Populism on the rise as South Africa and Namibia gear up to elect new presidents
South Africa's ANC and Namibia's SWAPO, governing parties, enter crucial leadership elections this year, with presidents Zuma and Geingob both facing challenges.
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Articles on African politics
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We need to talk about Zambia as it falls from grace under President Lungu
The world's media, which has in the past found Zambia uninteresting, are suddenly paying more attention to the impoverished nation, for all the wrong reasons.
Behind Buhari’s standoff with the Senate over Nigeria’s anti-corruption czar
There appears to be no resolution in sight over the impasse between Nigeria's president and the Senate over Muhammadu Buhari's choice of chief crime buster. Who will blink first?
Why the African Union must press ahead with a business and human rights policy
The move by the African Union to develop a policy to regulate the impact of firms on human rights puts it ahead of other regions as it seeks to guide companies conducting activities on the continent.
Integrating radical fighters who return home isn’t easy, but can be done
Trying to reintegrate foreign fighters who return home shouldn't be considered the soft option. Governments in countries like Morocco and Tunisia need to respond realistically to a complex problem.
Southern African politics roiled by distortions, junk bonds and road rage
Three democracies once considered beacons of hope are in varying states of disarray.
As South Africa’s ANC implodes, Thabo Mbeki tries to rewrite his own history
Today's ANC is in terrible shape – but it wasn't Jacob Zuma who put it on the wrong track.
South Africa’s ANC can stay a liberation movement and govern well
Democracy in South Africa is meaningless if it doesn't improve the lives of the people. To do this, the governing ANC must be led by conscientious, competent and interested leaders.
Why efforts to secure a deal on banning all nuclear weapons are so important
The treaty to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons has been exceptionally successful. Only nine states have them. Now, efforts are underway to completely rid the world of them.
Why it’s important that the world still reflects on Rwanda’s genocide
The 1994 Rwandan genocide evokes shame, despair, and revulsion.Yet, the events warrant reflection and remind us about the risks of looking the other way.
Jacob Zuma’s brazen venality may be exhausting even his ANC allies
It's long past time the ANC acted to end the Zuma era. But does it have the moral backbone to act?
Morocco reaps rewards of major changes in its diplomatic strategy
Morocco has been on a massive diplomatic drive, using both its political and economic muscle. Since his coronation in 1999, the king has led over 40 visits to African countries south of the Sahara.
Malawi’s plans for major electoral reform are way overdue
The proposed change to Malawi's electoral system is straightforward and makes logical sense. Yet it's more complex and if adopted would revolutionise local politics.
Africa offers a point of cooperation for Xi and Trump
If US President Donald Trump is the consummate dealmaker he purports to be, he should find the low risk, high returns of greater US-China-Africa cooperation irresistible.
Namibia: grown up after a generation into independence, but not yet mature
Namibia contributes a positive image to Africa in governance and other indicators. But the reality for most of the country’s 2.3 million people isn't quite as rosy.
Congolese politicians scramble for control as violence ramps up again
A deal to finally hold long-postponed elections has been reached, but parts of the country are still dealing with violence and chaos.
Africa’s elderly leaders get no prizes for hanging on
It's hard to award a prize to esteemed former leaders when so many are determined to die in office.
Why opposition parties in southern Africa struggle to win power
Opposition parties in sub-Saharan Africa struggle to prove themselves worthy to skeptical voters who, unlike in Western competitive systems, don't trust them over former liberation movements.
Barack Obama: an enduring legacy for advocates of democracy in Africa?
Barack Obama's high standing in sub-Sahara Africa persisted despite grumbling that he never delivered American largess to the degree many initially expected.
Zuma’s state of the nation address: nothing but farce and fisticuffs
The ANC should draw the lesson that South Africans are unlikely to tolerate the ongoing descent of their politics into the gutter without strident resistance - in the streets, if necessary.
Top contributors
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Professor of World Politics, SOAS, University of London
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Political Scientist, University of the Western Cape
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Professor of Public Affairs, Tshwane University of Technology
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Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria
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Professor in Political Science, University of South Africa
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Visiting Professor of International Relations, University of the Witwatersrand
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Associate Professor and Head of Department of Political and Conflict Studies, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
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Steinberg Postdoctoral Fellow in International Migration Law, Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, Faculty of Law, McGill University
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Inaugural WIPHOLD-Brigalia Bam Research Professor and Chair in Electoral Democracy in Africa, UNISA, University of South Africa
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Professor Emeritus, Society, Work and Development Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
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Researcher and PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science, Michigan State University
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Lecturer in Media and Communications, University of Malawi
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Senior Research Specialist in Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery at the Human Science Research Council and a Research Fellow Centre for African Studies, University of the Free State
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Professor in the Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand
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Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Sciences Research (CSSR)/Afrobarometer Assistant Project Manager for Southern Africa, University of Cape Town
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