Africa Briefing - September - October 2022

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*The tasks facing the ‘hustler’ President

A month after presidential and legislative elections in Kenya on August 9, and subsequent legal wrangles, a new administration led by President William Ruto has finally taken over the reins of power from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government. Moses Onyango looks at the issues that the new leader will have to tackle as he tries to maintain his populist stance

*Does Africa need ‘safari tourists’ disguised as international election observers?

It is not enough for foreign poll monitors to rush into a country and make pronouncements on election results after a short stay, argue Babafemi A. Badejo and Nana K. A. Busia, Jr., who say these observers would not fully understand the complexities at play, especially before the day of elections

*Transatlantic slave trade: the other side of the coin

The issue of the return to Nigeria of Benin Bronzes looted by British troops in February 1897 from the ancient kingdom has been in the headlines recently. While many argue in favour of the artefacts to be sent back, an African American group fighting for “slavery justice” does not support the idea. The Restitution Study Group contends that the bronzes would benefit the descendants of African slave traders. This has raised a few hackles among those who say that Africans were not responsible for the odious trade in human beings. Max Siollun looks at this thorny debate