Africa

Prigozhin’s death – the cracks are beginning to show

Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death in August 2023 has sent shockwaves through the geopolitical community. The alleged founder of the infamous Wagner Group, Prigozhin, was also a Russian oligarch and close aide to President Vladimir Putin. The killing of Wagner’s leadership will have significant negative security consequences for the individuals, continents and countries caught up in the …

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The Bear Roars in Africa!

The Russian bear is on the move. Quietly. In Africa. Russia’s affair with Africa dates back to the Cold War era when, as the Soviet Union, it supported liberation movements and like-minded governments across the continent. At the time, it was considered the most influential of external actors. However, interest waned following the breakup of …

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The Real Threat to the West from Russia and China

If Russia and China successfully expand and develop the North-South trading corridor over the next two years, the impact on the world economy could be huge. It is difficult to estimate accurately how much of the US$94 trillion world economy would be accessible to this newly fortified trading coalition. One thing is certain, however – it …

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The North-South corridor: the rise of the East

The International North-South Transport Corridor is a 4,500-mile network of ship, rail, and road routes for moving cargo between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Central Asia. However, due to the recent normalisation of relations between regional enemies, Saudi Arabia and Iran (negotiated by China) has altered the North-South Corridor to include those nations. The rapprochement …

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Russia, Ukraine and Africa: Against the grain

Is Russia’s war in Ukraine a localised conflict, a regional war, or a global disaster? The military action concentrated on one country alone would suggest the first, the various nuclear- and cyber-threats against Europe the second, but global trends are increasingly confirming the third. It is possible to view the Russian invasion, and by extension …

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Africa and Russia: It takes two

While most of the world has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, one region has been far less forthcoming than most in registering its opposition. This is Africa, where half of the continent’s representatives in the UN failed to support the initial resolution demanding an immediate end to the invasion and from which condemnation has …

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Climate activism: a new risk to Africa?

East Africa is becoming one of the fastest growing economic regions in the world. It is filled with many opportunities for foreign firms, while bringing even greater risks. Corruption is still as pervasive as ever in the eastern region of the continent, with some of the countries having the worst corruption scores (according to Transparency …

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Niger: Setting an example for the rest of Africa?

In early March 2021, Niger held a Presidential election and the country’s first peaceful transition of power, thanks to the outgoing President, Mahamadou Issoufou. Since being elected in 2011, Issoufou has served two terms (10 years) and has now stepped down as President, respecting the constitutional term limit he has fulfilled, a regard increasingly forgone …

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