Written by: Peter LaBelle On the eve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in response to Russia’s recognition of the “People’s Republics” in Luhansk and Donetsk, Kenya’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN) addressed the UN Security Council. Martin Kimani asked the Russians to pursue a diplomatic solution to the crisis, not an irredentist war in…
Category: Africa
The Anti-Coup Resistance that Halted Sudan’s Transition to Democratic Rule
Written by: Garrett Halak Sudan has been considered the “coup laboratory” of the world with a history of approximately 15 attempted coups, 10 of which were thwarted. For many, these coups are a part of Sudanese life, and while there existed hope for eventual stability in early 2021, another coup was impending. Throughout January of…
Abstinence Only Education vs. Comprehensive Sex Education: Effect on HIV Prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa
Written by: Rachel Berman Introduction Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that attacks the CD4 cells in a person’s body. HIV weakens the immune system and makes a person susceptible to other infections or infection related cancers. If HIV is not treated, a person can develop Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which…
The Invisible Cost of School Closures
Written by: Kamika Patel The tremendous impact of the global COVID-19 school closures on young people worldwide is detrimental to children’s academic wellbeing, social development, and future career prospects. The extended school closures since March 2020 left more than 1.6 billion children out of school during the beginning months of the pandemic. Globally, around 1…
Government, Corporate Interests Enable Mozambique Ambush Slaughter
Written by: Garrett Halak With Syria and Iraq witnessing the end of ISIS, an insurgency conducted in the northern province of Mozambique has immobilized thousands and sparked the re-emergence of ISIS-affiliated violence. On March 24th, Palma became victim to a horrific ambush that has caused major concerns. At the height of this ambush, 17 vehicles…
Africa: Made in China
Written by: McKenna Ross China and Africa are two areas of the world that are becoming more linked every day. This is largely because of China’s Belt and Road Initiative which has dramatically increased economic ties between the two. Only now is the world beginning to see the long term effects of China’s spreading influence…
Islamic Insurgency in Mozambique Requires Nuanced Response
Written by: Peter LaBelle A long-running conflict in Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado escalated at the end of last month as Islamic insurgents belonging to the extremist group ‘Al-Shabaab’ invaded the town of Palma. The town is a strategically important one in the far north of the state and houses a project by French…
Uncertainty Over One of Africa’s Shining Star Democracies
Written by: Jadalyn Eagens On March 3, 2021, protests uncharacteristically broke out in Senegal. According to the Economist, the country has been considered as one of the “beacons of peace and democracy” within Africa, further stating that Senegal had never faced a coup or harsh authoritarianism. So what made this relatively peaceful country break out…
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Life or Death for Egypt?
Written by: Saul Brodkey As anyone can tell you, all human life is predicated on ready access to fresh water. Naturally, droughts, or any shortage of water, can have devastating impacts on local ecosystems, humans and vegetation alike. Case in point, the Nile River and the Nile Delta are home to 95% of the rapidly…
Revisiting Mad Mike Hoarse and the Legacy of Mercenaries in the Congo
Written by: Cooper Stewart Few places in the 20th century have been as unstable and volatile as the Congo region, or what is today known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its troubled history included a period immediately following its independence from Belgium in 1960 to the formation of a dictatorship in 1965 would…
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