Terminally in transition

Hello there 👋🏼 

As democracy-transition deadlines approach in several of West and Central Africa’s coup-led countries, the juntas are – unsurprisingly – dragging their feet. Mali, which kickstarted the region’s latest round of coups in August 2020 and then for a second time in May 2021, has watched the promised deadline of 26 March 2024 for a return to civilian rule fly by. The interim government had already announced in September 2023 that polls would not take place for “technical reasons”. Opposition parties and civil society groups have now demanded a return to constitutional order in a joint statement, to which the junta has not yet responded. Similar activism is emerging in Guinea, after the prime minister suggested polls would only take place in 2025, contravening an agreement reached with ECOWAS which stipulates elections will occur in December 2024. Of the eight junta-led countries in West and Central Africa, Chad is the outlier, with voting day set for 6 May. Should the polls proceed as planned, Chad would be the first of the region’s military governments to return to civilian rule. Regional pressure has been seemingly ineffective to secure adherence to timelines thus far, but all eyes are on Chad to set an example for the rest to follow. 

Yours in urgent calendar deadlines,

AP editorial team

📈 136%

Cocoa prices increased by a whopping 136% between July 2022 and February 2024, driven by changing climate patterns in West Africa. Heatwaves and intense rains have negatively impacted harvests in the region which produces three quarters of the world’s cocoa. As a result, output is set to fall short of targets for the third year in a row. 

🇪🇹 ADDIS HOMECOMING

The Ethiopian government has outlined plans to repatriate 70,000 nationals from Saudi Arabia in April. Addis Ababa previously repatriated undocumented migrants from detention facilities in Saudi Arabia in March 2022. While details about the living conditions of these nationals in Saudi Arabia are unclear, human rights organisations have consistently criticised the detention conditions faced by Ethiopian migrants in the Gulf region. Ethiopia’s regional administrations are expected to ensure the returnees are resettled in their home areas. However, the government has in the past relied on donors to drive these resettlement schemes, suggesting they may be once again heavily involved.

🇹🇬TOGO’S NO-GO

Togo’s President Gnassingbé announced that a controversial reform bill proposing a transition from a presidential to parliamentary system would return to the legislature for a second reading following increasing public discontent. The bill, passed almost unanimously on 25 March, proposes creating a president of the council of ministers who would assume many of the responsibilities of the current head of state. Instead of being directly elected, however, the president would assume their position by virtue of being leader of the largest party in parliament. Togo’s main opposition parties, which boycotted the last legislative elections, criticised the bill as an attempt to insulate President Gnassingbé from democratic checks and balances. Gnassingbé has been in office since 2005 after succeeding his father who ruled the country after seizing power in a coup d’etat in 1967.

🇨🇩 PRIME CANDIDATE

Judith Tuluka Suminwa was appointed DRC’s first-ever female prime minister by President Tshisekedi, replacing Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde. Prime Minister Suminwa, in her inaugural address on national television, said "I am aware of the great responsibility [...] we will work for peace and the development of the country”. The prime minister faces the challenge of addressing high levels of unemployment amongst young people and women, as well as promoting national cohesion against the backdrop of an increasingly worsening conflict with the M23 rebel group backed by Rwanda. 

🇲🇬 WILD WEATHER

Southern Africa is experiencing the peak of its extreme weather season, with Cyclone Gamane hitting the north of Madagascar on 27 March. It had been predicted to bypass the island entirely, but unexpectedly changed course, killing 18 people and displacing over 20,000. Just two weeks prior,  Tropical Storm Filipo hit Mozambique, affecting around 50,000 people. Consecutive natural disasters in the region have hindered its ability to recover and rebuild, diverting focus from longer-term climate adaptation and resilience measures. While Mozambique and Madagascar are experiencing destructive flooding, neighbours Zambia and Malawi are battling devastating drought. Both countries have declared a state of disaster, having endured the driest February in forty years.

🐘 ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM

Botswana is threatening to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in a dispute over hunting trophies after the country floated the idea of imposing further limits on the import of hunting trophies. Due to successful conservation efforts, the country has an overabundance of elephants at around 130,000, leading to damaged cropland and property, and other human-animal conflicts. While it sounds like a well-timed April Fool’s prank, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi is deadly serious in seeking means to reduce the elephant population, arguing that controlled hunting is one way to do so. The country has already given 8,000 elephants to Angola, and according to Masisi, “We would like to offer such a gift to Germany.” 

🗓️ CILT AFRICA FORUM

The 17th edition of the CILT AFRICA Forum takes place at the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from 22-24 April and aims to facilitate collaboration among governments, corporate entities, and other stakeholders within the transport and logistics sector. This year’s event revolves around the theme "Unlocking Africa’s wealth through logistics and transport", exploring innovative solutions to the challenges facing the industry and how to incorporate regional integration, digital transformation and sustainability into future projects.

🔑 MANDELA RHODES SCHOLARSHIP

The annual Mandela Rhodes Scholarship offers both financial support and leadership training for young African changemakers seeking to pursue postgraduate studies at a recognised South African institution of higher education. Applications for 2025 studies close on 21 April 2024. 

📚 SEGU – MARYSE CONDÉ

Maryse Condé, who passed away on 2 April at the age of 90, was renowned for her body of work in which she “describes the ravages of colonialism and post-colonial chaos in a language which is both precise and overwhelming”. Segu(originally published in French as Segou in 1984) is her third novel, exploring the violent impact of slavery, religion and colonisation on a Malian royal family in the early 19th century.  

🎹 OUMOU SANGARÉ – MALI NIALÉ

In "Mali Naile," Oumou Sangaré showcases her mastery of blending traditional Malian instruments with her ethereal vocals. This track highlights Sangaré's pioneering role in Wassoulou music, a style rooted in the vocal and instrumental heritage of southern Mali.

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