Africa

All the President’s Friends: Adventures in “Nambia”
- September 24, 2017
Every year, I begin my African Politics classes by giving the students a map of Africa with the state borders drawn, but their names missing. Filling in the blanks is a humbling exercise, and most manage only a handful: South …
By Rita Abrahamsen
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Crowded Out by “Big Man” Politics, Kenyan Women Still Struggle in 2017 Elections
- August 21, 2017
by Gabrielle Bardall, PhD, CIPS Research Associate

For all its progressive constitution, high-tech society, and exceptionally resourced Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kenya is the worst performer in the East African Community (EAC) regarding women in parliament. These failures …
By Gabrielle Bardall
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In Africa, “America First” Means “Development Last”
- July 9, 2017
By Rita Abrahamsen

Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa

“How much confidence do you have in US President Donald Trump to do the right thing regarding world affairs?” When asked this question in a recent Pew …
By Rita Abrahamsen
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The Politics of Border Security in the Sahel
- May 9, 2017
By Philippe M. Frowd

A casual observer of the Sahel could be forgiven for understanding this region of West Africa as a space of threat: radicalization, terrorism, massive population growth, and irregular migration all grab the headlines. …
By CIPS
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Letter to George Clooney
- September 15, 2016
Dear George,

I’m writing to say that I think you are a great actor! And, of course, handsome beyond belief!! I loved you in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? I laughed my socks off watching you in Burn After Reading…
By Rita Abrahamsen
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Putting Canada’s Peacekeeping Ambitions in Perspective
- August 17, 2016
Critics have pounced on Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s multi-country African odyssey in search of an appropriate peacekeeping mission for the Canadian Forces. The critics have a point. Even with distinguished Canadians on board, this is a silly way to …
By Daniel Livermore
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Disability and Development in Africa: What Role for Canada?
- April 21, 2016
by David Black

It has become widely accepted that the previous Conservative government sharply diminished Canada’s focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Against this backdrop, the new Liberal government has signalled its intent to re-engage.

There are several problems with …
By CIPS
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Sacrificing Democracy for Security? Shifting International Priorities in Africa
- March 6, 2016
More than a week after the elections in Uganda, the main opposition leader remains under house arrest. Police have been camped outside Dr Kizza Besigye’s home since election day, and whenever he attempts to leave, he is promptly detained. From …
By Rita Abrahamsen
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The AU Summit: Do Not Be Fooled
- February 1, 2016
If your main source of information about the world is the Canadian media, you probably did not register that the African Union’s 26th Summit took place in Addis Ababa this weekend. Causing barely a ripple on the Canadian airwaves, it …
By Rita Abrahamsen
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The Global Backstory to the Ebola Outbreak
- February 12, 2015
With Ebola abating in the three most affected countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea) there are now ex post reflections on what went wrong. There is much that did.

We can first ask why these countries were unable to deal …
By Ronald Labonte
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Spring Into Summer? The Tunisian Elections
- October 12, 2014
by Bruce Montador

Tunisia will soon complete the transition begun when President Ben Ali fled in January 2011. Under a new constitution, it will elect a parliament (via regional lists) this month, and then a president.

Although the constitution gives …
By CIPS
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Last Year’s CIPS Blog Highlights, Part 2: New Global Threats
- September 16, 2014
Here at CIPS we are pleased with the flurry of blog posts that our expert authors have submitted in the new academic year: more than a dozen in the past two weeks alone – and more in the works. This …
By Natalie Brender
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