This Week in Africa
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Is it spring yet? Here is the week in Africa:
Quote of the week
“Drumming in Burundi is about history. It is about power. It is about freedom.” – Oscar Nshimirimana, the Royal Drummers of Burundi.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine creates potential risks for Nigeria. Karsten Noko explains the West’s selective empathy. African wars get different treatment. Lamis Abdelaaty’s thread provides a helpful explanation for why Ukrainian refugees are treated differently than other groups. This is what African nations’ vote on Ukraine tells us about African international relations. This is why South Africa did not condemn the invasion. Henning Melber argues that Namibia’s abstention on Russia violates its foreign policy principles. Alex De Waal says that Africa is “trampling on its own peace and security architecture.” No surprise here: Jacob Zuma backs Vladimir Putin.
Yusuf Bangura asks: What does Russia's invasion mean for Africa?
Escalating conflict in Burkina Faso
Conflict, and the human rights abuses that follow, spreads to southern Burkina Faso. It has experienced the second largest spike in displacements since the conflict began.
Struggle for rights and freedom
What is Joseph Kabila up to? Oumar Ba and Ousmane Diallo ask: What to make of the French exit from Mali? Young Ugandans are thinking twice before kneeling. Sudanese authorities raid offices of 2019 massacre tribunal. Ovigwe Eguegu explains: On its twentieth anniversary, the African Union grapples with governance challenges.
The Thomas Sankara trial grips a nation, but what really happened 35 years ago is elusive. Museveni’s son leaves the military in a sign that he might be preparing for the presidency. Gretchen Bauer and Akosua Darkwah explain gender parity in cabinets. Learn more about criminality in Southeast Nigeria. Here are some lessons for the US to help fight coups in Africa. Josef Woldense explains how governments reshuffle political elites after failed coups. Watch CSIS’ candid discussion with Kenyan presidential candidate William Ruto.
Ethiopia’s civil war
Where are the women in Ethiopia’s national dialogue commission? Ethiopia’s war is stressing the relationship between Tigray and Amhara. Ethiopian journalists are taking a stand for press freedom in 2022.
Africa’s rapid urbanization
This account tells what it is like to wake up to bulldozers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Isaac Samuel examines Great Zimbabwe and the ruined cities of southern Africa. This article looks fascinating: “Seeing Luanda from Salvador: Lineaments of a Southern Atlantic Urbanism.”
Fake news in Africa
CDD West Africa, Jamie Hitchen, and many others put together this great series of reports on the fake news ecosystem in every ECOWAS country. I learned a lot from Ernest Armah in his report on Ghana.
Research corner
Check out Lindsey B. Green-Simms’ Queer African Cinemas. This thread explains Decolonization & African Feminisms. On the Trail of Capital Flight from Africa looks great. I look forward to reading Adam Harris’ Everyday Identity and Electoral Politics: Race, Ethnicity, and the Bloc Vote in South Africa and Beyond.
This is an interesting article about sexual violence against men in the Lake Chad conflict. Check out this special issue on security and trade in African borderlands. Anne Meng, Jack Paine, and Bob Powell review “Authoritarian Power Sharing.” This is a good review essay on NGOs and States. German academia: Where is your role in African knowledge production?
The week in development
Annie Duflo and Radha Rajkotia provide four things that are top of mind for IPA. Dan Gertler isn’t doing so badly. Zimbabwe’s diamonds bring wealth for a few, despair for many. Palm oil investors buckle under community pressure.
Africa and the environment
Dakar under water? Learn more about the gender dimensions of climate insecurity. An endangered bat not seen in 40 years was found in Rwanda. As Hershey raises prices, cocoa farmers deal with climate change. Early warning systems hold the key to disaster management in West Africa. Nature-based solutions in mountains can reduce climate change’s impact on drought. South Africa remains on track to provide water to its citizens.
APCG Online Colloquium
Join the APCG Online Colloquium on March 17 from 3-4 pm GMT for Sarai-Anne Ikenze’s paper, “Exploring the Role of Neo-Colonial Interests in IMF Structural Adjustment Policies.” Sign up for the paper and the zoom link here.
Daily life
Burundian drumming is a revered symbol of unity—but only men can play. RIP photojournalist Sumy Sadurni who died in a car accident in Uganda.
This has nothing to do with Africa, but wow…South Korean election graphics!
All the best,
Jeff and Phil
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