VOL3 NO:2 | MAY2018 - STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY
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Vol 3 No: 2 | May 2018
: +27 (0)21 918 4144
@: future@ifr.sun.ac.za
Publication of:
Institute for Futures Research
Stellenbosch University
PO Box 2010
BELLVILLE
7535
Word processing and formatting:
Karen Theron
Editorial
AfriScan@IFR aims to bring you a range of insights that will be useful to businesses wanting to make
inroads into markets on the African continent (or that are already doing so). While we do remain focused
on our standard scan categories, we expand these to consider their impact on Africa.
The Scan categories include:
The new world of business which includes a focus on concepts such as hybrid value chains,
new economics, disruptive business modelling, the new world of work and game changers;
Social capital with its focus on cohesion, inclusion, migration, civil liberty, housing, urbanisa-
tion, migration, education, demography and leadership;
Sustainability which considers human, organisational, societal and planetary issues that im-
pact our long-term survival;
Security which looks at terrorism, cybercrime, freedom of movement, crime, xenophobia and
oppression;
Technology and innovation which includes a focus on Fintech, Medtech, frugal innovation
and also African innovation;
The art and science of decision-making which focuses on tips about decision-making for
executives.
This month’s edition is all about the Africa’s propensity for what I like to think of as ‘developmental
multitasking’.
In this month’s edition
Development can be a goal in itself, especially in Africa where a history of lagging behind has put us in
something of an eternal catch-up mind set. But what many of this month’s contributions have in common
is that development should drive the greater good. What I mean by this is that it should not just be about
enhanced economic growth but also about improving society. Doing more with the resources at our
disposal is very much part of the African mind set; it is also essential because resources are both scarce
and precious.
The contribution that perhaps makes this clearest is The demand for positive long-term purpose over
business profit. Rather than just being in the business of making money, it is increasingly being rec-
ognised that businesses can, and should, contribute positively to society and the environment. Art and
Science: Potential future partners for sustainability in Africa is another contribution that shows how
combining two seemingly non-related fields like art and science could unexpectedly add up to more than
the sum of its parts. And why should a development goal like infrastructure end with roads when it can
also stretch to generating power, asks the article titled The long road to energy generation: The new
future of roads?
Africa has recently focused on combining its efforts to achieve the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda
2063. The resulting focus is likely to drive Africa’s gradual progress in achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals over the next few years.
When we are trying to ‘do more’ with the resources at our disposal, it makes perfect sense not to waste
our time with outdated technology but to simply go for the latest available on the market. Leapfrogging
has become something of a hallmark of African development, but as Technological leapfrogging will
need a friendly policy environment for start-ups in Africa explains, the success of doing so will
require supportive policies to optimise success.
The danger in always trying to do more with the resources at our disposal is that we may push for results
at all costs, ignoring possible negative consequences. Is China dictating to a new set of dictators?
brings this point to the fore, showing that Afro-Chinese relations may not always have positive outcomes
for governance in Africa.
iThe need for Africa to do ‘developmental multitasking’ means that the continent has to take care to
remove the barriers that could hinder its ability to achieve the desired outcomes. When our resources
are precious, we cannot risk our efforts going to waste because the stars do not align. The continent
has to address various issues before development can be optimised. These include a focus on the
empowerment of women (African women need equity to achieve empowerment), addressing urban-
isation (Urbanisation in Africa: challenges and developments) and looking at the spectres of drugs
and terrorism (Africa’s growing drug problem, Al-Shabaab targeting Southern Africa and Terror-
ism in Nigeria: A Warning to sub-Saharan Africa).
I hope you find our African edition both insightful and useful – and that it will help you when it comes to
your own corporate multitasking.
Here’s to the future!
Adri Saayman
Research Associate: Institute for Futures Research
Disclaimer: Our researchers and scanners occasionally include hyperlinks to articles that require addi-
tional action, such as information or subscription for access. While we endeavour to keep such hyper-
links to a minimum, we offer these links in the interest of a broad perspective – the very nature and spirit
of a scan.
iiNew World of Business
Ethiopia now; Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya next
Two interesting reports were published recently. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its
World Economic Outlook and the Centre for International Development (CID) at Harvard released its
Global Growth Projections for the next decade. We captured a selection of the results in two graphs.
The World Economic Outlook, published by the IMF, predicts that Ethiopia will be the fastest growing
economy in sub-Saharan Africa in 2018. The growth rate that the IMF foresees for Ethiopia is 8.5%,
mostly fuelled by increased industrial activities, better air, rail and road connections and focused atten-
tion on manufacturing.
Figure 1: Projected economic growth for 2018, IMF
Source: Own compilation.
Harvard’s CID based its projections for growth toward 2026 on economic complexity. Its findings indicate
that more diversified economies will show better and faster growth than the commodity-based econo-
mies. In sub-Saharan Africa it foresees that Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya will be among the top 10
fastest growing economies toward 2026.
Figure 2: 2026 economic growth projections, Harvard CID
Source: Own compilation.
1Ethiopia is Africa’s fastest growing economy. Alex Gray. Eyewitness News, 8 May 2018.
http://ewn.co.za/2018/05/08/ethiopia-is-africa-s-fastest-growing-economy
These will be the fastest growing economies in the world over the next decade. Business-
Tech.co.za. 4 May 2018.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/242635/these-will-be-the-fastest-growing-economies-in-the-
world-over-the-next-decade/
Southeast Asia surging in CID’s new global growth projections. C McKenney. Harvard.edu, 3
May 2018.
http://atlas.cid.harvard.edu/rankings/growth-projections/
IMF Datamapper. World Economic Outlook (Apr 2018).
http://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDP_RPCH@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD/AFQ
Is China dictating to a new set of dictators?
During his only official state visit to Africa, the then United States (US) Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson,
warned the continent of the effect of China’s investments in Africa, saying that it created no real jobs
and only added to mounting debt.
And while it is true that many questions have been asked about China’s ‘motives’ when investing in
Africa, it is also true that the Chinese involvement has seen huge infrastructural projects helping African
countries to improve their economic circumstances.
But on a different level one has to ask whether the Chinese involvement in Africa has an effect on the
way the continent’s leaders see their role – and that of democracy.
In March this year, reports stated that ‘men of Chinese ethnicity’ were seen campaigning alongside
supporters of the All People’s Congress party (APC) in Sierra Leone. The strong relations between
China and Sierra Leone’s leading party is not a secret. In 2017 the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
donated a so-called ‘Friendship Building’ to the APC. And under the auspices of the previous president,
Ernest Koroma, Chinese investment in Sierra Leone has significantly expanded.
Neither Koroma nor any of the other politicians contesting the elections mentioned following the example
of the Chinese President Xi Jinping by extending their terms in office. But this has not been the case
elsewhere in Africa where many leaders have been making changes to their countries’ constitutions to
give themselves the opportunity to stay in power.
The most recent example is that of Burundi, where current President Pierre Nkurunziza has won a ref-
erendum that extends the presidential term limits from five to seven years. Incumbency would be re-
stricted to two consecutive terms. However, the amendment does not apply retroactively, which means
that Nkurunziza could possibly remain in office until 2034.
Burundi is not unique. Sudan, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Togo, Gabon, Chad, Cameroon, Uganda,
Djibouti, Eritrea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have all made changes to lengthen their
presidential terms. This, of course, gives more power to the person at the helm of the country, reminding
us of the legacy of authoritarianism, which is still alive and well in Africa.
On the other hand, one must also point to instances where this has not happened, such as in Gambia
and Zimbabwe.
But it is not only China’s direct investment in Africa that may influence attitudes on the continent. It is
estimated that more African students are now studying in China than in the US or United Kingdom (UK)
combined. Upon returning to their home countries they will be bringing along some of the beliefs picked
up in China, also on governance practices.
2Another big player on the world stage and with some strong African ties is Russia where Vladimir Putin
has repeatedly extended his term in office without allowing his country’s constitution to cramp his style
too much.
But one must never underestimate the rising influence and power of the millennials – in Africa and
elsewhere. Armed with smartphones and internet access, South African youths have very successfully
mobilised on #FeesMustFall and #RhodesMustFall. To the north of the continent the youth in various
countries played a pivotal role in the so-called Arab Spring. They are aware of their rights and can they
can make their voices heard. But, should a country change its constitution away from a more democratic
model in order for its leader to stay in power, the price all of us will have to pay to move back to the
middle ground will be much dearer than keeping our leaders in check.
Are dictators on the way out – or on the way up? N Ezrow. The Conversation, 14 May 2018.
https://theconversation.com/are-dictators-on-the-way-out-or-on-the-way-up-95128
Burundi opposition push to annul vote extending president's term. ENCA.com, 25 May 2018.
http://www.enca.com/africa/burundi-opposition-push-to-annul-vote-extending-presidents-term
China’s influence looms as Sierra Leone goes to the polls. C Inveen & R Maclean. The Guardian,
6 Mar 2018.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/07/chinas-influence-looms-as-sierra-leone-goes-to-the-
polls
Presidential term limits: slippery slope back to authoritarianism in Africa. C Hendricks & GN
Kiven. The Conversation, 17 May 2018.
https://theconversation.com/presidential-term-limits-slippery-slope-back-to-authoritarianism-in-africa-
96796
Rex Tillerson slams China’s relationship with Africa. BBC News, 6 Mar 2018.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43307461
‘We Are Chinese’: How China Is Influencing Sierra Leone’s Presidential Election. A Elcoate. The
Diplomat, 16 Mar 2018.
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/we-are-chinese-how-china-is-influencing-sierra-leones-presidential-
election/
What China’s President Xi’s extended tenure means for Africa. C van Staden. The Conversation,
10 Apr 2018.
https://theconversation.com/what-chinas-president-xis-extended-tenure-means-for-africa-94602
Social Capital
African women need equity to achieve empowerment
Africa is currently embroiled in its own #MeToo episode. Female staff members from the African Union
(AU) have claimed internal discrimination at the AU in two memos to senior officials and statements to
the press. A weak apology and a belated promise of an investigation have followed, but the overall
denialist approach has cast a harsh light on the pervasive gender gap that is still preventing African
women from reaching full empowerment. Adding fuel to the continental gender equality fire was a care-
less comment by Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, offering his 18-year-old sister as a prize to the
incumbent.
3Despite the United Nations’ lofty ambition to ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
[by 2030]’, as defined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a recent UN Women report admits
that progress towards achieving this goal has been too slow and that urgent action is needed.
There are no denying that local and international organisations are pouring significant investments into
the empowerment of women in Africa. In the latest example, the Executive Secretary of the Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA) announced the establishment of a fund aimed at promoting African women
as entrepreneurs and business leaders. The funding involved will reach US$500m direct and US$2bn
crowded-in over the next decade.
However, politically, economically and socially, African women are still suffering from prejudice and in-
justice rooted in a highly patriarchal society and perpetuated by conscious and unconscious biases.
However, there is hope. ‘Consent classes’ in Kenya saw cases of rape in some areas of Nairobi drop
by 50%. An alliance of youthful gender activists and Malawian chiefs successfully fought for the end of
child marriages in their country.
Due to their very nature, tackling unconscious and implicit biases are arguably even more challenging.
It will require new conversations and involvement across all sectors of society. To ensure a future free
from the burdens of prejudice and inequality will require significant investments in education. Parents
and schools will need to teach children powerful positive messages about women and equality. It will
also require institutional and governmental policies with clear gender action plans, adequately imple-
mented and monitored. Africans also have the benefit of the spirit of ubuntu. Melanie Funchess, in her
TEDxTalk, claims that it is exactly in the interconnectedness of ubuntu that humanity will find inspiration
for tackling these biases.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) declared, ‘women hold the keys to Africa's future’. They further
contend that by removing the constraints and restrictions that women are currently facing, ‘a powerful
untapped economic force’ could be unleashed. Considering that there is a good chance that half of the
estimated 2.5bn people living in Africa by 2050 will be women, this is an opportunity that Africa cannot
afford to miss.
Do traditions and culture drive gender equality? B Nkomanzana. Chronicle, 19 May 2018.
http://www.chronicle.co.zw/do-traditions-and-culture-drive-gender-inequality/
Innovative Ways to Empower African Women. L Matshego. Africa.com.
https://www.africa.com/innovative-ways-to-empower-african-women/
Implicit Bias – how it effects [sic] us and how we push through. M Funchess. YouTube, 16 Oct
2014.
https://youtu.be/Fr8G7MtRNlk
Malawi Chiefs Ending Child Marriage Show Extremes of Gender Gap. J Green. Bloomberg, 8 May
2018.
https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/2018/05/08/malawi-chiefs-ending-child-marriage-show-ex-
tremes-of-gender-gap#gs.WSOIztA
New Fund to Support African Women Entrepreneurs On the Way, Says Vera Songwe. Al-
lafrica.com, 6 Apr 2018.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201804261053.html
Press release: New UN Women report uncovers significant gaps for women’s empowerment and
puts forth robust agenda to shift gears. UN Women, 14 Feb 2018.
http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2018/2/press-release-launch-of-sdg-monitoring-report-gen-
der-equality-in-the-2030-agenda
4To achieve gender equality, we must first tackle our unconscious biases. B Alba. The Conversa-
tion, 7 Mar 2017.
https://theconversation.com/to-achieve-gender-equality-we-must-first-tackle-our-unconscious-biases-
92848
The systematic discrimination that’s brought the African Union to its own #MeToo reckoning. L
Chutel. Quartz Africa, 21 May 2018.
https://qz.com/1283283/metoo-women-staffers-at-african-union-accuse-senior-officials-of-gender-dis-
crimination/
Watch: These ‘consent classes’ from Kenya could teach all schoolchildren how to prevent rape.
Scroll.in, 28 Oct 2017.
https://scroll.in/video/855641/watch-these-consent-classes-from-kenya-could-teach-all-schoolchildren-
how-to-prevent-rape
What can be done to economically empower women in Africa? G Chiranda. World Economic
Forum, 8 May 2018.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/05/women-africa-economic-empowerment/
Why women hold the keys to Africa's future. R Reines. World Economic Forum, 19 March 2018.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/03/why-women-hold-the-keys-to-africas-future/
World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision. United Nations Department of Economic and
Social Affairs, 2017.
https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2017_KeyFindings.pdf
Zimbabwe’s Nelson Chamisa thinks women are chattel for politicians to barter with. K Kiunguyu.
This is Africa (TIA), 14 May 2018.
https://thisisafrica.me/zimbabwes-mdc-leader-chamisa-women-politicians/
Africa’s growing drug problem
African countries have seen an increase in the production and trade of illicit drugs. This is increasing
the instability of the region, especially on a political level. The drug problem is multifaceted as some
countries produce, trade and consume and others serve as gateways or destinations for the drugs.
Cocaine is repackaged in Africa for export to Europe. Cannabis is the biggest problem.
The problem is exaggerated by limited treatment options for consumers, lack of capacity of authorities
to crackdown on the trade and in many cases, an unwillingness to acknowledge the problem. There is
not much regional cooperation in clamping down on drugs or to close the routes the drugs are following
to their final destinations. Porous borders complicate matters further.
Zimbabwe is grappling with the issues accompanying the commercialisation of cannabis production for
economic gain and the moral objections to this practice. Nigeria has noticed a substantial increase in
over-the-counter medication being used as drugs, such as cough syrups containing codeine. Benin,
neighbouring Nigeria, has become the world’s largest destination for Tramadol.
The rise in drug use in Africa is of particular concern according to the United Nations. Official statistics
are not available as African countries do not have accurate records on the drug trade. Africa’s youth is
the most vulnerable group affected by drugs, some of them falling into the habit to escape their circum-
stances and the hopelessness of poverty and unemployment. Several countries are calling on commu-
nity-based and faith-based organisations to assist, and plan to include drug awareness campaigns in
the school curriculums.
The World Drug Report (2017) noted the involvement of organised crime in the drug trade. Terrorist
organisations are profiting from the trade, thereby increasing their reach and power. Cross-border trade
is facilitated by porous borders and the lack of law enforcement. According to the report, the Taliban
5and Islamic State have benefited directly from the drug trade, which leads to further safety concerns and
instability in the African region.
Africa’s desperate youth are getting high on opioids and anything they can get their hands on.
Y Kazeem & L Chutel. Quartz Africa, 9 May 2018.
https://qz.com/1271685/africas-desperate-youth-are-getting-high-on-opioids-and-anything-they-can-
get-their-hands-on/
Hitting the Streets – SA’s Top Drugs. Carteblanche.dstv, 8 May 2016.
https://carteblanche.dstv.com/street-drugs/
Mali’s drug problems are its silent enemy. W Assanvo. Institute for Security Studies, 15 May
2018.
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/malis-drug-problems-are-its-silent-enemy
Rwanda banned totally Shisha. World Health Organization.
http://www.afro.who.int/news/rwanda-banned-totally-shisha
The major ingredient in Nigeria’s codeine abuse crisis is corruption at major drug makers. Y
Kazeem. Quartz Africa, 2 May 2018.
https://qz.com/1266823/bbc-investigates-nigeria-codeine-opioid-crisis-from-cough-syrups/
When it comes to legal cannabis, Zimbabwe is conflicted between economics and morality. T
Karombo. Quartz Africa, 21 May 2018.
https://qz.com/1283377/zimbabwes-marijuana-dagga-farming-plans-put-on-hold/
World Drug Report 2017. United Nations Office on Drug and Crime.
https://www.unodc.org/wdr2017/field/Booklet_5_NEXUS.pdf
Urbanisation in Africa: challenges and developments
Since the beginning of the century, the urban population in Africa grew by more than 200m people.
Today, 430m people, or 38% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa, live in cities. This relentless ur-
banisation process brings huge social, economic and environmental transformations, not all of them
favourable.
The increasing number of people living in urban centres increases the demand for housing, services
(electricity, water and sewerage), education and jobs. If this demand is not met, the result is poverty.
Nowhere is the rise of inequality clearer than in urban areas, where wealthy communities coexist along-
side, and separate from, slums and informal settlements with many unemployed and disgruntled people,
including large numbers of the youth.
By 2030, cities in sub-Saharan Africa will be home to 715m people, or 47% of the population of the
region. Basic housing and public services in urban areas such as healthcare, education and public safety
will be insufficient to match the growth rates of the urban population across the region. In addition, sub-
Saharan Africa will have 82 cities with more than 1m people. From these, at least five will be mega-
cities with more than 10m people.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, there is a growing concern from political leaders about creating a long-term
plan for the development of urban and industrial areas.
An example of this process is the city of Lagos in Nigeria. Given a population of 21m people, Lagos is
the most populous city in Africa with the highest growth rate. The high population growth adds strain to
the already insufficient public services and housing conditions in the city. Lagos’ population is projected
to reach the 30m mark by 2030.
6The development of the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) on the outskirts of Lagos is funded by the state and the
Chinese company China-Africa Lekki Investment Ltd. Up to May 2017, 116 investors had registered with
the LFZ with 16 of them commencing full operations. The project will have a deep sea port, new airport,
industrial park and warehousing area, and it will also host an amusement park, hotels, cultural centre, golf
course, hospitals and schools. It will be home to 3.4m people and have a non-residential population of
about 1.9m people. Eventually, the LFZ will be turned into an industrial satellite city of Lagos.
Another example is the Star City Township project in the Tungi Special Economic Zone in Tanzania.
Tungi is located within the urban limits of Morogoro City, 160 km from Dar es Salaam. The Star City
project will feature an industrial park, a residential area for 140 000 people and a university town with
educational facilities. The project includes plans for the construction of hotels, a golf course and a theme
park, all aimed at attracting tourists. The development will also have its own power plant and water
treatment facilities.
It is clear that developing residential areas is not only focused on housing and utilities, but also on
developing the requisite local economy.
Urbanisation across Africa is usually focused on the largest cities, sometimes neglecting mid-sized and
small towns. A more balanced urbanisation process has the benefit of giving more options to businesses
and industries of different sizes to establish themselves closer to their target markets.
Urbanisation, if done correctly, has many benefits. Commuting becomes cheaper and faster as cities
concentrate people and businesses in a smaller area. More diverse job opportunities and easier access
to education make cities a potential source for economic growth and self-development. Cities converge
consumers and their spending, and create new markets for goods and services. In the next 15 years,
consumer spending in African cities is projected to reach US$2.2 trillion, a three-fold increase from
current levels. That is why many multinational corporations are developing city strategies for Africa and
not country strategies.
Given the focus on urbanisation, rural areas are arguably the most overlooked spaces in Africa. This is
true both in terms of government services and corporate attention. Yet, it is a mistake to rule out rural
spaces and consumers, especially in Africa. Over 637m of Africa’s population live in rural areas, which
is a massive consumer segment to neglect. More and more Africans are entering the consumer class,
and many of these are still in rural areas, creating appealing new investment opportunities. The discov-
ery of resource-abundant areas in Africa is drawing workers away from cities to rural zones, where they
establish economically vibrant centres. The challenge is to identify these areas and tap into the eco-
nomic opportunity presented. The key to success is pinpointing the potential of the growing communities
and neighbourhoods within large rural provinces and districts. The greater the investment made into
rural Africa, the more everyone involved will benefit, from the businesses expanding their reach to the
locals presented with more choices – particularly in terms of their financial security.
Ben Leo: The overlooked potential of rural spaces and consumers. How we made it in Africa, 6
Feb 2018.
https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/overlooked-potential-rural-spaces-consumers/60869/
Rapid Urbanisation in Africa: Investing in the Development of Africa’s cities. The World Bank, 2
May 2017.
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/05/02/rapid-urbanization-in-africa-investing-in-the-de-
velopment-of-africas-cities
The role of climate change in Africa’s urbanization. S Walker. Chicago Policy Review, 1 Apr 2018.
http://chicagopolicyreview.org/2018/04/01/the-role-of-climate-change-in-africas-urbanization/
Urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa: City master plans. How we made it in Africa, 13 Apr 2018.
https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/urbanisation-in-sub-saharan-africa-city-master-plans/61241/
Urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa. J Saghir. CSIS, 12 Apr 2018.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/urbanization-sub-saharan-africa
7Sustainability
The demand for positive long-term purpose over business profit
There is a growing global consciousness that current capitalist systems and enterprises are simply not
sustainable, and a rising awareness that our demands for cheaper prices are largely underpinning the
perceived current success of the system.
Consumers are, however, starting to actively seek out product and brand options that are less harmful
to the environment and that are founded on principles aiming to make a positive social impact as a result
of their business operations.
Businesses that adopt or strive to incorporate elements aimed at achieving success as part of the cir-
cular economy, that adhere to at least some of the Sustainable Development Goals and that have a
higher purpose to uplift people within the communities in which they operate as part of their brand DNA
are being sought out and enthusiastically supported.
Research conducted by Unilever in 2017 indicated that 33% of the global consumers surveyed now
choose to buy from brands they believe are doing social or environmental good, providing an estimated
$1.2 trillion opportunity for brands that make their sustainability credentials clear.
From ethical fashion labels out of Kenya that aim to employ thousands of previously unemployed
women, to coffee and chocolate farmers and their larger buyers who, for the first time, have the ability
to unlock financial prosperity from their harvests – new methods and models are being prototyped and
tested to see how much more of a positive social and environmental impact they can have.
Even luxury watchmakers Richemont has adopted a new strategy in their effort to appeal to a younger,
ethically-conscious market that appreciates good craftsmanship but also wants to do less harm as a
result of their opulent choices. Baume is a new brand that claims to produce their luxury watches from
sustainable materials, avoiding the use of any precious metals. In addition, the straps of every piece will
be made from recovered ocean plastics, through a partnership with Waste Free Oceans.
The African continent is primed for entrepreneurial growth and development, and is rich in natural and
human resources. This provides an opportunity for new business ventures to think, design and act ho-
listically at the foundational stage of their creation in an effort to offer a compelling value proposition.
Business can be a powerful source to ethically improve the lives of millions of people who have never
been granted access to economic prosperity. Also, modern manufacturing methods can have a lighter
impact on the natural environment than was previously the case, and can be far more financially efficient
and sustainable.
A new breed of consumers is looking to buy into this positive alternative narrative of capitalism. These
consumers feel they are part of a sustainable solution to the problems that the world faces through their
purchases, rather than being collaborators in the cause of more widespread destruction.
The emerging consumer consciousness opting for these alternatives will not be satisfied with a sterile
press release or an advertising campaign that cannot be fully investigated and verified in this regard.
Full transparency and an ethical position to do good from the outset is what is required if an altruistic
purpose is going to lead over profit in a sustainable way.
810 Fashion Brands That Take Environmentally Conscious To A New Level. C Singmin. Huffington Post,
19 Apr 2018.
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/04/19/eco-conscious-brands_a_23415320/
African Fashion Design: ethically changing lives. D McQuillan. The Irish Times, 21 Apr 2018.
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/fashion/african-fashion-designers-ethically-changing-lives-
1.3459569
Chocolate’s Sustainability Challenge. J King. Eco-Business, 3 May 2018.
http://www.eco-business.com/opinion/chocolates-sustainability-challenge/
Eco-conscious coffee. E Britton. JWT Intelligence, 18 Apr 2018.
https://www.jwtintelligence.com/2018/04/eco-conscious-coffee/
Investors crowdfund for shares in Cape craft beer brewer. K Magubane. Fin24, 30 Mar 2018.
https://www.fin24.com/Companies/ICT/investors-crowdfund-for-shares-in-cape-craft-beer-brewer-
20180330
Richemont’s New Strategy for Luxury Watches: No Luxury Materials. J Beus. Bloomberg, 17 May 2018.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-17/richemont-s-baume-to-customize-vegan-sustainable-
luxury-watches
This African city is turning waste into energy. A Grey. EWN, 10 May 2018.
http://ewn.co.za/2018/05/10/this-african-city-is-turning-a-mountain-of-trash-into-energy
What Africa has to offer. K Hedayat-Zadeh. Fair Observer, 30 Apr 2018.
https://www.fairobserver.com/region/africa/development-africa-urbanization-black-panther-world-news-
today-40979/
Africa’s gradual progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals
The fourth Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) took a step forward to contrib-
ute significantly to the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is a ‘plan of action for
people, planet and prosperity’. The ARFSD meeting was held from 3 to 4 May 2018 in Senegal, and
adopted more than 50 key messages that will be taken to the United Nations (UN) High-level Political
Forum on Sustainable Development to be held in July 2018. The meeting convened under the theme
Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies and focused on six Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs): SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG7 – Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 11 –
Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG12 – Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 15 –
Life on Land; and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.
The importance of the ARFSD is that it provides a platform for mobilising and interacting with role players
and stakeholders to advance action on the SDGs and obtain international support. The purpose is to
convert the SDGs and the African Union’s own Agenda 2063 into measurable, shared gains for Africa.
The 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 will be implemented concurrently and in an integrated manner.
Agenda 2063 is a 50-year strategic framework for socio-economic transformation in Africa with the pur-
pose of accelerating the implementation of initiatives for growth and sustainable development.
Although the key messages (see link for a complete list) are comprehensive, it speaks mostly to Africa’s
own challenges in achieving the 2030 Agenda as well as its own Agenda 2063. Much work still needs
to be undertaken by Africa to achieve the SDG goals. The SDG Index indicates that no African country
has made adequate progress for SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 4
(quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable
and clean energy), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and com-
munities), SDG 14 (life below water), SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) or SDG 17 (part-
nerships for the goals). At the ARFSD meeting, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
(UNECA) highlighted specific challenges as follows:
9 SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) – spatial disparities still exist between rural and urban
areas regarding access to water, and its relation to poor sanitation standards;
SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) – solar energy is not seen as a more important source
of energy than other sources of energy;
SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) – unsustainable rapid urbanisation due to lack
of planning and infrastructure leading to urban slums;
SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) – post-harvest waste at the production
phase with 30% of produce rotting on farms; and
SDG 15 (life on land) – rapid deforestation that contributes adversely to climate change.
The fact that Africa uses both the 2030 Agenda and its own Agenda 2063 does not appear to be an
underlying problem in achieving the SDGs. Current convergence between the two agendas is at 89.2%,
which actually simplifies the integration of the two agendas. What it does mean is that Africa might be
targeting a more realistic timeframe for the continent to achieve the SDGs, i.e. 2063 rather than 2030.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the final achievement of SDGs depends on the political will as well as
greater capacity building for Africa. A lack of political will could easily lead to politicians using the SDGs
in rhetoric without giving real meaning to their implementation. Capacity building requires knowledge-
sharing within Africa. In this regard, South Africa launched the South African Sustainable Development
Knowledge Hub in 2017. The Hub endeavours to connect African development partners and policy mak-
ers with research related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and
Agenda 2063. The Hub contains the full texts of more than 600 items produced at selected universities
from South Africa and the United States (US). The aim is to ultimately collect and disseminate research
on each of the 17 SDGs.
Despite the challenges faced by Africa in achieving the SDGs, progress is being made in various African
countries. The SDG Index indicates that SDG 13 (climate action) has the highest number of countries
making progress: Angola, Cote D’Ivoire, Cameroon, DRC, Republic of the Congo, the Comoros, Ghana,
Guinea, Nigeria, South Sudan and Uganda. Similar progress is made on SDG 1 (no poverty): Algeria,
Morocco and Mauritius; on SDG 10 (reduced inequalities): Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania and Niger; on
SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production): Somalia, Sao Tome and Principe, and the Gambia
while on SDG 15 (life on land) Sierra Leone was progressing well.
Although it would be magnificent for Africa to achieve most of the SDGs by 2030, reality dictates that
2063 might be a more achievable target date. The issue is, therefore, not the date but a continuous goal
to achieve movement towards reaching the preferable future – a future where Africa is transformed for
the better to take its rightful place among the community of nations.
2018 ARFSD ends with Africa agreeing to up its game in implementing SGDs. Public. 5 May
2018.
http://www.publicnow.com/view/710DC0C5B103E964B037CC59C6F6BE860B961AEC?2018-05-05-
02:00:12+01:00-xxx6265
Agenda 2063. African Union. 2014.
https://au.int/agenda2063/about
Africa Regional Forum Agrees on Over 50 Messages for HLPF. Catherine Benson Wahlen. In-
ternational Institute for Sustainable Development. 10 May 2018.
http://sdg.iisd.org/news/africa-regional-forum-agrees-on-over-50-messages-for-hlpf/
Draft SDG Index and Dashboard Track African Progress on SDGs. Catherine Benson Wahlen.
International Institute for Sustainable Development. 10 Apr 2018.
http://sdg.iisd.org/news/draft-sdg-index-and-dashboard-track-african-progress-on-sdgs/
Fourth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. United Nations Eco-
nomic Commission for Africa. 4 May 2018.
https://www.uneca.org/arfsd2018
10South African Sustainable Development Knowledge Hub Launched. Lynn Wagner. International
Institute for Sustainable Development. 21 Mar 2017.
http://sdg.iisd.org/news/south-african-sustainable-development-knowledge-hub-launched/
Summary of the 2018 session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development: 2-4
May 2018. ARFSD Bulletin, 208(23), 7 May 2018.
http://enb.iisd.org/download/pdf/sd/enbplus208num23e.pdf
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Develop-
ment Knowledge Platform.
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld
Art and science: Potential future partners for sustainability in Africa
The nexus between art and science could present a unique opportunity to expand sustainability in Africa.
A current experiment in Ethiopia could serve as a remarkable example to use an amalgamation of arts
and sciences to drive development.
In April 2018 a unique poultry facility opened in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. Incubated Worlds is an
artwork and research centre at once, a combined effort of internationally acclaimed Belgian artist Koen
Vanmechelen and two ILRI livestock geneticists, Tadelle Dessie and Olivier Hanotte. Together, these
individuals have gathered a variety of chickens that are crossbred in order to create more resilient spe-
cies. More than a scientific facility, Incubated Worlds is about ‘harnessing diversity to promote new types
of unity and harmony’. It reveals art and science as valuable partners in addressing global challenges
of sustainable food systems.
Vanmechelen had been working with chickens for two years before he joined the Incubated Worlds
project. The artist’s previous work was called Cosmopolitan Chicken. He was interested by how such a
global animal had so many local genetic differences. By collecting blood samples from all of these spe-
cies, he created a genetic database. With Incubated Worlds Vanmechelen plans to develop the project
with three aims: to support an artistic purpose, to end world hunger, and to empower women through
chicken farming. The facility intends to produce and distribute around 2 500 chickens among Ethiopian
households, giving priority to those managed by women, with the purpose of empowering them. Many
Ethiopians have disregarded the production of chickens due to common chicken plagues and diseases.
The new ‘more resilient species’ will invert this prejudice and invite Ethiopian farmers to invest in such
a nutrient-rich livestock.
This initiative has the potential to mitigate the famine cyclical crisis in Ethiopia. By incubating more
resilient and fertile chickens and assigning them to multiple households, the initiative increases food
supply in the country and make it possible for small farm owners to sell the abundant chickens. The
initiative will also most likely be extended to neighbouring countries suffering from the same humanitar-
ian problems.
Ethiopia has seen 30 major famines in the 20th century alone. The worst famine was during 1983-1985,
leading to more than 400 000 deaths. Although the humanitarian crisis has improved, it is far from being
solved. In fact, in 2005, the UN reported that 10m people were in urgent need of food aid. As such,
many social entrepreneurs and researchers have attempted to find a solution to this permanent catas-
trophe.
Although this project is small, it does potentially open new avenues of cooperation to support sustaina-
bility. Traditionally, art and science have been treated as two separate disciplines, but collaboration can
create unique and new opportunities. A great deal of creativity is required to make scientific break-
throughs, and art is just as often an expression of (or a product of) scientific knowledge. Together, art
and science could be a useful future tool in African development.
11An Artist Is Helping Incubate More Resilient and Fertile Chickens for Ethiopia. SR Sharp. Hy-
perallergic.com, 8 May 2018.
https://hyperallergic.com/440471/artist-chicken-cross-breeding-ethiopia-koen-vanmechelen/
Inauguration of Incubated Worlds, Ethiopia, APR, 2018. K Vanmechelen. www.koenvanmeche-
len.be, 6 Mar 2018.
http://www.koenvanmechelen.be/single-post/2018/02/05/Inauguration-of-INCUBATED-WORLDS-Ethi-
opia-6-MAR-2018
The Cause of Ethiopia’s Recurrent Famine Is Not Drought, It Is Authoritarianism. D A Haylema-
riam, Huffington Post, 6 Dec 2017.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawit-ayele-haylemariam/the-cause-ethiopias-recurrent-fam-
ine_b_8019244.html
The STEAMy Relationship Between Art and Science. M Richter & J Wallis. EBSCOpost, 20 Nov
2017.
https://www.ebsco.com/blog/article/the-steamy-relationship-between-art-and-science
Voices on chicken genetics: Improved chicken farming is a pathway to economically empowered
women and households. M Tsegaye. African Chicken Genetic Gains, 21 Nov 2017.
https://africacgg.net/2017/11/21/acgg-people-felekech/
Security
Terrorism in Nigeria: a warning to sub-Saharan Africa
The Boko Haram insurgency, which started in 2009, has since then killed at least 20 000 and displaced
more than 2.6m people, forcing them into camps and host communities.
Boko Haram fighters continue to launch sporadic attacks, ambushing troops and vehicles, as well as
attacking and abducting farmers. The number of people Boko Haram had kidnapped ‘demonstrated the
group's resilience’, despite losing significant territory to the Nigerian army in recent years.
Recently, suspected Boko Haram militants killed 21 people in separate attacks in north-east Nigeria.
They killed 18 forest workers who had been collecting firewood in Borno state, on the border with Cam-
eroon. A vehicle carrying civilians travelling in an army convoy hit a mine planted by the insurgents,
killing three and wounding 11.
Nigerian President Buhari stated in December 2015 that Boko Haram had been destroyed. What did
happen is that for a while, Boko Haram changed its strategy and used children and women as suicide
bombers. It now seems they are back on the offensive with more aggressive moves against the Nigerian
military.
To be fair, the Nigerian military has lately also had some success in various operations. In February
2018, Nigerian and Cameroonian troops freed 1 130 civilians kidnapped by the group in the Lake Chad
region. Also in February, the group's fighters attacked another school in the north-eastern state of Yobe
and seized more than 110 schoolgirls. A month later, the government said 101 had been freed.
In April 2018, they rescued 149 women and children abducted by Boko Haram. Soldiers killed three
fighters during the operation and captured five others. With assistance from Chad, Cameroon and Niger,
the Nigerian military has pushed Boko Haram fighters out of a number of provinces. Boko Haram reacted
12by splitting into smaller groups, infiltrating communities, launching attacks everywhere and making state-
ments that their presence could not be ignored.
In the beginning of May 2018, two suicide bombers, reportedly from Boko Haram, detonated explosives
at a mosque in northeast Nigeria during afternoon prayers. A total of 86 people were killed and 58
wounded.
This was not the first time Boko Haram targeted places of worship. In November 2017, a teenage suicide
bomber attacked worshippers as they gathered for morning prayers, killing at least 50 people.
In pursuit of peace, the government should also look beyond military measures. According to the Nige-
rian Minister of Information, an army presence in civilian communities cannot be a long-term solution as
it would amount to an indirect win for terrorists. Instead, normality should be reclaimed in demilitarised
villages, towns and cities.
The government must overturn the economic marginalisation that gave Boko Haram an audience. This
point was also made by the former Nigerian president and military general, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Revamping Nigeria's dilapidated rail network would bring jobs and opportunity to the region, increase
trade between the north and south, and ensure the wealth of the country is shared by all. This will
prevent the vulnerable elements of the population from being seduced by false promises to end their
challenges.
At the same time, the Nigerian government has stated it is open to negotiations with Boko Haram. They
are also keeping amnesty for rebel fighters under certain conditions as an option. Already, former insur-
gents who have voluntarily surrendered have been rehabilitated and reintroduced into society.
The stance of the government is that while Nigerians must remain vigilant to intercept and prevent as-
saults by Boko Haram, the ultimate guarantor of peace will be Boko Haram's formal renunciation of
violence in both speech and deed. Like with all incidents of warfare of this nature, the path to peace is
a long one. It is essential to create a basis for peace in which justice, freedom and prosperity can de-
velop. All the parties must maintain an open mind to stop hostilities.
Unfortunately, it seems that Boko Haram’s demise is not a short-term prospect. This has a negative
effect in the north-east part of the country, both socially and economically. While they are currently
mostly confining their operations to the north-east, should they start expanding into the rest of Nigeria,
especially with suicide bombers and other acts of terror, Nigeria will be in for an even more difficult ride.
According to Kashim Shettima, the governor of Borno, the displaced population will not be allowed to
return to their villages as their fractured existence makes them vulnerable to Boko Haram. They must
be aggregated into larger settlements to gain access to services such as schools, clinics and boreholes.
Rebuilding all the damaged homes, infrastructure and restoring public services would cost more than
$9bn. According to Shettima, this is essential, along with creating millions of jobs as the real problem is
extreme poverty. Once the youth is engaged and there are jobs, the insurgency will fail.
By not creating jobs or involving the youth, Nigeria is breeding a new generation of Boko Haram fighters.
Shettima pointed out that there are thousands of orphaned children in Borno, and if the country failed to
provide for them, they would become members of movements such as Boko Haram.
Shettima’s views makes the Nigerian security problem a continental one: unemployed youths living in
squalor and being unemployed is an Africa problem and not a Nigerian one. Other African countries
should take heed of the situation in north-east Nigeria and act in a pre-emptive manner – the sooner the
better. Like always, prevention is better than cure.
NE Nigeria Boko Haram attacks leave 21 dead. Enca, 24 Apr 2018.
https://www.enca.com/africa/21-dead-in-ne-nigeria-boko-haram-attacks
13Nigeria: 149 women and children rescued from Boko Haram. Aljazeera, 8 Apr 2018.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/nigeria-149-women-children-rescued-boko-haram-
180408151911329.html
Nigeria mosque attack death toll rises to 86. Aljazeera, 2 May 2018.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/nigeria-mosque-attack-death-toll-rises-86-
180502162539760.html
Nigeria’s difficult path to long lasting peace with Boko Haram. L Mohammed. Aljazeera, 10 May
2018.
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/nigeria-difficult-path-long-lasting-peace-boko-haram-
180510122233687.html
What next for the millions uprooted by Boko Haram? - photo essay. The Guardian, 5 Apr 2018.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/apr/05/millions-uprooted-boko-haram-lake-
chad-basin-nigeria-cameroon-niger-photo-essay
Al-Shabaab targeting Southern Africa?
Al-Shabaab is a terror group based in Somalia. It has been involved in various attacks in Somalia and
Kenya. These attacks have included attacks on military bases and personnel in both countries, as well
as on retail malls and even universities in Kenya.
Very recently, in April 2018, as many as 59 Ugandan soldiers were thought to have been killed when
Al-Shabaab members attacked their base in Somalia. They were part of the 22 000-strong regional force
in Somalia. Preceding this attack, a car bomb detonated near Somalia's parliament in the capital Mog-
adishu, killing at least two people and wounding 10 others.
Government forces retaliated and attacked the al-Shabaab forces. At least 30 of them were killed. Eight
vehicles which ferried the terrorists, including two Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices were
destroyed. Within the same time frame, three air attacks targeted areas in south and central Somalia
under the control of the al-Qaeda linked group.
However, what could become far more problematic for governments in Southern Africa is the apparent
regional spread of terror operations into Mozambique. The group is known locally as ‘Al Shabaab’, alt-
hough it does not seem to have any formal connection with Al-Shabaab in Somalia. They are demanding
the imposition of Sharia law, a ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks, and the removal of secular monuments
and Christian crosses.
The group has been active in parts of the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado and has
since last October launched three raids against villages. The epicentre of the insurgency is the district
of Mocimboa da Praia where the first attacks against police premises occurred on 5 October. The at-
tackers stole food and other goods, and killed a number of people.
In response to the attacks, the Defence and Security Forces in Cabo Delgado launched pursuit opera-
tions. Eventually 234 people were arrested after the earlier attacks, 32 of whom are Tanzanian nationals.
They are accused of crimes including first degree murder, mercenaryism and the illegal possession and
use of firearms.
The Muslim leadership in Cabo Delgado was aware of, and alarmed by, the presence of extremists.
Apparently orthodox Muslim clerics tried to warn the authorities of the danger, but until October last year
such warnings were not taken seriously.
A spate of violence has erupted in the region since the October attacks of last year. The violence include
armed incidents and kidnappings, which have increased in the region since last year, fuelled by long-
suppressed frustrations in the majority-Muslim north. Recently, in April 2018, three new attacks, alleg-
edly by radicalised Muslim youths in northern Mozambique, have left one dead and three injured. The
14latest assaults targeted two villages near the towns of Mocimboa da Praia and Palma, not far from the
border with Tanzania. At least 300 Muslims have been arrested and several mosques forced to close.
President Filipe Nyusi has fired the heads of the army and the intelligence agencies, blaming them for
having missed warning signs of the unrest.
The emergence of this new militant Islamist group in northern Mozambique raises a host of concerns
over the influence of international jihadist ideology, social and economic marginalisation of local Muslim
communities, and a heavy-handed security response. The group’s leadership appears to be holding
similar aims and goals, such as the establishment of an Islamic state following Sharia and the eschewing
of the government’s secular education system.
Considerable social and economic stressors in the province could explain why the jihadist message of
achieving justice through the establishment of an Islamic state found resonance among segments of the
youth. A growing cycle of grievance and revenge between militant Islamists and security forces is taking
hold in the region. The militants justify their actions from a position of moral superiority and with the
rectitude of those who have been victimised and humiliated. The security forces also feel aggrieved and
victimised. This creates a scenario of escalating violence.
This new dimension adds a second, potentially more dangerous dimension to the violence in Mozam-
bique. The struggle between Frelimo and Renamo has long disrupted the economic growth potential of
the country. Its recently discovered gas and coal reserves has the potential to create tremendous value
in Mozambique. Therefore, the developing conflict with its religious overtones is the last thing the country
needs.
Al-Shabaab attack kills dozens of Ugandan soldiers in Somalia. J Burke & AA Mumin. The Guard-
ian, 1 Apr 2018.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/01/al-shabaab-attack-kills-ugandan-soldiers-in-somalia
African Union: 30 al-Shabab fighters killed in Somalia attack. Aljazeera, 2 Apr 2018.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/african-union-30-al-shabab-fighters-killed-somalia-attack-
180402063208401.html
Car-bomb explodes near Somalia's parliament. Aljazeera, 25 Mar 2018.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/deadly-car-bomb-blast-somalia-parliament-
180325134737795.html
Mozambique: Three Islamist Attacks Reported Over Weekend. All Africa, 24 Apr 2018.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201804250074.html
New ‘Islamist’ attacks in north Mozambique. News 24, 25 Apr 2018.
https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/new-islamist-attacks-in-north-mozambique-20180425
The emergence of violent extremism in Northern Mozambique. G Pirio et al. Africa Center for
Strategic Studies, 25 Mar 2018.
https://africacenter.org/spotlight/the-emergence-of-violent-extremism-in-northern-mozambique/
15Technology & Innovation
Africa making progress as an emerging space market
The African Union’s Agenda 2063, adopted in 2014, provides a bold framework for the socio-economic
transformation of the continent over the next 50 years. Its vision is that of ‘…an integrated, prosperous
and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in international arena’.
Seven broad aspirations have been adopted to achieve this vision. Aspiration 7 states: ‘Africa as a
strong and influential global player and partner’ that aspires to be a major force in the world to share in
the global commons which includes outer space. The AU recently conducted a study to explore the
benefits of space development and of an Africa Space Agency (ASA) to give momentum to its vison
under Aspiration 7. The plan is to include all 55 AU member states in ASA. Five countries are currently
bidding to host ASA: Ghana, Namibia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Egypt.
Competing with developed countries and even multinational organisations for a share of outer space
seems overly ambitious. But this is exactly what Africa is doing. On 11 May 2018, Kenya launched its
first Cube Satellite (1KUNS-PF) into space. The CubeSat was developed by Kenyan scientists and en-
gineers from the University of Nairobi in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Outer Space
Affairs (UNOOSA), the Japan Space Agency (JAXA), University of Rome and the Kenya Space Agency.
In April 2018, the CubeSat was taken by NASA to the International Space Station (ISS) where it was
launched from the Japanese module of the ISS. The CubeSat will collect data to help the Kenyan gov-
ernment to make crucial decisions on disaster management and weather forecasting.
Since 1967, Kenya has been at the forefront of space projects in Africa, albeit at the behest of Italy and
the United States (US) who used the country’s territory to launch a total of 27 satellites until 1988. Other
African countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia and Ghana have since overtaken Kenya
in the continental space race. It was only in March 2017 that the Kenyan government established the
Kenya National Space Agency (KENSA). The country could become a powerhouse in Africa regarding
space exploration as it lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to the East. This is a good location for
launching and landing spacecraft – it cost less to launch from the equator as the earth’s rotation along
the equator provides momentum to space rockets. Kenya also hosted the second International Space
Forum’s Africa Chapter in March 2018 – the first space ministerial conference in Africa. At this Chapter
meeting, the Italian Space Agency proposed the setting up of the International Space Centre of Educa-
tion for Africa in Kenya.
Africa’s contribution to the global space environment is very much under-reported. Since 1998 more
than US$3bn have been spent on space projects in Africa. The most prominent African countries from
where satellites have been launched are Algeria (6), Angola (1), Egypt (6), Ghana (1), Kenya (1), Mo-
rocco (2), Nigeria (6), and South Africa (6) (see map below). Other countries are also aspiring to launch
satellites. Among these are Ethiopia which plans to launch a satellite into orbit within three to five years
to monitor weather conditions, and Rwanda which started to train an initial six aerospace engineers for
a CubeSat to be launched in the next few years to monitor progress in sustainable development goals.
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