African Affairs, the journal of the Royal African Society that sponsors this blog, has recently published an article on the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic response and a ‘new era of austerity in Africa’. Authors Olutayo Adesina, Aleida Mendes Borges, Carlos Cardoso and Toby Green bring to bear on this theme their extensive experience of…
The attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, which started on 28 February 2026, upended key supply chains, driving oil prices above US$100 a barrel. The spike followed Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US and Israeli action. About 20% of the world’s oil supplies are transported through the…
Islamic authorities have indicated that Eid al-Fitr is likely to be observed on Friday, based on established lunar calendar principles that guide the conclusion of Ramadan. According to Dr. Abdul Hafiz Walusinmbi, Head of Sharia at Kibuli Mosque, the determination of Eid depends on whether the crescent moon is sighted on the 29th day of…
Academics today, around the world, are confined by the way their research output is measured. Indicators that count the number of times their work is cited by other academics, and the relative prestige of journals that publish their papers, determine everything: from career development to research funding. What does this international system mean for African…
More than 30 legal experts have called on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to bar Israel and its clubs from competitions over the atrocities in Gaza. The letter, addressed to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Thursday, said banning Israel is “imperative”, citing a report by United Nations investigators that confirmed Israel is carrying…
US president Donald Trump’s address to the annual gathering of the United Nations general assembly in late September 2025 set a new low in international relations. Trump delivered a broadside attack on multilateralism – the effort to solve the world’s problems through collective endeavour – as well as issues that have found common cause among…
Ethiopia has emerged as the fastest-growing economy in Africa, driven by strong government measures and strategic reforms, scholars said. Speaking to Channel Africa, Fairfax Africa Global Chairman and economist Zemedeneh Negatu stated that Ethiopia’s economy is gaining momentum as a result of the government’s ten-year strategic plan, which highlights the country’s comparative and competitive advantages….
