Africa in Fact
Africa in Fact is Good Governance Africa’s flagship quarterly publication containing contributions from high-profile academics, journalists, researchers and corporate leaders from across the African continent. Each edition is carefully themed to reflect the major challenges of the day and what can feasibly done to confront and address them. The content is highly curated, has a credible pan-African reach, and offers significant advertising opportunity to corporate clients.
Our editorial mission is to provide unique, curated in-depth content on themes as diverse, pertinent and interesting to Africa as the digital revolution, the low-carbon energy transition, liberation movements and informal economies. The publication also provides a platform for a diverse range of pan-African contributors, including GGA’S own in-house researchers, to learn and hone the art of long-form journalism.
ISSUE 62
Editorial – Good governance is inclusive
In setting out to interrogate what inclusive governance looks like and why it is a non-negotiable if Africa is to reach its development goals, this issue of Africa in Fact has harnessed the insights of a wide range of contributors, both old and new. A reading of the articles overall suggests that efforts to improve inclusive governance across the continent, however imperfect, require greater degrees of cooperation and transparency between government institutions and policymakers, civil...
Foreword
In an article headlined ‘While America slept, China became indispensable’, published by Foreign Policy in May this year, journalist Howard W French, an old China hand and former New York Times China bureau chief, observed that “China has spent several decades engaging in impressive great-power behaviour while provoking hardly any innovative policies by its principal rival, the United States”. It is in this context that this issue of Africa in Fact, China vs US – the battle for digital...
US’s and China’s ‘chipageddon’ hits Africa’s digital transformation mission
When the Trump-led US administration triggered a trade war with China in 2018, few would have imagined the global repercussions of this geopolitical conflict, particularly for African countries. The seismic shock of the US-China technological conflict was most apparent during 2021’s “chipageddon”,...
Democracy in Africa: Enter the dragon
For China to be actively engaged in building Africa’s critical soft and hard digital infrastructure, it is understandable for democracy institutions to be alarmed. This post is only available to members.
US’s and China’s ‘chipageddon’ hits Africa’s digital transformation mission
When the Trump-led US administration triggered a trade war with China in 2018, few would have imagined the global repercussions of this geopolitical conflict, particularly for African countries. The seismic shock of the US-China technological...
Democracy in Africa: Enter the dragon
Africa had only seven democracies in 1991. By 2012 the number had more than doubled to 16. According to the Economic Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index, by 2019, there were 25 democracies in Africa, even though it classified them into categories -...
ICT investments: Africa waits to see the money
ICT has permeated every facet of life, revolutionising how we work, how we learn, how we communicate, and how we organise societies. Several...
How the contest for global digital hegemony impacts Africa
The expression “tenacious contention” suggests that China and the United States are at an impasse after a dogged battle for the position of global hegemony. But what if hegemony is less about deliberate, tenacious actions and more like the gravitational pull that occurs when a larger, more powerful nation exerts its influence on smaller ones? […]
The battle for hearts and minds
The United States and China have engaged in intense geopolitical competition in Africa since the turn of the millennium, which has seen tons of ink spilt in the media on this matter, as well as on intellectual and academic platforms. But what is often not appreciated is the increasing sophistication of the battle between the […]
Sovereignty and digital transformation in Africa
A great power competition has returned to centre-stage of the geopolitical landscape between the US and an emerging China. Constant technological advancement and global connectivity in the digital space are critical in shaping the outcome of this competition, ultimately determining the modern international order. Africa has an urgent need for infrastructure development. Infrastructure is vital […]
The internet war in Africa
Technology decoupling amounts to a separation between technologies originating in the US and China. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has noted that the “US-China technology divide could cause more havoc than the Cold War”.
Big-spending China woos Africa with its BRI and DSR
The landscape of foreign aid in Africa has shifted from being strategically western dominated, specifically by the United States, to China, emerging as one of the leading countries providing aid to the continent, especially in technology infrastructure.
Wired Africa now Zooms into China and US
Government-instituted regulations restricting physical contact and movement to combat the Covid-19 pandemic dramatically spurred the use of digital diplomacy in Africa, using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTS). This gave digital technologies a prominent role in the conduct, management, and administration of foreign relations. While there is a growing focus on African conceptual-cum-empirical studies and commentary […]
Opportunities for US-China digital technology cooperation
Digital technologies are playing an increasingly significant role for governments, non-governmental organisations and other civil society institutions that are relying on mobile communications.
China expands its digital sovereignty to Africa
Many African countries desperate for digital infrastructure to transform their economies, their governments continue to work with Chinese technology firms, despite concerns about security risks.
ICT investments: Africa waits to see the money
ICT has permeated every facet of life, revolutionising how we work, how we learn, how we communicate, and how we organise societies. Several...
How the contest for global digital hegemony impacts Africa
The expression “tenacious contention” suggests that China and the United States are at an impasse after a dogged battle for the position of global...
The battle for hearts and minds
The United States and China have engaged in intense geopolitical competition in Africa since the turn of the millennium, which has seen tons of ink...
Sovereignty and digital transformation in Africa
A great power competition has returned to centre-stage of the geopolitical landscape between the US and an emerging China. Constant technological...
Value of Chinese ICT and machine exports to Africa (2015-2020)
‘Good’ surveillance in Africa – Chinese or US technology?
The name “China” in Africa’s ICT and digital tech narratives in today’s language often evokes a counter-intelligence nightmare for both African governments and the United States (US). The accusation emerges from the unclear, or at least suspicious, intentions that continue to puzzle most...
Technologies, a higher education for Africa
How are universities in Africa linked – and how are they responding – to unfolding US-China technologies competition? This post is only available to members.
‘Good’ surveillance in Africa – Chinese or US technology?
The name “China” in Africa’s ICT and digital tech narratives in today’s language often evokes a counter-intelligence nightmare for both African governments and the United States (US). The accusation emerges from the unclear, or at least suspicious, intentions that continue to puzzle most...
Technologies, a higher education for Africa
How are universities in Africa linked – and how are they responding – to unfolding US-China technologies competition?
Digital diplomacy shootout in Zimbabwe
Digital diplomatic activities of Chinese and US embassies on Twitter in Zimbabwe (2018-2022)
BOOK REVIEWS
A theatre for competition
Book Review: The Political Economy of China-US relations: Digital Futures and African Agency, by Mzukisi Qobo This book is a timely and important read which shines the spotlight on many contemporary challenges affecting Africa’s political economy. It is an informed and thorough account of the past, present, and future issues informing Africa’s geostrategic policy dilemmas. The main value of the analysis is the holistic approach it provides, which offers an important framework from which to assess global power competition – from an African perspective. The author extensively covers the genesis of current global power dynamics and explains why the African continent remains confined to the periphery of world affairs. In addition to providing a comprehensive account of the drivers that shaped the Westphalian liberal world order following World War 2, the author uses the prism of race to offer a unique and much-needed perspective on why...
Digital diplomacy shootout in Zimbabwe
Digital diplomatic activities of Chinese and US embassies on Twitter in Zimbabwe (2018-2022)
No Huawei, no cry
In Kenya, Huawei’s footprint has expanded across both the public and private sectors, despite US security concerns.
South Africa’s 4IR strategy
South Africa’s 4IR strategy
