Historical causes, individual choices For six years, Michela Wrong covered Africa as a journalist and wrote three books on DR Congo, Kenya and Eritrea. Ivan Rugambwa spoke to her on the sidelines of the recent Writivism Festival in Kampala. Firstly, what are your impressions of the continent over the decade …
Read More »DRC warlord Ntaganda on 7th day of hunger strike at ICC
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | Congolese former rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda on Wednesday again refused to attend his war crimes trial on the seventh day of a hunger strike which is posing a legal dilemma for international judges. Ntaganda is protesting his treatment in detention and has said …
Read More »The dilemma Africa faces
THE LAST WORD: Andrew Mwenda The postcolonial state needs to transform not replicate existing social arrangements Lately, I have been thinking about the postcolonial state inAfrica, and this column reflects these growing thoughts. Why do our states and their political leaders fail to do the things we expect of …
Read More »Web TV aims to boost youth interest in African farming
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | AFP | With the logo of his internet TV station on his black T-shirt, Inoussa Maiga energetically plucks corn stalks in northern Burkina Faso for a programme on farming in Africa. Maiga, 30, launched Agribusiness TV in May in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou, determined to change …
Read More »Africa Cup of Nations winners and losers
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Guinea-Bissau winning a group in which they were expected to finish last was the biggest shock of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying competition that ended at the weekend. The tiny Portuguese-speaking west African country reached the finals for the first time at …
Read More »Museveni confident Africa is ready to push global economy
Museveni: Africa is the next big centre for economic growth. Africa needs value addition to agriculture, minerals, human resource President Museveni has told the Global African Investment Summit that he is confident that the continent is the next pusher for the global economy. He said bottlenecks that exist are being handled to ensure a better environment …
Read More »Work goes on after Gabon’s Ping calls for strike to ‘topple tyrant’ president
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon’s failed presidential candidate Jean Ping on Monday called for a general strike after days of violence following incumbent Ali Bongo’s disputed re-election, saying an economic blockage would “topple the tyrant.” But the centre of the capital Libreville was its usual bustling self on Monday, …
Read More »Drama as Africa Cup finals line-up completed
List of qualifiers for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon: Tunisia (Group A winners) Democratic Republic of Congo (Group B winners) Mali (Group C winners) Burkina Faso (Group D winners) Guinea-Bissau (Group E winners) Morocco (Group F winners) Egypt (Group G winners) Ghana (Group H winners) Ivory Coast …
Read More »Crisis of Africa’s postcolonial state
Danger of expecting leaders of poor African countries to govern like the rich Imagine a romantic relationship between a poor young guy and a demanding girlfriend. They live in a community with former school and classmates all of whom are rich kids living in posh neighborhoods, driving fancy cars, wearing …
Read More »Electoral fraud in Africa getting trickier
Dakar, Senegal | AFP | As Gabon is rocked by violence following the contested re-election of President Ali Bongo, experts says electoral fraud in Africa is becoming harder, thanks to civil society vigilance and spread of mobile technology. Opposition leader Jean Ping on Friday declared himself the rightful president of …
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