Departures Podcast featuring Bronwen Everill, author of “Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance and African Economics”

By Editor | Published: December 5, 2024

Throughtout the post-colonial period in Africa, there has been no shortage of economists, non-governmental organizations, diplomats, and aid organizations flying in from the United States and Western Europe with an astonishing array of prescriptions and reform plans to dramatically transform the economies and governance structures of these young nations. With few exceptions, these interventions failed […]

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Departures Podcast featuring James Smith, author of “The Eyes of the World: Mining the Digital Age in the Eastern DR Congo”

By Editor | Published: October 16, 2024

Our podcast, Departures with Robert Amsterdam, is back for Season 3 following a short break. We’re very excited to introduce a new series of author interviews, new formats for segments, special surprise guests and more. Thank you as always for listening, subscribing, sharing, rating, and reviewing – it all helps us grow the reach of […]

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Departures Podcast featuring Stuart A. Reid, author of “The Lumumba Plot”

By Editor | Published: November 9, 2023

The early period of the Cold War in Africa includes some of the most shocking episodes of foreign intervention by the US Central Intelligence Agency, to the point that many of these histories would seem a bit too farfetched for Hollywood.  Such was the chaos in 1960-1961, right around the time that Congo achieved its […]

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Departures Podcast with Samuel Ramani, author of ‘Russia in Africa’

By Editor | Published: May 30, 2023

Amid a slew of headlines highlighting Vladimir Putin’s efforts to expand Russia’s footprint in Africa since the beginning of the Ukraine war, a certain narrative is emerging regarding Moscow’s aims, tactics, and results in this crucial but often neglected region. Is Russia’s presence in Africa a threatening menace or merely an empty gesture? As it […]

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Departures Podcast with Peer Schouten, author of ‘Roadblock Politics: The Origins of Conflict and Violence in Central Africa’

By Editor | Published: November 16, 2022

Throughout the global supply chain, there are chokepoints where states and stakeholders exploit an opportunity to extract rents – and this includes nearby the origin of critical minerals, diamonds, and other natural resources in relatively ungoverned areas of Central Africa. Peer Schouten, who is a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies and […]

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Departures Podcast with Christoph Vogel, author of ‘Conflict Minerals, Inc. – War, Profit and White Saviourism in Eastern Congo’

By Editor | Published: November 7, 2022

With the global economy going through an unprecedented energy transition away from fossil fuels, demand is exploding for critical minerals essential for batteries and electrification, such as copper, cobalt, lithium, and rare earths. Accompanying this demand is a new geopolitical playing field, most commonly dominated by China, taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo. […]

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Departures Podcast with Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, author of ‘Against Decolonisation’

By Editor | Published: September 29, 2022

In recent years, the theme of decolonization has become a thriving industry. It dominates academia, it frames historical narratives, and makes its way into the deepest corners politics and culture to the point that it is inescapable. But what has decolonization done for us lately, asks Cornell University Professor Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò in his new polemic, […]

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Job Sikhala’s Open Letter from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: August 19, 2022

This week we have distributed the following open letter from our client, Zimbabwean political prisoner and Member of Parliament Job Sikhala, who has been unlawfully imprisoned on politically motivated charges without trial since June 14, 2022. Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison Harare, Zimbabwe 03 August 2022 INTRODUCTION I write to you all, your Excellencies, Heads of […]

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Press Release: ‘World is Watching Upcoming Bail Hearing of Job Sikhala’

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: August 1, 2022

The following press release was distributed to media today: LONDON, 1 AUGUST 2022 – On Tuesday, August 2, the Zimbabwean Member of Parliament Job Sikhala will be appearing in court for a bail hearing after 47 days of jail time which will be closely monitored by the international community, says Sikhala’s lawyer Robert Amsterdam. Mr. […]

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Press Release: Amsterdam & Partners LLP Retained by Zimbabwean MP Job Sikhala

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: July 28, 2022

The following press release was distributed to media today: LONDON, July 28, 2022 – Job Sikhala, a Zimbabwean opposition lawmaker and interim chairman of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party who has been detained for more than 43 days, will be represented by international lawyer Robert Amsterdam, founding partner of Amsterdam & Partners LLP, […]

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