insert_link World Chinese and Russian disinformation flourishes in some African countries – anti-US sentiment helps it take hold By Dani Madrid-Morales, University of Sheffield; Herman Wasserman, Stellenbosch University, and Saifuddin Ahmed, Nanyang Technological University The spread of disinformation is one of the biggest risks to societies. Recent examples have been conspiracy narratives about COVID-19 vaccinations and false claims about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The trend is linked partly to competition among world powers, which is being played out in Africa too. Across the continent, multiple foreign […] todaySeptember 5, 2024 17
insert_link Africa Afrobarometer survey shows democracy at risk A majority of Africans would support a military takeover if their elected leaders fail to act in their interests, according to a recent Afrobarometer survey. Bloomberg Africa reports that while two-thirds of respondents find military intervention undesirable as a regular form of governance, faith in democracy is waning across the continent amid growing corruption concerns. The survey reveals that despite a decline, 66% of Africans still prefer democracy over other […] todayJuly 24, 2024 22
insert_link World Ukrainian trust in Zelensky at wartime low: survey Ukrainians' trust in President Volodymyr Zelensky has fallen below 60 percent for the first time since Russia's February 2022 invasion, according to a leading poll published Friday. Zelensky has faced many challenges in the past year, including a failed summer counteroffensive, a divisive debate on mobilisation and high-profile corruption scandals involving senior officials. Public trust in the 46-year-old zoomed to 90 percent in May 2022 but by […] todayJune 7, 2024 42
insert_link Opinion Pieces The French identify as Europeans – and yet are also notoriously Eurosceptic By Pierre Bréchon, Auteurs historiques The Conversation France In less than two months, more than 400 million people will be eligible to vote in the European elections. If the record turnout of 2019 elections is anything to go by, many will be seizing their voting rights, allowing policy-makers to take the pulse of the continent’s politics as the far right continues to spread. In the meantime, research can […] todayMay 8, 2024 16
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s election management body has done a good job for 30 years: here’s why By Dirk Kotze, University of South Africa More than in previous elections, South Africa’s Electoral Commission (IEC) will be tested to the hilt in this year’s national and provincial elections on 29 May. For the first time in 30 years, the electoral majority of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is in jeopardy. This makes the upcoming poll the most consequential one since 1994, when the country […] todayMarch 20, 2024 35
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 26
insert_link Africa What’s east Africa’s position on the Israel-Hamas war? An expert unpacks the reactions of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda By Michael Bishku, Augusta University via The Conversation The reactions of some east African countries to the ongoing conflict in Gaza have been less dramatic than South Africa’s. South Africa’s parliament has passed a resolution calling for the closure of its embassy in Tel Aviv. Algeria and South Africa have been the most supportive of the Palestinians. Thus far only South Africa and Chad have withdrawn their representatives from Tel […] todayDecember 12, 2023 10