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Africa can assert its interests in shifting geopolitics

Africa can assert its interests in shifting geopolitics

THE organising philosophy of the Mapungubwe Institute revolves around two fundamental questions: how do nations succeed, and how do civilisations sustain themselves? The evolution of human society contains some answers to these questions. But if history were the only guide to future possibilities, we would not be assembled here.   Our responsibility is to develop a systematic understanding of factors that influence the choices being made today and the determinants of future action. It is to examine, in a transdisciplinary manner, the circumstances that propel humanity to higher levels of social and technological progress. And it is also to appreciate the…
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The IOC must protect Russian and all athletes against geopolitics

The IOC must protect Russian and all athletes against geopolitics

THE International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Ukrainian government are at each other’s throats over the inclusion of Russian and Belarussian athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics in 18 months. ABBEY MAKOE The IOC has stated its willingness to let athletes from the two countries heavily involved in the Ukraine war participate “under a neutral flag” at the games in France. In the aftermath of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the IOC recommended that Russian and Belarussian athletes should be “indefinitely suspended” in international competitions. Russia was swiftly barred from participating in the UEFA games and the FIFA…
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Are Moroccans Arab or African? Geopolitics, football, and the future of Africa

Are Moroccans Arab or African? Geopolitics, football, and the future of Africa

OPINION PIECE BY RICHARD ALI WHEN Morocco held firm with a 1-0 win over Portugal despite Portugal's dominance in the quarterfinal match at the Qatar World Cup, Africans worldwide roared their approval. An African side had made it to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time. However, a statement by team captain Sofaine Boufal following their round-of-16 win against Spain, acknowledging Muslim and Arab support and ignoring Africa altogether, ignited a virtual riot that touched on one of Africa's most dramatic fault lines—the identity question. Did the Moroccans not see themselves as African? Millions of African supporters said "no"…
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