In The News

China Spreads Aid in Africa, With a Catch

Sharon Lafraniere, John Grobler September 23, 2009
In recent years, China has greatly increased its presence throughout the developing world by offering loans below market-rates, championing such efforts as win-win for both China and the receiving countries. Whereas Western nations have often attached political and economic reforms as conditions to their aid, China instead offered “no strings attached” assistance, disregarding human rights...

Lessons of Failed States: Rebuilding Sierra Leone and Liberia

Humphrey Hawksley August 20, 2009
As elections are held in Afghanistan, the memory of 9/11 seems to have all but faded. But, as journalist Humphrey Hawksley writes, the lesson of 9/11, that failed states are a breeding ground for malignant forces with a global reach, must not be forgotten. World leaders need to balance placating an electorate uneasy about continuing involvement with finding a long term solution to securing a...

‘Slaughter’ Fear Over Poaching Rise

Andrew Luck-Baker August 11, 2009
Rising demand for ivory products is wreaking havoc on Africa’s elephant population. According to scientists, poachers kill about 38,000 elephants in Africa annually, a rate that could lead to these animals’ extinction in sub-Saharan Africa in fifteen years. Helped by higher ivory prices, poaching activity has increased significantly in Central Africa, with culling in the eastern and southern...

Just When Africa’s Luck Was Changing

Ron Nixon August 6, 2009
Contrary to the initial belief that Africa would escape the impact of the credit crisis because of its little to no investment in the global subprime market, the continent is feeling the pinch. According to the World Bank, African economies will grow at a meager 3 percent this year compared to 6 percent from 2004 to 2008. What the credit crisis has done is to force investors around the world to...

Hungry World: A Silent Crisis Calls for Urgent Action

Marshall Bouton July 7, 2009
When the leaders of the eight industrialized countries meet in Italy this week, they will need to urgently address a silent crisis of hunger. With over a billion hungry people around the globe, it is critical that the developed world takes measures to increase agricultural productivity, writes Chicago Council on Global Affairs president Marshall Bouton. Such a solution is ever more pressing given...

Europe Looks To Africa For Solar Power

Tom Zeller Jr. July 6, 2009
With the demand for renewable energy rising, a European project is applying innovative means to harvest energy in Africa. The project known as Desertec will seek to produce power through large fields of solar collection mirrors in North African deserts and then deliver that power back to Europe as electricity. Critics have called the plan inefficient and exploitative given that solar energy can...

African Land Grab

Gwynne Dyer May 26, 2009
The scarcest of scarce resources, land for agricultural use in Africa has attracted a slew of foreign buyers. While some proclaim this “neo-colonialism.” Profit seeking and concern over food security appear to be the main culprits. The purchases started in 2006 – as oil prices began shooting up – and the land was intended to grow crops for bio-fuels. But some buyers also hail from countries that...