African Arguments
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Whatever happened to Afwerki’s comely face? Eritrean music in an age of YouTube
Musicians in Eritrea used to have to sing the government’s praises to pass the censors. Now there are other ways to get heard. In ... -
What do former child soldiers really need?
Too often, initiatives aimed at helping returning child soldiers fail to listen to what the boys and girls say they want and need to ... -
Togo protests: Will the planned talks go anywhere?
Protesters are demanding President Faure Gnassingbé leave power. The ruling party and army are adamant he stays. For Togolese protesters, the 1 February announcement that ... -
Kenyatta’s grand plan to silence Kenya’s free press
Since coming to power, Kenyatta has tried to control the media through co-optation or force. The shut down of TV stations is his latest ... -
Smuggling in fuel to fill demand in one of Africa’s biggest oil-producers
Ndian, the division responsible for 90% of Cameroon’s enormous oil output, does not have a single filling station. Driving the 13 km from Bambui ... -
Liberia: The best thing George Weah can do with his new powers is give some away
President Weah has promised to decentralise power, but the temptation to delay or renege on this commitment now he’s in office will be great. ... -
When facts cease to matter: The polarised world of Rwanda research
Reydams’ controversial article attacking a small NGO was full of factual errors and leaps of logic. Sadly, such scholarship is not rare in this ... -
“We’re here to stay”: Vigilante policing spreading across Burkina Faso
In the absence of the state, local armed units have emerged to enforce law and order. They have been welcomed by many, but not ... -
Africa’s 2018 elections: The good, the bad and the possibly not-at-all
Elections are just one aspect of democratic governance, but their conduct gives an indication of how likely countries are to face uprising or unrest. ... -
Will the Stability Doctrine in Africa destabilise the world?
Amidst rising discontent, foreign governments are increasingly asserting the importance of “stability”. But for whom? To what end? For how long? In 2017, the ...
