East Africa Research Articles (Page 1)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing worldwide, undermining strides in public health and the economy, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Africa is the continent with the highest death rate attributed to antimicrobial-resistant infections. There is a lack of information on AMR mitigation strategies and their implementation in the region. The aim of this study was to analyze national strategies to tackle AMR with focus on AMR surveillance in the East African Community (EAC) and their implementation status including the analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Within our expert group (composed of representatives from the National Public Health Laboratories (NPHL), Ministries of Health of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda) we used a qualitative approach to analyze AMR National Action Plans (NAPs), AMR surveillance programs, publications and reports on the AMR situation and strategies in the EAC. We found varying levels of implementation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) strategies among East African Community (EAC) Partner States. For example, progress in key steps for the sustainable implementation of National Action Plans on AMR (AMR-NAPs) ranged from 7% in Burundi to 94% in Kenya. The overall accomplishment of the WHO checklist for AMR surveillance also varied: 44% in South Sudan, 61% in Burundi, 89% in Rwanda, 94% in Tanzania, and 100% in both Uganda and Kenya. Within EAC Partner States, the detection of bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles is coordinated by national reference laboratories. Most EAC countries have established AMR surveillance systems. However, challenges such as limited laboratory testing capacity, low representativeness of surveillance data, lack of integration among existing systems, and financial constraints undermine efforts to curb AMR. Regional collaboration among EAC Partner States is essential for an effective and sustainable response to antimicrobial resistance. Strengthening joint efforts will enable countries to share resources, harmonize surveillance systems, and address common challenges more efficiently. The EAC Regional Network of Reference Laboratories is one example of a regional mechanism that can support such collaboration. The findings of this study will inform the development of a regional AMR strategy focused on laboratory-based surveillance and help guide the prioritization of technical and financial support across the EAC region.

Purpose This study aims to investigate how US dollar volatility and inflation affect national competitiveness in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Design/methodology/approach A global competitiveness index (GCI)-aligned composite measure was constructed using standardized principal component analysis for 17 MENA countries between 2000 and 2020. Panel econometric techniques were applied to assess the influence of dollar movements and inflation on competitiveness. Findings The results show that inflation exerts a persistent and significant negative effect on competitiveness across all country groups, undermining stability, distorting resource allocation and reducing productivity. By contrast, dollar impacts are heterogeneous: oil exporters and developed economies are highly exposed through trade and financial channels, while nonoil and developing economies remain primarily constrained by inflationary pressures. Research limitations/implications The findings highlight the importance of credible inflation-targeting, exchange-rate stabilization and diversification strategies and stronger institutional frameworks to enhance resilience and sustain competitiveness in MENA. Originality/value This study contributes by jointly analyzing inflation and dollar shocks within a GCI-based framework, offering new insights into how macroeconomic volatility conditions competitiveness in resource-dependent and emerging economies.

Bats are associated with some of the most significant and virulent emerging zoonoses globally, yet research and surveillance of bat pathogens remains limited across parts of the world. We surveyed the prevalence and genetic diversity of coronaviruses from bats in Taita Hills, southeastern Kenya, as part of ongoing surveillance efforts in this remote part of eastern Africa. We collected fecal and intestinal samples in May 2018 and March 2019 from 16 bat species. We detected one genus of coronavirus (alphacoronavirus), with an overall RNA prevalence of 6.5% (30/463). The prevalence of coronavirus RNA was 3.8% (9/235) and 11.6% (21/181) for the two most captured free-tailed bat species, Mops condylurus and M. pumilus respectively, with no detections from other bat species (0/90). Phylogenetic analyses based on the partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene and whole genome sequences revealed that the sequences clustered together and were closely related to alphacoronavirus detected in free tailed bats in Eswatini, Nigeria and Rhinolophus simulator bats in South Africa. The sequences were more distantly related to alphacoronavirus isolated from Chaerophon plicatus bat species in Yunnan province, China and Ozimops species from southwestern Australia. These findings highlight coronavirus transmission among bats that share habitats with humans and livestock, posing a potential risk of exposure. Future research should investigate whether coronaviruses detected in these bats have the potential to spillover to other hosts.

Passive tectonic uplift of populations is being discussed in a growing number of studies from many regions around the world, usually for areas that have undergone dramatic uplift in fold mountains (orogens). It is also proposed in belts of uplift along the margins ("shoulders") of rifts, as in south-eastern Brazil, West Africa and the rift mountains of Central and East Africa. Many groups show signs of having been left stranded inland with the retreat of inland epicontinental seas in the Cretaceous, consistent with the long-term persistence and passive uplift of populations in situ. Passive uplift provides a mechanism in which groups are elevated and also a mode of speciation that can help explain the anomalous, high diversity of areas such as the Andes ("Humboldt's enigma"). We suggest that one focus of future research could be on the location of elevational anomalies in species distributions. Studying these will require good information on the three-dimensional distribution of species, and this is still lacking for most groups. If these data were available, it would be possible to use niche models to identify populations at anomalous elevations.

Middle Eastern and African populations make up a significant portion of the global population and exhibit substantial genetic diversity. However, genetic studies on these populations have been largely underrepresented compared to other populations. This study analysed published Y-STR data for 186 populations and regions, including 14,504 individuals from 52 Middle Eastern and 134 African populations. The highest genetic diversity was found at the DYS458 locus in the Middle East and North Africa, and at the DYS385b locus in other African regions. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis and genetic distance calculations between Middle Eastern and African populations revealed five distinct clusters. The Arabian Peninsula countries formed two small clusters, while most African countries formed two mains centrally located clusters. The most common haplogroups in the Middle Eastern populations were J1a (29.4%), while in the African populations, E1b1a (43.2%) was the most prevalent. This study examined two allelic richness parameters: distinct and private alleles. Central Africa showed the highest levels of distinct alleles, with the Middle East having the third-highest level. The prevalence of private alleles in the Middle East was moderate, lower than South Africa but higher than North Africa. A population Q-matrix graph was constructed, yielding 10 clusters (K = 10) that identified population clusters in the Y-STR data corresponding to specific geographical regions and revealed stronger sub-grouping of countries within each population.

Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive syndromic type of albinism. It is characterized by oculocutaneous hypopigmentation, platelet dysfunction, and variable systemic involvement depending on the specific subtype. To date, eleven distinct HPS types have been identified, with HPS3 being among the milder forms. Clinical and ophthalmic examinations, followed by whole exome sequencing (WES), Sanger sequencing, and segregation analysis, were performed. Here, we report a case of a 26-year-old Lebanese male patient born to consanguineous parents who presented with oculocutaneous albinism without a history of bleeding or other systemic involvement. WES identified a novel homozygous nonsense variant in the HPS3 gene (NM_032383.5): c.998T > A; p.(Leu333Ter) that co-segregated with the phenotype. The platelet function analysis (PFA-100) revealed a prolonged collagen/epinephrine closure time, accompanied by a normal collagen/ADP response. We report one of the very few HPS3 cases in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) and the Arab regions, caused by a novel homozygous nonsense variant associated with platelet dysfunction. In contrast to the founder mutations described in Puerto Rican and Ashkenazi Jewish populations, HPS3 cases in this region appear to result from distinct mutational events, indicating the absence of a common ancestral origin.

Human Papillomavirus Infection and Vaccine Uptake Among Males in the United Arab Emirates and the Wider Middle East and North Africa Region: A Narrative Review

Guava root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne enterolobii Yang & Eisenback, 1983) is a highly polyphagous Meloidogyne species that causes significant damage to several economically important crops worldwide. The expansion of M. enterolobii is increasing with recent reports emerging from the Middle East and North Africa regions (Ibrahim et al. 2023). Its strains are highly pathogenic and have the capacity to break various sources of resistance against root-knot nematodes (Vashisth et al. 2024; Yang and Eisenback 1983). Due to its relevance, M. enterolobii has been recognized as an A2 pest by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO 2021). In September 2023, tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Castlerock) with stunting and yellowing symptoms were observed in open fields in both Najran (17°32'10.2"N 44°14'27.0" E) and Jazzan (17°23'50.1"N 42°32'55.0" E) regions, Saudi Arabia. Upon uprooting of these diseased plants, galled roots were observed. Soil and galled roots were taken to the nematology lab of King Saud University for proper diagnosis. Nematodes were extracted from soil using the modified sugar flotation method (Jenkins 1964) and from infected roots using the protocol described by Hussey and Barker (1973). Nematode population densities ranged from 2,200 to 2,500 individuals per 250 g of soil, while 9,864 and 11,388 eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2s) were recovered per root system in Najran and Jazzan, respectively. Nematodes were characterized morphologically and molecularly using DNA sequence analysis of the 28S D2D3 (Subbotin et al., 2006) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) (Subbotin et al. 2001) regions of the ribosomal DNA. The females were pearly white, globular, and had an annulated surface. The perineal pattern was typical of M. enterolobii, with an oval shape and moderately high dorsal arch. The average size of adult females (n = 32); was (L: 610 ± 51 µm; W: 435 ± 35 µm), stylet length (15.3 ± 1.4 µm), excretory pore to anterior end and stylet length ratio (4.3 ± 0.3 µm). The J2s presented a thin, bluntly pointed tail with a clearly defined hyaline terminus. The average J2 size (n = 32) body length was (472 ± 28 µm), tail length (41.6 ± 8.3 µm), and stylet length (13.8 ± 0.4 µm). The observations of the M. enterolobii populations from Saudi Arabia were consistent with those previously described (Subbotin et al. 2021; Yang and Eisenback 1983). For molecular characterization, juveniles hatched from a single egg mass were used for DNA extraction. DNA sequences were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers PV267741 (D2D3), PV267743 (D2D3), PV605585 (ITS), and PV605584 (ITS). The D2D3 sequences showed 99.86 % identity with M. enterolobii sequences from India (OP935640) and China (MT193449), while ITS sequences showed 98.28 - 99.86 % identity to M. enterolobii sequences from China (MT028373), India (MK940246), and Mexico (OM721664). To fulfill Koch’s postulates, 2-week-old seedlings of tomato cv. Marmande were transplanted into 25 cm-diameter pots containing 1.5 kg sterilized sandy loam soil and peat moss (3:1 v/v). A total of 7 pots were used. Each pot contained one tomato seedling and was infested with 3,000 J2s and eggs. Non-inoculated plants served as controls. After 62 days, infected plants showed root galls. No symptoms were observed in the controls. Adult females from galled roots were reidentified based on the rDNA regions as M. enterolobii. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. enterolobii in Saudi Arabia.

Lithospheric thin zones, such as recently failed rifts, are generally assumed to be weak spots where magmatism and deformation can concentrate during rifting and large igneous province development1-3. Yet, the Turkana Depression in East Africa, the site of the failed 66-million-year-old Anza Rift, did not experience the widespread flood magmatism seen on the adjacent Ethiopian Plateau, despite being a lithospheric thin spot when the region encountered hot plume material around 45 million years ago4. Here we jointly invert surface-wave and receiver function data to constrain crustal and upper-mantle seismic structure below the Depression to evaluate lithospheric thermo-mechanical modification. Evidence for thick lower crustal intrusions, ubiquitous below the uplifted Ethiopian Plateau5,6, is comparatively lacking below the Depression's failed Anza Rift system, which ongoing East African rifting is circumnavigating, not exploiting. The mantle lithosphere below the Depression has also retained its cool, fast-wavespeed 'lid' character, contrasting the Ethiopian Plateau. Volatile depletion during failed Anza rifting probably rendered the thinned lithosphere refractory without later rejuvenation. Subsequent rifting and magmatism thus initiated away from the still-thin Anza Rift, in regions where fertile lithosphere enabled melting and the sufficient lowering of plate yield strength. Areas of thinned lithosphere are thus not necessarily persistent weak zones where significant extension and magmatic provinces will develop.

International Student Mobility (ISM) is the most popular activity in the internationalization of higher education, and it has grown over the years in terms of numbers and study destinations. This study examines intra-African student mobility using evidence from East Africa and theoretical orientations of critical internationalization, which holds that internationalization thrives on and propagates inequalities between individuals and social systems. The study investigated the extent to which intra-African ISM reproduces social inequalities using data collected through mixed methods and analyzed using SPSS and thematic analysis. The study shows that international students in Uganda are mainly from the East African region and are from the wealthiest families. The findings further indicate that these students and their households seek to reproduce their social status by participating in ISM. However, expanding mobility opportunities in favor of students from lower social classes would make internationalization more equitable and inclusive.

The Afrotropical genus Tamsita Kiriakoff, 1954 (Erebidae) currently comprises only two recognized species, occurring in East Africa. Here, we shed light on the diversity of these moths using an integrative approach based on the combination of morphological characters and molecular data. For the reconstruction of the molecular phylogeny, we used mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear wingless (Wg) markers. The results of the phylogenetic analyses place the genus Tamsita in the subfamily Arctiinae, in contrast to its previous assignment to Lymantriinae, and reveal the existence of seven species, five of which are herein described, Tamsita kivuana sp. nov., T. barnsi sp. nov., T. vulcanicola sp. nov., T. udzungwana sp. nov. and T. smithi sp. nov. Furthermore, we found a deep split between the clusters of T. ochthoeba and T. habrotima, to which all five newly discovered species belonged. Our results also indicate clear genetic separation among all recovered species and a high level of endemicity. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:07E34AFD-A443-4D2F-8057-A088C50B5912

Background: HIV is thought to be an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including coronary atherosclerosis, based on studies from high-income countries. However, there are limited data on the epidemiology of atherosclerosis from sub-Saharan Africa, where there is a high burden of HIV. Methods: Early Structural Cardiovascular Disease, HIV, and Tuberculosis in East Africa (ASANTE) is an ongoing cross-sectional study evaluating coronary atherosclerosis in Kenyan adults with chronically treated/suppressed HIV (PWH) and HIV-uninfected controls. We enroll participants > 45 years old with > 1 cardiometabolic risk factor (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, overweight/obesity), targeting a sample of n = 200 (50% female, 50% PWH). Participants undergo comprehensive exposure assessments and non-contrast cardiac CT. We quantify coronary artery calcium (CAC) as a measure of coronary atherosclerosis, thoracic aortic calcium (TAC), and valvular calcium using Agatston scores . We report interim results on clinical characteristics, CAC, TAC, and valvular calcium. We also compare CAC prevalence and estimated 10-year ASCVD risk in ASANTE to other published geographic cohorts. Results: We included 52 PWH and 37 HIV-uninfected control participants who completed CT imaging in this analysis ( Table 1 ). The mean age among all participants was 57 years, and 48% were female. The mean 10-year ASCVD risk score was 12.6% (10.2% in PWH, 17% in controls). Prevalence of diabetes and statin therapy for hyperlipidemia was higher among controls (p < 0.01), while low-density lipoprotein levels were higher among PWH (p = 0.003). Prevalence of CAC >0 by Agatston score was 18% (15% in PWH, 22% in controls; p = 0.63). Prevalence of CAC scores by category are shown in Figure 1 . Valvular and thoracic aortic calcium prevalence was lower than CAC, ranging from 2% to 8% among all participants. Despite having high mean 10-year cardiovascular risk, ASANTE participants had lower CAC prevalence compared with lower-risk cohorts in the United States (p = 0.02 and p <0.001 for ASANTE vs. USA-CAC Consortium and ASANTE vs. USA-SoCal, respectively; Figure 2 ). Conclusion: Despite enriching for cardiovascular risk factors, CAC is less common in the East African population, regardless of HIV status, compared with lower-risk cohorts in high-income settings. Further studies are needed to identify potential atheroprotective exposures and mechanisms in this region.

Aim The aim of this study was to describe current bone and joint infection (BJI) practice in Africa, and understand clinicians views regarding the challenges and opportunities in the development of guidelines. Method A survey on fracture related infection (FRI) practice was developed by an international group, building on an initial survey to understand BJI in Africa in March 2024. The survey had two 34 item questionnaires with a section on practice and a section on guideline recommendations and was administered via MS Forms in November 2024. These surveys were supplemented by live polls at the South African Orthopaedic Association (SAOA) conference in Cape Town (September 2024) and the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) in Harare (December 2024) to better understand clinician views. Results The FRI practice survey had 82 responses from across 25 countries, mostly representing those who work in specialist units. Most respondents were working with multidisciplinary teams but the make up of the teams was heterogenous. Only 66% (54) respondents had access to blood culture bottles. Only 59 (48%) had access to local antibiotics. There were 40 responses during the live polls at SAOA and 59 at COSECSA. The descriptors given in the live polls for FRI were negative with the two most common adjectives in South Africa being ‘devastation’ and ‘amputation’ and in Zimbabwe ‘bone infection’ and ‘challenging’. The most common words used to answer the question ‘How do you prevent FRI?’ included: asepsis, antibiotics, soft tissue management and protocols. The main challenges to guideline development included: time, standardization, lack of data and not enough research support. Conclusions These results highlight the current challenges and opportunities in BJI practice in Africa. They present detailed findings from a broad spectrum of clinicians working in BJI in Africa and provide useful findings utilized in the development of context appropriate guidelines and will inform ongoing work to improve practice in low resource settings.

Background and aims – Acridocarpus belongs to one of the seven Malpighiaceae lineages that dispersed from the Neotropics to the Paleotropical region, being by far the most widely diversified and distributed genus of the family in Africa. In this study, we tested the monophyly and validity of the current infrageneric classification of Acridocarpus with a dated molecular phylogeny. We also reconstructed ancestral range distributions for biomes and continents to elucidate which route led to the colonisation of Africa by the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of this genus. Material and methods – We sampled six genes (ITS, PHYC, matK , ndhF , rbcL , and trnL-F ), 21 species of Acridocarpus , and three outgroup species to test the monophyly of the infrageneric classification of the genus. BI and ML analyses were performed for the combined molecular dataset. A total of 20 morphological characters were optimised on the tree. Calibration points derived from a published Malpighiaceae chronogram were used for a dating analysis. Ancestral areas of Acridocarpus and its relatives were estimated for continental (South America, Africa, India, Madagascar, and New Caledonia) and biome (dry forests, humid forests, and savannas) ranges. Key results – The pre-existing infrageneric classification of Acridocarpus was recovered as non-monophyletic due to being solely based on homoplastic morphological characters. The MRCA of Acridocarpus colonised rainforests of East Africa + Madagascar 43 Mya via the Gondwana route and greatly diversified in this region, with a single long-distance dispersal event from Madagascar to New Caledonia (Oceania). The genus colonised African dry forests at least four different times, starting in the Oligocene and diversified a single time in Malagasy savannas in the Miocene.

This literature review synthesizes scholarly work on leadership evolution and cultural adaptation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in East Africa, a region now constituting 44% of the global denominational membership. Employing a conceptual framework grounded in transformational leadership, contextual theology, and feminist ecclesiology, the review critically analyzes the transition for missionary-led governance to indigenous leadership models. It examines how the integration of local customs, language, and youth engagement has been pivotal to the church’s growth, while also creating tensions with doctrinal purity. A central finding is the persistent limitation of women’s leadership roles due to patriarchal norms and theological conservatism, despite advocacy and training initiatives. While these adaptive strategies have propelled growth, they also create tension with doctrine and underscore a significant gap between grassroots empowerment and formal policy. The review identifies literature limitations, including geographic bias and lack of longitudinal data. It concludes that the church’s future sustainability in East Africa hinges on developing more inclusive, contextually sensitive models that actively promote gender equity and deeper cultural integration, areas which also present key directions for future research.

Abstract Objectives We aimed to gather insights from physicians regarding feeding practices for premature infants in the Middle East and North Africa. Methods An online survey was distributed among physicians who managed premature infants. Descriptive analyses were used to evaluate the responses. Results In total, 1000 out of 1300 participants from Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates completed the survey. As reported, the participants included neonatologists ( n = 678), general pediatricians ( n = 258), and pediatric gastroenterologists ( n = 14). Nearly half the participants ( n = 466; 49.2%) had over 10 years of experience. Overall, 53.4% of participants followed available feeding protocols, 16.8% inconsistently adhered to available protocols, and 14.8% reported unavailability of feeding protocols in their practice. Some participants (36%) had concerns about feeding‐related complications with early initiation of enteral feeding. We observed variations in feeding practices as well as the management and monitoring of feeding‐related complications in preterm infants among the participants. Additionally, awareness of human milk fortifiers was variable and correlated with clinical experience. Conclusion There is a need for training healthcare professionals, standardizing feeding protocols, and optimizing care for preterm infants across the region to reduce feeding‐related complications and improve long‐term health outcomes.

This paper explores the drivers of land grabbing in pastoral areas. We present a series of cases from across Eastern Africa to illustrate the dynamics through which long-ignored drylands are reimagined by governments and investors as sites of great value, setting the stage for alienation of rangelands at the expense of the pastoral populations who depend on them. Contextualized against the backdrop of colonial and post-colonial development policies, and the ideologies that underpin them, we discuss four resource complexes driving large-scale acquisitions of pastoral lands in East Africa in recent decades: 1) land grabbed via land markets through privatization and subdivision, 2) land acquired for resource extraction, carbon offsetting, and renewable energy production, 3) large-scale alienation of land for commercial agriculture, and 4) land set aside for wildlife conservation (i.e., “green grabbing”). We explore overlapping themes between these four processes that have resulted in the appropriation of pastoral lands, undermined local tenure security, and fragmented landscapes. We highlight in particular bureaucratic dimensions of privatization and land subdivision, reductionist cost-benefit assessments of resource exploitation projects shaped by capitalist logics, the pervasive influence of classical development theory and the associated prioritization of intensified production systems in rural land use policies, and a dualistic Euro-American ideology of nature and society underlying attempts to grab and reclassify pastoral areas for other purposes. Based on these insights, we offer recommendations for ways to mitigate the risks of future land grabs including strengthening pastoral land rights, creating more equitable community-led conservation initiatives, prioritizing participation in development negotiations, and establishing regional policies that support pastoralist livelihoods and maintain rangeland connectivity.

BackgroundElectronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use is rising among young adults in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. While marketed as safer alternatives to smoking, their impact on eating behaviors and nutritional habits remains unclear. This study aims to examine the relationship between ENDS use, tobacco smoking, and eating behaviors among young adults in MENA.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to February 2024 with participants aged 18–35 from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an online survey and using the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ-Ar). Multiple linear and multinomial logistic regressions were used to assess associations after adjustment for key confounders. All statistical tests were conducted through Jamovi 2.3.2 for Windows 11.Results3350 participants answered our questionnaire. ENDS-only users had a higher BMI and reported higher consumption of meals (AOR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.72, 2.52; p < 0.001), spicy food (AOR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.29, 2.57; p < 0.001), coffee (AOR: 5.98; 95% CI: 1.74, 20.56; p = 0.005), and fizzy drinks (AOR: 7.23; 95% CI: 2.06, 25.31; p = 0.002) compared to non-smokers. ENDS-only users showed significant associations with emotional overeating (β: 0.093; 95% CI: 0.001, 0.186; p = 0.048), increased satiety responsiveness (β: 0.179; 95% CI: 0.084, 0.273; p < 0.001), and reduced enjoyment of food (β: -0.364; 95% CI: -0.458, -0.269; p < 0.001). Tobacco smokers were more likely to consume fatty foods (AOR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.24; p = 0.004). Furthermore, tobacco-only smokers, ENDS-only users, and dual-users had higher odds for alcohol consumption compared to non-smokers.ConclusionENDS users exhibit distinct eating behaviors. These behaviors may have long-term implications for their physical health and psychological well-being. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Effective conservation measures require accurate and complete species inventories, which are however often missing for particularly biodiverse regions of concern. The montane forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) in East Africa represent fragmented relics of unique habitats that harbour remarkable levels of plant and animal diversity, including many endemic and threatened species most of which are poorly known. The present study focuses on the Ukaguru Mountains, an important mountain block in the central EAM, and expands on a recent study that summarized data from 30 years of amphibian surveys. Using systematic sampling (2022–2024) in localities that are less heavily impacted by anthropogenic activities than previously surveyed sites, we increase the number of documented amphibian species from 17 to 19, adding Xenopus cf. victorianus and a newly described species (see below). Among the three Ukaguru-endemic toads which have not been recorded since more than two decades, we re-discovered Nectophrynoides laticeps and N. paulae but failed to record the enigmatic Churamiti maridadi, which according to a dedicated extinction model has an updated probability of only 47.6% of still being extant. Based on genetic, morphological and bioacoustic evidence, we also describe a new large-bodied species of Arthroleptis (Arthroleptis mamiwakisaraensis sp. nov.), shedding further light into the evolution of ‘giant’ congeners which inhabit other mountain blocks in the EAM. Given the rapid deforestation of the EAM for which the Ukagurus are no exception, our findings give rise to concerns regarding current and future extinction risks within unique mountain amphibian assemblages, also affecting species which potentially still await description. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:04EC6DEE-D2D9-463D-B8AB-18560AC2AB85

ABSTRACT This article investigates the genesis, organisation and operations of the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) in the period 1954–1970. Using the NSE’s institutional and organisational evolution as an analytical lens into the early history and politics of Kenya’s capital market, the article provides new evidence on the participation of private capital during and after the Mau Mau rebellion for independence from British colonial rule. Established on 1 July 1954, the NSE grew out of the Kenyan Stock Brokers Association’s initiative to facilitate improved access to long-term capital for settler-colonial industrial companies and the colonial state’s growing need for development finance. The early growth of Nairobi’s capital market reveals original insights into the challenges of popularising share trading in East Africa, with the NSE serving as a regional exchange for government and private financial products from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The analysis of the NSE’s operations immediately after ‘flag independence’ in 1963 qualifies the economic effects of the government’s Africanisation policies on the greater participation of African capital, individual investors and financial professionals. Here, the Kenyatta government’s regulations and oversight of the capital market ultimately reflected the need to satisfy international capitalist interests in East Africa’s ideologically diverging diplomatic arena.