THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

Feb

21

2025

Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré is making waves in west Africa. Who is he?

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

CAPTAIN Ibrahim Traoré is the interim leader of Burkina Faso, having taken over the position following a coup which he led against Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Damiba in September 2022. The 37-year-old captain had supported Damiba, his commanding officer, in a putsch earlier that year against former president Roch Marc Kaboré. Since Traoré has been in power, Burkina Faso has played a key role in the withdrawal of three west African states from the regional body Ecowas. Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali have formed an alternative, the Alliance of Sahel States. The Conversation Africa asked researcher Daniel Eizenga where the…

Feb

19

2025

By RAYMOND KAZAPOE

Why is there so much gold in west Africa?

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

MILITARIES that have taken power in Africa’s Sahel region – notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – have put pressure on western mining firms for a fairer distribution of revenue from the lucrative mining sector. Gold is one of the resources at the heart of these tensions. West Africa has been a renowned gold mining hub for centuries, dating back to the ancient Ghana empire, which earned its reputation as the “Land of Gold” because of its abundant reserves and thriving trade networks. The region remains a global leader in gold production. As of 2024, west Africa contributed approximately 10.8%…

Feb

17

2025

By JOVIAL RANTAO

In loving memory of Daniel Churchill Rantao: A pillar of family, faith and tradition

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IN the tapestry of life, there are those rare souls whose threads weave patterns so beautiful and strong that they transform the entire fabric of their family's existence. Daniel Churchill Rantao was such a soul – a masterful weaver of relationships, a keeper of traditions, and a beacon of unwavering love as well as dedication. Daniel (72) passed away peacefully at his home in Nyetse, outside Zeerust, in the North West of South Africa, on February 15 after a short illness. Born to Olifile, a distinguished World War II veteran, Daniel carried in his blood the courage of warriors and…

Feb

17

2025

By The African Mirror

Africa’s moment: Trump’s aid cuts, steep tarrifs should be a catalyst for continental renaissance

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

JOVIAL RANTAO THE recent decision by President Trump to freeze aid and impose steep tarrifs to South Africa and other countries across Africa isn't a catastrophe – it's a golden opportunity. For too long, African nations have been caught in the web of foreign aid dependency, dancing to the tune of Western powers while neglecting to build robust, self-sustaining economies. Now, this abrupt shift in U.S. policy presents a historic chance for Africa to break free from these chains of dependency and forge its own path. The dream of African self-reliance isn't new. It was powerfully articulated through the African…

Feb

14

2025

By NICKY FALKOF

Trump and South Africa: what is white victimhood, and how is it linked to white supremacy

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

AMERICAN president Donald Trump has issued an executive order to withdraw aid from South Africa. He was reacting to what he has called the South African government’s plan to “seize ethnic minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation”. Afrikaners are an ethnic and linguistic community of white South Africans whose home language is Afrikaans. Trump’s outrage is based on a misinterpretation of a new law – the Expropriation Act which came into effect in January 2025. Trump’s action, amplified by provocative comments from billionaire Elon Musk, has reignited debate about the concept of “white victimhood”. We asked Nicky Falkof, who has…

Feb

13

2025

By JUDITH VERWEIJEN and CRISTOPH VOGEL

Why conflict mineral narratives don’t explain the M23 rebellion in DR Congo

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian.By Judith Verweijen and Christoph Vogel THE capture of North Kivu’s provincial capital, Goma, by the M23 armed group last month has multiplied international coverage of the forgotten crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Yet most reporting on the conflict is using mistaken framings, suggesting it is purely driven by a desire to plunder the region’s rich mineral resources. The conflict minerals narrative contains several tropes: Proponents claim that the M23 and its Rwandan allies launched the insurgency to loot large quantities of minerals from neighbouring DRC; that Western…

Feb

12

2025

By MAMOLOKO KUBAI

“We shall not compromise on protecting the rights of all South Africans, in the fight against corruption at all levels.”

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THIS year marks 70 years since black people were forcefully removed from their homes in Sophiatown to be resettled in Meadowlands, Soweto. It also marks 30 years since the inception of the constitutional court whose current building, at Constitution Hill, was partly constructed using bricks from the demolished awaiting-trial wing of the former number 4 prison. This is a stark reminder especially to those who now have selective amnesia that the South Africa we live in today and its challenges were born out of apartheid regime’s forced displacements, deliberate impoverishment and oppression of black people. Since the dawn of democracy,…

Feb

12

2025

By TIM GLAWION

Central African Republic: listening to people’s stories about foreign forces could help bring peace

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SINCE it became independent in 1960, the Central African Republic has grappled with poverty, instability and governance challenges. A decade into former president François Bozizé’s corrupt rule, a rebellion broke out and toppled the president in 2013. What followed was a devastatingly violent civil war with thousands of people killed and a fifth of the populace displaced. To halt violence against civilians, numerous international actors intervened, including the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union and France. From 2014 onward they put thousands of boots on the ground and pushed rebels from most towns while protecting and supporting the…

Feb

11

2025

By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Historic summit brings hope for peace in the DRC

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

I have just returned from a Heads of State summit in Tanzania on the conflict in the eastern DRC. The outcomes of the summit provide a beacon of hope for the troubled eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The historic joint summit brought together the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to consider the deteriorating security situation in the eastern DRC and to find a sustainable political solution. As a member of SADC and the African Union, we have a responsibility to support all efforts to bring peace and stability to our fellow African nation, which…

Feb

09

2025

By The African Mirror

Understanding America’s hard stance against South Africa

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

KEDIBONE PHAGO US President Donald Trump has already signed over 50 executive orders within two weeks in office. This is unprecedented for a US president in a 40-year period. The US Constitution makes provision for the president to exercise executive power over their government to ensure implementation of public policies. This is often processed through a written directive that instructs a particular government department to implement a law with clear specifications. Through executive orders, the president intervenes to enforce implementation of a specific law or even fine-tune certain policy parameters of an existing law. Executive orders may be required during…