The pan-African magazine of choice since 2009
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a key figure in the U.S. civil-rights movement and the first African American to be a significant contender for the presidency, passed away on February 17. He was a key figure in the civil rights movement in the United States. “A part of our life’s work was to tear down walls …
After eight years out of office, President John Mahama, often called by his initials JM, achieved significant success in the first year of his second term. His government decreased the rate of inflation, reversed the nosedive in the cedi’s value, and stabilized the economy. This year, he intends to build on those successes, to make …
Ghana: Exclusive interview with President Mahama Read More »
Much of the international community, particularly countries in Africa and the Middle East, has criticized Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, as an independent nation. Some express concerns that this decision may exacerbate instability in Somalia, which is already facing significant challenges, and argue that it contradicts global standards of respecting countries’ …
Rwanda has become the prominent military force in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, providing support to the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo and assisting the Central African Republic in fighting insurgents. However, despite its well-structured military and reputation as a stable nation, this has not resulted in an effective peace …
Rising oil prices due to the conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran are a concern for inflation across Africa. The conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for one-fifth of the world’s oil. Some oil producers, like Angola and Libya, may benefit from the high prices, but this advantage could …
Tensions are rising between Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. Sonko, who was much more prominent, selected the relatively unknown Faye as their Patriots of Senegal (PASTEF) party’s candidate in the 2024 presidential election because he himself was barred from running. Faye subsequently appointed Sonko as prime minister. Since November, indications …
Senegal: Faye, Sonko in an intense power struggle Read More »
Julius Neequaye Kotey has headed Ghana’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority for a little over one year, but has already made a significant impact, digitizing the vehicle licensing system. Kotey says he envisions “a DVLA where everything is digitized.” He tells Africawatch he believes that will “improve efficiency, curb avoidable infractions, reduce revenue leakages, and …
If American star Megan Rapinoe’s short pink hair was the lasting image of the 2019 Women’s World Cup, Nigerian Rasheedat Ajibade’s close-cropped blue might be an omen of the future. The 23-year-old forward has already played in two World Cups and on the teams that won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2018 and …
Africa’s economies have been battered by external shocks over the past three years, and several countries are in debt trouble. That gives governments a dilemma: Austerity measures can help attract foreign investment that improves the economy, but at the price of raising the cost of living and provoking popular backlash. Menzi Ndhlovu and Ronak Gopaldas …
Last year, thousands of Russian prison inmates were offered pardons if they served for six months in the war against Ukraine, fighting in the Wagner Group’s mercenary army. Three of those who did were Africans, from Tanzania, Zambia, and Cote d’Ivoire, who’d migrated to Russia and run afoul of its harsh drug laws. Two of …
The tales of 3 Africans who fought with Russia’s Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine Read More »