Counterpoints

Those wishing to support continued political development in Somali regions should pay greater heed to the historical and cultural context in which it is occurring.

The scale and impact of the First World War campaign in eastern Africa were gargantuan. The troops, carriers and millions of civilians caught up in the fighting should not be forgotten.

Les grandes villes africaines connaissent une croissance et une transformatiojn rapides. En l’absence de politiques d’aménagement appropriées, ells deviendront de plus en plus chaotiques et inefficaces et de moins en moins viables.

As competition for land intensifies in Africa’s rapidly growing towns and cities, planning laws assume a fundamental importance. The promotion of external “one-size-fits-all” models has not served Africa well.

Africa’s cities are growing and changing rapidly. Without appropriate planning, they will become increasingly chaotic, inefficient and unsustainable. In many countries, planning legislation dates back to the colonial era.

While the full impact of the process will not be apparent for many years, gacaca community courts have delivered benefits to Rwandans in the spheres of justice, truth and reconciliation.

African governments, policymakers and international donors need to acknowledge fundamental changes in urbanisation trends and respond to the messages imparted about employment, incomes and economic development.

In Malawi, an audience-driven radio programme has gained popularity by exposing everyday injustices.

The donor-driven gender strategy is failing. Its jargon is ambiguous and easily misunderstood and it fosters inaction on the part of patriarchal African governments.

Thrillers offer complex insights into how authors and readers may understand the present, and imagine the future. This is seldom recognised by journalists, academics and other commentators.