Briefing Notes
Old Tricks, Young Guns: Elections and violence in Sierra Leone
19th April 2011Sierra Leone is acclaimed as one of Africa’s most successful post-conflict states. But the country remains fragile. Every election since independence has been attended by violence. Support for political parties is polarised on ethni...
Princes' Progress: Reconstruction and authority in Eritrea and Rwanda
28th March 2011Eritrea and Rwanda are among Africa’s smallest and poorest states. Substantial military resources, and expertise, have enabled both countries to exert disproportionate influence over regional security. Aggression and authoritarianis...
After the Promises Re-thinking UK Policy in Africa
19th April 2010Coalition government in the UK is an opportunity to revise policy on Africa. More aid is touted as proof of politicians’ compassion and conscience. But an emerging cross-party consensus has ignored significant policy failures. Democ...
No, Mr President
1st May 2010Multilateral systems to support peace and democracy have evolved faster in Africa than in other regions. In the past decade, diplomatic and military intervention in Africa has become more frequent and more assertive than in Latin Americ...
Waiting for a Green Revolution
9th December 2009Predictions of a Green Revolution in Africa are overstated. Investment in African agriculture has been neglected by governments and donors. The proportion of aid allocated to agriculture fell from 17% in 1980 to 3% in 2005.1 Population growth and ...
Tanzania and Senegal: Inside the Machine
20th October 2009Comparing the Politics of Institutional Reform Tanzania and Senegal have long records of political stability. Both made peaceful transitions from single-party 'African socialism' to multiparty democracy, becoming favourites with foreign donors an...
