Latest Opinions
Zambia defaults, economically and politically
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 14th January 2021 Many African countries are sinking further into unsustainable debt. Last November Zambia epitomised the problem when it defaulted on a... →
Social media seized the narrative in Uganda's election. Why this was good for democracy
13th January 2021 For months, Ugandans have witnessed a vicious presidential election campaign without precedent. While the incumbent, Yoweri Museveni, has enjoyed... →
CAR elections expose the depth of the country’s crisis
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 13th January 2021 On 27 December 2020, citizens of the Central African Republic (CAR) were called to elect their president and 140 Members of Parliament amid renewed... →
Elections and instability as Africa enters 2021
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 13th January 2021 No fewer than 10 presidential elections are planned for 2021 – in Benin, Cape Verde, Chad, The Gambia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan,... →
South African politicians, not bureaucrats, stand in the way of a professional civil service
12th January 2021 The post-COVID-19 world will demand that governments do more with less, or at least spend within their means. Economic activity has ground to a... →
Dummy's guide to how trade rules affect access to COVID-19 vaccines
11th January 2021 The race is on to secure vaccines that will protect people from COVID-19. But it’s already become apparent that there is gross inequality playing... →
Boko Haram blocks Lake Chad trade routes
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 11th January 2021 The Boko Haram insurgency has had devastating consequences on Lake Chad boat transporters, a socio-economic group that has been the locomotive of... →
Leadership in Question Part six: Chief Albert Luthuli, leadership and service 
By: Raymond Suttner 11th January 2021 This article is part of a series on leadership. Click here to read articles in the series. The life of Chief Albert Luthuli bears lessons that are... →
Is the ‘Silk Road’ unravelling?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 8th January 2021 Chinese President Xi Jinping’s gigantic signature project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is showing symptoms of stalling. Warning bells are... →
Was it a coup? No, but siege on US Capitol was the election violence of a fragile democracy
7th January 2021 Did the United States just have a coup attempt? Supporters of President Donald Trump, following his encouragement, stormed the U.S. Capitol... →