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 9
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa has spent billions in 4 years to create jobs for young people: how their wages affect the broader economy By Joshua Budlender, UMass Amherst and Ihsaan Bassier, London School of Economics and Political Science In October 2020 the South African government launched a collection of public employment programmes, initially intended as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative, called the Presidential Employment Stimulus, has been extended since then. The total budget allocation to March 2024 was R42 billion (US$2.1 billion). By December 2023 it had […] todayFebruary 16, 2024 3
insert_link Uncategorized Mungiki, Kenya’s violent youth gang, serves many purposes: how identity, politics and crime keep it alive By Bodil Folke Frederiksen, Roskilde University Kenya has scores of youth gangs known for their violence and links to the politically powerful. None is more infamous than the Mungiki movement, with a past membership estimated to be at least a million. Though banned, it’s constantly in the news as a tool or target of big political players. Bodil Folke Frederiksen, who has studied Mungiki as part of […] todayFebruary 15, 2024 4
insert_link Business / Economics Bank of Namibia expected to cut repo rate by 25bps as inflation cooling By Josef Kefas Sheehama At its first Monetary Policy Committee meeting of 2024, on the 14 February 2024, the Bank of Namibia is expected to cut its Repo Rate by 25 basis points. All of Namibian’s banks now expect the Bank of Namibia to cut its Repo Rate target by 0.25 basis points on the 14 February 2024, which would bring its key lending rate to 7.50%. This […] todayFebruary 13, 2024 37
insert_link Interview Transcripts Job Amupanda Speaks: AR’s Path, Youth Unemployment, Legal Battles, and Leadership Dynamics In an exclusive interview with Job Amupanda, leader of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) political movement, insights into the movement's journey, challenges, and perspectives on critical issues facing Namibia emerged. This conversation delves into the path of AR, the pressing issue of youth unemployment, reflections on the Middle East conflict, and the urgent need for younger leadership in Namibia. 1. Youth Unemployment: Beyond Crisis, a Pandemic The conversation shifted to the […] todayFebruary 9, 2024 28
insert_link Namibia Unemployment Crisis in Kalkrand Fuels Rise in Crime and Substance Abuse Among Youth todayFebruary 2, 2024 16
insert_link Africa Nigeria has a democracy deficit – corruption and a lack of welfare policies are to blame By Fidelis Allen, University of Port Harcourt Democracy refers, at a minimum, to a political system that guarantees some involvement in decision-making. It gives citizens opportunities to choose and replace their leaders or representatives via free and fair elections. But that’s not all. Democracy also protects citizens’ socio-economic, political and cultural rights. Its success turns on its ability to bring changes to the living conditions of citizens. It […] todayJanuary 25, 2024 7
insert_link Namibia Isaacks advocates for local language proficiency for regional job opportunities ||Kharas Regional Council chairperson, Joseph Isaacks has directed council officials to include local language proficiency as a mandatory condition for all vacancies in the regional government. Isaacks made the statement during a staff meeting here on Tuesday. He said other regional councils have language proficiency conditions in advertisements for vacancies and it is time for ||Kharas to follow suit, adding that the region’s inhabitants are identified by the languages […] todayJanuary 24, 2024 22
insert_link Namibia Alcohol abuse and unemployment major contributors to malnutrition: Nganate Omaheke Governor Pijoo Nganate has cited alcohol abuse and unemployment as some of the major contributors to the spike in malnutrition in the region. Nganate during a press conference here on Wednesday said cases of malnutrition have increased. He said some of the factors contributing to malnutrition amongst children are parents who exchange food provided to them for alcohol, as well as child negligence by younger parents who leave […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 4
