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Mcdonald’s controversial desks: The art of obtaining resources while avoiding corporate exploitation

Mcdonald’s controversial desks: The art of obtaining resources while avoiding corporate exploitation

SOUTH Africa’s Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has doubled-down on her decision to distribute McDonald's branded foldable desks to two schools in Cape Town. The dual-purpose foldable desks, which double as wheelie backpacks, have been pioneered by MiDesk Global and donated by McDonald's. They were unveiled at the end of February in partnership with the Department of Basic Education. Upon reveal, the portability of the desks was underscored during their Cape Town display. However, there have been impassioned mixed reviews of the desks - particularly regarding their highly recognisable bold-red McDonald's branding. In fact, this was the basis of most…
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A power struggle in Tigray risks Ethiopia’s peace deal

A power struggle in Tigray risks Ethiopia’s peace deal

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian.By Fred Harter More than two years after a cessation of hostilities ended a brutal civil war, Ethiopia’s Tigray region should be well along the road to recovery. Instead, its ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front Party (TPLF) is embroiled in a bitter internal spat that has paralysed politics and sparked fears of fresh conflict. The dispute pits a faction led by TPLF chairman and wartime leader Debretsion Gebremichael against another helmed by TPLF deputy chairman, Getachew Reda, who signed the November 2022 cessation of hostilities in Pretoria and now leads the interim…
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African Union’s new chair has a long list of tough tasks – what it will take to get them done

African Union’s new chair has a long list of tough tasks – what it will take to get them done

FOLLOWING seven rounds of balloting, 60-year-old diplomat Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected the sixth chair of the African Union Commission in February 2025. Politics professor Ulf Engel, who is the editor of the Yearbook on the African Union, explains the role and its challenges. What’s the new AU Commission chair’s background? Youssouf is a seasoned diplomat from Djibouti. He is the longest serving minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation of his country (2005-2025), and has also served as chair of the Council of Ministers of the Arab League (2007, 2017) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (2012). What’s the…
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Africa’s tech revolution: Unleashing innovation through youth and digital transformation

Africa’s tech revolution: Unleashing innovation through youth and digital transformation

WITH our continent's young and tech-savvy population, Africa is poised to compete globally and drive successful innovation. When you look at our continent's start-up ecosystem, fintechs continue to dominate. In recent years, the number of fintech companies in Africa has almost tripled. These enterprises, both big and small, are fundamentally reshaping our financial services sector. We see this, especially with mobile money and remittance services. According to a recent study, fintech revenues in Africa are expected to reach $40 billion by 2028. At the same time, Africa is experiencing a brain drain, with many of our skilled developers leaving our…
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Entrepreneurship as a way out of poverty? Study in rural Kenya shows why it doesn’t always work

Entrepreneurship as a way out of poverty? Study in rural Kenya shows why it doesn’t always work

INTERNATIONAL development agencies and non-governmental organisations often seek to advance community development by fostering entrepreneurship. The premise is that poor people can enhance their household incomes by establishing small businesses or by adding value to natural resources. Such programmes commonly include training and the provision of loans to enable micro-entrepreneurs to get started. But these interventions aren’t straightforward and often fail to achieve their objectives. Prior research has pointed to the fundamental economic challenges of entrepreneurship in the context of poverty. Cultural and institutional factors also play a role. Researchers have argued, for instance, that cultural norms of collectivism shape…
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Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré is making waves in west Africa. Who is he?

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

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…
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Why is there so much gold in west Africa?

Why is there so much gold in west Africa?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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…
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