[hshdhdhj4444]

I’m not sure I understand why the headline is wrong.

Whatever the reason might be, the point is that African forests have gone from absorbing more carbon than they release, to releasing more carbon than they absorb.

IOW, they have become net emitters as opposed to net absorbers.

[Incipient]

One could argue the forest itself hasn't started emitting carbon, its the loss of biomass due to clearing that has had a net reduction in total biomass.