Global Perspectives

Politics & Policy

The US is now involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran. Here are three possible next steps

Early Sunday, US warplanes and submarines struck three of Iran’s nuclear sites at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, where the Iranians have a uranium enrichment plant buried about 80 metres beneath a mountain
Trump and members of his cabinet
OpinionPolitics & Policy

Coronavirus profiteers: Protecting Africa from vulture funds

Some $117 billion of Sub-Saharan African countries’ roughly $150n in long-term debt to private creditors is in the form of bonds, with debtor countries owing the bondholders about $8bn per year. But markets are clearly not confident that these countries will meet their obligations
Abidjan's central business district, with the headquarters of the African Development Bank visible
Opinion

Will the coronavirus crisis derail the African century?

Even before the virus has made much headway on the continent, African currencies, sovereign debt, and public equities have fallen dramatically, in many cases experiencing losses far greater than in developed or other developing and emerging markets
Garden City Mall in Nairobi during the coronavirus outbreak
EconomyPolitics & Policy

Covid-19 could break Africa. But it also offers an opportunity to reboot the continent’s economic policies

Africa’s ability to use monetary and fiscal policies to mitigate the pandemic’s economic impact is limited. Whereas governments and central banks around the world have adopted robust and often unprecedented short-run stimulus measures, most African countries lack the policy space and capacity to do so, or are constrained by monetary arrangements that prevent them from implementing national strategies
Female worker in a garments factory
Digital EconomyOpinionPolitics & Policy

Digitisation and entrepreneurship will propel African industrialisation, defying naysayers

The dominant narrative is that industrialisation in sub-Saharan African is declining and less relevant. But this ignores growing trends such as new technologies and a vibrant entrepreneurship scene
Students in an introductory programming class at Outbox, an incubator, innovation lab and co-working space in Kampala
Politics & Policy

Russia’s Africa ambitions grow as America, under Trump, steps back

The first Russia-Africa Summit is a clear indication that Russia is stepping up its efforts to increase its influence in Africa, with the deals signed underscoring how Moscow is using strategic investments to gain more traction on the continent
Opinion

DR Congo Ebola outbreak spreads to Uganda – it should never have happened

That a new outbreak of Ebola virus would happen was a question of when, not if. Yet a situation as dire as the West African outbreak should not repeat itself given that many problems were solved in 2014-16
Health care workers learn how to properly dispose of the remains of a simulated patient who died from Ebola
OpinionPolitics & Policy

African Free Trade Area ratification good step forward but more work needed

The African Continental Free Trade Area was ratified on May 30 but its practical implications are not immediate and significant work is required for it to deliver tangible results.
Mombasa Port in Kenya
Opinion

Why British prime minister Theresa May was forced to resign

After less than three years in office, UK prime minister Theresa May has faced up to the demands from within her party and announced her resignation
UK prime minister Theresa May announces her resignation in London. Credit: Gov.UK
Politics & Policy

East Africa should intervene to defuse Rwanda-Uganda tensions

Although a military confrontation between Uganda and Rwanda remains implausible, today’s situation is reminiscent of the worst days between the two neighbours. Leaders of the region need to do more to avert a violent scenario
Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame at State House, Entebbe, in March 2018.
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