Cameroon 2025 Election: Governance, Conflict and Succession
By Adam Abass Any Cameroonian under the age of 40 has never known any president other than Paul Biya. Biya, who ascended to power in 1982, has dominated the country’s political space for more than 40 years and has manoeuvred his way into power through his stranglehold on major sectors, including the electoral commission, the[…]
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Stitched in Uncertainty: Kenya’s AGOA Dilemma and the Looming Trade Cliff
By Oluwaseun Taiwo A Nairobi garment factory buzzing with energy. Sewing machines whirring. Hands darting across denim. Piles of jeans freshly stitched awaiting export to American shelves. Then, a chill creeps in. Not from the breeze. But from a looming deadline. September is around the corner. And with it, the possible death of Kenya’s golden[…]
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Why is Somalia losing ground to Al-Shabaab?
By Adam Abass In 2022, the Somali government and clan militias, supported by the United States and Türkiye drone strikes, launched a concerted military offensive against Al-Shabaab, leading to significant battlefield success and territorial gains. In the past few months, however, these military gains appear to have reversed, as the group has intensified its attacks[…]
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President Traoré is bold but too ambiguous
By Thomas Matthewson In October, 2024, Ibrahim Traoré, the interim President of Burkina Faso, announced plans to revoke mining permits held by foreign companies and increase domestic gold production, claiming “We know how to mine our gold, and I don’t understand why we’re going to let multinationals come and mine it”. This was made during[…]
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Youth Radicalization in Northern Nigeria: Unpacking the Causes and Exploring Solutions
By Francis Assam Nigeria faces a plethora of national security threats, from farmer–herder conflicts and separatist movements to banditry and kidnapping-for-ransom. Yet over the past three decades, terrorism has emerged as the most devastating challenge. Groups such as Boko Haram (formally known as Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad, JAS) and its stronger faction, Islamic State West[…]
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Nigeria’s Growing Insecurity Crisis: The Rise of Terrorist Groups and the Price of Inaction
By Oluwaseun Taiwo Nigeria is once again in the grips of escalating violence. From the highlands of Plateau State to the forests of Zamfara and Borno, communities are caught in the crossfire of relentless terrorist attacks, armed banditry, and mass killings. The cycle of violence, marked by the emergence of new terror groups, mass displacement[…]
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A FRAGILE HOPE? EXAMINING THE DRC-RWANDA CEASEFIRE
By Francis Assam The Democratic Republic of Congo has been a hotbed of violence for decades, with conflicts ranging from armed insurgencies to terrorism fuelled by rebel groups. Despite its vast reserves of rare earth minerals, the country has experienced various forms of violence, leading to the displacement of millions and the loss of countless[…]
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US Foreign Aid to Africa: Can NGOs Survive Without It?
By Oluwaseun Taiwo For decades, US foreign aid has been a lifeline for African NGOs. Through agencies like USAID, American support has fuelled countless initiatives tackling poverty, disease, conflict, and governance failures. In nations such as South Sudan, Somalia, Liberia, and Ethiopia, US-backed NGOs have served as first responders, providing life-saving aid in crisis zones.[…]
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Five years on, How Central Sahelian Juntas are gripping onto power
By Adam Abass This year marks five years since the central Sahel witnessed a significant rise in unconstitutional military takeovers. These coups which rapidly spread across the region, began in 2020 in Mali with the military overthrow of President Ibrahim Keita. A countercoup the following year against the civilian-military-led transitional government further entrenched military rule[…]
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Decolonizing Security: Assessing the Implications of France’s Military Withdrawal from Africa
By Oluwaseun Taiwo For decades, France has played a central role in the security and economic affairs of its former African colonies. From military interventions to economic partnerships and political influence, its presence has been deeply entrenched. However, a significant shift is now underway. France is withdrawing its troops from several Western and French-speaking African[…]
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