The Nordic Africa Podcast

Talking about the Nordic's new Africa strategies — distinct but not incompatible

In this science-to-policy conversation, Jesper Bjarnesen, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, takes us through the common features in the Nordic countries’ Africa strategies — but also points out distinctions that each country put extra emphasis on.
Denmark has a focus on migration governance, and investing in peace building with the assumption that conflicts lead to more migration.
Norway has a strong emphasis on green solutions and innovations that can push the green energy transition.
Finland is very committed to trade, and actually pledges to double its trade with Africa.
The common features include values of democratisation, good governance, gender equality and a strong belief in the multilateral system. Bjarnesen argues that the Nordic countries could help strengthen Africa’s voice in the UN security council.
This science-to-policy conversation is based on the recently published policy note, co-authored by NAI researchers Jesper Bjarnesen, Diana Højlund Madsen, Liisa Laakso, Patience Mususa and Angela Muvumba Sellström.

Webinar audio replay: Sustaining democracy and women’s political representation in Ghana - The ‘in-betweenness’ of elections

Ghana has been democratizing since the early 1990s. Citizen’s participation in the democratic processes at the national level is high. While Ghana’s democracy has chalked successes including the routinisation of elections and some level of democratic accountability, several weaknesses remain. Ghana has not moved beyond procedural democracy. Elections appear to be the most visible achievement in its three decades of practicing liberal democracy. Separation of power between the arms of government is problematic. Political and administrative decentralization is incomplete. Local level elections fail to excite citizens.
While the recent national election saw two firsts - the election of a woman vice-president and a focus on an affirmative action law, the impact is yet to be materialise. The underrepresentation of women in politics remains a bout on Ghana’s democracy, and within political parties, women are caged in specific positions such as women’s wings and women’s organisers. On this background this recorded webinar debates the following questions:
Has the ‘liberal package’ of democratisation and gender equality delivered? And to which extent can we speak of ‘electoral fallacy’ in the case of Ghana?
What are the drivers of women’s marginalisation in politics?
Which institutions and actors work as change agents towards democratisation and women’s political representation in the in-betweenness of elections? How do they promote democratisation and women’s political representation?
In which way can policy makers support processes of democratisation and gender equality?
 
🔗 More on gendered violence and electoral temporalities in Africa here
 

Researcher on mining in Zimbabwe: “Currently, we see lithium mines just exporting to China”

Zimbabwe has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s largest producers of lithium – a mineral critical to the global green transition. But behind the statistics lies a more complex story of missed opportunities and unequal benefits.
In this conversation, Grasian Mkodzongi, Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, draws on recent field studies in Goromonzi, and other mining areas, to explore the social and economic consequences of Zimbabwe’s lithium boom. He argues that the current extractive model – dominated by large foreign mining companies and lacking domestic processing infrastructure – leaves local communities excluded.
The discussion addresses questions such as:
• Who benefits from lithium extraction in Zimbabwe today? • How can local communities and artisanal miners be included in the value chains?• What policy measures can ensure that ordinary Zimbabweans, and not only the elites, gain more from the country’s mineral wealth?
Referring to successful mining policies in Indonesia and Chile, Grasian Mkodzongi calls for stronger state regulation and inclusion of small-scale miners in the lithium value chain. Without such reforms, he warns, the country risks repeating the same patterns of exploitation seen across Africa’s mineral resource sectors.
Grasian Mkodzongi is having a science-to-policy conversation with Henrik Alfredsson, Communications Officer at the Nordic Africa Institute.
📄 Read the full Policy Note: Local Inclusion and Regulatory Control: Key to Sustainable Mining https://nai.uu.se/stories-and-events/news/2025-03-21/local-inclusion-and-regulatory-control-key-to-sustainable-mining.html
🔗 More at: https://nai.uu.se 

Part 2: Harris or Trump 2.0 – why it matters for Africa

As the US election approaches, Africa’s perception of US politics has garnered significant attention. The rise of Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate has sparked reactions across the continent. And the prospect of a Donald Trump 2.0 presidency is met with mixed emotions. In this mini-series, divided into two episodes, we explore how Africans view the candidates in the upcoming US election and how they think it will affect US-Africa relations.
In the first episode, we discussed how Washington’s Africa policies, and US-Africa relations, have evolved over the post-Cold War era in general, and under Joe Biden’s administration in particular. We also looked at how Africans view Democrat candidate Kamala Harris.
In this, the second episode, we look at how Republican candidate Donald Trump, and the legacy from his term as president, is regarded in Africa. We also chew over what implications religious values, and the Israel–Hamas war, might have on African perceptions of American politics.
Of course, there is no “one perception” of American politics in Africa, since it is a continent of 1.4 billion people divided between 54 countries. So do not worry, dear listeners, we will not take on the impossible ambition of covering all of Africa. Instead, our hand-picked researchers in the expert panel will talk mostly about the countries that they cover in their research.
And the guests are:
Patience Mususa, Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, specialized in mining communities and mineral resource management in Southern Africa in general and Zambia in particular.
Angela Muvumba Sellström Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, specialized in women, peace and security and Africa’s voice in the UN, with a particular insight into Uganda and South Africa.
Isaac Kaledzi, Ghanian journalist who has been covering the US Elections from a West African perspective.

Part 1: Harris or Trump 2.0 – why it matters for Africa

As the US election approaches, Africa’s perception of US politics has garnered significant attention. The rise of Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate has sparked reactions across the continent. And the prospect of a Donald Trump 2.0 presidency is met with mixed emotions. In this mini-series, divided into two episodes, we explore how Africans view the candidates in the upcoming US election and how they think it will affect US-Africa relations.
In this, the first episode, we discuss how Washington’s Africa policies, and US-Africa relations, have evolved over the post-Cold War era in general, and under Joe Biden’s administration in particular. We also look at how Africans view Democrat candidate Kamala Harris.
In the next episode, we will look at how Republican candidate Donald Trump, and the legacy from his term as president, is regarded in Africa. We will also chew over what implications religious values, and the Israel–Hamas war, might have on African perceptions of American politics.
Of course, there is no “one perception” of American politics in Africa, since it is a continent of 1.4 billion people divided between 54 countries. So do not worry, dear listeners, we will not take on the impossible ambition of covering all of Africa. Instead, our hand-picked researchers in the expert panel will talk mostly about the countries that they cover in their research.
And the guests are:
Patience Mususa, Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, specialized in mining communities and mineral resource management in Southern Africa in general and Zambia in particular.
Angela Muvumba Sellström Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, specialized in women, peace and security and Africa’s voice in the UN, with a particular insight into Uganda and South Africa.
Isaac Kaledzi, Ghanian journalist who has been covering the US Elections from a West African perspective.

Beyond borders: do the African diasporas influence democratisation?

The African Union (AU) recognized the African diaspora as Africa's "sixth region" in 2003. The diaspora has historically been vital in liberation struggles and remains influential in social and political development, enhanced by technology and globalization. Many African governments appreciate financial contributions from the diaspora, such as remittances averaging 2.6% of Africa's GDP, often exceeding foreign investment and aid. Political contributions, however, are more contentious, with governments responding in diverse ways, from restriction to collaboration. With a third of Africans voting in this super election year, we explore the diaspora's impact on democratic processes.
Our guests for this episode are: 
Henning Melber, NAI Associate and Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria and the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein
Babatunde Fagbayibo, Professor of International Law at the University of Pretoria
Guðrún Sif Friðriksdóttir, NAI Senior Researcher 

Value unearthed : Africa's mineral resources strategy shift

African nations are striving to maximize the value of their mineral resources within the global supply chain. However, they face hurdles such as infrastructure gaps, technological limitations, and complex regulatory frameworks. Overcoming these challenges requires concerted efforts to improve infrastructure, foster technology transfer, and streamline regulations, will the continent manage to overcome them? 
Our panel of experts for this episode are: 
Grasian Mkodzongi Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for African Studies at University of Cape Town.
Patricia Inonge Mweene, jewellery designer and entrepreneur in the Zambian gemstone industry
Patience Mususa, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute

Researcher “ECOWAS is now in damage control mode”

Join us in our latest podcast episode as we delve into the recent decision by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger (now known as the Alliance of Sahelian States) to exit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This move, announced on January 27, 2024, highlights deepening divisions within the region and raises concerns about escalating tensions in the Sahel. We examine the roots of this rift and its implications for regional stability, including the impact on the populations of these countries, the role of foreign powers and the challenges facing ECOWAS in responding effectively. Is this withdrawal an “Ecowexit” or simply a need for a change of tactics?
Our panel of experts for this episode:
Jesper Bjarnesen, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute
Babatunde Fagbayibo, Professor of International Law at the University of Pretoria and visiting scholar at NAI

Field of dreams: the politics and power of the Africa Cup of Nations

The Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, was kicked off earlier this month and will go on until 11 February when the final will be played in Abidjan, the capital of the host country Cote d’Ivoire. With football fever rising on the continent, the theme for this year’s first episode of the Nordic Africa podcast naturally centers around football. Join us as we explore the political and economic dimensions of the beautiful game.
This episode features
Featuring: 
Jesper Bjarnesen, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden.
Sebastian van Balen, associate senior lecturer at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University in Sweden
Carl Rommel, researcher at Uppsala University, Sweden, and author of the book Egypt’s Football Revolution: Emotion, Masculinity, and Uneasy Politics.
Oscar Rothstein, journalist at the independent media centre Danwatch in Denmark, and author of the book Det Lysende Hjerte on the passion and power of African football.
Buster Kirchner, freelance journalist who is right now in Côte d’Ivoire covering the Africa Cup of Nations.

Climate change and security challenges in the Sahel

West Africa and the Sahel are one of the regions where people are most affected by climate change in the world. With global warming, access to land, water, and pastures is becoming more difficult. It creates competition. It is one of the drivers of violent clashes between farmers and herders and recent research has also shown how diminishing livelihood opportunities, caused by shrinking lakes, rising sea levels and other effects of climate change, can spill over to an increase in violent extremism and terrorism. What does the situation look like at present and how can it be countered? 
In this episode discussing with us  the links between climate change and security challenges are:
Angela Muvumba Sellström, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute
Ngozi Amu, Head of Research and Analysis at the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)