Debating Ideas
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Presidential Elections in the Republic of Congo
On 15 March, the Republic of Congo staged its fifth presidential election since Denis Sassou Nguesso reclaimed power after the 1997 civil war. Few ... -
A New Era of Austerity? On Listening to African Scholars
African Affairs, the journal of the Royal African Society that sponsors this blog, has recently published an article on the legacy of the Covid-19 ... -
The UK’s ‘Emergency Brake’ on Sudanese Students is a Cynical Act of Collective Punishment
The UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently announced an “emergency brake” on sponsored study visas for nationals from Sudan, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Myanmar. Presented ... -
Ethiopia’s Smaller Wars: Destitution, Conflict Escalation, and Military Abuses in Lower Omo
With war looming in the north of the country, Ethiopia threatens to make headlines again, as it has in recent years due to the ... -
The Ides of Congo: Willy Ngoma’s Death and a Republic at Risk
The death of Willy Ngoma — affectionately known within the AFC/M23 coalition as “Mr Quickly, Quickly” — marks more than the loss of a ... -
The Hollowing of Sovereignty: Nigeria’s Trilemma and the Retreat of the State
In early February, an insurgent group attacked communities in Kwara, North Central Nigeria, killing over a hundred people. President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack, ... -
Have Election Crackdowns Become the Norm? Domestic and Cross-Border Repression in East Africa
Human rights abuses marred the presidential elections in Uganda in January 2026 and the contested polls in Tanzania in October 2025. As neighbouring Kenya ... -
Lesotho’s Anti-Corruption Paradox: Empowered but Undermined
Over the past decade, Lesotho’s political landscape has been marked by repeated leadership turnover and fragile coalition governments, which have steadily eroded public trust. ... -
A Mirage of Extraversion: The Political Cost of Nigeria’s Lobbying Deal
The Nigerian government has recently engaged the services of a Washington-based lobbying firm to promote its efforts at protecting the lives of Nigerians against ... -
Youths in Zimbabwe Are Not Rejecting Politics – They Are Reshaping it
Youth political participation in Zimbabwe is often described in familiar terms: party membership, mobilisation through rallies, and the manipulation of unemployed young people into ...
