Paul Biya, the last Kaiser
A meditation on the oldest ruler in the world.
democracy
An undignified democracy
Three decades after apartheid, South Africans are still waiting for housing, land, and dignity—while elites ask for patience that serves only themselves.
The mustache that swung an election
In Mauritius, social media memes and leaks exposed corruption, galvanized youth, and reshaped the nation’s political landscape.
Enter the Povo
Mozambique’s disputed elections triggered a deadly uprising, as citizens resisted Frelimo’s rule and exposed the cracks in neoliberal policies.
The price of power
Ghana’s election has brought another handover between the country’s two main parties. Yet behind the scenes lies a flawed system where wealth can buy political office.
Growing but not maturing
As Ghana heads to the polls, its democratic promise fades amid economic turmoil, corruption, and disillusionment, leaving voters to choose between two flawed options.
The Nigerian people must own their resistance
When rising against ruling-class corruption, Nigerians must reject the hero culture that has historically undermined genuine activism.
Mozambique and the politics of popular uprising
On November 21st, 2024, we discussed the politics underlying the popular uprising in Mozambique with António Bai, Anne Pitcher, and José Jaime Macuane.
Ruto’s Kenya
Since June’s anti-finance bill protests, dozens of people remain unaccounted for—a stark reminder of the Kenyan state’s long history of abductions and assassinations.
Hopium kills but hope seeds
Reflections on Trump’s 2024 US presidential victory.
No justice, no peace in Mozambique
A decade ago, the kind of protest movement gripping Mozambique over the last few weeks would have been difficult to fathom.
Sem justiça e sem paz em Moçambique
Há dez anos, seria difícil imaginar esse tipo de movimento que vem ocorrendo nas últimas semanas em Moçambique.
In the shadow of Mondlane
After a historic election and on the eve of celebrating fifty years of independence, Mozambicans need to ask whether the values, symbols, and institutions created to give shape to “national unity” are still legitimate today.
The end of Mozambique’s two-party system?
Frelimo has been Mozambique’s ruling party since it gained independence from Portugal in 1975, while Renamo has been the official opposition since the end of its civil war. But after recent elections, things are about to change.
Será o fim do bipartidarismo em Moçambique?
Como figura política, Venâncio Mondlane personifica e reflete uma das questões centrais do processo de paz e reconciliação moçambicano: a inclusão política, ou a falta dela.
What’s next for the Nigerian left?
Although the #EndBadGovernance protests attempted to address lingering questions from the #EndSARS era, the potential for the left to transform Nigeria’s political landscape remains a question.
What is free and fair?
2024 has been the ultimate election year. Just Us Under A Tree rejoins the Africa Is a Country Podcast to reflect on South Africa’s May poll and what it reveals about contemporary democratic politics.
Ending our spectator citizenship
Anti-government protests have spread to Uganda, where ordinary people are tired of passively accepting elite misrule.
The mad man
As he loses his grip on power, Kenya’s president is losing the plot.
How to defeat the right
The results of France's snap election show that there is an alternative to right-wing nihilism and business-as-usual centrism.