Return To The Source

Abu and Peter discuss the growing interdependence between Africa and China in the light of China's recent currency devaluation. Also on the menu: Increasing presence of Chinese media in African markets and Chinese light switches in Kenyan apartments. Subscribe to us: RSS | iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher Articles about this week's discussion "China’s Currency Move Rattles African Economies" by Patrick Mcgroarty and Matina Stevis Interview with Oliver White of Fathom Consulting "Photos: African cities are starting to look eerily like Chinese ones" by Lily Kuo "Propaganda or proper journalism? China’s media expansion in Africa" by James Wan Xinhua Africa CCTV Africa Other articles worth your time Congolese leaders vie for influence in Washington through lobbyists Angola’s latest crackdown: First the book club, now members' mothers Tracking the Illegal Tusk Trade Who is Boko Haram’s ‘new leader’? Please subscribe to Return to the Source via RSS, iTu

Peter talks about his recent visit to Burkina Faso and why he is pessimistic about the possibility for change after last year's revolution. Listen from minute 17, if you want to skip the part where we discuss Burkina Faso's history since independence. Subscribe to us: RSS | iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher This week's discussion Why Obama doesn’t understand the lust for power of our African leaders by Patience Akumu From strong men to strong institutions: An assessment of Africa’s transition towards more political contestability by Vera Songwe Other articles worth your time By the RTTS hosts: Fool’s gold: Inside Burkina Faso’s artisanal mining industry by Peter Dörrie How 1,500 Elite Soldiers Hijacked a Countryby Peter Dörrie Various It’s the Politics, Stupid Obama in Addis It Is Time: The need to rethink homosexuality in Kenya and Africa Tanzania’s ex-PM is running for president with the party that once called him corrupt Cameroon and Nig

Abu and Peter go on a bit of a rant against third terms for heads of state in general and in Africa in particular. Exhibits A and B: DR Congo and Rwanda. Our picks this week Peter "Joseph Kabila Forever" by Ken Roth and Ida Sawyer in Foreign Policy Ken Roth on Twitter Ida Sawyer on Twitter Abu "Paul Kagame hints at seeking third term as Rwandan president" by David Smith in The Guardian David Smith on Twitter   Other articles worth your time Hack exposes state spies Condé pushes for new mine No longer at ease: clouds on the horizon for Botswana’s conservation success story Burundi: A dangerous game of wait and see Why Nigeria Should Think of itself as Central African Ethiopian opposition leader, Berhanu Nega, ‘moves armed operation to Eritrea’ South Sudan: Keeping Faith with the IGAD Peace Process In Ethiopia, Obama and the United States stand in China’s long shadow Sudan: 'Revolutionary Council Takes Control of North Darfur Gold Mine' C

Abu and Peter discuss military influence on politics in Burkina Faso and Barack Obama's trip to Kenya. [web player] Follow-up "Currency pain: Relief for Ghana and Tanzania; Nigeria in tight corner, but set to get worse in Kenya and Uganda" by Helen Nyambura-Mwaura The author on Twitter Our picks this week Peter "Pre-Transition Politics in Burkina Faso" by Alex Thurston (Sahelblog) The author on Twitter Further reading: Op-Ed: Political tension in Burkina Faso – the perils of a subtle coup Burkina Faso and Civilian Control of the Presidential Guard (RSP) The Dilemma of Getting to Civilian Control Abu "Obama’s ancestral homeland in Kenya had lots of hope, but got little change" by Kevin Sieff (Washington Post) The author on Twitter Further reading: Gay rights 'non-issue', Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta says ahead of Obama visit Sarah Obama: "He has to see his father's grave" Kenya gears up ahead of President Obama's visit Kenya Woos Investors As Obama Visit

Peter Dörrie and Abu-Bakarr Jalloh discuss the weird strategies of Nigeria's Central Bank Governor and rising levels of insecurity in both east and west Africa. Our picks this week "CBN vs The Economist" by Feyi Fawehinmi The author on Twitter "Nigeria's currency: Toothpick alert" by The Economist "Dairy Farming in Nigeria: Uncowed" by The Economist "Border wall will not stop Shabaab terror attacks" by Alwin Okelo Abok "Buhari and his ministers" by The Guardian (Nigeria) "Two Quotations on Selecting Cabinet Ministers in Nigeria" by Alex Thurston "Nigeria’s new political landscape explained" by Ejiro Barrett Other articles worth your time Mali's peace deal represents a welcome development, but will it work this time? Analysis: The Islamic State is coming for North Africa ‘A fractious lot’: Anatomy of (another) coup in Lesotho Whose Land is it Anyway? A Case of Alleged Blasphemy in Kano, Nigeria The Humanitarian Economy Bashir and South African Foreign

Introducing Return to the Source's new co-host Abu-Bakarr Jalloh, we cover and discuss two excellent articles about the situation of Journalists in Burundi and how powerful families dominate Uganda's politics. Our picks this week "As Burundi goes to the polls, journalism is a high-risk job" by Désiré Nimubona The author on Twitter Other good recent articles on Burundi: Burundi’s President is Heading for a Pyrrhic Victory Words are weapons as Burundi heads to the polls Burundi Votes, and Violence Looms "Family therapy: Dynasty and change in Uganda" by Angelo Izama The author's homepage The author on Twitter Other articles worth your time Mozambique ends ban on homosexuality, abortion - is it now one of the most liberal African countries? Can the UN Stabilize Mali? Towards a UN Stabilization Doctrine? The Central Sahel: A Perfect Sandstorm Analysis: The book club that terrified the Angolan regime Editorial: SA's democracy is under attack The rise and p

In this week's Return to the Source I feature three excellent articles on reintegrating Boko Haram, the civil war in South Sudan and presidential term limits in central Africa. "Reintegrating Boko Haram" by Tarila Marclint Ebiede "Amnesty and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration for Boko Haram? by Tarila Marclint Ebiede "Term limits in central Africa: utility or artifact?" by Christoph Vogel "As South Sudan Crisis Worsens, ‘There Is No More Country’" by Marc Santora "Blessed rain and old faces: Pa’gan Amum’s return to the SPLM" by James Copnall Other Excellent Articles: Chad: A Suicide Bombing and Its Response The Central African Republic’s “Ambitious Electoral Calendar” Why Ebola Won't Go Away In West Africa The 'new normal': If Africa is rising, then why are so many running away? Tough answers Analysis: Unveiling Chad’s burqa ban South Africa’s Human Rights Hypocrisy Mali Must Disarm the Militias Is Africa really rising? History and fact

Articles featured this week: "Allure of Wealth Drives Deadly Trek: Young Men in Senegal Join Migrant Wave Despite Growing Prosperity at Home", "How the Inga Dams Are Holding the Congo's Energy Future Hostage" and "Is the International Criminal Court really targeting black men?" RTTS #3 "Young Men in Senegal Join Migrant Wave Despite Growing Prosperity at Home" by Drew Hinshaw  Migration is the most effective development intervention on the planet, part XXVI by Chris Blattman Desperate for a way out by Bruce Whitehouse "How the Inga Dams Are Holding the Congo's Energy Future Hostage" by Peter Bosshard "Is the International Criminal Court really targeting black men?" by Kate Cronin-Furman Other great articles this week: Understanding the importance of the Tripartite Free Trade Area The tripartite free trade area agreement in Africa is bound to disappoint Omar al-Bashir's South African Escape: Africa's Troubled Relationship With the International Criminal Court ICC: Dead on Bashir's arri

This week I cover the "Report of the commission of inquiry on human rights in Eritrea" and two excellent articles on South Sudan and Nigeria. "Report of the commission of inquiry on human rights in Eritrea" by Mike Smith, Victor Dankwa and Sheila B. Keetharuth Short (28 pages) advance edited version Long (484 pages) and detailed version Additional reporting by Al Jazeera Mail&Guardian The Guardian "South Sudan and the chronic failure of a ruling elite" by Mawan Muortat "Nigeria’s new political landscape explained" by Ejiro Barrett Other excellent articles which I unfortunately could not cover this week: "Nigeria's president revamps military forces fighting Boko Haram" by Paula Rogo "Nigeria's Buhari tries new strategy in Boko Haram war" by Tomi Oladipo "Drugs And Money In The Sahara: How The Global Cocaine Trade Is Funding North African Jihad" by Kathleen Caulderwood  "Cameroon: Africa's Pivot" by Thierry Vircoulon "Misunderstanding Grow

Welcome to the first edition of the Return to the Source Podcast with Peter Dörrie. This show will feature and discuss a collection of excellent writing about Africa on the politics, culture and society of the continent and will be published on a weekly basis. This is what is in store for you this week: "It’s time to treat commodity-backed loans to African countries the same way we treat equity" by Grieve Chelwa "As Ethiopia votes, human rights are not the real story" by Simon Allison "Kaka Nguesso" by Kamissa Camara You can find a transcription of this week's episode on my blog, Continent of Riches. I'm interested in your feedback, your own opinions on these pieces and your recommendations for next week's picks! Contact me at peter.doerrie@gmail.com or on twitter: @peterdoerrie