By Judd Devermont and Jon Temin | June 11, 2019 | Foreign Affairs In the 60-plus years since the countries of sub-Saharan Africa started becoming independent, democracy there has advanced unevenly. During the Cold War, many African states turned into Soviet- or U.S.-backed dictatorships. Afterward, some nascent democracies made notable gains, but others … [Read more...] about Africa’s Democratic Moment? The Five Leaders Who Could Transform the Region
Africa
Zimbabwe: troubled nation now faces tough foreign policy choices
Stephen Chan | October 3, 2018 The Conversation The toxic presidency of Mugabe may be over, but the new Zimbabwean government of Emmerson Mnangagwa must quickly make some hard foreign policy decisions if it is to change the country’s fortunes. For so far no major foreign power has undertaken to relieve in any significant way the country’s economic distress. Although … [Read more...] about Zimbabwe: troubled nation now faces tough foreign policy choices
VW mulls Ethiopia in Africa foray
Siseko Njobeni | 10 September 2018 | Business Day Economic recovery gives car maker Volkswagen the green light for expansion Volkswagen (VW) is considering a component assembly plant in Ethiopia, in addition to the two recently announced assembly plants in Ghana and Nigeria. The foray into Africa represents a growth opportunity for the car maker in light of the … [Read more...] about VW mulls Ethiopia in Africa foray
Egypt’s security forces are enforcing ‘torture assembly line’
Karen McVeigh | Wednesday 6 September 2017 | The Guardian Human Rights Watch report says President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has given green light for ‘epidemic of torture’ that could amount to crime against humanity Egypt’s president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, has given police and national security officers a green light to use torture with impunity, according to Human Rights … [Read more...] about Egypt’s security forces are enforcing ‘torture assembly line’
Angolan president promotes 165 seniors as he leaves office
CANDIDO MENDES | 06 SEPTEMBER 2017 | Business Day Luanda — Departing Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos promoted 165 senior police officers to a higher rank, a move that’s likely to allow him to wield influence even after he steps down this month. The country’s interior minister, Ângelo Veiga Tavares, was appointed commissioner of prison services, while at … [Read more...] about Angolan president promotes 165 seniors as he leaves office
Tanzania threatens to deport migrants from drought-hit Ethiopia
Kizito Makoye | Tue 26 Jan 2016 | REUTERS DAR ES SALAAM (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Tanzanian authorities have threatened to deport hundreds of Ethiopian migrants who have crossed into the country illegally while trying to make their way to South Africa. The east African country is a major transit route for migrants, used by smugglers to ferry Ethiopians and Somalis to … [Read more...] about Tanzania threatens to deport migrants from drought-hit Ethiopia
An education system for the future: Four principles
Devang Vussonji, 11 Aug 2015, Mail & Guardian (South Africa) In meeting the demand for higher education, African countries should resist the urge to blindly copy Western university models. Sub-Saharan countries have increased the number of children in primary school by a remarkable 75% since 2000, according to a recent Unesco report. However, university … [Read more...] about An education system for the future: Four principles
UN sacks CAR mission head over peacekeeper rape claims
2015-08-12, France24 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Wednesday he had fired the organisation’s mission chief in the Central African Republic (CAR) after a string of allegations of child sex abuse and excessive use of force by peacekeepers. Senegalese diplomat Babacar Gaye "tendered his resignation at my request", Ban told reporters at the UN’s headquarters in … [Read more...] about UN sacks CAR mission head over peacekeeper rape claims
Cecil stirs world, but Africans see two sides to hunting debate
LUSAKA | By Chris Mfula |Wed 12 Aug 2015 | REUTERS When Zambia banned lion hunting in 2013, animal welfare groups roared in approval, but rural Zambians who face a threat from big cats and receive a slice of hunting-related revenues complained, causing the government to change its mind. Leopard hunting will resume this season with "cautionary quotas", while lion … [Read more...] about Cecil stirs world, but Africans see two sides to hunting debate
Africa must learn to cope with commodity volatility – expert
By:KENNETH AGUTAMBA , 29 June 2015, The New Times (Rwanda) The drop in commodity prices such as minerals and oil on the international market means investors are reluctant to sink their money deep in the ground to extract resources; what should commodity-dependant African countries do? First, avoid another ‘race to the bottom’ where governments give investors overly … [Read more...] about Africa must learn to cope with commodity volatility – expert