Politics – Views & Research – The Conversation

A man speaking at a podium with several flags lined up on a desk in the foreground

A man speaking at a podium with several flags lined up on a desk in the foreground

East African Community’s expansion has triggered financial troubles: why solutions come with risks

Nicodemus Minde, United States International University

Political violence in South Africa is driven by a power elite trying to establish dominance – new research

Ivor Chipkin, University of Pretoria and Jelena Vidojević, University of Pretoria

Group of people outdoors, some with arms raised, apparently singing or calling out

Group of people outdoors, some with arms raised, apparently singing or calling out

Congo-Brazzaville election: boycotts, blackouts and growing dissent but Denis Sassou Nguesso held on to power

Ngodi Etanislas, Université Marien Ngouabi

Elevated above a crowd, an elder African man in sunglasses holds out an arm and points as he smiles, in the distance a cameraman on a raised platform.

Elevated above a crowd, an elder African man in sunglasses holds out an arm and points as he smiles, in the distance a cameraman on a raised platform.

A queue of people outdoors, with those at the head of the queue putting papers into boxes that are placed on chairs

A queue of people outdoors, with those at the head of the queue putting papers into boxes that are placed on chairs

Nigeria’s new election law leaves gaps: 5 reforms for free, fair and credible polls

Emmanuel Remi Aiyede, University of Ibadan

Two men looking at the camera while shaking hands and standing in front of blue and red flags

Two men looking at the camera while shaking hands and standing in front of blue and red flags

China’s military support for Somalia is on the rise – what Taiwan and Somaliland have to do with it

Brendon J. Cannon, Khalifa University

Mozambique relies on Rwanda’s troops to fight terrorism: what happens if they leave?

Kaitlyn Rabe, The Ohio State University

An arm in the foreground of a man dressed in military fatigues with the map of Rwanda on the sleeve, and holding a gun

An arm in the foreground of a man dressed in military fatigues with the map of Rwanda on the sleeve, and holding a gun

Nelson Mandela was a towering global symbol – but how effective was he as a president?

Anthony Michael Butler, University of Cape Town

Black and white photo of an elderly man, head and shoulders

Black and white photo of an elderly man, head and shoulders

Djibouti votes: ageing president set to extend his rule after changing constitution

Federico Donelli, University of Trieste

Man in suit and tie, speaking to a microphone

Man in suit and tie, speaking to a microphone

Bobi Wine’s decision to flee Uganda points to a shrinking landscape for opposition politics

Kristof Titeca, University of Antwerp

A man wearing a bulletproof vest standing from the sunroof of a vehicle and waving to a crowd of people, some of whom are waving flags.

A man wearing a bulletproof vest standing from the sunroof of a vehicle and waving to a crowd of people, some of whom are waving flags.

Zimbabwe’s push to extend the president’s rule could deepen elite divisions and weaken democracy

David B. Moore, University of Johannesburg

A man wearing a suit and scarf walking ahead of a crowd of people who include armed men

A man wearing a suit and scarf walking ahead of a crowd of people who include armed men

Kenya’s counties get budgets to undo inequality – how it’s helped households

Frederick Kibon Changwony, University of Stirling

Man dressed in a suit with a gold mace around his neck holding up a document while other people around him smile

Man dressed in a suit with a gold mace around his neck holding up a document while other people around him smile

Brutal Mau Mau camps in Kenya were an extension of Britain’s colonial prison system – historian traces their roots

Ian Caistor-Parker, University of Warwick

Men huddled on the ground while two others stand towering over them.

Men huddled on the ground while two others stand towering over them.

Iran war could add to Nigeria’s security troubles. What to watch out for

Al Chukwuma Okoli, Federal University Lafia

People with red clothing and red flags, gathered in a crowd outdoors

People with red clothing and red flags, gathered in a crowd outdoors

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In the news

Two armed men standing on a raised platform and looking out into a large body of water.

Two armed men standing on a raised platform and looking out into a large body of water.

Global power shifts are playing out in the Red Sea region: why this is where the rules are changing

Federico Donelli, University of Trieste

What is Françafrique? The taboo word that reveals the shifting influence of France in Africa

Christophe Premat, Stockholm University

An African man and a European man raise their arms in the air surrounded by a jubilant crowd of African men, mostly in suits.

An African man and a European man raise their arms in the air surrounded by a jubilant crowd of African men, mostly in suits.

Why the Chagos Islands deal is delayed – and Mauritius is threatening to sue the UK

Sue Farran, Newcastle University and Colin Murray, Newcastle University

View of Diego Garcia from space

View of Diego Garcia from space

Paul Biya’s life presidency in Cameroon enters a fragile final phase

David E Kiwuwa, University of Nottingham

A woman casting her ballot while a man in blue suit looks

A woman casting her ballot while a man in blue suit looks

The US-Israel ceasefire with Iran presses pause on a costly war, but can peace last?

Amin Saikal, Australian National University; The University of Western Australia; Victoria University

A crowd of people chanting and waving Iranian flags

A crowd of people chanting and waving Iranian flags

Peace + Security

South Africans have lost trust in the police, in parliament and in political parties - what that means

Amanda Gouws, Stellenbosch University and Joseph Ayodele Kupolusi, Federal University of Technology, Akure

People in blue uniforms standing next to marked police vehicles

People in blue uniforms standing next to marked police vehicles

Is Kenya’s president safe in a crowd? Security expert scans VIP protection checklist

Douglas Lucas Kivoi, The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA)

A man standing from the roof of a car speaking into a microphone while surrounded by people.

A man standing from the roof of a car speaking into a microphone while surrounded by people.

Ethiopia’s national dialogue was meant to heal the nation, but divisions are deepening

Dereje Melese Liyew, Debre Markos University,

A man standing at a podium and smiling while a woman claps behind him

A man standing at a podium and smiling while a woman claps behind him

Warships as diplomats: how the South African Navy is tasked with building ties with other nations

André Wessels, University of the Free State

A large ship surrounded by four smaller boats in the middle of a vast body of water with a mountain in the background.

A large ship surrounded by four smaller boats in the middle of a vast body of water with a mountain in the background.

Elections + Governance

How reforms under Patrice Talon have reshaped the electoral competition in Benin

Narcisse Martial Yèdji, University d'Abomey-Calavi de Bénin

Djibouti votes: ageing president set to extend his rule after changing constitution

Federico Donelli, University of Trieste

Man in suit and tie, speaking to a microphone

Man in suit and tie, speaking to a microphone

Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré is making waves in west Africa. Who is he?

Daniel Eizenga, Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Man in red beret and military uniform, pictured amid other men in military uniforms

Man in red beret and military uniform, pictured amid other men in military uniforms

South Sudan has never had an election to hand over presidential power: so what are the rules of succession?

Jan Pospisil

A man in suit and tie, wearing a cowboy hat, walking towards the camera

A man in suit and tie, wearing a cowboy hat, walking towards the camera

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Migration

People wearing lifejackets crowded onto an inflatable boat

People wearing lifejackets crowded onto an inflatable boat

African migration: 5 trends and what’s driving them

Kevin J.A. Thomas, Rice University

Around the world, migrants are being deported at alarming rates – how did this become normalised?

Andonea Jon Dickson, University of Edinburgh; Cetta Mainwaring, University of Edinburgh, and Thom Tyerman, University of Edinburgh

AI-driven border surveillance is spreading across west Africa. What this means for migrants’ rights

Philippa Osim Inyang, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs

Security cameras

Security cameras

250,000 Ethiopians migrate every year: what drives them and what needs to change

Girmachew Adugna, Addis Ababa University

A passport with a red cover and another document with an image of a tree

A passport with a red cover and another document with an image of a tree

The Mediterranean: Both a graveyard and a bottomless money pit due to EU border policies

Luna Vives, Université de Montréal

A white boat tows a larger blue boat.

A white boat tows a larger blue boat.

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