The African Union's (AU) predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), established a process called the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as part of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). The AU has moved forward with APRM, which, whatever its shortcomings, holds great promise to help African nations spur one another toward good governance, best practices, and accountability. So far […]
In South Africa's tiny neighbor, Swaziland, recent reports indicate that more people live in informal settlements than in formal neighborhoods, which has spurred the country to push to improve living conditions in urban areas. Officials have decided to upgrade the informal settlements (often called townships) rather than build new housing.
China's increasing presence in Africa has become clear in the past couple of years. (For my own writing on this — with links — see here, here, here, here and here.) The Asian continent's other giant, India has been watching, and has designs on increasing its presence in Africa. China's role at best represents a dual-edged sword, and in the […]
The crisis in Zimbabwe, and especially the economic catastrophe, has proven to have a levelling effect in the country. This is, of course, a levelling in which a draining pool has lowered all inner tubes, and not one in which a rising tide has lifted all boats, and so it is probably of slim solace […]
Robert Mugabe has stepped in to try to staunch the bleeding in the Zim economy. But like just about everything he does when it comes to his country, his methods are dubious. This time around he is taking a strong stand in intervening in the economy, which includes increased nationalization of industries and the expansion […]
Opposition parties are making hay out of recent crime statistics indicating that some forms of crime are on the rise: “We are alarmed at the increase in murder (2,4 percent), the 118 percent increase in bank robberies, 52,5 percent increase in robberies at business premises, the 21,9 percent increase in cash-in-transit heists, and the sharp […]
One does not usually look to Vanity Fair for gravitas, much less for edifying coverage of Africa. Nonetheless, the July issue, including the VF website, invited U2's Bono to be guest editor of a special issue devoted to Africa. There is more than enough pop ephemera contained within this special edition, to be sure, but there […]
The ANC Policy Conference in Midrand wraps up today after three days of political dialogue that the Mail & Guardian has described as “robust.” Despite Thabo Mbeki's protests that things have not been too robust, certain issues that we have discussed here before — succession, the linkage between the party leadership and the national presidency — […]
Your faithful scribe is almost but not quite back home and thus to something resembling normalcy. Full-scale blogging should resume next week. In the meantime, here are some Africa-related links: In Zimbabwe the Interception of Communications Bill only awaits Robert Mugabe's signature. My guess is he's thrilled to do so, helping seal Zimbabwe's totalitarian status. Meanwhile MacDonald Dzirutwe avers […]
The United Nations Population Fund speculates that the urban population of Africa will more than double in the next quarter century. Obviously the ripple effects of this would be serious. It's probably worth pointing out that dire population predictions have something of a mixed history, but the UNPF report indicates that 80% of the world's […]
The Gods of sport can be cruel; they surely have a well-developed sense of timing. A week after South Africa came from behind to beat a surprisingly game Australia team in their first meeting in this year's rugby Tri-Nations competition, the Springboks succumbed to a resilient New Zealand All Blacks squad, which scored two tries […]
A couple of stories worth following as your faithful scribe continues his honeymoon on the west coast of British Columbia: A recent UN report indicates that human trafficking is on the rise in East Africa. Hopes for peace in Sudan ebb and flow, wax and wane. Right now they flow and wax. Not to be pessimistic, […]
First South African workers become embroiled in a general strike the end of which is not in sight. Now it appears that Nigerian workers are set to embark on their own general strike. The Nigerian strikes will be the result of rising fuel costs, an increase in Value Added Taxes, and the sale of government-owned […]
South African rugby coach Jake White leads South African optimism about this weekend's Tri-Nations clash with their biggest rivals, the All Blacks of New Zealand, arguing that his team respects but does not fear their haka-dancing foes. In terms of their preparations the Springboks are treating this weekend like the World Cup Finals. As a […]
Here is a quick roundup of news stories this morning: For three different perspectives on the general strike in South Africa see this story in the Mail & Guardian, this from Green Left, and this from The Sowetan. (Hat tip to Peter Limb at H-SAfrica.) See also this story from All Africa. And for concerns […]