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Simon Allison

Simon Allison is the Africa editor for the Mail & Guardian in Johannesburg. He is also a research consultant for the Institute for Security Studies, and was previously senior Africa correspondent for the Daily Maverick. He specializes in African news and analysis, and has reported from across the continent. His work has appeared on the Guardian, Foreign Policy, NPR, Courrier International and Internazionale. He holds degrees from Rhodes University in South Africa and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and has lived and worked across Africa and the Middle East.

Articles By Simon Allison

‘Game-Changing’ Gas Find Could Transform South Africa’s Economy – But at What Cost? By Simon Allison - Mar 13, 2019

On the eve of his State of the Nation address last month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa got some good news. “Last night, I received a call from Minister Gwede Mantashe, when he told me that the oil giant Total would be making a big announcement today about a new ‘world-class’ oil and gas discovery … Continue reading “‘Game-Changing’ Gas Find Could Transform South Africa’s Economy – But at What Cost?”

The Nigeria Election to Watch Isn’t for the President, but for Governor of Lagos State By Simon Allison - Feb 7, 2019

Nigeria chooses its president on February 16, in a general election that will see 23,316 candidates compete for 1,558 vacant elective seats, with 84 million people registered to vote. Yet for all that, nothing much is expected to change. The run-up to the vote has been typically chaotic, with politicians trading insults and swapping parties … Continue reading “The Nigeria Election to Watch Isn’t for the President, but for Governor of Lagos State”

Zimbabwe, Financially Broke, Is Running Out of Options – and Time By Simon Allison - Jan 30, 2019

Zimbabwe’s political chaos is a function of its economic crisis – and the economy is only getting worse. To all intents and purposes, Zimbabwe is broke. The government has so little income that it is struggling to keep the lights on in ministry buildings and pay civil servants. It certainly does not have anything to … Continue reading “Zimbabwe, Financially Broke, Is Running Out of Options – and Time”

Harsh Realities Hamper Establishment of an African Free Trade Area By Simon Allison - Jan 27, 2019

If the African Union (AU) is to be believed, this is the year that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) starts to really take shape. Forty-nine member-states have signed up to the deal, and 15 of them have already ratified it – including South Africa, the continent’s second-largest economy. Only seven more ratifications are … Continue reading “Harsh Realities Hamper Establishment of an African Free Trade Area”