Africa’s rich ocean resources - from fish to minerals and hydrocarbons - are important to the continent’s economy and food security, but they’ve also drawn the interest of foreign nations. Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood and Freedom Onuoha reveal how this has created a situation in which, when it comes to issues of ocean security, foreign nations influence decisions and actions which are in their best interests, and not those of African countries and citizens.

The most common explanation for the conflict in Sudan is that it’s about a clash between two military men – the head of the army and the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. But, as Harry Verhoeven explains, the roots of the violence are much more complex. He sets out how overlapping energy, food and political crises led to violent competition between rival elites for control of lucrative niches in sectors such as the supply of fuel.

Moina Spooner

Assistant Editor

Africa’s oceans are being protected to serve the interests of big foreign corporates

Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood, University of St Andrews; Freedom C. Onuoha, University of Nigeria

The current focus by extra-regional actors is an elite project that undermines a maritime security strategy that would benefit the African people.

Sudan’s conflict has its roots in three decades of elites fighting over oil and energy

Harry Verhoeven, Columbia University

The Sudanese crisis is the culmination of three decades of contentious energy politics among rival elites.

South Africans are fed up with their prospects, and their democracy, according to latest social attitudes survey

Joleen Steyn Kotze, University of the Free State; Benjamin Roberts, Human Sciences Research Council

A threshold has been crossed, with a pessimistic outlook becoming more dominant than an optimistic one.

Social media now trumps traditional family networks in Libya – my Facebook survey reached 446,000 women

Abier Hamidi, Bournemouth University

This researcher found that even in traditional Arab communities, social media is a better way of reaching people than using family networks.

South Africa is scrapping special work permits for Zimbabweans – migrants will be left exposed

Sikanyiso Masuku, University of Cape Town

The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit gave holders the right to live and work in the country but did not grant them the right to permanent residence.

TC Afrique

Mali : pourquoi la Katibat Macina et l’État islamique au Sahel se combattent dans le Macina ?

Lamine Savané, Université de Ségou; Fassory Sangare, Université des sciences juridiques et politiques de Bamako; Mahamadou Bassirou Tangara, Université des Sciences sociales et de Gestion de Bamako

Deux organisations djihadistes la katibat Macina et l'Etat islamique au Sahel se livrent une guerre sans merci. Voici les raisons et les enseignements de cette guerre fratricide.

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