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
Africa has had eight coup attempts in recent months. What’s behind the ‘coup epidemic’? Kristen A. Harkness - February 8, 2022 How leaders consolidate their power helps explain why soldiers depose governments.
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
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
Ivory Coast reelected its president. Opposition candidates boycotted the voting. Tyson Roberts - December 2, 2020 The election reflected political rivalries that date back 30 years.
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.
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 Huawei could survive Trump Jordan Link - June 9, 2019 In Africa, basic connectivity needs and lower prices may outweigh security concerns.
Why did many voters boycott Benin’s April 28 elections? Tyson Roberts - May 10, 2019 New electoral rules cut off the opposition in new ways.
Trump wants Venezuela’s military to remove its president. But Maduro has made that difficult. Erica De Bruin - May 2, 2019 Will Venezuela’s overlapping forces remain loyal?
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.
Eight years after Egypt’s revolution, here’s what we’ve learned about social media and protest Korhan Koçak and Killian Clarke - January 25, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83047" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Egyptians wave the national flag in
Why did 14 opposition parties just boycott Togo’s legislative election? Tyson Roberts - January 7, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82247" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Togo's president, Faure Gnassingbé, speaks to
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
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
Could a power-sharing arrangement end protests in Togo? It’s complicated. Alexander Noyes - February 24, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69701" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A woman holds a sign that reads, “Faure!
Did Trump try to lose today’s United Nations vote on Israel? Erik Voeten - December 21, 2017 [caption id="attachment_67538" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the
What went wrong for Mugabe? Most aging dictators don’t get toppled by coups. Erica Frantz and Andrea Kendall-Taylor - November 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66568" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People gather outside Harare's airport to
Why do some elections in Africa turn violent? Meshack Simati - November 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66541" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Jubilee Party supporters cheer Nov. 20
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
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
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
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
Africa’s largest public-opinion survey is under threat, but here’s what you can do about it E. Gyimah-Boadi and Carolyn Logan - September 9, 2016 [caption id="attachment_46038" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] An Afrobarometer interviewer conducts a survey
Will Turkey’s coup attempt prompt others nearby? Jonathan Powell and Curtis Bell - July 30, 2016 [caption id="attachment_44724" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Riot police secure a police station
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 why Benin’s election was a step forward for African democratic consolidation. And why it wasn’t. Tyson Roberts - March 22, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37700" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A picture taken in Cotonou shows
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]
Five challenges facing Burkina Faso’s new president (and 3 reasons for optimism) Arsène Bado - January 22, 2016 [caption id="attachment_34418" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian
The most interesting thing about Côte d’Ivoire’s election was that it wasn’t interesting Tyson Roberts - November 26, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32664" align="aligncenter" width="908"] People line up outside a polling station
Can you defeat a ruler whose family has been in power for nearly 50 years? Some lessons for Togo’s opposition Ekoutiamé Ahlin and Alexander Noyes - July 23, 2015 [caption id="attachment_27738" align="aligncenter" width="671"] A man holds a campaign poster
Can you defeat a ruler whose family has been in power for nearly 50 years? Some lessons for Togo's opposition - July 23, 2015 [caption id="attachment_27738" align="aligncenter" width="671"] A man holds a campaign poster
Executive election rules in dictatorships matter. Here’s why. Tyson Roberts - May 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_24680" align="aligncenter" width="640"] President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon
Most Togolese support term limits. But they just re-elected their president for a third term. Tyson Roberts, Ekoutiamé Ahlin, and Kim Yi Dionne - May 4, 2015 Continuing our series of Election Reports, the following is a
The surprising benefits of autocratic elections Michael Miller - April 2, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23292" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] A campaign poster of incumbent presidential
How democratic institutions are making dictatorships more durable Erica Frantz and Andrea Kendall-Taylor - March 19, 2015 [caption id="attachment_22871" align="alignnone" width="620"] Supporters of Sudanese President and National
Burkina Faso: Leading a wave or joining the club? David Stasavage - November 3, 2014 [caption id="attachment_17553" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Burkina Faso's Lt. Col. Yacouba Isaac
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,
Ebola, research ethics, and the ZMapp serum Laura Seay - August 6, 2014 [caption id="attachment_14141" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Nigerian health official displays a
Request for Election Reports Authors Joshua Tucker - September 4, 2012 Some exciting news regarding our Election Reports series: we have
Sex and Politics Joshua Tucker - August 27, 2012 Nope, not another sex scandal post (although I do want
2010 Togo Presidential Elections Joshua Tucker - March 15, 2010 In our continuing "series of election reports":https://themonkeycage.org/election_reports/, we are pleased
Forthcoming Elections: Guest Posters Needed Joshua Tucker - February 15, 2010 For those of you who have enjoyed our "series on