EDITORS CHOICE - The African Mirror

Dec

2023

Somali pirates are back in action: but a full-scale return isn’t likely. Here’s why

AN Iranian fishing vessel, Almeraj 1, was reportedly hijacked by Somali pirates in November 2023. According to media reports, the pirates demanded US$400,000 in ransom and threatened to use the Iranian ship for additional hijackings if the payment was not made. PETER VIGGO JAKOBSEN, Associate Professor, Royal Danish Defence College TROELS BURCHALL HENNINGSEN, Associate Professor, Royal Danish Defence College Two days later, other Somali pirates hijacked a tanker, Central Park, off the Yemeni coast. The tanker sent a distress signal during the attack. Forces from a nearby American warship captured the pirates as they tried to flee in a small…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Kenya at 60: the shameful truth about British colonial abuse and how it was covered up

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

IT is fairly well known that the lives of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans were affected by terrible acts of violence under the British colonial administration. The British government and King Charles have acknowledged it, and some victims of violence have taken the British government to court for these crimes. AOIFE DUFFY, Senior Lecturer, University of Essex Less known is how much the British imperialist government tried to cover up these violations. My research reveals how harsh British detention camps in Kenya were, and the extremes to which the colonialists went to conceal information about this. Much of this violence…

Dec

2023

By JOVIAL RANTAO

“The Boy from Silvertown who shook Africa and the world with love, respect and humility”

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

TODAY we not only mourn the departure of a man but we celebrate the extraordinary life of Jermaine Craig - a beacon of love, humility, and unparalleled talent whose legacy transcends borders, touches hearts, and reshapes the very essence of sports journalism in South Africa and beyond. Jermaine's journey began in the humble streets of Silvertown, Cape Town - a boy with dreams as vast as the African sky, fueled by a passion for sports and an unwavering commitment to capturing the intricate tapestry of athletic triumphs and tribulations. Through his words, he painted the vivid portrait of South Africa's…

Dec

2023

By MATHEWS PHOSA

When A Dream Comes True

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

DURING the famous Rivonia Trial of 1963 and 64 our first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela eloquently verbalized his dream for a post-apartheid South Africa. In it, he made it clear that he was willing to fight, and if necessary, die for the ideal of non-racial South Africa, free of any prejudices. That was his dream. Standing on the shoulders of hundreds of selfless struggle heroes, he achieved that ideal thirty years later, in 1994. His example has galvanized many people across the world towards the achievement of their goals. In the very recent past, we saw a young man…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

John Hlatywayo: remembering a great Zimbabwean artist who was woefully neglected by history

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

JOHN Hlatywayo, who has died at 96, was a great painter, sculptor and mentor. However, he is woefully neglected in the art history of Zimbabwe and southern Africa. Belonging to an early generation of Zimbabwean artists, Hlatywayo was overshadowed by international interest in the nation’s mainstreamed stone sculptors. Yet he was one of Zimbabwe’s most versatile artists. He could work with different media and produce intriguing conceptual pieces. But he was mainly drawn to portraying aspects of people’s daily lives. BARNABAS TICHA MUVHUTI, Postdoctoral Fellow with the NRF/DST SARChI Chair Geopolitics and the Arts of Africa and Global Souths research…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Southern African troops versus M23 rebels in the DRC: 4 risks this poses

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS, EDITORS CHOICE

The security situation in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to deteriorate. The region comprises North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces. It’s about seven times the size of neighbouring Rwanda. DELPHIN R. NTANYOMA, Visiting Researcher, University of Leeds The violence in North Kivu has drawn most of the attention of the DRC’s neighbours and the international community. This close attention is aimed at preventing possible confrontation between Rwanda and the DRC. Since late 2021, North Kivu has been confronted by M23 rebels who have executed people and forcibly displaced thousands within the province and…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

World Bank suspension of Uganda funds over anti-homosexuality law: what this says about the struggle over funds and sovereignty

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS, EDITORS CHOICE

THE World Bank issued a statement on 8 August 2023, announcing that it had effectively suspended all new public financing to Uganda over concerns with the country’s anti-homosexuality law, which “fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values”. According to Human Rights Watch, the anti-homosexuality act violates multiple fundamental rights guaranteed under Uganda’s constitution and a number of international human rights agreements which the government of Uganda has signed. The act was first proposed in March 2023, and adopted by the Ugandan parliament in early May. JON HARALD SANDE LIE, Research Professor, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs The World Bank, and…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Some African governments are spending millions to spy on their citizens – stifling debate and damaging democracy

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

GOVERNMENTS around the world use surveillance technology to monitor external threats to national security. Some African governments are also spending vast sums on mass surveillance of their own citizens. They are using mobile phone spyware, internet interception devices, social media monitoring and biometric identity systems. Artificial intelligence for facial recognition and car number plate recognition is another digital surveillance technology in their growing toolkit. TONY ROBERTS, Digital Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies I recently led research which found that governments in Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Malawi and Zambia were collectively spending over US$1 billion a year on these digital surveillance…