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Local inclusion and regulatory control key to sustainable mining : lessons learnt from China's scramble for Zimbabwe's lithium reserves
No full textZimbabwe’s rich lithium reserves have sparked a foreign investment boom, particularly from China. While the government, eager to attract investments, helps foreign mining companies secure access to 'the white gold', artisanal miners are sidelined. A ban on unprocessed lithium exports, intended to boost domestic processing, has instead benefited political elites and marginalised local communities even further. To foster inclusive growth, the government should formalise artisanal mining and strengthen regional cooperation
Bagassu Turkii : Senegalese Transnational E-commerce and Social Networks between Dakar and Istanbul
No full textThis paper analyzes the forms of agencies, social networks, and transnational e-commerce between Dakar and İstanbul, and the people involved, including migrants, GPs –gratis passengers, grouping networks, and traders. First, it considers the recent economic “charm offensive” by the Turkish state with a view to expanding into the “open African market” at diplomatic, industrial, and commercial levels; then, it describes relations between Türkiye and Senegal. After that, it discusses the visa policy between the two countries, before reviewing the literature on African migration, in general, and Senegalese migration to Türkiye, in particular; and mobility between Senegal and Türkiye, to and from cities such as İstanbul and Izmir. Finally, the paper analyzes the transnational mobility of Senegalese traders. Interviews were carried out in the Senegalese capital Dakar, where most Turkish products transit before being distributed within Senegal or to neighboring countries. The interviews mainly focused on traders who travel back and forth between Dakar and İstanbul, GPs-, and Senegalese businesspeople. Using the power of social networks such as Viber, WhatsApp, and Facebook, they regularly trade with Türkiye while residing in Senegal: indeed, some of them never leave the country.gers
Prolonged Drought and Governance Challenges in Turkana County, Kenya – Access to Water and Livelihood Changes
No full textThe traditional livelihood practice of pastoralism is under threat in Turkana County in Kenya. The past decades have seen a shift in livelihood practices from pastoralism to other livelihood practices in the arid and semi-arid lands; including small-scale crop farming, small-scale businesses, charcoal burning and selling of firewood. Through the case study areas in three villages – Emeiyana, Nalemsekon and Ayanae Akunoit – in Lokichar, Turkana County, this paper analyses the role of long periods of drought and the existing state of political and socio-economic marginalization in driving livelihood changes among vulnerable pastoral communities. The study results indicate that access to water especially during periods of prolonged drought such as the recent 2020–2022 drought, is a crucial factor driving livelihood changes. The historical marginalization of the communities is found to further aggravate the situation resulting in food insecurity
Five incumbents tumbled and one was humbled : six competitive elections that defied Africa's democratic backslide
No full textDemocracy is challenged across the globe. However, summing up the elections held last year across Africa, there are some positive signs. Five democracies (Botswana, Ghana, Senegal, Somaliland and Mauritius) held elections that ended with incumbent presidents handing over power peacefully to successful opposition candidates. And one country(South Africa) saw the end of three decades of single-party rule. Altogether, these six elections show proof of democratic resilience in Africa and bring hope of a trend reversal
The Nordic Africa strategies – distinct but not incompatible : why and how the Nordic countries should align their engagement with Africa
No full textMoving away from traditional aid-driven agendas, Finland, Norway and Denmark have launched Africa strategies that aim to foster equitable partnerships based on mutual interests in trade, security and climate adaptation. The respective strategies share common ground in terms of strengthening Nordic–African ties, supporting multilateralism and advancing Africa’s global influence. Given this common ground, the Nordic countries could reinforce their chances of shaping the global agenda by aligning their approaches
Ghana's democracy stress tested – three milestones passed : women remain severely underrepresented
No full textIn its recent elections, Ghana’s acclaimed democracy underwent something of a stress test, which it passed by reaching three important milestones. First, the relatively peaceful transfer of power from incumbent to opposition. Second, the election of Ghana’s first ever woman vice president. And third, a first outing for the new affirmative action act, signed into law only months before the election. However, in this election the legislation’s aim of empowering women in politics paid off more in rhetoric than in actual numbers
Big man politics and multi-party rule call for new gender plans : challenges to women in politics in South Africa's new political landscape
No full textThe recent South African election marked a historic shift, as the ANC lost the parliamentary majority it had held ever since the end of apartheid. Women remain underrepresented in both parliament and government. Leaving aside the numbers, the new political landscape, with its multiparty cabinet and increasingly violent opposition, has brought fresh challenges for women in politics. They will have to join forces across party lines to resist the rise of big man politics, marked by patriarchal behaviour and violent masculinity
Do-it-yourself urbanism in Africa : politics and practice
No full textProtracted economic crises, accelerating inequalities, and increased resource scarcity present significant challenges for the majority of Africa's urban population. Limited state capacity and widespread infrastructure deficiencies common in cities across the continent often require residents to draw on their own resources, knowledge, and expertise to resolve these life and livelihood dilemmas. DIY Urbanism in Africa investigates these practices. It develops a theoretical framework through which to analyze them, and it presents a series of case studies to demonstrate how residents invent new DIY tactics and strategies in response to security, place-making, or economic problems. This book offers a timely critical intervention into literatures on urban development and politics in Africa. It is valuable to students, policymakers, and urban practitioners keen to understand the mechanisms and political implications of widespread dynamics now shaping Africa's expanding urban environments.Contents: Introduction: Do-it-yourself Urbanism in Africa's Cities / Patience Mususa and Stephen Marr -- Comparative DIY Urbanisms: Reflections on a Concept's Pasts, Presents and Futures / Stephen Marr -- The Makeshift City and Do-it-yourself (DIY) Urbanism / Martin J. Murray -- Reflections on the DIY Paradigm and Urban Living in Nigeria / Mohamed-Bello Yunusa -- DIY Urbanism in an African Context and its Potential as a Collaborative Placemaking Tool for Bridging Africa's Urban Infrastructure Deficit / Mathias Agbo Jr. -- Political Economy of Community-Led Security Provisioning in Urban Africa / Victor Adetula -- The Politics of Urban Insecurity: Hybrid relations and party dominance in Lagos / Nigeria, Henrik Angerbrandt -- 'Accra We Dey': Precarious Histories, Creative Place-Making, and Reimagined Futures in Urban Ghana / Jennifer Hart -- Everyday spatial practices and production of urban commons in Accra, Ghana / Victoria Okoye -- Learning from DIY urbanism: Lessons from Freetown / Federico Monica -- DIY Urbanism as Ecotopia: The Case of the Green Camp Gallery in Durban, South Africa / Antje Daniel -- Disability and Urbanism in Malawi / Jonathan Makuwira -- The Biopolitics of Do-it-yourself Urbanism on the Zambian Copperbelt / Patience Mususa -- Conclusion: DIY Urbanism as Politics of Interruption / Stephen Marr and Patience Mususa</p
Local initiatives key to Africa’s integration : the Lagos-Johannesburg partnership showcases the Pan-African project
No full textPolicymakers at the local/city government level are crucial to continental integration projects like the African free trade agreement and the free movement protocol. However, they are not represented in the African Union (AU) and other international bodies where such projects are negotiated and designed. City-to-city cooperation between Africa’s two major economic hubs, Lagos and Johannesburg, would not only unleash strategic synergies and drive continental integration, but would also leverage private-sector involvement and influence other cities to enter into similar cross-border partnerships
Political science in Africa : freedom, relevance, impact
No full textBringing together African and international scholars, this book gives an account of the present state of the discipline of political science in Africa - generating insights into its present and future trajectories, and assessing the freedom with which it is practiced. Tackling subjects including the decolonization of the discipline, political scientists as public intellectuals, and the teaching of political science, this diverse range of perspectives paints a detailed picture of the impact and relevance of the political science discipline on the continent during the struggles for democratization, and the influence it continues to exert today.Contents: 1. Political science discipline in Africa: Freedom, relevance, impact / Liisa Laakso -- 2. Political science and the study of Africa: Mapping the theoretical and conceptual terrain / Shadrack Wanjala Nasong'o -- 3. Political science and development management: Parallel tracks and critical junctures in Africa / Göran Hydén -- 4. Mainstreaming decolonisation in political science in Africa / Eghosa E. Osaghae -- 5. What does the decolonial turn for political sciences in Africa entail? And where do we start? / Siphamandla Zondi -- 6. A neglected subject: The politics of mourning the (de)humanised / Lebohang Motsomotso -- 7. Political science for whom? Reflections on teaching and learning political science in selected African universities / Christopher Isike & Olumuyiwa B. Amao -- 8. Policy studies as a sub-discipline of political science in Africa: Teachings, research trends and professional expertise in Cameroon / Ruth Mireille Manga Edimo -- 9. Beyond disciplinary polemics? The challenge of informal structures in the study of local political institutions in Africa / Matthew Sabbi -- 10.Ethnicity and democracy in Africa: A comparative study of Ghana and Nigeria / Maame Adwoa A. Gyekye-Jandoh -- 11. Research on gender, women and politics in Africa: Contributions and innovations / Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso --12. The impact of political science research on teaching political science in Southern Africa / Njekwa Mate -- 13. Use of empirical data in research and teaching of political science in Africa / Olugbemiga S. Afolabi -- 14. Political scientists as public intellectuals in Africa: Perspectives on relevance / Adigun Agbaje -- 15. Political scientists and intellectuals in the political evolution of Cameroon: 1960-2020 / Fabien Nkot, Molo Helene Amelie & Isa Adamu -- 16. A critical review of the state of academic freedom in Ghana's public universities: From pre-independence till the Fourth Republic / Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua -- 17. The politics of political science in Africa: An afterword / Siphamandla ZondiMost of the chapters in this book are based on papers presented at a conference "The political science discipline in Africa : freedom, relevance, impact" jointly organized by the Nordic Africa Institute, Association of African Universities (AAU) and CODESRIA in Accra between October 31 and November 2, 2019</p