Archive - An Africanist Perspective

On American aid cuts/disruptions

When the music stops, those who’ve outsourced their ambitions get exposed

Feb 5 •

What explains the “ambition gap” among Africa’s (ruling) elites?

On the drivers of African elites’ addiction to muddling through developmentalism

Jan 27 •

Kenyan Protests, Part One: The political education of President William Ruto

Lessons on the difficulties of governing during turbulent economic times after campaigning as an anti-establishment populist.

Jul 2, 2024 •

African countries must urgently start the process of ending aid dependency

On why African countries must seize this moment to start the journey towards self-sufficiency

Mar 2 •

What will become of international development after the end of the aid paradigm?

Some thoughts in response to questions I get from students and young professionals

Feb 20 •

Straight talk on African elites’ complacency: the case of Kenya

Figuring out how to get things done is a major constraint to African development

Apr 30 •

The problem of organizing weak states; and why Africa needs a new model of Pan-Africanism

Africa’s regional hegemons must step up in the management of Continental affairs; doing so would not necessarily violate the spirit of Pan-Africanism.

Mar 31 •

This year will see several African countries consolidate their return to a growth trajectory in the aftermath of COVID, even as security challenges in…

Jan 6 •

Recognizing Somaliland

Ethiopia is on course to break a taboo on African territorial sovereignty; and what it means for the geopolitics of the Horn and wider Red Sea region

Jan 8, 2024 •

(Energy) poverty is very bad for humans and the environment

It’s time to stop pretending that the planet will be saved by maintaining energy poverty in low-income states

Apr 9, 2024 •

This year will bring more debt distress, respectable growth — especially in Eastern Africa, a number of pivotal elections, and sticky of conflicts and…

Jan 1, 2024 •

2024: Year in Review

African countries weathered ongoing fiscal squeeze better than expected, with emerging shoots of economic recovery. Electoral jamboree delivered mixed…

Dec 30, 2024 •

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