Halima Gikandi

Africa Correspondent

Halima Gikandi is the Africa Correspondent at The World. She covers the continent, with a focus on politics, security and human rights.

Halima Gikandi is The World’s Africa Correspondent based in Nairobi, Kenya. She reports on current affairs in Africa, with a focus on politics, security and human rights. Her reporting has taken her across the continent, from Sudan to South Africa.

Before joining The World in 2019, Halima was a freelance journalist based in East Africa, where she covered major regional events like the political revolution in Sudan and the Dusit terrorist attack in Nairobi.

children on the grass

The backstory of The World's Uganda orphanage investigation

The World's host Carolyn Beeler talks to reporter Halima Gikandi about how she undertook this reporting, and how donors can better vet the international children's organizations they financially support.

The backstory of The World's Uganda orphanage investigation
sign

A tale of two children's homes in Uganda

A tale of two children's homes in Uganda
children's home

A Dutch children's home in Uganda full of complaints

A Dutch children's home in Uganda full of complaints
sign

American missionary accused of abuse at his organization, AidChild

American missionary accused of abuse at his organization, AidChild
children on grass

Americans are funding orphanages against expert advice

Americans are funding orphanages against expert advice
The first group of Kenyan evacuees from Sudan arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, April 24, 2023.

Millions of Sudanese displaced by war at home grapple with an uncertain future

More than 10 million people have been displaced by the ongoing war in Sudan. They’re hoping for an internationally mediated end to the conflict and a new democratic government for their country.

Millions of Sudanese displaced by war at home grapple with an uncertain future
plane

War in Sudan enters 9th month

The fighting between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary militia broke out last April following tensions over integrating the two forces. Those plans were part of an effort to transition Sudan to a civilian-led democracy after years of dictatorship. Now, the country is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world. The fighting has led more than 7 million people to flee their homes. 

War in Sudan enters 9th month
people near wreckage

‘You don’t know if you’re ever coming back’: Stories from a bus ride out of Khartoum

Fighting continued on Wednesday on the outskirts of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. A short-term ceasefire is in place, but the United Nations says it is only partially successful. Over the last 12 days, hundreds of people have been killed. Sudanese residents from the capital region are making tough decisions about leaving. 

‘You don’t know if you’re ever coming back’: Stories from a bus ride out of Khartoum
smoke comes out from a building

Sudan’s health care system near collapse amid fighting

The fighting between Sudan's rival armed forces continues to have a devastating impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure across the country. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed. The fighting has also damaged Sudan's health facilities, making it difficult for the country's health workers to help those caught in the crosshairs.

Sudan’s health care system near collapse amid fighting
Smoke rises from a central neighborhood of Khartoum, Sudan, amid intense fighting between armed forces, April 16, 2023.

Fighting between armed forces in Sudan continues amid warnings of wider regional conflict

The country’s military, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary began fighting on Saturday, following weeks of tensions. Pressure from international and regional players has so far failed to deescalate the conflict.

Fighting between armed forces in Sudan continues amid warnings of wider regional conflict
Family portrait of the Mabior family.

Daughter of South Sudanese freedom fighters reflects on family and country

Concerned that her mother's legacy would be forgotten, filmmaker Akuol de Mabior set out to create a new documentary called “No Simple Way Home.” It tells the story of Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior's contributions to the liberation of South Sudan.

Daughter of South Sudanese freedom fighters reflects on family and country
Netflix promotional image

Series of reimagined African folk tales launches on Netflix

This week, a new anthology of films called "African Folktales, Reimagined" premiered on Netflix. The series of short films was done in partnership with UNESCO as an effort to support more emerging filmmakers from Africa.

Series of reimagined African folk tales launches on Netflix
Surfing instructor Godpower Tamarakuro Pekipuma in Lagos, Nigeria.

‘Walking on water’: Surfing makes waves in Nigeria

The West African country of Nigeria is lucky to have a long coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. In the coastal community of Lagos, where many people didn't grow up learning to swim, interest in surfing and water sports is growing.

‘Walking on water’: Surfing makes waves in Nigeria
Rescue workers clear the rubble from an apartment building that was destroyed in a Russian rocket attack at a residential neighbourhood in the southeastern city of Dnipro, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. 

'We lost everything': African students who fled war in Ukraine continue to struggle

By and large, many African countries have stayed on the sidelines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. As major importers of wheat and fertilizers from the two warring nations, they are reluctant to jeopardize those vital supplies by taking sides, observed Olayinka Ajala, a lecturer at Leeds Beckett University in Britain.

'We lost everything': African students who fled war in Ukraine continue to struggle
press conference

Nigerians await election results in competitive race

Over the weekend, millions of Nigerians cast their vote for a new president in Africa's biggest democratic election. While many voters applaud improvement in the election process, others experienced violence at the polls. Now, comes the wait for the results.

Nigerians await election results in competitive race