Thijs Van Laer, Author at African Arguments

Author: Thijs Van Laer

Thijs Van Laer is Programme Manager, Causes and Resolution of Exile, at International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI).

Economy Editor's Picks Mauritius

China in Mauritius: Gateway to Africa or forgotten friend?

China and Mauritius will reassert their friendship again at FOCAC, but is it just a matter of time before Beijing outgrows its tiny partner? When the Mauritian and Chinese leaders ...
Editor's Picks Politics Uganda

Generation gap: What #FreeBobiWine tells us about Ugandan politics

Uganda’s old guard fear the new and they don’t know what to do. Today, Ugandan MP Robert Kyagulanyi – better known as musician Bobi Wine – appeared before the General Court ...
Culture Editor's Picks Nigeria

Here, queer, and speaking up: LGBTQ Nigerians tell their stories

In one of the world’s most homophobic countries, a new generation of writers are writing queer people into existence. On Nigeria’s streets, on the pages of its newspapers, and on ...
Editor's Picks Politics Zimbabwe

Were Zimbabwe’s elections free, fair and credible? The final scoresheet.

Before the elections, we identified six make or break conditions that would determine the credibility of the vote. How many were met? This week, Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court will rule on ...
Burundi Editor's Picks Society Tanzania

“There is pressure on us”: Burundian refugees in Tanzania pushed to return

With words and actions, the Tanzanian is pressuring Burundian refugees to go home, putting them at greater risk of abuses. Over the last few months, the Burundian government has continued ...