Yarik Turianskyi is the Deputy Programme Head for African Governance and Diplomacy at the South African Institute of International Affairs. He joined the Institute in 2008 after completing a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Pretoria, which assessed the African Peer Review Mechanism as a standard for good governance on the continent. While completing his studies Yarik also lectured in Political Science and International Relations. During his time at SAIIA Yarik authored over 12 research papers, focused on governance, technology and gender, and over 30 opinion articles on various governance themes. He has been to and conducted research in 10 African countries and is the co-editor of the book African Accountability: What Works and What Doesn’t. Yarik has also been involved at various South African radio stations as both a presenter and correspondent since 2002.
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African Continental Nuclear Institutions: A Review
Nuclear energy is expected to play an increasingly important role in Africa’s energy programmes. At least 16 countries are looking at ways to include nuclear as part of their energy mix, with emphasis on electrification and energy security. Current use …
The Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty: An African Perspective
This policy insight examines the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW, also known as the Ban Treaty) from an African perspective. It provides a historical overview of the role of nuclear weapons on the continent, a …
Nuclear Power and Governance Frameworks: Egypt, Ghana and South Africa
This report examines three African countries that are at different stages in using nuclear energy to achieve developmental outcomes. The year 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons’ entering into forc …
Should All Africa’s States Join the APRM?
When the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) – Africa’s governance monitoring and promotion instrument – was launched on 9 March 2003, it was voluntary. Given the sensitivity of governance reviews, its voluntary nature was deemed necessary, as reviews …
COVID-19: Implications for the ‘digital divide’ in Africa
In a time of social distancing and government-enforced lockdowns to curtail the spread of COVID-19, digital technology has enabled the continuation of work, education and communication. But for millions of people who are unable to connect to the intern …
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 50 years on: Where does Africa stand?
March marks 50 years since the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entered into force. Resting on three pillars – nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear technology – it was intended to provide stability and se …
Africa and Europe: Cyber Governance Lessons
This Policy Insights examines the lessons the AU can learn from the EU in the area of cyber governance. The AU has recently adopted one document in this respect, the 2014 Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection. This convention impose …
Stepping up e-commerce would boost SA Inc
A market of 1.3-billion people could be tapped into if postal and internet services were made efficient and accessible. Just over 25 years ago, on August 11 1994, a man went online and used his credit card to buy a Sting CD. Today this seems normal. Ma …
Lessons from Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an example of a multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI). Such frameworks became prominent in the early 21st century, bringing together governments, business and civil society to collectively solve governance chall …
The ‘Kagame Reforms’ of the AU: Will they Stick?
At the 27th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State in 2016, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame was entrusted with leading the institutional reform process of the AU. The decision to reform the organisation was a response to the seemingly per …
Talking Africa-EU relations in the City of Dragons
Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, with a population of 250 000, is symbolised by dragons and is one of the greenest cities in Europe. Although it may seem like an unlikely venue for an Africa Day conference, the seventh iteration of this event, which …
The African Peer Review Mechanism at 15: Achievements and Aspirations
As the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) turns 15 on 9 March 2018, this milestone provides an ideal opportunity to acknowledge recent progress. The APRM Secretariat’s new ‘Three Rs strategy’ has begun to restore, reinvigorate and renew the mechanism …
The APRM at 15: Has African governance come of age?
In the Americas, when a young Latina girl turns 15, she celebrates her fiesta de quinceañera, a coming of age ceremony. Across the Atlantic Ocean, Africa’s most important governance self-evaluation and promotion instrument – the African Peer Review Mec …
Balancing Cyber Security and Internet Freedom in Africa
This paper discusses the current state of cyber security and policies in Africa, with a specific focus on Kenya and South Africa as continental leaders in technology. Globally, Internet freedoms are on the decline and Africa is no exception. In 2016 at …
Kenya votes: Kenyatta vs Odinga, Round Two
On 8 August Kenyans head to the polls to elect a president, parliament and local officials. The world is watching closely as the two main candidates, Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, face off for the second time. Kenyatta (55) defeated Odinga (72) in …
Lessons From Rwanda: Female Political Representation and Women’s Rights
“Gender equality is a basic human right that entails equal opportunities for men and women in all facets of life: socially, economically, developmentally and politically. According to the Beijing Platform for Action, without the active participation of …
State of Governance in Africa: What Indices Tell Us
“Governance is notoriously difficult to measure – yet numerous global indices attempt to do so. This paper tracks the governance progress of 52 African countries through various indices. A total of 17 of these states have undergone a holistic governanc …
A Good Governance Driver: Is the African Peer Review Mechanism up to it?
“The introduction of the AU’s Agenda 2063 means that yet another governance initiative has entered the African political landscape. This policy briefing examines the place of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) within Agenda 2063, as well as the A …
Maintaining Momentum? Civil Society and the APRM in Zambia
“The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is intended to assist member states to identify and eradicate governance problems. The review of Zambia found positives as well as negatives in the country’s governance practices. Without the participation of c …
South Africa’s Implementation of the APRM: Making a Difference or Going Through the Motions
“South Africa’s 2007 African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Review Report (CRR) identified numerous governance challenges. The country committed itself to eradicating these challenges through implementing a National Programme of Action (NPoA). Ho …
APRM and the Media: Getting the Story Right
“Although the APRM is innovative and potentially headline-generating, it has so far failed to attract significant media coverage. It is aimed at improving their lives but most of the people of Africa do not know about it. This paper examines four facto …
The OAU/AU at 50: Democratic Governance as a Precondition for a Sustainable African Future
“The 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU), previously the Organisation for African Unity (OAU), in May 2013 provided a fitting moment for the continental body to reflect on its achievements, challenges and the way forward. When compared with the …
The African Peer Review Mechanism Ten Years on: How Can it be Strengthened?
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) celebrated its tenth anniversary in March 2013. A voluntary and African owned framework, it aims to improve governance on the continent. The APRM utilises a system of peer reviews to achieve this goal. Its count …
Common African Political Governance Issues: Lessons from Six Early APRM Reports
“This paper analyses the discussion and recommendations about Africa’s pressing political governance issues – including the separation of powers, election management and corruption – from the APRM reports of Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, , South Africa, Algeri …