A top US scientist involved with space exploration was raised in East Africa.
Dr. Paul Mahaffy is the Chief of the Planetary Environments Laboratory in the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He’s currently part of the team operating the Curiosity Rover on the surface of Mars.

Today, he enjoys a prominent position in one of the world’s leading space exploration initiatives, but he and his six other siblings had humble childhoods in Eritrea. This is his story as part of a reporting project through the Voice of America.

A top US scientist involved with space exploration was raised in Eritrea

In Eritrea, many journalists have been held for more than a decade and denied access to lawyers or family members. Despite positive changes in the region in 2018 as Ethiopia and Eritrea declared an end to a 20-year war, the country continues to hold the unenviable title of the worst country in Africa for jailed journalists. https://www.voanews.com/a/in-eritrea-jailed-journalists-continue-to-languish/4892396.html

In Eritrea, Jailed Journalists Continue to Languish

Interview with VOA director Amanda Bennet about press freedom

Discussed current unrest in Ethiopia and regional implications with specifics on what's happening in Sudan on Africa News Tonight with Yeheyes Wuhib​. Here is a link and starts about the 1:30 mark: https://www.voanews.com/episode/africa-news-tonight-3898546 
For an article that captures the first week: https://www.voanews.com/africa/analysts-unsure-why-general-killed-amhara-region-president and here is an update: https://www.voanews.com/africa/assassinations-arrests-test-ethiopias-fragile-push-toward-democracy

Assassinations, Arrests Test Ethiopia’s Fragile Push Toward Democracy

Human Rights Watch​ found that authorities at Sawa keep students under military command throughout the year, beat them for minor infractions and force them to perform labor. Teachers at the camp are not much older than the students. Since they are compelled to serve at the camp, they are often indifferent or absent. 
You can read the story here:
https://www.voanews.com/africa/report-eritrean-high-schoolers-face-forced-labor-abuse

You can also listen to the radio report on Africa News Tonight starting at the 10:42 mark: https://www.voanews.com/africa-news-tonight

Report: Eritrean High Schoolers Face Forced Labor, Abuse

Controversial cleric Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky returned home to Nigeria after a brief trip to India, where he had sought medical treatment after four years in detention. https://www.voanews.com/africa/nigerian-sheikh-abruptly-returns-home-medical-trip-india

Nigerian Sheikh Abruptly Returns Home from Medical Trip to India

As terror groups in southern and central Africa commit deadly attacks and pledge allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), experts are trying to determine how big a threat they pose to the region and the wider world. https://www.voanews.com/africa/are-drc-mozambique-insurgencies-real-threat

International Focus Impedes Response to DRC, Mozambique Insurgencies, Experts Say

Increasing reports indicate that African governments are seeking to control the flow of information as it relates to the #coronavirus pandemic and the immediate targets are journalists. Angela Quintal, the Committee to Protect Journalists Africa program coordinator says censoring journalists and cracking down on the media is not educating the public about the virus and is counterproductive. I spoke to her recently and here is an excerpt from our conversation.

It aired on our radio show Africa News Tonight starting at the 6:30 mark: https://www.voanews.com/episode/africa-news-tonight-4236876

African governments are seeking to control the flow of information about #coronavirus pandemic

Video report here: https://www.voanews.com/episode/africa-54-4328616
“We want a more inclusive commission that can oversee the way the government is conducting its business ... the government is not properly functioning and so, that is our worry.” ~ Merera Gudina, chair of the Oromo Federalist Congress, an opposition party. You can read the story here: https://www.voanews.com/africa/rights-groups-call-swift-response-ethiopian-singers-death

The radio report also aired on our radio show 'Africa News Tonight' starting at the 2:18 mark: https://www.voanews.com/episode/africa-news-tonight-4328946
A lot has happened since and I plan to work on updates.

Rights Groups Call for Swift Response to Ethiopian Singer’s Death to Avoid Further Bloodshed

Amnesty International says it has obtained videos showing Mozambique's security forces torturing and abusing militants. The advocacy group is calling for independent investigations, but the Mozambique’s Defense Ministry spokesperson says the videos shouldn’t be taken seriously.

Release of Torture Videos Prompts Denials by Mozambican Authorities

US government to contribute nearly $152 million in additional humanitarian assistance to Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso
https://www.voanews.com/africa/us-special-envoy-millions-aid-aim-help-fragile-sahel-region

Q&A - US Special Envoy: Millions in Aid Aim to Help Fragile Sahel Region

Salem Solomon is a multimedia digital journalist with the Voice of America’s Africa Division. She covers the latest news from across the continent, and she also reports and edits in Amharic and Tigrigna.

Salem’s multimedia and data-driven projects include How Western DRC’s Ebola Outbreak Was Contained, Unrest: Ethiopia at a Crossroads, Zimbabwe in Transition, Hunger Across Africa and How Long Have Africa's Presidents Held Office?

Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Poynter.org and Reuters. She researches trends in analytics and digital journalism. For tips and inquiries, email: salemsolomon@voanews.com.

Salem Solomon

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