insert_link World US attempt to ‘revitalize’ Palestinian Authority risks making the PA less legitimate, more unpopular U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas meet on Nov. 30, 2023. Saul Loeb/Pool via AP By Dana El Kurd, University of Richmond Gaza is still very much in the midst of war, yet discussion is turning to “the day after” the conflict – and who will govern the war-ravaged territory. The Biden administration has said that a full Israeli occupation of the […] todayMarch 12, 2024 2
insert_link Opinion Pieces NIST-CSF 2.0 – A Namibian Pipedream or Reality? Opinion Piece, by Tyrone Nashandi The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has made significant changes to its popular Cybersecurity Framework (NIST-CSF). That will leave organizations mulling over how this affects their cybersecurity programs. More specifically, my favorite - the new "Govern" function. As a result, organizations having tirelessly identified gaps, may have to reanalyze their existing assessments and remediation activities to dissect the impact of the framework […] todayMarch 11, 2024 24
insert_link Namibia President Mbumba launches Africa Peer Review Mechanism country report President Nangolo Mbumba has launched the Africa Peer Review Mechanism country report which is accompanied by the National Programme of Action at State House this morning. Lead panelist for the Namibia APRM report, Dr. Abdoulie Janneh shared some of the key highlights of the report. todayMarch 7, 2024 23
insert_link Africa Climate change, extreme weather & conflict exacerbate global food crisis Global food insecurity has risen substantially since pre-pandemic times, exacerbated by extreme weather, climate change, war and conflict. What the U.N. World Food Program calls “a hunger crisis of unprecedented proportions” plays out differently around the world. In this story, three of Mongabay’s Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellows detail the local situation in their region – from rising inflation and flooding in Nigeria to diminished local food […] todayFebruary 22, 2024 22
insert_link South Africa Corruption and clean energy in South Africa: economic model shows trust in government is linked to takeup of renewables By Roula Inglesi-Lotz, University of Pretoria South Africa relies heavily on energy from coal-fired power stations, which emit large quantities of carbon. But making the transition to greater use of renewable energies, such as solar, is being hampered by a number of factors. Chief among them is corruption, which is affecting the quality of institutions. In a recent paper I set out how perceptions of corruption in […] todayFebruary 19, 2024 5
insert_link Africa Slums and guns in Bamako: what’s driving the illegal weapon trade in Mali’s capital city By Oluwole Ojewale, Institute for Security Studies As west Africa urbanises, many cities have become interconnected through trade, travel and technology, and crime has increased in complexity and scope. The proliferation of arms in west African cities, especially in the aftermath of conflicts in Libya (2011) and Mali (2012), has added to these challenges in Bamako, Mali’s capital. In 2018, the Small Arms Survey estimated that roughly […] todayFebruary 19, 2024 8
insert_link Africa Oromia makes up a third of Ethiopia’s landmass and is key to its fortunes: expert unpacks its significance By Bizuneh Yimenu, University of Birmingham Ethiopia’s largest and most populous region, Oromia, has been in the news following reports of a rise in kidnappings for ransom. The region is no stranger to war and strife. Its people have long fought against political marginalisation. But the region is more than just the site of conflict. We asked Bizuneh Yimenu, who’s researched the region for over a decade […] todayFebruary 19, 2024 28
insert_link Africa West Africa trade will take a hit as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso leave Ecowas By Olivier Walther, University of Florida The membership of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been whittled down from 15 to 12 following the unilateral withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso in February. Founded in 1975, Ecowas is one of eight regional economic communities recognised by the African Union to foster regional integration on the continent. Its main objective is to create a […] todayFebruary 15, 2024 20
insert_link Business / Economics Budget 2024-25 expectations: empowering youth, essential services, agriculture and tax reform By Josef Kefas Sheehama The Minister of Finance Hon. Iipumbu Shiimi is set to table the 2024-25 budget in February 2024. The upcoming budget is seen not just as an annual financial statement but a critical opportunity for the government to lay out a roadmap for sustained growth and equality. The Budget 2024-25 should focus on protecting and driving the recovery of lives and livelihoods of Namibians, […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 10
