Africa In Fact Issue 40
Imagining and forgetting

Imagining and forgetting

The AU’s glossy new headquarters conceals the site’s notorious past as an execution chamber and burial ground for dissidents, vagrants and criminals The concrete skeleton of the new African Union (AU) headquarters...

Democracy hypocrisy

Democracy hypocrisy

Instead of toppling autocrats across Africa, the AU’s lip service to democracy props them up Critics have long argued that the African Union (AU) supports the authoritarian rule of many of the leaders of its member...

Putting the US first, at Africa’s expense

Putting the US first, at Africa’s expense

US President-elect Donald Trump © George Skidmore, Flickr   Donald Trump’s “America first” election posturing gave some insight as to how his administration might handle trade relations with the continent In...

Bankrolling regional security

Bankrolling regional security

The $200 million AU HQ in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia © Albert Gonzàlez Farran/UNAMID China’s presence on the continent may seem domineering, but its contributions to growth and security might be invaluable China...

Valuing women and girls

Valuing women and girls

Despite conflicting legislation, the practices of female genital mutilation and child marriage are on the wane as a result of the AU’s continental approach to eradicating them More than 700 million women and girls...