THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

Apr

25

2025

Pope Francis: Death is not end of everything, but a new beginning

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

I read with emotion these pages born from the thought and affection of Angelo Scola, dear brother in the episcopate and a person who has held delicate roles in the Church, such as having been rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, later Patriarch of Venice, and Archbishop of Milan. First of all, I want to express my deep gratitude to him for this reflection that combines personal experience and cultural sensitivity in a way I have rarely encountered. One — experience — enlightens the other — culture; the second gives substance to the first. In this happy interweaving, life and…

Apr

24

2025

By The African Mirror

Pope Francis’ testament

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

POPE Francis' testament, dated 29 June 2022, has been published, giving indications for his burial in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Miserando atque EligendoIn the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial. Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal…

Apr

23

2025

By PAUL SAMASUMO

Pope Francis: A compassionate voice for Africa

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

AFRICA is mourning not only the loss of a spiritual leader for Catholics but also a man who was unafraid to champion unpopular African causes often ignored by mainstream media. These include stories of Africa’s vulnerabilities manifesting as conflict, exploitation, poverty and disease. Welcomed, accompany, support, and integrate It was as if the theme of migration chose Pope Francis. His first papal trip outside of Rome, in July 2013, was to the Italian Island of Lampedusa, where many young African migrants had died in a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea as they tried to reach the shores of Europe. On…

Apr

21

2025

By FRANCESCA MERLO

POPE FRANCIS’ PONTIFICATE OF PEACE, FOR PEACE

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

AT his last public appearance, Pope Francis repeated what had become a slogan in his pontificate of peace. Everyone knew to expect it at the end of his audiences, but never did it lose its strength. During the Easter Urbi et Orbi blessing, the day before he died, the Pope’s words echoed the countless appeals he had made over the years, urging world leaders to lay down arms and turn to dialogue. Even as he struggled, having asked someone to read his message on his behalf, his voice, albeit weak, resonated across St Peter's Square and screens across the world.…

Apr

22

2025

By JACKSON OKATA

Trump’s isolationism endangers Africa’s health systems

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IN the recent past, the African continent has battled multiple epidemics, including monkeypox, Ebola, and Marburg fever. Undoubtedly, Africa’s healthcare system is shaky, and without international and donor support, it would quickly crumble. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and global health networks continue to play a crucial role in helping African nations establish functional public health systems and, at times, in managing disease outbreaks. For decades, the United States of America has been among the largest funders of global health networks, including the WHO. But recent actions by the Trump administration, including his withdrawal from the World Health Organisation and…

Apr

19

2025

By MICHEAL GUMISIRIZA

What if we stopped aid altogether?

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian.By Micheal Gumisiriza OVER the years, I’ve heard all the buzzwords – localisation, refugee participation, decolonisation: They sit proudly on international NGO websites like badges of honour. Yet step with me into Uganda’s so-called refugee settlements in Nakivale, Rwamwanja, or Bidi Bidi. Talk to the refugees, witness their daily struggles. You’ll quickly realise that the reality on the ground is far removed from the eloquent language in the INGO strategy documents. The truth? Much of this aid work is piecemeal. Cosmetic. Let’s say it as it is: Aid has become a well-dressed…

Apr

18

2025

By RIBIO NZEZA BUNKETI BUSE

Culture can build a better world: four key issues on Africa’s G20 agenda

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE cultural and creative industries are a growing source of income and job creation around the world, generating tens of millions of jobs. The cultural sector is also linked to soft power, to relations between countries. Because of this, culture is an active part of the agenda of the G20 global economic forum. Under the presidency of South Africa in 2025, the G20 has chosen four key cultural focus areas: heritage restitution; socio-economic strategies for inclusivity; digital technologies, and climate action. Here, as a scholar of the sector, I outline why these four priorities are relevant to both the G20…

Apr

17

2025

By The African Mirror

A Tribute to Herman Sipho Mashapa: Architect of Dreams

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IN the crucible of South African apartheid, where dreams were meant to wither, Herman Sipho Mashapa stood as an unyielding beacon of possibility. This Mathematics and Physics teacher, short in stature but towering in spirit, transformed Thabo High School in Naledi into sacred ground where dreams took flight against all odds. Mashapa's very presence in the classroom represented a triumph against systemic oppression. For him and his contemporaries, merely surviving apartheid and qualifying as teachers constituted remarkable achievements in themselves. The educational barriers erected to prevent Black South Africans from advancing academically were formidable and deliberate. Yet these educators not…

Apr

16

2025

By JOVIAL RANTAO

SAHEL in Transition: Democracy’s Retreat and the Pivot Eastward

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE SAHEL region has emerged as a critical flashpoint of geopolitical upheaval in Africa, where military takeovers, shifting international alignments, and escalating jihadist violence are reshaping the continent's security landscape. Since 2020, the democratic backsliding in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger has fundamentally altered the region's political trajectory, with implications extending far beyond Africa's borders. In December 2024, the military regimes of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formalized their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), establishing the Alliance of SAHEL States (AES) as an alternative regional bloc. This unprecedented fragmentation has severely weakened ECOWAS's influence and…

Apr

15

2025

By KENNEDY MBEVA and REUBEN MAKOMERE

Power drives global affairs today, not rules – what Africa’s strategies should be

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

A new world order is emerging. The United States is no longer the sole force shaping global events; countries like China, Russia, India and the Gulf states are growing in influence. This shift has intensified global competition and made international cooperation more challenging. In today’s world, power, not rules, is the key driver of global affairs. What is Africa’s role? Drawing on our research, we argue that the continent should adopt a pragmatic strategy involving two elements. First, identifying issues suitable for collective action, like climate diplomacy and a seat at the UN Security Council. Second, recognise those that require…