The Nordic Africa Podcast

The end of Françafrique?: Macron’s new Africa strategy

Recently, French president Emmanuel Macron came back from a tour to Africa where he visited Gabon, Angola and the two Congos. Just ahead of his visit, he presented France’s new strategy for Africa, a strategy that should be seen against a backdrop where anti-French sentiment has been running high in West Africa and where France has withdrawn a lot of its military presence. In this episode of the Nordic Africa Podcast, we discuss trade, migration, neo-colonialism, cultural heritage and other aspects of Africa-France relations together with:
Cristiano Lanzano, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute.
Papa Sow, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute
Marie Deridder, researcher at the Forum for Africa Studies at Uppsala University

Women’s Day special: African women in politics

There have been some gains in the political realm for women politicians in Africa as shown in the Kenya elections last fall and in the 2020 Ghana elections, where the first-ever women running mates were appointed as one of the two main presidential candidates. Although neither woman won, their appointments are considered a step forward. But many hurdles remain. In this podcast we discuss these issues with Diana Højlund Madsen: Senior researcher at NA ,Mandiedza Parichi lecturer in Midlands University in Gweru and Shilla Sintoyia Memusi, Policy Analyst with a PhD from University of Bayreuth.

China’s interests in Africa: “Everything is weaponized”

Recently, China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang finished his first official visit overseas in Africa. In this episode of the Nordic Africa podcast, we try to map China’s interests in Africa and we turn the perspectives on China’s massive investments upside down; if everything is Belt and Road Initiative doesn’t that really mean that nothing is Belt and Road Inititiative? Tune in and listen to three researchers with an expertise in these questions; Fantu Cheru, Liisa Laakso and John Åberg.

Nigeria Elections: “There is a lot of hunger and anger”

With less than a month left to the presidential election, the Labour Party’s candidate Peter Obi is well ahead of his rivals in the polls. “There is a lot of hunger and anger, but whether that has developed into constructive movement is another thing,” says political science researcher Victor Adetula when asked what a victory for Obi would mean. In this episode, we discuss with professors Adetula and Aning the issues at stake as Africa’s biggest economy goes to the polls.

West Africa’s coup epidemic and its causes

Over the past couple of years, we have seen what the UN Secretary-General has termed “an epidemic of coups” in West Africa. Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau and Niger have witnessed seven coups and coup attempts since 2020. In this episode we talk about the main causes behind these coups and the development of democracy in the region. With us are three researchers from the Nordic Africa Institute; Papa Sow, Cristiano Lanzano and Jesper Bjarnesen.

African responses to the war in Ukraine

In October, three-quarters of UN’s member states voted in favour of a resolution to condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions. The result reflects the vote in March demanding Russia to end its offensive. In both votes, Africa stands out from the rest of the world. In March, for example, 48% of Africa’s countries voted against, abstained or were absent. Join us as we discuss African responses to the Ukraine war with professors Henning Melber and Kwesi Aning.