http://www.africafiles.org/ Original Articles on Important Current Themes in Sub-Saharan Africa from AfricaFiles.org en-ca Copyright 2010 AfricaFiles. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:30 EST 20 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23943 How did Mozambique go from socialist hope in the 1970s to the capitalist pet it now is? John Saul’s article indicates the problems – from Portuguese neglect to South African and Rhodesian-sponsored terrorism to Frelimo’s early sins of vanguardism and impatience – without lengthy post-mortems. He examines the present situation carefully and suggests a possible and hopeful future. Instead of mega-projects that make the elite wealthy and leave social programmes to the aid community, Mozambique could rather rekindle the counter-hegemonic strategies that once inspired its people. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23943 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23733 Angola’s leadership, having triumphed militarily and politically over domestic and foreign adversaries, now enjoys popular consent at home and fulsome courtesies abroad thanks to skillful statecraft and a lot of petrodollars. Having abandoned social ideals of the past, it has set about inventing a post-war order that combines neoliberalism with suave repression. Today’s model, not unlike the colonial order of yesterday, is geared to redistributing wealth upward and outward. Yet in contrast to the past, it has little place for Angolans, whose expectations nonetheless keep rising. Not far off, however, is the end of the petrodollar gusher on which elite pacts depend. Political strife, but also opportunities to revisit those abandoned social ideals, may soon present themselves. Mon, 31 May 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23733 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23511 Fifty years on from the beginnings of liberation in Africa, John Saul finds there is still much work to be done, especially in southern Africa where the final triumph over colonial and racial domination occurred. In each of the the five sites of the overt struggle against domination – Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa – there are clear signs of recolonization. This time by capital. Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23511 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23483 Le commerce équitable et l’accès aux marchés ont depuis longtemps été anéantis en RDC par les forces coloniales et le commerce continue de souffrir des conflits et du manque général de sécurité, d’infrastructure et de capacité institutionnelle. Le potentiel économique de la RDC, cependant, est énorme. Comme les auteurs de cet article argumentent, des améliorations au commerce apporteraient non seulement des améliorations drastiques à la qualité de vie des congolais, mais aussi la stabilité politique et la prospérité dans toute la région entourant la RDC. Elles contribueraient beaucoup à engendrer une renaissance africaine.         Fair trade and open access to markets were long ago destroyed in the DRC by colonial forces and they continue to suffer through conflict and a general lack of security, infrastructure and institutional capacity. DRC’s economic potential, however, is enormous. As the authors of this article argue, improvements in commerce would not only bring dramatic improvements to the quality of life for Congolese, but also to political stability and to prosperity in the whole region around the DRC. They would do much to engender an African Renaissance. Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23483 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23133 Le passé colonial de la République démocratique du Congo et sa richesse en minéraux ont concouru pour lui donner son histoire violente depuis ses débuts en 1960. Les femmes et les enfants sont les principales victimes de cette violence, particulièrement dans la dernière décennie. Le viol est devenu une arme de guerre importante, surtout au Congo de l’est. La résolution des problèmes de violence actuels demandera le démantèlement des structures de pouvoir politique et économique et l’appropriation graduel du pouvoir par les femmes.         The Democratic Republic of Congo's colonial past and mineral wealth have conspired to give it a violent history since its beginnings in 1960. That violence, particularly in the last decade, has women and children as its main victims. Rape has become a major weapon of war especially in the eastern Congo. Resolving the ongoing problem of violence requires a dismantling of the present political and economic power structure and the gradual empowerment of women. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23133 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22778 La période de transition entre l’ancien Zaïre sous le président Mobutu Sese Seko et l’actuelle RDC sous le président Joseph Kabila a été marquée par des violences et des bouleversements terribles. Plusieurs congolais ont fuit à ce moment, à l’interne comme vers d’autres pays, incluant ceux membres de la SADC. Dans cet article, l’auteur pose un regard sur les réfugiés congolais en Afrique du Sud et discute leur nostalgie politique, leurs contributions économiques et culturelles, leurs liens avec la RDC et leurs espoirs pour le futur.         The transition period from the former Zaire under President Mobutu Sese Seko to the current DRC under President Joseph Kabila has been one of terrible violence and upheaval. Many Congolese fled during this time, both internally and to other countries, including those in SADC. In this article, the author looks at Congolese refugees in South Africa and discusses their political nostalgia, their economic and cultural contribution, their ties to the DRC and their hopes for the future. Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22778 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22490 La RDC a une des populations les plus diverses au niveau ethnique en Afrique, mais le rôle que l’ethnicité joue, et a joué, en politique, dans l’économie et dans les conflits du pays est une question hautement débattue. À quel point l’ethnicité est-elle importante? Les auteurs de cet article nous fournissent une perspective nuancée et équilibrée sur un aspect de la vie congolaise qui a tout connu, autant la manipulation destructrice que la fierté et la célébration nationale.        The DRC has one of the most ethnically diverse populations in Africa, but the role that ethnicity plays, and has played, in politics, the economy and in the country’s conflicts is a hotly debated issue. Just how important is ethnicity? The authors of this article provide a carefully nuanced, balanced perspective on an aspect of Congolese life that has seen everything from crass, destructive manipulation to national pride and celebration. Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22490 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22168 La République démocratique du Congo est bien positionnée pour être l’acteur principal de la renaissance africaine. Voici l’argument central de Mik Missakabo, éditeur invité, alors qu’il lance cette nouvelle édition d’ At Issue sur la RDC en Afrique. Après une description de la crise actuelle en RDC, l’éditorial présente une analyse des racines de la situation et démontre pourquoi celle-ci ne devrait pas être perçue comme incurable ou désespérée mais plutôt comme un kairos . En effet, elle devrait être vue comme une occasion pour la population de se réinventer afin de créer les libertés dont elle a besoin pour réaliser son plein potentiel, pour son propre bénéfice, mais aussi pour l’Afrique et le monde.            The Democratic Republic of Congo is well situated to be a mainspring of the African Renaissance. This is the central argument of guest editor, Mik Missakabo, as he launches this new "At Issue" series on the DRC in Africa. After describing the DRC's current crisis, the editorial goes on to analyse the roots of the situation and to show why it should not be seen as terminal or hopeless but rather as a "kairos" for transformation, where people create the freedom they need to realise their true potential, for their own benefit as well as for Africa and the world. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22168 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=21737 The conflict in Darfur is not simply a Sudanese problem between different groups vying for power and scarce resources; it is also a regional problem. As Darnace Torou shows here, the conflict especially involves Sudan's western neighbour, Chad, for these two countries have a long history of interaction, citizens from the same ethnic groups, and similar needs and aspirations. To complicate matters, the leaders of both countries have also been exploiting the conflict in Darfur for political gain... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=21737 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=21420 There are clear similarities between the causes and methods of conflict in Darfur with those that obtained (and to some extent continue) in southern Sudan. There are also significant differences - and both these and the similarities provide important indicators for the way forward. As Wendy Gichuru shows in this article, the roots of these major conflicts and the lessons they provide lend support to the wisdom of advocating a "whole-of-Sudan approach" to the Darfur crisis. Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=21420