Peacekeeping crucial for African stability

Despite their shortcomings, African peace operations have saved lives, built security sector capacity, and helped mitigate conflict—reducing pressure on international actors to become directly involved. Armed conflicts in Africa have substantially declined from their peak in the early 1990s. The 12 ongoing conflicts represent a 35 percent drop from two decades ago. This downward trend […]

NABA’s breakfast meeting with Ghanaian minister

A breakfast meeting on investment opportunities in Ghana with the country’s Trade and Industry Minster Alan Kyerematen will be held this Thursday in Oslo, Norway’s capital. The event, is organized by the Norwegian African Business Association (NABA) and KPMG, a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. And will be held […]

Hate speech stirs trouble in Burundi

Next month, the Commission of Enquiry on Burundi, established by the UN Human Rights Council, is due to deliver its final report on abuses in the central African state and to make a judgement as to whether these abuses, including killings, torture, and abduction, amount to international crimes. The commission has highlighted the prevalence of hate speech in […]

Sweden’s prime minister speaks on the future of work

  Ms President, Director-General, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for inviting me to this important event. It is a great honour to serve as co-chair of this Global Commission on the Future of Work. Access to decent work is fundamental for all women and men. I got my first job in the early […]

Neighbors carry burden of South Sudan’s refugees

More than a million South Sudanese refugees have now crossed the border into Uganda in what is the world’s fastest-growing refugee crisis. Analysts say the chances of forging peace are becoming slimmer and so the war and the flow of desperate people is set to continue, further straining an already struggling aid operation. An average […]

Some questions for Liberian presidential candidates

Dear presidential candidates: The Liberian people are looking for a fighting president.   The fighting president is the one who is willing to fight to give all Liberians equal fighting chance for better livelihoods. He or she is the one who is willing to summon a new dawn to mark a renewed beginning for Liberia by ending the “semi-godly presidency” and the “oligarchy governance structure” in the country. […]

Congolese warlord to face trial

Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, leader of the armed group Nduma Defense of Congo (NDC), was transferred on Friday August 4th to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and was handed over by MONUSCO to the Congolese judicial authorities. Sheka has been under MONUSCO supervision in Goma since his surrender on 26 July.  He is […]

Gambia: challenges facing Africa’s youngest democracy

On December 1st, Gambia held a presidential election in what seemed as another victory for the then incumbent, Yahya Jammeh. Just as the fall of communism caught political analysts off-guard, the victory of the coalition over Jammeh was also another miracle that no one saw coming – not because the coalition lacked the support base, […]

UN human rights official visits Liberia

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour will visit Liberia from 1 to 3 August, seeking to mobilize support for the establishment of a UN Human Rights Office in the country following the forthcoming closure of the UN Mission in Liberia in March 2018. During his visit, Gilmour will meet with government and civil society […]

Africa faces weakening of policies, institutions

The quality of policies and institutions weakened in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2016 amid challenging economic conditions, according to the latest review by the World Bank. This weaker trend was observed in 40% of the region’s IDA countries, notably commodity exporters and fragile states. The review is the annual World Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment […]