Journalists have been forced to temporarily take down articles critical of powerful oil lobbyists due to the exploitation of US copyright law, according to a report. At least five such articles have been subject to fake copyright claims, including one by the respected South African newspaper Mail & Guardian, according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The claims – which falsely assert ownership of the stories – have been made by mystery individuals under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a law meant to protect copyright holders. In February 2023, three separate false copyright claims were…
Author: Guest Writer
By Prof John Harbeson I devote my column this month to consideration in some depth of a remarkable finding by Afrobarometer about public opinion in Kenya on the importance of environmental protection and addressing rapidly advancing climate change. The finding constitutes an early glimpse at partial results of Afrobarometer’s ninth round of surveys, currently being analyzed, of citizens’ opinions concerning political and economic circumstances in the nearly forty African countries. This finding is that Kenyans want the government to prioritize environmental protection at the expense of job creation. These results, published in late July, come when, at this writing, the…
Yet another coup in Africa – just five weeks after Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum was taken hostage by the troops of his own presidential guard, Gabon’s Ali Bongo also finds himself detained in his own residence. A sudden statement on national television in the early hours of Wednesday, to declare Mr Bongo the winner of last Sunday’s election, was followed within minutes by a second surprise broadcast, as a clutch of soldiers announced the seizure of power in the former French colony. Later in the day, as footage of celebrating crowds emerged – after the new junta had lifted the…
Sudan has experienced a catastrophic increase in violence since 15 April. Heavy fighting between the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) paramilitary force and the SAF (Sudan Armed Forces) for control of the country – and its resources – is severely impacting the lives of most of Sudan’s population. The current violence has added to the already huge need for humanitarian assistance, creating many more obstacles to providing it. Thousands of people have fled the country, and millions are displaced. The banking system has collapsed in parts of the country, internet and mobile networks are down or weak, and movement of food…
Mahmoud Mohieldin In a world that suffers from a surplus of crises and a deficit of trust, and after many years of unfulfilled promises, it is of no surprise that the main theme for the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) was that of “implementation.” We must move beyond pledges and into action, to address Africa’s climate problems without exacerbating its already high debt burden. Climate change costs Africa between 5 percent and 15 percent of its per capita GDP every year, with 278 million of the population suffering from chronic hunger,…
Consultants and partners have bluntly described some younger associates as “lacking accountability and initiative.” But surveys suggest younger lawyers and aspiring lawyers are more varied in their motivations than earlier generations. Some law firm partners are increasingly frustrated with the quality of work and the attitudes of “Zoom associates”—those who came into firms during and since the pandemic, according to interviews with consultants and law firm leaders. Consultants and partners have even bluntly described some younger associates as “lacking accountability and initiative.” Highlighting some of the frustration, several law firms have ramped up pressure for their attorneys—including associates—to be in…
With increasing oil and gas developments in Africa, regional pipeline systems play a huge part in improving access, availability and affordability of energy in the continent As oil and gas industries continue to grow in Africa, the construction of regional, intra-African pipelines has a huge part to play in distributing these hydrocarbons across the continent, allowing Africa to reap the benefits of its energy resources. These benefits included improved access, availability and affordability of energy as well as energy security. It also contributes to added revenue to the participating countries and the skills development of local companies and individuals. There…
The underlying motivations of these talks often revolve around the distribution of resources, control over government institutions, and the advancement of personal and party agendas. By Thuku Mburu Political bipartisan talks have become a prominent feature of Kenya’s political landscape, showcasing a complex interplay of interests, ideologies, and power dynamics. This article aims to dissect the phenomenon of political bipartisan talks, unraveling their significance in the context of the Kenyan political elite’s quest for power and influence. As political actors from different parties engage in behind-the-scenes negotiations, often with the aim of consolidating power and advancing personal interests, the democratic…
A failure to keep his promises to Kenyans has seen President William Ruto lose his popularity with the masses and increase chances of an early political grave By Ouma Ojango The long-standing veil of invincibility, perceived or real, around President William Samoei Ruto is quickly fading. His actions, performance and general disenfranchisement of the majority of Kenyans are beginning to make it seem possible that he might break history and become Kenya’s first one-term President. But just what is the President doing wrong? Why is the President no longer striking the right chords with his base of people with low…
2023 has turned out to be a year of upsets for African economies. These range from civil unrest in countries like Kenya and Ethiopia to coups, such as the one in Niger in July, as citizens take to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with their governments. According to the Verisk Maplecroft’s Civil Unrest Index, a risk intelligence firm, 36 African countries experienced a surge in risk between the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023, marking the continent’s largest annual increase since the dataset’s inception. The impact of this instability has harmed the business sector of…