Category: THE WORLD

By Sven Richter*
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

African demographics are at the start of a long-term trend that will most likely trigger high gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the region for the next decade or two. A by-product of this is likely to be more democracy. Studies show that as GDP increases, the likelihood of democracies becoming autocracies fades and the likelihood of autocracies becoming democracies increases. This holds true for all nations, bar those with a very high GDP per capita where the wealth is derived from a single resource such as oil. 

By Chiara Francavilla*
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

While Somalia relies on the World Food Programme to deliver food to the area, the country on the Horn of Africa continues to export livestock to neighbouring states. This may seem baffling. But the situation underlines that one needs to look beyond food availability itself to understand hunger caused by food shortages.

By Jaya Ramachandran
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

BRUSSELS (IDN) – Hardly one year after the election of Alpha Condé as President of Guinea, the West African state is faced with a rather vulnerable situation that political analysts fear may open the army’s way back to power.

By Joan Baxter*
IDN-InDepth NewsReport

Palm oil is expected to be the world’s most produced and internationally traded edible oil by 2012. At what price? As foreign investors descend on Africa to develop large-scale palm oil plantations, the survival of local people is being threatened. They are losing control of the land and water on which they depend for their food production and livelihoods.

By Jerome Mwanda
IDN-InDepth NewsReport

NAIROBI (IDN) – In run-up to an important global forum on aid effectiveness, African leaders from fragile and conflict-affected countries have called for new approaches to development in the region and a reassessment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The call emerged from a regional meeting on peace- and state-building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, September 7-9, 2011. Recognizing that not a single fragile state has achieved any of the eight MDGs, the African Development Bank (AfDB), along with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC), organized the meeting.