Category: Policy Review
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A Borderless Africa: The Pathway to the Future
The idea of a borderless Africa or a “United States of Africa” has been floating around for over 60 years. When the great visionary Kwame Nkrumah militated so vociferously for it, his peers criticized him. They thought he was over ambitious. They believed he had an insatiable appetite to exert control on the entire continent.…
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Africa’s growing population: An Asset or a Liability
Africa’s population is growing at a staggering rate. Currently, one in six people in the world live on the African continent. According to the United Nations, by the year 2050, Africa’s population is projected to balloon to 2.5 billion people. In other words, one in four people globally will live on the continent. While regions…
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The Future is Africa
Africa, the cradle of civilization with a population of 1.5 billion people (most of whom are under the age of 25) has had a long, cherished, and checkered history. From time immemorial, the continent has experienced many exploitative ventures by both external and internal forces. It has gone through the dark ages of slavery and…
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The Democratic Dividend in Africa
Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher expressed strong misgivings about democracy. He postulated that the framework of democracy was an inferior system of government that undoubtedly devolved into tyranny. A system of government characterized by unbridled pursuit of selfish interests and desires at the expense of the hoi polloi or masses. In other words, most people…
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The Battle of the Nile River: Ethiopia Defies the Odds
Ethiopia, a cradle of humanity with Africa’s second-most populous nation has a long and rich history. It starts with evidence of early human settlement dating back millions of years. The history evolves into major ancient kingdoms like the Axumite Empire. This empire became a powerful trading state and converted to Christianity in the 4th century…
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Rising Food Prices and Political Pressure
Food prices and other commodities are rising. Consequently, policy makers in many countries are considering short and long term approaches to make food prices affordable. The measures range from food subsidies for consumers to incentives for farmers to increase food production. The situation is more pressing on the African continent, where governments are under tremendous…
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The World’s First Climate Change Crisis
To understand the future, investigate the past. To grasp the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, one must look back in history. This crisis has been profoundly misunderstood. It is essential to consider the mid-1980s, before the violence between Africans and Arabs began to simmer. The fighting in Darfur is usually described as…
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Red Storm Rising: China Makes Her Mark in Africa
There appears to be an ongoing battle in Africa for a share of the continent’s rich mineral and natural resources. Global investment in Africa is at an all time high. This is mainly driven by the insatiable need for precious minerals, like rare earth elements or metals. Other important minerals, like gold, bauxite, and copper…
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An Unholy Alliance: Africa and the IMF
Africa and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have had a complex relationship over decades. It is akin to family members quarreling with one always going to the other for assistance. In other words, it is the classic case of “can’t live with them, can’t live without them.” The IMF was the brainchild of 44 leaders…
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South Africa’s hard truths
South Africa is widely considered as a modern industrializing country, with one of the world’s most progressive constitutions that prides itself on inclusiveness. South Africa is fondly known as the “rainbow nation” due to its diverse and multicultural society. Despite much internal and external resistance, it held a much heralded truth and reconciliation commission after…
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