Are Natural Resources a Curse or Blessing for Developing Countries in Africa? A recurring theme when it comes to natural resources is their perception as curse or blessing for the countries that possess them. While some scholars argue that the discovery of natural resources is one of the key drivers of corruption and the weakening… Continue reading Natural Resources – Curse or Blessing?
Despite significant advances in AI policy development, implementation across Africa remains fragmented and weakly accountable. This piece examines the institutional and governance bottlenecks behind this gap. It advances an Africa-centered approach to AI ethics and accountability grounded in local values and institutional realities. Africa stands at a critical inflection point in its technological history. The… Continue reading From Strategy to Implementation: Why Africa’s AI Governance Must Move Beyond Ambition
Though widely used, the term is historically racialised and geographically incoherent. Africa can be described without resorting to simplified colonial labels. There’s a term we read and hear in a lot of Africa-related media and academia. Sub-Saharan Africa. Several years ago, I made the conscious decision to stop using this term in anything I write.… Continue reading Sub-Saharan: The Term We Should Retire
Members of the St Francis Catholic Church take part in a Way of the Cross re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday during Holy Week in Lagos, Nigeria [File: Sunday Alamba/AP Photo] Trump threatens Nigeria with military action over alleged persecution of Christians. But the violence in the country has entirely different… Continue reading Religion meets realpolitik
Africa-EU relations have been formalised since the early post-independence period through various agreements between the European Union (and its predecessor, the European Economic Community) and African countries. These include the Lomé Convention (1975-2000), the Cotonou Agreement (2000-2020) and the most recent Samoa Agreement, which has been in effect since 2023. The earlier agreements mainly covered… Continue reading AU-EU Relations: Prospects and challenges for a strategic partnership for development
This following text is an opinion piece on the ongoing situation in Niger. Niger is a key part of the Sahel region and is geographically the largest country in West Africa. Politically, the country has experienced relative democratic stability while its neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso, have endured military coups and terrorism in recent years.… Continue reading Fraction within the West Africa bloc? The Coup in Niger and its implications
The following text is an excerpt from the author's master's thesis, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of International Affairs at the Hertie School, Berlin. Executive Summary This research undertook the challenge of understanding how the leadership style of ECOWAS influences the results of its intervention; using the case study of… Continue reading Why does ECOWAS succeed in resolving civil conflicts in Liberia but lacks effective measures in fighting terrorism in Mali?
In recent years, China has been a major topic in international news and political discussions in Western countries. Western countries or simply “the West” in this context refers to the United States, the EU and its Member States, the United Kingdom, and their allies, including non-EU Western European countries, Canada, and to a lesser degree… Continue reading Africa-China Relations: criticism & motivations
Nigeria recently went through what has been labeled as the most competitive election since the end of military rule in 1999. Nigeria’s two party political system was shaken with significant competition coming from a “young” third party candidate Peter Gregory Obi, who surprised by winning the capital Abuja and the commercial powerhouse Lagos. The ruling… Continue reading The 2023 Nigerian Presidential Election
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) launched its new Africa Strategy “Shaping the Future with Africa” in late January 2023. Apart from the flagship Feminist Development Policy it mostly lists ongoing activities and only vaguely hints at new intentions. How does the BMZ view Africa? The ministry recognises the continent as… Continue reading A brief critique of BMZs new Africa Strategy
The Afropolitan 