The Gulf states are expanding their role in the Horn of Africa and broadening its ties to the region. The Emirates and Saudi Arabia helped broker the peace deal that ended the 20 year war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the establishment of a new Red Sea security alliance is on the steps, the UAE has a military base in Eritrea and building another one in Somaliland, while Qatar and Turkey are refurbishing a port in Sudan. Why? Turmoil in the Middle East, growing rivalry about regional influence, piracy from Somalia and the war in Yemen have made Africa's Horn a core strategic interest for the Gulf states. Between 2000 and 2017 Gulf states invested $13bn in the Horn of Africa (Clingendael Institute). Closer relations across the Red Sea can improve intra-African relationship and cooperation with the Gulf states, but how can African states on the Horn resist unwarranted interferences in their internal policy decisions and ensure they get the best deal for themselves?

Afrika Nå

Afrika Nå Why Is The Gulf So Interested In The Horn Of Africa?

In 2017, the majority of international migrants resided in a country in their region of birth. The same is true for Africa. But how does African migration on the continent look like? What opportunities do migrants have in their home countries and what are the perceived opportunities in the host countries? How do migrants take on new identities in their host communities and navigate a new life in a new country? Even though African migrants contribute to both the local economy and the economy in their home countries by paying taxes, remittances etc, their situation can be challenging. Recently there has been another outbreak of xenophobic riots in parts of South Africa aimed at mainly black, African immigrants. What are the challenges being a migrant on the continent? And how do we understand the migration on the African continent?

How do we understand African migration on the continent?

Although Africa's contribution to greenhouse emissions globally is small, countries on the continent are among the most vulnerable to climate change, according to the UN panel on climate. They predict that millions of people will be affected by drought, floods, landslides and lack of water and food. What will this mean for the peace, stability, migration patterns and development on the continent? Migration is a significant contributor to urban growth and urbanization processes in African countries, as people migrate in search of social and economic opportunity and from climate change. What impact does migration have on urbanization and how is this further challenged by Africa's rapid population growth? What is the link between climate change, migration and urbanization in Africa's future?

Climate, conflict and urban migration in Africa

The results from the general election held on the 8th of May in South Africa is clear. The ruling African National Congress is once again reelected, but they are weakened and the opposition is strengthened. The people are demanding a change. Corruption scandals and an unstable economy are key issues to address. How will ANC with president Cyril Ramaphosa utilize opportunities for the people in one of the most unequal countries in the world? Since 2015 the #feesmustfall student movement in South Africa has been in the frontier of demanding action from politicians, demonstrating for a public university that is free and accessible for everyone regardless of their economic ability to pay fees. The running parties for the general election all made an attempt to target their election campaigns towards the youth, seeking to collect their votes. How has this played out? What is the future for the people, the youth and students in South Africa?

South African Elections - Students and Politics

On April 2nd 2019 The Gambia ratified the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, reaching the threshold of 22 countries needed to put the agreement into force. This agreement is a step towards the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which will be the largest free-trade area in the world. Is this heading towards Kwame Nkrumah's dream of a United States of Africa or is it a neoliberal project destined to fail? The AfCFTA will cover a market of 1.2 billion people and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of USD 2.5 trillion. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimates that the agreement will boost intra-African trade by 52 percent by 2022. What are the pros and cons of such an agreement? Who benefits - and who is left out? What are the regional and global implications?

Afrika Nå: United States of Africa?

Africa's last absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III since 1986 celebrates 51 years of independence this year. 38% of the population in Swaziland is living in extreme poverty (World Bank). The country has also continued to repress political dissent and disregard human rights and rule of law. What is going on in Swaziland? According to Human Rights Watch, political parties in the country have been banned since 1973 and the independence of the judiciary is severely compromised. What role do the civil society and the labour movement play in this regard? Is there a growing resistance within the country and what is the importance of the international community in amplifying the voices of democracy in Swaziland? N.B.: Swaziland is still the name largely used within the country. King Mswati decreed a name change to eSwatini during his birthday celebration in 2018, a decision that is currently being challenged in court due to being unconstitutional

Swaziland: What is happening in Africa's last absolute monarchy?

“An important read... The still-unfolding tragedy of South Sudan is too little understood and too little known, even among foreign policy experts. Zach Vertin is a rare exception.” - JOHN KERRY 68th U.S. Secretary of State A Rope from the sky - The making and unmaking of the world's newest state is a book about South Sudan and how the new nation was plunged into chaos, shattering the promise of liberation and exposing the hubris of their foreign backers. A Rope from the Sky journeys inside an epic tale of paradise won and then lost. The author, Zach Vertin, is a writer, foreign policy analyst, and former diplomat. He served at the State Department during the administration of President Obama, and was closely involved in the South Sudan peace process. He also served as a Senior Analyst for the International Crisis Group in the Horn of Africa and an advisor on UN operations and multilateral affairs in New York. Mr. Vertin is joined in conversation by Endre Stiansen, senior research and policy advisor at UNDP Oslo Governance Centre. They will be exploring the American perspective on South Sudan, as one of the three countries in the so-called "troika" for Sudan and South Sudan (joined by UK and Norway).

The Making And Unmaking Of South Sudan - Book Launch

I år er det 25 år siden den banebrytende Kairo-konferansen, som huskes best som konferansen der kvinners rolle ble satt i direkte sammenheng med befolkningsspørsmålet, og hvor seksuell og reproduktiv helse og rettigheter virkelig ble satt på agendaen. Et sentralt punkt var om abort skal tolkes som en komponent av reproduktiv helse og som en universell rettighet. Sterke ideologiske ulikheter splittet deltakernasjonene, og fortsetter å være splittende også i dag. Noe av det første Donald Trump gjorde som president var å gjeninnføre «global gag rule»; et forbud mot at amerikanske bistandspenger gis til organisasjoner som tilbyr eller gir informasjon om abort, eller arbeider politisk for å endre abortlovgivning. Hvilke fremskritt har vi sett innenfor kvinners seksuelle og reproduktive rettigheter på de 25 årene som har gått? Hvordan rammer Trumps "global gag rule" internasjonale organisasjoner som driver helseklinikker og informasjonsarbeid om reproduktiv helse? Og hva er konsekvensene for kvinner i utviklingsland?

Afrika Nå: Kvinners reproduktive rettigheter - hva er status?

I 2011 besluttet den norske regjeringen i rekordfart, under ledelse av Jens Stoltenberg, å delta i militæroperasjonene i Libya. Under krigen slapp norske styrker 588 bomber over landet og operasjonen er den mest omfattende Norge har deltatt i siden andre verdenskrig. Mange spørsmål er blitt stilt vedrørende Norges rolle i krigen i ettertid, men hva kan vi lære av Libya-krigen? Libya-rapporten som kom i fjor har pekt på en rekke ting som vi kan dra lærdom av, selv om mange mente at rapportens mandat var for smalt. 27. mars behandler Utenriks- og forsvarskomiteen på Stortinget rapporten. Hva har vi lært?

Hva kan vi lære av Libya-krigen?

Abiy Ahmed was the prime minister on everyone's lips from April 2018. In one year he has made peace with Eritrea, freed thousands of opposition prisoners, opened up to foreign investors, survived an assassination and a mutiny, appointed women as half of the government and the president and tackled corruption and human rights violations within the ruling party. However, Ethiopia is facing growing communal and ethnic tensions within the country and had the highest numbers of internally displaced people in the world in 2018. What role does ethnic politics have in this regard? Does practicing ethnic politics influence the process of democratizing the country? And is federalism in Ethiopia possible without ethnicity being involved?

Afrika Nå: Ethiopia - ethinic politics, reform and the road ahead

KLUPOD is brought to you by the gender and equality group (KLU- Kjønn og Likestilling) at the Norwegian Council for Africa (Fellesrådet for Afrika) in Oslo. We work with activists and artists to create awareness about current topics affecting gender and equality, aiming to contribute to a more nuanced perception of the continent. Each podcast will focus on topics relevant to us and our work, where we invite a knowledgeable guest for a conversation. In this first episode KLU talks to Nyasha Vera about the accounts of sexual violence after the recent demonstrations in Zimbabwe against the rise in fuel prices in January.

KLUPOD: Sexual violence as a weapon in Zimbabwe

Barnearbeid i koboltgruvene i Kongo. Tekstilarbeidere i Bangladesh som hver dag risikerer et nytt Rana Plaza. Urfolksrepresentanter i Guatemala som voldtas og drepes fordi de ikke vil overlate jorden sin til gruvedrift. Miljøforkjempere i Brasil som blir drept fordi de protesterer mot tvangsflytting, vannforurensing og avskoging. Disse eksemplene viser at vi trenger en menneskerettighetslov for næringslivet. I flere land innføres og diskuteres det nå menneskerettighetslovgivning for næringslivet, fordi man ser at frivillige standarder ikke er nok for å få næringslivsaktører til å respektere menneskerettigheter og miljø. Land som England, Nederland, Australia og Frankrike har allerede innført dette, og det pågår prosesser i Sveits, Tyskland og Finland. Nå er det på tide at norske myndigheter kommer på banen! Første del av seminaret foregår på engelsk.

Profitt for enhver pris?

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, was set to vote in presidential and federal elections on 16 Februar. But the elections were postponed last minute to 23 February. The political landscape in Nigeria has changed the last decade, and there is an increasing democratic participation. However, violent conflicts, corruption and militant activists are still challenges for the country. Promises of less corruption and more security has characterized the election campaigns, but what will happen after? Two men in their 70s are contesting a Nigerian presidential election in which half the registered voters are aged between 18 and 35. Incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari has been criticized for not managing to create enough jobs for the youth, and the former vice president turned rich business man, Atiku Abubakar, has been accused of being involved in corruption. Who is most able to lead Nigeria and overcome the challenges the country is facing?

Afrika Nå - Nigerian elections - now what?

The decade from 2015 to 2024 has been proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent by the UN. The UN advise all states to "Celebrate the launch of the International Decade at the national level, and develop national programmes of action and activities for the full and effective implementation of the Decade". However, in Norway, the state has not taken any initiative regarding the Decade, and they are not planning to. Why is the Decade not a priority for the government? Approximately 100 000 people living in Norway today are of African decent. What challenges do they experience growing up and living in the Norwegian society, and how does this influence their sense of identity? How has Norway historically treated people of African decent? And what is the way forward?

Afrika Nå - Are Africans invisible in Norwegian policies?

Zambia only just over a decade ago had their debts written off by the IMF and the World Bank. However, the public debt in the country has increased significantly in the recent years, and concerns over a possible crisis have been aired. Some are blaming unsustainable Chinese loans and say that China is pursuing debt-trap diplomacy with the aim of taking over Zambia's strategic assets. Is China really the one to blame for the country's debt problems? And what role have IMF and the World Bank played in this regard? About 60 percent of the Zambian population live below the poverty line (http://www.global.no/landfakta/4036), and yet President Lungu bought himself a luxury jet in October for the humble price of NOK 400 million. What is the consequences of the lack of transparency in the financial sector in Zambia? And how does this affect the daily life for ordinary Zambians?

hubhopper

Afrika Nå

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