Know Afrika

As of May 2026, a disturbing shadow has fallen over South Africa’s major urban centers. From the CBD of Durban to the inner suburbs of Johannesburg, a new wave of anti-migrant violence is being described by human rights observers as "organized intimidation." A man reacts to tear gas fired by police fire to disperse rival marches by hundreds of protesters, after mobs looted stores this week believed to belong to immigrants in Pretoria, South Africa, back in February 24, 2017. From Protests to Witch Hunts What began as "pockets of protests" in late April has escalated into systematic harassment. In my opinion, groups like Operation Dudula and the March & March movement have transformed legitimate economic frustrations into a targeted witch hunt against black African migrants .  ‘It’s organised intimidation’: New wave of anti-migrant violence sweeps South Africa ➡️ https://t.co/X0uNH136kU pic.twitter.com/bmzfW6A2cZ — FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) May 11, 202...

In my opinion, Africa is currently the world’s most intense laboratory for both democratic collapse and resilience. Between 2019 and 2024, the continent accounted for one-third of global democratic declines , yet paradoxically produced nearly 25% of all global improvements . I believe this "split-screen" reality proves that the narrative of a monolithic African decline is false; instead, we are seeing a continent where the gap between stable democracies and autocratic "coup belts" is widening faster than ever. People gathered for a rally holding different signs. Why did the Sahel experience the world’s sharpest setbacks? I suspect the "contagion of the uniform" is the primary driver. Since 2020, successful military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea have erased a decade of institutional progress . I believe that the failure of democratic regimes to solve security crises in the Sahel provided the "pretext" for these juntas, turn...

Somaliland voters head to the polls for a pivotal presidential election, with over 1 million expected to cast ballots as the breakaway region seeks international recognition after three decades of self-rule. President Muse Bihi Abdi, seeking re-election, faces challengers advocating for unity and democratic reforms in a region that has maintained stability amid Somalia's ongoing instability. Read more