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In 1981 a radical journal was launched on the side of 'struggling people' and against so-called 'African socialism'. The Journal of African Marxists published articles, reviews and briefings but also organised conferences and local committees across the continent. The journal sought to 'to stimulate the debate on the correct path appropriate to the conditions of Africa.' David Seddon celebrates the eleven issues of an unusual and important forum for African Marxists that survived briefly more than three decades ago.

David Seddon writes that seven years after the revolution many Tunisians have lost faith in the ‘democratic transition’ that they hoped would bring wider prosperity. This year a wave of popular protest broke out in the second week of January sparked by a package of tax increases after the government had received ‘a nudge’ from the IMF. At the height of the protests, it was estimated that tens of thousands of people were involved. Seddon examines the recent history of protest and struggle in Tunisia, the revolution in 2011, and the local elections held at the beginning of this month.

David Seddon reviews the extraordinary events in Zimbabwe, which saw the end of Mugabe's 37 year rule. Ordinary people of Zimbabwe, who have experienced decades of repression and hardship, are rejoicing and are optimistic, but very soon, Seddon argues, there must be a renewed, popular struggle for the future of Zimbabwe.

Recent protest in Togo have seen clashes with the police and a certain amount of street violence, but the scale has been unprecedented, with organisers claiming that as many as 800,000 people took to the streets across the country in August 2017. In the latest issue in the series David Seddon looks at the background to the latest wave of popular protests to rock West Africa.

Ken Post, who died earlier this year, was a restless Marxist, constantly rethinking questions of theory, rebellion and protest. He worked in and wrote about Africa, the Caribbean and South East Asia – uncovering histories of revolt and struggle. David Seddon praises a rebel who never stopped questioning.

David Seddon reviews the recent political and economic history of Niger. The country has long been one of the world’s largest uranium producers; supplying France with uranium ore for its nuclear industry. Since 2011, it has also started producing, refining and exporting oil. Output is currently around 20,000 barrels a day, which is about the same as its refining capacity. President Mahamadou Issoufou has recently announced that he would not amend the constitution to allow him to seek a third term after his second and final mandate ends in 2021.

Jointly published by Jacobin and ROAPE, David Seddon writes about Joseph Kabila’s second term as president which was supposed to end last November, but he’s still clinging to power, despite massive resistance. For the past two years, the political opposition has struggled against Kabila, worried that he will try to extend his term by any means necessary. Seddon explains what has been happening.

In this issue of Popular Protest and Class Struggle in Africa, David Seddon reviews the most recent developments in four countries he has recently discussed – Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe and the DRC – in all of which long-standing leaders have refused to stand down, in some cases against growing internal opposition and external pressure, but with significantly differing outcomes.

Jointly published by Jacobin and ROAPE, David Seddon writes about Che Guevara's doomed, heroic mission to the Congo in 1965. Seddon argues that Che Guevara’s expedition in the Congo, though ill-fated, stands as a crucial example of anti-imperialist solidarity. In the blog-post Seddon charts the failures of the expedition and draws the lessons.

Hours before the deadline Senegal maintains its troops are ready to intervene if Gambia’s President Jammeh refuses to hand over power. Jammeh has replied that he would not be intimidated, and the regional body ECOWAS had no right to interfere in The Gambia's affairs. David Seddon looks at the elections last month and the current crisis.