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Africa Up Close

Africa Up Close is the blog of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars' Blog of the Africa Program, Africa Up Close provides a nexus for analysis, ideas, and innovation for and from Africa..
  • WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR FINANCIAL SYSTEMS IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES POST-COVID-19?

    WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR FINANCIAL SYSTEMS IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES POST-COVID-19?

    The ability of Africa’s financial sector to boost economic integration plans has been weakened by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • THE CRUCIAL ROLE THAT REGIONAL ACTORS CAN PLAY IN THE 2023 ZIMBABWE ELECTION

    THE CRUCIAL ROLE THAT REGIONAL ACTORS CAN PLAY IN THE 2023 ZIMBABWE ELECTION

    Although Zimbabwe’s elections are still a couple of years away, many experts believe that in order to make any impactful change, the country’s electoral reforms must begin well in advance, and regional actors play a pivotal role.

  • HOW BIDEN SAVES THE WORLD: HE MUST START BY RETURNING A FAVOR

    HOW BIDEN SAVES THE WORLD: HE MUST START BY RETURNING A FAVOR

    COVID-19 poses many challenges in the U.S. and abroad, President Biden has an opportunity to lead a worldwide initiative to combat the pandemic.

  • BLM IN SUDAN: ADDRESSING THE COUNTRY’S ANTI-BLACKNESS

    BLM IN SUDAN: ADDRESSING THE COUNTRY’S ANTI-BLACKNESS

    Anti-Blackness is a global issue, with manifestations present in Africa, and in Sudan in particular through colorism and anti-Black racism.

  • THE HISTORY BEHIND SUDAN’S IDENTITY CRISIS

    THE HISTORY BEHIND SUDAN’S IDENTITY CRISIS

    The Black Lives Matter Movement catalyzed conversations about racism and anti-Blackness in America, but it also brought attention to internalized anti-Blackness and colorism in Africa, and Sudan in particular.

  • COVID-19 ADDS TO CHALLENGES OF CURBING CHILD MARRIAGE

    COVID-19 ADDS TO CHALLENGES OF CURBING CHILD MARRIAGE

    The prevalence of early marriage had been declining globally, however, COVID-19 poses challenges to curbing child marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • NEW PAN-AFRICAN TRADE DEAL CAN TRANSFORM THE CONTINENT’S FOOD SYSTEMS

    NEW PAN-AFRICAN TRADE DEAL CAN TRANSFORM THE CONTINENT’S FOOD SYSTEMS

    The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can be regarded as a turning point for African regional and international trade, and offers an opportunity to transform Africa’s food systems.

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  • What are the Prospects for Financial Systems in African Countries Post-COVID-19?

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    By Sone Osakwe  // Wednesday, March 3, 2021

    shutterstock_1502022179 (1)

    An effective and functional financial sector is essential in speeding up economic growth. However, the ability of Africa’s financial sector to perform this crucial role and boost its economic integration plans has been weakened by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outlined below are possible strategies on what needs to be done to ensure the finance industry thrives despite the current challenges, and will be able to influence and support national and regional economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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    Topics: Peacebuilding, Development and the New Economic Paradigm
  • The Crucial Role That Regional Actors Can Play in the 2023 Zimbabwe Election

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    By Alexander Mederos & Michael Bongani Reinders  // Tuesday, March 2, 2021

    Bulawayo,,Zimbabwe.,June,26th,2018.,Election,Billboards,Show,Zanu,Pf

    In 2023, Zimbabweans will head to the polls to vote in the general election for the president and both houses of parliament. Many civil society organizations within Zimbabwe fear that the relative peace achieved following the 2018 election is no longer attainable. There is no indication of any changes coming from President Mnangagwa or the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). So the onus to promote peace falls, somewhat, on regional actors who have historically turned a blind eye to issues within Zimbabwe. Stability in Zimbabwe is no longer a Zimbabwe issue. As insurgencies in Mozambique begin to threaten the region, an unstable Zimbabwe further weakens the security of the neighboring Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. To maintain stability, support democratization, and mitigate electoral violence, key regional actors, specifically South Africa and other SADC countries, have to take a stronger stance on Zimbabwe.

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    Topics: Governance and Emerging Global Challenges, Southern Africa
  • How Biden Saves the World: He Must Start by Returning a Favor

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    By Nii Akuetteh  // Friday, February 26, 2021

    11/09/2020,usa:president-elect,Joe,Biden,Delivers,Remarks,On,Covid-19,At,The,Queen

    My take is that U.S. President Joe Biden has hit the ground running. Still, this brief note comes bearing a modest suggestion for an even greater effort. Specifically, the world’s dangerous coronavirus pandemic offers President Biden a golden opportunity to rally and lead a worldwide initiative to bring the COVID-19 virus to its knees, globally and swiftly. Undoubtedly, this would be a difficult mission—complex, multi-faceted, multi-step, and of significant duration.

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    Topics: Governance and Emerging Global Challenges, U.S. - Africa Policy
  • BLM in Sudan: Addressing the Country’s Anti-Blackness

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    By Mustafa Abubakr  // Monday, February 22, 2021

    shutterstock_1749606074 (1)

    Anti-Blackness is not uniquely American, yet the solution to racism in the United States cannot neatly be transferred to countries in which white supremacy is not the root cause of their own anti-Blackness. This is not to say that white supremacy doesn’t have its tentacles around the whole world, but in most Western countries, the issue is white vs. Black. In other countries, beyond the focus of much dialogue, it’s Black vs. Blacker. Sudan, in particular, is a country in which everyone is Black in appearance, yet the racism many in the region face stems from a complicated history of Arab superiority, which I explored in detail in my last blog. Therefore, understanding how to combat racism in Sudan requires a re-examination of the way anti-Blackness is framed when it is discussed in the country.

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    Topics: Eastern Africa, Governance and Emerging Global Challenges, Human Security
  • Articles in Focus:

    The History Behind Sudan’s Identity Crisis

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    By Mustafa Abubakr  // Thursday, February 18, 2021

    Merowe,,Sudan,-,November,,19,,2017:,Potrait,Of,Unidentified,Young

    Growing up as a Black man in the United States, I am all too familiar with how racism shows up in our society today. From slavery and Jim Crow laws of the past to police brutality and mass incarceration in the present, American racism is well documented. However, a fact that tends to be overlooked is that anti-Blackness is a global phenomenon, present in many countries. One such country is Sudan. Though I’ve grown up in the United States, my family always made sure I was in touch with my relatives overseas, and I’ve grown to love the country my parents were born in. However, as I grew older and participated in discussions with other Sudanese, I began to recognize that Sudan has its own battles when it comes to prejudices, showing up in the form of mass internalized anti-Blackness. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement happening around me in the United States, I decided to explore the issues of colorism that have developed in Sudan over many generations.

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    Topics: Articles in Focus, Eastern Africa, Governance and Emerging Global Challenges
  • COVID-19 Adds to Challenges of Curbing Child Marriage

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    By Carol Guensburg  // Tuesday, February 9, 2021

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    This blog was originally posted on NewSecurityBeat, a blog of the Environmental Change and Security Program at the Wilson Center.

    When Mwanahamisi Abdallah’s mother announced plans to marry her off to a stranger, the 14-year-old Tanzanian girl burst into tears. She had no desire to marry—especially after learning the man already had three wives. Remembering advice from a teacher, she phoned authorities to intervene. They blocked the wedding and eventually delivered Mwanahamisi from her village in southeastern Lindi region to a girls’ shelter in Dar es Salaam.

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    Topics: Governance and Emerging Global Challenges, Human Security
  • Southern Voices:

    New Pan-African Trade Deal Can Transform the Continent’s Food Systems

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    By Sheryl Hendriks  // Friday, January 22, 2021

    shutterstock_1376964233.jpg blog

    The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on January 1, 2021 can be regarded as a turning point for African regional and international trade.

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    Topics: Peacebuilding, Development and the New Economic Paradigm, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Southern Voices
  • Southern Voices:

    A Safe Space in the Workplace: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

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    By Hleziwe Hara, Salim Mapila, Claire Jensen, Emma Heneine & Evelyn Kasambara  // Thursday, December 10, 2020

    shutterstock_1191172531.jpg blog

    A workplace without violence against women would look like a place where women feel safe, respected, and celebrated as individuals and professionals. It is a place where women do not have to tolerate inappropriate, sexual, or discriminatory remarks by others. Rather, women know that they can confidentially report and seek help if they ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable by a colleague or work partner. It is a place that will punish perpetrators. And a place where women are trusted and never blamed for any harm that comes their way.

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    Topics: Human Security, Southern Voices
  • Southern Voices:

    Refugee Women Leadership Against Gender-Based Violence

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    By Juliet Were  // Wednesday, December 9, 2020

    shutterstock_1071480665.jpg blog

    Armed conflict is one of the biggest challenges in Africa affecting democracy, development, and the attainment of gender equality. The African Union in 2013 committed to improve the continent and adopted its 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration, which laid out a strategic framework for Africa’s socio-economic transformation over the next 50 years dubbed “Agenda 2063.” At the center of Agenda 2063 was the aspiration for attaining a peaceful and secure Africa through a flagship campaign, “Silencing the Guns,” the goal of which was to end all wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, and genocidal acts on the continent by 2020.

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    Topics: Eastern Africa, Human Security, Southern Voices
  • Southern Voices:

    An Opportunity for South Africa to Address Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace

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    By Thandi van Heyningen  // Tuesday, December 8, 2020

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    Gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa is a highly prevalent, complex problem affecting not only the individuals involved but also their children and families. GBV and family violence, which includes intimate partner violence (IPV) and violence against children, are intersecting problems.[1] Women and children who live in poverty and adversity are the most vulnerable, facing multiple contextual factors that both increase their risk of experiencing violence and reinforce their marginalized status.[2],[3] These individuals also face the greatest barriers and constraints to accessing support, and are the most disempowered and disenfranchised members of society. In a novel approach to addressing this problem, the Institute for Security Studies’ Justice and Violence Prevention Programme is engaging the private sector to develop a family violence prevention intervention for the workplace.

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    Topics: Human Security, Southern Africa, Southern Voices
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