Ethiopia is at a critical political juncture, analysts say, after the snap resignation of the country’s prime minister. Some describe it as a “transformational moment”; others the result of an “unprecedented” wave of protests. But whatever it is labelled, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s surprise resignation is setting the stage for a crucial succession race, that is […]
Zimbabwe’s main opposition party has installed Nelson Chamisa as acting president following Morgan Tsvangirai’s death. The death of Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s totemic opposition leader, has left supporters in mourning – and his party having to navigate a precarious leadership transition ahead of landmark presidential elections. In Tsvangirai’s place, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) installed […]
Millions of Africans will go to the polls this year with the hope of using the ballot to deepen the quality of democratic governance. From the continent’s north to the south, at least 20 nations will hold elections. Here are the ten presidential elections we’ll be following: 1NIGERIA General elections will be held in Nigeria on 16 February 2019 […]
More than 100 galleries and exhibitors from around Africa and the world will be taking part in the upcoming Investec Cape Town Art Fair, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 15 to 17 February 2019. The Cape Town art scene, currently one of the fastest-growing in the world, is a compelling destination […]
On February 16 Nigerians choose between two septuagenarians to lead Africa’s largest democracy: President Muhammadu Buhari and former vice president Atiku Abubakar. The pair have run for president nine times between them. There are more than 60 other candidates, though their chances of winning are slim as the wealth and patronage networks of the two […]
Kenya’s High Court has sentenced a senior policeman to death for the murder of a detainee – one of two cases resulting in rare officer convictions. In a separate case, five senior police officers were found responsible for the death of a six-month-old baby hit over the head by riot police. Kenya’s police have previously […]
In our series of letters from African writers, Ghanaian journalist Elizabeth Ohene reflects on the dangers of a bullet-proof vest. Events in Kinshasa a week ago brought the memories flooding back. The newly minted president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, had to stop mid-way through his inauguration speech because he felt faint. […]
The job market for young Nigerians is causing people to leave, says one of the leading contenders to become Nigeria’s next president. “Young Nigerians aren’t just leaving Nigeria because of bad pay and working conditions – they are leaving because there is no hope,” opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar wrote on Twitter. The flight of Nigeria’s […]
Zambia is a landlocked country in south-east Africa with a population of 17.1 million (2017). It has a reputation for political stability but faces challenges, particularly rural poverty. Per capita GNI is US$1,300 but nearly 58% of the population live under the poverty line. In 2017, 53% of the employed population worked in farming, but […]
Namibia was a German colony from 1884 to 1914. In the decades that followed to independence in 1990, it was administered by South Africa, which imposed its oppressive system of apartheid on the population. During this time, thousands of Namibians were expelled from their lands. To this day, a large portion remains under the control […]