July 22, 2023
Kenya: Kenya's Logging Ban Has Been Lifted - It's a Political Decision and a Likely Setback for Conservation
Kenyan president William Ruto has lifted a six-year ban on logging, despite public objections. Ruto said it would create jobs and boost economic growth. Lisa E. Fuchs has studied… Read more »
July 17, 2023
Uganda: What Does It Mean to Be 'Educated'? In Uganda It's Not Just Schooling That Counts
How do you gauge whether someone is educated or not? In many parts of the world, the answer relates to the level of formal qualifications they achieve when they are young - do they… Read more »
July 16, 2023
Kenya: Queer Theory Offers New Views On Daily Life - Even On Infrastructure Projects in Kenya
I'll confess I've raised quite a few eyebrows when I've told people about my research linking queer theory and infrastructure development. Read more »
July 12, 2023
Tanzania: Tanzania's Gas Boom That Never Was - When Local Hopes Are Dashed By Global Realities
Rising international commodity prices can shape or reshape the fortunes of places. When large mining and oil and gas prospectors suddenly show an interest, a remote area can become… Read more »
July 11, 2023
Ethiopia: Ethiopia's Bid to Join BRICS - Expert Weighs Pros and Cons
A few years ago, the BRICS grouping - Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa - had lost salience because three of its members were in severe economic difficulty. Brazil,… Read more »
July 09, 2023
Somalia: Somaliland - Berbera City's Growth Is Being Held Back By a Power Supply Monopoly
Somaliland's main port, at the city of Berbera, accounted for two-thirds of the country's revenues in 2020. Over the years, these revenues have mostly gone into the central state… Read more »
Kenya: Kenya At 60 - Six Key Moments That Shaped Post-Colonial Politics
Kenya celebrates 60 years of independence this year. As a political scientist who has studied Kenya for the past 20 years, I consider a turning point from each decade that helped… Read more »
July 06, 2023
East Africa: Kiswahili - How a Standard Version of the East African Language Was Formed - and Spread Across the World
Kiswahili originated in east Africa, spreading around the continent and the globe. It's been adopted as a working language at the African Union and there's a push for it to become… Read more »
June 26, 2023
Tanzania: Baby Deaths in Tanzania - Being Born in a City No Longer Increases Their Chances of Survival
Five million children under five years old died in 2021. Of these, nearly half occurred within the first month - a time of high vulnerability. Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest… Read more »
June 22, 2023
Uganda: U.S. Talks Sanctions Against Uganda After a Harsh Anti-Gay Law
Uganda recently signed an anti-gay bill into law. Called by some the "worst of its kind in the world," the law imposes life imprisonment for same-sex relations while using colonial… Read more »
June 21, 2023
Rwanda: Rwanda - Paul Kagame Is a Dictator Who Clings to Power but It's Not Just for His Own Gain
Rwanda's president Paul Kagame recently said he was looking forward to his retirement after 23 years in power. Speaking to the press in April 2023, he claimed he "may join… Read more »
Kenya: Kenya's Population - 5 Key Findings in the Past 20 Years of Research
Like many countries on the African continent, Kenya's population is growing - fast. The country's population was 8.1 million in 1963; today it stands at about 55 million people.… Read more »
June 19, 2023
Tanzania: Tanzanian Students Who Struggle With English Feel Bullied - a Major Barrier to Learning
In many postcolonial contexts, early learning is conducted, and assessed, in a language that is unfamiliar to learners. About 40% of the world's population cannot access schooling… Read more »
June 18, 2023
Uganda: Ugandan Church Waged Rebellion Against Tradition - Today's Homophobic Views Are At Odds With History
On 26 May Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, assented to the "anti-homosexuality bill" of 2023. The bill's aim is to protect the "cherished culture of the people of Uganda, (and… Read more »
Kenya: Gold Fraud - the Goldenberg Scam That Cost Kenya Billions of Dollars in the 1990s - and No One Was Jailed
The Goldenberg scandal in the early 1990s is Kenya's largest documented gold fraud. The scheme involved Goldenberg International Limited, which pretended to export gold and… Read more »
June 15, 2023
Kenya: Mama Ngina Kenyatta At 90 - the Quiet Power Behind Kenya's Famous Political Family
Few witnessed the building of the young Kenyan state from within as did Ngina Kenyatta, the widow of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta. Mama Ngina, as she is known, will mark… Read more »
June 14, 2023
Nigeria: Nigeria's Response to the Sudan Crisis Is Lacking - It Could Play a Leading Role in Bringing Peace
Hostilities between rival military parties in Sudan had claimed more than 600 lives by May 2023. Read more »
June 13, 2023
Kenya: Kenya's Budget Doesn't Allocate Funds for New Education Initiatives - This Will Stall Innovation in the Country
President William Ruto's first budget for Kenya sets no education priorities. The Finance Bill 2023 doesn't make it clear what Kenya is trying to achieve - stronger foundational… Read more »
June 12, 2023
Kenya: Kenya's First Budget Under Ruto - Three Experts Review Its Key Points
President William Ruto's first budget comes to the national assembly on 15 June against the backdrop of massive public debt and public disquiet over high inflation. The KSh3.663… Read more »
Rwanda: Rwanda Genocide Accused Félicien Kabuga Is Ruled Unfit to Stand Trial - This Will Further Erode Trust in International Justice
The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals recently concluded a two-year court hearing on Félicien Kabuga. Kabuga is accused of crimes against humanity… Read more »
June 08, 2023
Sudan: Sudan Conflict - How China and Russia Are Involved and the Differences Between Them
As clashes continue between the Sudanese military and rapid support forces, the current and historic role of foreign governments in Sudanese affairs is under close examination. Read more »
June 09, 2023
Kenya: New Spy Chief Will Lead the National Intelligence Service - What the Job Is All About
Kenya's President William Ruto recently nominated a new national intelligence chief. Breaking with tradition, the president picked a career intelligence officer, Noordin Haji. Read more »
June 08, 2023
Kenya: Kenya's Opposition Wants to Split Up the Country - but Secession Calls Seldom Succeed
Kenya's opposition politicians recently called for secession - which is the withdrawal of territory and sovereignty from part of an existing state to create a new state. Led by… Read more »
Chad: Chad On the Brink - How the War in Sudan Hurts Its Fragile Neighbour
Since the 15 April outbreak of hostilities in Sudan, the civilian population has been bearing the brunt. Read more »
June 05, 2023
Sudan: Sudan's War Is Wrecking a Lot, Including Its Central Bank - a Legacy of Trailblazing African American Economist and Banker Andrew Brimmer
The war in Sudan between two rival generals for control of the country is devastating in so many ways. Hundreds of civilians have been killed, thousands injured and more than 1… Read more »