Africa Up Close

Thousands of people packed Uhura Stadium to be present at President Magufuli’s inauguration.
Photo by GCIS South Africa, via Flickr. Creative Commons.

Inclusive Governance and Leadership

#WhatWouldMagufuliDo Sparks New Bout of Tanzaphilia
Arican Arguments Nov 30

Tanzania has long captivated Westerners and other East Africans eager for a success story, going back to the era of Nyere’s dynamic socialism. Newly-elected president John Magufuli’s bold promises and symbolic decision to cancel lavish independence day spending has reignited a new bout of Tanzaphilia for many, particularly Kenyans fed-up with their own politicians next door.

The False Allure of Authoritarian Modernization
Africa Up Close Nov 24

Rwanda and Ethiopia have been frequently held up in academic literature and the popular press as a model of African authoritarian development, in the mold of Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore. SVN Scholar Isaac Debrah questions the appeal of this model, given the stated desire of African citizens from across the continent for political freedom and democracy, in addition to economic growth.

Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding

This Is What Citizens Say Is Needed to End Mali’s Insecurity
Washington Post Nov 27

Three political scientists carried out focus groups and surveys of those internally displaced by Mali’s violence. The plurality of respondents emphasized governance and corruption, first and foremost, as the country’s most important issue, rather than the immediate security threat that drove them from their homes.

Burundi Must Avoid Repeating the Mistakes of Arusha
African Arguments Nov 25

The Arusha Accords’ failure to enforce sustainable peace, in addition to just a cessation of violence, has come back to haunt Burundi. If Nkurunziza is finally dragged to the negotiating table, the successes and failures of Arusha in enforcing peace, justice, and a resolution to underlying causes, must be considered.

Trade, Investment, and Sustainable Development

As Pope Francis Calls for Compassion Toward the Poor in Africa, What Are African Churches Doing?
Washington Post Nov 28

Pope Francis finishes his tour of East and Central Africa with a visit to the Central African Republic today. His visit has reflected the broader themes of his papacy with an emphasis on redistribution and compassion for the needs of the poor. The Pentecostal and charismatic churches that are growing quickly across the continent, though, tend to avoid getting involved in social welfare spending at all.

The Latest Report From UNAIDS Shows Great Progress Against the Disease
The Economist Nov 24

Deaths from AIDS have fallen rapidly in the developed world thanks to expensive antiretroviral drugs, and a similar pattern is, slightly belatedly, happening in many developing countries. The global AIDS death rate is down 40% from its peak of 2m in 2005, but more remains to be done. UNAIDS has set ambitious goals to ‘end the epidemic’ which will take several more decades of sustained funding and effort.

Africa’s Strategic Role in the Global Arena

China Retools Its Military With a First Overseas Outpost in Djibouti
New York Times Nov 26

China announced that its first overseas military outpost, part of its larger military retooling, will be in Djibouti, joining major French and American bases in the tiny country. This represents a shift towards a blue water navy and an emphasis on power projection outside China’s neighborhood that the country had shied away from. Given China’s economic interests in Africa and the Middle East, this move makes sense.

Darkness in the Arab Spring’s Brightest Spot
Defense One Nov 25

Tunisia suffered another major terrorist attack, at least the third this year in what is the one bright spot