Publications

Fr. Atta Barkindo looks at the ways in which Boko Haram has exploited history and memory to create an ideology grounded in local context.

This Briefing Note examines the backdrop to the municipal elections that are likely to be a watershed in South Africa’s democratic development.

PDF version La croissance des grandes villes d’Afrique est si rapide que les gouvernements centraux et municipaux s’en trouvent accablés. Il y a un manque de planification stratégique ; des lacunes dans la prestation de services de base aux résidents s’élargissent de plus en...

Land remains an emotive fault line in South Africa. This Briefing Note examines the ANC's record on land reform, outlines the winners and losers under the current dispensation, and offers a series of policy provocations.

This Briefing note describes an attempt by the city of Dakar, the capital of Senegal, to launch the first municipal bond in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) area, and considers the ramifications of the central government blocking the initiative.

Paul Adams examines the origins and purpose of the Nigerian federation, state governments’ financial management and responsibilities, governors’ arbitrary power, and the need to increase internally generated state revenue.

In 1986 Yoweri Museveni promised “fundamental change” in Uganda. Thirty years after the NRM took power, this Briefing Note considers the extent to which the promises of its ten-point programme have been fulfilled.

Slums play a central role in Ghanaian politics. The way that they are really governed, how “hidden” informal networks interact with formal politics, and how citizens hold their leaders to account, are too often overlooked.

This Briefing Note considers the variables in the country’s fifth multi-party elections, likely to be the most keenly contested to date.

Land is a “key fault line” in Kenya. Throughout East Africa land law reform has been pursued at the expense of substantive land reform. New laws have not been redistributive or transformative in a positive way.