July 03, 2023
Congo-Kinshasa: Protecting Congo's Forests - New Timber Parks Will Help Fight Illegal Logging
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) joined the East African Community in 2022. This will offer the country, which has immense natural wealth, a huge market in neighbouring… Read more »
June 26, 2023
Congo-Kinshasa: Military Interventions Have Failed to End DRC's Conflict - What's Gone Wrong
For 30 years, the Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered from communal violence, armed conflict and insecurity. Diverse actors have tried to stop it but conflict has… 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 »
June 12, 2023
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
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 »
May 28, 2023
Africa: What Makes Peace Talks Successful? The 4 Factors That Matter
Peace talks that seek to end armed conflicts are underway in several African countries. Because very few conflicts are resolved on the battlefield, negotiations are fundamental.… Read more »
May 15, 2023
Rwanda: Thriving in the Face of Adversity - Resilient Gorillas Reveal Clues About Overcoming Childhood Misfortune
In 1974, an infant mountain gorilla was born in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Researchers named him Titus. As is typical for young gorillas in the wild, Titus spent the first… Read more »
May 03, 2023
Rwanda: Paul Kagame Could Be President of Rwanda Until 2035 - What's Behind His Staying Power
Rwanda's ruling party, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), recently concluded its 16th congress. This also marked 35 years of its existence. The centre piece, however, was the… Read more »
April 27, 2023
East Africa: East Africa Has Deployed Troops to Combat M23 Rebels - Who's Who in the Regional Force
The East Africa Community (EAC) has completed the deployment of its regional force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to oversee the withdrawal of the rebel group, M23,… Read more »
April 23, 2023
Chad: Chad Picks a Fight With Germany - What's Behind It and What the Consequences Are
Chad recently ordered the German ambassador to the country, Dr Gordon Kricke, to leave within 48 hours, accusing him of disrespectful behaviour and disregard for diplomatic… Read more »
April 20, 2023
Rwanda: Rwanda and Nigeria Sign an Accord for More Responsible Exploration - Why This Matters
In 2020, the United States announced a framework for the private exploitation of space resources. It consists of practical principles to guide exploration, science and commerce in… Read more »
April 17, 2023
Rwanda: Rusesabagina Vs Rwanda - How Kagame Wields Soft Power to Get His Way With the West
In politics, soft power is a persuasive approach to international relations. A leader can use soft power by exerting economic, cultural or reputational influence. Read more »
East Africa: East Africa's Peace Mission in the DRC - Why It's in Burundi's Interest to Help
Burundi was the first country to offer troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2022 as part of east Africa's peace drive after a wave of attacks from the rebel group… Read more »
March 30, 2023
Rwanda: Paul Rusesabagina's Release and Apology - a Master Stroke By Kagame
Rwanda's ministry of justice recently announced the pardon and release of Paul Rusesabagina from jail. Rusesabagina was involved in events portrayed in the 2004 Hollywood film… Read more »
March 14, 2023
Equatorial Guinea: Covid, Bird Flu, Mpox - a Virologist On Why We're Seeing So Many Viruses Emerge
From the widespread outbreak of mpox (formerly called monkeypox) in 2022, to the evolving bird flu situation, to recent cases of Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea, COVID isn't… Read more »
March 13, 2023
Equatorial Guinea: Marburg Virus Outbreaks Are Increasing in Frequency and Geographic Spread - Three Virologists Explain
The World Health Organization confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus disease in the central African country of Equatorial Guinea on Feb. 13, 2023. To date, there have… Read more »
Congo-Kinshasa: How a Minority Ethnic Group in the DRC Became the Target of Rebels
The Banyamulenge are a minority ethnic group in South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In December 2022, the UN adviser on the prevention of genocide raised… Read more »
March 02, 2023
Chad: The Lake Chad Basin Is a Security Nightmare - 5 Guidelines for Finding Solutions
It is now 14 years since Boko Haram and other armed groups began to operate in the Lake Chad Basin. The region, which includes Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon, has become… Read more »
February 22, 2023
Rwanda: Over 90% of Rwandans Have Health Insurance - the Health Minister Tells an Expert What Went Right
In 2015 the United Nations General Assembly adopted universal health coverage as one of the sustainable development goals. The aim of universal health coverage is to ensure that… Read more »
February 20, 2023
West Africa: Violent Extremism Is Rising in the Sahel, but Not in Chad - What's Different?
Since the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria and the emergence of Islamist-Salafist groups in northern Mali in 2013, the Sahel has increasingly been caught in the maelstrom of Islamist… Read more »
February 15, 2023
Cameroon: Jean-Paul Zé Bella - the Cunning Cameroonian Soldier Who Became a Global Music Legend
One of Cameroon's most influential music stars - Jean-Paul Zé Bella - passed away on 15 January at the age of 71 after a battle against cancer. The singer and drummer was a… Read more »
January 30, 2023
Africa: Pope Francis in DRC and South Sudan - One of His Most Challenging Visits Ever
On 31 January, Pope Francis departed from Rome to central Africa, to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its neighbouring state South Sudan. The visit was previously… Read more »
Uganda: Kampala, Kigali and Addis Ababa Are Changing Fast - New Book Follows Their Distinct Paths
Kampala, the Ugandan capital where I live, is naturally the city I have studied and worked on the most as an urban economist. Yet even with this background, reading Tom… Read more »
January 24, 2023
Congo-Kinshasa: How DRC's Elite Use Sport to Build Their Reputations and Hold On to Power
Football in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - as in much of the world - is intertwined with politics. Read more »
January 17, 2023
Angola: Peatlands Trap Carbon and Clean the Region's Water - How We Mapped This Newly Found Landscape #AfricaClimateHope
Ask most people what they picture when thinking about natural "carbon sinks" - ecosystems that absorb and store greenhouse gases - and they'll probably describe a forest.… Read more »