Monique Bennett
Monique Bennett holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Political Science at Stellenbosch University funded by the Peace Research Institute of Oslo. She enjoys a mixed-methods approach to research across topics such as governance, environmental issues, human security and peacebuilding within the African context. She supports her research team by providing data-driven evidence for their research/op-eds and writes for various South Africa news outlets.
Zimbabwe Elections Tracker 2023

Zimbabwe Elections Tracker 2023

Introduction  On 23 August, the incumbent president of Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of ZANU-PF, will seek another five-year term. Mnangagwa, who ascended to power after the November 2017 coup that ended former president Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule,...

How to silence the guns in Cabo Delgado

How to silence the guns in Cabo Delgado

Over the past year, violence and armed conflict caused about 55 000 fatalities on the African continent, an increase of almost 10% since 2021. Across countries in the Sahel and Somalia, fatalities increased by 70%, marking a clear escalation of violence. In the...

Armed and dangerous 

Armed and dangerous 

Present-day arms trafficking in southern Africa can be traced to the protracted civil wars in Angola and Mozambique, as well as the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Civil unrest, urban crime and armed conflict led to the proliferation and circulation of...

Africans want democracy, but elections must be fair

Africans want democracy, but elections must be fair

This year the African Union (AU) celebrates its 20th anniversary. Despite facing many setbacks and challenges in the past two decades, the institution remains key in addressing the many difficulties facing the continent. The state of democracy and respect for human...

Child marriages – Until death

Child marriages – Until death

Child marriages are a tradition that has existed globally across social classes, religions, and cultures. Historically, European royalty used child marriages as a strategy to secure political alliances, and in sacred texts such as the Qur’an, there is no explicit age...

Angola pre-election day developments

Angola pre-election day developments

Election campaigns Indications are that election campaigning has remained relatively peaceful with no major incidents of violence reported. The National Youth Council launched a door-to-door voter education campaign in Luanda. This campaign helped inform and educate...

Angola Elections Tracker 2022

Angola Elections Tracker 2022

Introduction Political commentators predict that the Angolan 2022 electoral contest is set to be one of its most competitive yet. Opposition parties hope to address grievances like unemployment, poverty, inadequate housing, and public services in electoral votes this...

Monique Bennett
Monique Bennett holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Political Science at Stellenbosch University funded by the Peace Research Institute of Oslo. She enjoys a mixed-methods approach to research across topics such as governance, environmental issues, human security and peacebuilding within the African context. She supports her research team by providing data-driven evidence for their research/op-eds and writes for various South Africa news outlets.
Armed and dangerous 

Armed and dangerous 

Present-day arms trafficking in southern Africa can be traced to the protracted civil wars in Angola and Mozambique, as well as the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Civil unrest, urban crime and armed conflict led to the proliferation and circulation of...

Child marriages – Until death

Child marriages – Until death

Child marriages are a tradition that has existed globally across social classes, religions, and cultures. Historically, European royalty used child marriages as a strategy to secure political alliances, and in sacred texts such as the Qur’an, there is no explicit age...