In citizens’ assessments, most African police forces come up short Matthias Krönke, Thomas Isbell, and Makanga Ronald Kakumba - March 22, 2024 From protests to traffic stops, negative experiences often mark the public’s views of police professionalism.
A few good links Kim Yi Dionne - November 10, 2023 A Liberian presidential candidate's similarities to Joe Biden, the power of women's votes in Poland, and more.
Can ECOWAS convince Burkina Faso to return to civilian rule? Madeline Fleishman and Jori Breslawski - October 14, 2022 Afrobarometer polls show strong support for the regional economic bloc. But protesters in Burkina Faso pushed back against ECOWAS diplomacy efforts.
Report exposes U.N. camp abuses, but research shows justice is elusive Audrey L. Comstock - September 28, 2022 Analysis of U.N. peacekeeping missions highlights the obstacles to justice facing sexual abuse victims
Nannie Helen Burroughs, trailblazing Black teacher and labor organizer Danielle Phillips-Cunningham - August 31, 2022 During Jim Crow, she forged career paths for Black girls.
What will keep ships — and people — safer in the Gulf of Guinea? Simon Rotzer, Sayed Riyadi, Kayla Marie Reno, Curie Maharani, Brandon Prins, Anup Phayal, and Aaron Gold - June 9, 2022 Here’s an update on piracy incidents
Can Africa ‘leapfrog’ the traditional electricity model? Kangwook Han and Carolyn Logan - April 21, 2022 Slow progress on national power grids leaves many households looking to off-grid sources
Is Africa losing ground in the battle for water and sanitation? Daniel Armah-Attoh - January 27, 2022 Afrobarometer surveys show citizens expect their governments to do more
22 countries agreed to establish green shipping routes. That’s big news. Jan Stockbruegger - November 30, 2021 The new initiative could lead to a cleaner maritime industry.
Why are Africans dissatisfied with democracy? Think corruption. Robert Mattes and Christiaan Keulder - November 18, 2021 The fifth in Afrobarometer’s special democracy summit series on Africa
‘The Black and White Rainbow’ reveals how hard it is to build a ‘rainbow’ nation Laura Seay - September 2, 2021 Unity in diversity was one of the hopes of post-apartheid South Africa.
Can you be a citizen of more than one country? Here’s what to learn from Liberia. Fulya Felicity Turkmen - August 26, 2021 A new book explores national and transnational citizenship in the 21st century
African citizens support their governments’ pandemic responses — mostly. They’re not sure about the vaccines. Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny - August 26, 2021 The latest Afrobarometer surveys could help government messaging on fighting the delta variant
The U.N. climate report is dire. So why are there no limits on maritime shipping’s carbon emissions? Jan Stockbruegger - August 11, 2021 My research examined the politics behind the dearth of policies.
Fights over marine boundaries are creating safe zones for pirates Brandon Prins, Anup Phayal, and Aaron Gold - August 4, 2021 New research reveals how contested waters have become maritime hot spots
China’s Belt and Road Initiative invests in African infrastructure — and African military and police forces Natalie Herbert - April 29, 2021 China is looking to protect its economic investments and build its reputation as a world power
There’s a long, global history to today’s anti-Asian bias and violence Sarah Hayes, Kim Yi Dionne, and Fulya Felicity Turkmen - April 18, 2021 ‘Foreigners’ have been blamed for disease all the way back to the bubonic plague — and probably beyond
West Africans welcome strong government action against covid-19. But many still don’t trust their government. Aminatou Seydou - April 8, 2021 Afrobarometer surveys reveal concerns about covid-related corruption, equitable assistance and power grabs by politicians.
Africa has started vaccinating against the coronavirus. But do citizens trust their governments on vaccine safety? Aminatou Seydou - March 11, 2021 New Afrobarometer surveys help explain vaccine reluctance in five West African countries
A covid-19 vaccine might be tough to distribute in countries at war Jori Breslawski - November 12, 2020 Misinformation is just one of the challenges
Guinea’s president claims he won reelection. Thousands of Guineans disagree. Lisa Mueller - October 30, 2020 Electoral protests in Africa rarely end up ousting an incumbent who defies term limits
‘Love Falls on Us’ explores the intersection of African LGBT rights and American activism Kim Yi Dionne - September 18, 2020 Fascinating insights and personal stories make this a compelling read
How a global shipping loophole left a potentially dangerous cargo in Beirut Lena Obermaier and Lauranne Duffaut - August 19, 2020 ‘Flags of convenience’ can leave ships and their owners with little regulatory oversight
Many Africans distrust their governments. How will that affect their coronavirus response? E. Gyimah-Boadi and Carolyn Logan - May 1, 2020 How governments handle the pandemic — whether with compassion or corruption — will influence attitudes for years to come.
Millions of Africans lack access to clean water. This makes coronavirus a bigger threat. Kangwook Han and Brian Howard - March 21, 2020 Today is World Water Day. Here’s what we learned.
New Afrobarometer data shows Africans want elections — especially if they bring change at the top Sadhiska Bhoojedhur and Michael Bratton - July 9, 2019 That’s what Sudan’s protesters are risking their lives for. They’re not alone in their demands.
Here’s why Ebola has been so hard to contain in Eastern Congo Laura Seay and Kim Yi Dionne - June 24, 2019 Levels of citizens’ mistrust shape how they respond to the epidemic.
Amílcar Cabral’s life as a Pan-Africanist, anti-colonial revolutionary still inspires Kim Yi Dionne - June 20, 2019 He was a prolific scholar — and also masterminded the end of Portuguese rule in two African nations
In Liberia, the U.N. mission helped restore confidence in the rule of law Robert A. Blair - April 30, 2019 When civil war ended in 2003, few Liberians trusted the government to protect them.
4 in 10 Africans are deeply committed to democracy. That’s the good news. Robert Mattes - March 5, 2019 Afrobarometer finds that the level of commitment varies dramatically by country. Here’s the breakdown.
Four reasons it’ll be hard to offer Maduro a golden parachute (and one reason to try anyway) Zacc Ritter, Daniel Krcmaric, Ariya Hagh, and Andrew Bennett - January 26, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83142" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Venezuelan opposition supporter holds a
Ugandan police are attacking protesters. Here’s how that backfires. Travis Curtice and Brandon Behlendorf - January 16, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82634" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A supporter sits next to posters
A few NGOs are getting a lot of bad press. What’s the overall track record? Rachel Robinson, Jennifer Brass, and Allison Schnable - December 4, 2018 [caption id="attachment_80998" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Rescue workers rest during a search
Ebola is back — and a threat to people in Congo. Are African public health systems ready? Emmanuel Balogun and Amy Patterson - September 27, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78280" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A health worker in protective gear
China is offering ‘no strings attached aid’ to Africa. Here’s what that means. Xiaojun Li - September 27, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77825" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, attends
African governments are far from powerless in global health initiatives like those against AIDS Kim Yi Dionne - August 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76624" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Kenya's first lady, Margaret Kenyatta, talks
The Trump administration wants to make it easier to sell U.S. guns abroad. Here’s what you need to know. Susan Waltz - June 4, 2018 [caption id="attachment_74019" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Semiautomatic AR-15s are for sale at
In Africa, presidential term limits are working Alexander Noyes - April 24, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68543" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Departing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf arrives for
What ‘Black Panther’s’ Wakanda can teach us about Africa’s history — and its future Naunihal Singh - February 28, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69877" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Chadwick Boseman in “Black Panther.” (Marvel
This is why Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was just awarded the $5 million Ibrahim prize Pamela Scully - February 13, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69195" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Former Liberia president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Liberia has a new president. Here are 3 things to watch for in his first 100 days. Sabrina Karim - January 29, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68544" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Liberia's new president, George Weah, speaks
What the ‘s—hole’ debate gets wrong about Africa Christopher Day and Beth Whitake - January 18, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68183" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump and Sen. Dick Durbin,
Liberia will hold its presidential election next week. Here’s what you need to know. Brooks Marmon - December 19, 2017 [caption id="attachment_67386" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Youth supporters campaign for soccer legend
Is democracy in a worldwide decline? Nope. Here’s our data. Mélida Jiménez - November 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66295" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)[/caption] What is the
No matter who replaces Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as Liberia’s president, these four challenges loom Agnieszka Paczynska - November 13, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66157" align="aligncenter" width="702"] Voting takes place in Nimba County,
When democracies are under attack, it’s time to rein in executive power Michael Miller, Kaare Strom, and Benjamin Graham - October 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_52816" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In December 2016, Ryszard Petru, center,
Here are three things we can learn from public opinion data about next week’s election in Liberia Kim Yi Dionne - October 6, 2017 [caption id="attachment_64623" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An election campaign billboard for presidential
Liberia has a big election next week — and a true test of democracy in Africa’s oldest republic Robtel Pailey - October 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_64438" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of soccer legend George Weah
The same family has ruled Togo for 50 years. Will widespread protests change that? Joel Amegboh and Alexander Noyes - September 30, 2017 [caption id="attachment_64299" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Protesters call for reforms during an
War-torn Congo has been called the ‘rape capital of the world.’ Here is how fighters think about sexual violence. Nina Wilén and Bert Ingelaere - August 31, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62716" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People listen to Jan Egeland, then-U.N. undersecretary-general
Within 7 years, refugees are self-sufficient and contributing to the U.S., on average Ramya Vijaya, Monica Miller, and David Fletcher - August 15, 2017 On June 20, World Refugee Day, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney
Learning from three African presidents Laura Seay - August 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_61871" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] (Laura Seay)[/caption] Full disclosure: I am
The World Health Organization spends more on travel than on key diseases. That’s actually okay. Mara Pillinger - June 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_60177" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Liberian man walks past an
Three flawed ideas are hurting international peacebuilding Séverine Autesserre - March 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55314" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Members of former rebel groups wait
Where do ousted dictators go? Fewer countries now offer a warm welcome. Daniel Krcmaric and Abel Escribà-Folch - January 30, 2017 [caption id="attachment_53276" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Gambia's defeated president, Yahya Jammeh, left
Here’s how the Ebola outbreak shaped citizens’ opinions of Liberia’s government Kim Yi Dionne - January 13, 2017 [caption id="attachment_52515" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man walks past a billboard
When ailing dictators die in office, what happens next? Erica Frantz and Andrea Kendall-Taylor - December 1, 2016 [caption id="attachment_50410" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Uzbek President Islam Karimov in 2015.
Do Africans still want democracy? This new report gives a qualified yes. Robert Mattes and Michael Bratton - November 25, 2016 [caption id="attachment_50077" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A member of the Economic Freedom
Can your spouse help you get elected? Here’s what data from Africa say. Kim Yi Dionne - November 4, 2016 [caption id="attachment_48948" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Melania Trump shakes hands with former
Were 75 percent of Liberian women and girls raped? No. So why is the U.N. repeating that misleading ‘statistic’? Dara Cohen and Hoover Green - October 26, 2016 [caption id="attachment_48428" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Two women try on clothes at
Liberia has an important transition of power on the horizon. Here’s a preview. Kim Yi Dionne - October 21, 2016 [caption id="attachment_48262" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Two men speak on a street in Monrovia,
The Colombian peace agreement has a big emphasis on the lives of women. Here’s how. Roxanne Krystalli - August 19, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45432" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Women celebrate the signing of a
Is electoral violence in sub-Saharan Africa overreported? This new book looks at the data. Stephanie Burchard and Kim Yi Dionne - August 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45073" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of President Edgar Lungu gather
Two years ago, Ebola became a public health emergency. Here are 5 lessons for fighting Zika Amy Patterson - August 8, 2016 [caption id="attachment_40344" align="aligncenter" width="908"] People pass a an Ebola awareness
Where do African women have more power? Surprise — in countries emerging from war. Aili Tripp - July 15, 2016 [caption id="attachment_43742" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Catherine Samba-Panza was the acting president
This is the problem with trying to destroy the Islamic State Colin Clarke and Chad Serena - July 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42441" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A fighter of the Islamic State
Is AFRICOM all that bad? Laura Seay - July 1, 2016 [caption id="attachment_43228" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Chadian troops participate in the closing
Want to know how rich your neighbor is? Take a look at a satellite image. Sebastian Schutte and Nils Weidmann - May 30, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41251" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A nighttime view of Europe in
Sri Lanka’s bloody civil war finally ended seven years ago. But moving on from the past is not easy. Kate Cronin-Furman - May 18, 2016 [caption id="attachment_40723" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Hundreds of Tamils living in Switzerland
How to understand the complicated history of ‘go back to Africa’ Fodei Batty - April 26, 2016 [caption id="attachment_38201" align="aligncenter" width="4868"] Africa, from space. (NASA)[/caption] The pejorative
Three lessons from Ebola can help us fight the Zika virus Maryam Deloffre - February 14, 2016 [caption id="attachment_35717" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A member of the Brazilian Air
Is Africa paving a road out of poverty? Robert Mattes, E. Gyimah-Boadi, and Boniface Dulani - February 7, 2016 [caption id="attachment_35422" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A highway in Madagascar (Rod Waddington)[/caption]
Who is Laurent Gbagbo, and why is he on trial at the ICC? Oumar Ba - February 3, 2016 [caption id="attachment_35256" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Former Côte d'Ivoire president Laurent Gbagbo
Here are five lessons for writing a constitution that can help prevent violence Nic Cheeseman and Alexander Noyes - October 7, 2015 [caption id="attachment_30393" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Former Tanzanian prime minister and presidential
What went wrong in Burkina Faso and what's next? - September 22, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29717" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Lt. Col. Mamadou Bamba announced the
What went wrong in Burkina Faso and what’s next? Landry Signé - September 22, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29717" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Lt. Col. Mamadou Bamba announced the
This is why the two leading candidates for Guatemala's presidency came to the U.S. to campaign - September 10, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29244" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Why is television comedian and Guatemalan
This is why the two leading candidates for Guatemala’s presidency came to the U.S. to campaign Michael Paarlberg - September 10, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29244" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Why is television comedian and Guatemalan
Meet America's own warlord Laura Seay - August 28, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29061" align="aligncenter" width="982"] FILE - In this Aug. 11,
Meet America’s own warlord Laura Seay - August 28, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29061" align="aligncenter" width="982"] FILE - In this Aug. 11,
Ebola terrified us a year ago. What did it teach us about West Africa? Ashoka Mukpo - August 7, 2015 [caption id="attachment_27936" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Artist Stephen Doe paints an
U.N. peacekeeping and transactional sex Sabrina Karim, Michael Gilligan, Jenny Guardado, and Bernd Beber - June 16, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26164" align="aligncenter" width="372"] United Nations rules addressing sexual exploitation
Jobs and jail might not keep young men out of crime, but how about therapy? Chris Blattman - April 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23800" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Liberian security forces blockade an area
How empirical studies of political violence (can) help policymakers Joseph Felter, Ethan Kapstein, and Eli Berman - March 16, 2015 [caption id="attachment_22760" align="aligncenter" width="876"] U.S. and British soldiers talk at
What other African elections tell us about Nigeria’s bet on biometrics Giulia Piccolino - March 10, 2015 [caption id="attachment_21553" align="alignnone" width="620"] Two Nigerian voters pose for a
Grading the 2015 Bill and Melinda Gates letter on poverty alleviation Chris Blattman - January 23, 2015 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="658"] Bill and Melinda Gates in Los
Doctors blame the WHO and the U.N. for failing to fight Ebola. Here's why they're wrong. Henry Farrell - January 20, 2015 [caption id="attachment_20265" align="alignnone" width="620"] Liberian Army soldiers work on a
Doctors blame the WHO and the U.N. for failing to fight Ebola. Here’s why they’re wrong. Nathan Paxton - January 20, 2015 [caption id="attachment_20265" align="alignnone" width="620"] Liberian Army soldiers work on a
Who has responsibility for Ebola? The IMF, the West, or unpleasant accounting? Chris Blattman - January 7, 2015 [caption id="attachment_19849" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] People hold up signs as they
The IMF’s influence on poor countries’ health systems – and Ebola, explained Martin McKee, Lawrence King, and Alexander Kentikelenis - January 6, 2015 [caption id="attachment_19796" align="alignnone" width="620"] A vulture flies off as others
5 things you should read before saying the IMF is blameless in the 2014 Ebola outbreak Kim Yi Dionne and Adia Benton - January 5, 2015 Last week, Chris Blattman asked in his post, “Did the
Did the International Monetary Fund help make the Ebola crisis? Chris Blattman - December 30, 2014 [caption id="attachment_19619" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] An Ebola sign placed in front
They know it's Christmas Laura Seay - November 17, 2014 Today marks the release of a new version of "Do
They know it’s Christmas Laura Seay - November 17, 2014 Today marks the release of a new version of "Do
The British colonial origins of anti-gay laws Joseph O'Mahoney and Enze Han - October 30, 2014 [caption id="attachment_17460" align="aligncenter" width="620"] People protesting in London in December
As thousands protest against term limit extension in Burkina Faso, will other African presidents take note? Ken Opalo - October 28, 2014 On Tuesday, protesters in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second city,
It's Columbus Day. Let's talk about geography (and Ebola). - October 14, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16722" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Map created by SafariBookings.com to show
It’s Columbus Day. Let’s talk about geography (and Ebola). Laura Seay and Kim Yi Dionne - October 14, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16722" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Map created by SafariBookings.com to show
Will AFRICOM’s Ebola response be watershed moment for international action on human security? Maryam Deloffre - September 29, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16301" align="alignnone" width="620"] President Obama speaks at a meeting
AFRICOM’s Ebola response and the militarization of humanitarian aid Laura Seay, Ryan McDaniel, and Kim Yi Dionne - September 25, 2014 President Obama announced last week an expanded U.S. response to