The two main candidates in Kenya’s election are incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and the opposition’s Raila Odinga. Polls have them neck-and-neck. Here’s what you need to know about the key issues.
The DRC says presidential elections would probably not happen this year as President Joseph Kabila holds on to power.
Nic Bothma/EPA
President Joseph Kabila remains in office despite upheaval in the DRC. He can still save face and a change of heart could see him become the first Congolese president to relinquish power.
Rwanda’s election is being watched closely by observers concerned about an erosion of democracy.
Shutterstock
The next Rwandan presidential election will take place in a week’s time. Incumbent Paul Kagame will be the certain victor, but a few other candidates have thrown their hats in the ring.
Marble statue of Roman Ceres or Greek Demeter.
The Romans inherited their idea of human nature from the Greeks.
Shutterstock
The Greco-Roman society believed that people weren’t born human, they became human. But how can humanity be defined?That’s what the project of decolonising the humanities could be dedicated to.
The historical bias against women in politics is a complex issue.
Shutterstock
The gender-equity rule in Kenya’s constitution offers an opportunity to remedy past wrongs. But the country’s parliament is dragging its feet in implementing it.
A UN peacekeeper keeps watch in a camp for displaced civilians in Juba, South Sudan.
David Lewis/Reuters
The United Nations has had many chances to deal decisively with the endemic sexual and gender based violence against children in its missions. But the problem persists. What will it take to stop it?
Oil tanker Aris-13 was released by pirates of the Gulf of Aden in Puntland on March 19, 2017.
Abdiqani Hassan/Reuters
Stopping piracy has always been difficult, expensive and time consuming. The pirates of the 21st century have proved even more resilient.
Former President Mwai Kibaki (bottom left) and opposition leader Raila Odinga (bottom right) sign a power-sharing agreement in February 2008.
Antony Njuguna/Reuters
Congolese President Joseph Kabila was due to step down last year after serving two terms. But he failed to organise elections leading to deadly protests. Is Congo’s future now in grave danger?
Patrice Lumumba had a vision for the DRC. He believed that a lasting peace could be achieved through good will, not rifles and bayonets. The great man’s vision now lies in tatters.
Kenyans celebrate to mark Madaraka Day.
Noor Khamis/Reuters
Since Kenya gained independence from the British, the country has marked two independence days every year. But is the ‘self-rule’ Madaraka Day celebration necessary?
French President Emmanuel Macron with Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
EPA/Christophe Petit Tesson
Despite being led by different presidents over the past six decades, the French government’s policy on Africa has been faithful to its neo-colonial roots. Will Macron’s government be any different?
China’s proposed one belt, one road route map
Shutterstock
China has launched a quietly aggressive global trade, development and infrastructure initiative based on the ancient Silk Road model. But is Africa welcome on the journey to renewed prosperity?
AU Chair Moussa Faki in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
Tiksa Negeri/Reuters
Media coverage of elections is changing as the industry adopts new practices and politicians become more invested in their personal brands. But can the press remain objective?
A man in Kisumu City, Kenya walks past a banner advocating for a peaceful poll.
Baz Ratner/Reuters
Kenya’s next general election is slated for August 8 this year. As the country prepares for the polls, there are fears that political tensions will result in violence. Will history repeat itself?
Supporters of Zanzibar’s Civic United Front challenge Tanzanian security forces in Stone Town
Radu Sigheti/Reuters
Union Day is celebrated in Tanzania and Zanzibar on April 26 every year, but there is little unity to speak of between the islands and the mainland today
Kenyan voters queue to cast their ballots during the 2013 general election.
Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
Kenyan voters are aware of their central role in the electoral process, yet they tend to limit their leadership choices. Are they ready to break away from tradition in the 2017 elections?
Voters queue to cast their ballots during presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013.
Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
As party primaries have kicked off in Kenya in the run-up to the county’s general election in August, the ghost of violence past has reared its ugly head causing deep divisions along tribal lines.
Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and Visiting Professor University of Buckingham, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs