In On Africa IOA
Somaliland elections: Steps to democracy and state recognition
14th August 2013 Somaliland declared itself an independent state in 1991, after the demise of the dictatorial rule of Somalia’s Siyaad Barre. Somaliland,... →
Chinese money for Ghana’s natural resources: The real cost
13th August 2013 China’s growing interest in Africa has resulted in huge capital flows into the continent. From multi-billion dollar investments in oil and... →
Making chaos profitable in the DRC
7th August 2013 There lies a very simple answer to why some of Africa's bloodiest, most brutal wars never seem to end. They are not really wars in the... →
A subtle engagement: Ethiopia and India
6th August 2013 Even as the global economy has suffered from a prolonged crisis, a number of African countries have seen significant growth. Ethiopia stands out... →
Contagion: The epidemic of slum growth in African cities and the implications thereof for sustainable urban development
5th August 2013 The world has undergone a demographic metamorphosis that has never before occurred in the history of mankind. Whereas before the 21st century the... →
Shouting in a void? Opposition politics and the narrowing of democratic space in Uganda
17th July 2013 All is clearly not well in President Yoweri Museveni’s Uganda. On 18 June 2013, the BBC aired an interview with Ugandan army general, David Sejusa,... →
Land reform in South Africa and Zimbabwe: Towards the realisation of socio-economic rights?
16th July 2013 The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) was adopted by the United Nations in 1966 and entered into force in... →
Subsidising climate change? The socioeconomic implications of fossil fuel subsidies for Africa
9th July 2013 With the exception of a few environmental sceptics, there is now more or less consensus within the scientific community that human activity is... →
Islam in Tunisia’s new Constitution: Between authoritarianism and a political overture
8th July 2013 Since the end of the Tunisian revolution in January 2011, Tunisian society has been going through a phase of renegotiation of what the new Tunisia... →
Scrambling for Southern Africa’s natural gas: Boon or bubble?
5th July 2013 Sequestered deep beneath Southern Africa’s onshore and offshore surfaces are their next trillion-dollar resource boon, lying in wait – if industry... →
Diabetes epidemic in Africa: Now is the time to act – Part 1
4th July 2013 For decades, the African continent was known as the land of famine where many lives were lost because of drought and precarious food production... →
Forgotten farmers: Poverty and development in rural Africa
3rd July 2013 Poverty in Africa is not a new phenomenon. During the colonial period, European powers oppressed and impoverished many indigenous Africans... →
The booming Zimbabwe tobacco sector and massive deforestation: Causes for concern
2nd July 2013 There has been a sharp increase in tobacco production in Zimbabwe over the last four years, mainly from smallholder farmers who were the... →
The African economy – Too hot to handle?
27th June 2013 Following the global financial crisis of 2008, the term ‘overheating’ has gained prominence. In the East, China has been the clear frontrunner as... →
Africa and South America part 2: South Africa’s development and lessons learned from Brazil
26th June 2013 Click here to read Part I of this paper. This CAI paper is part 2 of a two-part series. It follows on from part 1, titled, ‘Africa and South... →
Africa and South America part 1: Perspectives on inter-regional cooperation
25th June 2013 Click here to read Part II of this paper. This CAI paper is the first in a two-part series. It explores the possibilities of inter-regional... →
Youth should be our wealth: A case for making due diligence an international legal obligation in the extractive industries
21st June 2013 According to the United Nations (UN) International Labour Organisation (ILO), “one million children aged between 5 and 17 are engaged in... →
Legalising the rhino horn trade: An effective protection measure against poachers?
20th June 2013 There are constant calls for solutions to the rhino poaching problem in South Africa. The usual list includes deterring poachers, educating... →
Explaining China’s rise in Africa
19th June 2013 On 24 January 2013, United States (US) Secretary of State, John Kerry, told the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that, “China was all over... →
The end of UK aid: Is South Africa ready?
18th June 2013 The roughly one hundred and fifty year long relationship between the United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa, is about to become, for the first time,... →
Sierra Leone at a crossroads: Making the most of its minerals
7th June 2013 Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest countries, is at a fascinating historical juncture whereby the decisions made by the re-elected government... →
Ghana’s golden future: Artisanal and small-scale gold mining, the environment and the new dawn of the Ghanaian gold rush
6th June 2013 Often referred to as the ‘Gateway to Africa’, Ghana has, over the past decade, witnessed a revival of its gold industry. Today, gold represents... →
Between elections and a hard place: Restoring political legitimacy in Madagascar
5th June 2013 The holding of credible elections in Madagascar is nearly impossible as the country has suffered from a protracted political crisis since 2009,... →
Friends in high places: Benefits and costs of SACU members’ economic ties with South Africa
4th June 2013 In 2012, South Africa’s (SA) gross domestic product (GDP) made up 91.4% of the Southern African Customs Union’s (SACU) combined GDP value.(2) South... →
The South African education environment: A right in practice or a right on paper?
3rd June 2013 All countries in the world acknowledge the universality of the right to education and South Africa (SA) is no exception. According to the... →
Too many cooks spoil the broth: Somalia’s path to stability
30th May 2013 On 12 April 2013, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ended its 22-year break in relations with Somalia by recognising the new government there.... →
A new African dream: The benefits of satellite cities for East Africa
29th May 2013 Over the past few years, increased urbanisation has led to the growth of the informal housing sector (slums) that are characterised by lack of... →
Surface of Lake Chad reduced to only 1/10 of its original size: Sliding towards an irrevocable imbalance, or smart adaptation? - Part 2
28th May 2013 This paper concludes by discussing some of the available pathways for action and smart adaptation. Part 1 of the paper addressed the steady... →
Surface of Lake Chad reduced to only 1/10 of its original size: Sliding towards an irrevocable imbalance, or smart adaptation? - Part 1
27th May 2013 This paper addresses the steady disappearance of Lake Chad and continues from an initial exchange of discussions on the Consultancy Africa... →
Unemployment and immigration in South Africa
24th May 2013 Unemployment has long been a major preoccupation for the South African Government. Based on a narrow definition of unemployment - those people who... →
Women and girls’ rights: The battle of formally abducted girls in northern Uganda
23rd May 2013 This paper explores the grave human rights violations which women and girls suffered during situations of fierce militarisation between the Uganda... →
The role of entrepreneurship and innovation in improving the health status of Sub-Saharan Africa
22nd May 2013 In the last 10 years or so, Africa has experienced a wave of innovative efforts in the technology, agriculture and services sectors, which have... →
Water resources management is everyone’s business: Fostering greater stakeholder cooperation
21st May 2013 The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2013 the International Year of Water Co-operation. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 330... →
Drug trafficking in West Africa: Threatening regional peace, stability and security
20th May 2013 This paper discusses how drug trafficking in West Africa causes severe economic, social, political and public health problems across the whole... →
Sustainable urbanisation – challenges in the 21st century
17th May 2013 The proportion of the world’s urban population is expected to increase from 47% in 2000, to about 57% by 2050. Furthermore, more than 90% of future... →
Prospecting for solutions: The challenges of South Africa’s mining industry
16th May 2013 In 1994, South Africa completed the monumental shift out of the oppressive apartheid system and towards democracy in an attempt to tilt the scales... →
The balancing act in low income countries: Financial stability vs. growth
15th May 2013 Over the past decades Africa has increasingly opened up its economy to international trade and finance. This change has often been at the bequest... →
The informal sector in South Africa: Women street traders in Durban – Part 2
14th May 2013 The informal sector of South Africa is over represented by women who come from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and, as outlined in Part 1,... →
The informal sector in South Africa: Women street traders in Durban – Part 1
13th May 2013 The informal sector is a versatile and dynamic sector which includes a variety of economic activities. Durban is credited as being the first city... →
African firms investing in Asia: Possibilities and challenges
10th May 2013 Trade and investment relations between two of the fastest growing regions currently, namely Asia and Africa, are growing in importance. Asia, in... →
The happiest or saddest day of her life: Child marriage in South Sudan
8th May 2013 South Sudan is one of Africa’s most problematic countries when it comes to child marriage. Most girls get married in South Sudan between the ages... →
