Unwrap Africa: Urban Farming Under Threat, Regional Cooperation Gains Momentum, and the Continent Reflects on Its Identity
This week on Unwrap Africa, the focus turned to a continent in motion — grappling with rapid urbanization, navigating geopolitical tensions, deepening regional partnerships, and rediscovering its own narratives of leadership and philanthropy.
From the crowded outskirts of Kinshasa to high-level diplomatic agreements in West Africa, and from tourism recovery efforts in Southern Africa to reflections on Basotho heritage and African philanthropy, the program captured a complex but hopeful portrait of Africa today.
Urban Farmers in Kinshasa Under Pressure
In the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, urban farmers are fighting to protect their livelihoods amid explosive population growth.
With an estimated 17 million residents, Kinshasa is one of Africa’s most densely populated cities.
The surging demand for housing has pushed private developers to build on land previously used for agriculture, shrinking the spaces where small-scale farmers grow food.
For farmers like Bernadette Babella, who has cultivated vegetables on the outskirts of the city for over two decades, the stakes are deeply personal.
Her farm income helped educate her children — one is now an engineer, another an agronomist, and another works in agriculture elsewhere in the country.
Yet the land she depends on is increasingly threatened by real estate expansion.
Farmers argue that they play a crucial role in feeding the population, especially those who cannot afford imported food.
Some also raise livestock such as pigs and chickens, contributing to local nutrition.
However, as landowners sell agricultural land to developers, yields decline, and flooding worsens.
Construction has altered drainage patterns, causing nearby rivers to overflow during heavy rains, destroying crops.
Urban planners have urged authorities to safeguard strategic agricultural zones, warning that unchecked development jeopardizes food security.
Although the DRC possesses about 80 million hectares of arable land, only 10% is under cultivation.
Conflict in the eastern regions has displaced millions of farmers, while government agricultural initiatives launched in 2024 have been hampered by funding redirection toward ongoing security challenges.
For now, urban farmers in Kinshasa continue working their fields amid uncertainty, hoping for stronger protections against land sales and displacement.
Foreign Fighters and Continental Diplomacy
Elsewhere on the continent, international conflict continues to ripple across African nations.
Ghana confirmed that two of its citizens are being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine after allegedly fighting for Russia.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister has appealed directly to Ukraine’s President for their release.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has drawn foreign fighters from multiple countries, including several African states.
Meanwhile, 11 South African men who were allegedly misled into fighting for Russia have returned home after being stranded in Ukraine’s Donbas region since November.
In West Africa, tensions flared when Guinea detained 16 Sierra Leone soldiers accused of crossing the border and raising their flag on Guinean soil.
Sierra Leone maintains that its troops remained within their own territory, reviving a long-standing territorial dispute.
Meanwhile, in Zambia, a politician was arrested after allegedly posting a manipulated image of the president lying in a casket.
Authorities linked the image to a Facebook page administrator associated with the opposition National Democratic Congress.
Art, Memory, and Cultural Legacy
Cultural memory also took center stage.
A new documentary titled Maurice Pelos: Memory in Images revisits the legacy of a rare 1970s Congolese portrait photographer.
Former clients have been able to rediscover decades-old portraits, reconnecting with personal histories preserved through imagery.
Tourism Recovery and Regional Showcases
As Africa recovers from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, international conferences and events are returning to the continent.
South Africa recently hosted the 20th Meetings Africa conference in Johannesburg, bringing together representatives from 53 countries, including 21 African nations.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille emphasized that competition among African nations should coexist with collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
The conference highlighted Africa’s capacity to host global events and boost economic growth.
South Africa plans to host 51 conferences across cities and towns, following 55 successful bids out of 100 submissions.
Major upcoming events include international golf tournaments, jazz festivals, and preparations for the Cricket World Cup and the World Economic Forum.
Mozambique’s tourism board also attended Meetings Africa, viewing it as an opportunity to learn from more established markets.
Despite severe floods in January that damaged roads and disrupted travel routes, Mozambique’s government has made progress in restoring connectivity and rebuilding infrastructure.
Ghana and Burkina Faso Strengthen Ties
In a significant regional development, Ghana and Burkina Faso signed seven new bilateral agreements aimed at enhancing trade, improving border governance, and strengthening security cooperation.
One agreement seeks to create a joint no-drug zone to protect youth and regional stability.
Professor Sue Mizella from the University of South Africa described the partnership as progressive and vital for promoting regional trade.
He noted that Africa must reduce reliance on external partners, particularly amid shifting global trade policies and rising tariff threats.
Border management and security are central to the agreements.
Illicit trade and drug trafficking remain challenges in West Africa, and enhanced border cooperation is seen as essential for economic stability.
Mizella stressed the importance of involving young people, given Africa’s youthful demographic profile, and called for urgent implementation of agreements rather than allowing them to remain symbolic.
He also emphasized embracing technology — from AI to blockchain and drone surveillance — to modernize border control and infrastructure management.
According to Mizella, implementation and execution will determine whether these agreements deliver tangible benefits.
Ceasefire Concerns in Eastern DRC
The program also examined reactions to the killing of the M23 rebel group spokesperson in eastern DRC.
Viewers expressed mixed views on whether the assassination could destabilize the fragile ceasefire.
Some saw it as a targeted decapitation strategy that risks escalation; others argued that the rebel group had already claimed many lives.
The situation remains volatile, and regional observers continue monitoring its impact on peace efforts.
Heritage and African Philanthropy
Finally, Unwrap Africa turned to questions of identity and heritage.
A segment explored the legacy of King Moshoeshoe I of Lesotho, described as a visionary diplomat who forged unity through peaceful collaboration.
His leadership, based on strategic alliances rather than antagonism, remains influential in contemporary Pan-African thought.
Narrative alchemist Mayama Morag highlighted African philanthropy traditions, including communal practices like “letsema,” where communities gather to share resources collectively.
These longstanding practices represent forms of horizontal philanthropy that predate Western frameworks.
The discussion underscored the importance of reclaiming African narratives — recognizing that the continent has long practiced generosity, collaboration, and resilience in its own way.
Institutionalizing these traditions could strengthen Africa’s voice in global conversations about development and partnership.
Across its varied stories, Unwrap Africa painted a picture of a continent navigating complexity with determination.
Whether through urban farmers protecting land, governments forging new agreements, or cultural figures preserving memory, Africa continues to define its own trajectory.
