Editor's note

A day after the historic moon landings in 1969, the First Pan-African Cultural Festival formally opened in Algiers. Reflecting on the events 50 years later, David Murphy argues that while the moon landing marked the white, Western world seeking out new frontiers in space, the festival denoted something equally significant to the entire black and African world - the emergence of a post-imperial world.

Last week the World Health Organisation declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC a health emergency of international concern. This comes after a case of Ebola was diagnosed in Goma, a city of almost 2 million and a busy entry point. The announcement is important because it means more funds will be raised for response teams. But, warns Yap Boum, overcoming the outbreak needs more than money. More work needs to be done to ensure a peaceful environment.

South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma is in a tight spot. He’s been appearing before a commission of inquiry into corruption. His answers in the first few days were made up primarily of obfuscation and claims of memory loss. On Friday he walked out of the proceedings, only to reverse the decision a few hours later. Richard Calland explains Zuma’s dilemma: to provide counter-evidence or face the prospect of the commission reaching conclusions on the basis of the evidence others have given against him. But by taking the witness stand, he runs the risk of being found wanting.

Julius Maina

Regional Editor East Africa

Top Stories

Senegal’s singer Ismael Lo performs during the second Pan-African Cultural Festival (PANAF) in Algeria in 2009. EPA/Mohamed Messara

As the West toasted men on the moon, Algeria held a party to a post-imperial world

David Murphy, University of Strathclyde

Pan-African festival marked the emergence of a post-imperial world

Health officer on the front-line in the DRC. Flickr

Why declaring Ebola a public health emergency isn’t a silver bullet

Yap Boum, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

The Ebola outbreak in the DRC has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. What does this mean for the outbreak response?

Former South African President Jacob Zuma recanted his decision to walk out of the Zondo Commission. EPA-EFE/Wikus de Wit/Pool

Zuma plays cat and mouse with corruption inquiry: it may be a high-risk strategy

Richard Calland, University of Cape Town

The dilemma for Zuma and his legal team is this: by putting him on the witness stand, there is a risk that he would be found wanting, especially in terms of the detail of any matter.

Business + Economy

Why abandoning the CFA Franc would be a risky operation

Cheikh Ahmed Bamba Diagne, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar

Why leave a stable monetary zone that enables sustained economic growth of around 7%, at a time when Africa’s overall growth rate is at a 25-year low of 1.6%?

Understanding the political economy of maize in Kenya

Timothy Njagi Njeru, Egerton University

Understanding the political economy around maize production puts into context debates on key interventions in the value chain.

En français

Corne de l’Afrique : l’amour ne dure qu’un an ?

Sonia Le Gouriellec, Sciences Po – USPC

Une période de transition s’est ouverte, en parallèle de ce processus régional de paix, pour chacun des régimes de la région, crispés par les événements au Soudan et en Algérie.

Renoncer au franc CFA ? Une opération périlleuse

Cheikh Ahmed Bamba Diagne, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar

Pourquoi quitter une zone stable, qui permet d’avoir une croissance économique soutenue avoisinant les 7 %, au moment où l’Afrique affiche son taux de croissance le plus faible depuis 25 ans (1,6 %) ?

From our international editions

Boris Johnson lacks character, competence and credibility, say leadership experts

Michael Smets, University of Oxford; Tim Morris, University of Oxford

Two leadership experts weigh up the characteristics of the Conservative Party leadership hopefuls.

Cartel kingpin El Chapo is jailed for life, but the US-Mexico drug trade is booming

Luis Gómez Romero, University of Wollongong

The conviction of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquín Guzmán Loera, who evaded justice in Mexico, is a win for US officials. But it's a pyrrhic victory in the war on drugs.

 
 
 
 

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