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.
West Africa’s new regional peacekeeping force, explained Kim Yi Dionne - December 12, 2022 ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, engages in more than just economic activities. How will it implement the new initiative?
The World Cup of Democracy might look like this Chris Hanretty - December 3, 2022 What if we cheered for the more-democratic country in each World Cup match? Here’s who would win.
Ukraine accused Russia of torture. Here’s how to prosecute those crimes. Alyson Reynolds, Elijah Tsai, and Kelebogile Zvobgo - November 22, 2022 Ukraine’s allies can use their own courts to investigate war crimes
Africans across 34 countries see the police as predatory, not protective Carolyn Logan - March 19, 2022 Afrobarometer’s latest surveys indicate poorer citizens are more likely than the wealthy to be pressured to pay bribes
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
Germany convicted a Syrian man of war crimes in Syria. Can national courts prosecute injustices everywhere? Maximo Langer, Margaret E. Peters, and Leslie Johns - January 14, 2022 The landmark case invoked the principle of ‘universal jurisdiction’
Africa’s leaders often welcome Chinese private investment. How do African citizens feel? Xiaonan Wang, Margaret Pearson, and John McCauley - December 9, 2021 New research on over 400 projects shows how these investments can backfire politically.
Half of Biden’s ambassador positions are vacant. Here’s why that matters. Matt Malis - December 7, 2021 An acting official can’t do the job as effectively as a confirmed ambassador.
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
Long-serving African presidents say the people want them to stay on. Is that true? Boniface Dulani - November 4, 2021 The third in Afrobarometer’s special democracy summit series on Africa.
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
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
What would bring stability after the death of Chad’s president? Daniel Eizenga - June 1, 2021 Neighboring countries have successfully managed political change without the military stepping in
Africans find it hard to learn what their governments are up to. It’s no surprise many suspect corruption. Joseph Asunka and Carolyn Logan - May 20, 2021 The lack of transparency affects people’s views of government, Afrobarometer surveys find
Chinese investment in Africa involves more than megaprojects. Private enterprises also are making their mark. Yoon Jung Park - April 16, 2021 We looked at the impact of private Chinese investments in seven countries
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.
Senegal’s violent protests reveal that its long-stable democracy is fragile, after all Kamissa Camara - March 31, 2021 Yet again, courts have jailed one of the president’s political rivals.
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
Don’t believe the hype about China’s ‘vaccine diplomacy’ in Africa Lina Benabdallah - March 4, 2021 Chinese medical experts have been sharing expertise and assistance throughout Africa for decades.
A special Kosovo war crimes court will try its ex-president. So how do ‘hybrid’ courts work? Dennis R. Schmidt - November 22, 2020 Courts that are simultaneously domestic and international can help overcome suspicions about fairness
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
Why was Mali hit with another coup? Joe Gazeley - August 20, 2020 A bloated military makes the country particularly vulnerable
Nwando Achebe’s new book is a fascinating look at Africa’s queens, past and present Laura Seay - August 13, 2020 From spiritual leaders to parliamentarians and presidents, women are reclaiming leadership roles.
How can African governments persuade citizens to follow coronavirus guidelines? Allison Grossman - April 17, 2020 The right messengers matter
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.
Trump has given quid pro quos a bad rap. Here’s where they actually help. Desha Girod - January 21, 2020 In development funding, donor countries say they expect aid recipients to shape up
African dictators have been losing power — some to democratic governments. Militaries can tip the scales toward democracy. Nathaniel Allen and Alexander Noyes - September 15, 2019 These five factors make the difference between militaries that support autocracy and those that allow free elections.
How did the Catholic Church respond to Africa’s decolonization? This new book explains. Laura Seay - August 7, 2019 “African Catholic” investigates the transformation of both church and politics.
This new book teaches you everything you need to know about African elections Kim Yi Dionne - August 1, 2019 Technical and demographic changes make this a timely publication.
Here’s how Madagascar’s leaders could end their country’s long history of civil conflict Velomahanina Tahinjanahary Razakamaharavo - July 3, 2019 My research found which kinds of peace negotiations work — and which lead to more upheaval.
How Huawei could survive Trump Jordan Link - June 9, 2019 In Africa, basic connectivity needs and lower prices may outweigh security concerns.
African governments are cracking down on the news media. Their citizens might be okay with that. Jeffrey Conroy-Krutz - May 12, 2019 When Africans think of “the media,” often they think of the hatemongers and fake-news peddlers.
Why are so many African leaders shutting off the Internet in 2019? Chipo Dendere - January 30, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83225" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Protesters gather near a burning tire
Recent protests in Sudan are much more than bread riots Zachariah Mampilly and Nisrin Elamin - December 28, 2018 [caption id="attachment_82007" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People chanted slogans during a protest
The latest global climate negotiations just finished. Here’s what happened. Joshua Busby - December 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81644" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Al Gore, Climate Reality Project chairman
On World AIDS Day, why the politics of AIDS is so important Mark Daku and Amy Patterson - December 1, 2018 [caption id="attachment_80908" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A large AIDS ribbon hangs from
What does it take to build climate resilience — especially among the world’s most vulnerable? Chesney McOmber - November 2, 2018 [caption id="attachment_79711" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Honduran migrants in a caravan heading
African countries have started to push back against Chinese development aid. Here’s why. Richard Aidoo - October 16, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78950" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Senegal President Macky Sall, left, and
Are protests in Africa politically or economically motivated? This new book has answers. Kim Yi Dionne - August 24, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77099" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Protesters surround a bonfire on a
Xi Jinping is visiting Africa this week. Here’s why China is such a popular development partner. Deborah Bräutigam - July 24, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76016" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Well-wishers holding flags wait for the
Are ‘global cities’ an antidote to populism and nationalism? Istanbul offers some hope. Fisher Onar - July 19, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75823" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Istanbul is a bustling, diverse city,
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
Four things you should know about food security in Africa Landry Signé and Eyerusalem Siba - October 30, 2017 [caption id="attachment_65578" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Women and their children, who fled
Catholic leaders in the Philippines haven’t stopped Duterte’s bloody war on drugs — yet. This is why. David Buckley - September 29, 2017 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody “War on Drugs” shows little
Everyone is taking sides in the Qatar crisis. Here’s why these four North African states aren’t. Youssef Cherif - September 7, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63263" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, left,
How much have development strategies changed in Africa since independence? It depends. Landry Signé and Kim Yi Dionne - July 28, 2017 [caption id="attachment_61539" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki (left), former prime
This is what we can learn from Joseph Kony’s bodyguard Laura Seay - July 21, 2017 [caption id="attachment_61206" align="aligncenter" width="192"] (Zed Books)[/caption] Five years after the
This book documents bias against African Muslims in France Kim Yi Dionne and Claire Adida - June 9, 2017 [caption id="attachment_59248" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Malian Lassana Bathily, a Muslim employee,
Trump’s nominations for U.S. ambassador are hardly draining the swamp Dennis Jett - May 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_58630" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Former senator Scott Brown speaks in Nashua,
Trump wants to cut U.N. funding — but peacekeeping saves money, as well as lives Lise Howard - March 31, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56002" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.N. peacekeepers from Senegal on an
Why do countries relapse into war? Here are three good predictors. George Willcoxon - March 29, 2017 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] United Nations peacekeepers from Senegal make
The U.S. carried out extraordinary rendition flights from 2001-2005. Here are 15 more countries that helped. Rebecca Cordell - March 14, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55337" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A barbed wire fence surrounding a
Is the International Criminal Court biased against Africans? Kenyan victims don’t think so. Yvonne Dutton, Tessa Alleblas, Geoff Dancy, and Eamon Aloyo - March 6, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54939" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta appears before
Morocco just joined the African Union. Here’s why that matters. Hannah Armstrong - February 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54370" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The king of Morocco, Mohammed VI,
60 years later, are colonial-era laws holding Africa back? Ryan Briggs and Maya Berinzon - January 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_52661" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, left, takes
Chinese aid is helping African economies, but not in the places that need it most Roland Hodler, Paul Raschky, Michael Tierney, Bradley Parks, Axel Dreher, and Andreas Fuchs - October 7, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47444" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] NASA Earth Observatory image by Robert
Here’s how African leaders stage ‘constitutional coups’: They tweak the constitution to stay in power. Kamissa Camara - September 16, 2016 [caption id="attachment_46354" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People wait outside a polling station
Violent protests have erupted in Mali. Here’s what is driving them. Kamissa Camara - August 15, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45253" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Young people protest in Bamako in
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
‘Sex worker activism has exploded throughout Africa,’ and this new book explores how Kim Yi Dionne and Chi Mgbako - July 8, 2016 What do African sex workers really need? A 33-year-old sex
This is what the conviction of Chad’s former dictator means for African human rights Elise Keppler - June 10, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41896" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Chad's former dictator Hissène Habré raises
The United Nations set an ambitious education goal. Why did it fail in Congo? De Herdt and Kristof Titeca - June 8, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41779" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Marceline Bauma, 8, center, copies her
Hissène Habré, Chad’s former dictator, just got a life sentence for crimes he committed in the 1980s Oumar Ba - June 1, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41445" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré, leaving
The World Health Organization is electing a new leader. Here’s what you need to know. Karen Grépin, Joshua Busby, and Jeremy Youde - May 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_40344" align="aligncenter" width="908"] People pass a banner that is
36 years after Zimbabwe’s independence, the country faces these 4 big questions Brooks Marmon - April 28, 2016 [caption id="attachment_39777" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his
Here’s one way to prevent election violence in Africa Kristine Höglund and Hanne Fjelde - April 27, 2016 [caption id="attachment_3809" align="aligncenter" width="720"] An exhibit honors Nelson Mandela in
Benin has a new president: Patrice Talon, an ironic outsider politician Claire Adida and Chabi Bouko - April 13, 2016 [caption id="attachment_38970" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Benin's newly elected President Patrice Talon
Here’s everything you need to know about Senegal’s 2016 referendum Catherine Kelly - April 3, 2016 The referendum brings a shorter presidential term – but could make future elections even less competitive.
Weary professors give up, concede that Africa is a country Laura Seay and Kim Yi Dionne - April 1, 2016 [caption id="attachment_38201" align="aligncenter" width="4868"] Africa, from space. (NASA)[/caption] After years
Your six questions about Congo’s election, answered Danielle Sanchez - March 25, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37904" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso at a
What social science can tell us about the terrorist attacks in Belgium John Sides - March 22, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37743" align="aligncenter" width="606"] A soldier stands near broken windows
It’s a #SuperSunday in Africa, with elections being held in Benin, Cape Verde, Congo, Niger, Senegal and Zanzibar Kim Yi Dionne - March 20, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37537" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A woman looks at the list
6 things you need to know about Côte d’Ivoire in the wake of Sunday’s attack Justine Davis and Carrie Reiling - March 15, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37196" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A soldier comforts an injured boy
Can mostly Christian countries integrate Muslims? This new book shows what must be done. John Sides - December 1, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32673" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] French police forces block Lies Hebbadj,
This is what citizens say is needed to end Mali’s insecurity Jaimie Bleck, Guindo Sidiki, and Abdoulaye Dembele - November 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32660" align="aligncenter" width="908"] People stand near the Radisson hotel
The day mainstream media became old in South Africa Sean Jacobs and Herman Wasserman - November 25, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32650" align="aligncenter" width="620"] South African President Jacob Zuma delivers his address
Here is what social science can tell us about the terrorist attacks in Paris John Sides - November 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32242" align="aligncenter" width="908"] The iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris
Twenty years after the most important U.N. conference on women, what – if anything – has changed? Aili Tripp - September 25, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29835" align="aligncenter" width="908"] In this 1995 file photo, a
Can Burkina Faso — Africa’s most coup-prone state — become a stable democracy? Molly Ariotti and Naunihal Singh - September 21, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29688" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Men ride a motorcycle past a
Are Muslim countries really unreceptive to religious freedom? Daniel Philpott - July 10, 2015 [caption id="attachment_27253" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] In this Friday, Dec. 28,
Is 'China in Africa' something to fear? Laura Seay - July 3, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26832" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="align center "] South African President
Is ‘China in Africa’ something to fear? W. French - July 3, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26832" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="align center "] South African President
Should South Africa have arrested Sudan's president? - June 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26086" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C),
Should South Africa have arrested Sudan’s president? Mark Kersten - June 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26086" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C),
'Protest is always hopeful': Examining the third wave of popular protest in Africa - June 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_25936" align="alignnone" width="620" class="align center"] People waving branches celebrate
‘Protest is always hopeful’: Examining the third wave of popular protest in Africa Zachariah Mampilly, Kim Yi Dionne, and Adam Branch - June 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_25936" align="alignnone" width="620" class="align center"] People waving branches celebrate
Why is terror Islamist? Steven Fish - January 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_20587" align="alignnone" width="620"] This image made from a video
Burkina Faso’s uprising part of an ongoing wave of African protests Zachariah Mampilly - November 2, 2014 In 1984, a year after coming to power at the
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
The Muslim effect on immigrant integration in France Marie-Anne Valfort, David Laitin, and Claire Adida - September 30, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16349" align="alignnone" width="620"] The logo of Pole Emploi, the
What ordinary Africans might want prioritized during U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Kim Yi Dionne - August 4, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13977" align="aligncenter" width="654"] President Obama participates in a joint
Why West African governments are struggling in response to Ebola Kim Yi Dionne - July 15, 2014 [caption id="attachment_12934" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Health workers take blood samples for
The (de) Gaulle of it: Fractious French attitude and its twitchy national team Daniel Lillie - June 6, 2014 [caption id="attachment_11256" align="aligncenter" width="400" special=""] Charles De Gaulle (Office of
The multiple international dimensions of an election in a small African country Kim Yi Dionne - April 19, 2014 On April 13, Bissau Guineans went to the polls to
Five things you probably didn’t know about African politics today Kim Yi Dionne - March 11, 2014 Though much of the media attention on Africa highlights conflict,
Do the French Discriminate Against Muslims Because of Gender Norms? John Sides - May 1, 2012 This is a guest post by Claire Adida of UCSD,