June 20, 2023
Nigeria: Nigeria's New Foreign Exchange Policy Is Good News - but It Can't Work Wonders for the Economy On Its Own
The Central Bank of Nigeria recently announced changes to the way the country's foreign exchange market will work. Foreign currencies can now be bought and sold at rates determined… Read more »
June 18, 2023
South Africa: South Africa's Ruling Party Is Performing Dismally, but a Flawed Opposition Keeps It in Power
As power cuts continue, the economy falters, unemployment rises and the currency tumbles, South Africa's political commentators tend to agree that support for the governing African… Read more »
Ghana: Customary Land Governance Holds in Ghana but Times Are Changing and Not for the Better
Ghana went into colonisation with two broad types of customary land arrangement. In one, a traditional leader was the custodian of the land and gave his followers equitable access… 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 13, 2023
Senegal: Senegal's Internet Shutdowns Are Another Sign of a Democracy in Peril
Senegal's government began blocking several digital platforms - including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram and YouTube - in certain areas on 1 June. Days later, it extended… 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 »
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 »
June 05, 2023
West Africa: Census Data in West Africa Is Badly Out of Date - 5 Reasons Fresh Population Statistics Are Crucial
West Africa, an area composed of 16 countries, is one of the fastest growing regions in the world. The region has a population of over 350 million, a five-fold increase since 1950… Read more »
June 04, 2023
Tanzania: Tanzania Has Moved Its Capital From Dar After a 50-Year Wait - but Is Dodoma Ready?
Tanzania designated Dodoma as its new capital in place of the seaside city of Dar es Salaam following a public referendum 50 years ago. Since then, the country has made small steps… Read more »
Nigeria: Tinubu's Administration Must Address Nigeria's Deteriorating Security Situation
Nigeria's new president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has promised to make security a top priority of his administration. In his inaugural speech he promised, among other things, to provide… Read more »
June 01, 2023
Nigeria: Cycling Could Be a Boon for Lagos - but People Fear for Their Safety On Bikes
With an estimated 16 million residents, Lagos is the most densely populated state in Nigeria. It's under immense pressure to transport its huge population. According to a global… Read more »
May 31, 2023
West Africa: West African Countries Show How Decades of Working Together Build Peace, and Stop Wars Breaking Out
Africa is often portrayed as a continent ravaged by war, terrorism, poverty and political instability. But over the past five decades few violent conflicts have occurred between… Read more »
Kenya: How the British Used Street Names to Show Colonial Power
Place names, along with other urban symbols, were used as a tool of control over space in many African countries during the colonial period. This strategy was epitomised by the… Read more »
May 30, 2023
Ghana: Ghana and the IMF Have Struck a Deal, but Hard Choices Lie Ahead
In mid-May 2023 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) finally approved a US$3 billion 36-month arrangement with Ghana. It immediately disbursed the first tranche of US$600 million. Read more »
South Africa: South Africa Has Changed Its Electoral Law, but a Much More Serious Overhaul Is Needed
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed into law a change to the country's electoral act to allow individuals to contest national and provincial elections… Read more »
Africa: Tobacco Use Is Costly, but So Is Quitting. Surveys of 8 African Countries Show Who Needs Help
Tobacco use imposes a large health and economic burden worldwide. Research estimates that, in 2019, about 8 million deaths were attributable to tobacco smoking. Tobacco also… Read more »
May 29, 2023
South Africa: Drink Up, It's Closing Time - South African Study Calculates That Limiting Opening Hours Will Save Lives
South Africans are among the heaviest drinkers in the world. The country has the highest per capita rate of alcohol consumption in Africa. Excessive drinking is especially… Read more »
May 28, 2023
South Africa: South Africa's Pact With Russia - and Its Actions - Cast Doubt On Its Claims of Non-Alignment
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 South Africa has proclaimed a policy of non-alignment in that conflict. This position was placed in doubt when US Ambassador… Read more »
May 25, 2023
South Africa: Arms-to-Russia Row Raises Doubt About South Africa's Compliance With Arms Control. It Could Face Tougher Scrutiny in Future
The recent furore over accusations by the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, that South Africa was supplying arms to Russia despite its declared policy of… Read more »
May 24, 2023
Africa: 60 Years of African Unity - What's Failed and What's Succeeded
Africa Day this year marks 60 years since the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The anniversary begs the question: How much of the vision of the OAU's founding… Read more »
May 22, 2023
Somalia: Somaliland Crisis - Delayed Elections and Armed Conflict Threaten Dream of Statehood
With a presidential election delayed for months and deadly clashes between security forces and clan militias, Somaliland's reputation for stability lies in ruins. Violence erupted… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's 10 Year-Olds Are Struggling to Read - It Can Be Fixed
More than 80% of South Africa's grade 4 pupils - who are on average nine or 10 years old - cannot read for meaning. That means they can't answer basic questions about or draw… Read more »
May 21, 2023
Nigeria: Nigeria's City of Ilé-Ifẹ̀ Has Survived and Thrived for 1,000 Years - Here's How
By the end of this century, the three most populous cities in the world are expected to be in Africa, with Lagos in Nigeria leading as home to 88.3 million people. Read more »
May 18, 2023
South Africa: South African Diamonds Adorn the Crown of King Charles - Why They're Unlikely to Be Returned
Opera singer Pretty Yende and foreign minister Naledi Pandor were not the only South African presence at the coronation of King Charles III. Also there were the stones cut from the… Read more »