Photo: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images
Navies, and other security agencies, won’t be able to improve maritime security as long as root causes on land are not addressed.
Ivorian sailors participate in an anti-piracy hostage rescue scenario with the Ghanaian Navy during Exercise Obangame Express.
Wikimedia Commons
Feeding a simple narrative of piracy without a broader look at other maritime security challenges hinders progress in dealing with it.
A Chinese trawler offloads its catch at a fishing port in Cameroon.
Maurice Beseng
Despite its importance, Cameroon’s maritime fisheries sector is plagued with largely hidden, or ignored, fisheries crimes.
Ghana is very protective of its cultural heritage.
Wikimedia Commons
New regulations on the use of folklore are a hindrance to local artists.
US National Security Advisor John Bolton sees China as a threat to Washington in Africa.
EPA-EFE/Shawn Thew
The US needs to review whether a security agenda based on US priorities will solve problems in sub-Saharan Africa.
Beninese women attend a “voodoo” festival.
Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock
In some West African communities, age and magico-religious beliefs have a huge role to play in a woman’s independence.
Different approaches to e-governance could bear fruit for African countries.
jurgenfr/Shutterstock
African countries’ adoption of e-government platforms hasn’t served the majority of their citizens.
President Xi Jinping at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation 2018.
EPA
Too many African countries believe Beijing when they are told in negotiations that they must take it or leave it.
In certain communities in Benin, Togo and Ghana, young virgin girls are sent to atone for their family’s wrongdoing.
Linda De Volder/Flickr
Trokosi is an ancient practice in West Africa where virgin girls, some as young as six are sent as slaves to make amends for wrongs committed by their families.
Hunger is a daily reality across large parts of Africa.
Jon Hrusa/EPA
It’s one thing to come up with food security plans. But implementing them is tough.
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and China’s President Xi Jinping at the 2018 summit in Beijing.
EPA-EFE/Andy Wong (Pool)
Not enough credit is given to the agency African governments have in their dealings with China.
A Togolese opposition supporter during protests over alleged electoral fraud in 2005.
EPA/Nic Bothma
Togo illustrates the difficulty of moving away from personalised politics.
Women teachers can be powerful role models for girls.
Mark Stedman/Flickr
Female teachers can act as role models who enhance girls’ motivation and learning outcomes.
Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza is one of many authoritarian African leaders.
AMISOM Public Information/Flickr
More leaders in more African countries will abolish term limits unless organisations like the African Union take action.
President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni refuses to relinquish power.
EPA/Stringer
Not all African leaders are willing to be swept by the democratic reforms of the early 2000s.
Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Joseph Kabila. Time to step aside.
Reuters/Kenny Katombe
Africa needs strong institutions. But they can only be built if there’s a change in leadership.
A placard “leave the power” being held by a demonstrator during a protest against President Faure Gnassingbe in Lome.
Noel Kokou Tadegnon/Reuters
The seeds of discord that were planted in independent Togo have resulted in ethnic divisions, and a state that has long been ruled by family. But recent protests could mean things are about to change.
Africa is home to many disease outbreaks yet is ill-prepared to deal with them.
UNMEER/Martine Perret
African leaders need to up their health allocations to help the new World Health Organisation Director-General meet his health care targets for the continent.
The Internet of Things offers great opportunities for Africa.
Shutterstock
The new Internet of Things has the potential to compensate for Africa’s legacies of underdevelopment.
The IMF was blamed after the 2014 Ebola crisis for contributing to the failure of West African health systems to develop.
Reuters/Baz Ratner
West African health systems were weak before the IMF got involved. Sadly, the policy reforms demanded by the IMF in exchange for loans have undermined governments’ ability to repair these problems.