THE 2026 MINING INDABAS: GEOSTRATEGIC TAKEAWAYS, IMPERATIVES AND FUTURES ON AFRICAN CRITICAL MINERALS
By Kennedy Manduna Introduction Since 1994, when the first Investing in African Mining Indaba was held, and with the arrival of the Alternative Mining Indaba in 2008, Cape Town’s hot, long days and ideal-for-beach February month of wine have become synonymous with
Not Again: The New Scramble for Africa. Natural Resource Protection for Long-Term Sustainability
By: Changala Chuulu & Kennedy Manduna Intoduction Africa sits at the centre of the global green transition, holding nearly 30% of the world’s critical minerals required for clean energy technologies. Yet history raises a pressing question: will this moment mark a transformative
Report on World Press Freedom Day
IMAGE: Manasvi Gupta INTRODUCTION On World Press Freedom Day, this report reflects on the state of media freedom globally, drawing on insights from Sadibou Marong, Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Office at Reporters Without Borders. The 2025 World Press Freedom Index highlights
The Future of Africa–U.S. Health Diplomacy –Perspectives from the Continent Part 2: The Current and Projected Health Impact of Cuts to U.S.Global Health Assistance
The African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS) at the University of the Witwatersrand, in collaboration with George Washington University, Howard University, the Public Diplomacy Council of America, the USC Annenberg Center, and the USC Institute on
A Seat at the Table: South Africa’s G20 Presidency and the Potential of African Agency
POLICY BRIEF: 03/2025 By Busisiwe Thabisa Sibizo Despite the growing discourse and acknowledgment of African agency as a theory in international relations, its practical relevance and recognition on the global stage remain limited. African agency is a powerful concept gaining significant traction
Uncertainties as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Expires in September
By Bob Wekesa The African Growth and Opportunity Act, better known simply as AGOA, will expire on September 30. This is the United States legislation that has anchored US-Africa relations since enactment in 2000. The fundamental principles behind AGOA have been
African Union’s 2025 Theme: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations
Introduction The African Centre for the Study of the United States at the University of the Witwatersrand, in partnership with the Center on Communication Leadership and Policy (CCLP) at the University of Southern California, the Center for African Studies at Howard
Amplifying African Voices for Strategic Action (AFSA) 2024 Conference Report – Nairobi, Kenya
We are pleased to share the official report of the Amplifying African Voices for Strategic Action (AFSA) 2024 Conference, held from 31 October to 1 November 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. This landmark gathering brought together thought leaders, policymakers, academics, and
When Satellites Cross Sovereignty
By David Sethathi Introduction The global expansion of Elon Musk’s Starlink in recent years has caused equal parts excitement and anxiety. Starlink's constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites promises high-speed internet with little infrastructure, positioning itself as a technological advance for underserved areas.
REPARATIONS, DEBT CANCELLATION, AND REFORMING THE WORLD ORDER : SOUTH AFRICA’S G20 PRESIDENCY AND THE WORLD
Policy Brief: By Kennedy Manduna, PhD Introduction South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency at a critical juncture: the world is experiencing significant geostrategic, geoeconomic, geoengineering, and geopolitical ruptures reminiscent of the epochal periods of the Great Depression, global wars, the Great Recession, and