The Economist asks what seems like a pretty germane question: In the Jacob Zuma era what, exactly, is South Africa’s foreign policy? If the Mandela years were characterized by goodwill borne of South Africa’s breaking the shackles of Apartheid, and Thabo Mbeki’s presidency concerned itself with the “African renaissance” it seems that South Africa has […]
I’ve taken this trip on the Okavango Delta on mokoros. In fact it makes up one of my favorite memories, especially when we arrived at our chosen campsite to discover it being ransacked by two giant bull elephants. I tend to be a bit skeptical of most travel writing, especially that about Africa, as most […]
I have not weighed in here on the controversy over the University if Cape Town decision to merge and thus downgrade the Centre for African Studies (CAS) with Anthropology, African Languages and Literature and Gender Studies. The best piece I have seen on the decision came from Africa is a Country a couple of months […]
Top officials from the African Union visited Washington last week to discuss relations between the U.S. and the emerging pan-African body. It was the second such meeting, and a joint statement was released outlining the “full range” of U.S.-Africa priorities, including democratic governance, economic development, health and peace and security issues. On democratic governance, always […]
It is hard to tell if Nigeria’s holding of gubernatorial elections despite the violence that convulsed parts of the country after the recent violence that followed the country’s presidential elections represents an example of prudently staying the course, foolishly provoking a continuation of the climate of violence, or simply hopeful whistling past the graveyard. Ultimately […]
Is it possible that an opposition leader in any given nation state is a criminal? I think we can all answer in the affirmative. Yes, it is certainly possible that in any given country an opposition leader might well be a criminal. And yet can we also entertain the far more likely possibility?: Whenever an […]
The African Union Commission Chairman, Jean Ping, yesterday told an audience in Washington that the International Criminal Court continues to target African leaders unfairly, accusing the body of “double standards” as it seeks to try those accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide — most recently in Sudan and Kenya. Noting that atrocities […]
A Screaming Man is a film set in Chad and written and directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, was born in Chad in 1960, the year the country became independent from France. He left Chad two decades later after a succession of civil wars and other strife had torn the country asunder. The film has been well […]
African Union Chairman Jean Ping will address the U.S. Institute of Peace today following meetings with top officials in Washington. The address, which is expected to touch on hot button issues like the interventions in Libya and Ivory Coast, elections in Nigeria and U.S.-Africa relations, will be webcast live beginning at 2:00 pm EST. For […]
As expected, interim President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won the presidency in his own right in Nigeria’s elections. The results were not especially close, certainly not enough to cast the results in serious doubt and despite the inevitable claims of vote rigging, corruption, and general malfeasance by the opposition, […]
At The New Republic Eve Fairbanks has the bizarre story of a mutual admiration society that has formed between Afrikaner farmers and Muammar Gaddafi.
Chaos appears to be descending over the landlocked West African country Burkina Faso. Apparently fed up with paltry housing allowances and other shortfalls, the military started an uprising in the capital city of Ougadougou that has spread to other cities. Police have joined in with the military in directly challenging President Blaise Compaore, who rose […]
Police in Uganda cracked down on protesters in the capital city of Kampala over the weekend. At least one was killed, many injured, and untold numbers were arrested when police, at the behest of President Yoweri Museveni, crushed increasingly vehement protests over rising food and petrol prices. More problematically, the police actions smack of political […]
Nigerians go to the polls today in what could prove to be a pivotal moment in the country’s history. While Goodluck Jonathan is expected to win handily the run-up to the oft-delayed polling has been fraught with violence. At Slate Dayo Olopade has one of the better election previews. As always, elections are only part […]
Can the Swazi King withstand the pro-democracy uprising or will he be toppled down? It seems like the Swazi kingdom yesterday spend most of its efforts trying to thwart an Egypt and Tunisia like uprising. Police reportedly rounded up activists, and fired teargas at pro-democracy protestors demanding an end to Mswati’s monarchy in Swaziland’s main […]