Africa needs China for its digital development – but at what price?
Of the estimated 2.6 billion people who remained offline in 2023 a large part lives in Africa. A key partner in Africa in unclogging this bottleneck is China. Several African countries depend on China as their main technology provider and sponsor of large digital infrastructural projects. But what are the risks with becoming dependent on …
CFA franc: Will the colonial currency finally be replaced?
At no point in history has the CFA franc – the name of a colonial currency used in west and central African countries belonging to the franc zone – been closer to its demise. But what will this mean to the regional economy in West Africa? Senegal has overwhelmingly voted for left wing Pastef candidate …
New MENA-strategy risks damaging Sweden’s credibility
DEBATE. The Swedish government’s new strategy for the Middle East and North Africa is misguided when it equates Islamism with extremism. It is also misguided, when it does not mention the word occupation in relation to Palestine and when it puts Sweden’s interests before the needs of the recipient countries. The risk is that the …
Civil Society in Focus for Development Sweden #28
Development Sweden #28 deliver news on how the Swedish government wants to take 300 million from civil society and according to the opposition the government has lost its trust from civil society. Sweden will also lift the payment freeze for Palestine, but the new strategy does not mention the word “occupation”. Headlines in Development Sweden …
Maurice El Medioni, the last of the Algerian-born Jewish musical stars
Maurice El Medioni, Algerian-born Jewish musician and mentor to young performers, died on 25 March 2024, leaving a legacy of musical production on three continents – Africa, Europe and the Middle East. With his death, the world loses one of the last remaining Jewish musicians who was born and trained in north Africa prior to …
Is it only when Israel kills white aid workers that it matters to the world?
So far, Israel has killed more than 200 aid workers in Gaza, but it took the death of white people from countries like Australia, Canada, and Poland for the Israeli prime minister to apologise, writes Global Bar Magazine’s editor-in-chief David Isaksson after the attack on the World Central Kitchen aid convoy. The opinions in the …
Bassirou Diomaye Faye: From prison to president of Senegal
Just 10 days before he was elected president Bassirou Diomaye Faye was in prison. Faye was backed by the popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, but what will his presidency means for Senegal? Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected as Senegal’s fifth president on 25 March 2024. Incumbent president Macky Sall and his candidate, former prime minister …
Belarus: “The fight for my language made me a refugee”
Ihar Sluchak was banned from his profession, lost all property, and was forced to become a refugee just for protecting the Belarusian language. Still, he keeps on fighting. Ihar Sluchak is a Belarusian lawyer and activist. For many years, he has been engaged in the protection of the Belarusian language through appeals to state bodies. …
Geopolitics: Why Africa shouldn’t pick sides
Africa accounts for 28 percent of all the votes in the General Assembly. It possesses some crucial raw minerals that are found only in the continent and some of the most important sea trade routes. These are some reason why Africa can gain more by being neutral in the current conflict between the USA/The West …
Issue #27 of Development Sweden is out
Development Sweden, Global Bar Magazine’s bi-weekly English-language sister magazine, has turned one year. In issue #27 you can among other things read about why Sida Terminates All Civil Society Agreements and how The Ministry for Foreign affairs responds to criticism from civil society. Headlines in Development Sweden #27 Development Sweden is published every fourteen days and …
