Category Archives: Uncategorized

Wake up and sell more coffee – Small farmers in Africa need to produce more. Happily that is easier than it sounds Sep 19th 2015 Economist On a hillside about an hour’s drive north of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, is a … Continue reading →

Africa’s fragile democracies – Since the end of the cold war, multi-party democracy has flourished. In many countries it is now at risk Aug 20th 2016 Economist Some call it Africa’s second liberation. After freedom from European colonisers came freedom … Continue reading →

Africa’s leaders protect each other – As a former president faces trial, his incumbent colleagues vilify the court Feb 6th 2016 Economist On January 28th the Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo became the first former head of state to go on … Continue reading →

To the land of good hope – African migrants head south as well as north Mar 5th 2016 Economist Some African migrants forge across the Mediterranean in flimsy boats. Others take a somewhat less risky (and cheaper) journey, heading for … Continue reading →

The march of democracy slows – Threats to democratic rule in Africa are growing, but time and demography are against the autocrats Aug 20th 2016 Economist Music blasts from speakers mounted on the back of a truck in a rubbish … Continue reading →

Transfer window – An African money-transfer firm with big ambitions Oct 17th Economist Abdirashid Duale, the chief executive of Dahabshiil, Africa’s largest money-transfer business, visits Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, a breakaway province of Somalia, he cannot walk down the … Continue reading →

Subprime savannah – Trouble is stalking many of Africa’s banks Jul 23rd 2016 Economist Africa’s financial firms can claim many innovations, from M-Pesa, a pioneering Kenyan mobile-money service, to the life insurance for people with HIV offered by All Life, … Continue reading →

Trade within Africa Tear down these walls Africa’s internal trade deals look good on paper. A pity that they are rarely followed Feb 27th 2016 Economist Two of the largest regional trade accords in history were agreed on last year. … Continue reading →

Obstacle course – Africa’s trade suffers from dismal infrastructure, lack of investment and corruption Apr 16th Economist It was midday when the lorry on which your correspondent had hitched a ride pulled out of the factory yard in Yopougon, an … Continue reading →

An emerging drug market – As parts of Africa get richer, rich-world problems proliferate Apr 16th 2016 Economist In the early morning at a bar in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, electronic beats pump from a DJ on a stage. Shielded from … Continue reading →