Swedish Forum: Freedoms under attack in East Africa

There is democratic progress in many African countries, but we also see increasing threats against journalists, researchers and civil society. A recent panel at the Swedish Forum for Human Rights discussed the worrying signs of shrinking democratic space in East Africa. nai.uu.se

Sweden positive to EU long-term climate strategy

The European Commission has presented it strategic long-term climate vision for the European Union (EU). Sweden takes a positive view of the level of ambition in the strategy, with its aim of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The proposed EU strategic long-term climate vision contains scenarios showing how different sectors of society can contribute […]

Modupeola: My debut album is inspired by God

Sweden-based Nigerian gospel music singer Modupeola says her upcoming album highlights songs of praises, delivery, happiness, healing and were inspired by God. The instruction to begin the album came from God while I was in prayers, that’s why all the tracks are a whole package of praises to the Almighty, she told Nordic Africa News. […]

War crime victims dare to hope for justice

It was two nights before Christmas in 2013 in a suburb of Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic. All Claire’s grandchildren were gathered in her house, playing, seemingly safe from the horrors outside. On the streets, brutal fighting between Muslim Séléka rebels and Christian anti-balaka vigilante groups had been raging since the rebellion began […]

EIB supports hydropower plant in Cameroon

At its Africa Day in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced last Thursday its strong support for the construction of a 420-MW hydropower project in Cameroon. The EIB will provide a EUR50 million long-term project finance loan to NHPC (Nachtigal Hydro Power Company) under the Impact Financing Envelope of the […]

Tanzania: Social monitoring could hinder radicalisation

In its efforts to reach grass roots for political mobilisation after independence, the government of Tanzania organised communities in smaller units. According to Richard Sambaiga, guest researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI), this form of social control also detected security threats at an early stage. After independence in 1961, the Tanzanian government intended to […]

Sweden: Standing up for women’s rights

Men’s violence against women is everywhere in society and continues all the time. It is possible to change this. There is help for both the victim and the victimiser. On November 25, a number of organizations will collaborate to hold a manifestation in Nordstan in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second biggest city. Every year between November 25 […]

Central African warlord to face ICC judges on Friday

A former Central African militia leader Alfred Yekatom, also known as “Colonel Rambo” will face international war crimes judges for the first time on Friday, the International Criminal Court said. “The initial appearance of Alfred Yekatom… is scheduled for Friday, November 23, at 11:00 local time,” the Hague-based court said in a statement issued on […]

Mara announces first African-made smartphone

African high-tech player Mara on Friday announced the production of their newest product the Maraphone – the first made-in-Africa, full-scale smartphone, soon to be manufactured in plants across Africa. “China has Huawei, Xiaomi; the U.S has iPhone and finally Africa has Maraphone,” Ashish​ Thakkar, founder of Mara Group told a press conference on the final […]

SIPRI study focuses on military spending in Africa

‘Contrary to common belief, countries in sub-Saharan Africa show a high degree of transparency in how they spend money on their military,’ says Dr Nan Tian, Researcher in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Arms Transfers and Military Expenditure Programme. ‘Citizens everywhere should know where and how public money is spent. It is encouraging […]