nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month in Africa: a trade deal that could transform Kenya’s economy, how conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is hurting school children, and a story of racism and resilience at the Miss Universe South Africa competition.
Kenya looks to become a semiconductor manufacturing player
Kenya is the leader in Africa when it comes to manufacturing semiconductors, and given Africa regularly exports critical minerals for semiconductor production, Kenya and its trade partners could reap great benefits through expanded manufacturing capacity. To date, Kenya has struggled to attract enough investment to really develop its semiconductor manufacturing capacity, but a recent partnership between Kenya and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency may help Kenya become a key player in semiconductor manufacturing.
The partnership benefits Kenya greatly. The semiconductor industry is “projected to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030,” which will naturally benefit Kenya’s economy. Kenya is also home to a “young, tech-savvy population” who will continue to foster technological innovation as the investment in semiconductor manufacturing will increase jobs.
The U.S. also stands to benefit from the partnership because it could help stabilize supply lines that were previously at great risk of disruption. As Kenya has ⅓ of the necessary minerals for semiconductor manufacturing, the supply line is shorter, resulting in fewer possible disruptions to supply lines and a cheaper means of production. Similarly, the U.S. is currently in a low trade war with China, which previously received the majority of needed minerals; by decreasing reliance on China through Kenya’s ability to manufacture semiconductors, the U.S. should have improved economic and national security.
Back to school in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, students who want to go to school often cannot. During the ongoing decades–long conflict between Congolese armed forces and the M23 rebel group, many families have been displaced, in turn overburdening the capacities of already strained schools in the receiving communities. In the east part of the country, UNICEF has been supporting efforts to create temporary schools to give displaced students a place to learn. Yet many displaced children face tough choices—to learn, to work and help support their family, or even to join the conflict.
Even families that haven’t been displaced can struggle to pay school fees or buy school supplies due to unemployment and high costs of living. This, in turn, is difficult for vendors who make a living off of selling school supplies.
Despite these challenges, education remains a priority both for children who want to learn and the government. Yet government programs to help build temporary schools and cover exam fees for students have received criticism for not being ambitious enough given the severity of the crisis. In the meantime, some students are benefiting from radio lessons provided in displacement camps by the Norwegian government.
Pride and prejudice at Miss Universe South Africa competition
When Chidimma Adetshina entered the Miss South Africa pageant, she hoped to represent her country with “so much pride and so much grace.” Yet she faced intense backlash—including calls to remove her from the competition—when it was revealed that although Adetshina was born and raised in South Africa, her father is Nigerian.
Social media and the pandemic sparked a rise in sentiment against migrants in South Africa from other African countries. In November 2023, the leader of the Patriotic Alliance Gayton McKenzie demanded that foreign nationals in South Africa “must go home” as they are often blamed for problems like crime and unemployment.
Defenders of Adetshina noted that other former contestants with one foreign parent did not face similar scrutiny—potentially due to differences in ethnic heritage. Yet the vocal outcries against her participation, including calls from political leaders for investigations into her nationality and online abuse directed at Adetshina, convinced her to withdraw.
Ultimately, representatives from the Miss Nigeria pageant convinced Adetshina to compete, and she won, ensuring that she will go on to compete for Miss Universe 2024. The new Miss Nigeria hopes to inspire unity with her win, saying, “Not taking away from the fact that I am South African, but also understanding that I am still proudly Nigerian and I am proudly South African and just being that symbol of peace and unity.”
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Under The Radar: Kenya's semiconductor ambitions get a boost
Night view of Nairobi, Kenya. Photo by Click Smith | Nick254 Media Ltd on Unsplash
October 3, 2024
Diplomatic Courier staff writer Stephanie Gull brings you three under–the–radar stories from Africa in September: Kenya’s semiconductor–focused investments, the travails of displaced students in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a tale of resilience at the Miss Universe South Africa Pageant.
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nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month in Africa: a trade deal that could transform Kenya’s economy, how conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is hurting school children, and a story of racism and resilience at the Miss Universe South Africa competition.
Kenya looks to become a semiconductor manufacturing player
Kenya is the leader in Africa when it comes to manufacturing semiconductors, and given Africa regularly exports critical minerals for semiconductor production, Kenya and its trade partners could reap great benefits through expanded manufacturing capacity. To date, Kenya has struggled to attract enough investment to really develop its semiconductor manufacturing capacity, but a recent partnership between Kenya and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency may help Kenya become a key player in semiconductor manufacturing.
The partnership benefits Kenya greatly. The semiconductor industry is “projected to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030,” which will naturally benefit Kenya’s economy. Kenya is also home to a “young, tech-savvy population” who will continue to foster technological innovation as the investment in semiconductor manufacturing will increase jobs.
The U.S. also stands to benefit from the partnership because it could help stabilize supply lines that were previously at great risk of disruption. As Kenya has ⅓ of the necessary minerals for semiconductor manufacturing, the supply line is shorter, resulting in fewer possible disruptions to supply lines and a cheaper means of production. Similarly, the U.S. is currently in a low trade war with China, which previously received the majority of needed minerals; by decreasing reliance on China through Kenya’s ability to manufacture semiconductors, the U.S. should have improved economic and national security.
Back to school in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, students who want to go to school often cannot. During the ongoing decades–long conflict between Congolese armed forces and the M23 rebel group, many families have been displaced, in turn overburdening the capacities of already strained schools in the receiving communities. In the east part of the country, UNICEF has been supporting efforts to create temporary schools to give displaced students a place to learn. Yet many displaced children face tough choices—to learn, to work and help support their family, or even to join the conflict.
Even families that haven’t been displaced can struggle to pay school fees or buy school supplies due to unemployment and high costs of living. This, in turn, is difficult for vendors who make a living off of selling school supplies.
Despite these challenges, education remains a priority both for children who want to learn and the government. Yet government programs to help build temporary schools and cover exam fees for students have received criticism for not being ambitious enough given the severity of the crisis. In the meantime, some students are benefiting from radio lessons provided in displacement camps by the Norwegian government.
Pride and prejudice at Miss Universe South Africa competition
When Chidimma Adetshina entered the Miss South Africa pageant, she hoped to represent her country with “so much pride and so much grace.” Yet she faced intense backlash—including calls to remove her from the competition—when it was revealed that although Adetshina was born and raised in South Africa, her father is Nigerian.
Social media and the pandemic sparked a rise in sentiment against migrants in South Africa from other African countries. In November 2023, the leader of the Patriotic Alliance Gayton McKenzie demanded that foreign nationals in South Africa “must go home” as they are often blamed for problems like crime and unemployment.
Defenders of Adetshina noted that other former contestants with one foreign parent did not face similar scrutiny—potentially due to differences in ethnic heritage. Yet the vocal outcries against her participation, including calls from political leaders for investigations into her nationality and online abuse directed at Adetshina, convinced her to withdraw.
Ultimately, representatives from the Miss Nigeria pageant convinced Adetshina to compete, and she won, ensuring that she will go on to compete for Miss Universe 2024. The new Miss Nigeria hopes to inspire unity with her win, saying, “Not taking away from the fact that I am South African, but also understanding that I am still proudly Nigerian and I am proudly South African and just being that symbol of peace and unity.”
