Is the state here to stay? Here is the week in Africa:
Quote of the week
“The destruction of Souq Omdurman is a massacre of memory & communal life. A casualty that even peace will struggle to restore.” – Yousra Elbagir in Sudan
Sudan’s civil war
Yousra Elbagir takes us inside the destruction of Sudan’s iconic street market. More than seven million people have been displaced by the war. In Darfur, Arab forces are attacking non-Arab communities. The RSF is using Starlink’s satellites amidst Internet blackouts. Despite the destruction, refugees seeking shelter in Egypt are returning to Sudan. Immediate humanitarian assistance is needed to prevent famine. The private sector could play an important role in the humanitarian response.
Senegal’s political crisis
Senegal’s constitutional court rejects Macky Sall’s bid to delay February 25 elections. Stay tuned for what comes next. The president defended his actions to delay the vote. The decision is a lot less murky when seen through the lens of oil and gas. Many Senegalese feel as though Sall betrayed them, and took to the streets to protest. A rights group says the security forces have killed three protesters. Senegal’s democracy is in peril, and highlights a new risk on the continent.
Claudia Ehing provides her analysis of the situation, emphasizing the enormous political, social, and economic consequences. Bamba Ndiaye and Michelle Gavin discuss the crisis on Ufahamu Africa.
Governing Ghana
Ghana’s president removed his embattled Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta in a cabinet reshuffle. Mohammad Anim Adam replaces him as the country gears up for December elections. Presidential candidates Mahamudu Bawumia and John Mahama are fighting for northern votes.
Escalation of violence in DR Congo
M23 rebels advance near Goma. South Africa will deploy 2,900 troops DR Congo. Vava Tampa criticizes the US and UK for “funding violence in the DR Congo.” Thousands of Congolese are fleeing their homes. The DR Congo football team used its platform at AFCON to call for peace in the country.
What’s next for ECOWAS?
Olivier Walther argues that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will take a hit if they leave ECOWAS. Nicholas Westcott suggests that this signals new problems for the Sahel.
Africa in 2024
Here are some prospects for the continent in 2024. The African Union faces these eight priorities in 2024 (with a nice summary map). Nic Cheeseman discusses whether there will be a backlash to military rule in 2024.
African international relations
This is an interesting discussion of Germany’s Africa policy. Jutta Bakonyi provides some helpful analysis of the Somaliland-Ethiopia port deal. The Wagner Group has changed its name to Africa Corps, signaling a change in strategy. Whoops: A new Department of Defense Report finds that terrorism is 100,000 percent worse after the US went to fight terrorism on the continent.
And Europe brewed its migrant crisis.
Struggle for rights and freedom
Israel Campos explains how Angola is limiting press freedom. This is how identity, politics, and crime keeps Kenya’s Mungiki gang alive. Samira Sawlani on Valentine’s Day: To love is to demand justice. Aikande Kwayu argues that Tanzania’s elections are vulnerable to state abuse. The ANC can blame itself for its electoral problems. Human rights groups accuse the Ethiopian army of killing 45 civilians. Africans’ distrust of government fuels conflict on the continent. John Young argues that homegrown democracy reforms are the only solution to Ethiopia’s challenges. UCLA returns looted museum artefacts to the Asantehene.
Africa’s rapid urbanization
This piece examines container urbanism in Ghana. Learn more about sand, gravel, and handmade urbanism in Bukavu, DR Congo. Michaela Collord has a great piece on the scapegoating of boda bodas in Tanzania. Addis freshens up. Accra is still polluted. This is a useful review of infrastructure and techno-environments in the Global South. Infrastructural Times: Temporality and the Making of Global Urban Worlds looks good.
How to house the world’s fastest growing population?
Research corner
Check this out: Communication and Electoral Politics in Ghana. I can’t wait to read this: Maritime Culture and Everyday Life in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Coastal Ghana: A Social History of Cape Coast. Max Gallien’s forthcoming book looks awesome: Smugglers and States: Negotiating the Maghreb at its Margins.
Hilary Matfess argues that marriage can be a powerful tool for rebel groups. Daniel Paget explains how people are reimagining people power. Pauline Zerla examines trauma, violence prevention, and reintegration in the Central African Republic. How can lower-income countries collect more taxes?
This looks neat: The Elite Africa Project and Database. And sign up for the APCG Online Colloquium and submit your research to Ghana Studies.
The week in development
This is a neat story of the scientists and economists who are restoring maps of earth’s past. Business leaders criticize the logistical barriers they face trading within and across Africa. Learn more about Herbert Wigwe and the story of Nigerian banking. Wigwe died in a helicopter crash this week. 17 million South Africans live on communal land. Africans look for greater progress on education. The CFA franc is a price stabilizer in West Africa, despite its other problems.
One of the deadliest cholera outbreaks ever hits southern Africa. The Hewlett Foundation announces its new Evidence-Informed Policymaking strategy, and provides this update of its strategy in Ghana and Senegal. South Africa faces its most drastic power cuts in months. This is how data gaps fuel poor governance.
These are important pathways from research to sustainable development.
Mining and extraction
A green light for mining in Malawi causes outrage. Exploitative mineral extraction in DR Congo must stop. Countries continue to invest in railways across the copper belt. Human rights group decry corporate lawsuits in the African mining sector. An AI-powered copper mine may become the world’s third-largest.
Africa and the environment
Conflict and climate change is contributing to the rise of malaria worldwide. This meta-analysis finds that heat doesn’t contribute to pro-social or anti-social behavior. Rich countries should spend more on green projects in poor countries. Beware of the locusts. The Earthshot Prize will travel to Cape Town. This is an interesting study on the perceived impact of climate change on mental health and suicidality in Kenyan high school students. The World Bank invests in climate and community resilience in the Senegal River Valley. The UN chief warns that climate chaos and food crises threaten global peace.
RIP Kelvin Kiptum
Kenyan marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum died in a car accident this week at the age of 24. He redefined what it takes to win marathons. His coach Garvais Hakizimana also died in the accident.
AFCON 2024
Cote d’Ivoire wins the Africa Cup of Nations. Their football success is improbable. Each player is getting $82,000 and a villa worth $82,000 for the victory. Nearly 60,000 fans showed up for the final. The tournament gained massive global visibility this year. This great panel breaks down the power and politics behind AFCON. China built a lot of stadiums, but at what cost? Is football more important than weddings?
And sorry Kansas City, this is how you celebrate a big sports victory.
Daily life
Check out The Republic’s Best Interviews of 2023. Masai Ujiri wants to see more basketball arenas in Africa. Somalia will launch its first current affairs TV program led by women. Berbera architecture. Zambian footballer Racheal Kundananji breaks the women’s football transfer record. Jordan 4 Bred. These NFL in Africa Superbowl commercials were fun (watch here). The Superbowl parties extended to Accra, as many cheered for Chiefs cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe. The Grammys and AFCON made one thing clear: The rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa continues! And what’s holding back the African fashion industry?
All the best,
Jeff and Phil