But first, in the small Tunisian village of El Hencha, protests have begun to break out over the lack of news following the disappearance of 37 migrants crossing the Mediterranean. On January 11, 2024, around 10 pm, all contact with a small boat carrying 37 migrants and asylum seekers, reported to be about 13 to 35 years old, suddenly stopped. A week after the disappearance, families of the missing migrants staged a protest, erecting roadblocks and burning tires around the village due to a lack of tangible news from the government. The coasts of Tunisia and Libya are popular departure points for locals and other migrants from sub-Saharan Africa looking to travel to Europe by boat in search of new lives. Some of the primary reasons driving this irregular migration are the poverty levels and lack of employment opportunities. However, this route is one of the world’s deadliest. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 2498 migrants and asylum seekers drowned while crossing the Mediterranean in 2023. The Tunisian National Guard also intercepted about 70,000 irregular migrants and asylum seekers in 2023. The latest disappearance of the 37 migrants has left the affected family and loved ones in a state of unrest, with some already losing hope. However, the government has assured the public that search efforts will continue. On Tuesday, the Tunisian National Guard released a statement mobilizing all field units, including maritime vessels and helicopters, to assist with the search. Italian and Maltese search units have also been reported to be involved. While there are hopes that the ongoing search produces concrete information on the migrants’ disappearance, this unfortunate situation highlights the broader impact of the failure by many African governments to prioritize the development of social infrastructure for their citizens. ‘They’re going to kill us’: Sudan’s army targets civilians on ethnic basis Gender Roles Are Resulting In Lowered Qualities Of Life For Nigerian Women https://youtu.be/AE3w0EYSCbo In northern Uganda, war survivors and comfort dogs are “healing together.” Rehabilitated stray dogs and survivors of a decade-long war in Uganda who grapple with trauma have formed a bond geared towards healing. It’s 11 am on Saturday at the headquarters of Big Fix Uganda, an organization specializing in treating and rehabilitating stray dogs. In the tranquil compound, Evelyne Anena is seated on a mat, tenderly stroking a dog called Peyot. The atmosphere is serene as Peyot, with closed eyes, luxuriates in each soothing stroke. The dog reciprocates the connection by placing its paw in Anena’s hand, creating a touching moment. Periodically, Peyot lifts its head, acknowledging and cherishing Anena’s comforting touch. In the background, the distant sounds of other dogs echo from inside one of the buildings on the compound. The bond shared between Peyot and Anena is one of profound interdependency. This connection had its roots in 2021 when Anena sought solace in the organization, looking for counseling to navigate the trauma she endured after losing her husband to the Lord Resistance Movement (LRA) rebels. “On the night of July 2002, rebels came into our home, grabbed my husband, and killed him in front of me and my children,” the 50-year-old Anena recalls. ”For almost twenty years, I could not sleep because every time I closed my eyes, I re-lived my husband’s murder.” An assistive speech software hopes to help thousands of Nigerians with visual impairment Driving a technological innovation was never going to be a task of one person, neither is it a race with one track. It is building an ecosystem where creative minds support one another in making a difference. For millions of Nigerians who struggle with visual impairment and little to no vision, Visis—a text-to-speech software application—has been designed to enable them to independently and conveniently carry out their activities. Irrespective of the etiology and forms of visual challenges experienced by people, the Visis App designed by Vinsighte responds to problems of visual loss. Most often, eye conditions are evaluated by primary physicians to know if such conditions are repairable by surgery or management. However, the tech solution is used by all categories of visually-impaired persons. It also helps users read printed materials including the ones that are not available in braille among other various functions. Kenya femicide: A woman’s murder exposes the country’s toxic online misogyny The brutal murder of a young Kenyan woman at a short-term rental apartment has sparked outrage and exposed the violent “manosphere” perpetuating misogyny online in the country.