Monthly Archives: September 2015
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Hot air or real hope? The radical potential of the SDGs
Putting aside the goals and targets, the wider politics of the Sustainable Development Goals might just about create some space for genuine transformation. Later this week, heads ... -
Women’s rights violations don’t need to kill or maim to still be violations
Uganda’s recent court ruling over bride price is another indication that the country is not yet ready to allow women their full rights. Forget the obscure ... -
Popular resistance to the Burkina Faso coup: who, where and what next?
As in October 2014, huge numbers of Burkinabé have taken to the streets. But this time round, it may be mobilisations in secondary towns that are ... -
How Boko Haram keeps its secrets secret
Three ways one of the world’s most notorious militant groups manages to remain one of the least understood. Boko Haram is probably the best-known unknown insurgency ... -
Burkina Faso: The Old Guard vs. The People, Round 2
Less than a year after Blaise Compaoré was removed by a popular uprising, his allies have regained power through an unpopular coup. In late October 2014, ... -
All the exiled people – where do they all belong?
European countries are wrangling over how many (or few) refugees they take in. But how do refugee numbers compare across the world and in Africa? To try ... -
Too many dreams deferred: Nigeria needs to overhaul its education system
Nigeria’s exam-based education system is failing its students. Buhari needs to make reform of it a priority. A few days ago, I read Langston Hughes’ poem ... -
The Mujuru manifesto: What will it take to unseat Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF?
Joice Mujuru’s ‘manifesto’ is only subtly different to other parties’ policies. The real battle for power in 2018 will entail making elite alliances and attracting key constituencies. Zimbabwe’s 2018 election ... -
Is the DA’s first black leader a South African saviour or sell-out?
The young and charismatic Mmusi Maimane can help the Democratic Alliance surpass 30% in elections. But he will need to engage more with poor voters to ... -
South Sudan: Why a political crackdown accompanies a peace agreement
President Salva Kiir is not a good leader, but bad international policies can compel him to become a worse one. It’s no coincidence that South Sudan’s ...