THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

Jan

27

2024

The two faces of Jacob Zuma – former South African president campaigns to unseat the ANC he once led. Who supports him and why?

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

FORMER South African president Jacob Zuma’s political comeback builds on support from marginalised and angry constituencies within or close to the governing African National Congress (ANC). His vengeful but “loyal” rebellion against the ANC resonates with these political constituencies. SUSAN BOOYSEN, Visiting Professor and Professor Emeritus, University of the Witwatersrand In mid-December 2023, Zuma announced that he would be supporting the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), rather than the ANC, in the upcoming national election. But he would not resign from the ANC. Umkhonto we Sizwe is the name of the ANC’s former guerrilla army. This latest assault…

Jan

27

2024

By The African Mirror

Cecilia Atim Ogwal: a fearless Ugandan politician who spoke her mind and challenged conventions

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

CECILIA Barbara Atim Ogwal, one of Uganda’s longest-serving female legislators, passed away on 18 January 2024 at the age of 77. Ogwal was regarded as a trailblazer, one of the strongest, most charismatic women leaders in the opposition, and a staunch defender of multipartyism, democracy and human rights. Known for her toughness, she was unafraid to stand up to male leaders in the ruling party and even within her own party. Hence she came to be known as the “Iron Lady” in Uganda. AILI MARI TRIPP, Vilas Research Professor of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison Having studied gender and politics…

Jan

26

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s genocide case against Israel is the country’s proudest foreign policy moment in three decades

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

ON 11 January 2024, South Africa hauled Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the charge of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention. This was for Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and siege of Gaza following the deadly 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas which claimed 1,200 Israeli lives. PETER VALE, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria., University of Pretoria VINEET THAKUR, Assistant Professor, International Relations, Leiden University More than 25,000 Palestinians, at least half of them children, have reportedly been killed in Israeli retaliatory attacks. The siege has led to a humanitarian crisis,…

Jan

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Liberia transferred power peacefully again: 3 reasons the calm is holding, and one red flag

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

JOSEPH Boakai was sworn in as Liberia’s 26th president on 22 January 2024. Boakai secured a six-year term of office after defeating incumbent president George Weah in a keenly contested November 2023 poll with 50.9% of the votes cast. The West African country of 5 million people reached a major milestone on 17 November 2023, when Weah, of the Congress for Democratic Change, conceded defeat to the Unity Party candidate. CHARLES WRATTO, Associate Professor of Peace, Politics, and Conflict Studies, Babes Bolyai University Weah scored 49.1% of votes cast and lost the tight presidential run-off, which the EU described as…

Jan

23

2024

By NALEDI PANDOR

“Progressive forces around the world to need practical programmes of support for the people of Cuba”

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SINCE 1994, South Africa has been resolute in its support for Cuba and has led the charge in international fora for the USA to bring an end to the illegal and unjust economic blockade against that island nation. The blockade is in its 62nd year now and appears unending despite our solidarity action. South Africa has consistently voted in favour of the annual United Nations resolution calling for the end of the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States. South Africa also campaigned for the release of the Cuban Five, and called on the US government to…

Jan

23

2024

By The African Mirror

What is genocide? Six Western countries want a broader application of the law – experts unpack why it matters

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

IN November 2023, six Western states filed a joint application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) arguing for an ample and expansive understanding of genocide. This intervention, as it is legally termed, was made by Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK in relation to the genocide case The Gambia filed against Myanmar in 2019. The still on-going case revolves around the violent expulsion of Rohingya people from Myanmar into Bangladesh. Kerstin Bree Carlson, Associate Professor International Law, Roskilde University Line Engbo Gissel, Associate Professor, Global Political Sociology, Roskilde University Our research focus is on international law…

Jan

21

2024

By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

South Africa calls for a fair, equitable global governance system

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE world is faced with many challenges exacerbated by geopolitical dynamics and conflicts in various regions of the world. The wars taking place in Ukraine and Palestine are causing grave humanitarian and health crises and contributing to international instability. The supremacy of multilateralism as embodied by the United Nations Charter and international law is being undermined exactly when it is needed most. At a time when the world appears to be once again divided between east and west, the Non-Aligned Movement should continue to assert its independence based on our common values. South Africa remains steadfast in advancing its non-aligned…

Jan

20

2024

By The African Mirror

TB Joshua scandal: the forces that shaped Nigeria’s mega pastor and made him untouchable

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

TB Joshua was a world famous Nigerian televangelist, faith healer and Pentecostal pastor who established The Synagogue Church of All Nations. Three years after his death a BBC investigation alleges Joshua raped, tortured and abused several of his followers over a period of 20 years. There are allegations of child abuse at his Lagos compound and that he faked his miracles. Nimi Wariboko is a leading theologian and social ethics expert who wrote the book Nigerian Pentecostalism. We asked him about the forces that shape a ministry like Joshua’s and what might have allowed him to abuse his power in…

Jan

18

2024

By MATHATHA TSEDU

In Loving Memory of Sedupe Josiah Ramokgopa

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SEDUPE Josiah “Rams” Ramokgopa was born in Orlando East, Soweto on the 25th of March 1937. He was the second-born child of Tobola Baldwin Ramokgopa and Mapula Frieda Ramokgopa (nee Madiba). When he was a young boy, his family moved across the river to Orlando West which is where he was raised in a family of political activists. Sedupe attended local schools and matriculated from Orlando High School in 1956. As a teenager in 1952, Sedupe became involved in the activities of the Defiance Campaign and was recruited to distribute pamphlets and copies of the New Age during this campaign…

Jan

18

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s ANC marks its 112th year with an eye on national elections, but its record is patchy and future uncertain

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE speech President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered at the 112th birthday celebration of South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), on 13 January can be seen as the party’s opening election gambit: a stadium packed to capacity, the display of a united leadership, and an invocation of three decades of success, delivered by a leader firmly in control of his party. SANDY AFRICA, Associate Professor, Political Sciences, and Deputy Dean Teaching and Learning (Humanities), University of Pretoria The annual January 8 statement, unsurprisingly, was a 30-year self-assessment and is self-congratulatory. It was silent on the many failings under ANC…