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Africa Watch

Rwanda’s Kagame Releases Opponents, but Warns Them to Stay ‘Humble’

Robbie Corey-Boulet Friday, Sept. 21, 2018

More than 2,100 Rwandan prisoners, including opposition politician Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, were released over the weekend in a surprise move, but that doesn’t mean the political environment will become less repressive. Read up on that and other stories from across the continent in our weekly roundup of Africa news.

How Magufuli Is Running Roughshod Over Women’s Rights in Tanzania

Robbie Corey-Boulet Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018

In a recent speech, Tanzanian President John Magufuli said the country had no need for birth control. The words came as a shock, but activists say they merely reinforced a theme of his tenure: Since taking office, the president has single-handedly created a more regressive environment on gender issues.

China Note

Are China and the Vatican Nearing a Deal on Catholic Bishops?

Benjamin Wilhelm Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018

A potential deal between China and the Vatican would see Beijing recognize the pope’s authority over the Catholic Church in China. In return, Pope Francis would recognize seven excommunicated Chinese bishops. Coverage of the deal raised eyebrows given the Communist Party’s ongoing crackdown on religion.

Q&A

The Costs of Keeping Greenland in the West’s Orbit

The Editors Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018

Last week, Denmark reached an agreement with Greenland to fund improvements to its airports, which Chinese investors had been eyeing. The move decreases the chances of Chinese involvement, but at a steep political price in Greenland. In an interview, Ulrik Pram Gad discusses the deal’s implications.

Q&A

Faced With a Labor Shortage, Germany Looks Beyond Europe for Skilled Workers

The Editors Monday, Sept. 17, 2018

The German Cabinet is set to discuss a draft proposal that would loosen immigration requirements for skilled workers from outside the EU. While the proposal enjoys fairly broad political support, it could still be diluted. In an interview, Matthias Mayer discusses its prospects and implications.

Africa Watch

Now Firmly in Control in Angola, Will Lourenco Make Good on His Reform Pledges?

Robbie Corey-Boulet Friday, Sept. 14, 2018

The transfer of power in Angola was cemented over the weekend when Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Angola’s former president, stepped down as head of the ruling party, allowing current President Joao Lourenco to take over. Read up on that and other stories from across the continent in our weekly roundup of Africa news.

Q&A

Australia’s Political Infighting May Have Already Doomed Its New Government

The Editors Friday, Sept. 14, 2018

Scott Morrison, who was sworn in as prime minister of Australia after the ouster last month of Malcolm Turnbull, finds himself dramatically weakened by infighting within the ruling Liberal Party. In an interview, Lloyd Cox discusses the leadership change and the grim political situation facing the new government.

Q&A

China’s Uighur Crackdown Is Turning Xinjiang Into a Police State

The Editors Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018

In remarks this week, the new U.N. human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, criticized China for detaining more than a million Muslim Uighur minorities in so-called re-education camps. In an interview with WPR, Zubayra Shamseden discusses the Chinese government’s brutal crackdown against the Uighurs.

Rebel Attacks in Northern Chad Add a New Layer to Deby’s ‘Gathering Storm’

Robbie Corey-Boulet Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018

A Chadian rebel group with fighters based in neighboring Libya has rattled the government with a series of recent attacks. While the group is unlikely to succeed in toppling President Idriss Deby, it has the potential to undermine his authority at a time when he is facing crises on multiple fronts.

China Note

The Many Explanations for Why Jack Ma, China’s Wealthiest Man, Is Retiring

Benjamin Wilhelm Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018

Chinese e-commerce goliath Alibaba announced that its billionaire founder and chairman, Jack Ma, will step down next September. Ma’s decision may have been motivated by the challenges of fame, or by China’s changing business environment. But some observers believe Ma will still pull the strings.

Q&A

Why Comoros’ Constitutional Referendum Could Herald a New Era of Instability

The Editors Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018

On July 30, Comoros passed a referendum to revise its constitution. Among other changes, the referendum extended presidential term limits and abolished a power-sharing system between Comoros’ main islands. In an interview, Shafick Osman discusses the referendum’s worrying political implications.

Q&A

The U.K.-France ‘Scallop Wars’ Won’t Be the Last Fisheries Conflict

The Editors Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018

French and British fishing vessels clashed last month over scallop stocks in the English Channel. According to Johan Bergenas, senior director for public policy at Vulcan, this skirmish is only part of a global conflict over increasingly scarce fish stocks. He discusses the tensions in an email interview.