On the Future of Sub-Saharan Africa

On the future of Africa south of the Sahara

• Editorial of the issue "On the Future of Sub-Saharan Africa"

  In 2018, at least the cinema allowed us to experience what Sub-­Saharan Africa could possibly look like: paradisiacal conditions and a highly developed civilisation that uses its immense resource wealth to provide its own population with a life in freedom and prosperity and to defend this achievement from the outside world. Unfortunately, reality does not reflect the utopian conditions enjoyed by the Kingdom of Wakanda in the film “Black Panther”.

  by Gerhard Wahlers

• Dedicated Democrats against the Global Trend?

  Attitudes towards Democracy in Africa

  Africa contains more transitional democracies than any other world region. Could the crisis of the liberal world order draw the continent towards authoritarianism? This article suggests that Africa’s democratisation may continue despite the current global trend towards illiberalism. Survey responses from 36 societies on the continent reveal a widespread commitment to the practices and principles of liberal democracy.

  by Simon Primus, Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi

• Mastering Africa’s Urban Future

  Safety and Security in South African Cities

  Africa’s future is urban and young: by 2050, the urban population in Africa will have tripled, the number of African megacities will have quintupled, and the majority of urban residents will be young people. For some, these are the most important challenges surrounding development in Africa. Challenges such as safety and security will become an important focal point. How can crime prevention and policing keep apace with such challenges? Will Africa’s urbanisation translate into a better and economically prosperous life for all, or is it set to increase violence, inequality and mal-administration?

  by Tilmann Feltes

• A Huge Leap to Green Energy?

  The Future of Africa’s Energy Supply

  The lack of a comprehensive, reliable electricity supply is a central obstacle to economic development on the African continent. In times of climate change, the question arises as to how the rising energy demand can be met in a climate-friendly manner. Western partners, and Germany in particular, emphasise the opportunities presented by renewable energy, but some African countries are already making plans for nuclear alternatives – and fossil fuels are by no means out of the running, either.

  by Mathias Kamp

• From Trinkets to Values

  China’s Engagement in Africa Also Has an Ideological Dimension

  China’s engagement in Africa attracts both enthusiastic proponents and vehement critics. Does Beijing have a master plan for subjugating the entire African continent? What is certain is that Africa is part of China’s global strategy, in which disinformation and propaganda appear to be as important when it comes to protecting Chinese interests as trade relationships and naval bases.

  by Christoph Plate

• The Digital Natives Are Coming!

  How Social Media Are Changing Political Discourse in Kenya

  In many regions of the world, the ideal of the internet as an instrument of political freedom has not been fulfilled. Instead, the internet is increasingly used as a means of maintaining power for the elites. In many African states, and especially in Kenya, this conflict has not yet been resolved. Here, the youth, who make up the majority of the population, have a good chance of creating a freer, fairer society via the internet. But without well thought-out support, they are unlikely to succeed.

  by Jan Cernicky, Antonie Maria Hutter

• Fluchtursachenbekämpfung in Subsahara-Afrika

  Warum eine Neuorientierung deutscher und europäischer Entwicklungspolitik dringend erforderlich ist

  Hinter den Auseinandersetzungen um Flüchtlinge und Migranten steht die Sorge, dass diese nicht nur ein zeitlich befristetes Problem darstellen, sondern Europa auch in Zukunft einem Migrationsdruck insbesondere aus dem Nahen Osten und Nordafrika aber auch aus Subsahara-Afrika ausgesetzt sein könnte. Antrieb für die Migration aus Subsahara-Afrika ist dabei vor allem der eklatante Mangel an Arbeitsplätzen für eine rasant wachsende Zahl junger Menschen. Um die Massenmigration nach Europa einzudämmen, bedarf es einer grundlegenden Umorientierung der deutschen und europäischen Entwicklungspolitik.

  by Peter Molt

• Much Ado About Nothing

  Trump’s Africa Policy and Its Consequences for Europe

  Donald Trump’s Africa policy is dominated by the “War on Terror”. This was also the case under Barack Obama. The essential difference lies in the rhetoric of the current incumbent, which is marked by ignorance and derogatory attitudes vis-à-vis the African continent.

  by Christoph Plate

• An African Afghanistan?

  On the German Troop Deployment in Mali

  A lack of state structures, frequent attacks by Islamic extremists, poverty, and a steady expansion of military involvement on the part of Europe – in German public debate, the mission in Mali is compared to the situation in Afghanistan. Despite all efforts, strong words and support from Western nations, efforts have failed to significantly weaken the Islamists. Vast swathes of the country are beyond the control of the central government, allowing the Malian desert to become a haven for terrorist groups. Why is Germany involved, what is the situation today, and what does the future look like?

  by Tinko Weibezahl