ISSUE 52
Silencing the guns
Africa: fragile gains There’s been some progress towards ending wars on the continent, but 2020 was never a realistic goal for ending all conflicts Seven years ago, in 2013, African leaders solemnly...
Opaque and difficult to quantify
Light weapons: a roadmap Africa has made some innovative interventions to reduce illicit small arms flows, despite a scarcity of data and challenges on several fronts A member of the Sudan People’s...
Silencing the guns
Africa: fragile gains There’s been some progress towards ending wars on the continent, but 2020 was never a realistic goal for ending all conflicts Seven years ago, in 2013, African leaders solemnly vowed “not to...
Opaque and difficult to quantify
Light weapons: a roadmap Africa has made some innovative interventions to reduce illicit small arms flows, despite a scarcity of data and challenges on several fronts A member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement...
Silencing the guns
Africa: fragile gains There’s been some progress towards ending wars on the continent, but 2020 was never a realistic goal for ending all conflicts Seven years ago, in 2013, African leaders solemnly...
Opaque and difficult to quantify
Light weapons: a roadmap Africa has made some innovative interventions to reduce illicit small arms flows, despite a scarcity of data and challenges on several fronts A member of the Sudan People’s...
Africa and the ‘grey market’
Transnational brokering: a complex web Businesses and criminal syndicates have both violated United Nations arms embargoes, sometimes with the collusion of corrupt state officials Arms brokering or inter-mediation is a commercial activity within the international arms trade that is difficult to regulate. Arms brokers often operate transnationally, so often escaping or avoiding national trade controls […]
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A legacy of bloodshed and corruption
The arms industry: fuelling conflict The world’s biggest arms fair, which turned 20 in 2019, is lauded as a ‘fantastic showcase’ by its British hosts, but critics strongly disagree The Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), which boasts of being the world’s largest arms fair, celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. The biennial event, held […]
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Existential threats to humanity
Nuclear weapons: the African view African states argue that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only guarantee against their use or threat of use The climate crisis – the process of climate change – and its far-reaching and unprecedented challenge to all aspects of society, is often (and perhaps correctly) viewed as the […]
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A plague of greed and illegality
Small arms and light weapons: an African overview State fragility and political instability continue to create an ever-increasing demand for small arms and light weapons Following the end of World War II, Africa’s period of independence induced euphoria and sense of the prosperity that would follow the decolonisation of Africa did not last long. The […]
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A rapidly changing landscape of ever increasing threats
Cyber crime: It’s a war Cyber crime knows no boundaries and the perpetrators are constantly improving their capabilities Cyber crime cost Africa an estimated $3.5 billion in 2017 alone, according to pan-African IT business advisory company Serianu, but most countries don’t have the right legislation to defend themselves from – let alone prosecute – this […]
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How governments are ‘weaponising’ surveillance
Surveillance technology: used and abused African states have been deploying surveillance capabilities to spy on and intimidate youth movements and activists On 20 August, 2016, a group of mostly young social media activists gathered at a property in the Burundi capital, Bujumbura, to discuss national political affairs. The political climate was tense in the central […]
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The rhino rifle syndicates
Poaching: the big guns South Africa’s game reserves have been hard hit by an intensive campaign of poaching and wildlife crime The rampant increase in wildlife poaching has been widely acknowledged as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity conservation in Africa. The Asian demand for rhinoceros horn has seen a massive onslaught on the […]
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Gun trouble in the green city in the sun
Kenya: the arms race Kenyan authorities are grappling to answer the question of how large numbers of illegal firearms have ended up in civilian hands Referred to as the “green city in the sun”, Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, hosts more than 100 multinationals, including the United Nations Environment Programme. It is seen as a city with […]
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Caught in the crossfire
Kenya: Armed and dangerous Desperate and ruthless gangs find firearms widely available in Nairobi’s slums, presenting a constant security risk to the city’s residents A message posted on a Kenyan Facebook group known as Dandora Love People on 31 March, 2017 read like the opening lines of a scary movie script. Written by a member […]
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Africa and the ‘grey market’
Transnational brokering: a complex web Businesses and criminal syndicates have both violated United Nations arms embargoes, sometimes with the...
A legacy of bloodshed and corruption
The arms industry: fuelling conflict The world’s biggest arms fair, which turned 20 in 2019, is lauded as a ‘fantastic showcase’ by its British...
Existential threats to humanity
Nuclear weapons: the African view African states argue that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only guarantee against their use or...
A plague of greed and illegality
Small arms and light weapons: an African overview State fragility and political instability continue to create an ever-increasing demand for small...
A rapidly changing landscape of ever increasing threats
Cyber crime: It’s a war Cyber crime knows no boundaries and the perpetrators are constantly improving their capabilities Cyber crime cost Africa an...
How governments are ‘weaponising’ surveillance
Surveillance technology: used and abused African states have been deploying surveillance capabilities to spy on and intimidate youth movements and...
The rhino rifle syndicates
Poaching: the big guns South Africa’s game reserves have been hard hit by an intensive campaign of poaching and wildlife crime The rampant increase...
Gun trouble in the green city in the sun
Kenya: the arms race Kenyan authorities are grappling to answer the question of how large numbers of illegal firearms have ended up in civilian...
Caught in the crossfire
Kenya: Armed and dangerous Desperate and ruthless gangs find firearms widely available in Nairobi’s slums, presenting a constant security risk to...
Smarter, innovative and youth driven
Peace and security: youth Young people must be at the centre of all of Africa’s plans and processes to create sustainable peace and development In 2015 the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2250, which recognises the critical, positive role of young people in peace and security. The resolution reinforces the need for their active participation […]
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Getting away with murder
South Africa: firearm crime Corrupt police personnel in South Africa with criminal connections have contributed to a proliferation of illegal firearms Firearms are the most common weapon used to commit murder in South Africa. According to the official South African...
Distress and deep uncertainty
South Africa: tough at the top Much of the country’s private defence sector has enjoyed strong growth since 1994, but the state-owned flagship, Denel, is in serious trouble Since sanctions were lifted with the 1994 political settlement, South...
An uncomfortable truth
South Africa and weapons: a dirty history There is evidence that the motives for the murder of three prominent antiapartheid activists were much more complex than official narratives suggest It is 29 March, 2018 in Arcueil, a grey suburb of Paris,...
A war of words
Cameroon: the deadly cycle A steady flow of weapons is fuelling the vicious conflict between Cameroon’s Anglophone regions and the government Over the past four years, Cameroon has descended into violence. The central African nation is presently in...
Rivers of arms
Democratic Republic of Congo: arms flow Despite an arms embargo, a constant flow of weapons into the DRC from around the globe ensures that peace remains elusive Since the withdrawal of foreign troops in 2003, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)...
The art of war
Africa and wars: traditional weapons The advent of the machine gun at the end of the 19th century irrevocably changed the way wars were waged in Africa “Whatever happens, we have got the Maxim gun, and they have not,” wrote Hilaire Belloc, British...
Smarter, innovative and youth driven
Peace and security: youth Young people must be at the centre of all of Africa’s plans and processes to create sustainable peace and development In...
Getting away with murder
South Africa: firearm crime Corrupt police personnel in South Africa with criminal connections have contributed to a proliferation of illegal...
Distress and deep uncertainty
South Africa: tough at the top Much of the country’s private defence sector has enjoyed strong growth since 1994, but the state-owned flagship,...
An uncomfortable truth
South Africa and weapons: a dirty history There is evidence that the motives for the murder of three prominent antiapartheid activists were much...
A war of words
Cameroon: the deadly cycle A steady flow of weapons is fuelling the vicious conflict between Cameroon’s Anglophone regions and the government Over...
Rivers of arms
Democratic Republic of Congo: arms flow Despite an arms embargo, a constant flow of weapons into the DRC from around the globe ensures that peace...
The art of war
Africa and wars: traditional weapons The advent of the machine gun at the end of the 19th century irrevocably changed the way wars were waged in...
Smarter, innovative and youth driven
Peace and security: youth Young people must be at the centre of all of Africa’s plans and processes to create sustainable peace and development In 2015 the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2250, which recognises the critical, positive role of young people in peace and security. The resolution reinforces the need for their active participation and engagement in peace initiatives and the formulation of inclusive policies...
Getting away with murder
South Africa: firearm crime Corrupt police personnel in South Africa with criminal connections have contributed to a proliferation of illegal firearms Firearms are the most common weapon used to commit murder in South Africa. According to the official South African Police Service (SAPS) data, between 1 April, 2015 and 31 March, 2019, some 25,070 people (predominantly men) were murdered with a firearm compared to 19,355 individuals who...
Distress and deep uncertainty
South Africa: tough at the top Much of the country’s private defence sector has enjoyed strong growth since 1994, but the state-owned flagship, Denel, is in serious trouble Since sanctions were lifted with the 1994 political settlement, South Africa’s defence exports have surged. In the five years to the end of 2018, South Africa was the world’s 20th largest weapons exporter, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research...
An uncomfortable truth
South Africa and weapons: a dirty history There is evidence that the motives for the murder of three prominent antiapartheid activists were much more complex than official narratives suggest It is 29 March, 2018 in...
A war of words
Cameroon: the deadly cycle A steady flow of weapons is fuelling the vicious conflict between Cameroon’s Anglophone regions and the government Over the past four years, Cameroon has descended into violence. The central...
Rivers of arms
Democratic Republic of Congo: arms flow Despite an arms embargo, a constant flow of weapons into the DRC from around the globe ensures that peace remains elusive Since the withdrawal of foreign troops in 2003, the...
The art of war
Africa and wars: traditional weapons The advent of the machine gun at the end of the 19th century irrevocably changed the way wars were waged in Africa “Whatever happens, we have got the Maxim gun, and they have not,”...
BOOK REVIEWS
Book review
The Political Economy of Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Edited by Andrew Emmanuel Okem and Lucky E Asuelime. Routledge, London and New York; 2018 You have read all of your free articles, to continue reading simply register to claim your complimentary three-day all-access pass. Registration is quick and free You can claim your complimentary all-access pass and choose newsletters to receive by email. Create an account Subscription rates Subscribe for full access to all our content and choose newsletters to receive by email. See Our Rates We hope you enjoyed your complimentary access. Stay informed on issues that matter most to you. Become a subscriber today! Already have an account? Sign...
Shaping Africa’s Post-Covid Recovery
Book Review Shaping Africa’s Post-Covid Recovery Edited by Rabah Arezki, Simeon Djankov and Ugo Panizza Published by Centre for Economic Policy Research, 2021 With most of the world still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, different regions face unique...
A grim future awaits states who do not procure energy
Book review The Political Economy of Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa Edited by Andrew Emmanuel Okem and Lucky E Asuelime Routledge, London and New York; 2018 In pre-industrial society, one used wood and fire for heat and light, gathering wood from the environment on a...
Outbreaks, epidemics and the health of Africa
Book review Epidemics and the Health of African Nations published by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) 2019 and edited by Zamanzima Mazibuko Epidemics and the Health of African Nations explores Africa’s vulnerability to diseases and ably...
Buried deep within our hearts and never forgotten
Book review Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani and Viviana Mazza; published by Harper Collins 2018 Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree is the heartbreaking account of a true- life event that happened in the small north-eastern Nigerian town of Chibok....
National Liberation Movements as Government in Africa
Liberation movements begin as war machines animated by the desire for justice and, if successful, end up as governments clinging on to power... continue reading You have read all of your free articles, to continue reading simply register to claim your complimentary...
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