This Week in Africa
Discover more from This Week in Africa
Check out our new GLD Policy Brief “The World’s Most Water Stressed Requires Cooperation and Diplomacy.” Here is the week in Africa:
Quote of the week
“I came here for safety. It feels like the safety is disappearing.” – Liberian immigrant in Fargo Manny Behyee
The African diaspora
Somalis in the diaspora are winning US political elections. But not all is good on the US front: Liberian immigrants are facing a backlash in Fargo, ND.
Governing South Africa
Jason Love explains the myth of good governance in the Western Cape and how it fuels separatist campaigns. The release of Chris Hani’s murderer sets off demonstrations across Pretoria and Cape Town. Cyril Ramaphosa faces impeachment after a damning report of his cover up of millions of dollars. His future is in jeopardy. Read this explainer for more.
Struggle for rights and freedom
Not quite breaking news: Obiang “re-elected” of Equatorial Guinea. Residents warn of kidnappings and lootings in Tigray after peace agreement. Fiona Shen-Bayh discusses trial and terror on the Scope Conditions podcast. Howard French takes on “Naipaul’s Unreal Africa.” A Senegalese MP slaps a female lawmaker, setting of a brawl in parliament. Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ bill sparks a spike in “legally sanctioned” extortion. And it will be a busy year ahead in African elections.
Security and instability
Interstate war is brewing in the eastern DR Congo. Bamako is in open conflict with part of the international community. Nine civilians killed in militant siege at a Mogadishu Hotel. Riva Levinson discusses US Africa Leaders Summit and the urgency of now. What can historians of Eastern Europe learn from Ghanaian responses to the Russian invasion?
Africa’s rapid urbanization
So close, yet so far. Learn more about Garama, Libya’s first city. The urban water resilience initiative seeks to tackle water problems. The gentrification of Accra. While this book is based in India, it has important implications for Africa too: Migrants and Machine Politics: How India’s Urban Poor Seek Representation and Responsiveness.
Research corner
This is an interesting piece on Christian Zionism in Africa. A group of great scholars at Nordic Africa Institute analyze how citizenship matters across the continent. Remembering African Labor Migration to the Second World is out. Sandra Joireman’s Peace, Preference, and Property: Return Migration after Violent Conflict looks great.
The week in development
Uganda extends Ebola lockdown in two hotspots. This is why Ghana went from hero to zero for investors. It will take on the IMF. Burkina Faso’s vanishing gold boom puts livelihoods at risk. This piece discusses new evidence on land rental markets in Kenya. Check out this important podcast episode on vaccine equity. This is an interesting piece on the making of a global port, and the unmaking of a people. Has Silicon Valley delivered to Africa?
Africa and the environment
Ghana is slowly disappearing. SIPRI presents the climate-related security risks in the SADC region. Countries need more financing for an African energy transition. Countries are getting more investments for bioenergy plants. Water levels in Zimbabwe’s biggest dam are too low for power.
World Cup
There is a World Cup. Sean Jacobs is right: Something remarkable is happening in African football. Senegal stormed back and is on to the next round. African teams are doing pretty well!
Daily life
Burna Boy is on fire. Architect Mariam Issoufou Kamara is one of the most important creatives right now. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warns about an “epidemic of self-censorship.” Lusaka!
All the best,
Jeff and Phil