Nine West African countries have agreed an $8bn, 20-year plan to save Africa’s third-largest river, the Niger.

The programme, which aims to prevent the river silting up completely, was approved at a meeting in Niamey, Niger. Since the 1980s, there has been a 55% fall in the river’s flow, due mainly to climate change, industrial waste and problems caused by population growth. Full story – BBC News

With the price of oil at a record high, Africa needs alternative sources of energy. . As sunlight is readily available on the continent, solar energy should be a viable solution. So far just two African countries, Morocco and Algeria, have begun to explore the potential of solar power by building massive plants in the desert. Domestic solar panels can provide cheap and reliable electricity. Send your comments to: BBC News

Ewalin is a news agency that focuses on the development issues affecting Africa.

Ewalin is a news agency that focuses on the development issues affecting Africa. It provides a news agency for the collection of ALL news relating to development issues generated by agencies, organisations, charities, government bodies etc. on both the African continent and internationally and presents the information in a way that is accessible by all and easy to understand. This includes providing useful hints and guidance as to where other linked information is available to further the persons research or knowledge base and presenting the information in a context so as to help the reader see the picture at all levels. There is plenty of information available on all aspects of Africa’s development but it is offered across many platforms by organisations working on tight budgets and Ewalin will aim to provide a platform that works to bring all these threads together.