From human-elephant coexistence to an alternative conservation model from the Democratic Republic of Congo, from teen innovators in Kenya to Guinea’s complicated experience with mining, the stories that attracted the most readers in the first five months of 2026 reflect the richness of Mongabay’s Africa coverage on World Environment Day, June 5, 2026. They also showcase the talents of a diverse reporting team and a strong and growing network of resident contributors.
Electric fences help farmers and elephants coexist in Zambian borderlands: Contributor Ryan Truscott reports from eastern Zambia on an initiative aimed at protecting farmland from elephants, even as the pachyderms are forced into narrower corridors as habitats shrink.
A unique clearing in Central Africa draws elephants from the dense forests: Mongabay Africa’s program director David Akana takes readers to the forest clearing of Dzanga Bai in the Central African Republic. A place where the naturally elusive forest elephants gather, sometimes in the hundreds, forming a “village of elephants.”
Descendants of people pushed out for DRC national park lead forest conservation efforts: Contributor Jérémie Kyaswekera brings a story of hope from the DRC, where descendants of families that had to leave the forests of what is today an area in and around Maiko National Park are leading efforts to protect biodiversity through local conservation efforts.
Teen innovators in Kenya turn farm waste into award-winning vehicle exhaust filter: Kenya-based contributor Mary Mwendwa teamed up with Mongabay Africa editor Malavika Vyawahare to profile young innovators who developed an exhaust filtration system that uses filters made from locally-sourced materials like coconut shells, maize cobs, steel mesh, copper and recycled materials from old batteries. The duo won the Africa edition of the Earth Prize.
Hopes and fears as Guinea exports iron ore from Simandou mines: Mongabay Africa features writer Ashoka Mukpo explains what makes the first shipment of iron ore from Guinea’s Simandou mines to China significant. The deep dive foregrounds the perils of extractives in a country with hopes of becoming one of the world’s leading iron ore producers.
Banner image: Elephants in Dzanga Bai in the Central African Republic. Image by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay.
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