Of death, debt and democracy

As the first year of the plague closes out, a second year threatens a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Africa has seen fewer infections and deaths, but the virus has had other lasting... 

Nigeria: things fall apart

When I think of Nigeria at 60, I cannot shed the image of a waking giant tied down by a myriad of criss-crossed ropes, and at the end of each rope a member of Nigeria’s elite, too many of whom are... 

Zambia’s Zuma moment

Something in the stars must have misaligned in 2016 to set the political world off kilter and bring in its wake the wanton destruction that is populism. In the UK it brought Brexit, in the US it... 

A stubborn political quartet again risk it all

Tara O’Connor and Leonard Mbulle-Nziege investigate Côte d’Ivoire’s critical October Presidential elections, in which the incumbent, Alassane Outtara, will be seeking a third term in office Its... 

UK’s DFID is brought to heel as nationalism gains ground

Poor Zambia. What did it do to deserve such unwanted attention to be misspoken of in such a manner – and in the so-called mother of all Parliaments?  UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in... 

The beat goes on . . .

As South Africans emerge blinking into the winter sunlight, they do so to a ‘new normal’, including an emerging new order. Great plagues throughout history have accelerated fundamental changes that... 

What a difference a day makes . . .

As we move into a fourth week of formal lockdown and as every day merges into the next and weeks roll into each other, only punctuated by a food box delivery, I am nevertheless struck daily by the... 

The time to plan for Covid-19 was yesterday

Just as the going was getting good again, Africa faces another triple whammy: the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), a fresh global economic crash and plummeting oil prices. The deadly Covid-19, which... 

Au revoir CFA franc, bonjour l’eco!

As competition grows to gain influence across Africa, the most significant change to the traditional relationship between France and its former West African colonies will take place in June this... 

Goodbye the two-teens, hello the two-twenties!

Saying goodbye to another decade is always emotional, but it is also a time to refresh, revisit strategies and plan new ones “to boldly go”. Across Africa, the trend of the past decade and what... 

2019: year of peaceful, patient popular power

As Southern African business closes off the year in a frenzy of foreshortened deadlines before racing to the door for the summer holiday, there is barely time to reflect on the year gone by. And... 

Buhari: destructive force in the Nigerian economy

"I have come to realise that Nigeria is not going to shape the investment future of West Africa, let alone Africa”, laments my lunch guest. “Especially when you compare it WITH what is happening in... 

Ethiopian Prime Minister, marathon runner do country proud

Once in a generation comes a political leader who has the confidence, the power and the political will to transform the lives of millions.  And once in a lifetime comes an individual with the power... 

It’s time to give Angola reforms the benefit of the doubt

As the death of the region’s leading liberation leader, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, focuses attention on his poor legacy, other liberation leader transitions are thrown into relief. One such transition... 

Mozambique peace deal paves the way for unprecedented investment

What is the risk of civil war in Mozambique?  That was the question a would-be international investor asked us to address recently. While this very question used to be my weekly diet as an analyst... 

The last kick of a dying horse

If you want political analysis of Zimbabwe – ask an Uber driver.  In Cape Town earlier this year, I meet the same Uber driver twice. Typically overqualified, having been a buyer and manager for a... 

Kenya’s election open season

As dust settles on South Africa’s elections and business looks to President Cyril Ramaphosa to restore the economy, Kenyan business worries as the political elite starts kicking up dust well in...