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…
Author: Guest Writer
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…
By Ndung’u Wainaina Water is a critical resource. Water stress is now a global and systemic challenge. No government can afford to treat this water stress and scarcity as a temporary crisis. Water and sanitation are preconditions to life. It is critical for sustainable development, eradication of poverty and hunger, industrial and agricultural production, and human health and well-being. Water-related challenges include limited access to safe water and sanitation, increasing pressure on water resources and ecosystems, and changing climatic conditions exacerbating scarcity. Water is at the heart of recent milestone agreements such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the…
By Prof John Harbeson Sub-Saharan Africa is composed of 49 nation-states. Western Sahara and Somaliland have long waited in the wings, and the Maghreb states of North Africa, are conventionally, albeit debatably, regarded as looking more toward the Middle East than south across the Sahara. Everyone recognises that describing these 49 countries as nation-states Is so remote from reality as to verge on indulging in euphemism. With the possible exception of Eswatini, they are states of not one but many nations. More fundamentally, the extent to which the majority have existentially qualified as states in practice has proven problematic and…