In 2013, almost half of Africa’s top aid recipients were ruled by authoritarian regimes. Many international donors such as USAID, DFID, the World Bank and the European Commission have had their policies entangled with the agendas of the ruling elites. Development policies are thus shaped with a view to maintain the status quo, compromising the rights and democracy of local citizens. This book raises the question: to what extent are foreign aid programmes actually perpetuating authoritarian rule?  

On 9 May 2016, the Rift Valley Forum hosted the launch of Aid and Authoritarianism in Africa, edited by Tobias Hagmann and Filip Reyntjens.

The book highlights the political and moral complexities that emerge from the relationship between foreign aid and autocratic governments in Africa. It brings to light changing donor interests and rhetoric, as well as the impact of foreign aid on military assistance, rural development, electoral processes and domestic politics in Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Cameroon, Mozambique and Angola. More information on the book can be found here.
 

Moderator

Fiona Napier
Independent Consultant
 

Panelists

Tobias Hagmann
Editor

Marie-Emmanuelle Pommerolle
IFRA