Opinion

political protests

Mali: ‘Promoting security must not be done at expense of democracy & human rights’, Obasanjo

Recent developments in Mali have brought international attention back to the lingering challenges of instability and distrust since the signing ... of Algiers Peace Accord in 2015.

Good News Shock

Tanzania has what it takes to be ‘African economic giant’

East Africa’s sleeping giant is finally awakening. Right in the middle of the global Coronavirus pandemic, Tanzania has provided a rare piece ... of good news — on 1 July 2020, the country achieved its middle-income vision five years ahead of schedule.

economics of racism

Only 5 African-Americans run Fortune 500 firms. That must change.

In 1955, James Baldwin wrote in 'Notes of a Native Son' that: "People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction." In ... his book, Baldwin described the constant threat of explosion that hangs over the United States. Forty-five years later, America still does not look itself in the face, gnawed from within by a virus far worse than COVID-19: the virus of racism that is destroying the country from within.

new dawn

Burundi: It’s time to release human rights defender Germain Rukuki

One early morning three years ago, dozens of members of the security forces raided the house of Burundian human rights activist, Germain Rukuki, ... in the capital Bujumbura.

future of food

Rebuilding resilient agri-food value chains fit for a post-COVID world

Policymakers are no exception, for whom the pandemics' uncontrollable nature has placed them in a difficult situation; the choice between the ... health of the nation and the economy. The impact of the lockdown has affected the supply and demand on a global scale not seen in our lifetime resulting in our first global depression. The effect will inevitably lead to an increase in inequalities and poverty, and the world may record its first increase in poverty since 1998. 

HISTORIC CHANCE

Africa & Diaspora: Using Black Lives Matter campaign and Covid to change status quo

When news of COVID-19 reached the non-scientific world, there was panic and surprisingly, hope. Optimists saw this global crisis as an opportunity ... for people to empathize and connect based on our shared humanity. As heartwarming videos of quarantined Europeans singing on balconies went viral, for a brief moment,  this idea seemed possible.

tax justice

In our COVID-19 haste, we forget financial integrity at our peril

The virus causing COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the planet, threatening both millions of lives, and the global economy. Governments, ... multilateral institutions and investors are taking urgent action to respond to the health and economic crises.

Coronavirus: Counting the economic costs on Sub-Saharan Africa

Over the course of the past few months, many of Africa’s key markets responded to the growing threat of COVID-19 by adopting stringent lockdown ... conditions. What’s become increasingly clear since then is the economic costs of the crisis are likely to be particularly severe across the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region.

think again

China-Africa: Its the politics, stupid!

Forget all the talk of economic colonisation: China wants African votes, not African ports. ...

exposed opportunity

Coronavirus: Chance to improve exposed weaknesses of Africa’s banking system

COVID-19 has disrupted the global economy with the uprooting of supply chains. The decades-long, single-minded focus on optimising supply chains ... helped the world minimize costs, reduce inventory, and boost asset utilisation.