nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month across Sub–Saharan Africa: a new strontium isotope map for the continent, cruelty and crime in South Africa’s illegal mines, and Ghana advocates for pan–Africa values with visa–free travel. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here.
More migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014 than any other region, and while reform is certainly needed, there’s a neglected exigency for tools, such as maps, to be developed in order to find the remains of those lost at sea. This is merely one of many powerful uses for the new strontium isotope map of Sub–Saharan Africa that a UC Santa Cruz team of researchers, led by Anthropology Professor Vicky Oelze, released in January. As a region known for its data marginalization, the team started with only two data points, both in Nigeria. The new data heralds an era of discovery for the region that, for too long, has forcibly relinquished their people and culture and has been grossly underrepresented in the scientific community.
Stromium, an element found in bedrock and soil, gives archaeologists and forensic scientists unique advantages. Thanks to the 2,000 samples collected in the region, the age and chemical composition of any organic remains can be deciphered. Isotope analysis allows for the unearthing of human and wildlife remains and how both have moved across the region in the past—opening up the opportunity to track ancestors. Not only was this region “... a center of human exploitation and trafficking during the transatlantic slave trade…” but is, “...now home to numerous endangered and trafficked wildlife species.”
This research has spanned a decade thus far and will continue—with researchers continuing to fill data gaps to unveil the “geologic fingerprint” and rich history of Sub–Saharan Africa.
Buffelsfontein mine deaths, police tactics and kingpin involvement
After decades of operations that have burdened South Africa’s economy, police and government officials are cracking down on illegal mining. In November 2024, police cut off food and supplies to a group of miners in the North West province in an attempt to force them out, resulting in more than 1,000 miners resurfacing. At the time, it was suspected hundreds more could remain below the surface, but it wasn’t until January 2025 that roughly 78 bodies and 246 survivors were “rescued.” Every miner who was able to walk after piling out of the cage that was lowered down was immediately taken into custody, prompting further criticism from the locals and civic groups.
Illegal miners, often gang–controlled, are known as zama zamas (isiZulu for “taking a chance”) and typically seek out gold mines that have been abandoned but unsealed. At this particular mine, Buffelsfontein, the zama zamas were mostly undocumented migrants from neighboring countries. Those were arrested on site due to their immigration status and involvement in the illegal mine. Many local South Africans criticized authorities for the death sentence that the police’s tactic of “smoking them out” brought; though the government deemed it a “necessary crackdown on illegal mining.”
Authorities see the miners as criminals because they cost the nation hundreds of millions of dollars a year. However, recent accusations of a South African kingpin torturing and even killing these miners have some wondering how many of the zama zamas were victims coerced into working at Buffelsfontein rather than criminals.
Ghana’s resurgence through visa–free travel and other initiatives
As previous Ghanaian president William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo–Addo left office last year, he made one final move which could leave a lasting impression on Ghana. In a plan announced last year but entering into effect this month, all African passport holders can now travel to Ghana without a visa. Visa–free travel has been a longtime goal of Akufo–Addo’s as a step toward the African Continental Free Trade Area and a way to advocate for pan–African values. According to Akufo-Addo, this move comes at a time of economic growth and will further contribute to the nation’s return to their pre–Covid footing.
After eight years in office, Akufo–Addo will also be known for his success with the Year of Return initiative. Launched in 2019, the initiative marked the 400th anniversary since the first African slaves were taken from their hometown to Virginia and aimed at welcoming any and all with African ancestry to Ghana. While tourism has been on the rise in Ghana since 2017, in 2019, there were over 1 million visitors—a 49.6% increase from 2018—and a GDP of 3.7 million. Since 2019, the Year of Return initiative has expanded into a program known as Beyond the Return in which Ghana’s Tourism Authority and the Office of Diaspora Affairs seek to grant citizenship to those with African ancestry—many coming from the U.S. and the UK. However, this program is less about citizenship and more about the symbolic heft of returning to your roots as well as boosting investment potential.
Visa–free travel paired with the Beyond the Return program, represent significant and successful efforts to promote Black diaspora in Ghana and recover economically through an increase in tourism and cross–border movement.
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Unveiling Africa’s ‘geologic fingerprint’ with isotope analysis
AI-generated image by OpenAI’s DALL·E, 2025.
February 5, 2025
Diplomatic Courier editor Melissa Metos explores issues of human rights and identity in Sub–Saharan Africa: new strontium isotope map will fill in data gaps; deaths at Buffelsfontein mine prompt criticism; and Ghana offers visa–free travel to African passport holders.
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nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month across Sub–Saharan Africa: a new strontium isotope map for the continent, cruelty and crime in South Africa’s illegal mines, and Ghana advocates for pan–Africa values with visa–free travel. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here.
More migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014 than any other region, and while reform is certainly needed, there’s a neglected exigency for tools, such as maps, to be developed in order to find the remains of those lost at sea. This is merely one of many powerful uses for the new strontium isotope map of Sub–Saharan Africa that a UC Santa Cruz team of researchers, led by Anthropology Professor Vicky Oelze, released in January. As a region known for its data marginalization, the team started with only two data points, both in Nigeria. The new data heralds an era of discovery for the region that, for too long, has forcibly relinquished their people and culture and has been grossly underrepresented in the scientific community.
Stromium, an element found in bedrock and soil, gives archaeologists and forensic scientists unique advantages. Thanks to the 2,000 samples collected in the region, the age and chemical composition of any organic remains can be deciphered. Isotope analysis allows for the unearthing of human and wildlife remains and how both have moved across the region in the past—opening up the opportunity to track ancestors. Not only was this region “... a center of human exploitation and trafficking during the transatlantic slave trade…” but is, “...now home to numerous endangered and trafficked wildlife species.”
This research has spanned a decade thus far and will continue—with researchers continuing to fill data gaps to unveil the “geologic fingerprint” and rich history of Sub–Saharan Africa.
Buffelsfontein mine deaths, police tactics and kingpin involvement
After decades of operations that have burdened South Africa’s economy, police and government officials are cracking down on illegal mining. In November 2024, police cut off food and supplies to a group of miners in the North West province in an attempt to force them out, resulting in more than 1,000 miners resurfacing. At the time, it was suspected hundreds more could remain below the surface, but it wasn’t until January 2025 that roughly 78 bodies and 246 survivors were “rescued.” Every miner who was able to walk after piling out of the cage that was lowered down was immediately taken into custody, prompting further criticism from the locals and civic groups.
Illegal miners, often gang–controlled, are known as zama zamas (isiZulu for “taking a chance”) and typically seek out gold mines that have been abandoned but unsealed. At this particular mine, Buffelsfontein, the zama zamas were mostly undocumented migrants from neighboring countries. Those were arrested on site due to their immigration status and involvement in the illegal mine. Many local South Africans criticized authorities for the death sentence that the police’s tactic of “smoking them out” brought; though the government deemed it a “necessary crackdown on illegal mining.”
Authorities see the miners as criminals because they cost the nation hundreds of millions of dollars a year. However, recent accusations of a South African kingpin torturing and even killing these miners have some wondering how many of the zama zamas were victims coerced into working at Buffelsfontein rather than criminals.
Ghana’s resurgence through visa–free travel and other initiatives
As previous Ghanaian president William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo–Addo left office last year, he made one final move which could leave a lasting impression on Ghana. In a plan announced last year but entering into effect this month, all African passport holders can now travel to Ghana without a visa. Visa–free travel has been a longtime goal of Akufo–Addo’s as a step toward the African Continental Free Trade Area and a way to advocate for pan–African values. According to Akufo-Addo, this move comes at a time of economic growth and will further contribute to the nation’s return to their pre–Covid footing.
After eight years in office, Akufo–Addo will also be known for his success with the Year of Return initiative. Launched in 2019, the initiative marked the 400th anniversary since the first African slaves were taken from their hometown to Virginia and aimed at welcoming any and all with African ancestry to Ghana. While tourism has been on the rise in Ghana since 2017, in 2019, there were over 1 million visitors—a 49.6% increase from 2018—and a GDP of 3.7 million. Since 2019, the Year of Return initiative has expanded into a program known as Beyond the Return in which Ghana’s Tourism Authority and the Office of Diaspora Affairs seek to grant citizenship to those with African ancestry—many coming from the U.S. and the UK. However, this program is less about citizenship and more about the symbolic heft of returning to your roots as well as boosting investment potential.
Visa–free travel paired with the Beyond the Return program, represent significant and successful efforts to promote Black diaspora in Ghana and recover economically through an increase in tourism and cross–border movement.
