For the African Union, 2020 is supposed to be a landmark year. Its ‘silencing the guns’ initiative is aimed at ‘ending all wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, violent conflicts and preventing genocide in the continent by 2020.’ While no one can argue with that laudable goal, the continental body and
Tag: Africa
Can a new network bring the AU to Africa’s youth?
As the African Union’s Youth Month begins, the expectations of millions of young people remain largely unmet. By Muneinazvo Kujeke The African Union’s (AU) recently concluded African Youth Decade (2009 -2018) was, on the whole, underwhelming. A plan of action for youth engagement in health, education, employment and governance was developed, but its potential was
AU validates continental framework on youth, security
Maureen Okpe The Youth for Peace Africa (Y4P) program of the African Union Commission (AUC) has validates the draft Continental framework on youth and security. This was harnessed in a workshop in Accra, Ghana from the discussions and inputs by representatives of youth from five regions of the Continent working on
Africa’s international crimes court is still a pipe dream
By Maram Mahdi Despite adopting the Malabo Protocol five years ago, efforts by African states to establish the court have stalled. Since June 2014 when African leaders agreed to set up an African international crimes court, there’s been no progress towards its establishment. The Malabo Protocol, adopted at an African Union (AU) summit in
The African Free Trade Zone Can’t Ignore Continent’s Security Issues
By Christian Abadioko Sambou The new African free trade zone came into effect at the end of May 2019. All of the African Union's (AU) member states are now legally bound to allow African goods to be traded without restraint throughout the continent. But there are some security concerns to be considered. Entering the
Is Africa ready for weapons that call their own shots?
On a continent where conflict is rife, states should think twice about lethal autonomous weapons. By Gugu Dube Robotic weapons that once activated can select and attack targets without any further human intervention are being developed by the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Israel. Often listed as part
A risky return for ex-combatants into communities
Continued human rights abuses and a lack of transparency are hindering the successful reintegration of defectors. Enabling violent extremists to defect from their terror groups to rejoin society is a vital strategy in preventing violent extremism in Africa. But amnesty and rehabilitation programmes for this purpose often fail because security forces
Africa’s Spy Chiefs declare social media a security threat, exploited by subversive elements
•Vows to measures to checkmate usage while guaranteeing citizens rights •May not achieve agenda 2063, Silence the Guns in Africa by 2020 Senator Iroegbu The Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) has declared some activities in the social media as a national, regional and continental security threat. This was
Is China Recolonizing Africa?
Abel Kiyondo Sino-African relations have existed since ancient times, but were first formalized in 1956 when Egypt established diplomatic relations with China. This move paved the way for China to strike up relations with the rest of Africa. Over the subsequent half century, China has emerged as Africa’s largest trading partner
Don’t expect debt relief, US warns Africa
The United States (U.S.) top Africa diplomat, Tibor Nagy, warned in Pretoria, South Africa on Monday that African countries running up debt they cannot pay back, including China, should not expect to be bailed out by western-sponsored debt relief. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank began the Heavily Indebted Poor