Bourne’s Nigeria: A History of Big Men

My review of Richard Bourne’s book on the history of Nigeria was published by Welt-Sichten (pdf here). It offers a firm introduction into the politics and society in the West African state from Lugard’s establishment of the colony till the election victory of Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Bourne’s book is, however, a story of “big men”. Readers looking for an account of everyday life in Nigeria, be it in the Niger Delta or during the Biafra war, will probably be disapppointed.

Somalia: A Profitable War

The Somali terror group al-Shabaab strikes soft targets in Mogadishu and attacks troops of the African Union. Meanwhile, severe allegations are raised against the Kenyan contingent of the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom).