertiliser from a large white sack marked with green imagery.

Behind them is a dry, mountainous landscape, with pale pink and orange hills beneath the blue sky. The ground is parched and cracked-looking, reinforcing the sense of a harsh agricultural environment.

The illustration uses strong orange, blue, white, green and brown tones, with exaggerated, hand-drawn outlines. The headline “A grim revolution” gives the scene an ominous tone.

At the bottom, in small white text, it credits the illustration to Wynona Mutisi.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 14/08/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 249 of The Continent São Tomé and Príncipe was ground zero for the transatlantic slave-plantation model. How do you memorialise that? bit.ly/249_TC

The cover of The Continent, Issue 249, dated 15 August 2026.

At the very top is a bright yellow horizontal strip with the text: “AFRICAN JOURNALISM | 15 AUGUST 2026 | ISSUE 249” in black.

Below it, against a pale cream background, the publication’s name, “The Continent”, appears in very large, bold black lettering.

The main headline reads “São Tomé and Príncipe: The difficult work of preserving colonial heritage”, set in large black type on the upper left.

The lower two-thirds of the cover is dominated by a photograph of an old, weathered colonial-era building. It is a large, grey stone or concrete structure with an ornate, symmetrical façade. A broad staircase rises to a central entrance, flanked by curved balustrades. The upper level has a rounded balcony supported by several slender columns, with arched openings behind it. The building appears badly weathered, with dark staining and crumbling surfaces.

There is green grass and tropical vegetation, including banana plants, around the building. A narrow dirt path leads from the foreground towards the staircase.

The photograph is credited to Inês Gonçalves in small white text at the bottom right.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 07/08/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 248 of The Continent The world saw the images from Ceuta. We went looking for the stories behind them. What happens when local issues, geopolitics and algorithms collide? bit.ly/248_TC

Against a hazy grey-white background, a group of people appear only as black silhouettes. They stand and walk along what looks like a ridge or embankment at night, their individual features hidden by the backlighting. Some are alone, others seem to move together, creating a sense of uncertainty and motion.
At the top, a bright orange banner carries the publication details: "AFRICAN JOURNALISM | 8 AUGUST 2026 | ISSUE 248".

Beneath it, the newspaper's masthead, The Continent, appears in large white serif letters stretching across the width of the page.

The headline, positioned in the lower third, reads:

A tangled web in Ceuta

Below it, in smaller white text:

When local issues, geopolitics and algorithms collide

At the very bottom, in small type, is the photo credit: Photo: Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 31/07/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 247 of The Continent Be aware of your sharing permissions. We got the spreadsheet for how Rwanda pays influencers to craft its shiny image. bit.ly/247_TC

This is the cover of Issue 247 of The Continent. It is dominated by a giant puppet master's hand reaching in from the top right. The sleeve bears the Rwandan flag, representing the Rwandan state. Four strings hang from its fingers, controlling four people below like marionettes.

Each person is absorbed in a smartphone. They are shown in different poses: one slouches while scrolling, another sits smiling at her screen, a third walks with head bowed over a phone, and a fourth hunches over a device. None appears aware that they are being manipulated.

The blue background resembles a digital network filled with faint social media logos and online symbols, including WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, X, email icons, hashtags and AI graphics. Scattered among them are slogans and usernames such as #VisitRwanda, #RwandaSafe, @Manzi_Patriotic and @harerimana_tittu, suggesting an organised online influence campaign.

The headline reads: "Rwanda: Like, follow, share." The words mimic the familiar prompts used on social media but, paired with the puppet strings, imply that online support for Rwanda is being directed or orchestrated rather than arising organically.

The cover is illustrated by Gado.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 24/07/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 246 of The Continent. We’ve been around for a while. But nowhere near as long as the family ruling Togo. Our investigation found what was covered as a constitutional power-grab last year came at a devastating human cost. bit.ly/246_TC

This is the cover of Issue 246 of The Continent. It is designed like an investigator's evidence board pinned over a map of Togo. A warm brown background resembles aged paper, with the long, narrow outline of the country running vertically down the right side.

Red string stretches across the map, connecting blue drawing pins and yellow sticky notes, creating the impression of a conspiracy or criminal investigation. The notes mark key moments and locations, including "May 2024", "June 2025", "Jan 2026", "No term limits", "Takes power 2005", "Civil prison", "Main square", "Djidjolé gendarmerie", "Sylvanus Olympio hospital" and the capital, Lomé. The strings suggest these events and places are linked.

Pinned over the map is a torn newspaper clipping from *The Continent* about unofficial militias in Togo. In front of it stands an illustration of a masked gendarme in riot gear, holding a baton. His face is completely covered by a black balaclava, making him anonymous and intimidating. He wears body armour labelled "Gendarmerie", reinforcing the theme of state force and secrecy.

Partly hidden beneath the newspaper is a faded photograph of a grand colonial-era building, hinting at political power and the state.

Running down the map itself is the word "TOGO" in large, faded letters. At the top, the masthead *The Continent* appears in large white type, while a banner above it reads: "African Journalism | 25 July 2026 | Issue 246."

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 17/07/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 245 of The Continent. What happens when a liberation movement delays succession for too long? Muhoozi Kainerugaba is more than an Uganda's chief internet provocateur and the president’s son. He's the heir apparent, maybe. bit.ly/245_TC

This is the cover of The Continent (Issue 245, dated 18 July 2026) featuring a satirical illustration of Uganda's General Muhoozi Kainerugaba reimagined as the Joker. The headline reads: "The heir apparent, maybe."

Muhoozi lounges casually in a large presidential-style chair beneath the Ugandan coat of arms. He wears an exaggerated Joker-inspired outfit: a purple suit, bright green shirt, oversized green bow tie, purple gloves and a light green military helmet instead of the Joker's trademark green hair. His face has been painted with a wide, unsettling red grin and heavy eye makeup, giving him the Joker's manic smile while remaining recognisably Muhoozi.

He reclines with one leg draped over the arm of the chair, projecting supreme confidence. In one gloved hand he casually twirls a revolver with a white flag tied to the barrel reading "BANG" in red letters, referencing the Joker's trick weapon. In the other hand he fans a set of playing cards, another Joker motif.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 19/06/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 244 of The Continent Goons, les miliciens, baltagiya: different names, same job. Across Africa, muscle-for-hire helps politicians wield power through intimidation and violence – all while maintaining plausible deniability. bit.ly/244_TC

This is the cover of The Continent illustrated by Gado. The headline reads: “Africa’s shadow enforcers” and features a series of figures representing political goons and online propagandists from across the continent.

Against a plain purplish-grey background, seven men are spaced out across the page, each drawn as a different archetype of political intimidation.

On the top row, one man dressed in white traditional clothing grips a club and a bloodstained machete. Next to him is a masked figure in a yellow T-shirt with a skull-and-crossbones emblem, carrying electrical cables and a heavy tool. Beside him stands a stocky man in military-style clothing with a stick resting on his shoulder. At the far right is a masked man in a green jacket holding a bloodied machete and a pair of handcuffs.

On the bottom row, an older man in a blue coat stands among scattered rocks, holding a small axe. In the centre is a heavily muscled strongman with folded arms, wearing a sleeveless orange shirt and a pistol tucked into his waistband. On the right is a young man in a blue hoodie, looking down at a mobile phone – a nod to online propagandists or “keyboard warriors”.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 12/06/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 243 of The Continent Sport is supposed to rise above politics, but this year’s Fifa World Cup has become a showcase for just the opposite: the arbitrary exercise of political power. bit.ly/243_TC

This is the cover of Issue 243 of The Continent. It is illustrated by Gado.

North America is shown from above as a map. Sitting on top of the continent is a football stadium shaped like a heavily fortified fortress. Thick concrete walls surround the stadium, and armed guards wearing uniforms marked “ICE” are stationed in watchtowers around the perimeter, holding rifles and facing outward.

Inside the walls, a football match is taking place on a bright green pitch. A giant football is suspended above the stadium, appearing to rocket upward from the centre circle like a missile launch, leaving a white trail behind it.

At the top is The Continent masthead. The headline at the bottom reads: “Making football political again.”

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 05/06/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 242 of The Continent. The conventional explanation for South Africa’s recurring waves of xenophobic violence is now familiar: a stagnant economy, high unemployment, and migrants cast as convenient scapegoats. But that’s not the whole story. bit.ly/242_TC

This is the cover of Issue 242 of The Continent. It shows a large crowd of protesters occupying a city street in South Africa. The headline reads: “South Africa: The hidden calculus of xenophobia.”

In the foreground, dozens of people crouch or kneel on the road, shouting and gesturing towards the camera. Some hold sticks, while others raise clenched fists or point upwards. A man in a bright red jacket stands out near the centre, holding a mobile phone aloft. The crowd appears predominantly male, dressed in winter clothing such as beanies, hooded tops and jackets. Behind them, hundreds more people fill the street, stretching into the distance. The atmosphere is tense and confrontational. The sky is grey and overcast, and the background is softened by haze. Tall apartment buildings line one side of the road, while trees and utility poles run along the other.

Image credit: Wikus de Wet/AFP

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 29/05/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 241 of The Continent Africa loses $90bn a year to illicit financial flows. Cameroon officially exported just one suitcase worth of gold in 2023 — but records abroad showed more than 15 tonnes, mostly heading to the UAE. bit.ly/241_TC

This is the cover of Issue 241 of The Continent newspaper. It has a black background with an illustration centred on the flow of African gold wealth. At the top, the masthead “The Continent” appears in large white letters, with the date “30 May 2026” and “Issue 241” above it.

The illustration by Gado shows a gold bar stamped “Made in Cameroon” being tilted by a hand wearing a white sleeve with a UAE flag patch. Small gold nuggets spill from the bar like coins or grains. As the gold falls, it passes through several outstretched hands reaching up from different directions, suggesting middlemen or intermediaries taking their share. At the bottom, only a few tiny pieces reach a final pair of thin arms holding an empty bowl, symbolising ordinary people receiving very little from the country’s mineral wealth.

On the lower left, the headline reads: “Cameroon’s $300-million gold drain.”

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 22/05/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 240 of The Continent The latest Ebola outbreak is the 17th in 50 years, with more than half occurring in the past 5 years. Mining-driven mobility and mistrust are fuelling the spread. Ironically, better containment has limited vaccine trials. bit.ly/240_TC

This is the cover of The Continent newspaper dated 23 May 2026. It is illustrated by Wynona Mutisi. It shows a doctor trying to wrangle and contain the Ebola virus using a lasso. The headline reads: Ebola: short-term panic, long-term neglect.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 15/05/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 239 of The Continent Macron is back in Africa: energetic, ambitious, and still trying to convince the world Paris is relevant. Meanwhile, in Mayotte — legally France, geographically Africa — asylum seekers wait for la République to notice them. bit.ly/239_TC

This is the cover of Issue 239 of The Continent drawn by Gaddo.
At the very top, in a gold banner, it says: “African Journalism | 16 May 2026 | Issue 239.” Below that, in huge black letters against a vivid blue sky, is the title: The Continent.
The main illustration shows a vintage black car driving across an African savannah. The car looks overloaded with crates and bags tied to the roof and sides using ropes. Each package is labelled with political or economic themes: “Military Bases,” “Bio Tech,” “AI,” “Climate Finance,” “Energy,” “Oil,” and “Creative Sector.” A yellow plate on the front of the car reads “Africa Forward.”
Driving the car is a smiling Emmanuel Macron wearing a safari-style outfit and helmet. Beside him sits William Ruto holding what looks like a ceremonial club or baton.
The drawing style strongly references the classic Tintin comics by Hergé. In the bottom corner, is a note: “with apology to Hergé.”
The title above the car reads: “The Adventures of Macron” and then, in larger letters, “Macron in the Kenya.” The wording is intentionally awkward and exaggerated, mimicking old European adventure comics.
Around the vehicle are African animals: an elephant and giraffe stand to the left, a monkey sits on the elephant’s back, and two small animals at the bottom right appear to gossip while one says in a speech bubble: “There goes the neighbourhood!”

This is the cover of Tintin in the Congo by Hergé.

The cover has a bright, simple comic-book style with a pale blue sky and an open African savanna landscape. At the center is an old-fashioned black safari car driving across grassy terrain. Inside the vehicle are:

Tintin, wearing his signature light-colored outfit and helmet, driving the car. Snowy, the small white dog sits behind him. Another passenger seated beside him.

A tall giraffe stands to the left of the vehicle, watching as the car passes. Scattered trees and bushes fill the background.

The title “Tintin Au Congo” appears in very large bold black lettering across the top half of the cover, with “Les Aventures de Tintin” and “Hergé” written above it in smaller text.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 08/05/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 238 of The Continent Old global norms are collapsing. Writing exclusively for The Continent, Graça Machel shares why Africans have the moral authority to build a new world order. bit.ly/238_TC

This is the cover of Issue 238 of The Continent. It shows a scene around an enormous throne labelled “Global Leadership.” The headline reads: “Africa should save the world.”

Perched atop of the throne is a caricature of Donald Trump, crouched forward and flipping the bird. Hanging down from him is an exaggeratedly long red tie that drapes over the chair like a banner.

Two other world leaders cling to the throne’s armrests: one resembling China’s Xi Jinping on the left, smiling and gesturing upward, and another resembling Vladimir Putin on the right, holding a small Russian flag while climbing toward the seat of power.

Below them, other global figures appear weakened or sidelined. A woman resembling Ursula von der Leyen, dressed in EU-blue with yellow stars, strains to pull herself up onto the throne from the left side. Near the bottom center, a figure resembling Iran’s supreme leader sits slumped on the floor beneath the chair.

The ground is littered with scattered papers, tipped-over wine bottles, broken glasses, and debris, suggesting disorder and collapse. One overturned chair leg and a pair of feet sticking out at the far right.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 01/05/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 237 of The Continent Mali has been at war since 2012 but its people press on. This time it's different: coordinated attacks and insurgent blockades are halting daily life, while Assimi Goïta fights to stay in power. bit.ly/237_TC

This is the cover of The Continent, dated May 2, 2026.

The illustration shows a wide, sandy desert landscape with soft dunes stretching into the distance. In the middle of the desert, there’s a walled map-like layout of parts of Mali, with different cities labelled inside. The names read: Timbuktu, Gao, Mopti, Ségou, Kayes, Kati, and Bamako.

The walls form irregular borders around these places, like a fragile enclosure. Inside the walls are small, stylised buildings representing each city, some look like mosques or historic mud-brick structures with towers.

On the right side of the image, parts of the wall are broken and crumbling. Thick black smoke rises from damaged areas near cities like Gao and Kidal, suggesting destruction or conflict. The smoke is heavy and dark, contrasting with the pale sand.

Toward the bottom left, Bamako and nearby towns appear more intact, though still enclosed by walls. The overall feeling is that of a country divided and under strain, with some regions more affected than others.

7At the bottom of the cover, a bold headline reads: “When putsch came to shove”.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 24/04/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 236 of The Continent Geopolitics is contested with narratives as much as bombs. In Iran, journalists risk prison or worse for working with foreign outlets. One writer, under a pseudonym, explains why they persist. bit.ly/236_TC

This is the cover for Issue 226 of The Continent. At the very top, a yellow banner reads: “African Journalism | 25 April 2026 | Issue 236.” Below it, the title The Continent appears in large white letters against a dark, smoky background. Centered on the page is the headline: “Reporting from blacked-out Iran.” The main image shows a bleak, damaged landscape. In the foreground are burned-out vehicles: a charred truck, a tanker, and a wrecked car. All the vehicles sit on a rough, debris-strewn road. The vehicles are blackened and rusted, as they’ve been destroyed by fire or an explosion. Behind them are leafless trees and a low wall, with thick grey smoke rising into a dark sky. In the bottom corner, there’s a photo credit: “Photo: AFP.”

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 17/04/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 235 of The Continent In South African politics, Gayton McKenzie is a larger-than-life character who leans into his criminal past and blends populism, and a striking disregard for the rule of law. Remind you of someone? bit.ly/235_TC

This is the cover of The Continent. Above that, in a thin strip, it says “African Journalism | 18 April 2026 | Issue 235”. Beneath the title is the headline: “South Africa’s populist pretender”.

The central image is a caricature of a Gayton Mackenzie with exaggerated features. He has a very wide grin showing large, uneven teeth, a rounded face, and heavy lines around his eyes and cheeks. His expression is confident but slightly mocking. His hair is bright blond, styled in a sweeping, combed-over shape that resembles Donald Trump's signature hairstyle.

He is wearing a dark blue suit jacket, a white shirt, and a bright red tie. On his jacket are several round badges. One is yellow with the letters “PA”. Another shows the South African flag. A third has a blue Star of David on a white background. Another badge reads “I ♥ Orban”.

The illustration is by Gado.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 28/03/2026

All Protocol Observed | Welcome to Issue 234 of The Continent This week, a change of pace. Come walking with us through the stark magnificence of Mauritania’s Banc d’Arguin national park. Download your copy here: www.thecontinent.org/_files/ugd/2...

Cover page of Issue 234 of The Continent, featuring a person walking on a beach. Behind the person is a sea, and then an angry sky full of dark clouds. The headline is: 'Holding space for eco-anxiety'.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 20/03/2026

Reading is resistance. Subscribe (for free) to Africa's most widely-read newspaper: www.thecontinent.org/subscribe

Advert for The Continent newspaper, depicting two astronauts on a bench. One is reading a phone, the other is reading a newspaper. The tagline reads: 'We live in the same world. Let's read from the same page.'

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 20/03/2026

All Protocol Observed | Welcome to Issue 233 of The Continent This week, we meet an aspiring chef from Botswana. He was promised a job in a Russian hotel - only to end up in a remote military training camp, with dozens more Africans. Download your copy here: www.thecontinent.org/_files/ugd/2...

The front cover of Issue 233 of The Continent newspaper. The illustration shows a chef from Botswana desperately escaping from a remote Russian military base. The headline reads, 'The chef who escaped Putin's war'.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 13/03/2026

Get Africa's most widely read newspaper delivered directly to your device, for free, every week. Reading is resistance. Subscribe here: www.thecontinent.org/subscribe

Advert for The Continent newspaper, depicting two astronauts on a bench. One is reading The Continent on their phone, the other is reading a newspaper. The tagline says: "We live in the same world, let's read from the same page."

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 13/03/2026

All Protocol Observed | Welcome to Issue 232 of The Continent This week, we visit Ethiopia’s Tigray region – fearing the next war, while still reeling from the last. Download your copy here: www.thecontinent.org/_files/ugd/2...

Front cover of Issue 232 of The Continent newspaper, with the headline 'Tigray on the edge'. The image shows a burning truck on a highway in Tigray, Ethiopia.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 06/03/2026

All Protocol Observed | Welcome to Issue 231 of The Continent Amid a geopolitical storm, four Chagos Islanders have returned to the archipelago - with a little help, and a private yacht, from a Reform UK mega-donor. Download your copy here. www.thecontinent.org/_files/ugd/2...

Front cover of The Continent newspaper Issue 231, showing a man harvesting rainwater on an island. In the background, on the water, is a private yacht. And in the skies is an American bomber. The headline reads: "Unlikely allies move to sink Mauritius' Chagos deal'.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 27/02/2026

All Protocol Observed | Welcome to Issue 230 of The Continent. Sudan's war is spilling over its borders - and Chad's president is suddenly very nervous indeed. Download your copy here: www.thecontinent.org/_files/ugd/2...

Front cover of The Continent Issue 230, showing Chad's president Idriss Deby on a red carpet, flanked by two military officials in ceremonial attire. The headline reads "Chad pays for Deby's Sudan gamble".

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 20/02/2026

To subscribe: WhatsApp / Signal / Telegram → +27 73 805 6068 Email → read@thecontinent.org

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 20/02/2026

All Protocol Observed | Welcome to Issue 229 of The Continent 🟠 Top Story: A new Western empire gathering pace. Last time, they had guns. Now they’ve got AI. 📥 Download your copy here: www.thecontinent.org/_files/ugd/2...

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 18/02/2026

‘Halal’ investment scams resurge in Egypt Halal scam: yes, it’s a paradox. But these schemes are not what they seem. Read more: open.substack.com/pub/continen...

Fake faith funds: Ahmed Al-Rayan created the most notorious investment scam in Egypt.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 17/02/2026

1/2 A glimpse into Burundi’s silent decline Overshadowed by war in its neighbourhood, economic depression, and continuing authoritarianism, Bujumbura feels threadbare. Read more: open.substack.com/pub/continen...

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 16/02/2026

2/2 If this story matters to you, share it with two people you trust — and invite them to subscribe to The Continent, delivered free. To subscribe: WhatsApp / Signal / Telegram → +27 73 805 6068 Email → read@thecontinent.org

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 16/02/2026

1/2 ‘The Crocodile’ takes a big bite out of the Constitution Observers slam Emmerson Mnangagwa’s latest power grab as the president seeks to extend his term limit. Read more: open.substack.com/pub/continen...

Plus Two: Zimbabwe’s cabinet approved President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s plan to stay until 2030.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 15/02/2026

1/2 Hundreds of Africans have likely died fighting for Russia. The family of one of them wants their son back. And answers. Read more: open.substack.com/pub/continen...

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 13/02/2026

1/ Issue 228 of The Continent is out: Wagner’s info warriors, post-Prigozhin. Leaked docs reveal their influence in 22 African countries. We focus on South Africa, Mali, CAR, Niger & Angola.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 13/02/2026

Subscribe to The Continent for early access. Message +27 73 805 6068 on WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram, or email read@thecontinent.org to receive the newspaper free.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 13/02/2026

🛑New Investigation Alert We received a trove of documents created by a Russian influence operation last October. The company from which they leaked was dissolved the very next month. This weekend we are launching a series delving into them.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 06/02/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 227 of The Continent In this week’s issue: what the Rubaya mine collapse tells us about the global economy and DRC’s governance void. WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram: +27 73 805 6068 Or email: read@thecontinent.org to get the paper.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 05/02/2026

The only thing better than great news is FREE great news. Get The Continent delivered for free every week! Here’s the deal: No long prose. No sign-up forms. Just write “Subscribe” and send it to us. We’ll handle the rest. #TheContinent #FreeNews #SubscribeNow #Africa

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 30/01/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 226 of The Continent The story of Kenya’s first semiconductor plant shows how quickly geopolitics can turn promise into collateral damage for the Global South. bit.ly/226_TC

This is the cover of The Continent, dated 31 January 2026, Issue 226. It is illustrated by Tanzanian satirist Gado. The background is deep blue and textured like a computer circuit board, with thin silver lines and nodes spreading across the page. At the centre is a microchip, tilted slightly. On the chip is the Kenyan flag — black, red, white, and green — with the national shield and spears in the middle. Beneath the flag, in bold white letters, are the words “MADE IN KENYA.” The chip is embedded into the circuitry, as if it is part of the system.
Surrounding the chip are dark, shadowy silhouettes of large hands reaching inward from the top and bottom edges of the cover. The hands are not detailed — they appear almost like cut-out shadows. At the top, the newspaper’s name “The Continent” appears in large white letters. Along the very top edge, in smaller text, it reads “AFRICAN JOURNALISM | 31 JANUARY 2026 | ISSUE 226.”
On the right-hand side, stacked in white text, is the headline:
“The fight to save Kenya’s first microchip maker.”

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 30/01/2026

Magi mixer: High priests celebrate Timket, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s celebration of Jesus’s baptism and the revelation of his divinity during Epiphany, on the shore of lake Dembel, in Batu on 18 January. Photo: Amanuel Sileshi/AP

High priests celebrate Timket, the Ethiopian Epiphany, on the shore of lake Dembel, in Batu, Ethiopia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Amanuel Sileshi)

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 23/01/2026

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 225 of The Continent Superpowers don’t only control African minerals with loans, bribes and threats. Sometimes it’s through financial sleight of hand, as is the case of a Malawian mining licence granted in 2017. bit.ly/225_TC

At the very top, on a wide mustard-yellow band, there’s small black text that reads: African Journalism | 24 January 2026 | Issue 225. Beneath it, dominating the upper third, is the magazine’s title, “The Continent,” in large, bold black letters.
The background is soft and hazy, painted in warm pastels, peach, cream, and light gold, like late afternoon light. Draped across the entire upper half of the cover are thick chains, coloured pink and orange, looping and overlapping. They hang loosely but heavily, suggesting weight and restraint, almost like something looming overhead.
In the centre of the image, five men sit cross-legged on the ground in a loose circle. They are drawn in a semi-cartoon style but clearly adult, middle-aged, and dressed formally in dark business suits, white shirts, and ties. Each of them wears a pointed party hat — pinks, purples, and yellows — giving the scene a strange, forced celebratory feel.
Confetti is scattered across the ground around them in small bright flecks of colour, reinforcing the sense of a “party,” though the mood feels tense rather than joyful.
One man, seated on the left, is leaning forward and handing something small and rectangular — it looks like a stack of cards or money — to the man opposite him. The others watch closely, their hands either open or gesturing, as if negotiating, receiving, or approving the exchange.
Slightly behind the group, in the background, there is a sixth figure. He sits apart from the circle, hunched forward with his elbows on his knees and his head resting on his hands. He is darker, less detailed, and shaded in muted tones, giving the impression of distance, exclusion, or quiet distress.
At the bottom left of the cover, in bold black text, the headline reads:
“The Chinese takeover Malawi never saw coming.”
Below that, in much smaller text, is the illustration credit: Illustration: Wynona Mutisi.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 12/12/2025

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 224 of The Continent We celebrate people whose purpose and passion shine through a tumultuous 2025, embodying Khalil Gibran’s words that “work is love made visible.” Meet our Africans of the Year: bit.ly/224_TC

This is the cover of issue 224 of The Continent. It is illustrated by Nzilani Simu. The background is a deep purple with subtle patterns. On the cover is a collage of portraits of the Africans of the Year as selected by the team at The Continent.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 12/12/2025

Bigger fish to fry: A porter carries fish from a beachside market in Mogadishu. Somalia’s capital is bootstrapping itself out of the ashes after decades of war, terrorism and disjointed cycles of US military deployment and withdrawal. Photo: Tony Karumba/AFP

A fish porter carries fish from an open-air beachside market where local fishermen land their catch at dawn in Mogadishu. Mogadishu is rising, literally, from the ashes of decades of war. Pavements remain scarred by bullet holes and ruined buildings still line many streets, but the city's cacophony is now one of construction, not destruction.
The east African nation saw civil war in the 1990s mutate into an Islamist insurgency in the 2000s that still threatens much of the country.
Almost 70 percent of Somalia's population is defined as "multidimensionally poor" by the United Nations -- tracking education, health, living standards, services and inclusion.
But for the first time in decades, the three million inhabitants of capital Mogadishu -- relatively well-protected from the conflict still raging just a couple of hours outside the city -- are witnessing a building boom. (Photo by Tony KARUMBA / AFP)

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 05/12/2025

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 223 of The Continent In this dumpster fire of a year, we’re still finding what’s worth saving — sport, art, community, and joy across Africa. Read it here: bit.ly/223_TC

This is the cover of The Continent, dated 6 December 2025, illustrated by Wynona Mutisi.
In the foreground, we see the back of a woman sitting comfortably on a couch. Her hair is styled in two neat braids. Draped over her lap is a mustard-yellow blanket, and she is quietly knitting a pastel-coloured garment. Several balls of yarn in pale shades of blue, lilac, and cream — rest on the coffee table in front of her.
The coffee table is wide and wooden, and on it sits a teapot, a cup of tea, a plate with two biscuits, and an open book.
The headline reads: “Crafting beauty and calm in a year of chaos.”

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 04/12/2025

Lifeline: A sponge farmer in Zanzibar tends to her crops near Jambiani. Each day women enter the tide to tend their allotments after climate change and overfishing upended their former work at sea. Photo: Marco Longari/AFP

A sponge farmer from Zanzibar's Sponge Farmers' Cooperative, a women-led organization, tends to her crops at a farm off the coast of Jambiani on October 25, 2025. Each day, women wade through the shallow tides off Zanzibar's Jambiani village to tend their coral sponge farms -- a new lifeline after climate change upended their former work at sea. Rising ocean temperatures, overfishing and pollution have steadily degraded marine ecosystems, eroding the main source of livelihood for many on the island, where 26 percent of its 1.9 million people live below the poverty line. From the shore, black sticks jut out of the turquoise Indian Ocean, but as you move closer, rows of hanging lines attached to them come into view -- each strung with coral sponges and marked by farmers who identify their plots by columns. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 28/11/2025

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 222 of The Continent Lesotho’s arrest of a former South African navy officer has reignited a long-simmering border dispute, as the Basotho Covenant Movement pushes historic territorial claims — echoing similar struggles across Africa. bit.ly/222_TC

This is the cover of Issue 222 of The Continent. It is designed to look like an old, weathered colonial map printed on yellowed paper. At the very top, on a bright gold banner, it says: “AFRICAN JOURNALISM | 29 NOVEMBER 2025 | ISSUE 222.”
Below that, the title appears in large, bold black letters: “The Continent.”
Under it, in slightly smaller type: “Ghosts of empire.”
The entire background is a hand-drawn map focused on Lesotho and the surrounding South African provinces. The map shows Lesotho as a landlocked shape in the centre, with its border illustrated as a dramatic, jagged cliff line—almost like a raised wall—emphasising its separation from the surrounding territory. Around Lesotho, the names of South Africa’s provinces are labelled. Free State to the west and north, KwaZulu-Natal to the east, Eastern Cape to the south, Northern Cape and North West further out. Gauteng and Mpumalanga are towards the top right.
In the upper left corner is a small inset map of South Africa.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 28/11/2025

Drip or drown: Models get ready backstage during Gambia International Fashion Week in Banjul last week. The annual creative showcase was established in 2023 by acclaimed Gambian designer Ismaila Jallow. Photo: Muhamadou Bittaye/AFP

Models get ready backstage during The Gambia International Fashion Week at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul on November 15, 2025. (Photo by Muhamadou BITTAYE / AFP)

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 21/11/2025

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 221 of The Continent Nigeria’s security crisis deepens: 26 girls abducted in Kebbi State, more kidnappings elsewhere, and a top general killed — symptoms of a long-running, underfunded, corruption-riddled breakdown. More inside: bit.ly/221_TC

The cover of The Continent features a powerful, unsettling political cartoon. It shows a giant, damaged statue of a Nigerian military general. The statue is cracked, stained with blood, and full of bullet holes, symbolising the collapse of state security. The general’s head is missing, and someone has placed a bright purple-and-yellow traditional cap on top of the neck stump.
The statue’s right arm is raised in a salute. Hanging from that arm is the body of a person who has been lynched. On the statue’s shoulder sits a small man — his posture slumped, arms around his knees, head bowed. The base of the statue carries an inscription:
“ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.”
All around the monument is violent chaos. The ground is littered with broken stone pieces from the statue, bones, papers, and bodies. Blood splatters cover the ground and parts of the monument.
To the left, a masked man swings a bloodied machete at people who are cowering on the ground. On the right, armed men point rifles at terrified civilians; one person is shown attempting to flee.
Near the bottom-right corner, two well-dressed men — one in ceremonial military dress, the other in a suit — exchange a briefcase, suggesting corruption even amid widespread violence. The statue’s broken head lies beside them, cracked and discarded.
The headline reads:
“Nigeria’s security is in shambles.”
The illustration is by Gado.

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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 14/11/2025

All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 220 of The Continent With insurgencies on the rise, Mali’s military rulers can’t secure a stable supply of fuel. Amid a growing crackdown on media, tankers are under attack, pumps are dry, and Bamako is grinding to a halt. bit.ly/220_TC

This is the illustrated cover of The Continent (dated 15 November 2025, Issue 220).
At the top, the headline reads: “Mali’s junta is running out of gas.”
The scene is set in a dry, dusty desert landscape. In the centre-left is an abandoned petrol station. Its roof is sagging, the windows are cracked, and thick cobwebs cover the fuel pumps. Two vultures perch on the roof, panting with their tongues hanging out.
Near the petrol station lies a set of bleached animal bones — a full ribcage and skull.
On the right side of the image is a donkey struggling under an impossible burden. On its back is a mountain of luggage: pots, suitcases, buckets, sacks, and rolled-up bedding. Five people cling to the donkey as passengers — men, women and a child — all looking worried, tired, or anxious. The donkey itself is sweating heavily, its eyes wide with strain.
At the top of the luggage pile is a battered “TAXI” sign.

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