Africa 54 - Sept 8, 2021|Developments in Guinea, Dropout Rate in S.Africa’s school, & Covid in Kenya You are watching Africa 54, your daily news and feature magazine-style program, from the Voice of America. Managing editor Vincent Makori and a team of correspondents zero in on the big stories making news on the continent and around the world with context and analysis. Top Stories: Guinea's main opposition leader said on Tuesday he was open to participating in a transition following a military coup over the weekend, as the soldiers who seized power consolidated their takeover. A meningitis outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo's north-eastern Tshopo province has killed 129 of the 267 people who have been infected since the first cases were discovered in June, the health minister said late on Tuesday A new national study has found that South Africa’s school dropout rate has tripled following disruptions to education brought on by the pandemic. Educators and non-profits are now racing to intervene and encourage youth to re-enroll. Kenyan authorities say the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced thousands of youths onto the streets, and many are turning to crime. To meet the challenge, aid groups are trying to reintegrate homeless youth through sports with the goal of keeping them out of trouble. New research shows that coronavirus vaccines not only offer protection against infection and serious illness – but may also help prevent so-called ‘long COVID’, where symptoms can last for weeks or months. Sudan summoned Ethiopia's ambassador to Khartoum to inform him that 29 corpses found on the banks of a river abutting Ethiopia were those of Ethiopian citizens from the Tigray ethnic group, Sudan's foreign ministry said. Two small children were among the dozens of migrants rescued from the English Channel on Tuesday (September 7) after a summer that has seen record numbers attempt the dangerous journey from France.Reuters witnesses on Tuesday saw two boats arrive at the headland of Dungeness in Kent, southeast England, one of the closest points to France in Britain. A greater share of U.S. soldiers survived the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq than those who fought in previous wars. Advances in medicine and new concepts about trauma care over the past 20 years have made the difference. In 2002, VOA’s Kane Farabaugh — then a reporter for the U.S. military — visited Afghanistan in the early stages of America’s 20-year presence in the country. As the United States ends its military engagement, Farabaugh follows up with some of those he met in those early years to discuss the U.S. withdrawal and the legacy of their mission. Uganda boasts nearly 47.4 million people, according to the latest United Nations data. But perhaps not surprising is that there is a housing shortage estimated at over 2.4 million units. Now, Anne Rweyora, a Ugandan social entrepreneur, is on a mission to change that narrative and provide a pathway to homeownership for low-income families. For more, Africa 54 Technology Correspondent Paul Ndiho, via Skype, spoke to Anne Rweyora, Co-Founder and CEO of Smart Havens Africa, based in Kampala, Uganda