Authoritarian Regimes & Africa

Eswatini political crisis deepens as the promised dialogue remains a wish

On the 12th of April 1973, Eswatini’s newborn democracy was cut short at its prime when a decree banning political parties was issued by the...

The “Four Chinas”, COVID-19 & the implications for Africa and beyond

The fall of communism marking the end of the Cold War was supposed to have made the world forever safe for the...
Statue of Julius Nyerere in Tanzania/CREDIT: Fadhili Teri

How Chinese non-interference enables African authoritarianism

In 2019, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda faced a serious opposition movement led by musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine. Feeling increasingly threatened by Wine’s...

Long read: What motivates China’s investment & lending practices in Africa?

Since the wave of independence in the 1960s, African countries have faced numerous instances of debt distress in which they could not...

You Can’t Eat the Roads: Chinese Leverage and Democratic Resilience in...

Heading into Zambia’s August 2021 elections, many international observers warned that the country, often held up as an example of resilient multiparty...
China-Africa Relations Blablo101/Shutterstock

Marriage of Choice or By Default? Evaluating Sino-African Relations

In late 2021, when I was taking an Uber home, I got into a conversation with the driver. They had arrived late,...

The Heat from the Ural: The impact on West Africa of...

On the 24 February, Russia began bombing campaigns in Leviv and Kiev as part of its invasion of Ukraine. NATO and the...
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki

A Portrait: Isaias Afwerki, The Man & The Dictator

Following a series of interviews with former colleagues, this is an attempt to profile one of Africa's most reclusive and authoritarian leaders....

The scourge of popular coups in Africa

The recent spate of coups in Africa has generated considerable attention and concern. Between 1999 when the African Union (AU) was established...
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki

Do sanctions work ? The case of Eritrea says “no”

Eritrea has lived under United Nations economic sanctions for more than ten years without any notable impact on its politics or economy....