west Africa
The West African kingdom that became a country

The West African kingdom that became a country

Togo: the German legacy Togo’s accession to the modern age of international politics could be said to have begun in July 1884, when the protectorate treaty with Germany was signed In 1883, the German chancellor, Otto...

Senegal: universal jurisdiction

Senegal: universal jurisdiction

The trial of Hissène Habré, Chad’s former tyrannical ruler, has raised hopes that new systems of so-called hybrid justice can be developed. The Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC), a new body established by the...

Making sure no one’s left behind

Making sure no one’s left behind

Data dive: SDG 1 Poverty eradication requires integrated strategies that address a complex range of variables By Sixolile Ngqwala African countries are in the process of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals...

Creole rising

Creole rising

West Africa: new languages Pidgin and creole emerged to serve trade, but what of their longer-term use and acceptance? By Simon Akam When I lived in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, my house had a collection of books...

Off-track, little prospect of improvement

Off-track, little prospect of improvement

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth The ogre of corruption looms over Africa, reducing the continent’s chance of meeting SDG 8 by 2030 By Tom Osanjo According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Sustainable...

Ethnicity fuels bad governance

Togo: one-man rule Decades of family rule in this West African country have resulted in very little development Ethnicity has been an important political tool for the family that has ruled Togo for nearly half a...