Africa Aware

In this episode Dr Alex Vines from Chatham House provides his insights on what the UK Government's Integrated Review will mean for its engagement with Africa. Then Shuvai Nyoni from the African Leadership Centre in Nairobi discusses how East Africa can leverage burgeoning interest for the benefit of its citizens and why approaches to tackle widespread insecurity in the region must be reframed.&nbsp; Credits: Speakers: Shuvai Nyoni, Alex Vines Host: Yusuf Hassan Editor: Jamie Reed Producers: Yusuf Hassan, Ben Horton Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Episode 3: The pivot to East Africa

In this episode of Africa Aware, Dame Rosalind Marsden discusses the state of Sudan’s transition, while Dr Adam Elhiraika speaks about the country’s economic reform priorities and international support.

Episode 4: Sudan’s Economic Stabilization

In this episode of Africa Aware, Ahmed Soliman discusses the context in which the Ethiopian elections are taking place, while Lidet Tadesse emphasizes the importance of peacebuilding and intercommunal dialogue during and after the elections.

Episode 5: Peacebuilding Amidst Elections in Ethiopia

In this episode of Africa Aware, Christopher Vandome introduces key questions facing decision-makers in response to the challenges facing the mining sector in Africa. While Sheila Khama discusses continent-wide priorities for the mining sector, and the industry’s role in supporting national development ambitions.

Episode 6: Mining in Africa

On this special episode of Africa Aware, we speak to Honorable Minister Dr Lee White, The Republic of Gabon’s Minister of Water, Forests, the Sea, and Environment. With COP26 around the corner, we discuss the immediate impacts of climate change in Gabon, how infrastructure development can factor in sustainability, the role of the private sector in conservation and the voice of local populations in the decision-making process around environmental issues.

Episode 7: Climate Change in Africa with Minister Lee White

In this episode of Africa Aware, we speak to Executive Director of EG Justice Tutu Alicante.  Tutu outlines the current state of kleptocracy in Equatorial Guinea, the western actors that facilitate these corrupt practices, and the role of international partners in supporting efforts to bring about justice.

Episode 8: Kleptocracy in Equatorial Guinea

In this episode of Africa Aware, Professor Tang Xiaoyang examines&nbsp;Beijing’s vision of China-Africa relations and its approach to debt relief in the context of&nbsp;post-pandemic domestic economic adjustments. Fergus Kell outlines a new&nbsp;Chatham House project  on&nbsp;infrastructure-linked debt sustainability&nbsp;in Africa and discusses the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Dakar, Senegal.

Episode 9: Beijing’s Vision of China-Africa Relations

In this episode of Africa Aware, Tighisti Amare highlights some of the key interventions from our Policy for Recovery in Africa dialogue series in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.  The dialogue series brought key stakeholders together to engage on issues affecting post-COVID-19 recovery in Africa, presenting a diverse range of opinions and insights focused on what policies are needed for accelerating recovery from the pandemic.

Episode 10: Policy for Recovery in Africa

This episode of Africa Aware examines the status of Africa-EU relations in the lead-up to the sixth African Union-European Union summit on 17-18 February 2022. Yusuf is joined by Faten Aggad to investigate the prospects for enhanced collaboration on several key issues for African states, from vaccine production to trade agreements and climate change. Then Geert Laporte analyses the priorities of the EU and its member states: including security challenges, the EU’s new Global Gateway initiative, migration, and cooperation in the global multilateral system.

Episode 11: The Future of Africa-EU Relations

This episode of Africa Aware examines the relationship between Sudan and Ethiopia. Ahmed Soliman provides an overview of the Africa Programme’s work on cross-border conflict as part of the  First, we speak to Kholood Khair on the steady deterioration in relations between Sudan and Ethiopia. Then Abel Abate Demissie discusses how recent political developments in Ethiopia and Sudan have impacted relations between the two countries.

Episode 12: Relations between Ethiopia and Sudan

This episode of Africa Aware examines colonial land reparations, focusing on the Kipsigis and Talai clans of Kericho county in Kenya. Between 1895 and 1963 inhabitants of the county were evicted from their lands to make way for lucrative tea plantations owned by settlers. Governor Paul Chepkwony, Rodney Dixon QC and Maureen Okoth outline their efforts to engage with the UK Government to receive reparations and an apology for human rights violations the victims they represent suffered and continue to be affected by. In 2021, the UN recommended that the UK Government should at a minimum meet with the victims and then discuss compensation, an apology as well as memorialisation.

Episode 13: Colonial Land Reparations in Kenya

This episode of Africa Aware explores the elections in Kenya on 9 August 2022, in which Kenyans will select a new president and national lawmakers, as well as the governors and assemblies of the country’s 47 counties. 

First, Waihiga Mwaura discusses the main political groupings and policy issues that voters will decide on. Then Sylvia Katua examines issues around political inclusivity of marginalized groups, including in the context of Kenya’s devolved system. Finally, Mulle Musau assesses the status of electoral preparedness and public confidence in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Episode 14: Kenya’s 2022 Elections

This episode of Africa Aware explores the pathways to peace in Angola and Mozambique in their respective 20th and 30th anniversary years of the cessation of sustained conflict.  &nbsp;  Dr Alex Vines provides a historic overview of how peace was achieved in these nations and what lessons can be learned for the modern day. Neha Sanghrajka discusses current efforts to sustain peace in Mozambique, the importance of inclusion in peacebuilding, and the unique nature of conflict mediation in Africa.

Episode 15: Building Peace in Mozambique and Angola

On this special episode of Africa Aware, Yusuf speaks to H.E. Joaquim Chissano, the former President&nbsp;of the Republic of Mozambique and the 2006 winner of the Chatham House Prize. 

Marking the 30th&nbsp;anniversary of the Rome General Peace Accords, signed on 4 October 1992, which brought the Mozambican civil war, President Chissano discussed the lessons from that peace process and the 2019 Maputo Accords that brought an end to intermittent targeted armed violence that resumed in 2013. Based on these experiences, and his time as a special envoy on behalf of the United Nations and African Union, President Chissano offered his insights&nbsp;on&nbsp;Mozambique's global role&nbsp;as the country prepares to sit on the UN Security Council in 2023.

Episode 16: In Conversation with H.E. Joaquim Chissano

This episode of Africa Aware discusses the current drought in the Horn of Africa, where the worst drought in 40 years is affecting more than 20 million people across several countries.&nbsp; Abdirahman Abdishakur, Special Presidential Envoy for Drought Response for the Federal Republic of Somalia, outlined the Somali government’s planning to prevent famine. Parvin Ngala, Regional Director at Oxfam International, highlighted international efforts to respond to the drought, the importance of empowering civil society in these circumstances, and what long term mitigation measures are necessary to avoid a return to this situation.

Episode 17: Drought in the Horn of Africa

On this special episode of Africa Aware, Yusuf speaks to H.E. Dr. Joyce Banda, the former President of the Republic of Malawi [2012 – 2014]. Her Excellency explores the current state of democracy in Africa, outlines what must be done to support the development of female leadership on the continent, and the important role African leaders must play on a global level.

Episode 18: In Conversation with H.E. Dr. Joyce Banda

This episode of Africa Aware discusses the current state of the Commonwealth and the relevance of language-based intergovernmental organizations to African states as they seek to diversify their international relations. We are joined on the episode by HE Professor Robert Dussey, Foreign Minister of the Togolese Republic, and HE Michael Moussa-Adamo, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Gabon, who outline the reasons why both their countries with colonial ties to France joined the Commonwealth in October 2022, and how they seek to contribute to the development of the organisation.

Episode 19: The Commonwealth Reimagined

Listen to the first episode of #NigeriaDecides, a special mini-series focused on upcoming elections in Nigeria. Nigeria stands at a critical juncture, having suffered from two recessions in the past six years, unprecedented levels of physical and food insecurity, persistent fuel scarcity and high levels of crude oil theft. Civic fatigue also remains a critical challenge. We are joined on the episode by Dr Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo and Dr Leena Koni Hoffmann, who shared key insights on these elections, including the prospects for inclusivity and on how the implementation of technology has changed the  process.

Episode 20: #NigeriaDecides – Technology and Inclusivity

As African states find themselves in the midst of severe economic difficulty exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Yusuf speaks to  on the topic of debt on the continent, African risk perception and how the current system must be transformed to ensure it delivers for Africa. &nbsp; Read the Chatham House Expert Comment:  &nbsp; Credits: Speakers: Tighisti Amare, Alex Vines, Carlos Lopes Host: Yusuf Hassan Editor: Jamie Reed Producer: Ben Horton Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Africa Aware: The Economic Burden of COVID-19

In this episode of Africa Aware, Gita Honwana Welch highlights historical development challenges in the Sahel, and Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos discusses how responses to Jihadist groups in the Sahel must be rethought. Credits: Speakers: Gita Honwana Welch, Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos Host: Yusuf Hassan Editor: Jamie Reed Producers: Yusuf Hassan, Ben Horton Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Episode 2: Responding to Crises in the Sahel

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