Africa Up Close

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at a discussion at Chatham House, February 26, 2015. Photo by Chatham House. Creative Commons via Flickr.

Inclusive Governance and Leadership

Nigeria’s President Buhari: Ex-Officer Stole Billions in Arms Deals
Christian Science Monitor – November 18

President Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign is setting head’s rolling, as he orders the arrest of his predecessor’s national security advisor for defrauding the state of billions of dollars meant for the fight against Boko Haram. Soldiers in the army of Africa’s largest country regularly found themselves under-equipped and outgunned in firefights with Boko Haram, thanks in part to rampant graft.

Elections Mean Little When People Trust Armed Groups More Than Peacekeepers or the State
Africa at LSE blog – November 17

Refugees from the fighting in the Central Africa Republic see little hope in elections, given the horrific toll of the violence so far. Indeed, when armed groups offer more protection than the state does, it’s hard to imagine trusting an election to bring peace.

Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding

Can We Compare the Recent Terrorist Attacks in Paris and Bamako?
Washington Post – November 22

To what extent should the attacks in Bamako be seen as a purely local tragedy, rooted in the country’s peace talks and fragmented security situation, or as part of a broader pattern of Islamic terrorism on Western targets (in this case, Bamako’s fanciest hotel, frequented by international officials and business people)? Ultimately it’s difficult to say.

Band of Conflict: What Role Do Demographics, Climate Change, and Natural Resources Play in the Sahel?
New Security Beat – April 29, 2013

In light of the Mali attack, it’s worth revisiting New Security Beat’s comprehensive take on the role of climate change, desertification, and demographic pressure on the conflict in Mali. While the immediate fighting has mostly been tamped down, these more fundamental environmental factors remain unresolved and will continue to drive tensions.

Trade, Investment, and Sustainable Development

Zimbabwe to Tax Hundreds of Thousands of Black Farmers
AFP – November 16

Mugabe’s economically-strapped regime has passed regulations ordering many of the beneficiaries of the country’s controversial land reforms to pay rent and a development fee.

Rising Seas Ruining Lives in Togo
IRIN News – November 13

Togo is losing 6-10 meters of coastal land a year to erosion and rising sea levels. This environmental change is impeding local fishing and destroying homes, impoverishing many communities living along what used to be the coast.

Africa’s Strategic Role in the Global Arena

Rippling Around the Globe: The Effect of the Paris Attacks on U.S.-Africa Relations
Wilson Center – November 19

Dr. Monde Muyangwa addresses the fallout from the ISIS attacks on Paris for U.S.-Africa relations. Combating ISIS requires addressing the root cause of insecurity: bad governance. Further, the U.S. must take African terrorism seriously, treating it as important when it happens, and seeking to understand the varied networks of ISIS-affiliated and independent terrorist groups.

International Panel Calls for Overhaul of WHO Following Ebola Crisis
Stat News – November 22

A major panel of international experts released a report critical of the World Health Organization’s handling of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, and called for the international organization to refocus on emergency response.