Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s increasingly repressive government uses colonial-era laws to silence dissent. EFE-EPA/ EPA/Phillipe Wojazer November 4, 2019 How colonial rule predisposed Africa to fragile authoritarianism Nic Cheeseman, University of Birmingham and Jonathan Fisher, University of Birmingham The unstable authoritarian pathway that many post-colonial African states followed was facilitated by the way in which European empires undermined democratic elements within African societies.
Aerial view of Port Louis, Mauritius. Supplied by author July 15, 2019 Mauritius needs stewardship, not leadership, to keep global respect Jess Auerbach Jahajeeah, Open University of Mauritius A significant change in political mentality is required to shore up one of Africa’s leading lights.
Students protest outside the parliament in South Africa. The protest is seen as part of a bigger political crisis. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham December 28, 2016 Political turmoil in 2016 can be traced back to the 2008 financial crisis Thanti Mthanti, University of the Witwatersrand South Africa’s economic challenges of 2016 are largely a reflection of its inability to change in the light of global shocks.