This Week in Africa

January 26, 2024

Quote of the week

“Two African guys that won a championship. I share that with him ... Again, I say to you guys, that guy’s success is my success no matter where he is.” – Maasai Ujiri on Pascal Siakam

New president of Liberia

Joseph Boakai was sworn in as the new president of Liberia. The 79-year-old could not finish his inaugural speech due to heat exhaustion. The US sent a presidential delegation.

Sudan’s civil war

All eyes are on Sudan. The UN Panel of Experts published a report on mass killings. Ethnic killings killed 15,000 people in one city. Khartoum has turned into a violent and lawless capital. Ken Opalo provides this excellent analysis of the war. Meanwhile, Lt. General Mohamed Hamdan is taking a “victory tour” across the continent.

Anti-LGBTQ law in Uganda

The anti-LGBTQ law in Uganda risks a massive health crisis. Kristof Titeca is providing these excellent insights into the role of the international community in fuelling anti-LGBTQ sentiment. Did Russia play a role in the legislation?

Philip Ayoub and Kristina Stoeckl examine the global resistance to LGBTIQ rights.

Senegal’s presidential election

Senegal holds elections on February 25. Authorities in Senegal are cracking down on the opposition, media, and civil society in the lead up to its presidential election. Authorities are preventing opposition leader Ousmane Sonko from running.

DR Congo politics

Felix Tshisekedi is sworn in for a second term after the disputed DR Congo election. This is how the country can consolidate its gains, as it is in talks for $7 billion financing from China.

Migration and displacement

Agadez reopens hub for migrants toward Europe. Migrants return to the route to the Mediterranean. Protests erupt in Tunisian town as search continues for 37 missing migrants. The West needs to show its values all human life.

We can learn from this: The Politics of Refugee Policy in the Global South.

Struggle for rights and freedom

What’s at stake for Africa in 2024? This year’s elections provide challenges and opportunities to regain democratic momentum. Kenyans are rising up against femicide. Chad’s Deby visits Putin. These insurgents are threatening West Africa. Anna Macdonald and Rebecca Tapscott explain how Museveni keeps Bobi Wine’s reach in check. Ugandan LRA commander is on trial. And Judd Devermont will leave the White House after an influential four-year run of helping shape US-Africa policy.

Africa’s rapid urbanization

Lagos will ban single-use plastics. A man is arrested on 77 counts of murder in the Johannesburg building fire. Richard Ballard explains why demolishing hijacked buildings is not the answer. Many of Dar es Salaam streets are unpassable after massive floods. This is a cool series on African urban displacements, with insights from Taibat Lawanson on Lagos and many more. Uganda’s opposition accuses the government of detaining homeless in clean-up drives to host global summits.

My neighborhood.

Research corner

There are some good recent articles in APSR: political patronage and bureaucratic favoritism in Kenya; repression and dissent in moments of uncertainty in Zimbabwe; registration, taxation, and access to the state in Tanzania, and; civilian protest in Cote d’Ivoire. This article explains Africa’s great moderation. This article examines the relationship between traditional institutions and support for democracy.

Emma Riley’s study provides experimental evidence on microenterprise investment in Uganda. Victor Agboga explains the drivers of party switching in Nigeria. This is an important article about artisanal mining in the DR Congo. This piece links collective action with democratic practice. Learn more about banditry in Nigeria. Make sure to check out Shelley Liu’s Governing After War: Rebel Victories and Post-war Statebuilding.

Here is a thread of some good global geospatial datasets. And it’s a great lineup for this term’s GLD Works-in-Progress sessions.

Randomized controlled history?

The week in development

Railway connections could help link east Africa. The US is investing in a massive railway effort to counter China’s dominance. The West is paying the price for the unipolar moment. South Africa’s aging population provides new challenges. Investing in Africa’s live music scene could boost jobs. This project invests in resilience among vulnerable communities in South Sudan. This is cool: Amharic songs about the Grand Renaissance Dam. This is a helpful analysis of the politics of the Grand Renaissance Dam. This is an important investigation into quality control on the continent.

What does 2024 hold for Ethiopia after its 2023 default?

Africa and the environment

Africa’s life-sustaining water towers have been overlooked for too long. Learn more about the grim realities of Western climate discourse on Africa. Green electricity provides an important opportunity for Africa.

The moral challenge of climate displacement.

Daily life

Happy birthday, Hakeem Olajuwon. This is a great opportunity for artists to contribute to the Atlas of Uncertainty. The rise of foul-mouthed female slam poets in Africa. This is neat: A photo essay to celebrate the holy new year. Mohammad Salah is under pressure. Is there a silent majority in Kenya?

RIP Jane Guyer.

All the best,

Jeff and Phil