In The News

Social Media Blackout in Chad: Africannews

Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban March 30, 2019
A keypad, like the pen, can be mightier than the sword, and some governments impose social media blackouts. For the past year, Chad has prohibited the use of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, reports Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban for Africannews. The impoverished nation of about 15 million people has endured years of rebellion, civil war and extremists like Boko Haram. The...

State of Emergency in Sudan: Economist

March 23, 2019
In response to tens of thousands of protestors mobilizing against rising food prices in Sudan and the resignation of president Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese leader instead declared a national state of emergency. On February 22, what began as a conciliatory national address, under rumors that Bashir would step down, ended with suspension of the constitution. The Economist observes, “in practice...

Cyclone Idai and Mozambique: BBC

March 19, 2019
Mozambique ranks among the world’s poorest nations and recovery from Cyclone Idai will be a challenge. Also hit hard: Zimbabwe and Mali. The storm made landfall in Beira on March 14 and aid teams arrived to find the fourth largest city, population 500,000, mostly destroyed with no power or telecommunications. People escaped by climbing to roofs and trees, and severely damaged roads and...

Algerian Judges on Presidential Vote: Reuters

Lamine Chikhi March 11, 2019
Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 82, has held office for four terms since 1999 and seeks a fifth despite allegations of fraud in previous votes and his stroke in 2013. “More than 1,000 judges said they would refuse to oversee Algeria’s election next month if President Abdelaziz Bouteflika contests it, in one of the biggest blows to the ailing leader since the start of protests now in...

Africa Drawdown: International Policy Digest

Steven Leach March 5, 2019
The United States is planning to reduce its forces stationed in Africa. The poorest nations in Africa are vulnerable to extremist ideologies due to poverty and poor governance. “It is no accident that al Shabaab evolved in a defunct Somali state (in some ways it is shocking that it did not happen sooner), that al Qaeda found a safe haven in rural Afghanistan, that Boko Haram resides on the...

Nigeria's Buhari Wins Reelection: AFP

Emmanuel Akinwotu, Ola Awoniyi and Chris Stein February 27, 2019
After a delayed election, Nigeria reelected Muhammadu Buhari, 76, as president. “The former military ruler was first elected as civilian president of Africa’s most populous nation and leading oil producer in 2015,” reports Agence France-Presse. At that time, he was also the first opposition candidate in Nigeria to defeat an incumbent. “To win the presidency, a candidate needs a majority of votes...

BBC: US Steps Up War in Somalia

Tomi Oladipo January 7, 2019
The terrorist group al Shabab controls large areas of Somalia. Since March 2017, the US military received broad approval to intervene and prevent coordination with other extremists throughout Africa including al Qaeda. The US attacks, targeting militant groups and leaders, have killed more than 500, and a report from BBC News does not anticipate that an announcement on US troop reduction in...