In Part 1 of this essay, I argued that Nigerians hardly benefit economically from the relative peace their country has guaranteed in West Africa at the cost of over $1 billion, more than 1,000 soldiers dead, plus thousands wounded in peacekeeping and peace-enforcement operations. Instead, South Africans are among the biggest beneficiaries of Nigeria’s often…
Details
An overview of the current foreign investment climate within Sierra Leone In recent years, Sierra Leone’s economy has been among the fastest-growing in sub-Saharan Africa. Following peaceful multi-party elections in 2007 and 2012, real GDP growth hit 15.2% in 2012 and 20.1% in 2013. Growth came to an abrupt halt in 2014, with the largest…
Details
Preface This essay analyzes the effect of the geopolitical situation on Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the broader region on food imports in the region. Key topics addressed include: – general geopolitical, military and defense issues affecting the region – likelihood of closure of the Straits of Hormuz and the closure of the Qatar-Saudi land border – political…
DetailsThe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has done more than anyone else to turn the concept of ‘Islamic banking’ into an Islamist political project. Politicisation could imperil an otherwise unassailable experiment to align Nigeria with over 75 countries where Islamic financial institutions have assets exceeding US$950 billion. ‘Political Islam’…
DetailsPremise While South Africa’s gaming market has shed most of its hypocritical moralism of the apartheid years, the industry remains behind the country’s acclaimed liberal post-apartheid order. Regulators happily embrace the job-creation and tax contributions of the industry, but their “war” against the “harmful effects of gaming” is hampering the development of non-traditional side of…
Details