Algeria
A legacy of bloodshed and corruption

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...

A long and winding road

A long and winding road

China: the special relationship Economic and political ties between Africa and China have led to infrastructural development on a monumental scale but their roots go back millennia No one knows exactly how long ago the...

The ancient libraries of Africa

The ancient libraries of Africa

Africa: the written word Africa’s great libraries are stories of state formation and empires, and of people who thirsted for knowledge Reading and writing are miraculous activities; they transform the human condition,...

Sub-Saharan Africa: Islamic investment

Sub-Saharan Africa: Islamic investment

  The Islamic world is increasingly seeing Africa as a destination for foreign investment, both on the institutional and corporate fronts. One sign of such interest was the recent forum on investments in Africa,...

China in Africa: Chinese FDI

China in Africa: Chinese FDI

China likes to position its engagement with Africa as that of one developing region assisting another. However, Beijing sometimes claims that it is “just another market player” on the continent — often as a retort to...