Expecting a Color-Blind Society Is a Dangerous Fantasy
Throughout history, people with strong beliefs have often taken their beliefs too far, provoking an opposite reaction from those who believe otherwise. Such appears to be the case with the Trump administration drive to end Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). The stated goal is to end the cycle of blame when ostensibly trying to correct […]
The US International Tariff Regime and Africa
During the last decade, the international economic order has been in significant turmoil – from the immediate and ancillary impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the growing scope and economic might of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) coalition to the global de-dollarization campaign. Now the decision by US President Donald Trump to […]
Doing Business in Africa is Neither Simple or Easy
Over decades of working on African issues – analyzing governments and economies and working with businesspeople wanting to enter African markets – it has become clear to me that while doing so is neither simple nor easy, it is well worth the effort. It is not, however, for those who give up easily. The first […]
Sudan: The Neglected Crisis
While the international community focuses on Israel’s war with Hamas and now Hezbollah, the Ukraine-Russia conflict and speculates about a possible struggle involving China and Taiwan, the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis is happening in Africa. Many observers are calling Sudan the world’s “forgotten war.” As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, sorely needed aid is not arriving, […]
Chinese critical minerals monopoly challenged
As the international community moves toward an energy future featuring renewable energy, the source of critical minerals and the location of their processing become increasingly important. Some time ago, I wrote an article on the domination of these minerals by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), especially their processing, labeling the Asian giant “the mineral […]
Angola: An African partner to the US
When President Joe Biden promised during the December 2022 African Leaders Summit to visit Africa before his term ended, many observers probably thought he meant to South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria or some other country that has a well-known link to the United States. However, the southern African nation of Angola has proven its value to […]
African Elections Matter in 2023
For more than two decades now, Americans have held polarized views about the integrity and accuracy of votes in our national elections. As someone who once taught African election observers and African political parties, this was embarrassing early on. I recall hosting a Nigerian delegation in Florida in 2002 where participants asked to see the […]
What the Diaspora Needs to Do in 2023
Now that the New Year is upon us, we in the African Diaspora need to plan for joint action to better ensure that emerging markets under Diaspora control really are under the control of the indigenous people and not complain about others using neocolonial methods to maintain their dominance. That happens because we let it […]
Cryptocurrency and Emerging Markets
Being left out of industrialization for so long has been an obstacle for emerging markets in Africa and Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC). However, Japan and Germany had their infrastructures destroyed in World War II, allowing them to adopt newer technology in the reconstruction. Japan today the world’s second largest steel exporter due to […]
U.S. Summit Competition Disadvantage
For two decades, the United States has held a trio of conferences that used to be considered summits: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Ministerial, Private Sector Forum and Civil Society Forum. They have comprised the American part of the international competition to win the hearts and minds of Africans. The US-Africa Leaders’ Summit […]