Opinions

This year was supposed to be crucial for Africa-Europe relations, culminating in the sixth AU-EU Summit, scheduled for 28 and 29 October in Brussels. But then COVID-19 happened. After a long palaver, a decision was finally taken: the summit will be postponed to 2021, although a date still needs to…

Strengthening Africa’s agriculture systems will not only make the continent more self-reliant and resilient to future shocks, but will also boost global health, prosperity, and security. The international community therefore has both moral and self-interested reasons to support this process.     Over the next 30 years, Sub-Saharan Africa’s population will…

The year 2020 began on a high note for the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN). As the world was preparing to mark 25 years since the Fourth World Conference on Women, AWLN sought to commemorate the anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action with the launch of 25…

Systemic racism has its roots in extractive capitalism in Africa. Black people need to start telling their stories themselves. When we really know each other, recognize our contribution to a common history, and see that all solutions hold value, we may start to shift systems.     When Barack Obama…

If it cannot address systematic human rights abuses on the continent, what really is the purpose of the African Union?     On May 29, just four days after George Floyd’s death in police custody, African Union Commission’s Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat issued a scorching statement condemning the Black man’s…

As the world battles a pandemic, Africa has become polio free. Lessons learned can help its fight against COVID-19.     “Could you patent the sun?” This is how American virologist Jonas Salk responded when asked whether he would be patenting his breakthrough polio vaccine. The polio virus, which once…

Owing to its large and growing youth population, Africa, more than many other regions, desperately needs to provide the education and skills training necessary for the jobs of the future. By empowering their people through technology, African countries can leapfrog many development hurdles.     Key features of the Fourth…

Globally, the measures to curb COVID-19 are having unintended effects on the digital economy by encouraging the sourcing of goods and services online, while also highlighting persistent digital inequalities. Africa has significant digital infrastructure and skills gaps – with between 5% and 50% of the population having consistent access to the…

Two key partnerships will be negotiated in 2020 between the European Union (EU) and Africa, making this a crucial year for both continents. One is the post-Cotonou agreement within the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, and the other is the Africa-EU strategy.     In relation to the…

Africa’s youth are confronted with an increasingly complex socio-economic and political context which is hindering their development. Youth are facing extensive poverty, limited access to education, lack of employment opportunities, limited benefits from globalisation, water scarcity, peace and security challenges, violent extremism, sexual violence, corruption, and forced migration, to name…