Sixty-six years ago, on the eve of independence, Niger’s first African government council was led by the Sawaba party and its Prime Minister was a charismatic decolonial trade unionist called Djibo Bakary. Sawaba was then overthrown in 1958 by France in Africa’s first coup. Few know about the Sawaba party, its leader Djibo Bakary and the struggle in the 1960s for Niger’s true liberation.  For ROAPE, Sahidi Bilan and Rob Lemkin bring the hidden history of Niger’s fight for real liberation to life.

In recent years we have become familiar with the great sacrifices of whistleblowers. In the global context, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden have exposed the terrible crimes of the empire. Recently released publisher and activist, Julian Assange, was also incarcerated due to his role in aiding whistleblowers. Ugljesa Radulovic argues that the experiences of whistleblowers in Africa are less well known. Yet, Radulovic identifies that South African whistleblowers have been subjected to vicious, and sometimes, deadly reprisals, similar to that of their counterparts in the West.

ROAPE’s Reg Cline-Cole introduces the first issue of the journal (Vol. 51, Issue 179) in the year of our 50th anniversary, and as a fully open access publication. Though this year, Reg explains, is a new beginning, it is also a return to ROAPE’s radical origins half a century ago. The entire new issue is available for the first time fully open access, with no paywall or barriers to access anywhere in the world. Each article, briefing and review is accessible through the links below.

Kalundi Serumaga offers a radical take on the two-day conference at Makerere University in Kampala in January 2024, reflecting on 40 years of neoliberalism in Uganda. He observed that while Uganda’s intellectuals speak up against poverty and social instability, they fall short of envisioning a way out of the neoliberal impasse. Serumaga defines neoliberalism, elucidates its origins in Uganda’s tumultuous political and economic history, and emphasises the necessity of critiquing it.

In his long-read, Husam Osman Mahjoub delves into the UAE and Saudi Arabia's influence in Sudan, emphasizing its impact on the war and democratic aspirations. He outlines the intricate relationships and interventions in Sudanese affairs, highlighting the pivotal roles played by both countries. Mahjoub discusses historical events and diplomatic maneuvers that shaped the region and its conflicts, shedding light on the complex dynamics. His analysis underscores the urgent need to address the UAE's involvement in supporting the RSF militia to halt the ongoing war in Sudan.