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in Burkina FasoBurkina Faso: A Thousand Sankaras Come of Age
In 1987, Blaise Compaoré overthrew Sankara and took over the presidency. 27 years later, Sankara’s ghost may be coming back to return the favour. By Brian Peterson 30 years ago, on 4 August, 1984, the former French colony of the Upper Volta was re-baptised as ‘Burkina Faso’ amidst a revolutionary process that proved to be […] More
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642 Views
in DRCGoma’s Infectious Happiness Goes Viral
By Timo Mueller Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo: Last month, a rare thing happened. A video made in the town of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) went viral. Moreover, featuring musicians, dancers, students, vendors and expatriates, the film wasn’t depicting the usual themes of grief and crisis associated with the region, […] More
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in DevelopmentWho Aids Whom? Exposing the True Story of Africa’s $192 Billion Losses
Research released by a coalition of African and UK partners reveals that Africa loses almost six and a half times the amount of money that it receives in aid. By Judith Cavanagh “It says something about this country. It says something about our standing in the world and our sense of duty in helping others… […] More
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in DRCEastern DRC: Stop Fixating on Conflict Minerals
The Dodd-Frank act has not only had limited effect on militant groups, it has also undermined artisanal miners’ livelihoods and local economies. By Christoph Vogel Goma/Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo: In October 2013, after a year-and-a-half-long rebellion in which its forces managed to take control of several major cities and towns in the eastern Democratic […] More
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658 Views
in HealthDrug Addiction in Africa – The State of Things in 2020
Drug addiction affects millions of people worldwide, and the African continent doesn’t make an exception. Unlike the other continents, though, in Africa, not only drug addiction is a serious problem, but also drug trafficking. UN officials highlighted that drug trafficking in West and central Africa impacts economic growth, security, governance, and public health. All of […] More
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534 Views
in MigrationAfrican Refugees: The Untouchables of Our Time
Europe may express sympathy with African asylum seekers in word, but this is often contradicted by their actions in deed. By Yohannes Woldemariam Last month, at least 17 people drowned when a boat filled with hundreds of African migrants sank in on its way from Libya to Italy. The week before, at least 36 had […] More
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in UgandaGet Rich or Die Trying: The Chinese Herbal Medicine “Death Sentence” in Uganda
200,000 Ugandans have signed up to a company believing it will cure all their illnesses and help them make a fortune. But it is more likely to do the opposite. By James Wan. Kampala, Uganda: On the corner of a bumpy, red-soil road in the rural town of Iganga in eastern Uganda, there lies a […] More
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in DevelopmentEmerging occupations and businesses
In developed areas, a whole range of service providing businesses is booming. Floor installation, home and carpet cleaning (have a look at carpet cleaning website www.carpetcleanersofconcord.com where professional carpet cleaning is becoming an option for the regular household, or www.fairfieldcarpetcleaningpros.com where they debate the benefits of hiring pro carpet cleaners for the lifespan of household […] More
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470 Views
in EconomyTrade Misinvoicing, or How to Steal from Africa
The little-understood practice of misinvoicing or re-invoicing relies on legal grey areas and financial secrecy and costs the continent dearly. By Brian LeBlanc Lately, the media has been replete with stories about how Africa is losing billions of dollars a year through a process called “trade misinvoicing.” The concept of trade misinvoicing is simple: companies […] More
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in EthiopiaProtests Grow Over Addis Ababa’s Expansion
By Mohammed Ademo. Addis Ababa is growing fast and set to expand further, pitting the government against Oromo activists, seeking to protect their rights. Ethnic Oromo students in Ethiopia are ratcheting up opposition to the territorial expansion of the Horn of Africa nation’s capital, Addis Ababa. Thousands of students at all eight regional universities in […] More
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in AgricultureFood Security is About More than Land Grabs
Foreign powers are not just engaged in African land. They are also engaged in African food systems, often in damaging ways. By Adam Sneyd , Lauren Sneyd The conventional view right now is that land in Africa is a really big deal. Over the past few years, high-flying experts and journalists have continuously pumped out […] More
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in HistoryTerrabyte Incognita: Africa Might Not Look Like You Think It Does
There is no such thing as an objective map. This was true of cave paintings, Roman tapestries, and colonialists’ charts of Africa. It is also true of Google Maps. By James Wan About halfway through Jonathan Swift’s boisterously witty epic poem On Poetry: A Rhapsody, the 18th century English satirist briefly turns his attention to […] More