What did the British ever do for us?
There's a dreary and deeply entrenched prejudice about the legacy of empire. But the British empire was the greatest civilising influence the world has ever seen. Colonial guilt? For what?
- 4 August 2014Africa: The new battleground against Islamic extremism
We know from previous examples, such as Al-Qaeda’s rise in Afghanistan, that it is in environments of uncertainty and poverty that extremism thrives. Unfortunately, religious extremists are equally aware of this
- 12 May 2014Will celebrities please just shut up about politics
Whether on poverty or Israel, why do celebrities have to use their platforms to pontificate on politics when they don't know what they're talking about?
- 23 August 2013Dambisa Moyo responds to Bill Gates's personal attacks
Dead Aid author Dambisa Moyo has come under fire from Bill Gates recently. She responds to his claims in her blog today...
- 30 May 2013No more droning on about unmanned aerial aircraft?
How liberals must give thanks for having one of their own in office to show the Bush administration for the travesty it was. Except that's not quite right, is it?
- 31 January 2013The corroding 'lead camel' effect in Somalia
Somalia has entered a new phase of introspection, reinvention, and rebuilding.Whether or not the old guard will finally redeem itself by participating and contributing positively to this process remains to be seen
- 7 December 2012Smoking is healthy for Africa
Policies that emanate from Geneva are often based scarcely on statistics, and stifle economic growth in the developing world
- 8 November 2012Will Somalia's situation improve with a new constitution?
Somalia's new constitution poses a serious existential threat that should be of concern to anyone who cares about Somalia
- 13 August 2012Nick Clegg's kindergarten moment
Nick Clegg's tantrum is not only pathetic from a Deputy Prime Minister, but has no cause, based on analysis of the coalition agreement
- 8 August 2012The perfect storm in Africa
A complacent African strategic plan, the downsizing of the US military force, and the growing terrorist activities in Sub-Saharan Africa create the perfect conditions for another mass casualty attack
- 6 August 2012A rendezvous with the President
Joyce Banda is on a mission to get the trade tap open, to get petrol in the pumps, to get food on the shelves, and to get investment coming in. Will she succeed for Malawi?
- 13 June 2012Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo are a real opportunity
If the international community is to continue to invest large sums of money in the DRC and help the Congolese people, it must insist on responsible leadership and holding the new President to account
- 17 November 2011November elections in the DRC matter: to its citizens, to European taxpayers, and to democracy in Africa.
Nirj Deva MEP argues that the only way to enhance political stability in the DRC is through a transparent, open, and fair election conducted on a level playing field. This is what we hope for, and indeed what we must insist on.
- 21 October 2011Unwatchable: the war in DR Congo just got much closer to home
The brutal rape and murder of a white, upper-middle class family deep in the English countryside just brought the war in DR Congo much closer to home.
- 29 September 2011Time to think again on food security
Once again, famine looms in the Horn of Africa. If the crisis won’t stop repeating itself, perhaps it’s time that the international response did.
- 5 July 2011