The government of President Mohamed got a dose of support at an international conference in May, but diplomats worry about its ability to defeat Al-Shabaab.
News & Analysis
Skeletons in the closet, loyalty to the party and South Africa’s political landscape
- Thursday, 08 June 2017 08:38
- Greg Roxburgh
With South Africa’s 2019 national elections looming overhead, its political landscape has not caught a break as each month, and even week, that passes another ‘skeleton in the closet’ comes out to shock the public.
Enough is enough with our junk president
- Friday, 12 May 2017 08:29
- Chester Missing
South African comedian Conrad Koch poses for a photograph with his puppet, Chester Missing, at his home in Cape Town. Photo: Schalk van Zuydam/AP/SIPA.
While America has its 45th president and purportedly its second one of colour – because orange is a colour – we in South Africa are on our fourth democratically elected president. The West often only really seems to know about two African leaders: Nelson Mandela and The Lion King, and sometimes they seem to think Nelson Mandela is actually Morgan Freeman.
Commodity exports: turning resource curse into economic engine
- Wednesday, 10 May 2017 14:14
- Ruslan Kharlamov
A cargo vessel passes by as the sun rises over the Indian Ocean in Durban, South Africa. Frank Augstein/AP/SIPA.
By: Ruslan Kharlamov
Last month I attended the 5th edition of the Africa CEO Forum, a two-day event dedicated to the continent's socio-economic development. One of the forum’s key—and, unfortunately, protracted—discussions was how to end Africa’s resource curse and climb up the value chain.
Using agriculture and agribusiness to bring about industrialisation in Africa
- Tuesday, 09 May 2017 13:59
- Dr. Akinwumi Adesina
A Kenyan maize seller sifts out maize from a bucket to get rid of sand and other impurities. KAREL PRINSLOO/AP/SIPA.
By: Dr. Akinwumi Adesina
No region of the world has ever moved to industrialised economy status without a transformation of the agricultural sector. Agriculture, which contributes 16.2% of the GDP of Africa, and gives some form of employment to over 60% of the population, holds the key to accelerated growth, diversification and job creation for African economies.
Proxy warfare
- Tuesday, 09 May 2017 11:02
- Eromo Egbejule and Patrick Smith
Allies of Iran and Saudi Arabia are fighting it out in Nigeria, with the government repressing the Shia organisation, Islamic Movement in Nigeria, in a move reminiscent of the conflict that radicalised the Boko Haram Islamist militancy.
Lights out: poor governance and Africa's energy crisis
- Thursday, 04 May 2017 09:05
A street vendor sells her wares by the light of a kerosene wick lamp in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigeria claims ownership of one of the world's great energy reserves, but corruption and mismanagement leave Africa's oil giant chronically short of electricity. SUNDAY ALABAMA/AP/SIPA.
By: Max Bankole Jarrett
Africa is rich in resources and opportunities. In so many fields, however, the continent is yet to hit its stride, often because there is not enough political will to manage resources better and create necessary incentives. Africa's energy crisis is a prime example.
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