This week, leaders including David Cameron, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi will meet at a conference in London to attempt a step-change in the international community’s approach to Somalia. Central to the conference is

Read the rest of Piracy is as likely to be solved in London as Somalia – By David Leonard »

‘It is widely believed that urbanisation is occurring faster in sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else in the world, as migrants move from rural to urban settlements. This is a fallacy.’ – Dr Debbie Potts, Whatever Happened to Africa’s Rapid Urbanisation?

Read the rest of Diary: Whatever happened to Africa’s rapid urbanisation? – By Magnus Taylor »

Africa – except as an immigration issue – is unlikely to feature prominently in the forthcoming French Presidential election.  But the continent remains a vital part of French politics. From independence Africa was the buttress for France’s claim to be

Read the rest of Escaping Africa: a new dawn for French policy? – By Richard Dowden »

Abdirashid Duale is CEO of Dahabshiil and a proud Somalilander. Dahabshiil is one of the biggest international money transfer companies in the Horn of Africa and I caught up with him between trips (his, not mine) between London, Hargeisa (the

Read the rest of Making money in Somaliland: meeting Abdirashid Duale, CEO, Dahabshiil – By Magnus Taylor »

It is now nine years since Jonas Savimbi was killed by Angolan government troops, but the UNITA movement he founded and led is still struggling to find its feet and to develop a clear identity and political role.  Although it

Read the rest of Angola: Is UNITA sinking after Chivukuvuku jumps ship? – By Keith Somerville »

Last week the United Nations announced that famine conditions in Somalia had eased, thanks to a good harvest and strong response from the humanitarian community. It warned, however, that failure to continue to respond could have dire consequences and urged

Read the rest of A Tale of Two Food Crises: How to Respond, not Whether to Respond – By Laura Hammond »

The return of Nuhu Ribadu to the political theatre in Abuja as Chair of the newly constituted Task Force on Petroleum Revenue perhaps does just enough to finally tip the balance of forces in favour of the progressive, for the

Read the rest of Nigeria: Ribadu’s return is good news, but Jonathan must take on the State Governors – By Jeremy Weate »

The upcoming London Conference on Somalia, and the UK’s urging of theSomaliland Government to attend, has understandably generated a lot of debate and comment within the Somaliland community, both within and outside the country. One of the stated objectives of

Read the rest of Somaliland and the ‘London Conference’: Silanyo must challenge denial of Somaliland’s rights – By Ahmed M.I. Egal »

When Jacob Zuma ascended to the presidency of the African National Congress (ANC), many remained unconvinced that he would be a suitable President for Africa’s most developed economy. Two key problems were frequently identified. One was that, having come to

Read the rest of South Africa: Zuma’s corruption charges linger on the road to re-election – By Paul Holden »

The Senegalese people are extremely disillusioned. In 2000, they enthusiastically went to the polls to elect Abdoulaye Wade as their president. Wade had campaigned as an agent of change, but change never came to Senegal throughout his decade in power.

Read the rest of Senegal’s day of reckoning: it’s the economy stupid! – By Sanou Mbaye »