This special issue of Africa in Fact celebrates the 10th anniversary of our mothership, Good Governance Africa (GGA). Over the past decade, Africa in Fact, as GGA’s flagship publication, has become a consistent contributor to the conversation about governance, policy, and development on the African continent. To mark this milestone, we have departed from our regular format to publish an anthology of selected articles from our archive of 70 issues of AIF.
Choosing a necessarily small selection from the archive has been difficult. Our authors have explored a wide range of issues, from governance and public policy to economic development and social justice. The result has been a body of work that not only reflects the complexity and challenges of African governance but also highlights the resilience, creativity, and determination of the people who call this continent home.
In deciding what to include in this anniversary anthology, we used the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a broad frame to guide our selection. The SDGs represent a globally recognised set of priorities that require a solid foundation of good governance if they are to be achievable. However, even with this framework, the process was far from straightforward. So many of the articles we have published over the years are deserving of another read, and narrowing down the selection inevitably meant that some important pieces had to be left out.
However, what was essential to our selection process was to maintain the unique editorial mix that has always defined Africa in Fact, which since its launch has aimed to strike a careful balance between in-depth analysis, forward-thinking policy ideas, and on-the-ground reporting. We still believe this combination is key to understanding the complex realities of governance in Africa, so it was important that the final selection reflected the breadth of topics we have covered, and captured the distinctive pan-African voice that has always been at the heart of our editorial vision. We hope that in revisiting these stories, readers will gain a renewed appreciation for the progress made in African governance over the past decade, as well as the challenges that remain.
At this point, it is necessary for me to acknowledge the work done by my predecessor, Richard Jurgens, whose efforts to find a pool of contributors – including academics, journalists and policymakers – from across the continent have greatly enriched our pages. In particular, Richard’s patience in mentoring young writers over the past decade, some of whom now also contribute articles to the world’s leading media organisations, has left AIF in a strong position to make a powerful contribution to GGA’s expansion over the next decade. We are proud of the role AIF has played in fostering debate and supporting progress on our continent, and we are equally proud of the relationships we have built with our contributors and readers along the way.
So it is that this issue of Africa in Fact is a celebration of the work we have done together over the past 10 years, and a reminder of the enduring importance of informed, independent long-form journalism in the governance space. AIF is fully committed to supporting GGA’s growth strategy and to amplifying the voices of everyone working to improve governance and development across Africa. We hope you enjoy revisiting these articles, and we look forward to continuing the journey together in the years ahead.
As we celebrate this milestone, we extend our deepest gratitude to our contributors, readers, and supporters who have been with us on this journey. It is their commitment to good governance, accountability, and justice that has made Africa in Fact what it is today. We look forward to continuing this work in the years to come, with the same dedication to fostering dialogue, promoting transparency, and driving meaningful change across Africa.
Susan Russell is the editor of Good Governance Africa’s quarterly journal, Africa in Fact. She has worked in the media industry for more than 30 years as a journalist, editor, publisher, and as a general manager. Career highlights include several years working for Business Day and more than a decade as a reporter, editor and General Manager at the Sunday Times in Johannesburg.
