This Week in Africa
June 23, 2023
Quote of the week
“Somebody call me refugee/Somebody call me refugee/Somebody call me refugee/And I’ll wear it proudly, refugee.” – K’Naan
Deadly terrorist attack in Uganda
One of the deadliest terror attacks in decades hit Uganda this week, as militants burned down dormitories with students still inside and hacked others to death. At least 41 people are dead. The massacre casts doubt on Museveni’s ADF narrative.
Sierra Leone election
Sierra Leoneans go to the polls on June 24. A poorly-functioning economy that has led to massive suffering of its people creates an opening for the opposition party. Sierra Leoneans are seeking economic solutions. Jamie Hitchen outlines the race.
World Refugee Day
The number of displaced people in the world is rising. GLD features its research on migration and displacement in this newsletter special issue. Cambridge University Press has a nice catalog of books about refugees and migration. What are the different patterns of forced migration?
Watch The Displaced. K’Naan sings “Refugee.”
Sudan’s war
Thanasis Pagoulatos led Khartoum’s oldest inn through decades of tumult, but had to flee the recent wave of violence. Mayhem spreads through Khartoum’s hospitals.
Struggle for rights and freedom
Bizuneh Yimenu explains the state of federalism, peace and democracy in Africa. South Africa is losing its moral authority in the world. A flawed opposition keeps the ANC in power. Robin D.G. Kelley explains the long war on black studies. Pat Robertson leaves a devastating legacy in Africa. Learn more about foreign aid and conflict in Somaliland. This map visualizes Russia’s interventions to undermine democracy in Africa.
Tunisians’ freedom is slipping away. This is how Madagascar’s new foreign investment law will perpetuate the colonial dispossession of the people. Learn more about Uganda’s state-sponsored homophobia. Prof. Gyimah-Boadi warns of declining democratic freedoms in Africa. Is Kenya at the beginning of a media renaissance? Can good governance unlock growth in Africa?
Into Oblivion in Nigeria.
Africa’s rapid urbanization
Astrid Haas explains who should pay to fix African cities’ problems dealing with climate change. Africa’s richest city is crumbling under chaos and corruption.
Rachel Dubale asks: Who is Addis Ababa for?
Research corner
Nina Torm’s article examines informal worker access to formal social protection in Kenya and Tanzania. Justine Davis and Martha Wilfahrt analyze enumerator experiences in violent research environments. Check out the review article on bureaucratic politics. This looks good: Citizens, Civil Society, and Activism under the EPDRF Regime in Ethiopia. And check out Elin Bjarnegard and Par Zetterberg’s Gender and Violence against Political Actors.
The week in development
The 2023 Global Humanitarian Assistance Report is out. Ghana is making progress on its loan negotiations. Famine is at Ethiopia’s door. These are Africa’s billion dollar companies. Lant Pritchett asks: What are development economists for?
Africa and the environment
Pro Publica reports that the World Bank enabled the devastation of villages and a mining company to justify the deaths of endangered chimpanzees. This is how Africa can help the world. Women bear the brunt of climate change. South Africa’s taps run dry after power cuts.
Daily life
The Art Hotel in Lagos looks kinda cool. Princess Koko Boateng is Ghana’s youngest chartered accountant. Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz is the biggest superstar in Africa.
Blazing a trail at Spotify.
All the best,
Jeff and Phil