African Politics Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

2025, Journal of North African Studies

French colonial expansion across North and West Africa brought contact with
varied political and religious groups, particularly along the Saharan rim and
in the western Sahel. Numerous French metropolitan politicians and colonial
administrators alike saw the Sahara as a great connecting medium, a newage
mare nostrum that would serve as the centerpiece of an expansive
overseas empire. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, Xavier Coppolani
and Robert Arnaud (or Randau) served as the leaders working across this
seemingly impassable divide to invent a political, demographic, religious, and
vividly Romantic homogeneity for the area and its people, one based almost
entirely in the power of Sufi Islam. Such unifying concepts built on older
Saharan traditions of politico-religious linkage while thriving in a moment of
changing French metropolitan colonial theory. Ultimately beset on all sides
by local, metropolitan, and imperial resistance, these attempts failed over
time as they hardened stereotypes and overlooked important realities of
human connection throughout the region. The complex and contradictory
forces involved in the joining of disparate social and political entities in the
Sahara offer substantial insight into the reality of colonial expansion and
political formation.

2025, The Diplomatic Dimensions of the President of Somaliland’s Speech

This Article offers analysis of the diplomatic aspects delivered by the President of Somaliland's speech. The article studies how a recent speech given by the President of Somaliland uses diplomatic language to strengthen the region's campaign to be recognized by the world. The analysis is based on international relations theories and the framework of current diplomatic approaches and shows that the speech used public diplomacy, recognition diplomacy, soft power diplomacy, preventive diplomacy and Track One and Track Two diplomacy, as well as regional diplomacy and symbolic diplomacy. To explore this, the article compares statements by the President to various diplomatic approaches. In consequence, the book explains that the speech was made to emphasize Somaliland's peaceful, democratic and independent nature before global communities.

2025, JOURNAL OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY STUDIES A Publication of Institute of Peace Studies and Conflict Management (IPSACM)

The ultimate desire of any nation is to attain a flourishing society where human beings can fully develop their potential. This has, however, been made impossible in many countries due to cultural, social, political and economic impediments put in place by human elements. This study focused on the presidential system of government which was first practiced in Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 and reintroduced in 1999. Despite being the longest system of government being practiced since independence, it was observed that it has not met the yearnings and aspirations of many Nigerians concerning sustainable development due to certain encumbrances. To explain various phenomena leading to the disillusion about the system, thorough research on the obstacles was critically investigated. The study relies mostly on secondary sources like books, monographs, journal articles, government publications and internet sources on democracy, presidentialism and sustainable development. Interviews were also conducted with some politically inclined individuals. The data gathered was consequently analyzed using the content analysis method. The findings indicate that a desirable presidential system of government and sustainable development are achievable. The study adopted democratic transition theory as its theoretical framework. The paper, however concluded that the presidential system of government remains a viable option for sustainable development in Nigeria based on the fact that the associated problems are neither peculiar nor insurmountable. Consequently, the study recommended, among other things, strict adherence to principles of separation of powers, rule of law and human rights with strong social mobilization and serious civil society movement.

2025, Net Journal of Social Sciences

This paper investigates 'Ethnicity Capital and Nation-building'. Its objectives are to examine the various ways by which ethnicity capital could be harnessed as a productive instrument for nation building, and to identify other dysfunctional consequences of ethnicity capital apart from being a productive instrument for nation building as well as to propose policy-based recommendations towards harnessing ethnicity capital as a necessary tool for nation building. To achieve these tasks, the paper reviewed the concept of ethnicity capital as a tool for nation building, investigating further its antinomies in a praxis situation (Nigerian situation); it adopted a comparative analysis on U.S and Nigeria to gain more insight on how a multi-ethnic nationality can thrive without conflicts in spite of ethnic divergence as well delineating preconditions for the process of nation building in a multi-ethnic society. The method used was purely descriptive. The paper reviewed a few relevant theoretical orientations, namely the Functionalist Theory and Robert K. Merton nuanced Functionalist perspective. The major findings include: Ethnicity capital could function as a productive instrument for nation building in various ways; a few of these ways include: it promotes national consciousness and national integration; it provokes a common political culture that incorporates the divergent groups. The findings also reveal that ethnicity capital could be a destructive force that pulls down the process of nation building as it is conflict-oriented if not positively harnessed etc. The paper therefore recommended thus: that political leadership should discountenance feelings of ethnic affiliations in governance and embrace the interest of all; inter-ethnic group languages to be introduced in schools for adoption by students to promote cultural tolerance and national consciousness; government to proscribe all so called democratic movements that promote ethnic consciousness rather than national consciousness and encourage movements that are nationally oriented etc.

2025, Global Voices (Independent Contributor Submission)

This paper offers a historical and geopolitical explainer of Libya’s persistent fragmentation by tracing the crisis back to the regional, ethnic, and colonial dynamics that preceded the modern state. The analysis outlines the independent roots of Cyrenaica, the marginalization of Fezzan, and the centralization of power in Tripolitania. It argues that Libya’s unresolved structural fractures—ignored in post-2011 discourse—must be addressed through a serious re-engagement with its federal past and regional identity.

2025, قراءات إفريقية

يناقش المقال مسألة التبعية المعرفية للمناهج والنظريات الغربية في دراسة العلوم السياسية الإفريقية، متخذًا من كتاب العلوم السياسية في إفريقيا محورًا لطرح تساؤلات نقدية حول جدوى الاستمرار في اعتماد مقاربات لا تنبع من السياق التاريخي والثقافي للقارة. يستعرض المقال دعوة مؤلفي الكتاب إلى ضرورة تجاوز المركزية الأوروبية وبناء علوم سياسية إفريقية تُستمد من واقع المجتمعات المحلية وتجاربها الخاصة، دون الوقوع في فخ الرفض المطلق أو الانغلاق، داعيًا إلى الحاجة لإعادة التأسيس لقاعدة استقلال معرفي حقيقي تعكس التنوع والخصوصية الإفريقية.

2025, Home Front: South Africa and the Second World War

2025, Oeuvre scientifique

La progression des institutions politiques reflète le développement symbolique de la démocratie et de la gouvernance. L'Assemblée nationale de la RDC, en tant qu'organe législatif clé, incarne la représentation populaire et l'expression de la volonté collective. Son évolution structurelle et fonctionnelle témoigne de la consolidation des valeurs démocratiques telles que la transparence, la participation citoyenne, l'équilibre des pouvoirs mais aussi la volonté d'accomplir l'intérêt général. Cependant, le dynamique de cette progression reste confrontée à des défis qui datent depuis plusieurs années déjà. Ainsi à travers ce travail nous avons voulu montré s'il y a eu progression ou pas au sein de l'Assemblée nationale de la RDC de 2011 à 2019.

2025, Research and Analysis Journals

The article used the documentary analysis method guided by the Ujamaa Intersections Model in (re) positioning the Kiswahili language in cultural diplomacy through the Ubuntu Panorama. Ujamaa is among the core values of African Ubuntu that was integrated into Tanzania's policy framework in the 1960s under the influence of the Kiswahili language. Kiswahili is among the oldest and major lingua franca in African history, despite being undocumented in Ubuntu capacity it has a direct linkage with African Ubuntu throughout the history of the continent. Tracing back, Ubuntu is an African philosophy from pre-colonial times that guides all the major aspects of the continent including social economic, cultural, and political. Dr. Julius Kambarage Nyerere (Ubuntu Champion 2014) (who preferred to be called Mwalimu meaning a teacher) embraced Ubuntu philosophy through the Kiswahili language as a soft tool to spread Ujamaa into cultural Diplomacy in Africa and beyond. Dr. Nyerere engaged existing Ujamaa intersections in the community to develop, maintain, and promote the Kiswahili language ultimately influencing the international platforms. In the African Ubuntu capacity, a community is made up of various Ujamaa Intersections comprising primary family, extended families, neighborhood, local leadership, ecology, spirituality, and wider attributions, etc. Over time, Kiswahili became a tool for the decolonization, unification of Africa, and related cultural diplomacy. To mention a few, Kiswahili was the first African language in the United Nations and later it secured various positions as a working language in international organizations including EAC, SADC, COMESA, AU, UNESCO, etc. Moreover, Kiswahili entails more than 200 million speakers Worldwide, several countries have established Swahili radio stations including Germany, Japan, the UK, China, and the USA, etc. To date, Kiswahili continues to render opportunities toward transmission, acceptance, inclusion, hospitality, humanism, peace, equality, love, and coexistence of cultural diversity relevant to nurture cultural diplomacy. It represents African Ubuntu in cultural diplomacy with the relevant capacity to speak about Africa's past, present, and sustainable future in international relations.

2025

Does Germany have a strategy for the BRICS? After Goldman Sachs coined the term, it didn't take long for the German Development Institute (DIE, now IDOS) to come up with the concept of Ankerländer. This was followed by an “inflation” of... more

2025, Les Migrations féminines

« Récit littéraire féminin et témoignage sur la condition migrante en Alsace: le cas des oeuvres de Fatou Diome » Serigne SEYE Fatou Diome, devenue, depuis quelques années, une auteure phare du mini champ littéraire franco-sénégalais en train de se constituer, fait de la migration des Africains en Europe le thème phare d'une écriture essentiellement autobiographique. Classée parmi les auteurs de la migritude ou du désenchantement, elle est l'une des grandes voix de la diaspora noire en France. Son oeuvre est surtout un écho qui fait résonner les souffrances de toutes sortes subies par les femmes, qu'elles soient migrantes ou proches de migrants. C'est ce témoignage sur la condition migrante à laquelle elle s'adonne que nous allons analyser dans cet article en scrutant le ressenti et le vécu de ses personnages migrants qui, pour la plupart, vivent en Alsace. Cette analyse stipulera que les récits de Diome constituent un véritable témoignage sur les conditions difficiles dans lesquelles vivent les immigrés en France. Pour mieux confirmer cette hypothèse, nous ferons appel, entre autres, au concept d'intersectionnalité pour montrer la situation particulière des femmes noires migrantes qui sont au centre de plusieurs discriminations.

2025

Ce document est un devoir universitaire d'Institutions Politiques Étrangères qui analyse la nature des pouvoirs du Président américain. Partant de l'affirmation, paraphrasant Guichard Doré, John Fitzgerald Kennedy et Jean Gicquel, que le Président dispose de pouvoirs extraordinaires mais exercés dans les limites fixées par la Constitution, le devoir examine l'étendue de ces pouvoirs en sa qualité de chef de l'administration, de la défense, des affaires extérieures et d'acteur important dans le pouvoir budgétaire

2025, Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy

Although Africa is endowed with rich human and natural resources, it is arguably the poorest continent in the world. Blessed with a diversity of rich cultural heritage and tradition, it is bedeviled by a lost identity and existential integrity. This is not unconnected with its experiences of colonisation, slavery, racism, and western imperial domination, which displaced several established traditional structures in Africa. For instance, African cultures, customs, traditions, beliefs, world-views, values, languages, religions, lifestyles, political systems, and others, were distorted and subjugated. Western colonisers and imperialists justify their actions by claiming that Africa was a dark continent with nothing substantial to contribute to global development prior to their intervention, and arguing that Africans were illogical, and primitive, with infantile mentality. Contrary to this claim that is untrue, the distortion and subjugation of African cultures and ways by the West is largely responsible for the loss of its identity and existential integrity. To halt and reverse this situation, several African scholars, such as Leopold Sedar Sénghor and Julius Nyerere, have made efforts to rediscover the African heritage. This paper critically explores Sénghor's Negritude and Nyerere's Ujamaa (African socialism), with the aim of finding an intersection between them and drawing a roadmap towards the restoration of Africa's identity and existential integrity. Both ideologies emphasise pride in African identity, communalism, and cultural uniqueness while rejecting the Eurocentric myth of African inferiority. Sénghor and Nyerere advocate for a return to Africa's pre-colonial values, where communal solidarity, respect, and autonomy prevailed. This paper argues that the convergence of Negritude and Ujamaa provides a joint roadmap for restoring Africa's sense of self, highlighting the importance of unity, equality, and cultural resurgence as essential elements for Africa's development in the modern world.

2025, Humanus Discourse

This study delved into a pivotal, albeit brief, period of Nigeria's foreign policy trajectory: the reign of General Muhammadu Buhari from 1983 to 1985. A time characterised by significant domestic upheaval and pronounced shifts in global power dynamics; this regime offers a compelling case study for understanding the interplay between internal governance and external relations within a postcolonial African state. This research meticulously examined the key tenets of Buhari's foreign policy, including but not limited to, his administration's response to the prevailing economic malaise, its engagement with regional and international organisations, and its diplomatic approach towards both Western and Eastern blocs during the tail end of the Cold War. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the military junta's nationalistic leanings, its anti-corruption drive, and its often-authoritarian governance style on Nigeria's interactions with the global community. The analysis drew upon a comprehensive review of primary sources including official pronouncements, diplomatic correspondence, and military records alongside secondary materials such as scholarly articles, journalistic accounts, and policy analyses from the period. Furthermore, it seeks to assess the long-term consequences of Buhari's foreign policy decisions, evaluating their impact on Nigeria's international standing, its regional influence, and its subsequent diplomatic approaches. The overarching objective is to provide a nuanced understanding of how this specific historical juncture shaped the evolution of Nigerian foreign policy in the years that followed and to contribute to a broader understanding of the complex interplay between internal dynamics and external actions within a nation grappling with the challenges of nation-building and global engagement.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

Abstract
This chapter explores the enduring impacts of colonial exploitation in Mali, with a particular focus on the economic, social, and environmental legacies of French colonization. Beginning with a historical overview of Mali’s precolonial kingdoms and colonial experience, the study examines how French colonial policies reshaped the region’s political and economic structures. Economic exploitation is highlighted through the extraction of resources such as gold, salt, and agricultural products, which were geared toward benefiting the colonial powers at the expense of local populations. The chapter also delves into social structures manipulated by the colonial regime, which reinforced inequalities and disrupted indigenous systems of governance. Additionally, the exploitation of labor, particularly through the legacy of slavery and forced labor, is discussed as a critical component of colonial control. Post-independence, Mali’s economic challenges—stemming from an overreliance on resource extraction and the persistence of colonial-era inequalities—are analyzed in relation to the country's development trajectory. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the need for technological advancement and the development of more equitable economic and social policies to reduce the lasting impacts of colonial exploitation in contemporary Mali.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

Abstract
This chapter critically examines the trajectory and impact of French colonialism in Guinea, situating it within broader West African historical and political contexts. It traces the evolution of Guinea from its precolonial integration into major empires—such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai—through the rise of indigenous kingdoms like Futa Jallon and the Wassoulou Empire. The chapter explores France’s colonial penetration, the imposition of the assimilation policy, economic exploitation through forced labor and resource extraction, and the political restructuring of the region. Particular attention is given to the role of resistance, especially the campaigns led by Samori Touré, and the administrative strategies employed by the French to consolidate control. It also interrogates the ideology behind French colonial policy, exposing its racial underpinnings masked by the doctrine of assimilation. The work culminates with an analysis of Guinea’s unique path to independence in 1958, marked by its rejection of Charles de Gaulle’s constitutional proposal and its embrace of sovereignty under Ahmed Sékou Touré. By highlighting the historical, economic, and ideological contours of French colonialism, the chapter contributes to a deeper understanding of colonial legacies and the emergence of postcolonial nationalism in Francophone West Africa.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

Abstract
This chapter critically examines the revolutionary leadership of Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and its transformative impact on Ghana’s political and socio-economic trajectory. It contextualizes Rawlings' dual coups in 1979 and 1981 within broader theoretical interpretations of revolution, exploring how discontent with corruption, poor governance, and systemic military decay catalyzed public and junior officer support. The study traces Rawlings' military and political evolution, highlighting the ideological underpinnings, mobilization dynamics, and outcomes of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regimes. It evaluates Rawlings’ efforts in purging corruption, implementing economic reforms, and restoring civilian rule while acknowledging the regime’s authoritarian tendencies and human rights criticisms. The chapter contributes to the discourse on African revolutionary movements by presenting the Rawlings era as a complex blend of military populism, radical reformism, and transitional state-building. Ultimately, it posits Rawlings’ revolutions as pivotal in redirecting Ghana’s path toward democratic governance and economic stabilization.

2025, Wabusimba amiri

In the heart of East Africa, Uganda's political climate has once again drawn attention this time, not for progressive reform, but for the troubling convergence of party dominance and state governance. As the country navigates its path toward the 2026 general elections, a disconcerting precedent was set when President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who also serves as the National Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), suspended Cabinet operations to allow ministers to partake in the party's internal electoral processes. Concurrently, Uganda's Parliament under the leadership of a speaker who is also a member of the ruling party paused its sessions, placing national legislative activity on hold in deference to the NRM's primaries. This development, though perhaps routine in the eyes of domestic power brokers, signals a more profound democratic dilemma: can the internal operations of a ruling party justifiably override the sovereign functions of the state in a constitutional multiparty system?

2025, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Department of Political Science and Iternational Studies

Abstract
This paper presents a critical analysis of the multi-dimensional factors determining Nigeria's foreign policy, qualifying it as a regional power in West Africa and an emerging voice in global politics. Foreign policy is a grand design through which a state discovers its external space, defends its sovereignty, and advances its national interests. In Nigeria's context, foreign policy is determined by a complex interplay of historical, political, economic, and socio-cultural considerations. The study analyzes how Nigeria's colonial past under British authority continues to influence its diplomatic behavior, particularly with regard to the Commonwealth and Western allies. It also considers the nation's geographical positioning and size of population in consolidating its leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the broader African Union (AU).
The dominance of crude oil exports in the country's economy has positioned Nigeria's foreign relations to prioritize energy security and international trade blocs. In addition, the paper analyzes the role of successive political leaderships in shaping foreign policy direction, particularly as a response to domestic dynamics such as democratic transitions, governance challenges, and national security issues such as terrorism and insurgency. The new world order characterized by globalization, shifting alignments, and multilateral diplomacy necessitates continuous adjustment of Nigeria's foreign policy strategies. There is also the consideration of the growing influence of public opinion, civil society, and the Nigerian diaspora in shaping foreign policy debates and decision-making. By means of a critical synthesis of these interrelated determinants, this paper offers an informed understanding of how Nigeria's foreign policy is shaped, bargained, and articulated – because it both serves its internal needs and its broader ambitions for regional influence and international prominence.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

This chapter critically examines the pivotal role of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana’s struggle for independence and the broader Pan-African movement. It traces Nkrumah’s ideological development through his education and activism abroad, particularly his involvement in the Fifth Pan-African Congress, and his return to the Gold Coast where he founded the Convention People's Party (CPP). Through mass mobilization and political resistance, Nkrumah led the country to independence in 1957, becoming Ghana’s first Prime Minister. The chapter explores how his Pan-African vision shaped Ghana's foreign policy, emphasizing African unity, economic emancipation, anti-colonial solidarity, and global peace. Nkrumah's unorthodox diplomacy and establishment of parallel foreign policy institutions are analyzed as part of his efforts to institutionalize Pan-Africanism and support liberation movements across the continent. Despite internal tensions and criticisms, his legacy remains central to the discourse on African nationalism and postcolonial leadership. The chapter also presents Nkrumah’s landmark independence speech as a historical symbol of African liberation, asserting that Ghana’s independence was both a national triumph and a continental call to freedom. Ultimately, it concludes that Nkrumah's leadership not only reshaped Ghana’s political destiny but also inspired decolonization movements across Africa, leaving an indelible mark on the continent’s modern history.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

Abstract
This chapter explores the historical, political, and socio-economic trajectory of The Gambia from colonial subjugation to sovereign statehood. It begins by outlining The Gambia’s unique geography, colonial experience, and its centrality to the transatlantic slave trade, emphasizing its transition from Portuguese to British rule. The narrative traces The Gambia’s constitutional evolution, culminating in its independence from the United Kingdom on February 18, 1965, and its eventual transformation into a republic in 1970 under Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. The chapter delves into key post-independence developments, including political upheavals such as the 1981 coup attempt, the short-lived Senegambia Confederation, and the 1994 military coup that brought Yahya Jammeh to power. It examines the political repression, economic challenges, and diplomatic reorientations during Jammeh’s regime, alongside The Gambia’s contributions to regional and international peacekeeping. Additionally, the chapter highlights the country’s administrative structure, military institutions, and ethnic diversity. The significance of Independence Day is emphasized as a milestone symbolizing The Gambia’s emergence from colonialism and its assertion of national identity. Ultimately, the chapter provides a comprehensive overview of The Gambia’s postcolonial journey, marked by aspirations for democracy amid persistent political and socio-economic challenges.

2025, Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física

O equilíbrio dos ecossistemas costeiros tem sido constantemente discutido por pesquisadores devido a pressão de atividades antrópicas e processos naturais sobre essas localidades. Nesse contexto, o município de São Gonçalo do Amarante, acompanhando a tendência dos últimos anos do estado do Ceará, tem passado por mudanças econômicas baseadas na valorização das porções litorâneas, ocasionando grandes consequências para região. Portanto, esse trabalho tem por objetivo analisar as características naturais e antrópicas do município, por meio de técnicas de geoprocessamento em um Sistema de Informação Geográfica que traduzem expressões da paisagem, por meio de sua vulnerabilidade natural e ambiental. Foram elaborados mapa de vulnerabilidade natural, visando mostrar a predisposição do ambiente frente a fatores ambientais naturais, e mapa de vulnerabilidade ambiental, que retrata a susceptibilidade do ambiente a pressões antrópicas. A elaboração de uma avaliação de vulnerabilidade natural e...

2025, Revue Africaniste Inter-Disciplinaire – RAID

Cet article explore conjointement la façon dont les acteurs
politiques bâtissent ou non de leur peopolisation à travers le jeu politique
au Cameroun. D’autant plus que la production et la diffusion de leurs
images sont de nature à susciter des représentations genrées conformes
aux attentes des publics-électeurs. À partir d’un tel objectif, l’on serait en
droit de s’interroger sur le sens de la mise en scène de la photographie
politique dans le champ politique. Mieux encore, comment est-ce que,
cette mise en scène de la photographie politique se projette, subjugue et
s’impose sur la scène du combat politique ? Afin de donner corps à cette
interrogation, l’approche empirique sera mobilisée combinant ainsi les
données qualitatives et quantitatives. En mobilisant la perspective
sociologique wébérienne visant à saisir cette forme de stratégie
communicationnelle à partir de l’image en politique et son influence sur
la compétition politique, l’hypothèse qui fait sens est qu’elle permet de
comprendre et de faire comprendre la corrélation qui existe entre elle et
la perception qu’elle induit. En effectuant les enquêtes de terrain, l’on
parviendrait alors à deux résultats : le premier résultat rend compte de la
bataille autour de la compréhension du sens de l’image qui met aux prises
les considérations indigènes et les perceptions savantes de l’image. Par
contre, le second résultat s’informe de la rationalité de l’image comme
expression d’un rapport de force qui s’établit entre les acteurs politiques
en compétition

2025

ABSTRACT
The overall objective of the study was to assess the interface between an influx of refugees and insecurity situation at border markets in western Tanzania: A Case of Buhigwe District. The study assessed how refugees generate impacts on host communities in border markets, whereby eight villages in border markets were assessed using a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research strategies.
The data of this study were collected from Buhigwe District. The sample population for this study composed of 168 respondents. Data were gathered through structured questionnaire, interview, and focus group discussion for primary data; secondary data were obtained from various reports and literature surveys. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS; appropriate statistical analysis such as non-parametric Chi-Square and frequencies, descriptive, histograms and pie charts were used to present.
Evidence from the findings revealed that there is a positive association on the interface between the influx of refugees and insecurity situation which persist at border markets in Buhigwe District. The conclusion made from the study area is the presence of refugees, has led to high-security instability, during the initial presence of refugees, increased crime and tensions are the results of the influx of refugees in Buhigwe District. From the eight surveyed villages refugees were identified as the major factor of insecurity around border markets in Buhigwe district. The study recommends that government and international humanitarian agencies should give sufficient support security initiatives to nations and areas that accommodate refugees like Buhigwe District in Tanzania.

2025, Abhath Review

الترحيل القسري للمدنيين في النزاعات المسلحة غير الدولية يُعد من الانتهاكات الجسيمة للقانون الدولي الإنساني. يُعرّف الترحيل القسري بأنه نقل الأشخاص المدنيين قسرًا من منازلهم دون مبررات أمنية أو عسكرية مشروعة، وغالبًا ما يتم ذلك في سياق سياسات تطهير عرقي أو تغيير ديمغرافي. وفقًا للقانون الدولي الإنساني، وتحديدًا اتفاقيات جنيف وبروتوكولها الإضافي الثاني، يُحظر الترحيل القسري إلا إذا اقتضته ضرورة أمنية ملحة. في القضاء الجنائي الدولي، أبرزت المحاكم المؤقتة مثل المحكمة الجنائية ليوغوسلافيا السابقة هذا الفعل كجريمة ضد الإنسانية، كما تبنّت المحكمة الجنائية الدولية هذا المفهوم في نظام روما الأساسي. ويمثل الترحيل القسري انتهاكًا مزدوجًا؛ أولًا بحقوق الأفراد، وثانيًا بقواعد الحرب التي تحمي المدنيين، ما يجعله موضوعًا أساسيًا في المساءلة الجنائية الدولية.

2025

This paper critically examines the enduring impact of colonial legacies on regional integration efforts in Africa and Europe. European regionalism, driven by economic and political cooperation, contrasts with African integration, which has faced structural and institutional challenges rooted in colonial histories. Through an analysis of key treaties, agreements, and governance structures, this paper explores the contradictory path of regional integration in both continents, it employing a historical approach, and draws from postcolonial and dependency theories to highlight the role of external influences in shaping regional policies. The findings suggest that addressing historical injustices and structural inequalities is crucial for fostering effective regional cooperation and sustainable development. Additionally, this paper parse into the role of economic dependencies, trade imbalances, and institutional weaknesses in shaping the course of regional integration in post-colonial Africa while drawing comparisons to Europe's success in overcoming historical conflicts and achieving political cohesion. 1

2025, HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)

Afrique " (Churchill), l'Ouganda reste prisonnier de clichés hérités d'un passé chaotique qui ne reflètent pourtant plus guère la réalité. L'Ouganda actuel est en effet un pays en complète mutation, en pleine reconstruction économique et politique, qui devient un pôle essentiel de stabilité régionale au coeur d'une zone de fractures minée par la violence, marquée par des conflits " tectoniques " et la déliquescence des structures économiques ou étatiques. Après des années de guerre civile, au gré d'un processus de pacification et de démocratisation assez lent, un nouvel ordre politique est en train d'émerger. Au plan économique, en contraste avec ses voisins immédiats, l'Ouganda offre l'image d'un pays en croissance qui offre aux investisseurs des opportunités d'autant plus intéressantes que se réactive un processus d'intégration régionale (au sein de la Communauté est-africaine) qui, à l'horizon 2000, devrait constituer un des plus vastes marchés d'Afrique avec près de 100 millions d'habitants. A travers cette étude, nous voudrions d'abord évaluer l'ampleur de ces mutations opérées par l'Ouganda depuis quelques années et les enjeux économiques, politiques et diplomatiques qu'elles comportent pour l'ensemble de la zone. Doit-on voir dans ce pays aux marches de l'Afrique centrale, des Grands Lacs et de l'Afrique de l'Est, aux confins de l'Afrique anglophone et francophone, un nouveau pôle de croissance et de stabilisation de la région ? Peut-il consolider sa position et poursuivre ses mutations ? En répondant à ces questions, nous voudrions aussi relever les ambiguïtés de l'attitude française vis-à-vis de ce pays, qui nous paraissent révélatrices d'une part des préjugés qui entravent la politique africaine de la France et obèrent son redéploiement audelà des " pays du champ ", d'autre part des contradictions entre un rapprochement économique de fait et une " méfiance ", voire un ostracisme politico-diplomatique qui ne se justifie pourtant pas vraiment. Ces contradictions témoignent des dissonances et interférences qui existent entre les divers acteurs chargés de la définition des relations franco-africaines. Sans parti pris, il s'agit de lever les malentendus sur ce pays, considéré par nombre de responsables français comme un pion anglo-saxon, voire un vecteur de diverses velléités expansionnistes (américaines, tutsi...) et s'interroger sur des clichés qui fondent une vision géopolitique simpliste, et assez largement fantasmatique, de l'Afrique des Grands Lacs.

2025, ECOWAS Response Patterns and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in West Africa: A Study of the Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Coups

This paper examines the response of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to unconstitutional changes of government within its member states. The research focuses on ECOWAS responses to the military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, and assesses the effectiveness of sanctions and other ECOWAS response patterns to military overthrows in restoring constitutional order. It also examines the effectiveness of ECOWAS interventions, including sanctions, mediation efforts, and military intervention, in deterring military coups from taking place in other counties in the region. Through an extensive use of secondary sources of data including academic journals and media reports, this paper identifies recurrent challenges in ECOWAS's approach. Key findings indicate that while ECOWAS has shown vibrant support for democracy, its responses to unconstitutional changes of government are often constrained by political, social, and economic complexities within member states. However, the response patterns adopted by ECOWAS in addressing the Military coups in have failed to prevent military coups from taking place in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The study highlights the need for nuanced and context-specific strategies that apply to underlying causes of instability and the promotion of sustainable governance practices. Ultimately, this assessment gives insights into the strengths and limitations of ECOWAS as a regional actor in managing unconstitutional changes of government. It proffers policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the organization's capacity to foster democratic stability and prevent potential membership withdrawals, thereby strengthening regional integration in West Africa.

2025

This review essay explores the complexities of democracy and authoritarianism in Ghana, the first Sub-Saharan African nation to achieve independence in 1957. It examines Ghana's transition between military and democratic governments, focusing on three key periods of elected leadership and three instances of military rule prior to the establishment of the Fourth Republic in 1993. The study emphasizes the critical prerequisites for democratization, such as economic development, institutionalization, and the role of political elites, while drawing on pertinent ideologies like modernization and authoritarianism. Despite Ghana's status as an African beacon of democratic peace, challenges such as corruption, weak state institutions, and limited political participation persist, implying that the country's democratic framework, while stable, is paradoxically linked to underlying issues that threaten its integrity. This analysis affirms the necessity of a balanced approach to mobilization and institutionalization, as well as the importance of elite negotiations in avoiding political instability, ultimately posing significant questions about the future of democracy in Ghana.

2025, American Thinker

Donald Trump once said, “I Run the Country and the World” and his critics quickly pounced on America’s imperial president, and the man who would be king. Like many things POTUS says, this needs to be taken with a grain of salt mixed in with a lot of context. It used to be a truism that the American President ran the world, or at last much of it – with the phrase “leader of the free world” ubiquitous across party lines. From the end of WWII through the fall of the Berlin Wall, America ran half the world - and it was the most economically productive half, so much so by the end of the Cold War the other half of the planet wanted to join our side. Then, from the Soviet collapse in 1991 through to the Twin Towers' collapse on 9/11, America did rule the world, or most of it anyway. But since around 2014 when Russia began its re-expansion, America's supremacy has been gradually eroded - fueled more by China's meteoric global rise than Russia's more limited resurgence - with a potential bifurcation of world politics into familiar Cold War era blocs under way.

2025, In process

To make Democracy sustainable people must be educated to practice democracy by resolving conflicts through deliberation and majority vote between equals; voting should be licensed to make individual ballots free and informed.

2025, connor lingard

There is plenty of debate about the use and effectiveness of neopatrimonial governance, especially when it comes to achieving sustainable development. Neopatrimonial structures often revolve around the informal patron-client networks, although this has a lot of criticisms, which I will discuss in the essay as I also make a case for what is discussed by David Booth and Frederick Golloba-Mutebi as Developmental patrimonialism (Booth and Golooba-Mutebi, 2012) suggesting the patronage networks if directed strategically can drive national development objectives. In this essay, I will first outline the theoretical framework of neopatrimonialism and its impact on development; I will then set out the concept of development patrimonialism and set it on the background of Rwanda's unique governance and its ability to harness centralized control and patrimonial networks to champion socio-economic progress as well as creating stability by investing in infrastructure health and education reforms, and how this has led to significant economic growth. This essay will assess not only the victories of development patrimonialism but also the challenges which Rwanda and other states still face and how patrimonialism needs to be tightly regulated to have a chance of fostering stability and development, as well as also assessing the risks posed by limited political pluralism. Finally, the essay will assess whether Rwanda can offer a viable model for using developmental patrimonialism for other African states or if its success uniquely applies to Rwanda.

2025

Forest communities around the world are increasingly connected to defend territorial and community rights over lands and forests. This is how the International Model Forest Network (IMFN) was created in 1995 by the Government of Canada, aiming at bringing together a diverse association of individuals and groups towards a common vision of sustainable development across extensive landscapes. In 2002, the Ibero-American Model Forest Network (RIABM) was created in Costa Rica, and in 2009 the African Model Forest Network (AMFN) emerged in Cameroon. This research examines how Model Forests' actors build shared knowledge on community-based forest management through translocal dynamics. It draws on a comparative analysis of the Choco Andino Model Forest, Ecuador, and the Campo Ma'an Model Forest, Cameroon. It shows the financial and project-based opportunities of being part of a Model Forest network, and the challenges related to local appropriation and visibility, political continuity, leadership and tensions with extractive activities.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

Abstract
This chapter explores the historical trajectory of Gabon from early Bantu migrations to its eventual independence from France in 1960. It examines the region’s strategic encounters with Portuguese, Dutch, and particularly French colonial powers, with emphasis on the political, economic, and cultural transformations induced by European influence. The chapter traces the consolidation of French colonial authority through treaties, missionary activities, and military expeditions, leading to Gabon's integration into French Equatorial Africa. It highlights the emergence of nationalist movements led by Léon Mba and Jean-Hilaire Aubame, the transition to autonomy within the French Community, and the relatively peaceful declaration of independence. Post-independence political instability, including the 1964 coup and France’s continued intervention, underscores Gabon's enduring neocolonial ties. The chapter further assesses Gabon’s postcolonial development under President Albert-Bernard Bongo, characterized by resource-driven economic growth, centralized governance, and entrenched Franco-Gabonese relations. Finally, it analyzes the complexities of Gabonese identity, nationalism, and the dual embrace of both indigenous traditions and French cultural legacies, revealing a nuanced postcolonial experience marked by stability, inequality, and evolving sovereignty.

2025, Philosophie de la stratégie française

C’est au croisement des intérêts géopolitiques et des trajectoires historiques que se façonne une culture stratégique. La stratégie africaine de la France, forgée à travers une longue présence sur le continent, mérite d’être interrogée : quelles expériences l’ont façonnée ? Quelles logiques politiques et idéologiques la soutiennent ? Souvent évoquée, mais rarement déconstruite, cette stratégie reste ambivalente. Elle est visible à travers les interventions militaires, les accords de défense et les partenariats sécuritaires. Mais elle est peu questionnée dans ses fondements : héritages coloniaux, volonté d’influence, et adaptation aux crises contemporaines. La stratégie française en Afrique ne se réduit pas à un simple usage de moyens. Elle repose aussi sur une vision, des doctrines et des représentations, à la fois historiques et philosophiques. L’étudier, c’est donc comprendre un outil de puissance, mais aussi un récit politique façonné par des décennies d’expérience et de projection sur le continent.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

This chapter provides an in-depth exploration of Eritrea’s path to independence, tracing its complex historical, political, and socio-geographic evolution. Beginning with its transformation from a region within the Ethiopian province of Tigray to an Italian colony in the late 19th century, the chapter examines Eritrea’s shifting colonial and post-colonial status, including periods under Italian, British, and Ethiopian control. The dissolution of the Eritrean-Ethiopian federation by Emperor Haile Selassie and subsequent annexation of Eritrea sparked a prolonged armed struggle for independence, led by the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and later dominated by the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF). The chapter highlights key phases of the thirty-year war (1961–1991), the role of international actors in peace negotiations, and the eventual referendum in 1993 that culminated in Eritrea’s recognition as an independent state. Additionally, the chapter outlines Eritrea’s diverse geography, population demographics, ethnic and linguistic composition, religious landscape, and socio-economic challenges. Together, these elements provide a comprehensive account of Eritrea’s journey from colonization and armed resistance to sovereignty and state-building.

2025, Oxford Bibliographies

Cocoa
production has, over the years since its discovery, assumed an important role in shaping the economic, social, and political structures of cocoa-producing countries, particularly in West Africa. Not only has it done so at a local level, but it has also defined the place of West African producing countries in the global economy. Over the years, cocoa evolved to become an integral part of many cultures. Generally, cocoa is produced in the tropical and subtropical regions. It is distinctly selective to climate and soil and is very susceptible to pests and diseases. This regional exactitude significantly shaped global cocoa marketing and consumption during the course of the evolution of the industry, in which cocoa was produced for markets in temperate countries. The dynamics that triggered and were triggered by cocoa production at all levels—locally, regionally, and globally—offer essential analytical pathways in approaching the development debate in Africa. Various scholarly works examine the origins and significance of cocoa production in West African societies, economies, and politics. They engage debates on the impact of cocoa production on capital accumulation, class formation, regional economic integration, gender relations, and the environment.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

2025, European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences

This study analyses the dynamics of drinking water supply and economic inequalities in the non-parcelled areas of Koudougou, Burkina Faso. Using a mixed method, the study reveals that lowincome households, which rely on community water points, incur high costs, travel long distances and face significant health risks linked to water quality. Wealthier households, on the other hand, enjoy more regular and secure access to drinking water thanks to their private installations. This disparity accentuates social inequalities, keeping vulnerable households in precarious situations.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

This chapter examines the historical and political evolution of Equatorial Guinea from independence in 1968 to the present. It traces the country's colonial past, beginning with Portuguese exploration and later Spanish control, through the phases of colonization, partial decolonization, and full independence. The chapter highlights the authoritarian rule of the first president, Francisco Macías Nguema, whose regime was marked by political repression, human rights abuses, and alignment with socialist states. It then explores the succession of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, whose long-standing rule has entrenched a highly centralized presidential system underpinned by corruption, suppression of dissent, and limited democratic space, despite the nation's vast oil wealth. The chapter provides an analysis of Equatorial Guinea's governance structure—executive dominance, a weak judiciary, and restricted legislative power—while discussing the role of ethnic politics and international relations. Comparisons are drawn between Equatorial Guinea and its former colonizer, Spain, to illuminate the enduring relics of colonialism and the divergence in political development, especially with regard to democratic institutions, rule of law, and governance models. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the ongoing challenges to political reform, transparency, and human rights in Equatorial Guinea amid superficial constitutional changes and elite-driven power struggles.

2025

Since attaining independence on 9 July 2011, South Sudan has topped local, regional and international headlines on the vast challenges that the nascent State has faced. Yet, more international attention, whether consciously or unconsciously, has been focused on Syria, France and Turkey. Born a prefailed State, the country’s situation has worsened through war and ethnic violence. The political crisis that rocked the country on 15 December 2013, stirred up by a zero sum power struggle between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, was the tip of an accumulated iceberg. Since inheriting the political throne from the late Dr John Garang De’ Mabior, the two have failed to conceive a united vision for bringing prosperity to South Sudan. However, with the blood of millions having been spilled for independence, the South Sudanese people still entrusted the two leaders to bring stability to country and for its people. Yet, this has not been the case. Instead, they have...

2025, Moncef Bakail

This article deals with the main causes of the spread of corruption in the African continent and its impact on the socio-economic development in Africa, most notably the loss of value of work, the destabilization of moral values, the... more

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

This chapter examines the trajectory of Egypt’s struggle for sovereignty from the 19th century through the mid-20th century, focusing on the interplay between colonial interests, military influence, and nationalist resistance. Initially driven by strategic and commercial interests, British involvement in Egypt deepened following financial crises caused by infrastructure investments and unsustainable debt. The resulting "veiled protectorate" led to increasing foreign control, culminating in direct British military intervention in 1882 to suppress nationalist uprisings led by Ahmed Urabi. Despite formal independence in 1922, British influence remained dominant through military presence and political manipulation until the 1952 revolution. The chapter also highlights Egypt's evolving identity during British and French colonization, noting efforts at modernization and the persistent struggle against foreign dominance. The eventual withdrawal of British forces in 1956, following the Suez Crisis, signaled the end of colonial rule and the beginning of a new era under the Arab Republic of Egypt. The chapter underscores the enduring legacy of colonialism in shaping Egypt’s political structures, economic orientation, and national consciousness.

2025, Navigating the tyrannies of fieldwork: a Nigerian experience

The paper discusses some of the hurdle researchers of Africa usually confront while conducting research. It details some of these challenges with relevant examples in south-west and north-central Nigeria. Its thrust is: much as fieldwork is challenging and research needs to be circumspect in navigating unpredictable landscape, the exercise can be quite rewarding depending on the effort, determination and preparedness of the researcher.

2025, Relics of Colonialism: An Introduction to African Politics

This chapter explores the rich and complex history of Djibouti, tracing its evolution from the ancient Land of Punt through the Islamic sultanates of Adal and Ifat, to French colonial rule and eventual independence. It examines archaeological evidence of early habitation, the spread of Islam, and the rise of powerful Muslim states in the Horn of Africa. The chapter details the colonial period under French control, highlighting key events such as the Franco-Ethiopian railway’s construction, border disputes, and the strategic importance of Djibouti during World War II. Special focus is given to the referendums of 1958 and 1967, where issues of ethnic identity, political manipulation, and colonial interests shaped the path to independence. The chapter further analyzes Djibouti’s post-independence political developments, including the establishment of a one-party state, the civil war with Afar rebels, and subsequent peace agreements. It also addresses Djibouti’s modern role as a hub for international military bases, emphasizing its strategic significance at the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East. By weaving together archaeological, political, and socio-economic threads, this chapter offers a comprehensive understanding of Djibouti’s historical trajectory and its enduring influence in regional and global geopolitics.