AfriCan Geopardy

In this episode of AfriCan Geopardy, we speak with Ms Khomotjo Mphahlele about “Life at Sea Before and After the MLC 2006: An AfriCan Seafarer’s Perspective.”With more than 20 years of experience at sea and ashore, including a decade at sea aboard different types of vessels, Khomotjo brings extensive practical experience to the conversation. Her subsequent work in marine operations training and seafarer development offers valuable insights into life at sea and the changes shaping the maritime industry. She is also completing an MSc in Maritime Affairs at the World Maritime University (WMU).Building on our previous episode, “Who protects the AfriCan worker at sea? Race, power and the global maritime Labour chain,” this conversation turns to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 and its implications for seafarers.Through Khomotjo’s perspective, we explore what life at sea was like before the Convention came into force, the barriers seafarers faced in reporting incidents and raising concerns about their working conditions, and the changes that have followed. While the MLC 2006 has advanced seafarers’ rights and welfare, progress has not eliminated the challenges facing AfriCan seafarers.What has changed? What remains unresolved? And what needs to be done differently to ensure that AfriCan seafarers can work with dignity, safety and fair treatment?Join us as we reflect on these questions and the work still needed to make the maritime industry more equitable for AfriCan seafarers.#AfriCanGeopardy #AfriCanSeafarers #MLC2006 #MaritimeLabour #LifeAtSea #FindAWayToGetInTheWay

In this episode of the AfriCan Geopardy Podcast, I spoke with Sandra Larbi, MS. HRM, Managing Director of WorldRecruit Services Limited, Ghana, about:“Who Protects the African Worker at Sea? Race, Power, and the Global Maritime Labour Chain.”Slavery ought to have ended, but sadly, the experiences of some African seafarers show that exploitative and deeply unequal working conditions persist. The case in Scotland, UK, which received media attention, is one such example.In this episode, we discuss the inhumane treatment experienced by African seafarers and what these experiences reveal about race, power and the global maritime labour chain.We also reflect on the wider implications. According to UNCTAD, Africa accounts for just 1.3% of the world’s merchant fleet. Yet Africa is increasingly being looked to as part of the solution to the projected global shortage of seafarers. This creates a fundamental contradiction: while the world looks to Africa for seafarers, African countries and young people depend heavily on the global shipping industry to provide the sea-time opportunities they need to gain the experience required to enter and progress in the profession.So, who protects the African worker at sea?We discuss possible solutions, including accountability, meaningful action, and calls for reparations from the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) in response to documented injustices.A huge thank you to Sandra Larbi, MS. HRM, for sharing her time, knowledge and expertise.Further reading: Sandra Larbi’s reflection, “From Dream to Reality: The Aspirations of Coastal Seafarers,” offers another perspective on the aspirations and experiences of coastal seafarers. Read Sandra Larbi’s article on LinkedInPlease listen, share and support the work of the organisations working to improve the rights, dignity and working conditions of African seafarers.#HumanRights #RaceAndPower #MaritimeSecurity

What opportunities does the global transition towards low-carbon shipping create for Africa?In this episode of we speak with Dr Harry Conway, Chair of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), about international shipping decarbonisation and what it means for the African continent.The conversation explores the opportunities emerging from shipping’s transition towards decarbonisation, the challenges Africa faces in navigating this transition, and the importance of ensuring that African perspectives and expertise are part of conversations shaping the future of international shipping.The discussion also touches on a broader question: what happens when expertise about Africa is sought from outside the continent, particularly from experts in the African diaspora, and how does this compare with the way expertise is valued and engaged within Africa?Join us for a conversation about decarbonisation, expertise, Africa’s place in global shipping, and the opportunities that lie ahead.Listen. Learn. Engage. African perspectives.

In this episode of AfriCan Geopardy, we explore “Maritime Cybersecurity in the Western Indian Ocean Region: The Role of the Regional Maritime Security Architecture” with Captain Harifidy A. Alex RALAIARIVONY, Director of the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC), Indian Ocean Commission.As maritime operations become increasingly digital, cybersecurity has become an essential pillar of maritime security. We examine the evolving cyber threats facing the Western Indian Ocean, the growing importance of regional cooperation and information sharing, and the role of the regional maritime security architecture in strengthening resilience against cyber risks.One excerpt captured the urgency of the challenge:“We can no longer separate the safety of the ship at sea from the security of the server on land.”From cyber resilience and Maritime Domain Awareness to regional cooperation and the future of digital maritime governance, this episode highlights why cybersecurity is now central to safeguarding Africa’s maritime interests and enabling a secure and sustainable Blue Economy.🎙️ Whether you are a maritime professional, policymaker, researcher, student, or simply interested in the future of African maritime security, this conversation offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-evolving dimensions of ocean governance.For those interested in the role of technology in Maritime Domain Awareness in Africa, you may also find our related research useful: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X23005092

In this episode of AfriCan Geopardy, we explore the theme, “Party to the Plunder: Fishmeal Industries and Depleting Fisheries in Africa,” with Viviane Koutob, Programme Lead for West and Central Africa at Trygg Mat Tracking (TMT).Together, we examine the expansion of fishmeal and fish oil industries across Africa and their implications for fisheries sustainability, food security, and coastal livelihoods. The conversation explores how these industries contribute to the depletion of small pelagic fish stocks, the governance challenges surrounding their operations, and what African governments, industry actors, and other stakeholders can do differently to promote more sustainable and equitable fisheries management.A special thank you to Viviane Koutob for sharing her time, expertise, and valuable insights on this critical issue affecting communities across the continent.Listeners interested in learning more about the wider implications of the fishmeal and fish oil trade may find this Greenpeace Africa and Changing Markets research useful: “Feeding a Monster: How European aquaculture and animal feed industries are stealing food from West African communities.” The report examines links between the fishmeal industry, food security, and livelihoods in West Africa.https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/13778/major-european-companies-linked-to-food-insecurity-in-west-africa/Tune in for an important conversation on accountability, sustainability, and the future of Africa’s fisheries.

In this episode of #AfriCanGeopardy 🎙️, we discuss “Rethinking Fisheries Governance in Africa” with Dr Pieter van Welzen.Dr van Welzen is a Dutch and English-qualified lawyer and Senior Consultant at CMS South Africa, following a legal career in Amsterdam and London with Clifford Chance and Freshfields. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Hamburg in 2024, with a dissertation titled “IUU Fishing and the Obligations of Vessel Owner States: A West African Perspective.” His work focuses on public international law and the law of the sea, particularly fisheries governance. He is also a member of the International Law Association’s Committee on the Protection of Persons at Sea, with a focus on the rights and safety of fishers, and he regularly advises and publishes on fisheries law.We discuss unsustainable fishing in Africa 🎣, governance challenges facing coastal states, the growing role of external actors in fisheries management, and the case for stronger African-led fisheries diplomacy grounded in regional cooperation and legal reform.We also briefly explore what can go wrong when states neglect the role of fishers in governance, drawing on illustrative examples from the Netherlands 🇳🇱.The conversation draws on Dr van Welzen’s research on IUU fishing and state obligations under international law, with a particular focus on West Africa, alongside reflections from the Pacific experience.There is a lot to unpack, including practical steps for policymakers and partners.Many thanks to Dr Pieter van Welzen for joining us and sharing his expertise.

This month on African Geopardy, we discussed a pressing and often uncomfortable question: who really defines the agenda of global migration policy?In this episode, “From Partners to Pawns? How Global Migration Policy Undermines African Political Agency,” I’m joined by Dr Margaret Monyani, Executive Director of the OLAM Africa Research Institute. Together, we examine Africa’s place within an increasingly politicised migration landscape shaped by security concerns, economic interests, and climate pressures.Our conversation interrogates the evolving Africa–EU relationship, asking whether African states are genuinely participating as agenda setters or being positioned as gatekeepers along migration routes—tasked with interception rather than influence. We explore how and when African actors are brought into policy discussions, and how that timing often determines whether they shape outcomes or simply implement them.We also reflect on where the continent is asserting agency, where progress is being made, and where alternative approaches are urgently needed. At its core, this episode challenges the subtle but significant imbalances embedded in migration governance—and what it will take to move from participation to power.Many thanks to Dr Monyani for such a thoughtful and engaging discussion.

In this episode, we explore “Quantifying Africa’s Oceans: Ubuntu Mathematics, Ancestral Intelligence, and the Sovereign Ledger of Maritime Wealth.”Simone Melrino Smith-Godfrey, Founder and CEO of the Centre for Applied Maritime Studies (CAMS), unveils an innovative framework to help Africa value its oceans differently. In this conversation, she breaks down Ubuntu Mathematics, reframes the ocean as a sovereign ledger of maritime wealth, and illustrates how blending ancestral knowledge with modern verification and accountability systems can transform ocean governance.This episode introduces groundbreaking ideas that drive innovation in maritime valuation, empower resource governance, and promote economic sovereignty. We discuss how greater African ownership of ocean resources can shape the future of the Blue Economy. 🌍🌊

This episode of AfriCan Geopardy examines how the global push to decarbonise shipping could reshape Africa’s trade, ports, and maritime power. Featuring Ms. Ogbugo, a maritime infrastructure and decarbonisation expert, the conversation explores whether the shipping energy transition could reinforce global inequalities—or become a strategic growth opportunity for Africa.We unpack how the IMO Net Zero framework may influence shipping costs, trade competitiveness, and port investment, and who truly holds influence over global maritime climate policy. The episode also explores whether market-based measures such as carbon pricing and fuel levies could unlock new financing for African green ports, clean fuels, and maritime skills development.A sharp, forward-looking discussion on risk, power, policy, and opportunity in Africa’s path toward net-zero shipping.Thanks, Ms Ogbugo for sharing your time and expertise with us.#DecarbonisingShipping #NetZeroShipping #MaritimeDecarbonisation #IMO #EnergyTransition #SustainableShipping #AfricanTrade

In this episode of African Geopardy, we explore “Who Creates and Gets the Value? Minerals, Energy, and Africa’s Agency” with Dr. Theo Acheampong, Technical Advisor to Ghana’s Minister of Finance. Dr. Acheampong is an economist and political risk specialist with over 15 years of experience across energy, extractives, and public finance.Together, we examine who truly creates value in Africa’s minerals and energy sectors — and who ultimately captures it — through the lenses of governance, fiscal policy, and agency.This episode is packed with insights and provides a timely lens on the current global geopolitical landscape.For further reading, you may find Dr. Acheampong’s recent op-ed particularly insightful: https://cmagafrica.com/publication/who-creates-and-gets-the-value-minerals-energy-and-agency-in-sub-saharan-africa-amidst-new-great-power-competition/