African Arguments

25/07/2024

African Arguments spoke to Namibia’s Industrialisation and Trade Minister about industrial strategy, unjust trade, and green hydrogen controversies.

African Arguments spoke to Lucia Iipumbu about industrialisation, unjust trade deals, and controversies over green hydrogen in Namibia.

23/07/2024

What can governments do to mitigate the risks carbon offsets can pose to rights, livelihoods, food security, and ecosystems?

What can governments do to mitigate the risks that carbon offsets can pose to local rights, livelihoods, and food security?

17/07/2024

South Africa’s environmental justice movement will have its work cut out challenging the interests of fossil capital under the unity government.

The climate justice movement in South Africa will have to challenge the interests of fossil capital under the new environment minister

16/07/2024

In , one of the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather, mostly women farmers are struggling after losing land, livestock, and livelihoods.

In Malawi, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, farmers are struggling after losing land, livestock, and livelihoods.

11/07/2024

Why has Cameroon awarded a logging concession in the mega biodiverse Ebo Forest to a little-known company?

The govt is accused of violating rights, regulations and climate plans by awarding an Ebo Forest logging concession to a little-known firm

09/07/2024

Biodiversity loss from unequal mining deals is not a glitch. It’s the logical end point of multiple transnational pressures.

Biodiversity loss in the DRC is not a glitch. It's the logical end point of multiple transnational pressures.

09/07/2024

The third deal the EU is signing with a ‘partner’ state since 2016, a cash-strapped Egypt did not hesitate to justify Europe’s immigration paranoias for an infusion of euros. The loopholes in this deal with the devil have been cynically exploited to push Sudanese refugees back into the war zone.

The third deal the EU is signing with a 'partner' state since 2016, a cash-strapped Egypt did not hesitate to justify Europe's immigration paranoias for an infusion of euros. The loopholes in this deal with the devil have been cynically exploited to push Sudanese refugees back into the war zone.

04/07/2024

Bandits from the Northern Nigerian hotspots of Zamfara and Katsina states are crossing over into northern Benin, buying up property and recruiting young men. Is this the moment that the Lake Chad Basin crisis merges with the wider Sahelian one?

04/07/2024

Referred to as ‘Marlians’ after British-Nigerian singer, Naira Marley, whose songs allegedly glorify the profane, drugs have become the face of a silent crisis in the wake of the insurgency.

Referred to as 'Marlians' after British-Nigerian singer, Naira Marley, whose songs allegedly glorify the profane, they have become the face of a silent crisis in the wake of the insurgency.

04/07/2024

Suspicions around the death of Malawi's VP Saulos Chilima augur badly for Chakwera’s re-election hopes, and even worse for the ruling coalition.

Suspicions around the death of VP Saulos Chilima augur badly for Chakwera's re-election hopes, and even worse for the ruling coalition.

04/07/2024

At 99, the memory of Patrice Lumumba only grows stronger, as a new book uncovers fresh details about his gruesome assassination 64 years ago.

02/07/2024

In the face of some nations’ foot-dragging tactics, a pan-African front is all the more imperative, writes the chair of the African Group of Negotiators.

In the face of some nations' foot-dragging tactics, a pan-African front is imperative, writes Ali Mohamed, chair of the AGN.

02/07/2024

Experiences in northeast Nigeria suggest women struggle to participate in climate initiatives unless gender dynamics are carefully integrated.

Experiences in north-east Nigeria suggest women will struggle to participate in Great Green Wall initiatives unless gender is integrated.

19/06/2024

Planting vegetation on buildings can bring many perks for those that can afford them, but the environmental benefits should not be overstated.

Green roofs can bring many perks for those in Nairobi that can afford them, but the environmental benefits shouldn't be overstated.

17/06/2024

The just-concluded climate talks in Bonn were meant to be a crucial stepping stone towards a new climate finance goal, to be agreed at COP29 this November. So what progress was made, if any?

Our panel of experts, negotiators, researchers, and activists give their verdict.

We asked a range of experts, negotiators, researchers, and activists what unfolded in Bonn and where it leaves climate finance for Africa.

13/06/2024

The Tinubu administration took off where Buhari left: arbitrary arrests of journalists, indefinite detentions and even alleged executions. The logic of it defies reason – save for a new surveillance clause in a 2014 law.

The Tinubu administration appears to have taken off where Buhari left: arbitrarily arresting journalists, indefinite detentions and even alleged executions. The logic of it defies reason - save for a new clause in a 2014 law being exploited for the State's emerging surveillance project.

13/06/2024

Without decisive policies, the uneven benefits of electric vehicles may make the world’s most unequal country, South Africa, even more unequal.

Without intervention, the benefits of electrical vehicles (EV) will deepen divides between rich and poor in South Africa.

12/06/2024

A group of 49 parliamentarians from 20 countries across Africa call on the G7 for debt forgiveness, financial reform, and climate commitments to be met.

Parliamentarians from 20 countries across Africa call on G7 for debt forgiveness, financial reform, and climate commitments to be met

11/06/2024

Policymaking that sidelines farmers in countries like Madagascar, where I am Agriculture Minister, can be as harmful as the climate crisis itself.

Policymaking that sidelines farmers can be as harmful as the climate crisis. Three lessons for the G7 and its food and agriculture initiative

11/06/2024

Investing $1 billion in early warning systems would avoid $35 billion in losses each year.

Investing $1 billion in early warning systems would avoid $35 billion in losses each year, according to the World Bank.

05/06/2024

Departing from the dramatic imagery often used by the media to portray Ghana as “the dustbin of the world”, investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and photojournalists Muntaka Chasant and Bénédicte Kurzen spent a year documenting the incredibly complex ecosystem that provides both a crucial economic opportunity for thousands of people and has a considerable negative human and environmental impact.

A project departs from the stereotype of Ghana as “dustbin of the world” to show a complex e-waste system that provides opportunity and harm.

04/06/2024

In an exclusive interview, chair of the IPCC Jim Skea discusses the next set of IPCC climate reports, its timeline, and the representation of the Global South.

In an exclusive interview, IPCC chair Jim Skea discusses the way forwards for the next set of assessment reports.

03/06/2024

Land grabbing is not just back with a vengeance. It is taking on new guises such as carbon offsets, green hydrogen schemes, and other “green grabs”.

Land grabbing is not just back with a vengeance. It's taken on new guises like carbon offsets, green hydrogen schemes, and other green grabs

03/06/2024

Nobel laureate Abiy Ahmed won plaudits early on for releasing imprisoned journalists. Today, his government depicts journalists as spies and traitors, and is accused of arresting, harassing and murdering them.

The Nobel laureate won plaudits early on for releasing imprisoned journalists. Today, his government depicts journalists as spies and traitors, and is accused of arresting, harassing and murdering them.

30/05/2024

One of the biggest ever illegal animals shipments in Africa involved senior conservation officials in the DRC, suggest documents seen by African Arguments.

One of the biggest ever illegal monkey shipments in Africa involved senior DRC officials, suggest documents seen by African Arguments.

30/05/2024

Digging the country out of the hole it fell into during the Buhari years required an ingenuity never made available under Tinubu’s economic shock treatment programme.

Digging the country out of the hole it fell into during the Buhari years required an ingenuity never made available under Tinubu's economic shock treatment programme.

29/05/2024

The ongoing conflict is an existential threat to the very idea of Sudan, not to be solved by negotiations featuring the usual suspects working on the old power-sharing formula.

29/05/2024

Until recently, indigenous groups in the Omo Valley planted crops, foraged, hunted, fished, herded animals, and shared food. Now they face starvation.

Until recently, indigenous groups in the Omo Valley planted crops, foraged, hunted, fished, and shared food. Now they're starving.

29/05/2024

Almost two-thirds of the current electorate could not have voted in the first all-race elections in 1994. After the apathy of the past 15 years, why does voting feel so important this time around?

24/05/2024

Unlike the SADC contingent that defeated the M23 back in 2013, the SAMIDRC force’s tentative approach to the spreading conflict is raising questions about South Africa’s real motives in mineral-rich Congo-K.

Unlike the SADC contingent that defeated the M23 back in 2013, the SAMIDRC force's tentative approach to the spreading conflict is raising questions about South Africa's real motives in mineral-rich Congo-K.