It is important that the withdrawal of foreign troops from Mali does not create a power vacuum for the jihadists to exploit, as was seen in Afghanistan.
Dr Craig Moffat
Craig Moffat, PhD is the Head of Programme: Governance Delivery and Impact for Good Governance Africa. He has more than 17 years of practical experience working for government institutions and multilateral organisations. He was previously employed by the South African Foreign Service, where he worked extensively at identifying and analysing security threats towards South Africa as well as the southern Africa region. Previously, he was the political advisor for the Pretoria Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Stellenbosch University.
Making Zondo’s findings count is not government’s job alone
Given South Africa’s poor record on implementing the advice of commissions, business and civil society must pitch in. South Africa’s Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture, corruption and fraud handed the first of its three-part report to President Cyril...
eSwatini national dialogue forum could strengthen foundation for success amid the kingdom’s political crisis
On a recent working visit to the kingdom of eSwatini, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community, met King Mswati III. Ramaphosa’s visit follows a recent visit by SADC special envoys that took place after...
Cry the beloved Kingdom – Lessons for King Mswati III
Mbabane, Eswatini on 3 July 2021 as a tense calm returns after days of violent widespread pro-democracy protests. Photo: AFPIt’s been over a week since King Mswati III of Eswatini ordered schools to be shut “indefinitely with immediate effect” in response to the...
SA municipal elections – Unpacking the coalition puzzle
As the 1 November 2021 date for the local government elections (LGE) draws closer, calls for coalition politics are gaining momentum. Political analyst William Gumede predicted before the 2019 general election, “It could be the last time the governing ANC wins an...
South African local government elections 2021 timeline
To coup or not to coup – Making sense of the changing nature of coups
Since the 5 September 2021 coup d’état in Guinea, there has been a sharp interest in coup d’états in general and on the African continent in particular, renewed in part by an array of political and media commentators. Research by the African Development Bank found...
Zambia’s new day – the hard work begins
To paraphrase OR Tambo’s seminal speech in 1977: Zambians, you might think it is very difficult to wage an election struggle. Wait until you are in power. At that stage you will realise that it is actually more difficult to keep the power than to wage an election war....
South African civil unrest: Recognising community interventions in times of crisis
In mid-July, we witnessed extensive looting and violence in South Africa, concentrated in some parts of Gauteng and the eastern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provinces. The unrest claimed over 300 lives and thousands of businesses were looted and, in some cases, burned down....
African Union and Israel’s observer status – unpacking the fuss
To those who scorn “clubs” such as the African Union, it may come as a surprise that Israel has long wanted to be friends with the AU. All states have strategic interests, some more so than others, especially when the issue is existential. Though the Israelis punch...
Dr Craig Moffat
Craig Moffat, PhD is the Head of Programme: Governance Delivery and Impact for Good Governance Africa. He has more than 17 years of practical experience working for government institutions and multilateral organisations. He was previously employed by the South African Foreign Service, where he worked extensively at identifying and analysing security threats towards South Africa as well as the southern Africa region. Previously, he was the political advisor for the Pretoria Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Stellenbosch University.
Foreign troop withdrawal from Mali – let history not repeat itself
It is important that the withdrawal of foreign troops from Mali does not create a power vacuum for the jihadists to exploit, as was seen in Afghanistan.
Making Zondo’s findings count is not government’s job alone
Given South Africa’s poor record on implementing the advice of commissions, business and civil society must pitch in. South Africa’s Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture, corruption and fraud handed the first of its three-part report to President Cyril...
eSwatini national dialogue forum could strengthen foundation for success amid the kingdom’s political crisis
On a recent working visit to the kingdom of eSwatini, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community, met King Mswati III. Ramaphosa’s visit follows a recent visit by SADC special envoys that took place after...
Cry the beloved Kingdom – Lessons for King Mswati III
Mbabane, Eswatini on 3 July 2021 as a tense calm returns after days of violent widespread pro-democracy protests. Photo: AFPIt’s been over a week since King Mswati III of Eswatini ordered schools to be shut “indefinitely with immediate effect” in response to the...
SA municipal elections – Unpacking the coalition puzzle
As the 1 November 2021 date for the local government elections (LGE) draws closer, calls for coalition politics are gaining momentum. Political analyst William Gumede predicted before the 2019 general election, “It could be the last time the governing ANC wins an...
South African local government elections 2021 timeline
To coup or not to coup – Making sense of the changing nature of coups
Since the 5 September 2021 coup d’état in Guinea, there has been a sharp interest in coup d’états in general and on the African continent in particular, renewed in part by an array of political and media commentators. Research by the African Development Bank found...
Zambia’s new day – the hard work begins
To paraphrase OR Tambo’s seminal speech in 1977: Zambians, you might think it is very difficult to wage an election struggle. Wait until you are in power. At that stage you will realise that it is actually more difficult to keep the power than to wage an election war....
South African civil unrest: Recognising community interventions in times of crisis
In mid-July, we witnessed extensive looting and violence in South Africa, concentrated in some parts of Gauteng and the eastern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provinces. The unrest claimed over 300 lives and thousands of businesses were looted and, in some cases, burned down....
African Union and Israel’s observer status – unpacking the fuss
To those who scorn “clubs” such as the African Union, it may come as a surprise that Israel has long wanted to be friends with the AU. All states have strategic interests, some more so than others, especially when the issue is existential. Though the Israelis punch...