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Development Sweden #48. Minister of ODA: ”Onward Funding is Illegal”
Swedish development policy is now changing rapidly. The Minister for Development Cooperation and foreign trader Benjamin Dousa suggests that all onward funding should be illegal. Sweden will also stop its support for UNAIDS. Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that happens in Swedish aid politics. Take the opportunity to now become …
Development Sweden #47. Why the Swedish Migration Strategy for Aid is incompatible with the OECD/DAC principles
These are turbulent times for Swedish development policy and Development Sweden plays an important role in providing information to international stakeholders and actors. In issue #47, open for all readers are two analyses written by leading figures in the aid sector. We also have an exclusive offer for those who want to become paying subscribers …
Development Sweden #46. Sida Reverses Decision on Limited Support to Civil Society
What happens at Sida continues to bring a lot of attention. The most recent twist came when Sida reversed its decision on the CSO support, now giving the same possibility to apply to all 33 organizations that have passed the test. Read about what will happen now and what made Sida change their minds. Also …
Development Sweden #45. Sida Discriminated Against Children’s Organizations
Three children’s rights organisations – BRIS, Barnfonden, and SOS Children’s Villages – all received the highest ratings in Sida’s selection for future partners. Despite this, they can only apply for up to five million SEK, while several organisations with lower rankings can apply for up to 70 million SEK. Read about the reasons and Sidas …
Somaliland: Election in a ”non-existing” country
On November 13 Somaliland – which is a democratic and peaceful country on the h´Horn of Africa, yet not recognised by any other nation– will hold presidential elections. Brendon J. Cannon from Khalifa University writes about the implications and possibilities. Somaliland is due to hold a presidential election on 13 November 2024. The results of …
Development Sweden #44. Civil Society: Here are the organizations signing with Sida
Late on October 31 the long-awaited answer to which organizations would be selected to enter into partnership with Sida finally came. Some will cheer with joy, and others will be greatly disappointed. Read the full list and comments in Development Sweden #44 Our headlines: Development Sweden is published on a continuous basis and the target group is …
Development Sweden #43. Sweden Stops Aid to the Georgian Government
The Swedish government has decided to halt all direct cooperation with Georgian authorities. Will the government stop the Swedish NGO Olof Palme International Center’s ability to receive support through Sida’s call for civil society organisations? And Jocke Nyberg, independent senior evaluator who has previously worked for Sida in Colombia, welcomes that Sida is now changing …
Kurdistan: Peaceful election for regional parliament
ANALYSIS. In an otherwise turbulent region, the regional elections in Iraqi Kurdistan on 20 October turned out to be tranquil and respectful. Everything went smoothly, writes Qassim Khidhir. The opinions expressed in this article are those by the author. On October 20th, Iraqi Kurdistan held its sixth parliamentary elections, marking another important chapter in the …
Development Sweden #42. Sida Opens for ”Transition Applications” and Allocates Three Billion for Return Migration
The Swedish government has announced plans to allocate three billion kronor from Sida’s budget for migration-related initiatives, including the creation of return centers, as part of a new strategy focused on migration, return, and voluntary repatriation. Sida has also opened transitional support applications for strategic partner organizations until September 2025, although many are still waiting …
Who is Tanzania’s opposition leader Tundu Lissu?
ANALYSIS. Tundu Lissu has become the face of opposition in Tanzania following his defiant and unrelenting criticism of the government. In 2017 he narrowly escaped an asasssination attempt, was airlifted to Kenya and later recovered in Belgium. After his return, Tundu Lissu has been arrested on several occasions. in 2025 he will most likely be …
Development Sweden #41. Sida’s New Organization Threatens Evaluators’ Independence
The OECD-DAC evaluator network voices concern that the independence of evaluators at Sida is under threat, at the same time the rapid organisational changes at Sida have led to stress and many sick leaves. Now, the safety representatives are raising the alarm. Read more in Development Sweden #41. Our headlines: Development Sweden is published every fourteen days …
Aid: Is it really better to cut out the “middleman”?
ANALYSIS. With fewer contractual steps and intermediaries, the Swedish government wants to achieve greater efficiency, less bureaucracy, better control and more resources reaching local organisations in partner countries. But why didn’t anyone think of it before, if it was so simple? asks Göran Holmqvist, former head of Sida’s Asia and Humanitarian Affairs department. The opinions expressed …
Development Sweden #40. Here is the government’s strategy for civil society
Finally, the Swedish government has presented its new strategy for civil society. Will the umbrella organisations survive the changes, and what can we now expect from the development cooperation agency Sida that will manage the changes? Read more in Development Sweden #40 Our headlines: Development Sweden is published every fourteen days and the target group is people …
The future of Georgia is in Europe
COLUMN. With the new law on foreign agents, the Georgian government wants to stifle all independent voices – including the media. That’s why we must fight for our freedom, ahead of the elections on 26 October, writes Mariam Gersamia, professor at Tbilisi State University and president of the organisation Media Voice. The opinions expressed in …
Development Sweden #38. Water Institute SIWI Goes Down the Drain
Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is shaken to its core. Will it survive? Swedish NGO IM Development Partner is closing down half of its countries and Sida delays decision on Partnership Agreements, Those are the headlines in Development Sweden #38. The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), which is behind both the Stockholm Water Prize and World …
How elephants can help robotic design
An elephant uses its trunk for eating, drinking water, communicating, exploring the environment, social behaviour, and making and using tools. Now, this can be used to improve the ability of robots to grip and handle objects, according to a group of researchers. Researcher Pauline Costes was part of a group of scientists who tested six …
Development Sweden #36. The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) lays off all employees
Iraq, Afghanistan och and SIW is closing down its development cooperation program. Those are the headlines in Development Sweden #36. The Swedish government has clearly stated that they aim to reduce further the number of recipient countries. One was closed down (decision taken) in July: Iraq. More are expected. Another consequence on the development in …
Outsourcing of refugees increases corruption
Just as western governments once outsourced production, the dumping of e-waste and plastics recycling, they are now seeking to hand over the problem of refugee processing and governance. This will fill the pockets of corrupt regimes, writes Ali Bhaga and Genevieve LeBaron from Simon Fraser University. In recent years, western nations have been sending asylum …
Meet the first Africans at the Olympics
Who were the first Africans to compete in the modern Olympic Games? The answer to that question reveals the surprising story of a 1904 marathon – and exposes the history of racism and white supremacy that characterised the Olympics in its early days, writes Francois Cleophas from Stellenbosch University. The first modern Olympic Games was …
40 years with HIV: What are the challenges today?
The 25th International AIDS Conference, will take place in Munich from 22 to 26 July 2024. What has been the response during the 40 years? In June 1981 The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a rare form of pneumonia in young gay men in California. Although they didn’t know it at the time, these …
Stop the destruction of monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh
OPINION. As Azerbaijan has gained control over the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region and no Armenians are left in Nagorno-Karabakh, thousands of Armenian historical and cultural monuments are at risk of being destroyed. If this happens, it will be a loss for the whole humanity, writes Anzhela Mnatsakanyan, political researcher and Coordinator for A Demand for Action in Armenia. …
Development Sweden #34. The Swedish corruption scandal in DRC
The focus of Development Sweden #34 is the ongoing corruption scandal at the Swedish embassy in Congo (DRC) where more than 3 million Euro has “disappeared”. Is this scandal connected with the Sida employee who recently was released from custody? Also in Development Sweden #34: Will Sweden return to the one percent GPD to ODA goal …
South Africa: Can the government of unity fix the economy?
A more plural political space might bring in new voices that might generate better economic policies to address South Africa’s key challenges of economic concentration, unemployment and inequality. The government of national unity might offer an opportunity to achieve this, writes Imraan Valodia from University of the Witwatersrand. Over the last decade or so there …
Ukraine: When creativity beats the war
Despite the war, the city of Lutsk in Western Ukraine is being transformed into a hub for creativity, forming Ukraine’s largest street culture platform. The aim is to create intellectual and creative community, a birthplace for new ideas, writes Ivanna Shuba from the organisation Algorytm in Lutsk. Lutsk is a city of 200,000 in northwestern Ukraine. Though it is …
Book: The Long Shadow of German Colonialism
German and Swedish society alike tend to neglect or ignore the active participation in overseas slave trade. Little if any is on record in the official public memory and discourse. In his new book, The Long Shadow of German Colonialism, Henning Melber addresses the prevailing colonial amnesia. German and Swedish society alike tend to neglect …
Gabon: Will the coup lead to democracy?
In August 2023 a coup ended the Bongo dynasty’s 56-year hold on power in Gabon. General Nguema, the coup leader, established a transitional government and started a dialogue to chart a path to democratic rule. What will be the next step? At the end of April 2024, a long and peaceful process of national dialogue …
Development Sweden #32. Record Number Interested in Sida Contracts – we have the whole list
Almost 3,000 CSO has presented their expression of interest for a new agreement with Sida. We have the whole list. Also in Development Sweden #32, we take a closer look on Ukraine and the Swedish development cooperation with the country, as well as Ukraine’s relation to the Global South. The headlines: Development Sweden is published every …
South Africa: Will ANC lose its majority?
South African’s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), is in trouble. After 30 years in charge, it is scrambling for support ahead of the national elections on May 29. Will ANC for the first time lose its parliamentary majority? The ANC has run the country since the end of apartheid in 1994, initially with …
Why are young people so passionate about Gaza?
University campuses around the world have become the site of tiny tent cities in recent weeks, with student activists protesting the ongoing conflict in Gaza. But why are young people so passionate about Gaza when there are so many conflicts going on in the world? Though the protests on Australian campuses have been largely peaceful, …
Belarus: Fashion as a tool to resist the regime
In a country where certain combinations of colours are banned fashion can be a tool to resist the authoritarian regime and an act to preserve our Belarusian national heritage for the future, writes artist and curator Ludmila Christeseva. Recent incidents in Belarus, such as the authorities’ scrutiny during an artistic presentation at a café resulting in …
Development Sweden #31. Sida country manager detained
Why was a Sida country manager detained? What does Sidas proposal for civil society looks like and how can you as a CSO apply? Also in Development Sweden #31, State Secretary Diana Janse on the development in Georgia. Headlines Development Sweden is published every fourteen days and the target group is people who work professionally with …
AI: Study shows pro-western cultural bias
Many existing AI systems may produce explanations that are primarily tailored to individualist, typically western, populations. As most studies only sampled western populations the results risk becoming very biased, writes Mary Carman, University of the Witwatersrand and Uwe Peters, Utrecht University. Humans are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to inform decisions about our lives. AI …
Europe Day: Prioritize peacebuilding in a world of conflict
OPINION. Europe Day held on 9 May every year celebrates peace and unity in Europe. Yet, conflict prevention and peacebuilding remain under prioritized. Now its time for EU to prioritize peacebuilding as the cornerstone of its foreign policy, addressing the root causes of conflicts, and ontribute to conflict prevention through diplomacy, writes Hilde Deman, Executive director the …
How is Sweden’s global image affected by the government’s new aid strategy?
Sida’s decision to terminate agreements with all civil society organisations has sparked strong reactions. Sida itself also admits that the situation may lead to worse outcomes. At the same time, criticism is growing abroad – something that risks affecting Sweden’s role in several collaborating countries, according to several individuals we have talked with. Sweden’s image …
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 …
Russia’s Democratic Mirage: From Imitation to Subversion
ANALYSIS. In just over two decades, Russia has undergone a remarkable shift towards a totalitarian state. When did this transformation take root and is it still possible that Russians – in the future – might elect a president committed to democratic development? The opinions expressed in the articles are those by the authors. In just …
Gaza: Why Egypt refuses to open its border
Around 1.5 million Palestinian civilians are currently squeezed into the southern Gaza city of Rafah after repeatedly being forced by Israeli bombardment and ground assaults to evacuate further and further south. But why does Egypt refuse to open its border? The town, which originally had a population of 250,000, is now host to more than …
West Africa: What will happen after the “Sahel-Exit”?
ANALYSIS. On January 28th, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced that they are exiting ECOWAS with immediate effect. The divide within West Africa between the poor and unstable Sahelian countries and the richer and more stable Coastal countries is now widening dramatically. What does this “West-African Brexit” mean for the future of the region? This is …
ICJ Israel case: Has South Africa regained its moral compass?
On the 26th of January the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver its order on the request for the indication of provisional measures in the case South Africa v. Israel. South Africa’s appearance before the ICJ is an affirmation of the moral compass that the ANC government has lost. Could its international relations now …
100 organisations in letter to Swedish PM: Don’t stop aid to Cambodia!
In an open letter to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, 100 organizations from Cambodia warn that withdrawing Swedish support risks further deteriorating the human rights situation, while at the same time strengthening Russia’s and China’s influence in the region. “Reconsider the decision, or give us a longer time frame so that we can have time to replace …
DR Congo: How Mukwege and the opposition failed to bring change
ANALYSIS. Making the presidential election in DR Congo (DRC) an “organised disorder” may have been a deliberate strategy from the ruling president in his re-election campaign. A divided opposition also helped paved the way for Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombos re-election, writes Susanne Alldén and Ali Alexandre Bitenga. This is an analysis. The opinions expressed in …
New issue of Development Sweden is out
Development Sweden is Global Bar Magazine’s English-language newsletter. In issue 22 you can read about Sweden’s ODA focus 2024 as it is presented in a letter of appropriation for Sida. Strong focus on business and trade. At the same time, aid cooperation with several countries in Asia and Africa will be terminated. However, Guatemala will …
Genocide case against Israel: What to expect from the International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will be holding public hearings on 11-12 January in the case brought by South Africa against Israel. Magnus Killander, human rights and international law expert at University of Pretoria, provides a background. What is the International Court of Justice? The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is one of many …
How Africa lost control of its mining sector
Within a few years of independence, African governments asserted sovereignty over their metal and mineral resources. Since the 1990s, transnational corporations have once again become the dominant force of major mining projects, writes Ben Radley in this excerpt from his book Disrupted Development in the Congo: The Fragile Foundations of the African Mining Consensus. Stage …
Being queer in Africa: Where can you live safe?
Several African countries have decriminalised same-sex relationships. At the same time queer rights appear to be eroding in the continent, with Kenya and Uganda in the news for harsh laws and violence against members of the LGBTIQ+ community. We asked sociologist and queer studies scholar Zethu Matebeni* about what is happening. How would you describe …
Research: World Bank Group’s IFC projects fuel violent conflict
Our research shows that IFC projects cause significant increases in armed conflict. A single project, on average, causes 7.6 additional armed conflict events in the year after it is introduced, writes Brian Ganson, Stellenbosch University, Anne Spencer Jamison, Copenhagen Business School, and Witold Jerzy Henisz, University of Pennsylvania. To what extent does private investment help …
Gaza: Should domicide be recognised as an international crime?
The destruction of homes in Gaza reminds me of what happened to my home city, Homs in Syria. There is a link between genocide and domicide: genocide refers to the killing of people and domicide to the erasure of their presence and their material culture, writes Ammar Azzouz from University of Oxford. The opinions expressed in …
#17. Best of Echolocation
From dating to drugs, from influencers to sports – listen to highlights from the Echolocation podcast. Since we started the Echolocation podcast we have explored a variety of topics, from gay rights to AI technology, from entrepreneurship to the relations with Russia. In Echolocation #17, we bring together the best from all episodes. Listen to …
West Africa: Can a new defence alliance replace France?
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have a new defence alliance that was created while Ecowas was threatening to intervene militarily in Niger to help restore constitutional order. However, the question is if the alliance will have any impact on the islamist insurgency, writes Moda Dieng from Université Saint-Paul / Saint Paul University and Philippe M. …
Echolocation 16. Drug Use and Abuse
How do drugs affect our societies? Can you use drugs without being an addict? And what help is there for those who get trapped in addiction? The issue of illegal drugs – and a possible legalization – is very much in centre of the debate in many European countries. So, what do people think – and do …
Research: Belarusian-speaking citizens face discrimination
Belarusian-speaking citizens face discrimination based on language on a daily basis. Some people may not get a job and are required to change the language of communication, writes the Belarusian journalist Katsiaryna Lutsevich. Despite the fact that Russian and Belarusian languages have the same status in Belarus according to the law, the Russian language dominates the …
Abortion and the role of religion
Poland and Ireland are both catholic countries. However, they have embarked upon a very different way when it comes to abortion rights, writes researcher Moa Berglund. After the elections, will Poland’s new government ease up the strict rules? Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are a human right, and SRHR is just as important …
Echolocation 15. Russia – The Elephant in the room
Despite that 32 years has passed since Moldova and Georgia became independent, Russia and Russian culture and language continuous to play an important role in the two countries. What does it mean to young people on the two countries? And how is it like to be a Russian exile activist living in Sweden? How has …
Tanzania: Will democracy take root?
ANALYSIS. After two years in power, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has consolidated her political base, opened up the media space and increased the number of women in public appointments. However, the risk of a backwards slide still remains, writes Nicodemus Minde at United States International University. This is an analysis. The opinions expressed in the …
Echolocation 14. Sweden for beginners
What is ”lagom”, what happens if you sit beside someone in an otherwise empty bus, and do Swedes really pay that high taxes? Dive into a very Swedish episode of Echolocation! I guess you already know everything about Sweden, right? If not, here is the chance to learn more about this Nordic country. In episode …
Issue 15 of Development Sweden is out!
Development Sweden is Global Bar Magazine’s English-language newsletter. In issue 15, we review the government’s budget and what it means for aid. Free subscribers can read an analysis of the government’s new direction for development cooperation. If you wish to read the article on the new international aid budget, you are welcome to upgrade to …
Zimbabwe’s election fraud and the role of South Africa
In my opinion, the recent events in Zimbabwe are tantamount to a coup, and one fully supported by the ruling African National Congress (ANC), and by extension, also by the South African government, writes Babington Maravanyika, political analyst and author, based in South Africa. The opinions expressed in this article are those by the author. South …
Opinion: IM will stay grounded, join us!
OPINION. The climate crisis is breaking our planet and humanity. It’s going to take everyone to fix it, including us. That’s why we plan to reduce flight emissions to zero over the next five years, writes Martin Nihlgård and Lubna Hawwa from the organization IM Swedish Development Partner. The opinions expressed in this article are those …
Echolocation 13. Ready for business?
In recent years, Europe has witnessed a surge in young entrepreneurs who are reshaping industries with their fresh perspectives and boundless ambition. But what are their challenges? And what advice can they give to aspiring young entrepreneurs. In this episode, we set our focus on the vibrant landscape of entrepreneurship in Europe and how it’s …
SIPRI: Russian board member has been put on “pause”
Russian research director Feodor Voitolovsky is a member of the board of the peace research institute SIPRI, while expressing support for the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. SIPRI has now suspended his participation. This article was originally published in Swedish SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) is a Stockholm based international research institute that …
Gabon: A palace coup – or the first step towards democracy?
ANALYSIS. If ever a coup d’état was justified, it would be in Gabon where 55 years of family rule came to an end on August 30. At the same time, military taking power is always a risky business, and military coups rarely have positive outcomes. This is an analysis. The opinions expressed in the article …
Growing rhinos in a lab: The science that could save an endangered species
With the death of last male in 2018 and with only two females alive, the species is functionally extinct. Could the lab bring the rhino back? The most famous of these projects is an international research consortium called BioRescue. It was founded in 2019 by a team of scientists and conservationists under the leadership of …
Global Festival 23/8 18.30-20.00 Making Global Health relevant in times of war and climate challenges
With enormous needs due to the war in Ukraine, climate change affecting countries around the world and budget cuts – do we need to rethink our global engagement for people’s health? Meet the experts and discuss global health. Time: Wednesday 23/8 kl 18.30. Where: Studio SN7 (Stora Nygatan 7, Stockholm) Reserve your space here. Live stream on Facebook …
Welcome to the ”Guantanamo of Europe”
CHRONICLE. In 2016, writer Azar Mahloujian visited the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. Now, seven years later, she is back in a camp where material things have improved, while fear and uncertainty still linger on. This is a chronicle. The opinions expressed in the article are those by the author. When …
Echolocation 12. Will Georgia become a EU member?
What are the chances for Georgia to become a EU member? What are the dreams and hopes of young people in Georgia? What would it mean for Georgia to become a part of the European Union and what could Georgia bring to the EU-family? In June 2022, EU leaders granted Ukraine and Moldova candidate status while …
Bad Tourist: How to Behave … and not
Travel is back in full swing this summer, and so is bad behaviour by tourists. What’s behind these abhorrent acts? One answer is social media, writes Lauren A. Siegel from University of Greenwich. Popular destinations have seen an uptick in incidents involving tourists in recent years. Reports of a man defacing the Colosseum in Rome …
Iraq: Why Sweden should increase its support to freedom of expression
Discussions have arisen in Sweden about potentially halting aid to Iraq. However, such a decision could prove counterproductive. Instead, it is the time for Sweden to intensify the support for Iraq, with a specific focus on freedom of expression, writes Hayder Hashim*. This is an analysis. The opinions expressed are those by the author. The …
Russia-Africa summit: A global stage for Moscow to puff up its influence
The second Russia-Africa Summit takes place in St Petersburg on 27-28 July. Despite these diminishing economic ties, Russia’s influence in Africa has rapidly expanded since 2019. It has deployed troops to the continent and become the dominant external partner in a handful of countries. Russian disinformation campaigns in at least 16 African countries are shaping …
Should Sweden stop giving aid to Iraq?
In Sweden, social media has been filled with posts demanding that Swedish aid to Iraq be cancelled after the attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. But what does the money really go to and who risks being affected if the aid is cancelled? Global Bar Magazine’s editor-in-chief explains what Sweden is actually supporting. This …
Russia: Activists Held in Terrible Detention Centers
Young activists accused of being connected to the democratic youth movement Vesna were arrested in Russia on 6 June. Until sentence they are all held in terrifying pre-detention centers in Moscow. All of them face several criminal charges which could lead to sentences of up to 15 years in jail, if they survive the detention …
Meet El Anatsui – The most important African artist today
El Anatsui is perhaps the most significant living African artist working on the continent today. A major new installation of his work will open at Tate Modern gallery in London in October 2023. The 79-year-old artist has become so renowned that in art circles his brand of work is a kind of art movement with its …
Iran: Protesters remain defiant despite brutal oppression
The vibrant, brave and unyielding voice of dissent remains strong in Iran despite months of brutal repression by the clerical regime, writes Afshin Shahi from Keele University. The “women, life, freedom” movement is an insistent call for change that is meeting the Islamic Republic head-on with resilient defiance. Even as violence curbs the outward signs …
Ghana: How banning noise restores the spiritual connection with the sea
In Ghanas capital Accra, listening to the sea has assumed the status of a once-in-a-year sonic treat. Banning synthetic sounds and foregrounding the sea therefore paves the way to restore the prominence of the sounds of the sea, writes Laryea Akwetteh from University of Ghana. Accra, Ghana’s capital, is a noisy cosmopolitan city of almost …
Echolocation 11. Time for a gap year?
In our rapidly evolving and fast-paced society, an increasing number of students are recognizing the importance of taking a pause from their academic pursuits – a gap year! But is it accepted by parents and the society? Will it have any positive – or negative – effect on your motivation and results? And what’s maybe …
Wagner in Africa: Why no one drives them out
It is easy to understand what African rulers see in the mercenary group Wagner. Its fighters can be deployed quickly. It brings sophisticated arms with it and can apply force speedily and ruthlessly, writes John F. Clark from Florida International University. Alternative sources of military muscle have flaws: United Nations missions lack robust mandates; African …
Sierra Leone: What Voters Care about Most
Economic management, food shortages, health services, infrastructure and education are the most pressing issues when Sierra Leone goes to polls on June 24. Still, Sierra Leoneans shows a high levels of democratic commitment, writes Robert Nyenhuis, Matthias Krönke, and Thomas Isbell. Sierra Leoneans go to the polls again on 24 June, in the country’s fifth …
The Lie That Saved Our Lives
COLUMN. We are all grandchildren of survivors of the genocide of Christians in 1915. Sometimes it strikes me that none of what we have accomplished would have been possible if those before us had not hushed up and lied. It was what saved our parents and, by extension, our grandchildren, writes Nuri Kino, chosen as …
Senegal’s internet shutdowns are another sign of a democracy in peril
Internet shutdowns in Africa are increasingly common. Disruptions were documented in 11 African countries in 2022, and six between January and May 2023. Recent cases include Ethiopia, Libya, Sudan and Zimbabwe – and now – Senegal, writes Jeff Conroy-Krutz from Michigan State University. Senegal’s government began blocking several digital platforms – including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, …
Khartoum: The destruction of a modern African city
Khartoum has always been a hub of creativity. The destruction of my home town has caused me to reflect on its construction. What is being lost is much more than just buildings. It is also people’s hope for a future they had invested heavily in, writes Amira Osman, a scholar of Sudanese architecture. Khartoum is …
Senegal: Violent protest after sentence against opposition leader
At least 15 people have lost their lives and more than 500 have been arrested during four days of violent protests in Senegal. The protests started on Thursday June 1st, 2023, when opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison for ”seducing a minor” by a tribunal in Dakar. When the news …
Opinion: Youth must be included in rebuilding Ukraine
As Sweden develops its new strategy for its support to Ukraine a greater amount of funding should be allocated to youth-led organisations and initiatives focusing on peacebuilding, reconciliation, and social cohesion with social entrepreneurship as a part of the solution writes Josephine Sundqvist, Läkarmissionen, Alexander Clemenson, KFUM and Sofia Breitholtz, Reach for Change. The opinions expressed in the article …
Echolocation 10: Should I stay or should I go?
How can brain drain be reverse so that a country like Moldova can convince the young generation to stay in the country? That was the topic for a live discussion that took place in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova as a part of the Echolocation project. Less and less Moldovan students choose Moldovan universities to …
Henry Kissinger at 100: How will history judge him?
Henry Kissinger, who sexed up the art of diplomacy in the eight years between 1969 and 1977, will turn 100 in May this year. Radical critics have pointed to Kissinger’s ruthless methods – like encouraging the coup in Chile in September, 1973 – and called for him to be put on trial for “war crimes”. …
Africa’s Russia-Ukraine peace mission: what can it achieve?
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to lead an initiative of six African heads of state to explore an end to the year-long Russia-Ukraine war. Observers have both lauded and derided the African initiative. To supporters, it’s about growing African agency. Critics see it as a misguided initiative by African leaders who have surreptitiously …
Living in Fear: How Anxiety Plays out in Everyday Life
Social scientists have shown how freedom in South Africa has lost its meaning for many in the country. Nicky Falkof is a media studies professor who researches race and anxiety Her new book, Worrier State, shows how narratives of fear manifest in mainstream and digital media, and the role that ‘race’, class, gender, space and …
Echolocation 9. Georgia for Beginners
What does the car mean to Georgians? Do people in Georgia talk about other things besides food and wine – and why is the mother of Georgia holding a sword in her hand? I guess you already know everything about Georgia, right? If not, here is the chance to learn more about this European country, situated …
Opinion: The West Must Speak up for Kurdish Women
OPINION. The usually strong voice of Europe and the United States to defend human rights has always reached all corners of the world. But it echoes quietly now when the West is itself in crisis and is letting others take the consequences, this time at the expense of Kurdish women, writes Reband Raza. The opinions expressed …
Sudan: How Omar al-Bashir´s legacy is playing out today
Since independence in 1956 the Sudanese have lived through 35 coups, attempted coups and coup plots – more than any other African country. During 35 years, Omar al-Bashir dominated the country and his legacy has continued to play out today, writes Willow Berridge from Newcastle University. When the 2019 uprising against long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir …
Nigeria: Post Election Blues
The election in Nigeria has come and gone but the heated discussions on corruption and the division among religious groups and tribes is still very present. Read the analysis about Nigeria’s post election blues by Yinka Olaito, editor of Nigeria Grassroot News. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer. June 12 …
Opinion: The genocide in present-day Turkey must never be forgotten
The ignorance among Swedish editorial staff about the 1915 genocide against Christians in the Ottoman Empire (often referred to as Seyfo) is as dangerous as the fact that the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs might consider cancelling a memorial service to appease Turkey, writes Nuri Kino, journalist and founder of A Demand for Action. The …
Russia: The struggle continues from the exile
“Sasha”, a young Vesna activist, fled Russia after receiving threats for participating in demonstrations. It took him three days to drive 2000 km to Georgia where he is continuing to fight for democracy and respect for human rights. The day after Russia initiated a full-scale war against Ukraine, the youth organization Vesna held demonstrations all …
Sudan: Who Is the Warlord Behind the Civil War?
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, better known as Hemedti, is the leader of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He is a key mover in the fast-escalating civil war, as he has been in other key moments in Sudan’s recent history, writes Alex De Waal from Tufts University. Dozens have been killed in armed clashes …
Russia: The Laws That Ban the Opposition
All forms of resistance have been banned in Putin’s Russia. Since the start of the war against Ukraine, it is forbidden to hold up a blank white sheet of paper, call the war against Ukraine a war, or dance for peace. At the same time, organisations are banned from operating in Russia. We have examined …
Echolocation 8. Sport and Politics
What role do sports play in modern societies today? What do they mean for a country’s national identity and how are they linked to politics and economy? Sports have been a part of life since the start of human civilization. They brings us together but they can also drive us apart. Sports have become more and …
Winky D: The voice of the voiceless in Zimbabwe
Winky D, a 40-year-old Zimdancehall artist, is hugely popular in Zimbabwe. He’s also increasingly in the news for the messages in his songs, some of which address social injustice and corruption under a regime that stifles freedom of expression. There have been threats to ban his music and claims that his life is in danger, …
ICC and Putin: A king-size dilemma for South Africa
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an international arrest warrant for Russian president Vladimir Putin who faces arrest if he sets foot in any of the 123 signatory states to the statute. The issue could come to a head in August when South Africa is set to host the 15th summit of the BRICS …
”Russian Men Must Stop Killing Ukrainians!”
In September 2022, Putin decided to conscript hundreds of thousands of troops for the war in Ukraine. 21-year-old Irina Selisheva felt she had to act and joined a protest in her home town of Novosibirsk. After two minutes, the police came and arrested everyone and Irina was fined. Her offence: dancing in a ring and …
New Issue of Development Sweden Has Reached Subscribers
The fourth issue of Global Bar Magazine’s English-language newsletter Development Sweden has now reached the subscribers. From this issue onwards the main articles of the newsletter can only be read by paying subscribers. “Now we hope that many of those who read the first trial issues will follow and sign up for a paid subscription”, …
200 Children Deported Already This Year
200 children have been deported from Sweden already this year, according to statistics from the Swedish Migration Agency. Many are born in Sweden and arrive in countries they have never been to. Some of the children have been deported with their families, others are forced to leave Sweden on their own. 200 children have already …
Algerian journalist facing five years in prison
On December 24th, 2022, Ihsane El Kadi, editor-in-chief of Radio M and Maghreb Émergent in Algeria, was arrested. He now faces five years in prison. The sentence is due on 2 April 2023. It was after Ihsane El Kadi reported that the incumbent president Abdelmadjid Tebboune was planning to change the constitution in order to …
Echolocation – the new website is up and running!
Echolocation, the collaborative podcast project between Global Podd, Diez in Moldova and Knews in Georgia has officially launched a brand-new podcast website! “Now you can easily listen to all of our episodes, learn more about our team, and stay up-to-date with our latest news and events. We’re thrilled to have a central hub where our listeners …
Why are so few women prosecuted for war crimes?
On March 17 2023 the ICC issued its first arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin. But much less has been said about the charges brought against Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights. Lvova-Belova’s situation is rare in international criminal law. She is only the second woman against whom charges have been brought by the …
Russia: Evgeny faces up to 10 years in prison
Evgeny Zateev was arrested after demonstrating against Russia’s war on Ukraine. Now he faces up to ten years in prison. Evgeny is one of several members of the Vesna organization who have suffered legal problems.”When the war came, I could no longer remain silent. It is my duty to protest,” he says. IT technician Evgeny …
The Third issue of Development Sweden is Released
The third issue of Global Bar Magazine’s English language newsletter Development Sweden has now reached the subscribers. Read about the new government’s Development Cooperation Policy, salaries of Swedish aid workers abroad and why racism prevails in Sweden. The open rate for Development Sweden has been very high and the numbers of subscribers keep on increasing. ”This …
Echolocation 7. Artificial Intelligence
Welcome to the new world of Artificial Intelligence. What are the ethical dilemmas? How will my chances for a good job be affected? The age of artificial intelligence is here! Every day, there are new and amazing advances in AI technology. Recently, we’ve seen a number of AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL·E among others, …
Global Podd 124. Welcome to the Kochi art biennale!
What is the role of art in the current global conflict? What happens when artists from Asia, Africa and Latin America meet? What can India learn from Ukraine, and can art help us overcome everyday problems in these troubling times? In the historic Indian city of Kochi, home to famous spices and with a rich …
The second issue of Development Sweden is published
The second issue of Global Bar Magazine’s English language newsletter Development Sweden has now reached the subscribers. Read about Swedish-Turkish relations, aid cuts in Guatemala and the new Swedish strategy for Ukraine. ”We see a flow of new subscribers and we have a few more who have already signed up for a full-year subscription,” says Global …
Starlink – a gamechanger for internet in Africa?
About 66 percent of people in southern Africa are internet users. In east Africa the figure is 26 percent and it is just 24 percent in central Africa. That’s why advances in providing internet access to people in Africa are worth celebrating, writes Marian Selorm Sapah from University of Ghana. It’s hard for many of …
Anette Nantell: We have to support women in Iraq
– We spoke a lot and it was really interesting to see their pictures and hear about their experiences, we need to support women in countries like Iraq, says the photographer Anette Nantell. She mentored the female Iraqi photographers featured in the ”Iraq through the eyes of women photographers” exhibition. Anette Nantell, a well-known photographer …
Why are there no Islamist terrorists in Chad?
Since the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria and the emergence of Islamist-Salafist groups in northern Mali in 2013, the Sahel has increasingly been caught in the maelstrom of Islamist terrorism. However, there is one exception: Chad. What are the reasons behind that? Helga Dickow from University of Freiburg do have some keys that might …
Nigeria heads to the polls: 5 essential reads about the elections
Nigerians go to the polls on 25 February to elect a new president, vice-president, 109 members of the Senate and 360 members of the Federal House of Representatives. Here are five essential reads. Eighteen political parties have presented candidates for the various offices and over 93.5 million adult Nigerians are registered to vote. The elections …
Russia: Young Activists Fight Against the Invasion
Vesna, a Russian youth movement, is one of the most active movements against the war in Ukraine. It started the day after Russia launched its aggression against Ukraine, when Russian citizens came out to protest against the invasion. They were mainly young Russians, many of whom have been detained and even more have fled the …
Successful Opening of Women’s Photo Exhibition in Erbil
The photographic exhibition ”Iraq through the eyes of women photographers” opened on February 21 in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. As the lights were dimmed, Qassim Khidhir, project manager at Framing Journalism School, informed the audience that the exhibition was part of a collaboration with the aim to train and publish the works of …
Nigeria: 10 factors that will decide the election
As Nigerians inch closer to the 2023 presidential election that will take place on February 25, there are at least 10 key issues that are likely to drive and determine the outcome. Political scientist, Jideofor Adibe, explores them all. 1. Ethnicity and regionalism Four of the 18 presidential candidates in the election, regarded as the …
Russia: Activist beaten outside of his home
Andrei was beaten outside of his home in Moscow by a group of men because he participated in a campaign against the war in Ukraine. Now, he faces a 10-year prison sentence for coordinating protests by the youth organisation Vesna. ”I was attacked by a group of young men because I participated in the campaign …
Will Angelique Kidjo get her sixth Grammy?
On Sunday the 5th of February Angelique Kidjo, the singer-songwriter and activist from the Republic of Benin could win her sixth Grammy. Kidjo is up for more wins in 2023 for Best Global Music Album and also for Best Song Written for Visual Media for the movie The Woman King. Angelique Kidjo, the energetic singer-songwriter …
Echolocation 6. Behind the Scenes
Sweden, Moldova, Georgia. What do our three countries have in common and what can we learn from each other? Listen to a special episode of Echolocation about how everything started – and what we plan for the future. Finally, the team behind the Echolocation podcast met in Chisinau (or “Kiss-me-now” for those having difficulties with …
How bad is video streaming for the climate?
We are used to thinking that going digital means going green. However, the fact is that a two-hour film on Netflix pollutes as much as a 45-minute car drive, writes Stefano Bonetti from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. While that is true for some activities – for example, making a video call to the other …
Iran: No comment from Swedish MFA regarding assault
Since Anela and Åke reported several officials at the Iranian embassy for assault, they have received death threats and now they are living in a secret location.– The Iranian embassy in Sweden is not serving us Iranians, it is the regime’s extended arm, it’s a spy house, says Anela, who wants the Swedish Foreign Ministry …
Why African autocrats love Chinese workers
China has rapidly become Africa’s most important infrastructure builder. The presence of large numbers of Chinese workers labouring on these projects is one of the most controversial aspects of China’s economic engagement with Africa and the wider world, writes Pippa Morgan, Duke Kunshan University and Andrea Ghiselli, Fudan University. With the launch of Beijing’s “Go …
Algeria: Well-known journalist jailed
On 24 December, Ihsane El Kadi, editor-in-chief of the last free and independent media in Algeria, was imprisoned. Ihsane El Kadi is now threatened with seven years’ imprisonment, although no formal charges have been brought against him. And in EU there is silence. Ihsane El Kadi was arrested by the Algerian security service after he …
Nigeria: 100 years of pop music
In 1922 Rev Josiah Ransome-Kuti – grandfather of music icon Fela Kuti – recorded the first Nigerian record – something that could be regarded as the first effort of popularising Nigerian music, writes Chijioke Ngobili from University of Nigeria. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the early months of 2020 shut down nearly all physical …
Echolocation 4: Ready for a date?
How do you find the ”right one”? What is the difference in dating between Sweden, Moldova and Georgia? Maybe the new episode of Echolocation will give you the right answers. How does social media influence young people’s dating behaviour? Are the online apps efficient in finding a ”perfect match“ and what is it like to …
Art: Restitution is just a continuation of colonial policies
Restitution is just a way of remembering colonialism and writing colonial history. It fails to note that taking “objects” from Africa went hand-in-hand with the murder or destruction of knowledges in the continent. It thus eliminated the possibility for future knowledge practice and circulation, writes Fazil Moradi from University of Johannesburg. The violence of the …
Why Iran keeps blaming the Kurds
ANALYSIS. Since September, Iran has been attacking opposition Kurdish groups, including in the city of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, using drones. Iran is also trying to blame the Kurds for the widespread protests in the country. But the attacks rather increase support among Kurds in Iraq for the struggle in neighbouring Iran, notes Qassim Khider. …
Employees at the Iranian embassy accused of assault
Five employees at the Iranian embassy in Stockholm have been accused of assault. It was when a woman went to renew ID documents that she took off her hijab and tore a picture of Ayatollah Khamenei in pieces that the staff locked the door and beat up the woman and her friend. On Saturday the …
Africa: When did humans first start to speak?
When did humans first begin to speak, which speech sounds were uttered first, and when did language evolve from those humble beginnings? George Poulos has spent most of his academic career researching the phonetic and linguistic structures of African languages. In his latest book, On the Origins of Human Speech and Language, he proposes new …
South Africa: Will Ramaphosa be impeached?
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa faces possible impeachment in the country’s parliament over the illegal stashing of thousands of US dollars at his farm in 2020. His scandal-prone predecessor, Jacob Zuma, survived an impeachment vote in 2017. Since then, the parliament has adopted rules to guide the process for the impeachment of a president, writtes …
Somalia: Now it’s time to talk with Al-Shabaab
Al-Shabaab remains a strong regional actor and has proved itself to be a resilient force. Pro-western local Somali actors should rethink the combative approach that has failed for the past 15 years. A non-war strategic option would aim at direct talks with Al-Shabaab leadership, just as the United States did with the Taliban in Afghanistan, …
How Africa will shape the future of the planet’s population
Eight countries are expected to be behind 50 percent of the population growth over the next 30 years. Five are in Africa: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania. Demographers Akanni Akinyemi, Jacques Emina and Esther Dungumaro explain how Africa will shape the future of the world. In mid-November 2022 the eight …
Opinion: Let’s close the cancer care gap
OPINION. Few diseases reflect global inequities as much as cervical cancer. Nearly 90 percent of cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. On this 17 November, the World Health Organization (WHO) marks the two-year anniversary of its cervical cancer elimination initiative. Now it is time to close the …
8 billion people: Why trying to control the population is often harmful
Alarmism about population growth has a long and chequered history. On one side are concerns that there are too many people, and that sheer numbers are causing our current environmental crisis. On the other side are arguments that we have too few people, writes Melanie Channon, University of Bath and Jasmine Fledderjohann, Lancaster University. The …
COP27: Climate change will force millions to relocate within Africa
Global heating may rise to between 2.4℃ and 2.6℃ by 2100. For Africans, these changes will increase inequality and disrupt businesses and for 113 million people to relocate by 2050 a new report shows, writes Nicholas P. Simpson from University of Cape Town. Adapting to a world that is warmer than today is a huge …
Senegal: How Youssou N’Dour helped shape the democracy
On Saturday the 6th of November the world famous senegalese artist Youssou N’Dour is back in Stockholm with his band. But besides music, N’Dour has played an important role in the political process in Senegal, one of a handful of African countries that have never experienced a military coup, writes Catherine Lena Kelly from National …
DRC: The most neglected children live outside of conflict-affected provinces
An estimated quarter of a million children die each year before their fifth birthday in the DRC. That is seven percent of all children being born. And the most neglected are not children in conflict-affected provinces but rather, children in the poorest provinces, a new research study shows. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) suffers …
Echolocation 2.0. Is there a job for me in the future?
Do what you love, be curious, try new things and be in charge of your own career. Those are some advice from three young professionals from Georgia, Moldova, and Sweden. The world is changing rapidly with numerous economic, political, and technological developments shaping our daily existence. One of the areas that see the biggest change …
The Tigray war: Why neither side is giving in
ANALYSIS. Neither the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea nor those of Tigray accept the principles of compromise, peaceful coexistence or equal partnership. According to their political cultures, winners take all. It’s zero-sum politics, writes Asafa Jalata from University of Tennessee. The opinions expressed in this article are those by the author. The Ethio-Tigray war started …
Echolocation 2.0. Tell me who is your influencer and I’ll tell you who you are
Like most people, you’re probably doubting that influencers might impact your life very much. We like to feel in control of our lives, and we probably are, however many of our decisions are influenced by certain people, even by those who are not in our environment. In this episode we’ll talk about those whose stories …
Hundeesaa: The singer who inspired Oromo protesters
The Oromo people are the largest ethnical group in Ethiopia, but for decades the Oromo language and culture have been marginalised. When the Oromo singer Haacaaluu Hundeessaa was killed in 2020 it was at the height of a new wave of violence in the multi ethical Ethiopian country, writes Alison Phipps from University of Glasgow. …
Uganda’s Owen Falls dam: A colonial legacy that still stings, 67 years later
Uganda’s Owen Falls hydropower plan was supposed to help Ugandans utilise their own natural resource – the water in Lake Victoria. But, in the twisted logic of the empire, achieving this goal was constrained by London trying to achieve the British agricultural interests in Egypt, writes John Mukum Mbaku from Weber State University. Uganda’s Owen …
Palestine: The Fight for Masafer Yatta
The Palestinian villages of Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank face demolition. After decades of legal and political resistance, the villages that have homed Palestinians for centuries, will be erased. This is a consequence of an Israeli decision in the early 1980s to classify the land in the South Hebron Hills as a military …
El Salvador’s Bitcoin experiment has proven a spectacular failure
A year ago, El Salvador became the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender – alongside the US dollar, which the Central American country adopted in 2001 to replace its own currency. Since then, the experiment has proven a spectacular failure, writes John Hawkins from University of Canberra. President Nayib Bukele, a cryptocurrency enthusiast, promoted …
Pakistan: ”I can understand the frustration among aid organisations”
Why is civil society so critical of Pakistan? What has the government learned from the flooding and what can be done to prevent future catastrophes? There is not often news on Pakistan in Swedish media and when there is, it’s often related to violence, corruption, and political instability. Now, the ongoing floods have put Pakistan …
Will Biden fire the World Bank president?
Does the World Bank believe in climate change? Uncertainty is high after the Bank’s head David Malpass was unable to answer the question of whether he accepts the scientific consensus. Criticism of the bank chief is mounting – with President Joe Biden likely planning on firing him. It was at a September 20 panel discussion …
Global Podd 114. Why are old men so afraid of gay people?
Why are old men in Eastern European countries so afraid of Pride and the LGBTQI movement? What can young people do to make them more gay-friendly? What should you think of before you decide to come out of the closet in countries such as Moldova and Georgia and what can we learn from Sweden when …
How the US Fed holds the world in its hands
The US Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) is the most important actor in the governance of the international financial system and African countries have no means for holding the Fed accountable for the adverse impacts its actions have on Africa, writes Danny Bradlow from University of Pretoria. Inflation is a global problem. At the end of …
Why are Armenia and Azerbaijan at war again?
In the early hours of September 13, 2022, Azerbaijani forces launched attacks on Armenian military position. This has resulted in war between these two countries flaring up again. What is the cause- and why is it happening now, and why is the EU so silent? We spoke to Azerbaijan expert and freelance journalist Rasmus Canbäck …
Africa: Climate change means death for children
Africa has some of the poorest and hottest countries in the world. This means that young African children are at particular risk of heat stress impacts, as newborn babies are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures, writes Cathryn Birch, University of Leeds; John Marsham, University of Leeds, and Sarah Chapman, University of Leeds. Climate change has …
UNOPS: The Scandal Continues
Four months have passed since the revelations that over $20 million has disappeared from the UNOPS, but little has happened. US Ambassador to the UN Chris Lu has forcefully criticised UNOPS. Meanwhile, Finland continues to withhold all its funding for the UN system in protest at the lack of transparency. It was in May 2022 …
Finnish UN Funding Freeze Continues
The Finnish freeze on all funding to the UN system in the wake of the UNOPS scandal has not yet been lifted. – ”We are currently conducting a risk management analysis of all our UN partners which will be finalised in the coming weeks. After that, we will make new decisions,” says Karoliina Romanoff from …
Racism made in China?
While China attempts to portray itself as a different type of partner of Africa, state run media in China has consistently shown a deep ignorance whilst propagating deeply racist content. In fact, racist accounts on China’s largest social media platform Weibo echo American Alt-Right and Incel ideologies. A recent investigation by BBC Africa Eye laid …
How the creative sector could bring billions to Africa 
ESSAY. Africa does not lack talent. What is lacking are more platforms to showcase these skills. The creative sector has the potential to bring in billions of dollars, but investors are hesitant. Now, African countries need to create the infrastructure required for creatives that would assure proper remuneration for artists. The creatives themselves must also take …
Africa: Bright business for Chinese security firms
Chinese private security companies have found a profitable niche market in Africa: guarding Chinese executives and construction sites. They’re also securing Chinese vessels at sea against piracy, writes Alessandro Arduino from the National University of Singapore. The growing presence of Chinese private security companies in Africa comes against the backdrop of a global security architecture …
Why Does Uganda Hate Gay People?
LGBTQ+ people in Uganda are faced with widespread and often violent oppression by the state. The recent banning of a prominent LGBTQ+ rights organisation demands discussion of the broader context of virulent homophobia in the Great Lakes country. Ugandan LGBTQ+ rights organisation Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has been banned by the State and ordered to …
Saudi Student Sentenced to 34 Years for Tweets
Saudi Arabian Phd student, Salma al-Shebab has been sentenced to 34 years in jail followed by a travel ban of a further 34 years upon her release. Al-Shebab, a student at Leeds University in the United Kingdom, was arrested and tried after returning home for a holiday in December 2020. She was hoping to return …
IDF Raids Human Rights Organisations
The Israeli Defence Force launched simultaneous raids against six Palestinian Rights groups in the morning of Thursday 18 August 2002. The targets of the raids included Al-Haq, Addameer, Bisan Research Center, and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, who are amongst several human rights organisations Israel unilaterally declared terrorist organisations in October of last year. This …
Sweden Returns Funds to Aid Budget
On the 18th of August, the Swedish Government decided to repay an additional SEK 2.9 billion of the funds deducted from the global aid budget. This follows a controversial decision to use a fifth of the money earmarked for global aid to deal with the expected influx of Ukrainian refugees following Russia’s invasion. This decision …
Kenya: William Ruto declared winner – but the drama is far from over
Kenya’s William Ruto was declared the winner of the August 9 election in the midst of chaotic scenes last witnessed on the eve of the infamous 2007-2008 post-election violence. Ruto, running under the Kenya Kwanza coalition, defeated Raila Odinga of the Azimio coalition by polling 50.49% of the vote against Odinga’s 48.85%. The announcement followed …
Ukraine: Amnesty Sweden replies
Amnesty has been severely criticised following the press release on Ukraine issued by the international organisation. Here in Sweden, 1,000 people have asked to leave the organisation. Anna Johansson, Secretary General of Amnesty Sweden, now responds to the criticism in an exclusive interview with Global Bar Magazine. This is a translation from Swedish. You can …
Amnesty: Why did it go so wrong?
Has Amnesty become an organisation that lacks insight into ethics and morality? Why is the organisation so bad at crisis management? In recent days, there has been a storm surrounding Amnesty’s press release on the alleged war crimes committed by Ukraine. Will Amnesty be able to recover from this? David Isaksson explains what has happened. …
Kenya: How Martha Karua can change the role of women in politics
For the first time in Kenya’s history, a female candidate joins the centre stage in one of the main political coalitions in the country’s August 2022 elections. It is unprecedented for large political blocs with a real chance of winning a Kenyan election to have a woman as a running mate, writes Emma Elfversson and …
‘Ethiopia’s other conflict’: what’s driving the violence in Oromia?
OPINION. Even before fighting broke out in Tigray the government had established military command posts in Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest state. My understanding – taking into account the history of oppression of the Oromo in Ethiopia and numerous reports by rights groups of attacks against the community – is that the violence in Oromia is mainly …
The Russian charm offensive in Africa – what will it lead to?
The objective of Lavrov´s trip to Africa is to portray Russia as an unencumbered Great Power that maintains allies around the globe. 25 of Africa’s 54 states abstained or did not vote to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the UN with whom it can conduct business as usual, writes Joseph Siegle at the University …
Research: Heatwaves worsen mental health conditions
Heatwaves have a huge impact on our physical and mental health. Heat can also affect the mental health and ability to think and reason of people without a mental health disorder. Research shows that areas of the brain responsible for framing and solving complex cognitive tasks are impaired by heat stress writes Laurence Wainwright, University …
Global Podd 111: Will protests return to Middle East?
Eleven years has passed since the Arab Spring rocked the Middle East/MENA region. Now food prices are on the rise and new protests movements start to emerge in countries such as Lebanon and Tunisia.What will happen now? In which way has the region developed since the Arab Spring started? The Arab Spring began in December …
”Climate change is white colonisation of the atmosphere”
Most rich white countries refuse to accept the climate debt they owe to poorer countries and communities. In so doing, they sentence millions of people to premature death, disability or unnecessary hardship. This injustice – a type of “atmospheric colonisation” – is a form of deeply entrenched colonial racism that arguably represents the most pressing …
Wole Soyinka’s life of writing holds Nigeria up for scrutiny
The Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet and essayist Wole Soyinka is a giant among his contemporaries. In 1986, he became the first sub-Saharan African to be awarded the Nobel prize for literature. His themes have remained constant over time and many African states are still grappling with issues he has raised since the 1950s. Akinwande Oluwole …
Cesária Évora comes back to life in new documentary
Cesária Évora, ”the barefoot diva” and one of Africas greatest singer and a symbol for her home country Cabo Verde, passed away in 2011. Now she is coming back to life in a documentary that will fascinate both devoted fans as well as those encountering Évora’s biography for the first time. The combination of the …
Will a shrinking population define China’s future?
For the first time since the great famine of 1959-1961 the world’s biggest nation is about to shrink. In the future, China will be required to direct more of its productive resources to provision of health, medical and aged-care services to meet the demands of an increasingly elderly population, writes Xiujian Peng from Victoria University …
UNOPS scandal: Finland stops all funds for UN cooperation
Finland is making a strong stand against the UN corruption scandal by freezing all its payments to the UN and ordering its own investigation. The reason is that the UN has chosen to cover up the serious allegations. The decision stops all funding to UNFPA, UN Women, UNICEF, UNDP and UNEP. This is an unofficial …
Informal settlements: Climate change will make it even worse
The UN estimates that around one in four city dwellers in the world – more than 1 billion people – live in precarious conditions, without access to basic services or adequate housing and are excluded from health, education, and livelihood opportunities. Climate change will make their situation even worse. Flooding is common in informal settlements …
Stockholm+50: What did the participants think?
What did the participants think about the Stockholm+50 conference? Did it live up to their expectations and what are they hoping will happen in the future? During the second day of the conference, we did live recordings with some of the participants. Here you can see them all: Godfrey Kanyenze, The Labour and Economic Research …
Uganda: Will Museveni’s son become the next president?
Will Yoweri Museveni’s son Muhoozi Kainerugaba become the next president of Uganda? With Kainerugabas recent retirement from the military forces, it seams more than likely, writes Sam Wilkins and Richard Vokes, in this analysis. On 8 March 2022, Ugandan politics was sent into a spin by 49 words tweeted by President Yoweri Museveni’s only son, …
Stockholm +50. How Ziggy Stardust changed our vision on climate
The Ziggy Stardust’s release coincided with the landmark gathering in Sweden to discuss the future of the planet. The Stockholm Conference. David Larsson Heidenblad, Associate Professor of History at Lund University, pairs the songs of the album with initiatives for the environment ever since. Will the Stockholm+50 bring new hits – and new insights? David …
Africa important for future black hole discoveries
We are proud to be part of the team that produced the first black hole images. In future, we believe South Africa could play a critical role in making the first black hole movies, writes Roger Deane, University of the Witwatersrand and Iniyan Natarajan, University of the Witwatersrand. Astronomers have revealed the first image of …
Orchestra Baobab: A legend leaves the stage
The world has lost one of the great pioneers of the post-independence movement of modern popular music in Senegal. After a long illness, Rudolphe “Rudy” Clément Gomis – co-founder of the famous Orchestra Baobab, bandleader, composer, singer and percussionist – passed away on 27 April 2022 aged 75 in his native city, Ziguinchor, the capital …
Somalia election: A sense of history and urgency
Somali lawmakers vote for the country’s new president on May 15, marking the end of a long-delayed and controversial process. The Horn of Africa nation of 16 million has been struggling to achieve viable political stability after decades of civil war and violent insurgency that has spilled across its borders, writes Mohammed Ibrahim Shire from …
Roe v. Wade: How US policy on abortion affects women in Africa
Policies and decisions made in the United States have widespread implications. The first US policy with implications for healthcare in other countries was the global gag rule. The second is the decision before the US Supreme Court on the right of women to choose abortion. The consequences will go beyond abortion, writes Boniface Ushie and …
Burkina Faso: Activists fight impunity in Sankara trial
On April 6, 2022, a military tribunal in Burkina Faso found 11 men, including the former president guilty of ”… complicity in murder and concealment of a corpse.” This marked a historic moment. The trial which began in October 2021 was intended to uncover the truth behind the 1987 assassination of Burkina Faso’s revered leader, …
Chad: No signs of transition from military rule
One year ago the long-term ruler of Chad, president Idriss Déby Itno, was killed under unexplained circumstances while visiting his troops asa Chadian rebel group advanced towards the capital. His adopted son Mahamat Idriss Déby, then took power. But despite talks it seem unlikely that the Military Transitional Council and Déby are willing to leave …
French election: Mélenchon holds the key
The award for the best performance during the first round of the French election goes to the left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon who hauled himself past Pécresse and Zemmour to 21.95%. This is a remarkable achievement, suggesting the French left is not dead. The big question now is whether his voters will turn out to vote …
How multinationals avoid taxes in Africa
In developing countries, and the sub-Saharan region especially, the scale of unmet basic needs is enormous. It is estimated that 3 billion people in the developing world subsist on less than US$2 a day per person. Revenues from taxation are fundamental to changing this dire situation but tax dodging by transnational companies hampers the social …
Ukraine war threatens food supply in Egypt
Russia’s war on Ukraine is disrupting global grain supplies. Restrictions on navigation in the Azov Sea and the closure of ports have interrupted grain shipments from Russia, the world’s largest wheat exporter, and economic sanctions are complicating purchase agreements. One of the countries where this is felt is Egypt, writes Jessica Barnes form the University …
Oscars: More international films are nominated than ever
What was remarkable this year was the number of non-American films nominated for Oscars in categories beyond the default “best international feature film”, writes Georgia Thomas Parr from University of Sheffield. EDIT 28/3. Drive my car won the Oscar for best international film. The Academy Awards have not fared well in recent years. The Oscars’ …
What happened when Uganda closed schools for two years?
It is estimated that 15 million pupils have not attended school in Uganda for almost two years. Emerging evidence from our study shows that the effects for young people have already been devastating, writes Simone Datzberger and other researchers. Uganda enforced the longest period of school closures worldwide – 22 months – during the COVID-19 …
How ANC undermines the international legal order
OPINION. While the world is largely united against the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, South African government has attempted to downplay that it is, in fact, an invasion. In doing this, the governing African National Congress – and other apologists – undermine the most cardinal rule of our international legal order. It is a rule …
Namibia’s abstention on Russia violates its foreign policy
When the United Nations General Assembly took a vote on Russia’s war against Ukraine Namibia abstained along with 15 other African states. But the misunderstanding that non-alignment means abstention in conflicts holds no water. Pseudo neutrality does in fact take sides with aggressors, writes Henning Melber, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala …
Global Podd 102. Will the war reach Moldova?
As Russian forces are becoming more and more brutal people in Moldova are holding their breath, while at the same time assisting tens of thousands of refugees that have already arrived in the country. And in Georgia, people have not forgotten the Russian invasion in 2008. Will Russia try to expand their ground even more? …
How Swahili became Africa’s most spoken language
Once just an obscure island dialect of an African Bantu tongue, Swahili has evolved into Africa’s most internationally recognised language. It is peer to the few languages of the world that boast over 200 million users, writes John M. Mugane from Harvard University. Over the two millennia of Swahili’s growth and adaptation, the moulders of …
The legacy of Miriam Makeba and her art of activism
South Africa’s world famous singer and activist Miriam Makeba (1932-2008) would have turned 90 on March 4 2022. It is fitting to pay tribute to her legacy of activism as an artist who used her craft to teach and conscientise the world about Africa, writes Nomfundo Xaluva from the University of Cape Town. Born Zenzile …
Global Podd 101. Fighting for freedom of expression in Tanzania and Zambia
How can activist, lawyers and journalists join forces to defend – and expand – freedom of expression on the Internet in the Tanzania and Zambia? Listen to the first episode of the podcast serie Expanding the Space – The fight for freedom of expression in Tanzania and Zambia. Freedom of expression has been under constant …
Uyghurs: A history of protests and uprisings
ANALYSIS. During the Cultural Revolution, hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs were massacred by the Chinese regime. In 1991, Uyghurs once again pushed to strive for their identity. By early 2016, hundreds of so-called ”re-education” concentration camps were built across East Turkistan and in 2021, the United States was the first country to declare the atrocities in …
Why do so many Africans defend Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
We must understand how entrenched the resistance to Western hegemony is in Africa and how it permeates all other thoughts and considerations. Only then can we have a constructive dialogue with Africans, writes Malena Liedholm Ndounou. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I have …
Why are there so many coups in West Africa?
By 2012, there had been over 200 coups and attempted coups in Africa from their various times of independence, many of them i West Africa. Our studies show that democracy in the region tends to be superficial. Despite some gains, democracy remains largely cosmetic, and the conditions that cause coups persist, writes Muhammad Dan Suleiman …
How can the collaboration with researchers increase?
Decision-makers in development policy view researchers as cumbersome and far from reality. And, when they use research results, it is usually to get a confirmation of the fact that already made decisions are correct. These are some of the conclusions drawn at a recent SweDev seminar on aid and development research. The theme of the …
Why is it snowing in Sahara?
Snowfall in a hot desert may seem a contradiction but snow has been recorded several times in the Sahara Desert over the last decades, most recently in January 2022. Thus, snowfall may be unusual but is not unprecedented in the region, writes Jasper Knight from University of the Witwatersrand. In order for snow to form, …
West Africa: We must analyse the coups not just reject them
OPINION. We should analyse the coups in West Africa carefully before rejecting them as savage. We need to understand where the coups come from and address the underlying causes, rather than just criticize the coups, and then immediately move on to something else, writes Malena Liedholm Ndounou, at The Swedish Centre Party International Foundation (CIS). The views …
How Africa’s autocratic elites cycle in and out of power
In 2021, coups d’état ousted four heads of state in sub-Saharan Africa and in January 22, there was a coup in Burkina Faso. Army interventions in Chad, Mali, Guinea and Sudan halted a years-long decline in military takeovers. Some heralded this as the comeback of the army in African politics, writes Andrea Carboni and Clionadh …
How could an 81-year-old woman be deported alone?
OPINION. 81 year old Virgin Istibian was put on a chartered plane to Armenia – a country she has no connection to while her children and grandchildren are left in Sweden. The Swedish Aliens Act states that there are exceptional grounds during which persons may be allowed to stay in Sweden. If it does not apply …
The real cost of fetching water
Fetching water is usually a “women’s affair”, as has been documented all over the world. The consequences of spending time and energy to get safe water are felt in women’s health and emotional wellbeing, as well as incomes, writes Anindita Sarkar from University of Delhi. Existing research on water access by women in informal settlements …
Mali: What is the role of the Russian military group?
Tensions are mounting in West Africa as Mali resists pressure from the region, the EU and US, to come up with a firm timetable on how civilian rule will be restored after two coups and a military takeover. But what is the role of the Russian private military company – the Wagner Group? One result …
Five picks from a great year for African writing
It’s been a great year for African writing, with Tanzania’s Abdulrazak Gurnah winning the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature. Peter Kimani, leading Kenyan author, journalist and academic, lists his top five picks. Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth Wole Soyinka Wole Soyinka, the great Nigerian poet, playwright, activist and intellectual, released …
Illegal Checkpoint ‘taxes’ in South Sudan – the World’s most Expensive Roads
When South Sudan became independent 10 years ago, oil revenues were supposed to fuel the economy of the world’s newest country. But shortly after, civil war resumed, oil prices plummeted, and the South Sudanese pound lost value, writes Peer Schouten from Danish Institute for International Studies, in The Conversation. While elites in Juba split the remaining oil revenues, ground-level civil servants, soldiers and rebels have …
Global Podd 93. Climate activism is here to stay!
Was COP26 a success or a failure? What do young people think now and what do they demand of current and future leaders? Listen to young climate activists from Moldova, Georgia and Sweden in episode 93 of Global Podd. Young people around the world have been protesting and demanding more from the world leaders and Fridays …
The Omicron mutation: What we know so far
The World Health Organisation has given the new virus lineage B.1.1.529 the name Omicron and classified it as a variant of concern, like beta and delta as it is rapidly spreading over the world. But what do we know about the virus so far? And why has it originated in South Africa? A group of …
France in Africa: The same old story again?
Despite Macrons ambition to move away from the neo-colonial policies in Africa, acknowledging the traumas that French colonialism had caused and the restitution of art objects has been seen as an important change, many young activists are sceptical and points to the fact that France continue to support African strongmen such as the new leder …
Migration: How religion helped migrants during the crossing
Over the last decade or so, there’s been increasing interest in the mental health aspects of migration. Yet the place of religion in this dimension remains under-explored, writes Nicolas Parent from McGill University. In April 2018, a catamaran captained by two Brazilian smugglers left São Vicente, Cape Verde, setting its course across the Atlantic Ocean, …
Combating malnutrition in post-COVID India
During my treatment due to COVID-19 infection in the second pandemic wave, I got more health conscious. I especially focused on nutrition (high protein rich diet) for boosting immunity. That nutrition has helped COVID patients to recover faster than the normal patient getting small amount of nutritious food. During that time of pandemic people spent …
Five climate change messages from the African continent
The outcome of the global climate change conference, COP26, and the world’s willingness to take the tough decisions necessary to contain global warming, will have bigger consequences for Africa than for most other continents. It is in Africa that the impact is already most destabilising, writes Nicholas Westcott, Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at …
Africas first COVID-19 vaccine plants to be built in Rwanda and Senegal
Africa’s shortage of manufacturing capability contrasts strongly countries such as India and Brazil. Now, the German biotechnology company BioNTech has announced that it will be building a vaccine manufacturing facility in Rwanda, to be followed by a second in Senegal. This could be a game changer, writes David Richard Walwyn, University of Pretoria. The lack …
Africa: Why can climate adaptation not be financed?
Back in 2009, the world’s wealthier nations pledged to mobilise US$100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries cope with climate change. The funding would be used to adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce or prevent emissions. Despite the pledge, little has happened, writes Georgia Savvidou, Chalmers University of Technology …
The Battle of Algiers: When revolution became film
Saadi Yacef, the revolutionary leader and star of the iconic film The Battle of Algiers directed by the renowned Italian film maker Gillo Pontecorvo has passed away. Saadi Yacef fought for his country’s liberation from French colonial rule. He was captured in the fighting, condemned to death but in the end pardoned by de Gaulle, …
Combating anti-vaxxers: lessons from political philosophy
Challenging the scepticism and resistance in the public response to the COVID-19 vaccine is deeply important to the state of public health. This is a critical conversation because people are protesting the COVID-19 vaccines not just in South Africa, but globally too, writes Giovanni Poggi from the Nelson Mandela University. As a teacher of political …
Open letter to Ylva Johansson on secret burial sites at Lesbos
Parents, children, relatives at Moria camp are on a daily basis wondering what happened to their loved ones, where did they disappear. In fact they are buried in graves in a field, without any further information to the relatives. I request you and UNHCR to please help us approach the Greek government and convert this …
How friendly are African governments towards girls?
The African Report on Child Wellbeing (2020), launched by the African Child Policy Forum, analyses the status of girls on the continent using the Girl-Friendly Index. Overall, the countries that score highest as friendly towards girls are Mauritius, Tunisia, South Africa, Seychelles, Algeria, Cabo Verde and Namibia, writes Rongedzayi Fambasayi from the North-West University in …
Kenya: Using social media for manipulation and suppression
Disinformation campaigns using well-known “influencers” to promote their messages, are among the tools used by regimes in Africa to control and manipulate the political discussions, writes George Ogola at University of Central Lancashire. Kenya has a particularly vocal political public on Twitter. Commonly known as KOT (Kenyans on Twitter), they have made the platform integral …
How can sexual abuse in the aid sector be stopped?
The World Health Organization (WHO) is under fire after allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse surfaced last month. More than 50 women accused aid workers from several organisations of crimes that took place during the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 10th Ebola outbreak. Now, Humanitarian organisation leaders must prioritise prevention. In addition the relevant expertise must …
Why are Rwandan troops in Mozambique?
Rwanda has sent troops to Mozambique to assist the government in fighting against a four-year Islamist militant insurgency. Political scientist Phil Clark provides insights into the threat and why Rwanda is supporting Mozambique. Since 2017, jihadist militias in the northern Mozambique province of Cabo Delgado have mounted an armed insurgency against the Mozambican government. Their …
Activists for environment and children’s rights 2021 Right Livelihood Laureates
The 2021 Right Livelihood Laureates are leaders in advancing the rights of women and girls, environmental protection and reclaiming Indigenous rights through mobilising communities and empowering grassroots initiatives. Hailing from Cameroon, Russia, Canada and India, this year’s change-makers show that lasting change is built on communities banding together. In the face of the worsening climate …
How Nairobi’s informal settlements got their names
In Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, it is estimated that over 70 per cent of the population live in informal settlements. As these informal settlements grew over the years, their names – and the names of places within them – have grown to encapsulate their history, writes Melissa Wanjiru-Mwita from Technical University of Kenya in this …
Western Sahara: Why did Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco?
On August 24th, Algeria cut its diplomatic relations with Morocco, at least partly due to increased tension in occupied Western Sahara. But there is also another important player in the field: Israel, writes Yahia H. Zoubir from Kedge Business School. The breakup of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Morocco in August is the product of …
After the game: What happens with African players in Europe?
What are the chances for retired African footballplayers in Europe. Can they also start a new career as commentators, coaches or agents as Eurpean players often do? The fact is, we now very little about their whereabouts, writes Christian Ungruhe, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Sine Agergaard, Aalborg University. Think of your favourite former male football …
What are the roots of Taliban’s religious ideology?
Following the Taliban’s rapid taking of power in what it describes as a reestablished “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” fears of a certain kind of Islamist ideology being brought back have led a large number of Afghans to flee, or fear for their lives. As scholars who research ethno-religious conflicts in South Asia, we have studied …
Why has the impact of COVID-19 been lower in Africa?
RESEARCH. There’s been an increase in COVID-19 deaths across Africa since mid-July 2021. But the impact of the pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa remains markedly lower compared to the Americas, Europe and Asia. In this article, a group of researchers offers some explanations. The reasons for this are not yet clear. Several factors have been suggested …
Bold experimentation is the way forward for South Africa
ESSAY. The south African civil society must engage in solving problems, proposing new ideas and concept and not only focusing on scrutinising and verifying government actions. This is something that could help defining South Africas way forward, writes Brian Levy at Johns Hopkins University. In the preface to his great book, The General Theory of …
Why have South Africans been on a looting rampage?
Looting does not spontaneously emerge. It usually comes about due to instigation by influential individuals or groups who actively articulate that looting against specific targets is permissible and justifiable, writes Guy Lamb, lecturer at Stellenbosch University. The looting of businesses, shopping centres and warehouses in South Africa, particularly in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, has …
Africa can prevent Ethiopia from going down Rwanda’s path
OPINION. Africa needs to embrace a new approach that focuses on what countries in an embattled region can do to intervene. This approach should be a moral conversation that explores plausible ways in which a region and its community of people and nation-states can act, collectively, to prevent genocide, writes Edward Kissi from University of …
Global Podd 76. Lebanon – one year after the explosion in Beirut
One year has passed since the biggest non-nuclear explosion in the world exploded in Beirut. Still, noone has been held accountable. Victims are demanding justice. The reconstruction of the city has mainly been rebuilt by private initiatives. Global Podd is back in Beirut. The restaurant Mayrig was 300 meters from the explosion and severely hit …
The Beirut stores that became refugee shelters
REPORTAGE. In Beirut, Christian refugees from Syrian and Iraq have found temporary shelter in stores in what was once part of a suburban mall. Living in appalling conditions and below the poverty line, they struggle to survive, writes Nuri Kino from the organization A Demand for Action in this eyewitness account. Before the fall of Saddam Hussein’s …
”Now justice has to be done in the Gambia”
– We have managed to know the truth, what is left now is accountability, justice has to be done in the Gambia. There should be no impunity for the perpetrators of serious and multiple crimes against international human rights, says Essa Faal, appointed Lead Counsel of the Gambia’s TRRC (Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission) for more …
Global Podd 63. Sexual Abuse in the United Nations
How is the UN system handling reports of sexual abuse by it’s own staff members? What are the complaint structures, and can you trust the internal investigation system the exists in the UN? Listen to Martina Broström, the whistleblower from UNAIDS on what happened when she was sexually attacked in an elevator by her superior …
Gaza: ”The crazy bombing continues unabated”
“The last 48 hours are the longest I’ve been through in my life. The crazy bombing continues unabated. They destroy our houses, our memories, our dreams. ” The messages from my former co-worker Lubna Beseisso are streaming into my mobile. She lives in Gaza City. And now she’s scared. Terrified. It’s Wednesday, the second really …
Beirut: Life in the shadow of genocide
Their family members were murdered by ISIS, they have been expelled and persecuted, now they are fighting to survive the day. Nuri Kino, journalist and founder of the organization A Demand For Action, writes about two intensive days of relief work in Beirut, while he and many others are waiting for an important signal and …
Global Podd 59. Should we give aid to authoritarian regimes?
Should aid be given to authoritarian regimes if they are efficient in reducing poverty? Or do we risk that donor money will keep the dictators in power? The issue of Authoritarian aid is very much in the discussion right now. But what is the right thing to do – Should we stay or should we …
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Some Thoughts
OPINION. There are ways to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict, argues Tomas Nordberg in this the third of articles on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Oslo Accords provide the guidelines for reconciliation. We must go to the roots of the conflict to arrive at its solutions. For conflict solution, not just management, both sides need to exhibit authentic …
Turkey, my friend Father Aho must be released
COLUMN. My friend Father Aho has been convicted of terrorism or, more properly, of membership in a terrorist organization. The penalty is two years and one month in prison. Why was he convicted? For giving bread and water to people who visited his monastery in the Southeastern Turkey, writes Nuri Kino, investigative journalist and founder …
The Palestine Question: The Two-State Solution
Throughout modern Israeli and Palestinian political history, there has been a realization that a balance must be struck between Palestinian aspirations for self-determination and Israeli legitimate security concerns. The Israeli settlements contribute to hardening the conflict and lessening the prospects for peace. Although international law prohibits moving one´s population to occupied ground, there are close …
Why is the UN Food Systems Summit silent on corporate land grab?
OPINION. Why is the UN Food System Summit (FSS) ignoring the issue of landlessness and land grabbing? The answer is quite straightforward. Landgrabbers are effectively running the FSS, writes Arnold Padilla, Food Sovereignty Programme coordinator of PAN Asia Pacific. Peasant movements in Asia marked March 29 as the Day of the Landless. The day pays tribute to …
Swedish pension fund investment in company connected with Myanmar military
The Swedish state owned pension fund, Första AP-fonden, (AP1) have holdings in the company POSCO, a company with close contacts to the military in Burma / Myanmar, reveals Justice for Myanmar a network of activists, in a new report mapping the military’s assets.– We do not comment on individual holdings, AP1 responds in a statement. …
Tanzanian President Magufuli is dead
Government officials have confirmed the death of John Pombe Magufuli, Tanzanian President from October 28 2015 to 17 March 2021. He was 61 years old when he died and he leaves a wife Janet and five children as well as numbers of Tanzanians in sorrow. John Pombe Magufuli, the fifth President of Tanzania, has died …
Palestine: Why are the peace initiatives failing to bring lasting peace?
Ever since the Six-Day War, Gaza and the West Bank have been presided over by Israel. The genesis of the conflict harkens back to Israel’s founding and the advent of the Arab nationalist and Zionist projects of the 19th century. This analysis by Tomas Nordberg examines many of the initiatives that we have seen so …
Where is Magufuli? Tanzanias President is still missing
According to news reports from Thursday, the Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli is under treatment in Nairobi. He has not left Africa as sources indicated yesterday. However, there is yet an official response to the whereabouts of Magufuli, as more and more news outlets publish that the President may be receiving intensive care in Kenya …
Senegal: Protests and demands for a new government continues
Friday will be a national day of mourning in Senegal. But the start of the week was anything but peaceful, despite both the government and the opposition calling for calm, and the military closing down large parts of the capital Dakar. There were reports of more fatal shootings of protesters, which triggered more unrest and …
Source: Tanzanian president on his way to China for Covid treatment?
Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli has not been seen for two weeks and according to unconfirmed information, he is said to have fallen ill with Covid-19 and flown out of the country for treatment. Global Bar Magazine investigated the rumors and followed up on a possible medical evacuation to China. Update: Tanzanian authorities has (210317) …
Jerusalema takes on Sweden – from north to south!
You think Swedes are stiff and cold? Well, it’s true that it’s quite cold during large part of the year, but now Africa is helping Sweden to warm up! The Jerusalema Challenge continues to grow in Sweden – all the way from the far north to the (still far) south.Here are some of the funniest …
Catch-22: Sweden’s Conflicting Refugee Policies
How could Sweden reform it’s refugee policies? Would it help to establish some selection programmes in the refugee admission policies like Canada? And, what could be done about the housing crisis which is one key-factor making the establishment of newly arrived so difficult? In this essay Muyi Yang, originally from China now living in Sweden, …
What is the conflict in Georgia about?
Recently, the leader of a major opposition party in Georgia was detained, despite calls from the outside world for dialogue and restraint. Prime Minister Giorgi Gakhari resigned last week, alleging the plans to arrest the opposition leader to be the cause that risks plunging the country in crisis. But what is the conflict really about? …
Global Podd 40. Corona– An African success story
The African continent accounts for 17 percent of the global population, but only 3.5 percent of reported Covid-19 deaths worldwide. What’s more, Africa’s overall infection rate has been dropping steadily over the past two months. What’s behind the continent’s success? What role does music have – and what can Europe and the US learn from …
Press freedom under threat in Ethiopia
The current war in the Ethiopian Tigray province has further highlighted the polarisation in the society with different media taking different sides in the conflict, as well as how media is being used in the propaganda war. A recent report ‘The ethnification of the Ethiopian Media’ by Fojo Media Institute and IMS (International Media Support) documents how …
Covid in Gaza: ”The world is playing with our lives”.
Covid-19 is now spreading at full force on the densely populated Gaza Strip. According to the authorities, it is a catastrophic situation, with a shortage of medical equipment, test opportunities and staff.– The situation is completely out of control, says Gaza resident Lubna Beseisso. Until August this year, the Gaza Strip had surprisingly few cases …
Ethiopia: Can war lead to peace?
An extensive war is currently raging in the Ethiopian Tigray province, with troops from the Ethiopian central government facing troops from the TPLF movement that previously ruled Ethiopia. If Prime Minister Abiy’s federal troops win the war, it could open the way for a more peaceful development in the region, writes Donald Boström. This is …
“Kill her when you see her.” Hind Al-Eryani tells her story
Hind Al-Eryani is a writer and journalist from Yemen. She received the Arab Woman of the Year Award in 2017 in the category of Achievement in Public Awareness and is a member of the Yemenite Women Pact for Peace and Security. She is a well-known peace negotiator, journalist and activist for LGBTQ rights. Because of her …
Landslide victory for CCM in Tanzania – but was it free and fair?
The incumbent President John Magufuli got 84,4 per cent of the valid votes. It is the largest share of the votes a Presidential candidate has got since the multi-party system was introduced in 1994 in Tanzania. The question is how legitimate the election results are, writes Jonas Ewald in this analysis. CCM – Africa’s oldest …
Global Podd #35: Lebanon under pressure
Hezbollah, corruption, devastation. Lebanon is under a lot of pressure – can it rise from the ashes of the explosion that devasted Beirut? Are the present peace talks with Israel just a diversion from the problem with the political elite? How will the next US president impact Lebanon’s future – and what does it take …
Global podd #31. Is International IDEA legitimising hate against Rohingyas?
Global Bar Magazine recently published an interview with Marcus Brand at International IDEA about the controversial election app that is financed by IDEA and the EU in Myanmar. As the article was published in Swedish, we are sharing the original version of the interview in a special episode of Global Podd. Interview with: Marcus Brand, …
China Reshapes the United Nations
Four out of fifteen specialized UN agencies are directed by Chinese nationals. At the same time as China’s influence is growing, the US is gradually withdrawing from the UN system. Is China seeking to metamorphose the United Nations (UN) into an organisation that better suits its hegemonic ambitions? The Diplomat draws attention to the fact …
The UN at 75: Breaking deadlocks in the Security Council
The Security Council is often stuck in its own deadlock, with permanent members putting in their veto. But there is a way forward. The Uniting for Peace mechanism states that in cases where the five permanent members fail to act, the General Assembly can issue appropriate recommendations to UN members for collective measures, including the use of armed forces. This …
The Syrian Crisis: Searching for Peace
The war in Syria has entered its tenth year and there is no solution in sight. Since fighting started in 2011, almost half of the country´s pre-war population has been displaced. The war has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced 11.7 million and whole cities have been destroyed. A political solution needs to include amendments of …
Sida to end cooperation with the UN agency IOM
In an email, similar to the one received by three Swedish organizations, Sida announced on the 7th of July that it intends to end the strategic humanitarian cooperation with the UN agency IOM, which works with migration issues. “Many of us working with humanitarian issues are in shock and do not understand anything”, say several …
Julia Cimafiejeva: My European Poem
”Sorry, it’s a long poem/Because it’s a long story/I spent more than two thirds of my life/Under the power of the man/ I’ve never voted for”, writes Belarus poet Julia Cimafiejeva in this poem, that we are honoured to publish just a few days prior to the presidential election in Belarus. This poem should be …
Long read: Memories from the space previously known as Yugoslavia
The city of Belgrade is far from handsome and neat. Le Corbusier supposedly said that Belgrade is the ugliest city in the most beautiful spot and that’s not far away from the truth. The city is full of scars and wounds. It’s beautiful the way Keith Richards is. Loving it is a matter of choice, …
Dear donor, do you know what you are doing?
The World Bank, China and other donors are pouring resources into Kenya. But who gets the money? Kenyan writer and columnist Abigail Arunga decided to write an open letter. Dear World Bank, (Of course the title line should read Dear Chinese government, dear IMF, dear Bill Gates Foundation, dear…anyone else who feels like it makes any …
Western Saharan camps: still no cases of Covid-19
The pandemic has not yet reached the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria. Despite that, the people in the camps live in isolation. The Saharawi are famous for their hospitality and welcome even in difficult times, something that makes it even harder to adjust to the new practices of social distancing and confinement, writes the artist Mohamed …
Thank you for listening
What really attracted me with the introduction to participate in this theme was the first few words, when you wrote “Not long ago we where all travellers”. These words make me think that I, being from Gaza, might not be the right person to share this kind of a dream. Because, once the quarantine is …
This huge theatre we call life
If for anyone it is to leave a piece of themselves anywhere in the world, for me it is about finding my missing pieces. From Tehran and Shiraz to Stockholm and to an Indian temple to the plains of Peru, Bolivia and Chile my parts have been forgotten and lost. Or maybe I am just …
#dreamjourneys
Not long ago we where all travellers, close by or far away, to family friends or just the great adventure. Now, we are all facing a lockup. Yes, basically the whole global population. So, what are your dreams? What is the next destination, the café around the corner, the urban djungel on the other side …
“People are in Panic, Hunger is Worse than Pandemics!”
Around Africa, we see how the efforts made against Covid-19 risk killing many more than those affected by the pandemic itself. Is it really reasonable? Who takes responsibility when poverty levels soar and children starve to death? argues Hélène Boëthius, the Chair of ALEF, Adult Learning and Empowerment Facilitators. The BBC reports on April 16 …
TikTok Dance Helps Vietnam to Face the Pandemic
Why is Vietnam managing the coronavirus crisis so well compared to Europe and the US? Not a single death and fewer than 300 infected in a densely populated country with close to 95 million inhabitants. – We are used to struggle and we obey our government. And they have done most things right, says Hung …
Sweden – much too Lagom in corona times?
Why has the Swedish government chosen a different strategy in which the ’stay at home’ is not applied? Is the attitude towards protective measures too lax in Sweden? And what does that strange word Lagom actually means? Bolivian journalist and writer Carlos Decker-Molina, has been living in Sweden for many years. In this reflection, he …
India’s second Exodus a ticking corona bomb
In 1947, millions of people fled when India was divided between India and Pakistan, the partition. Now a second Exodus is underway where millions of homeless people and migrant workers in the informal sector are moving through the country in panic and fear. At the same time, 163 million Indians still lack access to clean …
Corona catastrophic for the trapped Gaza strip
”You in the West probably haven’t thought that something so awful could happen to you. But we who live here in Gaza are used to being trapped and that life can change at any time, we take nothing for granted”, says Lubna Beseisso. She lives in Gaza city and is hoping for international support even …