The Fragile State Index (FSI) 2019 showed that most African countries are generally less fragile, with slight improvements since previous years. The FSI, published by Fund for Peace, ranks countries based on how different pressures they face “impact their levels of fragility.” The FSI takes into account variables such as
The citizens of Gabon woke up on Monday, 7th January to find that the military had staged a coup and ousted President Ali Bongo. According to Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang’s radio and television statements, the military has staged a coup with the intent of “restoring democracy.” He continued to say that
Over the past year, MP Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly referred to as Bobi Wine, has been the face of Uganda’s opposition. He has become a fiery opponent of the oppressive Museveni government. As his local support base increases and international support spreads, the Ugandan government has clearly demonstrated they will intentionally and publicly suppress the opposition in the
Soon after the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia finished his speech on June 23rd at the Meskel Square, a grenade was denoted causing 10,000 supporters to run in fear of their lives. His supporters were eager to hear about his new reformist agenda. As a result of the attacks,
At around 10 pm on Monday June 5th, three assailants conducted simultaneous suicide bombing attacks targeting a Koranic school, a Mosque and a shop in Diffa administration in Niger. Conflicting reports are being circulated regarding the identity of the attackers; it was either three women or two women and one
The main opposition in the Republic of Guinea, Union des Forces Démocratures de Guinée (UFDG), resumed protests over the local election held in February 2018. The opposition party called for strikes aimed at crippling activity in the capital city of Conakry. Local elections and the protests that followed The local
On May 7, the Supreme Court of Equatorial Guinea upheld the February 26 decision to dissolve Citizens for Innovation (CI), the country’s main opposition party. The court rulings also maintained the 30-year jail terms handed to 21 of its members. The military coup and the consequences Dissolving CI came less
On Sunday April 22nd, Rwandans woke up to the news that four mass graves were discovered containing thousands of victims of the Rwandan genocide. This discovery of these graves forces the country’s 11.92 million citizens to once again address one of the most horrific events on African soil. The Rwandan
Various armed groups in South Sudan released over 200 child soldiers from its ranks within the last week, according to UNICEF. This latest release is part of an effort from the beginning of the year, orchestrated by UNICEF and supporting NGOs, to get over 700 child soldiers to be released.
On 23rd February 2018, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in South Sudan announced that they have enough evidence to charge at least 41 senior officers and officials with war crimes and crimes against humanity during the four-year civil war. Background on the conflict in South Sudan South Sudan,
On 29th January 2018, the member States of the African Union (AU) voted in favour of Morocco re-joining the esteemed body after the North African country left the institution in 1984. Morocco’s decision to leave the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor of the AU, was based on OAU’s
It has been two and a half months since former President Robert Mugabe resigned from office. This momentous occasion ushered in Emmerson Mnangagwa as the third President of Zimbabwe. The Mnangagwa presidency serves as a transitional government that will prepare the country for the upcoming election. During the World Economic
On November 22nd, a scenario that seemed impossible to Zimbabweans came true. In a televised address, the Speaker of the Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, read President Robert Mugabe’s resignation letter, effectively ending his 37-year reign in power. The news, as expected, was met with much excitement, leading to streets parties celebrating
A new report by the United Nations Monitoring Group claims countries a part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have continually failed to enforce the ban on charcoal exports out of Somalia, which is the primary source of funding for al-Shabaab. Who is al-Shabaab and why is there
On Friday, 27th October, the International Criminal Court (ICC) spokesman, Fadi el Abdallah, confirmed that the small Eastern African nation of Burundi has pulled out from the court. This comes a year after the country informed the United Nations about their intention to withdraw. Current case against Burundi According to
On Thursday 19th October, five anti-government protesters were shot and injured by police during sporadic clashes in Togo’s capital city of Lomé. According to the spokesman of the main opposition party Alliance Nationale pour le Changement (ANC), Eric Dupuy, two of the five injured during the protests are in critical
The Sudanese people awoke Friday morning to find out that the Trump Administration had lifted the 20-year trade embargo against their country. As stated in a previous article, President Trump Delays Decision to Permanently Lift Sanctions On the Sudan, the current administration announced in early July that it would delay
The latest attack by the militant group al-Shabaab came on 29th September when its fighters orchestrated a bombing and an armed assault on Barire military base, 50 kilometres southwest of the capital city of Mogadishu. The attack resulted in the death of at least 15 soldiers, and the theft of
Tensions are high in Cameroon after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest the continued detention of inhabitants in English-speaking towns while president Paul Biya addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The protests took place despite a ban on demonstrations and internal movement of persons
Since the end of August, top health care official Willy Randriamarotia has confirmed 22 cases of the pneumonic plague in Antananarivo, Madagascar; five of these cases have resulted in death. Health officials assure the public that the ministry has the outbreak under control; but over 300 people have checked themselves
