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May 09, 2012
12:22
Why are African Presidents so Popular?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Gallup recently (April 25) released a new report showing approval ratings of African leaders. Many of them are inexplicably popular. The polls were conducted in 2011. Top of the list are the likes of Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi) and Francois Bozize (CAF). Even the unapologetic, unreconstructed autocrats Paul Biya (Cameroon) and Blaise Compraore (Burkina Faso) poll [...]
May 07, 2012
20:43
On Industrial Policy (In which I concur with Blattman 1001%)
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I have made the case before here, here and here. For more here’s Blattman, commenting on Industrial policy: “You can’t pick winners” is the knee-jerk retort to the mention of anything that even rhymes with industrial policy. I would call it the triumph of ideology over evidence, except that even “ideology” feels like a generous [...]
May 02, 2012
0:50
Some Readings in Economic Anthropology
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Perhaps in a subconscious attempt to distract myself from writing my dissertation prospectus I am currently taking an Economic Anthropology class [and loving it] with Jim Ferguson, author of Expectations of Modernity, among other famous works in Economic Anthropology. The class has a fascinating reading list that includes works like Debt (by the anarchist David [...]
April 30, 2012
22:08
Kenya’s Obscene Politician’s Salaries: Still a Problem
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

President Kibaki will probably not win the Mo Ibrahim Prize because of his questionable reelection but he sure will leave office a happy man. According to the Star: “When President Kibaki walks out of State House after the next elections, he will go home with a hefty gratuity—Sh50 million. The gratuity, the highest to be [...]
April 21, 2012
0:58
World Bank President Doubles as a Rapping Spaceman
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Just in case you haven not seen this yet: H/T Erin. Filed under: africa Tagged: Barack Obama, barrack obama, dartmouth, development economics, epidemeology, Erin Pettigrew, hanover new hampshire, jim kim, poverty, public health, World Bank, World Bank President
April 17, 2012
0:37
Big vs. Small Development
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Economist raises an interesting question regarding approaches to “development,” claiming that the recent race for the World Bank presidency represented a contest between two broad approaches: Michael Woolcock, a World Bank staffer, suggests that two rather different models of development have been pitted against one another in the contest for president. On the one hand is [...]
April 15, 2012
6:05
Your statistical guide to The Hunger Games
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

If you need some relaxing weekend reading be sure to check out the statistical guide to The Hunger Games. It is pretty awesome, really. This is how the author (Brett Keller), described it: Whenever a new fad takes over pop culture, social scientists take note. They host conferences, teach courses, and write popular pieces trying to tie the [...]
April 13, 2012
9:30
Elite political instability continues in Guinea-Bissau
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The BBC reports: Soldiers have taken control of much of the capital of the Guinea-Bissau in what appears to be a coup attempt. Heavy gunfire was been heard in the city of Bissau and the residence of outgoing President Carlos Gomes was reportedly attacked. Troops have also taken control of the national radio station and [...]
April 11, 2012
7:58
This is why you should never text and walk at the same time
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Love texting while walking? You might run into a bear: H/T Brad DeLong Filed under: africa Tagged: bear, Brad DeLong, texting while walking
4:10
Is regionalism helping the East African Community
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Evidence seems to suggest it is: Trade between the EAC countries almost doubled from $2.2 billion in 2005 to $4.1 billion in 2010, although regional trade with the rest of the world expanded faster, meaning that the relative share of intra-EAC trade has stayed around 21 per cent since 2005 [The African Average is 11 [...]
April 10, 2012
10:16
Mugabe “fighting for life” in Singapore
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, 88, is battling for his life in a Singaporean hospital. The official word is that Mugabe is in Singapore for a private visit to celebrate Easter. It is believed that should Mugabe pass on his defense chief Emmerson Mnangagwa will take over as leader of ZANU-PF. Such [...]
April 09, 2012
9:52
More on Obama’s WB President Nomination
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is definitely the dream candidate for the Bank. But the realities of U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy concerns are stacked against her nomination to the presidency of the Bank. It will be hard for the U.S. to selflessly relinquish an importance tool of foreign policy and influence in the Bank’s presidency. [...]
April 07, 2012
11:04
Will Joyce Banda become Malawi’s next president?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

UPDATE: government broadcaster MBC officially declared his death in the past hour. The Office of the President and Cabinet has also stated that the constitution will be followed with respect to succession (H/T sister Kim Yi Dionne over at Haba na Haba). The passing on of President Mutharika in Malawi raises important (and interesting) constitutional [...]
April 06, 2012
14:09
Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawian President, is dead
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Daily Nation reports the passing away of Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika (May he rest in peace). Vice President Joyce Banda is next in line to run the country, according to the constitution. But her succession to power could create new political tensions, because Mutharika kicked her out of the ruling party in 2010 [...]
April 05, 2012
11:16
Quick hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

On Somalia’s (non) recovery. For his troubles with the Wade government Youssou Ndour gets appointed to the new Cabinet of President Sall. The unintended consequences of the Malian coup continue to mushroom. AQIM seems to be taking advantage of the power vacuum left in the north of the country. Lots of people scared out of [...]
10:43
South Sudan to relocate capital to Ramciel
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Sudan Tribute reports: “The survey for the proposed new capital of South Sudan, Ramciel, is expected to be completed within the next six months, reports the official in charge of the project. resolved to suspend any construction of new public buildings for the national government in Juba. Juba was disqualified for a number of [...]
April 01, 2012
10:12
Drezner on the academic/policy divide
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

As someone who plans to straddle the academic/policy divide I found Drezner’s (over at FP) recent post quite interesting. Here is an excerpt: I think the academic/policy divide has been wildly overblown, but here’s my modest suggestion on how to bridge it even further. First, wonks should flip through at recent issues of APSR and ISQ [...]
8:35
Beating the drum for Ngozi
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Economist has joined a string of internet commentators in endorsing Nigerian Minister of Finance to become the next president of the World Bank. Contrasted against the resume of Obama’s choice for the Bank, Ngozi wins. By miles. According to the Economist: The World Bank is the world’s premier development institution. Its boss needs experience [...]
March 31, 2012
5:38
Spring break reading list
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I just finished reading Daniel Branch’s Defeating Mau Mau, Creating Kenya. It is an excellent blend of an academic take on theories of violence and counterinsurgency and a historical narrative of Kenya’s war of independence (as I was taught in primary school) or the “Kikuyu civil war” (which is a lot closer to the truth). [...]
March 22, 2012
11:23
On (the now shattered) Malian Democracy
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Update: Mutineers in Mali have appeared on national television to announce the overthrow of the “incompetent” government of President Amadou Toumani Toure. More on this here. **************************************************************** What started as a mutiny in Mali on Tuesday night appears to have degenerated into a coup. Mali was due to hold elections on April 29th 2012. Since [...]
1:19
A Ugandan journalist and a politician respond to Kony 2012
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Angelo Izama, Ugandan journalist (and a good friend of yours truly) has a thoughtful op-ed piece in the Times. He makes the case that: Campaigns like “Kony 2012” aspire to frame the debate about these criminals and inspire action to stop them. Instead, they simply conscript our outrage to advance a specific political agenda — [...]
March 21, 2012
2:43
The complex problem of slavery in Mauritania, a response
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

This is a guest post by Mauritania (and the broader Sahel) expert and friend of the blog Erin Pettigrew (PhD Candidate, Stanford University) A response to John D. Sutter over at CNN.com I’ve been working in Mauritania on and off for the past eight years and this issue of ‘slavery’ is still one I am [...]
2:40
The complex problem of slavery in Mauritania
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Over winter break I was in Mauritania, a vast country slightly bigger than Egypt but with a population 24 times smaller than Egypt’s. Whenever I told people where I was going they usually paused to ask where Mauritania was. I was a little more disturbed when Mauritanian gendarmes had no idea where Kenya was. The [...]
March 18, 2012
1:15
Bongo jams
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

It is week 10, the end of the quarter, and time to be just a little home sick – and listen to some bongo flavour. Found this PSA on letting girls go to school. Swahili speakers out there, enjoy. Filed under: africa Tagged: bongo flavour, bongo music, educate the girl child, fataki, psa, tanzania
March 14, 2012
1:58
Kony 2012
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

As if you have not had enough… Click and watch this amazing rap parody of Invisible’s Kony2012 campaign. H/T @viewfromthecave Filed under: africa Tagged: Alice Lakwena, child soldiers, gulu, Joseph Kony, kony2012, lord's resistance army, LRA, Uganda, Yoweri Museveni
March 12, 2012
2:44
Can RCTs be useful in evaluating the impact of democracy and governance aid?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Election Guide Digest has some interesting thoughts on the subject. Here is quoting part of the post: The use of the RCT framework resolves two main problems that plague most D&G evaluations, namely the levels-of-analysis problem and the issue of missing baseline data. The levels-of-analysis problem arises when evaluations link programs aimed at meso-level [...]
2:26
CNN under fire for alarmist reporting of Nairobi blasts
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Kenyan online community reacted with harsh criticism to CNN’s reports of the grenade blasts in Nairobi. The news network reported on the story with footage from 2007-08 and gave the impression that violence had erupted all over the country. Grenade attacks by suspected al-Shabab operatives killed six people at a bus terminal in Nairobi. [...]
March 08, 2012
1:43
On the unintended consequences of the Sachs-Kristoff syndrome
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

With due apologies to the eminent economist and journalist. Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 publicity push is generating some backlash. Here is quoting Under the Banyan: Critics of the Invisible Children campaign say that while it is well-intentioned and while Kony deserves international condemnation, there are questions about the organisation’s methods, money and support for military [...]
March 05, 2012
22:29
How I would not lead the World Bank – Bill Easterly
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

For those, like me, who still miss Aid Watch, here is Easterly at FP: I would not appoint U.S.-educated elites vetted by their autocratic home governments to represent the underrepresented peoples of the world. I would not negotiate the contents of World Bank reports with governments in either the West or the Rest, except possibly [...]
March 03, 2012
9:56
Africa’s Singapore or Uganda waiting to happen?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Yet Rwanda has one huge advantage: the rule of law. No African country has done more to curb corruption. Ministers have been jailed for it. Transparency International, a watchdog, reckons Rwanda is less graft-ridden than Greece or Italy (though companies owned by the ruling party play an outsized role in the economy). “I have never [...]
February 29, 2012
13:16
2011 KCSE results
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The break down is as follows: The usual suspects dominate the top ten list – with the new addition of Maranda. Boys take 7 out of the top ten positions. Top girl fourth (from Alliance Girls). Top three students from St. Peter’s Eldoret, and Alliance High School. Top ten schools are: Maranda High School Alliance [...]
February 28, 2012
22:53
kCSE results to be released tomorrow
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The 2011 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results will be released tomorrow. The exam is a make or break affair for most students since it is the key determinant of whether they will continue on to college or drop off the education ladder and join scores of unemployed youth with limited economic prospects. These [...]
February 24, 2012
9:24
Njenga Karume dead at 82
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Former Defense Minister and GEMA leader Njenga Karume is dead at 82. Mr. Karume succumbed after a long battle with cancer. The late Karume, who made most of his money from the beer distribution business, was one of the most influential and richest politicians among the “independence generation.” Njenga Karume was mostly a self-made man [...]
February 22, 2012
10:29
Lest we forget…
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

There was a time when Somalia was different… Democracy is also a deeply rooted Somali political principle which, I suspect, continues much as usual in the more remote parts of the nomadic interior. How long it will be before it reasserts itself in the central political life of the state remains to be seen. We [...]
1:08
Kenyan politician John Michuki dead at 80
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

John Michuki, MP for Kangema is dead at 80. The late Michuki was a Kenyan politician that many learned to love (and sometimes love and hate). As Transport Minister he brought sanity to the rowdy matatu sector with the much-loved “Michuki Rules”. As Minister for the environment he cleaned up Nairobi River. His less illustrious [...]
February 21, 2012
11:17
The dangers of simplistic single narratives
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

As Stearns argues in this excellent book, the causes of the conflicts in eastern DRC are multiple and complex. Yet simple narratives in the media and among aid workers and advocacy groups have tried hard to reduce these causes to a fight over minerals; and similarly the consequences as mass rape of women and young [...]
February 16, 2012
1:16
Kenyan Intervention in (al-Shabab dominated) Southern Somalia
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The ICG has an excellent new report on the state of the the Kenyan military intervention in Somalia. The pressing issues raised in the report include economic, political and social concerns: The slow pace of the military operation and the high cost of keeping troops in the field are the main reasons behind Nairobi’s desire [...]
February 15, 2012
0:37
14th of February Edition
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Click to enlarge. Source: http://benkling.tumblr.com/ H/T Paul G. Filed under: africa Tagged: adolf hitler, castro, chairman mao, China, cuba, dictators, fascism, fidel castro, germany, hitler, joseph stalin, karl marx, leon trotsky, love, Mao Zedong, marx, memes, peace, revolutions, Russia, Saint Valentine, soviet union, stalin, trotsky, Valentine's Day, war
February 14, 2012
1:59
College Memes Edition
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

It’s a rainy Monday in Palo Alto.. More on this here. Filed under: africa Tagged: college memes, foreign aid. summer volunteer work. ethics of summer volunteer work, Stanford University
February 13, 2012
14:10
Zambia’s Chipolopolo win the Africa Cup of Nations
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Congratulations to the Chipolopolo and their fans all over the world! Filed under: africa Tagged: Abidjan, Africa Cup of Nations, caf, CAN, Chipolopolo, equatorial guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, lusaka. libreville, malabo, Zambia
February 12, 2012
1:11
Innovation in Kenya
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Kenyan tech industry just got another boost, this time from the global phone maker Nokia. The Sunday Nation reports: Nokia plans to make Nairobi its global hub for research and investment for the India, Middle East and Africa region. The move is a big win for the country which will serve as a nerve [...]
February 09, 2012
12:57
A note from Mr. Development Man
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Perhaps after experiencing a Bill Easterly moment, a friend of mine (grad student here at Stanford) had this on his facebook wall: “Hello, my name is Mr. Development Man. I know Africa so much!! I went there one summer and stayed with an NGO. I talked to my servant cook who served me food, so [...]
February 07, 2012
5:29
Stanford Africa Forum 2012 (Feb 25th)
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Please register here. Filed under: africa Tagged: Danladi Verheijen, equity bank, Graduate School of buisiness, James Mwangi, Jeff Sachs, Jeffrey sachs, Stanford, stanford africa forum, stanford gsb, Stanford University, the end of poverty, the end of poverty and the economic possibilities of our time
February 06, 2012
10:45
Stanford Africa Forum 2012 (Feb 25th)
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Here is introducing the annual Stanford Africa Forum: SAF is organized by a multinational and multidisciplinary group of Stanford University students who share a common passion: a firm belief in the potential and promise of the African continent. Previous editions of the Forum have placed the spotlight on this potential and we plan to continue [...]
February 02, 2012
8:20
In which Mitt Romney channels Downs (1957)
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Sometimes politicians get out of character and reveal the naked truth about the strategic logic of hunting for votes in a two-party electoral system. Briefly stated, the median voter rules. For more on this check out the piece on the Times website. Filed under: africa Tagged: american politics, Antony Downs, Barack Obama, I’m not concerned [...]
3:25
Picture of the Day
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Introducing the Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany. Filed under: africa Tagged: canals, elbe, Infrastructure, Magdeburg Water Bridge, Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany
February 01, 2012
7:20
Africa’s most forgotten Democrat
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Who was the first leader of independent Africa who lost an election and agreed to step down? No, it was not Mathieu Kerekou of Benin. Because my adviser [I doubt he reads this blog] spent some of his early years in academia working and publishing on Somalia, I have been reminded quite a few times [...]
January 31, 2012
11:23
South Africa and the AU [Rant and rave alert!!]
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

As you may already know South African candidate for the AU Commission Chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (ex-wife of president Zuma) failed to get elected. Instead the AU extended Mr. Jean Ping’s term till June. Ms Dlamini-Zuma intends to vie for the seat again in June. South Africa and its backyard (SADC member states) had lobbied hard [...]
January 30, 2012
9:08
The Extramarital Origins of Poverty and dictatorship?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Polygyny is widespread across many human societies…. Yet in much of the world, particularly the wealthier parts, monogamy — albeit with cheating around the edges — has flourished. Why? The article says the answer lies in the “group selection” advantages conferred by the one-wife norm, which reduces the pool of men who can’t find any [...]
January 27, 2012
23:47
Why go into investment banking (as opposed to grad school)?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Davos envy and Romney’s income in the last two years (and tax rate) have got quite a few people thinking and talking about the morality and usefulness of the financial sector. The odd thing, however, is that ever more brilliant college leavers (including from my alma mater) continue to be attracted to the financial sector [...]
January 26, 2012
10:58
How Africa Tweets
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt lead the pack, respectively. More on this hear. HT Jason Stearns. Filed under: africa Tagged: Egypt, How africa tweets, interenet penetration in africa, internet traffic in Africa, internet use in Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, south africa, twitter, twitter use in Africa
4:29
Wade of Senegal insists on third term
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

It looks like Senegalese may be forced to live with their country’s model of soft authoritarianism with reasonable levels of political competition for a few more years…. FT reports: He may be at least 86 years old with 11 years as president behind him, but Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal’s president, says “he does not feel his [...]
January 24, 2012
22:48
Resource flows in Africa
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

According to this figure FDI and recorded remittances appear to be trending in the right direction. Official aid and portfolio equity and private debt are not. For more on this check out the World Bank’s new book (digital copy) on how Africa can leverage immigration to boost its growth prospects. It’s important to remember that [...]
13:45
More on the politics of the ICC decision in Kenya
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Here is an excerpt of a piece I have written over at African Arguments: “While it might be too early to ascertain the full political impact of the ICC’s ruling, there is no doubt that it will provide a real test to Kenyan institutions – especially the judiciary. The courts will have to decide, amid [...]
January 23, 2012
14:29
ICC Kenya case ruling and its consequences
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

That the ICC’s website crashed an hour before the ruling was given underscores the importance of today’s ICC ruling. In the end it emerged that charges against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, MP William Ruto and radio Presenter Joshua Sang were confirmed. Former police commissioner Husein Ali and MP [...]
January 22, 2012
23:54
Justice, the ICC and Kenyan Politics
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

A panel of judges at the ICC will issue their ruling tomorrow afternoon on whether or not six accused Kenyans will stand trial. The six include two declared presidential candidates. Either way the ruling will have a non-trivial impact on the pursuit of justice for the victims of the 2007-08 post-election violence (PEV). It will [...]
January 20, 2012
2:10
Institutions and Political Change in Kenya
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

These are interesting times in Kenya. The Deputy Chief Justice and Vice President of the Supreme Court, Nancy Baraza, stands to lose her job for harassing a female security guard on New Year’s Eve. Ms Baraza’s ordeal is interesting because it captures the momentous changes taking place in Kenya’s institutions of governance. The idea that [...]
January 09, 2012
18:22
Guinea Bissau President is Dead, succession still unclear
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Bacai Sanha, President of Guinea-Bissau has died in a Paris hospital. Mr. Sanha was elected president in July 2009 following the assassination of former president Joao Bernardo Vieira by elements in the military. Guinea Bissau has in the recent past experienced drug-trafficking-related political instability. Mr. Vieira’s murder was linked to a dispute between him and [...]
December 28, 2011
6:59
KCPE Results to be released Wednesday
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Kenyan ministry of education will release the results of this year’s Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam. At the end of primary school all students sit the national exam to determine which high schools they will attend. For the first time, in the announcement will be ranked by Kenya’s 47 counties. In the [...]
5:58
Senegal and Mauritania
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Dear readers, apologies for the sparse postings over the last several days (Yours truly is traveling in Senegal and Mauritania visiting my girlfriend who is doing fieldwork out here). For the last three days I have been in Dakar. I must say that I love this town. I mean, the whole place needs a massive [...]
December 21, 2011
5:23
Study: College football team wins, male students’ grades drop
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Quoting Ezra Kline’s Wonkblog: “A team of University of Oregon economists probes one of life’s age-old questions: Is there a relationship between academic gender gaps and a university’s football team’s performance? The answer looks to be yes. In a National Bureau of Economic Research paper this month, economists Jason Lindo, Issac Swenson and Glen Waddell [...]
December 20, 2011
23:56
Waiting for Kabila to be Charlemagne
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Joseph Kabila was sworn in today as President of the DRC following disputed elections last month. The main opposition has vowed to not recognize him as the legitimate president and are planning street protests. Some analysts believe that there will be blood in the streets of Kinshasa and other major urban centers. If you think [...]
December 13, 2011
3:35
Kenya’s stalled operation in Somalia
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The East African reports: There are four major factors that have bogged down the military campaign. They are: Lack of finances to run a long-drawn war; the differences between interested parties over whether to divide Somalia into autonomous regions or maintain one united country; differences over the option to engage Al Shabaab in a political [...]
December 12, 2011
2:24
Happy Jamuhuri Day to all the Wananchi out there!
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Kenya is 48, with a lot to celebrate. Happy Jamuhuri Day! Filed under: africa Tagged: Achieng' Oneko, Bildad Kaggia, Daniel Arap Moi, James Gichuru, Jomo Kenyatta, kapenguria six, Kenya, Kijana Wamalwa, Masinde Muliro, mau mau, Mwai Kibaki, Nairobi, Oginga Odinga
December 05, 2011
14:01
Live blogging the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Conference
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Here is a link to the live stream. I will post my own comments on the day’s proceedings later tonight. Filed under: africa Tagged: Kenya, Kenya National Dialogue and Reconcialiation Conference, KNDR, Nairobi, Upper Hill
7:38
The missing big thinkers
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

In order to think big your country/region must have some geopolitical significance… or so it seems. Here is a quote from the comment section on Dan Drezner’s post on the big thinkers that were overlooked in the FP 100 top thinkers list. What’s the criteria for big thinkers? do they precede big issues or are [...]
December 04, 2011
8:32
Tough trying to be good in a bad neighborhood
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

A few days ago a Kenyan judge ordered the government to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir if he ever sets foot in Kenya. Mr. Bashir has an outstanding arrest warrant against him from the ICC for crimes against humanity committed since 2003 in Darfur. The ruling has since metastasized into a full blown diplomatic row; [...]
December 01, 2011
22:13
Tackling Africa’s Image Problem
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Back in 2000…. And now… The latest issue of the Economist has “Africa” on the cover, with the pronouncement that the continent has, in the last ten years, moved from hopeless to hopeful. Africa’s enthusiasm for technology is boosting growth. It has more than 600m mobile-phone users—more [...]
13:20
More than 30 million dead, and counting…
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

But it can be stopped. Be aware. Filed under: africa Tagged: HIV/AIDS, World AIDS Day
3:08
Ocampo’s successor to be named
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Current Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, will become the next top Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court. What does this mean for the future of the ICC, especially with regard to African cases? JiC poses the following question: ….. Bensouda becomes the first African Prosecutor at the ICC. This fact will almost surely garner [...]
November 28, 2011
19:49
Kenyan Court Orders Bashir Arrest
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

A Kenyan court has issued an arrest warrant for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir over alleged war crimes in Darfur. The ruling came after Kenya allowed Mr Bashir to visit in August in defiance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for his arrest. The judge said he should be arrested if he “ever set foot [...]
November 27, 2011
18:20
Quick hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Living under the shadow of Kony and his men in Eastern CAR. On a related note, the Ugandan army’s dirty war in the Congo and CAR. Shame on the ANC. But there is still hope for cleaner politics in South Africa. The ANC is an over-size coalition with a high chance of internal breakup in [...]
November 25, 2011
23:22
$500 million, and for what?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Congolese go to the polls on Monday, the 28th of November. The result of the election is almost a foregone conclusion. Incumbent president Joseph Kabila looks set to win another term in office. According to the Economist: Whatever the result, doubts about the election’s fairness will persist, not least because of a perception that the [...]
November 21, 2011
17:05
Mining and Voting in the Congo
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Elections in the DRC have come to be marked by a fire sale of state assets. A recent report by the UK parliament estimates that the government may have lost up to $5.5 b due to undervaluation of these state assets before sale. No prizes for guessing where part of the difference in these sales [...]
November 19, 2011
19:38
The Catholic Church and AIDS: A Sorry Case of Denial
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Church’s continued ostrich approach to the catastrophe that is HIV/AIDS on the continent: Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday signed off on an African roadmap for the Roman Catholic Church that calls for good governance and denounces abuses, while labelling AIDS a mainly ethical problem. Benedict signed the apostolic exhortation called “The Pledge for Africa” [...]
November 17, 2011
0:04
Portugal Seeks Angolan Investment
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Portuguese once ruled an empire that included Brazil, Angola and Mozambique, among other smaller possessions. But since the loss of empire Lisbon has fared rather poorly. First it was the Brazilians who managed to economically dominate their former colonizers. The Angolans are beginning to also get in the game. Angola is one of the [...]
November 15, 2011
10:47
donkey markets and the al-shabab
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Kenya’s invasion of al-Shabab held parts of Somalia has inadvertently elevated the demand for donkeys. Because of the rains (making the use of vehicles a nightmare) and a desire to disguise their transportation of arms, the al-Shabab have resorted to the use of donkeys. The BBC reports: In his latest series of tweets, the Kenyan [...]
November 07, 2011
20:42
Zuma may be a one-term president
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Back when he dislodged Thabo Mbeki South African President Jacob Zuma promised that he would only serve one term. But having tasted the power of the presidency, he now wants a second term. His bid, however, has not been well accepted within the ANC. Although it is common knowledge that the much-married Zuma wants a [...]
7:26
Human brutality timeline
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Times has a chat on the timeline of human brutality. Encouragingly, the overall picture appears to be that (compared to past periods) less people – as a percentage of the total – die from violence. Here is the Times on the top three most deadly human conflicts: The savagery of the Mongol conqueror Genghis [...]
November 03, 2011
4:20
Effects of Conditional Vs. Unconditional Cash Transfer
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Baird, McIntosh and Ozler have an upcoming paper in the QJE investigating the differential impacts of conditional and unconditional cash transfer in Malawi: Starting with schooling outcomes, we find that although dropout rates declined in both treatment arms, the effect in the UCT arm is 43% as large as that in the CCT arm. Evidence [...]
November 02, 2011
21:06
Projects Without Development
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Guest Post by Erin Pettigrew (PhD Candidate, Stanford University) Naked Palm Trees and Other Failed Development Projects in Senegal La Pointe des Almadies is Dakar’s wealthiest neighborhood and it teems with expat NGO workers and the palaces of government officials. Recently, the construction of an immense statue, “The African Renaissance Monument”, a 27 million [...]
4:44
Quick hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Jesus! Good intentions are not enough. (Properly regulated) Markets rule. Kenya and Eritrea appear to be on a collision course. The Horn might get a little bit hotter in the next few months. Some insights into politics and development in Nigeria. I hold the minority opinion that Nigeria might yet surprise those short selling it [...]
October 26, 2011
12:13
A lyrical justification of monotonicity in consumer choice
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I doubt my microeconomics prof. (Kyle) reads this blog so I am gonna go ahead and quote a section of an email he just sent out (which also just made my evening): For fun for those of you still reading, you can find a lyrical justification of monotonicity in consumer choice in the song Society [...]
October 25, 2011
23:52
Quick Hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Teodorin Obiang’s free ride is over. The son of the Equatorian dictator has had some of his wealth seized by the US government on suspicion of money laundering. Check out the Peter Gastrow Report on Transnational Organized Crime and State Erosion in Kenya. The juicy bits are between pages 47-50. The thick and thin of [...]
October 24, 2011
22:15
To all the Wananchi out there
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Filed under: africa Tagged: Al-Shabab, Kenya, Kenya at War, Nairobi
21:08
Our man in Mogadishu
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed says Kenya’s campaign against Al-Shabaab rebels should not go beyond training Somali soldiers and provision of logistical support in specified and agreed areas. Speaking while on a visit to the the frontline of the war between his government’s forces and the Al-Shabaab, President Sharif stated that many Somalis were [...]
October 23, 2011
13:29
Congrats to the All Blacks
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

New Zealand just won the rugby world cup after a 24-year wait. The other finalists, France, put up a most spirited fight. The final score was 8-7. I wish the Boks had gone all the way but for the next four years the All Blacks will be worthy world champions. Here is presenting the NZ [...]
3:04
Saturday afternoon procrastination
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

This is some scary stuff (don’t worry, no one gets hurt): Filed under: africa Tagged: animal behavior, Big Cats, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Kevin Richardson, lions, Pretoria, Private Game reserve, south africa, Wildlife
October 22, 2011
2:35
Millenium Villages and their impact
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

How successful are millenium villages as crucibles for experimentation on development? And can we measure their impact? Sachs defended the project’s claims of impact based on before-and-after analysis. He and Prabhjot Singh wrote that one cannot compare trends at the intervention sites to trends elsewhere: “The logic is also flawed. In a single-intervention study at [...]
October 19, 2011
3:56
Kenya at War/Christmas in Kismayo?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

On Sunday the Kenyan armed forces moved into Western/Southern Somalia. The invasion was occasioned by recent kidnappings of tourists and aid workers near the border with Somalia. Al-Shabab, the proscribed terror group in Somalia, is suspected to have been behind the kidnappings, although it denies the charge. As of Tuesday the Kenyan army had advanced [...]
October 18, 2011
11:14
Protestant ethic and the spirit of democracy?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

This article explores Protestantism’s inadvertent, historic role in dispersing elite power and spurring democracy. Economic and political elites typically hoard resources and perpetuate class distinction. Conversionary Protestants undermined this social reproduction because they wanted everyone to read the Bible in their own language, decide individually what to believe, and create religious organizations outside state control. [...]
October 17, 2011
7:48
SFAS 2011 Conference Program
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

“The Black Atlantic: Colonial and Contemporary Exchanges” October 28-29, 2011 Stanford Humanities Center Friday, Oct. 28 Registration 2:00-2:30pm Opening Keynote (Bruce Hall, Duke University) 2:30-3:45pm Panel I 4:00-5:30pm Trading Race: Colonial and Contemporary perceptions of Race Panelists: 1. Dana Linda (UCLA) White Noise, Black Masks: Recapturing Race in Hispanic Caribbean Prison Narratives 2. Michael Ugorji [...]
October 10, 2011
21:16
We finally have a winner for the Mo Ibrahim Prize
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

UPDATE: Check out the Mo Ibrahim Index of Governance here. The usually suspects – Botswana, Cape Verde and Mauritius - lead the pack. ************************************************* The BBC reports: Former Cape Verde President Pedro Verona Pires has been awarded this year’s $5m (£3.2m) Mo Ibrahim prize for good governance in Africa. The prize committee said Mr Pires, [...]
October 09, 2011
4:54
The illusion of modern-day meritocracy
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

That is, most observers—novelists, economists, and laypersons alike—tend to assume that labor income now plays a much bigger role than inherited wealth in shaping people’s lives, and that human capital and hard work have become the key to personal material well-being. Although this is rarely formulated explicitly, the implicit assumption seems to be that the [...]
October 06, 2011
16:38
Remembering Steve Jobs
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Apple has forever changed the way we interact with technology. In memory of its co-founder Steve Jobs check out his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford: Also, check out Melina’s tribute to Mr. Jobs here. Filed under: africa Tagged: apple, remembering steve jobs, steve jobs
October 04, 2011
9:13
Drought is an act of nature, famine is man-made
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Check out this new campaign video by ONE.org You can sign the petition here. HT HuffPost Filed under: africa Tagged: Addis Ababa, Al-Shabab, amartya sen, Bono, Dadaab, Drought, Ethiopia, Famine, Garissa, George Clooney, Horn of Africa, Jessica alba, K'naan, kakuma, Kenya, mandera, Mogadishu, moyale, Nairobi, ONE.org, Somalia
October 02, 2011
22:30
TAZARA Pictures (Preview, see link to original post and more pictures below)
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The original post is here. More of the pictures are here. Filed under: africa Tagged: Dar es Salaam, Kapiri-Mposhi, lusaka, Mbeya, mkushi, Nakonde, tanzania, TAZARA, Zambia
21:18
What does a Sata Presidency Mean for Zambia?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

UPDATE: For a closer take on the Sino-Zambian connection check out Louise Redvers’ piece for the BBC. ************************************ So the Economist beat me to writing about what a Sata presidency means for the Zambian economy, especially with regard to foreign investment. For the two of you out there who are not conversant with the campaign [...]
September 30, 2011
8:00
Will be blogging less regularly in the next few weeks
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Dear readers, third year of graduate school requires that I blog less frequently over the next three weeks or so. Instead of the almost daily updates I will be bunching up the posts whenever time permits. You can also follow me on twitter at @kopalo where I regularly comment on stories on Africa and other [...]
7:32
when dictators’ oracles fail them
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

One of the biggest problems in dictatorships is the dearth of dependable information. This problem affects both dictators and their oppressed subjects alike. The same applies to presidents in electoral regimes who surround themselves with “yes men,” the latter who are oftentimes more concerned about pleasing their patron than giving him the right information. This [...]
September 26, 2011
8:17
Prof. Wangari Maathai passes on
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I remember as a kid watching TV and seeing a woman who was the head of the greenbelt movement being chased around by armed policemen. All I knew was that she was fighting to protect Karura forest and freedom corner in Nairobi from land grabbers. This woman was Wangari Maathai, the first woman in eastern [...]
0:20
The other dimension of the (origins of) Congolese Conflict
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

UPDATE: Stay updated on the run-up to the elections in the DRC here. ************************************************** In reaction to Dodd-Frank many in the blogosphere, including yours truly, have insisted that the problem in eastern Congo is not a law enforcement problem but a governance problem whose solution must come primarily from Kinshasa. Often ignored is the regional [...]
September 25, 2011
22:29
Quick hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The world marathon record is back in Kenya, where it belongs. Zambian Economist has nice maps showing the results of the just concluded general elections. (Dada) Kim on Haba na Haba has a story on the continuing decline of Malawi into overt dictatorship. President Bingu wa Mutharika recently appointment his wife and brother to the [...]
September 23, 2011
17:45
The Consequences of Dodd-Frank in the Kivus
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The dusty streets of Goma, North Kivu’s capital and a mining hub, illustrate Congo’s ills. Metals dealerships dominated the city’s economy until last year but are mostly padlocked now. Repair shops and bars that relied on mining business are empty. So are most public offices. Local government, financed by mining taxes, is insolvent; salaries have [...]
16:58
Sata is Zambia’s president-elect
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

NB: Still hoping from airport to airport and will give my reaction to the Sata victory when I finally get back to Palo Alto on Friday evening Pacific Time. Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front is the new president of Zambia. Mr. Sata beat incumbent president Banda after getting 43% of the declared results in [...]
September 21, 2011
9:59
Zambian Election Results
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Unconfirmed reports indicate that PF has scooped all 22 seats on the Copperbelt, all the seats in Lusaka, 12 out of 14 in Luapula. Banda has a wide lead in Eastern Province. MMD has apparently won all seats except one. Turnout numbers are still not here yet. Presidential results still under wraps. Will update as [...]
September 20, 2011
2:51
outcome of Zambian elections remains uncertain
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Zambian elections remain a toss up. So why is this so? See this earlier post for reasons why the opposition might fail to dislodge MMD from power. In addition, it is hard to tell what will happen because of PF’s campaign strategy of “don’t kubeba” (don’t tell them). Realizing that it is being outspent [...]
September 18, 2011
12:58
more on the zambian elections
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Check out African Arguments for a brief backgrounder. The election remains too close to call, which means that Banda is winning. Given how stacked things are against the opposition, they can only win if they do so convincingly. If it is close (like it was in 2008 when the president won by just over 30,000 [...]
September 15, 2011
15:33
Zambian Elections
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Zambians will go to the polls next Tuesday. According to the latest (and most reliable) opinion poll conducted by the Center for Policy Dialogue President Banda is leading the pack with 41%, followed closely by Sata at 38%. I am attending a mini-conference tomorrow on the elections (academics, observers, NGOs, political parties, etc will be [...]
September 14, 2011
20:49
Bozize’s son is not into authoritarianism, seriously
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

As we navigated a roundabout at the edge of town he turned to me and asked, “Have you been following the news?” I hadn’t heard anything since the day before. “About Ivory Coast? Gbagbo held his own inauguration today! Mais ca, c’est vraiment trop!” Bozize’s son then launched into a diatribe about the failings of [...]
September 13, 2011
13:32
Hand Relief International
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Something for the humanitarian and aid communites to think about, courtesy of Hand Relief International. Among those in the know, another fact has not remained unnoticed: there is more money flowing in than used to and that, reader, is excellent news. The shit continues to be real in Nairobi, the dignified hub of any meaningful [...]
September 09, 2011
14:14
Railroaded
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

That railroads were political animals was the truth of The Octopus, even if the power Norris attributed to them did not necessarily always exist …. The Octopus raised questions that later critics of the Robber Baron school, dismayed by its exaggerations, largely dismissed. They threw the baby out with the bathwater. They did not spend [...]
9:15
quick hits on Zambia and beyond
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

In case you missed it, Zambia is a middle income country – at least according to the Bank. This sort of shows in some parts of Lusaka. But Zambia is also a highly unequal and very poor country. Most people in the countryside have nothing else to do but subsistence farming and burning charcoal. The [...]
September 08, 2011
12:06
Zambian elections
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Zambian elections will be held on the 20th of this month. The main candidates are incumbent President Rupiah Banda (RB) and opposition leader Michael Sata (Sshhh, don’t kubeba). The two are running on the MMD (movement for multiparty democracy) and PF (Patriotic Front) tickets respectively. Both parties have fielded parliamentary candidates in all constituencies. [...]
September 07, 2011
7:17
THE TAZARA (TOTAL TIME: 2 DAYS 1 HOUR 26 MINUTES)
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Note: I will post some photos to accompany this post as soon as I get to a place with a faster internet connection. The post is from Friday, September 2nd. Over the last two days I have been on the TAZARA from Dar es Salaam to Kapiri-Mposhi. The ride lived up to my expectations, despite [...]
September 05, 2011
11:34
in zambia for the next two and a half weeks
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I have not been able to blog for the last several days because of my ongoing summer trip to eastern and southern Africa. I was briefly in Dar es Salaam where I took the TAZARA to Zambia. I have several posts on the TAZARA, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia that I will avail to my readers [...]
August 24, 2011
11:37
being frank about dodd-frank
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The proponents of Dodd-Frank present the issue in such a way that one may think that eastern Congo is a sovereign, independent country. The legislation fails to place the problems of the Kivus in the context of a national crisis that requires robust engagement at the national level. The Enough Project has been eager to [...]
August 20, 2011
12:28
One Day I Will Right About This Place: A Memoir
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

After reading the Economist’s rather harsh review of Binyavanga’s new book I decided to order it on Amazon. I was not disappointed (although I must admit that the Economist was right as far as editing goes. They could have done better). The book is vintage Binyavanga, a fast paced read with insertions of commentary hear [...]
12:18
What I am reading right now
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Siaya is hot and rainy – it rains every day in the afternoon. I am not kidding. This has allowed me time to read when I am not hanging out with my extended family or doing some of my own work. I finally started reading Portfolios of the Poor. Fascinating read, especially now that I [...]
August 18, 2011
21:48
Maintenance of infrastructure still a major challenge in Africa
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

A good measure of state effectiveness is how well stuff is maintained. In well run places repainting is always on schedule. Potholes are fixed. And the light bulbs are not loose. I was reminded of this fact while on transit in Addis last Friday. In 2006, the last time I was there, Bole International Airport [...]
August 11, 2011
23:04
The decline of odious ODA?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Economist has a piece outlining the paradox of Indian overseas development assistance (to the tune of 11 billion over the next 5-7 years). With figures from the CIA factbook I have calculated that about 300 million indians live below the poverty line. The Economist piece also touts the emergence of middle income donors, especially [...]
August 09, 2011
1:40
More on Eritrea and armed groups in eastern Africa
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

While Eritrea has in the past been repeatedly accused of supporting Somalia’s Islamist militia Al Shabaab, a charge it strenuously denies, the current report catalogues Afewerki’s growing notoriety in the world of terrorism finance, and in particular the global web through which these funds are routed, with Kenya serving as a global transaction distribution hub. [...]
August 05, 2011
11:07
Quick hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Guide to arguing on the internet (HT Lauren). Speaking of arguing on the internet, I like the drama that is spats between economists and other academics on their respective blogs. The Economist presents the faces of famine in the Horn. It is beyond sad that so many people should be condemned to suffer this man-made [...]
August 04, 2011
20:53
Kenya’s got talent
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I’ve never watched the show America’s Got Talent but for those who do, make note of Kenya’s representation: Filed under: africa Tagged: america's got talent, Kenya's got talent, Seattle audition
4:33
Will be blogging sporadically for the next week
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Dear readers, I have been away for a bit. Research/work and running the San Francisco half marathon (see images below) have kept me from blogging. I am back but will only be blogging sporadically for the next week or so. In other news, next Thursday I head home to Kenya for a short vacation. My [...]
July 29, 2011
3:24
Mediocre leadership is the biggest crime against humanity
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The saying goes that when the tide runs out you get to know who has been skinny dipping. In the same vein, it is when disaster strikes that you get to know who has mediocre leadership. The ongoing famine in the Horn of Africa, the worst in 60 years, has exposed eastern African leaders for [...]
July 26, 2011
6:59
The Grad Student Rap
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Ok, so it only has 68,237 hits on youtube but it’s still something some of you dear readers might relate to. H/T The Monkey Cage blog. Filed under: africa Tagged: all things considered, Grad student rap, graduate school, NPR, The Monkey Cage, the monkey cage blog
July 25, 2011
10:59
Explaining academia’s liberal bias
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

According to the New York Times it is more than just self-selection. There is also screening: “The tendency of liberals to pursue advanced education isn’t a result of higher I.Q. or less materialism or any such indirect factor,” Dr. Gross told me. He pointed instead to a direct factor: the liberal reputation of the profession [...]
July 24, 2011
5:26
Securing Peace in South Sudan
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Texas in Africa makes a compelling argument against arming South Sudan (against potential aggression from Khartoum). She basically outlines three reasons against arming Juba: Such a move would implicitly side with the SPLM against other domestic armed/opposition groups. The point of concern here is that having just won independence South Susan needs to have a [...]
July 22, 2011
1:29
More good news on the fight against AIDS
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

AIDS researchers, many of whom have been meeting this week in Rome under the auspices of the International AIDS Society, are rightly pleased with the progress they have made. In particular, the use of antiretroviral drugs has not only revolutionised treatment of HIV infection, but also offers the prospect of stopping the spread of the [...]
July 21, 2011
12:40
quick hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Kim on the ongoing protests in Malawi. Pardhan on the limits of the NGO movement in global development. Some cool graphics showing the cellular connection map of the US. The US will, after all, be sending humanitarian aid to Al-Shabab controlled areas suffering the ongoing famine in Somalia. I hope this does not turn into [...]
1:47
Talking real development
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

It is an upper-middle-class, industrialized-country fiction to romanticize life on a small farm. Economic development and food security lie in industrialized agriculture, and this is why I continue being interested in agricultural value chains. My thinking on this has also been reinforced by my recent reading of Jane Jacobs’ The Economy of Cities, in which she [...]
July 19, 2011
20:02
Guinea’s Alpha Conde attacked
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

President Alpha Conde, Guinea’s first elected president since independence, appears to have survived a coup attempt in the early hours of Tuesday. Mr. Conde’s residence was hit by rocket fire in what appears to have been a coup attempt. The latest turn of events makes one wonder if Paul Collier’s rather crazy unorthodox proposals might [...]
July 18, 2011
8:16
African Writing
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Every summer when I travel back home I make sure to peruse the latest issue of Kwani? – the literary magazine co-founded by Binyavanga Wainaina. That is why I was a little disappointed and challenged by the caustic review the Economist gave his latest book One Day I Will Write About This Place. I have [...]
3:50
Happy Birthday Madiba
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Happy Birthday Tata Madiba! The Conscience of a Continent Filed under: africa Tagged: africa, Mandela's birthday, Nelson Mandela, south africa
2:16
The EAC needs a defense pact
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Ugandan government recently went on a $1 billion shopping spree for six fighter jets. The deal, which almost broke the bank, made a significant dent on Uganda’s forex reserves. Many, while acknowledging the risks that might have motivated the purchase, have questioned the wisdom of spending that much money on six jets. For those [...]
July 17, 2011
9:33
Emperor Bokassa’s madness immortalized at the UN Plaza in San Francisco
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Emperor Bokassa ranks high among Africa’s worst dictators. For his coronation as emperor of the Central African Empire he spent half the national budget (with the assistance of the French, of course). This afternoon I once more encountered his colossal error which remains immortalized at the UN Plaza in San Francisco. Filed under: africa Tagged: [...]
July 16, 2011
8:53
The potato beats Maize, and most other Old World staples
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The price of maize in Kenya and the rest of east Africa has hit the roof. The wider Horn of Africa region is currently experiencing its worst drought in 60 years, with thousands of refugees streaming into Kenya from Somalia every week. 10 million people in the wider Horn of Africa region are at risk. [...]
July 14, 2011
6:36
Talk of unintended consequences…
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Judging from the NY Times coverage of the 1917 episode, legislators paid little attention to the implications of mandating a ceiling. They focused instead on Treasury Secretary McAdoo’s request for a higher borrowing limit so as to fund an expensive war effort. The ceiling was created to empower, not rein in, Treasury (prompting a failed [...]
July 13, 2011
7:14
Links I liked
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I just discovered Chri’s Blog on Madagascar and other Africa-related issues. For those with a flavor of finance and capital markets and the political economy of development be sure to read Frontier Markets. Germany is on the hunt for the UN security council seat in Africa. And lastly, Justice – Uganda style: Vice president upsets [...]
3:30
Rants and Raves / Thoughts on the African Union
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The African Union (AU) has had a rough few months. The diplomatic failures in Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, and Madagascar exposed the organization’s incompetence. The misguided anti-ICC crusade continues to cement the image of the organization as nothing more than a club of out-of-date and tone deaf autocrats. To many observers, calls for “African Solutions to [...]
July 09, 2011
0:12
Republic of South Sudan: The Birth of a Nation
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Filed under: africa Tagged: Juba, South Sudan. Republic of South Sudan
July 08, 2011
9:30
Another African country strikes black gold, in massive amounts
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Namibia has joined Ghana and Uganda as the latest winners of the oil lottery in Africa. According to the Independent Online: An estimated 11 billion barrels in oil reserves have been found off Namibia’s coast, with the first production planned within four years, mines and energy minister Isak Katali announced Wednesday. The finding could put [...]
4:48
Is Uganda experiencing its 1991 moment?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The early 1990s were a heady time on the African continent. Student riots, mass strikes, opposition rallies and international pressure were causing many a one party African dictator sleepless nights. By dint of history, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda escaped the winds of change that were sweeping through the continent. Having brought stability to Kampala and [...]
July 07, 2011
2:36
Welcoming Southern Sudan to the EAC
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

In three days the East African Community will celebrate the independence of its next newest member. Because of SPLM connections in Kenya, among other East African nations, the Southern Sudanese economy will most likely orient itself southwards. Kenya’s Vision 2030 development plan, for instance, will link Southern Sudan to the Indian Ocean coast via a [...]
July 04, 2011
0:17
Birthday politics in Uganda
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

President Museveni’s plans to succeed himself in 2016 have come under fresh attack. Activists in Uganda staged a mock birthday party, complete with gifts, to celebrate Museveni’s 73rd birthday. Police dispersed participants at the mock party and even seized the birthday cake. The politics behind Museveni’s date of birth stem from the fact that the [...]
July 03, 2011
0:48
To the Swahili speakers out there
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Jaguar’s latest hit Kigeugeu is currently quite popular in the Swahili world. The song highlights the breakdown of trust and probity in Kenyan society – according to jaguar, everyone (his wife, his pastor, doctors, politicians, bureaucrats, etc) is janus-faced (kigeugeu). Here is the official video of kigeugeu. Filed under: africa Tagged: Genge, Jaguar, Kenya, Kigeugeu, [...]
July 01, 2011
23:13
Briefing from Malabo
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The AU has a lot on its plate at the moment (subject of an upcoming blog post). It is in the middle of trying to put out new fires in Sudan and Libya, while ignoring/recovering from the humiliation of its failures in Somalia, Cote d'Ivoire, and Zimbabwe - not to mention the region's other problems. All this while insisting on "African Solutions to African Problems," despite the organization's infamous reputation for incompetence.
June 29, 2011
21:50
No ICC hearings in Kenya
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova on Wednesday decided that the trial of suspects of the 2007-08 election violence in Kenya will not be held in the country. Great move. I am of the view that holding the hearings in Kenya would have created an unnecessary distraction from the important task of implementing Kenya’s [...]
7:47
Is Peer Review in Decline?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

One more reason for academics to keep blogging…. Glenn Ellison in this paper notes the general decline in the need for academics from top institutions to publish in top journals because they can get citations [hopefully confirming that they were right] by other means – through sites like SSRN [and perhaps even by sharing their [...]
3:35
Inequality, Terrorism and Governance in Nigeria
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

On June 17th Nigeria experienced its first ever suicide bomb attack. Boko Haram, a militant Islamic group that seeks the imposition of Sharia Law in all of northern Nigeria, claimed responsibility for the attack. Although the group’s principal aim – at least according to its press releases – is the imposition of Sharia Law, its [...]
June 27, 2011
8:05
army recruitment ad done very badly
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

This has got to be one of the worst recruitment ads I have ever seen. HT @laurenist Filed under: africa Tagged: Army recruitment ads, Ukrainian army recruitment ad
June 24, 2011
5:11
Accountable leadership 1 Abdoulaye Wade 0
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Abdoulaye Wade is a study in delegative democracy gone crazy (In the words of Paul Collier, democrazy). Delegative democracy is the phenomenon of elected leaders going rogue and essentially performing auto-coups (mostly through constitutional gymnastics) in order to entrench themselves in power (see O’Donnell). Leading lights in this regard include Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, the [...]
June 23, 2011
8:40
Graphical Illustration of China’s global reach
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

NPR has this cool graphic on China’s global investments [click on image to enlarge]. Notice that Nigeria is among the top destinations of Chinese investments. In my alternate universe Abuja (the undisputed regional hegemon) is stable and uses this, and the fact that it is also among the most important sources of US-bound crude oil, [...]
June 22, 2011
11:08
The new constitution and patronage politics in Kenya
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Former president Moi infamously liked warning voters that siasa mbaya maisha mbaya (bad politics leads to a bad life). This was code for vote for the opposition and no roads, no schools and no hospitals for you. The framers of the new Kenyan constitution must have particularly disliked the power of the presidency in doling [...]
2:20
When not worrying about jobs, terrorists and reelection, Obama calms babies
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

This is on the fluffy side of things… Remember when Obama could do just about anything [including touching MC Hammer]? Well, he still has some of that magic touch – at least when it comes to babies. HT Huffington Post Filed under: africa Tagged: Barack Obama, Crying babies, Huffington Post, MC Hammer, Michelle Obama
June 21, 2011
20:54
Quick hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

1. If you don’t have a summer reading list already, Blattman has one for you. The list is obviously not exhaustive, but two pressing titles I might add are Avner Greif’s Institutions and the Path to the Modern Economy and Gerschenkron’s Economic Backwardness in Historical Perspective. 2. In yet another not so nice chapter in [...]
1:39
Failed states index out, the usual suspects top the list
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

FP has the annual list of failed states. The Continent has a heavy presence on the list, with the usual suspects like Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Niger and Central African Republic, among the top failures. Also on the list are otherwise stable places like Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, among others. The list is, in some sense, [...]
June 18, 2011
10:16
chiluba dies
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The firebrand Zambian trade unionist-cum president, Frederick Chiluba, has died. The Daily Nation reports that the former president of Zambia died in the early hours of Saturday. Mr. Chiluba came into power in 1991 following the defeat of Kenneth Kaunda in Zambia’s first multiparty elections. Although tainted by allegations of corruption – he has been [...]
June 17, 2011
23:00
conflict minerals in the congo
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

As is now common knowledge, the mineral glut in the DRC has been more a source of pain rather than gain. Minerals have financed both corrupt governments and their cronies in Kinshasa and marauding rebel groups in the ungoverned corners of the vast country. To over-simply the issue, reforms will have to tackle both angles [...]
5:25
The private sector is betting that Kenya will survive 2012
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

As I occasionally care to point out, Kenya is making meaningful progress towards institutionalization of government. According to Joel Barkan, the Kenyan parliament is the strongest in Africa. Its judiciary has just undergone radical reforms which saw outsiders from civil society appointed to the country’s newly created Supreme Court. The country’s provincial administration, in the [...]
June 16, 2011
1:38
Kenyan supreme court takes shape
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Judicial reform in Kenya made another big leap with the appointment of five individuals to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. Njoki Ndungu, Jackton Ojuang, Smokin Wanjala, Mohammed Ibrahim and Phillip Tunoi will join the Chief Justice, William Mutunga, and his assistant Nancy Baraza on the court. Mutunga and Baraza will champion [...]
June 11, 2011
20:48
Ignoring the log in one’s own eye (forgive the hackneyed biblical metaphor)
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Hilary Clinton is on a tour of three African states. She is visiting Zambia, Tanzania and Ethiopia. This is what she had to say in Lusaka: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday warned Africa of a creeping “new colonialism” from foreign investors and governments interested only in extracting the continent’s natural resources [...]
19:41
Mastermind of 1998 bombings in Nairobi and Dar killed in Mogadishu
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The man behind the US embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam has been killed by Somali government forces at a roadblock in Mogadishu. The Saturday Nation reports: The mastermind of the 1998 twin bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam Fazul Abdullah has been killed by Somalia government forces in Mogadishu. Mr Abdullah, [...]
3:37
PhD comics movie
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Isn’t it time we had a real show about graduate student life? (The big bang theory does not count, although it gets close. And I love it). Here is the PhD Movie trailer: I hope this will get hollywood writers and producers going (or not). If you haven’t yet, check out PhD Comics. Filed under: [...]
June 09, 2011
21:18
More on economic development
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Brookings has two pieces worth reading on the state of Africa’s economies. The main takeaways are that: 1) there are many Africa’s; some states are doing well while others continue to run around in circles 2) Governance, Governance, Governance. You cannot have a thriving business sector amidst high levels of unpredictability and 3) Trade, both [...]
19:30
selective unconditional convergence and growth
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Rodrik has a finding that reinforces the importance of politics and other macro conditions for economic development. He points out the existence of the paradox of unconditional convergence at the industry level but not at the national level. Rodrik stresses the importance of structural change that channels labor into the right industries. To this we [...]
June 08, 2011
21:47
Quick hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Texas in Africa’s review of Fighting for Darfur. Blattman on economic growth and development. The long arms of the Rwandan state? The Zambian elections will be close. Last time round the opposition leader lost by a mere 3% (I will be there for the campaigns this summer). And lastly, Kenya’s trillion-shilling proposed budget. High on [...]
June 07, 2011
6:10
Africa’s budding narco-states?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I have written before about the growing problem of drug-trafficking that is already creating new problems for fragile African states. Of note is the fact that the problem is not just limited to the usual suspects – weak or failing states – but also extends to countries that most would consider to have it together, [...]
June 05, 2011
0:29
Call for papers
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The Black Atlantic: Colonial and Contemporary Exchanges 2011 Annual Meeting of the Stanford Forum for African Studies Stanford University, California October 28-29, 2011 The Stanford Forum for African Studies (SFAS) invites proposals for papers by graduate students, scholars, and faculty on the topics of slavery, migration and the African Diaspora, and how each of these [...]
June 03, 2011
8:45
All politics is local, and more
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Many have seen the BBC map below of the outcome of the just-concluded Nigerian presidential elections. The south voted for incumbent Jonathan while the north went for Buhari. The state elections were a different kettle of fish. In these elections the president’s party – the PDP – held its own in the north. Available results [...]
7:14
Can the fight against aids be won?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

There is hope that the fight against AIDS can be won. Over the last 30 years the disease has killed millions and created millions of orphans. It’s lasting impact persists in lost human capital and reduced labor productivity (see paper on this here). But if the optimism of the Economist (and they are not known [...]
June 01, 2011
21:21
Cleaning up the filth in FIFA
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

You know things are bad when even American academics who are not into football get all worked up about the sport and its governing body FIFA. Here’s FP’s Drezner (have you read his zombie book yet?): A few thoughts. First, what kind of election process is it when the scandal-beseiged incumbent is the only friggin’ [...]
9:48
Happy Madaraka Day!
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Happy Madaraka Day to all fellow Kenyans back home and around the world. Hongera! Najivunia kuwa mkenya. Filed under: africa Tagged: Independence, Kaggia, Karumba, Kenya, Kenyatta, Kubai, Madaraka, Muliro, Nairobi, Ngei, odinga, Oneko, Self-Rule
May 31, 2011
9:40
quick hits
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

What disasters reveal. Excellent read. From disasters we get to know more about the societies that experience them. Perhaps the glaring international example of this was the difference in destruction and response to the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Haiti’s non-existent state capacity was exposed for the whole world to see. Facebook diplomacy. Are freedom [...]
7:36
double standards
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Times has a nice story on Obiang’s Equatorial Guinea that is worth reading: Officially and unofficially, Americans do business with one of the undisputed human rights global bad boys, Equatorial Guinea, Africa’s fourth biggest oil exporter. Its widely criticized record on basic freedoms has offered little barrier to broad engagement by the United States, [...]
6:38
Judges reject kenya’s bid to stop icc case
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The government of Kenya has lost in its bid to convince the ICC that it has the political will and capacity to try key perpetrators of the 2007-08 post-election violence (PEV). Kenya had asked for six months to get its justice system in order and convince the ICC that it could bring to book those [...]
May 30, 2011
1:02
Who will stop khartoum?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

It appears that the war between north and south Sudan is inevitable. The north overran the disputed town of Abyei last week and now is angling to take over two border states. The Times reports: Now, according to a letter from the Sudanese military’s high command, the northern army, in the next few days, plans [...]
May 29, 2011
6:01
A medieval sociology of IR
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

HT Melissa: I found this rather fun to read. Here is my favorite bit of it all: Like medieval priests, or oratores, the formal theorists in international relations claim special access to divine knowledge, available not through observation of the corrupt and impure world but though revelation and contemplation of the perfection of the divinity. [...]
May 27, 2011
5:22
food for thought
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Ted Miguel and other similarly brilliant economists and political scientists (in the RCT mold) are doing what I consider R&D work that developmental states ought to be doing themselves. Sometimes it takes intensive experimental intervention to find out what works and what doesn’t. The need for such an approach is even higher when you are [...]
May 26, 2011
22:24
perspective
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Kenyan Members of Parliament take home US$ 174, 400 a year (about on par with US rank and file congresspeople. Cabinet Ministers make even more). Their Ghanaian counterparts make US$ 24,000. Although there might be an upside in paying the Kenyan MPs this much money (see below), it’s hard to ignore doubts about The ethical [...]
3:07
whiggish history of kenya
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The caution in the title of this post applies. A few good things have happened in Kenya since 2001: The powers of the presidency have been dispersed. Many tend to forget that Kibaki inherited the same powers as Moi. The only difference was that by 2002 the elites around the president had accumulated enough wealth [...]
May 25, 2011
2:08
blurring the line between church and state
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

The Catholic Church has urged Parliament to interrogate the moral values and family principles of two judicial nominees before approving them. The Church came short of rejecting the nomination of Dr Willy Mutunga and Ms Nancy Barasa for the positions of Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice respectively, over questions raised about their controversial moral [...]
May 24, 2011
20:33
Dictatorship and Disease
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Most Bad things go together. Like Keating at FP, I am unwilling to make any causal claims linking dictatorship to disease or vice versa but suffice it to say that most people who live under dictatorships – in Chad, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, North Korea, etc – do live despite great odds occasioned by their respective governments’ incompetence [...]
May 23, 2011
21:22
khalwale re-elected
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Bonny Khalwale has won back his Ikolomani parliamentary seat. Mr. Khalwale lost his seat after the courts nullified his election in 2007 on account of irregularities. What does this mean for Kenyan national politics? My answer is that it is hard to tell. The results will certainly dent Deputy Premier Mudavadi’s claim to be the [...]
May 20, 2011
20:54
Spring quarter WGAPE Conference, UCSD
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I am currently in San Diego attending the Spring Quarter WGAPE conference at UCSD. WGAPE (the Working Group in African Political Economy) brings together west coast-based faculty and advanced graduate students in Political Science and Economics who combine deep field research experience in Africa with training in political economy methods (Just one more reason why [...]
May 19, 2011
8:19
Aid Watch winds up
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I hope that William Easterly and Laura Freschi of Aid Watch will reconsider resuming blogging in the near future. Their insights on development matters have been most valuable. I remember, as a college student in wintry New Haven, experiencing a change in my approach to development issues after reading The White Man’s Burden. I read [...]
May 17, 2011
23:32
will the latest land grab help africa?
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

I am on record as having reservations about the latest scramble for Africa African governments leasing vital arable land to foreign companies and governments (esp. in the face of high levels of food insecurity in the region). Like many, my first reaction was to protest against these land deals. Like most natural-resource concessions on the [...]
May 15, 2011
0:55
democracy and inflation in africa
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

Central bank independence is still the exception rather than the rule in most of Africa. This then raises the question of what effects elections – with the high associated costs of buying votes – have on the inflation rate. For instance, Uganda has been experiencing inflation (a.k.a walk to work) riots following Museveni’s reelection. Many [...]
May 14, 2011
10:56
tapping africa’s potential
» ‎ Opalo's Weblog

As promised here’s a brief note on the conference on Africa at Stanford. Most of the speakers (esp. Fred Lwaniker of the Africa Leadership Academy and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina) reiterated Achebe’s take that the trouble with Africa is simply and squarely a problem of leadership. There is hope though. People like Lamido Sanusi, [...]

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