By: Obijiofor Aginam[1] The Crux of the Argument The decolonization of most of Africa which largely occurred in the decade of the 1960s – heralded by the independence of Ghana in 1957 – led to the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May, 1963. One of the primary aims of OAU […]
Essays
Essays present critical analysis and debate on a pressing issue in African peacebuilding.
Essays
Do Religious Communities Hold the Key to Counter-Radicalization in Kenya?
by John Mwangi Githigaro
In the post-9/11 environment, religious communities have been considered vital partners in efforts to counter radicalization widely believed to be a factor that drives acts of violent extremism. Violent extremism is considered a transition phase in the radicalization process and is marked by the mobilization of violence. One notion of community defines it as individuals […]
Democracy, Development and Governance
Coping with Uncertainties: The Predicament of Nomadic Pastoralists in Southern White Nile State, Sudan
by Musa Adam Abdul-Jalil
Uncertainty is a permanent and constant risk for pastoralists, both in terms of the physical environment and the socioeconomic and political conditions surrounding them. The Southern White Nile State in Sudan is home to many such groups that have faced uncertainty for a long time as they have practiced the tradition of moving between north […]
Democracy, Development and Governance
Boko Haram: Cash Cow of the Sahel or Part of a Grand Strategy?
by Jude Cocodia
[Photo: A petrol station attendant counts Nigerian’s currency, the naira, in Abuja, Nigeria. Photographer: Suzanne Plunkett/Bloomberg] Between 2002 and 2011, the BBC and the British newspaper, The Guardian, consistently rated Nigerians as the world’s happiest people.[1] In sharp contrast, by 2013 a Forbes Magazine survey ranked Nigeria as the twentieth saddest place to live on […]
Essays
Why is the 18th July AU decision to adopt a new funding model so important?
by Linnéa Gelot
In an effort towards reducing the African Union’s (AU) financial dependency on external donors, the organization adopted a new funding mechanism at the recently concluded 27th AU Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda. The adopted approach, a tax levy of 0.2 percent on ‘eligible’ imports of all of its member states, had been recommended by a […]
Democracy, Development and Governance
“To Remain Silent Is a Position”: A Look into the #ThisFlag citizen’s movement in Zimbabwe
by Ruth Murambadoro
From its inception in mid-April 2016, the #ThisFlag citizens’ movement has been challenging the government of Zimbabwe through social media, making demands related to the dire socioeconomic situation facing the people. Hardships confront the majority of the country’s citizens, especially the economically active among the population who cannot afford to provide the basic necessities for […]
Essays
“If I Die, Let Me Be the Last”: Reflecting on Dr. Lukwiya and Uganda’s Efforts Against Ebola
by Pamela Khanakwa
"Promoting public awareness about the disease and developing mechanisms of social support to victims and affected communities is extremely critical because the outbreaks of virus diseases such as Ebola are social issues inasmuch they are medical issues, and go beyond biomedical concerns alone. None of these tactics, however, are possible without good governance and effective leadership, which we as Africans must advocate for and hold our leaders accountable."
Essays
Congolese Soldiers as Victims: Military Prosecution and Punishment
by Godfrey Maringira
"Some soldiers are victimized by the very military they serve through court martial proceedings that often delay prosecution and then serve up an unfair and tedious process. What is needed at the policy level is independent civilian jurisdiction to prosecute soldiers who commit offenses."
AU-UN Cooperation
Second Time Around: Why Did the African Union Say “No” to a Peace Intervention Force in Burundi?
by Jude Cocodia
"In February 2016, the African Union announced its decision not to send an intervention force into Burundi without the consent of the country’s government. What were its reasons for this decision?"
Essays
“Kill Us Together or Leave Us Alone”: The Beginning of the End of Al-Shabaab Menace in Kenya
by Jacinta Mwende Maweu
"The media in Kenya need to take their public interest role seriously and stop behaving as fear mongers or as cheerleaders for militants’ heinous acts. Instead, they should cheer on and celebrate the acts more worthy of attention—like those of the Muslims on that ambushed bus—to help bring the Al-Shabaab menace in Kenya to an end."