President Cyril Ramaphosa has on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, extended his warmest congratulations to Ms Sanae Takaichi on her election as Prime Minister of Japan, becoming the first woman in Japan’s history to hold this esteemed position.
South Africa and Japan share a long-standing partnership founded on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared aspirations for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.
The South African Government looks forward to working closely with Prime Minister Takaichi and her administration to further strengthen bilateral relations and collaboration across a range of areas, including trade and investment, education, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
President Ramaphosa wishes Prime Minister Takaichi every success as she assumes her new responsibilities and leads Japan into a new era of progress and innovation.
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – Media@presidency.gov.za
Hanoi, Vietnam–President Cyril Ramaphosa says the State Visit to Vietnam has laid a strong foundation for a more structured and forward-looking partnership, one that delivers tangible benefits for the people, and contributes meaningfully to regional and global development.
“Together, we reaffirm our shared commitment to peace, prosperity and inclusive multilateralism,” he said.
The President was speaking during a media briefing in Hanoi on Thursday, following official talks with President Luong Cuong as part of his State Visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
“It is a great honour to be here in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I wish to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to President Lương Cường, the Government and the people of Vietnam for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation,” President Ramaphosa said.
He said the spirit of friendship and solidarity experienced during the visit is deeply valued and reflects the strength of the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
The visit, he added, takes place at a profoundly symbolic moment as Vietnam commemorates 80 years of independence, a milestone that speaks to the country’s enduring resilience and remarkable progress.
“It is also a moment to reflect on the historic ties between South Africa and Vietnam, rooted in shared struggles for liberation, sovereignty and justice,” the President said.
The President reflected that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993, the partnership between the two countries has grown steadily from political solidarity to multifaceted cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, education and multilateral engagement.
“Today, we take a decisive step forward with the commencement of a process to elevate our bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. This reflects our shared commitment to deepening cooperation across a range of sectors,” he said.
These sectors include defence, agriculture, justice and constitutional development, mineral and petroleum resources, and biodiversity conservation.
President Ramaphosa said South Africa sees Vietnam as a key partner in its export diversification strategy and is encouraged by the steady growth in trade and investment between the two countries.
“This visit forms part of a broader effort to strengthen South Africa’s engagement with Southeast Asia, a region of growing strategic importance,” he said.
He noted that South Africa’s participation in the 47th ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] Summit as Guest of the Chair, and its recent recognition as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, “reflects [the] commitment to fostering inter-regional cooperation between Africa and Asia”.
“We are building on the legacy of the 1955 Bandung Conference, which laid the foundation for solidarity between our continents,” President Ramaphosa said.
“Vietnam plays a central role in this regional partnership, not only as a longstanding friend of South Africa, but also as a key member of ASEAN,” he said.
President Ramaphosa is on a three-nation visit to the Southeast Asia region, which kicked off in Indonesia, followed by the State Visit to Vietnam. It will conclude with a working visit to Malaysia. – SAnews.gov.za
Cassava Technologies (Cassava) (www.CassavaTechnologies.com), a global technology leader of African heritage, proudly announces that it has received an investment from NVIDIA.
According to Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, “Cassava is Africa’s leading technology company, driving the continent’s digital transformation with digital infrastructure and digital services. Securing this investment is an important milestone that we expect to unlock additional value from and catalyze the further expansion of our digital infrastructure and services to bridge the digital divide on the continent”
Cassava’s impressive roster of investors now includes Econet Group, British International Investment, Finnfund, Fund for Export Development in Africa (Afreximbank/FEDA), Gateway Capital, Google LLC, International Finance Corporation (IFC), NVIDIA, Public Investment Corporation and Royal Bafokeng Holdings.
Cassava Technologies operates across Africa, the Middle East and Latin America through a strong portfolio of business units comprising Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres, Liquid C2, Cassava.ai, and Sasai Fintech, all of which are leaders in their respective sectors. The organisation will continue collaborating with its partners and customers on the continent and beyond, establishing it as a leading technology company of African heritage.
– on behalf of Cassava Technologies.
About Cassava Technologies:
Cassava Technologies is a global technology leader of African heritage, providing a vertically integrated ecosystem of digital services and infrastructure, enabling digital transformation. Headquartered in the UK, Cassava has a presence across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the United States of America. Through its business units, namely, Cassava AI, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Liquid C2, Africa Data Centres, and Sasai Fintech, the company provides its customers’ products and services in 94 countries. These solutions drive the company’s ambition of establishing itself as a leading global technology company of African heritage.
The State of Qatar , the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Republic of Djibouti, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, Republic of The Gambia, the State of Palestine, the State of Kuwait, the State of Libya, Malaysia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, condemn in the strongest terms the approval of Israeli Knesset of two draft laws aiming to impose a so called “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank, and on Israeli illegal colonial settlements as a blatant violation of international law, and of United Nations Security Council resolutions particularly Resolution 2334, which condemns all Israeli measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of the occupied Palestinian territory since 1967, including East Jerusalem — in addition to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which affirmed the illegality of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and the invalidity of settlement construction and annexation measures in the occupied West Bank. They reaffirm that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory.
On the other hand, they welcome the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 22 October 2025 on Israel’s Obligations in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in which the Court reaffirmed Israel’s obligation under international humanitarian law to ensure that the population of the OPT, including Gaza, has the essential supplies of daily life, and to agree to and facilitate by all means at its disposal relief schemes on behalf of the population, including through the United Nations and its entities, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The Court confirmed Israel’s obligation to respect the prohibition on the use of starvation, recalling Israel’s blocking of aid into the Gaza Strip and reaffirmed the prohibition of mass forcible transfer and deportation, recalling that this also includes inflicting conditions of life that are intolerable. The court further reaffirmed the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and independent statehood, recalling that Israel’s territorial claim over East Jerusalem has been declared “null and void” by the Security Council, which includes the “Law to Cease UNRWA Operations in the Territory of the State of Israel”, which purports to apply to East Jerusalem.
They warn against the continuation of Israel’s unilateral and illegal policies and practices and call on the international community to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities and to compel Israel to cease its dangerous escalation and unlawful measures in the occupied Palestinian territory, and to uphold the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent and sovereign state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital as the only path toward achieving a just and comprehensive peace that ensures security and stability in the region.
Hanoi, Vietnam–President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a renewed push to strengthen trade and investment ties between South Africa and Vietnam, saying deeper cooperation between the two countries is key to building resilient economies and advancing inclusive growth.
The President made the remarks during official talks with Vietnamese President Lương Cường at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Thursday, where the two leaders led high level delegations in discussions aimed at taking the relationship between the two countries to new heights.
Considering recent global trade tensions, including the imposition of tariffs by major economies, President Ramaphosa underscored that it is increasingly important for countries like South Africa to strengthen South–South trade and economic cooperation.
“Enhancing bilateral trade ties and expanding market access between South Africa and Vietnam is both a strategic imperative and a practical response to shifting global dynamics.
“Our partnership can help build more resilient and diversified economies and unlock new opportunities for inclusive growth,” the President said.
The President congratulated the Vietnamese people on the country’s 80th anniversary of independence, describing it as “a remarkable milestone that demonstrates the resilience, unity and progress of the Vietnamese people.”
He noted that the participation of Ministers from Defence, Trade, Agriculture, Justice, Mineral Resources and Police from both countries underscored the countries’ shared commitment to deepening cooperation across a wide range of strategic sectors.
President Ramaphosa welcomed Vietnam’s proposal to elevate bilateral relations from a Comprehensive Partnership to a Strategic Partnership, a move he said would “unlock new opportunities for structured collaboration, enhance institutional engagement, and position [the] partnership to respond more effectively to global and regional challenges”.
He said the proposal also reflected the growing importance of Southeast Asia to South Africa and the African continent, and the importance of Africa for Vietnam’s growing global role.
The talks come as South Africa chairs the Group of 20 (G20), with President Ramaphosa highlighting Vietnam’s invitation to the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg as an opportunity to deepen South–South cooperation and promote inclusive multilateralism.
“Vietnam’s presence will enrich the dialogue and reinforce the importance of inclusive multilateralism and South–South cooperation in shaping a more equitable global order. As the Incoming Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), South Africa is working to strengthen regional integration and economic development across the continent,” he said.
The President also encouraged Vietnamese businesses to take advantage of opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, which offers access to a market of over 1.4 billion people.
“South Africa, as a gateway to the continent, is well positioned to serve as a strategic base for Vietnamese investment and trade expansion into Africa,” he said.
In closing, the President congratulated Vietnam for hosting the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime, describing it as “a historic moment, reflecting the collective determination of the countries of the world to manage rapid technological change in a manner that prevents harm and advances the cause of human development”.
The President said South Africa is proud to participate in this historic occasion and the Convention will be signed on his behalf by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.
“As our two nations, let us use this moment to reaffirm our shared values, strengthen our strategic alignment and build a partnership that contributes meaningfully to peace, prosperity and sustainable development,” Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
Ryanair (https://Ryanair.com/), première compagnie aérienne d’Europe, a annoncé aujourd’hui un programme hivernal sans précédent pour Amman, proposant plus de 300 000 sièges sur 18 destinations et reliant la Jordanie à 12 pays de l’Union européenne, dont l’Autriche, la Belgique, la France, l’Allemagne, l’Italie et l’Espagne.
Le rétablissement rapide de l’ensemble des opérations de Ryanair à l’aéroport d’Amman illustre l’approche favorable aux entreprises du gouvernement jordanien et le soutien pragmatique de l’aéroport, renforçant ainsi la position de la Jordanie comme l’une des destinations touristiques les plus attractives et accessibles du Moyen-Orient. Ryanair a réaffirmé son engagement à stimuler le tourisme entrant et la croissance économique en proposant les tarifs les plus bas d’Europe, permettant aux visiteurs de dépenser davantage dans les hôtels, restaurants et services locaux jordaniens, soutenant directement la création d’emplois et les entreprises locales.
Ryanair also unveiled an ambitious investment proposal for the Hashemite Kingdom of La compagnie a également dévoilé une proposition d’investissement ambitieuse pour le Royaume hachémite de Jordanie, qui prévoit d’augmenter le trafic annuel de 360% pour atteindre 3 millions de sièges, d’exploiter 50 liaisons directes entre les villes européennes et la Jordanie, de lancer de nouveaux vols vers l’aéroport de Marka (Amman) et de maintenir des services toute l’année vers Aqaba.
Eddie Wilson, PDG de Ryanair, a déclaré : « Ryanair est ravie d’annoncer le retour à des opérations complètes vers la Jordanie à partir d’octobre, marqué par un programme hivernal record pour Amman. Avec 84 vols hebdomadaires sur 18 lignes vers 12 pays européens tels que l’Autriche, la Belgique, la France, l’Allemagne et l’Espagne, l’investissement de Ryanair garantira que la Jordanie reste une destination touristique clé cet hiver, offrant une meilleure connectivité, un tourisme accru et une croissance économique avec les tarifs les plus bas d’Europe.
Le retour rapide de Ryanair en Jordanie repose sur un partenariat de longue date entre Ryanair et le Royaume, dont la stratégie axée sur la croissance permettra à la Jordanie de rester la première destination touristique du Moyen-Orient. Nous sommes également ravis de présenter notre proposition d’investissement qui portera le trafic de Ryanair vers la Jordanie à 3 millions de sièges par an, offrira 50 liaisons directes via les aéroports d’Amman, Marka et Aqaba, stimulant la création d’emplois, le tourisme et la croissance économique.
Nous nous réjouissons de collaborer avec le Royaume hachémite de Jordanie pour concrétiser ce projet passionnant et faire découvrir à des millions de passagers de toute l’Europe la richesse culturelle et l’histoire unique de la Jordanie. »
Le Dr Emad Hijazeen, ministre jordanien du Tourisme et des Antiquités, a déclaré : « L’annonce aujourd’hui de 18 lignes Ryanair vers Amman pour la saison hivernale 2025-2026 constitue une étape vraiment exceptionnelle pour les secteurs de l’aviation et du tourisme en Jordanie.
Cette expansion renforce non seulement la position de la Jordanie en tant que pôle touristique et d’investissement majeur dans la région, mais joue également un rôle essentiel dans le soutien de notre économie nationale et la création de nouvelles opportunités dans toute la chaîne de valeur du tourisme.
Notre partenariat avec Ryanair, qui a débuté en 2018, est devenu un modèle de collaboration réussie fondée sur la confiance, la résilience et une vision commune. »
Le Dr Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat, directeur général de l’Office du tourisme de Jordanie, a ajouté : « Depuis le début de notre partenariat en 2018, Ryanair constitue un outil stratégique essentiel pour promouvoir la Jordanie comme destination compétitive et accessible pour les voyageurs européens.
Ensemble, nous avons obtenu des résultats exceptionnels, accueillant plus d’un million de visiteurs depuis le lancement de ce partenariat stratégique en provenance de toute l’Europe, diversifiant les marchés sources et aidant la Jordanie à atteindre des records touristiques lors de plusieurs saisons.
Au-delà des routes et des capacités, nos initiatives de marketing conjointes et nos campagnes depuis 2018 ont joué un rôle véritablement transformateur dans le positionnement mondial de la Jordanie, la présentant comme une destination incontournable pour les voyageurs de tous profils, des explorateurs culturels aux amateurs d’aventure en passant par les familles. Ces initiatives sont soigneusement localisées, traduites et adaptées pour chaque marché dans sa propre langue, garantissant un impact, une pertinence et une efficacité maximaux pour toucher des publics divers à travers l’Europe. »
Distribué par APO Group pour Jordan Tourism Board.
Ryanair (https://Ryanair.com/), Europe’s No.1 airline, today announced a record Winter schedule for Amman, offering over 300,000 seats across 18 destinations and connecting Jordan to 12 EU countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
The rapid restoration of Ryanair’s full operations at Amman Airport reflects the pro-business approach of the Jordanian Government and the airport’s pragmatic support, reinforcing Jordan’s position as one of the Middle East’s most attractive and accessible tourism destinations. Ryanair reaffirmed its commitment to driving inbound tourism and economic growth by offering Europe’s lowest fares, allowing visitors to spend more in Jordan’s local hotels, restaurants, and services, directly supporting job creation and local businesses.
Ryanair also unveiled an ambitious investment proposal for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which envisions increasing annual traffic by 360% to reach 3 million seats, operating 50 direct connections from European cities to Jordan, launching new flights to Marka (Amman) Airport, and maintaining year-round services to Aqaba.
Ryanair CEO, Eddie Wilson, said, “Ryanair is thrilled to announce the return to full operations to Jordan from Oct, underlined by a record Winter schedule for Amman. With 84 weekly flights across 18 routes to 12 European countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain, Ryanair’s investment will ensure that Jordan remains a key tourist destination this Winter – delivering enhanced connectivity, increased tourism, and economic growth with Europe’s lowest fares.
Ryanair’s rapid return to Jordan is built on a long-standing partnership between Ryanair and the Kingdom, whose pro-growth strategy will ensure Jordan remains the premier tourist destination in the Middle East. We are also excited to unveil our investment proposal which will increase Ryanair traffic to Jordan to 3m seats p.a., deliver 50 direct connections across Amman, Marka and Aqaba airports, driving job creation, tourism and economic growth.
We look forward to working with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to deliver this exciting plan and introducing millions of passengers from across Europe to Jordan’s rich culture and unique history.”
Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Emad Hijazeen, said: “Today’s announcement of 18 Ryanair routes to Amman for the Winter 25/26 Season marks a truly exceptional milestone for Jordan’s aviation and tourism sectors.
This expansion not only reinforces Jordan’s position as a key tourism and investment hub in the region, but also plays a vital role in supporting our national economy and creating new opportunities across the tourism value chain.
Our partnership with Ryanair, which began in 2018, has evolved into a model of a successful partnership built on trust, resilience, and shared vision.”
Jordan Tourism Board Managing Director, Dr. Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat, said: “Since the start of our partnership in 2018, Ryanair has been an essential strategic tool in promoting Jordan as a competitive and accessible destination for European travellers.
Together, we have achieved exceptional results, welcoming more than a million visitors since the start of this strategic partnership from across Europe, diversifying source markets, and helping Jordan achieve record-breaking tourism numbers in multiple seasons.
Beyond routes and capacity, our joint marketing initiatives and campaigns since 2018 have played a truly transformative role in positioning Jordan globally — showcasing it as a must-visit destination for travellers of all profiles, from cultural explorers to adventure seekers and families alike. These initiatives are carefully localized, translated, and tailored for each market in its own language, ensuring maximum impact, relevance, and efficiency in reaching diverse audiences across Europe.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Jordan Tourism Board.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Megan Malherbe, Research Assistant Scientific Collection Institute of Evolutionary Medicine Faculty of Science, University of Zurich
Understanding what the environment looked like millions of years ago is essential for piecing together how our earliest ancestors lived and survived. Habitat shapes everything, from what food was available, to where water could be found, to how predators and prey interacted.
For decades, scientists studying South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind have tried to reconstruct the landscape in which species like Australopithecus sediba, Paranthropus robustus and Homo naledi once lived. These were hominins that inhabited the region between roughly 2.5 million and 0.25 million years ago. The Cradle of Humankind is a Unesco world heritage site that has remained the single richest source of early human fossils for over 90 years.
A long-standing idea has been that the Cradle experienced a dramatic environmental change around 1.7 million years ago: a shift from woodlands to open grasslands. This shift likely happened as global climates became cooler and drier, with stronger seasonal patterns. These broader changes, linked to the expansion of polar ice sheets and shifts in atmospheric circulation, reduced the availability of year-round rainfall in southern Africa.
Trees and shrubs, which depend on consistent moisture, gave way to hardy grasses better suited to long dry seasons and intense sunlight. In the woodlands, dense trees and shrubs had once provided leafy vegetation for browsing animals. As the landscape opened up, short grasses became dominant, supporting grazing animals.
This supposed sudden transformation was thought to have reshaped the setting in which early humans evolved, possibly influencing their diets, mobility and survival strategies.
But was there really such a sudden switch?
I’m a palaeoecologist who’s part of a team that specialises in reconstructing ancient environments by studying fossil animals. We set out to test the “sudden switch” idea, using a large dataset of fossil antelope teeth. Antelopes (bovids) are particularly useful for reconstructing past environments in Africa: they are abundant in the fossil record, they occupy a wide range of habitats today as well as in the past, and their teeth preserve clear signals of what they ate.
We examined more than 600 fossil teeth from seven well-dated sites in the Cradle, covering a broad time span from 3.2 million to 1.3 million years ago.
The results of our study were striking. Across all seven sites, spanning nearly two million years, the antelopes show consistently strong grazing signals. Grass-eating was dominant throughout the period, challenging the old model of a sudden woodland-to-grassland shift 1.7 million years ago. Instead, the evidence points to a more stable but varied landscape: a mosaic environment. Some fossil species even showed different feeding strategies from their modern relatives, highlighting that ancient antelopes adapted to past conditions in distinct ways.
This tells us more about the world early humans evolved in – but it also reminds us to be cautious. Fossil animals didn’t always behave like their modern relatives, so drawing direct parallels risks oversimplifying the past.
Dating the sites
To interpret the fossils in context, we needed to be sure of when each site formed. Previous work often relied on broad age estimates based on the types of animals found in each sediment layer – a method called biochronology – which could only give a rough idea of when different species lived. This made it difficult to line up fossils from the many cave sites in the Cradle on a reliable timeline. Thanks to recent improvements in radiometric dating, a method that finds the precise age of rocks by measuring how radioactive elements change into other elements over time, the chronology of the Cradle has been refined.
The layers of calcite deposited in caves (known as flowstones) were recently shown by geochronologists to have formed at the same time across multiple sites, providing a regional framework for the whole area. This means researchers can now compare fossils from different caves knowing they represent the same windows of time. It’s a huge step forward in testing whether environmental shifts were truly regional events.
Reading diets from teeth
The method used in this study is called dental mesowear analysis. It records the long-term impact of diet on the tooth surfaces of herbivores throughout their life. In simple terms, different diets wear teeth in different ways:
browsers (like kudu or giraffes), which eat leaves and twigs, usually have sharper cusps, because their food causes less wear on the teeth
grazers (like wildebeest or zebra), which feed mostly on grasses rich in silica and often covered in grit, develop blunter cusps from heavy tooth grinding
mixed feeders show intermediate wear, reflecting generalist behaviour and a diet that shifts with seasons or local vegetation.
By scoring cusp shape and relief on each fossil tooth, we assessed whether past populations leaned more towards browsing or grazing.
Illustration of cusp shape and occlusal relief numerical scores. 0 = sharper cusps. and high occlusal relief (the dip between the two cusps), common in browsing herbivores; 4 = blunt cusps and low occlusal relief, common in grazing herbivores.Author supplied
The results showed there was a mix of different habitats in this environment at that time: open grassy areas mixed with patches of trees and shrubs. This would have created a patchwork of ecological niches, offering early humans a diverse range of resources.
Some sites – including the famous Sterkfontein Caves, home to one of the most complete early hominin skulls ever found, “Mrs Ples” – showed a bimodal pattern in tooth wear, meaning that even within the same community, some antelopes were grazing while others were browsing. This suggests that vegetation structure shifted locally or seasonally, and that animals adapted their diets accordingly. They switched between food sources as conditions changed.
One of the most important findings is that some fossil antelopes fed very differently than their modern relatives. For example, certain groups that today are almost exclusively browsers were much more grass-focused in the Cradle fossil record. Others showed unexpected flexibility, with individuals of the same tribe in the same site adopting different strategies.
This has two key implications.
We cannot always rely on modern analogies. Assuming extinct animals behaved like their living relatives can be misleading, since the fossil record shows surprising shifts in diet. This means reconstructions based only on which species were present may give the wrong impression or oversimplify the reality.
Flexibility was crucial. The fact that antelopes could switch between grazing and browsing indicates that the Cradle’s environment was dynamic, and that survival often depended on adaptability. This echoes what we know about early humans, who also seem to have thrived by exploiting a wide range of resources.
– Ancient antelope teeth offer surprise insights into how early humans lived – https://theconversation.com/ancient-antelope-teeth-offer-surprise-insights-into-how-early-humans-lived-267169
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met on Thursday with Their Excellencies Ministers of Oil, Gas, and Energy participating in the Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Doha. His Excellency welcomed the guests, wishing them success in their meeting. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s call to enhance dialogue and cooperation among the GECF’s member states to ensure the security of natural gas supplies and the stability of global gas market.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marc Souris, chercheur, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)
Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that mainly affects livestock. It can also infect humans. While most human cases remain mild, it can cause death. The disease causes heavy economic and health losses for livestock farmers.
So, what exactly is Rift Valley fever, how it is treated, and how it can be controlled?
What is Rift Valley fever?
Rift Valley fever is a zoonosis (a disease affecting animals that can be transmitted to humans). It is caused by the RVF virus, a phlebovirus from the Phenuiviridae family (order Bunyavirales). The disease primarily affects domestic animals, mainly cattle, sheep and goats, but also camelids and other small ruminants. It can occasionally infect humans.
In animals, the disease causes high morbidity: reduced milk production, high newborn mortality, mass abortions in pregnant females, and death in 10% to 20% of cases. This leads to serious economic losses for farmers.
Most people who get Rift Valley fever have no symptoms or just flu-like syndrome. But in a few people, it can become very serious, causing complications such as eye disorders, meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or hemorrhagic fever. The fatality rate among infected people is around 1%.
How it’s transmitted
In animals, the disease is mainly spread through bites from infected mosquitoes. At least 50 mosquito species can transmit the Rift Valley fever virus, including Aedes, Culex, Anopheles and Mansonia species. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on animals carrying the virus in their blood, then transmit it to other animals through their bites. In Aedes mosquitoes, vertical transmission – from infected females to their eggs – is also possible, allowing the virus to survive in the environment.
For humans, the most common way to get infected is through direct contact with the blood or organs of an infected animal. This often happens during veterinary work, slaughtering, or butchering.
While it is also possible for human to get the virus from a mosquito bite, this is not common. No human-to-human transmission has been observed to date.
The origins and spread
A serious outbreak of Rift Valley fever began to be reported in Senegal in late September 2025. The west African country has been battling to control it.
The disease was first discovered in 1931 in the Rift Valley in Kenya in east Africa, during a human epidemic of 200 cases. The virus itself was isolated and identified in 1944 in neighbouring Uganda.
The RVF virus under an electron microscope.Author provided (no reuse)
Its spread into the Sahel and west African regions has been largely driven by the movement of livestock, and by environmental factors.
To date, around 30 countries have reported animal and/or human cases in the form of outbreaks or epidemics.
Why and how outbreaks occur
Rift Valley fever reemerges in cyclical patterns, with major outbreaks occurring in Africa every five to 15 years. The trigger for these outbreaks is closely linked to specific environmental conditions, like periods of heavy rainfall that create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
In east Africa, epidemics typically follow periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall or flooding in normally dry regions. For instance, the severe outbreaks of 1998-1999 were directly linked to intense rains caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon.
In the Sahel region, the relationship with rainfall is less predictable. Outbreaks can appear in unexpected, poorly monitored areas, and genetic analysis of viruses in Mauritania suggests that new strains can be introduced directly from other regions.
A key mystery is how the virus persists in the environment between these major outbreaks. It is believed to survive in the environment within a “wild reservoir” of animals – such as certain antelopes, deer, and possibly even reptiles – though this reservoir has not yet been fully identified.
Once an initial outbreak occurs, the virus can spread to new areas. This happens through the movement of infected livestock, the accidental transport of infected mosquitoes (for example, in vehicles or cargo), and when environmental conditions are conducive.
Clinical symptoms and treatments
Adult cattle and sheep may show nasal discharge, excessive salivation, loss of appetite, weakness, diarrhoea.
In humans, after an incubation period of two to six days, most infections are asymptomatic or mild, with flu-like symptoms lasting four to seven days. People who recover from the infection typically gain natural immunity.
However, in a small percentage of individuals, the disease can take a severe turn:
Eye lesions affect up to 10% of symptomatic cases. They appear one to three weeks after initial symptoms and can heal on their own or lead to permanent blindness.
Meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain and meninges) occurs in 2%-4% of symptomatic cases, one to four weeks after symptom onset. Mortality is low, but neurological after-effects are common.
Hemorrhagic fever (diseases that cause fever and bleeding due to damage to the blood vessels) occurs in less than 1% of symptomatic cases, usually two to four days after symptoms begin. About half of these patients die within three to six days.
There is no specific treatment for severe cases of Rift Valley fever in humans.
Surveillance, prevention and control
Veterinary surveillance with immediate reporting and monitoring of infection in animals is essential to control the disease. During outbreaks, controlled culling of infected animals and strict restrictions on the movement of livestock are the most effective ways to slow virus spread.
As with all mosquito-borne viral diseases, controlling vector populations is an effective preventive measure, though it is challenging, especially in rural areas.
To prevent new outbreaks, animals in endemic regions can be vaccinated in advance. A modified live virus vaccine provides long-term immunity after a single dose, but it is not recommended for pregnant females because it can cause abortions. An inactivated virus vaccine is also available, it avoids these side effects, but it requires several doses to provide adequate protection.
Threat, vulnerabilities and health risks
People at highest risk of infection include livestock farmers, abattoir workers and veterinarians. An inactivated vaccine for human has been developed. But it is not licensed yet and has only been used experimentally.
Raising awareness of risk factors is the only effective way to reduce human infections during outbreaks. Key risk factors include:
handling sick animals or their tissues during farming and slaughter
consuming fresh blood, raw milk, or meat
mosquito bites.
It is important to follow basic health precautions when Rift Valley fever appears. Wash your hands regularly. Wear protective gear when handling animals or during slaughter. Always cook animal products such as blood, meat and milk thoroughly. Use mosquito nets or repellents consistently.
– Rift Valley fever: what it is, how it spreads and how to stop it – https://theconversation.com/rift-valley-fever-what-it-is-how-it-spreads-and-how-to-stop-it-267309
