THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

Aug

18

2024

Russia-Ukraine war spills into west Africa: Mali attacks signal dangerous times ahead

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

RUSSIA suffered significant blows to its reputation in mid-2024. An attack on its territory by Ukraine came as a surprise. In west Africa, the Wagner mercenary group, supported by Russia, suffered one of its heaviest fatalities in Mali. An alliance of Tuareg rebel groups known as the Permanent Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad joined forces in late July with Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, a coalition of four terrorist groups operating in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The rebel-terrorist alliance attacked a Malian army contingent which was supported by Wagner fighters. After three days of heavy fighting, dozens of Malian soldiers and Wagner fighters were either killed…

Aug

17

2024

By Jovial Rantao

Africa on the UN security council: why the continent should have two permanent seats

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

STHEMBELE MBETE AFRICA’s desire to be fully represented in all decision-making organs of the United Nations (UN), particularly in the security council, is informed by three factors. First, repairing the historical injustice of its underrepresentation in global governance. Second, recognising African contributions in shaping the contemporary world order. Third, the urgency of securing the legitimacy of the UN in the face of emerging threats to international peace and security. At the African Union’s fifth ordinary session held in Sirte, Libya in 2005, African leaders adopted the Ezulwini consensus. It expressed Africa’s desire to be fully represented in all decision-making organs of the UN, particularly in the…

Aug

14

2024

By TOYIN FALOLA

Young Nigerians’ push for change must go beyond street protests – historian

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

NIGERIANS began a 10-day #EndBadGovernance protest on 1 August 2024 and are expected to continue until 10 August. They took to the streets to demand economic and political reforms, including the reversal of some government policies. Policies like the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira have led to Nigeria’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation as prices of goods and services more than doubled. The protests began peacefully but have turned violent in some states like Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto, leading to deaths and destruction of property. The Conversation Africa asked historian Toyin Falola about how…

Aug

08

2024

By JOVIAL RANTAO

Sis Thoko Radebe: A legacy of love, style, and unwavering faith

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE passing of Sis Thoko leaves a void in our hearts that can only be filled with cherished memories of her boundless love and unwavering support. As the youngest sister to our mother Mosadiotsile Florence, Sis Thoko embodied the African principle that motherhood extends beyond biological ties, becoming a second mother to us all. Her impact on our lives was profound and far-reaching. With a keen eye for nurturing talent and a heart full of generosity, Sis Thoko played a pivotal role in shaping the futures of her nieces and nephews. Her gift of a Remington typewriter to me as…

Aug

07

2024

By ROGER SOUTHALL

South Africa’s unity government could see a continuation of the ANC’s political dominance – and hurt the DA

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE ANC’s loss of its majority in the recent election, and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s formation of a government of national unity, have been interpreted by some commentators as indicating the end of the ANC as a “dominant party”. That is, one which recurrently wins elections and hence dominates a political system. Their argument, and it is not unconvincing, is that the ANC vote share has consistently fallen since its high point in the 2009 election, when it won 66%, to its new low of 40%. This is taken to indicate an inexorable decline which the ANC appears unlikely or unable…

Aug

05

2024

By The African Mirror

Nigeria’s President bows down to youth protests, calls for national dialogue

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IN a significant development, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has become the second head of state to yield to cost-of-living protests led by youth, calling for a national dialogue. This move comes just three weeks after Kenya's President fired his entire cabinet following similar demonstrations. These youth-led protests are posing an unprecedented threat to governments across East and West Africa, echoing the youth uprisings that shook North Africa and brought down Tunisia's government. The current wave of demonstrations also draws parallels to the 1976 youth uprisings in South Africa, which accelerated the fall of the apartheid regime. Addressing the nation in…

Aug

02

2024

By CLEMENT SEFA-NYARKO

Ghana elections: ethnicity is not allowed in the country’s politics, yet it still helps shape outcomes

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

GHANA, which has more than 70 ethnic groups, has been among the most stable democracies in Africa since 1992. It has achieved this by outlawing the use of ethnicity in party politics. The 1992 constitution bars the explicit use of social identities in party politics. That includes ethnic group names, symbols, colours, or artefacts. Yet, Ghanaian politics is not completely devoid of ethnicity. Political scientist Clement Sefa-Nyarko explains why this matters as Ghana prepares for another election in December. Why did Ghana need a clause in its 1992 constitution designed to squeeze ethnicity out of electoral politics? Ethnicity has had…

Aug

01

2024

By MIKE MCGREARY

The psychology of Olympians and how they master their minds to perform

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

PARTICIPATING in the Olympic Games is a rare achievement the pressures and stressors that come with it are unique. Whether an athlete is battling to win the breaststroke or powering their way to gold in the modern pentathlon, psychology will play a vital role in their success or failure in Paris this summer. In recent Olympics, we have seen the mental toll that competing at the highest level can have on athletes. US gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from five events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to protect her mental health and 23-time gold medal winner Michael Phelps has described the…

Jul

31

2024

By ALI BHAGAT and GENEVIEVE LEBARON

Rich countries are paying poorer ones to manage their refugee crises: 3 reasons this is dangerous

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IN recent years, western nations have been sending asylum seekers who arrive at their borders to other countries. This is a practice known as offshoring. The UK has become the recent poster country of this practice. The UK, whose plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was later scrapped after domestic and international opposition, has continually manufactured a perceived asylum threat. This led to slogans by the UK government such as “send the boats back” and “stop the boats”. Australia pioneered offshoring by sending asylum seekers to Nauru, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean. This began in 2012.…

Jul

26

2024

By JANE DUNCAN

South Africa is trying to put a stop to the abuse of its intelligence agencies – what still needs fixing

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SOUTH Africa’s security laws are open to abuse by rogue intelligence operatives and politicians. These laws are meant to govern the conduct of covert activities by intelligence agencies and oversight mechanisms. However, weaknesses have been exploited to spy on citizens and for political ends. South Africa has four official intelligence agencies. They are: the State Security Agency, whose job is to inform the government about threats to national stability Crime Intelligence Division of the South African Police Service Defence Intelligence the Financial Intelligence Centre, to counter financial crimes The interception of communications judge grants permission to the above agencies to…