AfricaSource

Sudan’s prime minister comes to Washington

Thus far, the prime minister has done a poor job of managing the outsized expectations of his people to be out from under Washington’s punitive regime. Many will surely be disappointed when and if he returns home without one of these large deliverables, but Hamdok need not leave Washington empty-handed.

Ahead of elections, Mozambique grapples with violent insurgency

By James Rogers

Whichever way the government proceeds, it seems unlikely that a long-term solution to the ASWJ insurgency will be feasible without a concerted effort to simultaneously address the poverty and economic conditions underlying the insurgency in the first place.

Oui, le sport peut être un puissant levier de développement en Afrique

By Rama Yade

English Synopsis: Last month’s African Cup of Nations has generated global enthusiasm and an outpouring of African patriotism, and other important sporting events are taking place on the continent, from South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to Senegal’s hosting of the 2022 Summer Youth Olympics. Next year, the prestigious American National Basketball […]

Demystifying Malawi’s ‘Tipp-Ex election’

By Luke Tyburski

The use of white-out on results sheets in Malawi’s May election has brought international media attention to the small southern African country, leading some to dub the polls Malawi’s ‘Tipp-Ex election’ after the popular white-out brand.

How should the US approach LGBT rights in Africa?

By Stephanie Mithika

The framing of LGBT rights as a form of neocolonialism has proven an effective tool for local politicians and religious leaders who wish to prevent progress on the issue – and who often form alliances with foreign religious groups and governments in the process.

Reviewing Mauritania’s historic election

By Luke Tyburski

Mauritania’s June 22 presidential election marked the country’s first democratic transfer of power since independence. The ruling party’s Mohamed Ould Ghazouani won with 52 percent of the vote, and his closest challenger, Biram Dah Abeid, received 18 percent. But the election was less of a landslide than the vote totals imply.

Sudan’s power-sharing deal: An exercise in optimism

By Cameron Hudson

Until there is greater clarity on how the Sovereign Council will function, how it will relate to the prime minister and his Council of Ministers, and what the duties, responsibilities, and authorities of the Legislative Council will be, the agreement will remain little more than words on a page.

Mauritania election primer

By Luke Tyburski

Mauritania’s presidential election on June 22 stands to mark the country’s first democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960. This comes as Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who assumed control in a 2008 coup d’état, has agreed to step down, abiding by term limits. Aziz’s ruling Union for the Republic (UPR) party maintains […]

Three key issues dominating Nigeria’s election

By R. Maxwell Bone

The outcome of this election hinges on the level of voter dissatisfaction with the status quo, and on whether Nigerian voters believe that Atiku will do better.

Bolton’s risky bet in the Sahel

By Matthieu Fernandez

In December, when US National Security Advisor John Bolton previewed the Trump Administration’s security strategy for Africa, he focused more on the rising financial and political influence of China and Russia than on US plans to fight the “proliferation of Radical Islamic Terrorism” across Africa.