Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ryan Musser

@ryanmusser.bsky.social

2.8K followers 2.6K following 1K posts

Posts about current events/politics/development in Africa, building better cities, local Washington DC issues, and how biking is the best form of transportation. Live in Ward 8/EOTR. Lover of front porches and #bikeDC. Check out my Africa starter packs.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · Nov 25

Now have two complete starter packs for "Africa News, Policy, Business, Econ & History". Starting a thread of all of my Africa starter packs, including more specific ones like, country/region, journalists, academics, media orgs, etc.

Here's the first Africa starter pack: go.bsky.app/BNYnWSJ

10 74 130

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 4h

This wasn’t my post, but it looks like it was at the Huntington station

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 6h

As the sun was setting, suddenly it hit the clear patch of sky & it went from dull & overcast to brilliantly blindingly orange in a split second. This first picture is after the sun already set, but you can see the difference between the clouds and the patch of clear sky.

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 6h

Amazing phenomenon yesterday evening. I was out with my toddler and all evening the entire sky was blanketed with clouds, which the sun was hidden behind. But there was this *small* patch of clear sky in the west by the horizon.
1/2

1 1

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 6h

Some @wmata.com station manager is doing a hell of a job @wmatagm.bsky.social

(Side note: this Facebook page for DC tourists is just constantly full of praise for our city. People are constantly praising our residents, transit, offerings. I never see complaints about crime or anything else)

1 1

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 22h

Love the views you can get from my neighborhood Randle Heighlands. These are all street-level views of:
1. The National Basilica behind the DC Armory
2. The Air Force Memorial behind the FDM Bridge
3. Bethesda
4. Capitol Dome, Library of Congress, and National Cathedral

1 7

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 1d

Liberia and Sierra Leone leading the pack in respondents who had to pay a bribe to obtain healthcare, according to @afrobarometer.bsky.social

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 1d

Madagascar's top court on Tuesday invited Colonel Michael Randrianirina, an army commander who declared the military had taken power after leading a mutiny backing Gen Z demonstrators, to serve as the country's new president.

Madagascar's top court invites army colonel to serve as president after power grab

www.reuters.com

2 1

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 1d

I’m not sure exactly. This presentation had 35 countries surveyed 2024-2025. The latest thing I can find online was just 2024 data for 24 countries. This had Tanzania at the bottom:

www.afrobarometer.org/wp-content/u...

1 1

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 1d

Fascinating stats from @afrobarometer.bsky.social on which African countries have the most citizens considering emigrating. At the top: The Gambia, Liberia, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Angola, Sierra Leone.

Overall East Africa doing much better than West and Southern Africa.

1 4 4

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 4d

The US can make a focused bet on African economies, build stronger economic ties, and reduce its dependence on Chinese supply chains, Daniel Swift of FDD proposes

nationalinterest.org/feature/how-...

How Africa Can Shift Supply Chains from China

The United States can make a focused bet on African economies and reduce its dependence on Chinese supply chains.

nationalinterest.org

1 1

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 4d

Seems to me that this is referring to the Trump administration’s last minute support for Congress extending AGOA for one year, but the news in Kenya makes it sound like it was a decision of the administration to extend Kenya’s access specifically

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 4d

Does anybody know what Ruto is referring to in regards to this “one year extension” of AGOA to Kenya?

www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-10...

Ruto: Kenya likely to secure extension of AGOA trade deal with US

The preferential trade deal was set to expire at midnight on September 30.

www.the-star.co.ke

1 1 4

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 4d

“AGOA never had the opportunity to realize its full potential. African firms need more than market access alone. They also need access to capital. US & African firms ultimately seek the certainty & predictability of permanent reciprocal free trade agreements.”
milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/...

AGOA in the Balance | Milken Institute

After 23 years, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) expired on Tuesday.

milkeninstitute.org

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 7d

Big news in China-Africa relations & de-dollarization: Kenya has converted its debt from 3 dollar-demoninated loans for the Chinese-financed standard gauge railway into yuan. Kenya’s Treasury CS John Mbadi says it will save $215M annually in debt servicing.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Kenya Snags $215 Million in Savings After Chinese Loan Currency Swap

Kenya converted its Chinese railway loans from dollars to yuan, cutting annual debt-servicing costs by $215 million and setting a potential precedent for other African nations.

www.bloomberg.com

1 4

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 10d

US Development Finance Corporation is also involved and collaborating with Boeing on projects related to Ethiopian Airlines and other initiatives across Africa.

africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...

U.S. backs $10 Billion Ethiopian airport following record aircraft purchase

The United States has pledged support for the construction of a $10 billion international airport in Ethiopia, marking President Donald Trump’s first major business initiative in the Horn of Africa

africa.businessinsider.com

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 10d

African Development Bank will spearhead $7.8 billion in financing, Ethiopian Airlines will contribute $2bil. As part of its strategic expansion, ET placed a record order for 124 new aircraft last year, one of the largest by an African carrier from Boeing
africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...

U.S. backs $10 Billion Ethiopian airport following record aircraft purchase

The United States has pledged support for the construction of a $10 billion international airport in Ethiopia, marking President Donald Trump’s first major business initiative in the Horn of Africa

africa.businessinsider.com

1 2

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 10d

The new Bishoftu Airport will be Africa’s largest airport, accommodating international passengers and cargo while Bole focuses on domestic flights.

africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...

U.S. backs $10 Billion Ethiopian airport following record aircraft purchase

The United States has pledged support for the construction of a $10 billion international airport in Ethiopia, marking President Donald Trump’s first major business initiative in the Horn of Africa

africa.businessinsider.com

1 2

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 10d

The US has pledged support for the construction of a $10 billion international airport in Ethiopia south of Bole, amid Ethiopia’s growing alignment with Russia, reflecting Washington’s interest in reconnecting with key partners across the continent
africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...

U.S. backs $10 Billion Ethiopian airport following record aircraft purchase

The United States has pledged support for the construction of a $10 billion international airport in Ethiopia, marking President Donald Trump’s first major business initiative in the Horn of Africa

africa.businessinsider.com

1 3

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 11d

Rooting for you B’more!

Baltimore’s Billion-Dollar Plans to Reinvent Itself

www.nytimes.com

2 3

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 11d

Ghana’s President John Mahama has inaugurated a Joint Cyber Security Committee (JCC), a new body that unites representatives from key security and intelligence agencies to ensure coordinated responses and proactive defense against cyber threats
www.myjoyonline.com/mahama-inaug...

Mahama inaugurates Joint Cybersecurity Committee - MyJoyOnline

President John Mahama has inaugurated a Joint Cyber Security Committee (JCC), a new body that unites representatives from key security and intelligence agencies to work alongside the Cyber Security Au...

www.myjoyonline.com

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 11d

Nigeria announces N250bn in funding for the development of modern light rail systems in Kaduna and Kano States. This is part of broader reforms to empower Nigeria’s subnational governments with greater financial autonomy and stronger governance.

allafrica.com/stories/2025...

Nigeria: FG Secures N250bn for Kaduna, Kano Light Rail Projects

The Federal Government says it got approximately N250bn in funding for the development of modern light rail systems in Kaduna and Kano States.

allafrica.com

1 5

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 25d

Yeah I spend a vast majority of my time in D and some of C

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 25d

lol maybe D is too obvious

1 1

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 25d

Alright folks. You can only live & travel within one region of DC for the rest of your life. What are you?

5 4

Ryan Musser @ryanmusser.bsky.social · 26d

Thanks Gawain!