In Nigeria’s northwest, where communities have been at the mercy of bandits and have been severely affected by mass kidnappings, these communities have been striking peace deals with bandits in exchange for access to mines www.bbc.com/news/article...

“This is what governance has become in parts of the Northwest: not development, not schools or healthcare, not roads or justice systems, but simply permission to survive by arming oneself” Poignant piece from Yusuf Anka about northern Nigeria’s desensitization to violence medium.com/@YusufAnka/s...

The Sudanese and Chadian militaries have accused the Rapid Support Forces of carrying out an attack on a military position inside Chad, as two Chadian soldiers were killed in a drone strike sudantribune.com/article/308715

AGOA has gotten a last-minute reprieve, with the House of Rep’s trade-writing panel scheduling a vote on Wednesday. The legislation calls for a simple three-year extension of AGOA, which is more than the 1-year extension endorsed by White House www.theafricareport.com/401858/congr...

“Where does Africa rank as a strategic priority for the US? At the bottom. Literally. In a short, 33-page document written in large font, the continent merits just three paragraphs on the very last page,” writes @julianpecquet.bsky.social www.theafricareport.com/401739/secur...

Kigali has launched dedicated bus lanes www.newtimes.co.rw/article/3168...

A draft amendment is being introduced in Zimbabwe to revise the constitution to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term by two years. www.thestandard.co.zw/news/article...

“Tehran is leveraging what it sees as a "strategic opportunity," directing its diplomacy toward strengthening ties with Sahel nations. This diplomacy is a blend of anti-colonial rhetoric, political solidarity, and promises of cooperation in technical & economic sectors.” en.isna.ir/news/1404090...

Mali has recovered $1.2 billion in arrears from mining companies after an audit that uncovered massive shortfalls for the state and paved the way for a new mining code. The law raised royalties, boosted state stakes in mining companies & scrapped stability clauses. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

Left-wing Cameroonian opposition figure Anicet Ekane has died in detention, 5 weeks after being arrested. Anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna described his death as "the extinguishing of a fierce & passionate flame" that burned for democratic emancipation. www.bbc.com/news/article...

“While wealthy residents benefit from greater security and economic growth, gentrification is a problem for the poorer parts of Mogadishu. This leads to evictions, some of them violent, and people losing access to schools and clinics.” www.dw.com/en/somalias-...

“For more than 7 years, Abubakar Shekau’s compound in Ukuba sat only a loudspeaker’s reach from the army’s fortified garrison in Bitta, 7-12 km apart. The soldiers could hear Ukuba’s call to prayer drifting over the scrub, & the fighters heard Bitta’s in return.” humanglemedia.com/the-making-a...

My wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl this morning. This is our second child that she pushed for 3 hours without the baby progressing & needing to get a c-section to get the baby out. Really thankful for the wonders of modern medicine. Can’t imagine doing childbirth before such reduced risks.

This is Randy Clarke’s race to lose

Priorities for next mayor: 1) Make DC more family friendly 2) Make DC more livable, walkable, and bikable 3) Make DC more affordable

Senator John Kennedy has introduced a new bill to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for two years that would ensure participating countries support US interests, rather than adversaries like Beijing and Moscow. businesstech.co.za/news/governm...

The album cover of my toddler’s next punk rock album

Truly astounded at how red the leaves of this Japanese Maple was near Eastern Market

Sexual slavery is happening in Sudan. Women and girls are being abducted, raped, trafficked by the RSF across borders and sold in areas controlled by the RSF. And no one is being held accountable. alhurra.com/en/7461

Interesting point in this article on Africa’s energy challenge. Some economists like Charlie Robertson argue that there is too much focus on electrifying rural households. Instead states should prioritize electrifying industry to build exports, wealth & jobs www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

After El Fasher fell, Sudan’s SAF is scrambling for backing, leaning on Egypt and Turkey, courting the US, and trying to rebalance after drifting toward Russia and Iran. 3ayin.com/en/elfasher-...

Benin approved a constitutional amendment extending the presidential term of office from 5 to 7 years and creating an upper house of parliament. Presidential term limit remains set at two and current head of state Patrice Talon will step down next April. www.vanguardngr.com/2025/11/beni...

Climbed a tree to get the best shots I could of DC from the top of the hill along Morris Rd SE by Our Lady of Perpetual Help. If just a little bit of brush was cleared out, you’d have a sweeping view.

Aw man. I’ve always been jealous of this block of row houses at the corner of Elvans Rd SE and Morris Rd SE and the incredible view they have out their back windows of DC and VA across the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. Now they also have this awesome mural.

“They say home ownership makes you much more invested in municipal government,” remarks a father who cycles his daughter to kindergarten. “I haven’t found that. Biking has.” He recently called up the city engineer to praise a plan to narrow an arterial road. www.economist.com/united-state...

Amid growing calls for Chinese mining operations in Africa to improve safety standards, a dam of a major Chinese-owned copper & cobalt operation has collapsed in Lubumbashi, spilling contaminated water into homes www.semafor.com/article/11/1...

Great insight from Aubrey Hruby on MCC: “A Great Lakes regional compact would leverage the MCC’s unique strengths—flexible grants, reform conditionality, and regional scope—to turn a fragile deal into durable minerals security and local development.” www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/africa...

Cameroon's security forces killed 48 civilians as they responded to protests against the re-election of President Paul Biya, the world's oldest ruler, according to data shared with Reuters by two UN sources. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

Michaela Collord argues that CCM, Tanzania’s dominant ruling party, is facing a “triple legitimacy crisis”: failing to provide meaningful electoral competition, intraparty renewal, or an inclusive economic settlement. africasacountry.com/2025/11/afte...

@james-barnett.bsky.social cautions against U.S. policymakers framing Nigeria’s violence through a narrow religious or counterterrorism lens or imagining military intervention as a fix. www.hudson.org/terrorism/be...

Me: Siri, how do you say “construction cone” in Spanish? Siri: “Construction coon” in Spanish is “mapache de constructión”

Ghana, Africa’s top gold producer, has launched its most aggressive mining audit in a decade, targeting top miners to recover lost revenue & tighten oversight. Gov’ts across W. Africa are intensifying scrutiny of mining firms to enforce compliance & safeguard revenue www.reuters.com/world/africa...

lol we put baby stuff out on the sidewalk for free weeks ago, and it is now suddenly being sold on Minnesota Ave

When JD Vance lands in Kenya, he will inherit one of Washington’s most layered relationships in Africa, an ally too valuable to lose, but increasingly difficult to control. Topics discussed will include US-Kenya trade, security cooperation & Chinese influence www.theafricareport.com/396509/5-que...

A Sino Metals dam collapse in Zambia dumped 1.5M tons of toxic waste into the Kafue River. Locals were poisoned, silenced, and harassed. An example of how weak governance and lack of accountability can turn foreign investment into exploitation. www.wsj.com/world/asia/c...

Public transport has failed to keep up with rapid urban growth in Africa, with hours-long traffic jams a common feature of many metropolises. Carlos Mureithi, @rachelmsavage.bsky.social & @eromoegbejule.bsky.social talk to commuters in Nairobi, Joburg, & Abidjan www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Some guy posted in the Greater Petworth Facebook group complaining/warning that the zoning commission is considering changing the 10-foot rule for pop-backs to a 16-foot rule and honestly I’m surprised the majority of comments are YIMBY pushback

My toddler is recreating the space of cars vs. bikes meme

Nigeria loses over $9 billion annually to illegal mining, much tied to the gold sector. A recent investigation reveals how a significant share of gold extracted from the northwest is funnelled into terrorism financing. www.icirnigeria.org/how-gold-for...

JD Vance is expected to visit Kenya at the end of November, against a backdrop of tepid relations between Washington and Nairobi www.africaintelligence.com/eastern-afri...

Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council on denied reports of new peace talks in Washington with RSF, contradicting diplomatic and media sources who said indirect, U.S.-mediated meetings were underway for a humanitarian truce sudantribune.com/article/306335

Sudan’s central bank has ordered a freeze on the bank accounts of dozens of prominent political figures, including former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, over accusations they support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces sudantribune.com/article/306343

With growing concerns over value chain security & dependence on single countries like China, the EU has launched the Critical Raw Materials Act to build more resilient supply chains. How can Europe build new partnerships in Africa to achieve this?

Currently out near Dulles. What are some good ethnic restaurants out here that people suggest?

The @washprobs.bsky.social post on Instagram about this tweet is now filled with comments of people talking about how great their local @wmata.com station manager is. Which is also kind of an atypical positive vibe of the Washingtonian Problems commentariat!

Thank you very much for highlighting this thread about one of our @wmata.com fanatic team members. This type of personal touch is why we hit the highest customer satisfaction numbers in Metro’s history.

Some @wmata.com station manager is doing a hell of a job @wmatagm.bsky.social (Side note: this Facebook page for DC tourists is just constantly full of praise for our city. People are constantly praising our residents, transit, offerings. I never see complaints about crime or anything else)

Amazing phenomenon yesterday evening. I was out with my toddler and all evening the entire sky was blanketed with clouds, which the sun was hidden behind. But there was this *small* patch of clear sky in the west by the horizon. 1/2

Some @wmata.com station manager is doing a hell of a job @wmatagm.bsky.social (Side note: this Facebook page for DC tourists is just constantly full of praise for our city. People are constantly praising our residents, transit, offerings. I never see complaints about crime or anything else)

Love the views you can get from my neighborhood Randle Heighlands. These are all street-level views of: 1. The National Basilica behind the DC Armory 2. The Air Force Memorial behind the FDM Bridge 3. Bethesda 4. Capitol Dome, Library of Congress, and National Cathedral