This Week in Africa
January 3, 2025
Happy new year! Check out our 2024 year-end review. Here is the week in Africa:
Quote of the week
“The real culinary excitement is happening in places like Tatiana and Dept of Culture, where chefs with West African roots are reimagining their cuisine through a fine-dining lens. These aren’t just fusion restaurants ... they’re entirely new cultural expressions.” – Brian Lee
Debris from space falls in Kenya
A 500 kg metal object crashed from the sky in eastern Kenya. It appears to be a piece of junk from a space rocket launch.
Governing Senegal
Senegal’s foreign minister talks sovereignty, alliances, and change. Alex Thurston analyzes Senegal PM Ousmane Sonko’s “Declaration of General Policy.”
Sudan’s civil war
This is incredible evidence showing the atrocities committed by RSF forces in Sudan. Aid trucks finally reach Khartoum.
Declining Françafrique
French forces will withdraw troops from Cote d’Ivoire, demonstrating its decreasing influence. Andrew Lebovich addresses the Sahel’s new geopolitics.
Mozambique’s political crisis
Why is Mozambique in chaos? 1500 escaped in a prison riot. There is a lot of violence and burning on Maputo’s streets. The political crisis continues.
Looking back at 2024
Make sure to check out TWiA’s top Africa stories of the year 2024. Maya Misikir reports on press freedom across the continent last year. Chris Ogunmodede wraps up film, music, and literature. Ken Opalo reviews the year in political economy.
Africa in 2025
Africa has entered a new era of war. The continent will need a security response that can counter violent extremism. The UN authorizes a new mission against Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Jesper Bjarnesen provides his hopes for the upcoming year. Some Africans are optimistic about Trump. SEMAFOR presents these predictions for Africa in 2025. Here are some trends to watch. Here are ten crises to watch in 2025. Does Africa have a democracy crisis or state crisis? Perhaps it has no crisis at all.
Struggle for rights and freedom
Cameroon’s French and English speaking populations celebrate different histories. Zimbabwe abolishes the death penalty. William Ruto promises to stop abductions in Kenya. An underground church for LGBTQ Africans thrives in Kenya despite attacks. A cyclone on a French archipelago exposes resentment against immigrants.
Africa’s rapid urbanization
This is a cool resource on innovation in just and sustainable cities. This is a neat article about the informal road menders in Nigeria. Kurtis Lockhart discusses educations and institutions in Africa’s future on this podcast. Lagos’ megacity dream recedes, unrealized.
Research corner
Levitsky and Ziblatt ask: When should the majority rule?
Learn about peasant protests in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. This is an important article about indigeneity and partitioning in Nigeria. Aili Tripp breaks down 20 years of research in comparative politics on gender.
The week in development
Ghana hopes to continue its pace as one of the fastest growing stock indexes in the world. MTN exits Guinea-Conakry. This book examines W. Arthur Lewis and the birth of development economics. This piece reviews Rwanda’s economic skills development. Ghana approves visa free entry for all African nationals. UAE becomes Africa’s largest investor amid rights concerns.
This is a cool map of Africa’s expanding infrastructure.
Africa and the environment
Kenya's celebrated coffee under threat as farmers hit by climate change. Record-breaking heat likely to continue in 2025. Cyclone Chido death toll nearly doubles in Mozambique.
RIP Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter died this week at age 100. He hosted 16 different Africa leaders while president. He was greatly committed to Africa during his time as President, and after his term ended. He fought hard for peace.
Daily life
A new type of food tourism. E-sports are booming. You can have lots of festive season experiences in Rwanda. Check it out: Limbo Museum – a celebration of art, architecture, and “ruins as practice” – opens in Accra.
All the best,
Jeff and Phil