Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHF) generally refer to a group of diseases characterised by severe fevers and bleeding symptoms. The most well-known of these is Ebola, a deadly disease affecting humans and non-human primates, which typically occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Nigerian government has long framed Borno State as a potential alternative to its south-eastern oil fields, amid speculation of significant oil reserves in the region. Yet, with Boko Haram’s ongoing insurgency there, coupled with a recent kidnapping in the area, the region is more likely to become a second Niger Delta than an answer to Nigeria’s…
South Africa has experienced a significant increase in reported kidnappings, with targets now including middle to upper-income businesspersons. Gabrielle Reid investigates the nature of these attacks and how South Africa’s worsening criminal underworld has offered the perfect environment for the growth of this lucrative crime.
Last week marked the end of Ethiopian Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed’s first 100 days in office. The new leader, appointed on 2 April, has embarked on a vigorous reform campaign, seeking to open up Ethiopia’s political and economic environments. Plans to privatise key sectors of the economy, including the aviation and telecommunications sectors, together…
The spate of alleged Islamist militant attacks in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado Province since October last year have raised concern regarding the safety of communities in the area. As the region also hosts significant liquefied natural gas deposits, the emerging militant threat could have dire consequences for Mozambique’s fledging oil and gas…
In a statement released on 9 May, the Sahel-based Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) threatened to attack Western companies operating in the Sahel, calling their operations ‘legitimate targets’ in its mujahedeen. Unsurprisingly, the group identified France and its allies as likely targets given the ongoing French counterterrorism intervention in…
Emboldened by the recent recovery of commodity prices, several African governments are leading a new wave of regulatory overhaul aimed at increasing control over their natural resources.
Sporadic violent confrontations and incidents of intimidation threaten to tarnish the country's recent record of peaceful democratic engagement and stability, writes Thorne Godinho.
Eritrean and Ethiopian aggression has significantly escalated since the 12 June 2016 border clash in efforts to hide numerous domestic issues in both countries; however, the two states are unlikely to risk an all-out war, writes S-RM's East Africa team
Recent dialogue between long-term rivals, Somaliland and Khaatumo, has the potential to change the local political environment in the contested region. This is likely to increase the potential for reconciliation in the region, writes S-RM's East Africa team
Although violent party primaries demonstrate the intense competition of Kenya's county-level politics, they are not necessarily a determinant of widespread election-related violence. Nevertheless, likely drivers of violence are ever present and a peaceful nationwide August vote is still not guaranteed, writes Gabrielle Reid
When the International Monetary Fund (IMF) finds a hole in a Fund-backed country's budget, it is quick to ask the government what happened to the money, writes Paul Adams and Jack Raeder. But at its first meeting with Ghana's new Finance Minister in February, the Fund itself faced that question. Ken Ofori-Atta reminded his visitors from Washington that…