Not much give from China in its relationship with Africa
Despite a warm African response to the recent ‘Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against Covid-19’, not much new came out of the virtual meeting. Crucially, there was no movement on cancellation of the $150bn in concessional loan debt.
Africa’s ICT infrastructure: Its present and prospects
Africa’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) deficit is a major brake on its development prospects.
DRC president’s chief of staff convicted of corruption and embezzlement
Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi’s chief of staff, Vital Kamerhe, was once a close ally of Joseph Kabila, leading his election campaign in 2006. Kamerhe is frequently credited with winning the eastern Congo vote for Kabila.
Futures literacy in mining: Empowering the African Mining Vision
The 10-year review of the African Mining Vision (AMV) is an opportunity to showcase the need for futures literacy, foresight and anticipatory governance.
A super year for ocean governance: A dream deferred?
2020 was meant to be a ‘Super Year for the Ocean’, with a series of negotiations and political processes due to take place on ocean governance, climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development.
Burundi: Can newly-elected President Ndayishimiye deliver change?
On 20 May, as most of the world was preoccupied with COVID-19, Burundi quietly held its fourth general elections since the end of the civil war in 2005.
COVID-19 and the politics of the year of the nurse
When the World Health Organisation (WHO) last year named 2020 the ‘International Year of the Nurse and Midwife’, there was no way of knowing that this would have a prophetic ring to it.
Debt Relief with Chinese Characteristics
As China is poised to become the world’s largest creditor, concerns about debt sustainability have grown. Yet considerable confusion exists over what is likely to happen when a government runs into trouble repaying its Chinese loans.
COVID-19 responses expose gaps in global governance
The world has not experienced the simultaneous and indiscriminate social, health, governance, and economic harm brought on by the COVID-19 virus in more than a hundred years.
Hong Kong and China’s National People’s Congress: The danger of a new cold war
As China gears up to sink its claws deeper into Hong Kong, the world weighs up how best to respond. The pro-democracy movement also has some hard choices to make.