The Nordic Africa Institute – Publications

Moving away from traditional aid-driven agendas, Finland, Norway and Denmark have launched Africa strategies that aim to foster equitable partnerships based on mutual interests in trade, security and climate adaptation. The respective strategies share common ground in terms of strengthening Nordic–African ties, supporting multilateralism and advancing Africa’s global influence. Given this common ground, the Nordic countries could reinforce their chances of shaping the global agenda by aligning their approaches.

This paper analyzes the forms of agencies, social networks, and transnational e-commerce between Dakar and İstanbul, and the people involved, including migrants, GPs –gratis passengers, grouping networks, and traders. First, it considers the recent economic “charm offensive” by the Turkish state with a view to expanding into the “open African market” at diplomatic, industrial, and commercial levels; then, it describes relations between Türkiye and Senegal. After that, it discusses the visa policy between the two countries, before reviewing the literature on African migration, in general, and Senegalese migration to Türkiye, in particular; and mobility between Senegal and Türkiye, to and from cities such as İstanbul and Izmir. Finally, the paper analyzes the transnational mobility of Senegalese traders. Interviews were carried out in the Senegalese capital Dakar, where most Turkish products transit before being distributed within Senegal or to neighboring countries. The interviews mainly focused on traders who travel back and forth between Dakar and İstanbul, GPs-, and Senegalese businesspeople. Using the power of social networks such as Viber, WhatsApp, and Facebook, they regularly trade with Türkiye while residing in Senegal: indeed, some of them never leave the country.gers.

Zimbabwe’s rich lithium reserves have sparked a foreign investment boom, particularly from China. While the government, eager to attract investments, helps foreign mining companies secure access to 'the white gold', artisanal miners are sidelined. A ban on unprocessed lithium exports, intended to boost domestic processing, has instead benefited political elites and marginalised local communities even further. To foster inclusive growth, the government should formalise artisanal mining and strengthen regional cooperation.

The traditional livelihood practice of pastoralism is under threat in Turkana County in Kenya. The past decades have seen a shift in livelihood practices from pastoralism to other livelihood practices in the arid and semi-arid lands; including small-scale crop farming, small-scale businesses, charcoal burning and selling of firewood. Through the case study areas in three villages – Emeiyana, Nalemsekon and Ayanae Akunoit – in Lokichar, Turkana County, this paper analyses the role of long periods of drought and the existing state of political and socio-economic marginalization in driving livelihood changes among vulnerable pastoral communities. The study results indicate that access to water especially during periods of prolonged drought such as the recent 2020–2022 drought, is a crucial factor driving livelihood changes. The historical marginalization of the communities is found to further aggravate the situation resulting in food insecurity.

The Nordic Africa Institute scholarship programmes aim to promote research on contemporary Africa in the fields of social science and the humanities. The programmes provide funding and support to both Nordic and African scholars, playing a crucial role in fostering academic excellence and strengthening intellectual collaboration.

In its recent elections, Ghana’s acclaimed democracy underwent something of a stress test, which it passed by reaching three important milestones. First, the relatively peaceful transfer of power from incumbent to opposition. Second, the election of Ghana’s first ever woman vice president. And third, a first outing for the new affirmative action act, signed into law only months before the election. However, in this election the legislation’s aim of empowering women in politics paid off more in rhetoric than in actual numbers.

Democracy is challenged across the globe. However, summing up the elections held last year across Africa, there are some positive signs. Five democracies (Botswana, Ghana, Senegal, Somaliland and Mauritius) held elections that ended with incumbent presidents handing over power peacefully to successful opposition candidates. And one country(South Africa) saw the end of three decades of single-party rule. Altogether, these six elections show proof of democratic resilience in Africa and bring hope of a trend reversal.