Afrika

Interview

"I was a rebel from the very beginning": Libya through the eyes of journalist Taziri al-Omrani

10 February 2023 -

She grew up in Libya in a conservative family and was the only girl in class wearing a hijab. Today, journalist and television pioneer Taziri al-Omrani lives in Belgium, from where she continues defending the rights of Libyan women and minorities. "I was a revolutionary from a young age," she says.

Review

Give Africa the place it deserves

18 January 2023 -

Looking for strong arguments in the decolonisation debate, MO* journalist Kris Berwouts stumbled upon three books in different languages, by authors from different backgrounds (an African, a European, and an African-American). All three want to put Africa back at the centre of its history.

Opinion

‘Stop the impunity in eastern Congo’

30 December 2022 -

Following the recent massacre in eastern Congo, former minister Réginald Moreels, author David Van Reybrouck, political scientist and author Nadia Nsayi and others are calling for independent investigations to find out 'exactly what happened, and who is responsible for what crimes'.

Editorial

‘We must not get used to the horror in eastern Congo’

30 December 2022 -

On 29 November, yet another massacre took place in eastern Congo. The region has been plagued by ruthless violence for decades. Often the perpetrators are known, but they are rarely brought to justice. MO* contributor Kris Berwouts wonders who will stop this impunity.

Analysis

Russian mercenaries in exchange for African natural resources

12 December 2022 -

Two phenomena have been on the rise in recent years: privatised warfare and ultra-nationalist extremism in Russia. Its outflow is the infamous Wagner Group, the private military company that does not even officially exist. In recent years, Wagner has occupied more and more space in Africa.

News

Wagner acknowledges the death of a Zambian student recruited in Russian prison

12 December 2022 -

A young man from Zambia died at the war front in Ukraine in September. His family is left with questions. Lemekhani Nyirenda was a student in Moscow serving a prison sentence in Russia. He was one of the detainees recruited by the Wagner Group.

Report

How Congo seeks prosperity that leaves its precious rainforest intact

6 December 2022 -

Congo wants to show itself as a country coming up with solutions to climate change. If it wants to succeed in that mission, the country will have to listen to the grievances of its ailing population. Useful first steps are taken, but the road is still long. “It takes time to change human habits.”

Herve Bossy (Vétérinaires Sans Frontières)

Analysis

These livestock keepers are the canaries in the coal mine of a planet in crisis

2 December 2022 -

Many of the pastoralist communities live in Africa, and their way of life is falling victim to the climate crisis. “We get much less milk from our cows than we used to. And that has everything to do with the unreliability of the rain.”

Report

The French colonial who fell in love with Morocco

28 November 2022 -

He is buried next to his compatriot Napoleon, but his name still only rings a bell with few Europeans: Hubert Lyautey, France's first resident-general in Morocco. The French colonial left a special mark on Morocco a hundred years ago, which still lingers today.

Analysis

Algeria and Morocco's paradoxical support for independence movements

22 November 2022 -

Are Morocco and Algeria using independence movements in a geopolitical joust for more power in the region? Polisario in Western Sahara has long enjoyed Algerian support, and now the Riffian movement is following suit. Conversely, Morocco supports the Kabylian cause in Algeria.

UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Editorial

‘Congo is sick and tired of UN peacekeeping mission’

3 August 2022 -

MO* journalist and Congo expert Kris Berwouts worked six months for Monusco in 2015. He shares his experiences and explains why he understands the Congolese frustration.

Interview

‘Maybe Africa has answers that the whole world can learn from?’

24 June 2022 -

Since brexit and the election of Trump, multulateralism has lost ground worldwide. Except in Africa where countries are increasingly aware that working together is their only way to count internationally. We spoke with UNDP Africa Director Ahunna Eziakonwa.