Africa Up Close

Nigeria is widely, and perhaps rightly, perceived as a conflict-prone country. In recent times, ongoing violent conflicts centered around the Boko Haram insurgency and farmer/herder tensions have dominated peacebuilding conversations. Even more recently, Nigeria has experienced the EndSARS protest and the civil disturbances that have followed. This latest conflict could nonetheless yield important lessons on crisis mismanagement, especially along the trajectory between peace and violence.

Ethiopia is battling with the multi-dimensional effects of COVID-19 amidst a fragile political transition that began in March 2018. Like many African states, Ethiopia’s healthcare system is quite poor despite improvements in recent decades. The country was not by any means ready and able to tackle COVID-19 by itself when the pandemic broke out across the world. So far in Ethiopia, more than a thousand people have died of the 65,000-plus who have been infected with the virus. However, without the government’s vigorous diplomatic efforts, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia would be far higher. Ethiopia is not the only beneficiary of its COVID diplomacy, which has made a small but significant contribution to the overall fight against the spread of the virus in Africa.

President Nana Akufo-Addo surprised many Ghanaians when he announced on April 19 an end to the three-week partial lockdown imposed on the cities of Accra and Kumasi. At the time of his televised evening address—his seventh since the first two cases of COVID-19 were registered in Ghana on March 12—1,042 cases had been confirmed, with nine deaths from the disease. Hence the panic and concern that cases would skyrocket with a return to full business activity the next day, April 20. Schools were to remain shuttered, while the ban on public gatherings remained in effect.

Libya Citizens along the Libyan-Tunisian border. Photo courtesy of the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Department via Flickr Commons.

World leaders met in Berlin on January 20 to enforce an arms embargo and ceasefire to end the long-running civil war in Libya. A little over two months later, the fighting restarted and intensified as the world’s attention turned to the global fight against coronavirus. In Libya, the Government of National Accord (GNA) announced emergency measures and restrictions in recent weeks, urging citizens to self-isolate to stop the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, residents in Tripoli described the resumption of Khalifa Hafter’s self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) offensive on Tripoli and resulting fear as the “worst since 2011,” with the attackers shelling homes, killing six civilians, and injuring six more.

The 2019 State of the Nation Address in Cape Town. Photo courtesy of the Government of South Africa via Flickr Commons. 

South Africans went to the polls on May 8, 2019, for the sixth National and Provincial elections since 1994. The outcome offers an insight into the continued evolution of the 25-year-old democracy. A victory for the governing African National Congress (ANC) was never in doubt. The question was the margin of the victory in light of the party’s shortcomings over the past decade, notably maladministration and corruption as uncovered in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into State Capture; and the tragedies of the Life Healthcare Esidimeni patients, and Marikana mine protest. In addition, entrenched inequality remains a challenge. The 2018 World Bank report on Overcoming Poverty and Inequality in South Africa (compiled with the Government of South Africa), highlights that while progress has been made since 1994, inequality, poverty, and high unemployment persist, with South Africa being one of the most unequal countries in the world. The inequality remains highly racialized. In the robust campaigning that characterized the elections, opposition parties made sure to highlight these issues and others in vying for an increased share of the votes. With the dust settled, the following four issues are worth highlighting.

Minibuses and cars pause on the road into Bujumbura, Burundi, in more peaceful times. Photo by Dave Proffer, via Flickr. Creative Commons.

Inclusive Governance and Leadership

Burkina Faso Coup Leader Charged Over Sankara Murder
Al-Jazeera – December 7

Burkina Faso’s civilian government, which carried out the country’s first free elections in decades, has charged General Diendere, the military leader behind September’s failed coup, in connection with the murder of Thomas Sankara. The general, who was a close supporter of longtime leader Blaise Compaoré, was linked in the death of legendary socialist hero Sankara before the coup, but these links are much more concrete.

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.

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.

Inclusive Governance and Leadership

Are Ghanaians Fed-up with Democracy?
Wilson Center NOW (video) November 5

Southern Voices Network Scholar Isaac Debrah discusses his research on dissatisfaction with democracy in Ghana with the Wilson Center’s John Milewski (video is above).

Zanzibar’s picturesque, well-touristed exterior has contentious, tumultuous politics underneath. Photo by George Pauwels, via Flickr. Creative Commons

Inclusive Governance and Leadership

In Zanzibar, Democracy, Peace, and Unity Are at Stake after Annulled Elections
Washington Post Nov 1

In contrast to the rest of Tanzania’s smoothly executed elections, semi-autonomous Zanzibar’s elections were annulled in a controversial call by the ruling CCM. The opposition claims it was on the verge of winning, and this decision is a way of stealing the election. Talks to find a political solution to the crisis take place on the backdrop of Zanzibar’s thorny history with the mainland, and its citizens increasing desire for autonomy or even independence.