The ARC Insider

The ARC Insider, Episode 39: Does the Death of Queen Elizabeth II mark the demise of the Commonwealth?

In the 39th special episode of the ARC Insider, hosts Karen Allen and Tara O'Connor meet Uganda's Joel Kibazo to discuss the end of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, its consequences for the Commonwealth and whether this club of nations is still relevant to Africa.

The ARC Insider, Episode 38 - Angola goes to the polls

In the 38th episode of the ARC Insider, hosts Karen Allen and Tara O'Connor discuss the results of Kenya's presidential election and implications of a legal challenge launched by opposition leader Raila Odinga as well as Angola's election, where the incumbent MPLA will defend a majority established by former president José Eduardo Dos Santos who died in July.

This episode's special guest is Rashid Abdi, chief analyst for the Horn of Africa and the Gulf at Sahan Research. Mr Abdi shares his insights on the recent Kenyan election, expertly summarises developments in the ongoing Ethiopian conflict as well analysing the impact of the Russia/Ukraine conflict on domestic rhetoric in the Horn of Africa.

Global Africa - Talking Kenya, France and Russia

In the 37th episode of the ARC Insider, hosts Karen Allen and Tara O'Connor discuss Macron's changing priorities as he visits West Africa at the beginning of his second term, as well as the resurgence in violence in Mali, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's tour of Africa in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This episode's special guest is Paul Ilado, head of content at Radio Africa and a veteran Kenyan journalist at the Nairobi Star, who was forced into hiding following his reporting on violence following the 2007 Kenyan election. Mr Ilado shares his insights on the recent history of Kenyan electoral politics, discusses the candidates for president ahead of the upcoming 2022 general elections, and considers whether this election marks a decrease in tribal animosity in East Africa's powerhouse.

The Sky Is The Limit

In the 36th episode of the ARC Insider, hosts Karen Allen and Tara O’Connor share their thoughts on recent events in Africa including the final report of the Zondo Commission and President Ramaphosa's 'farmgate' controversy in South Africa, and the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit in Ethiopia.

This episode's special guest is Forsyth Black, formerly CEO of global airlines services company John Menzies Plc which owns Menzies Aviation. Mr Black discusses how the African airline industry survived covid (or not), and shares his thoughts on the 'aeropolitical' priorities of governments and state airlines.

Talking Arts

In the 35th episode of the ARC Insider, hosts Karen Allen and Tara O'Connor review the latest developments in the Nigerian presidential primaries, food exports from Russia and Ukraine, Somalia's new president, and important recent cases in the world of anti-corruption.

This episode's special guest is Bolanle Austen-Peters, one of the continent's most influential women who traded law for the life of lights, camera, action and is making it big internationally on screen and stage.

Defying Disinformation

In the 34th episode of the ARC Insider, hosts Karen Allen and Tara O'Connor discuss the key upcoming political events in Africa including consequential elections in Nigeria and Kenya, and opposition success in Zimbabwe as the country faces an economic crisis.

This episode's special guest is Simon Allison, editor-in-chief of The Continent, an award-winning pan-African weekly newspaper delivered via WhatsApp. In an insightful conversation, Allison discusses the online future of African journalism, the 'infodemic' challenge, and why he took his newspaper on to WhatsApp.

The ARC Insider, Episode 33: Cape Town’s bold digital ambitions

Hosts Karen Allen and Tara O'Connor discuss the reaction in Africa to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with impacts on the role of Russia in African conflicts, higher food import prices, and the changing stance of China.

Recorded in Cape Town, this episode's guest is Keet Van Zyl, partner and co-founder at Knife Capital, a venture capital company. Van Zyl discusses Africa's exploding tech scene, and why Cape Town is pushing to become one of the continent's main tech hubs.

The ARC Insider, Episode 32: On the road with Tara and Karen - the Business of Basketball in Africa

Hosts Karen Allen and Tara O'Connor discuss breaking news from across Africa, including the death of South Africa's last apartheid-era president F.W. de Klerk, Nigeria's launch of its digital currency, and the states of emergency in Ethiopia and Sudan.

This episode, Karen and Tara are joined by Victor Williams, CEO of NBA Africa, who discusses how his career in investment banking led him to basketball and the opportunity to grow the sport on the continent. Williams also provides his insights into the successes of the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League, the NBA's first professional basketball league outside North America, and how sport can fuel Africa's economic development.

The ARC Insider, Episode 31: Afraid of straddling - the electric vehicle revolution in Africa

Hosts Karen Allen and Tara O’Connor discuss breaking news stories from across the continent.

This week, they are joined by Shantha Bloemen, the aid worker turned tech entrepreneur. As Managing director of Mobility for Africa, Shantha discusses her roadmap for a new mobility ecosystem.

The ARC Insider, Episode 30: From Prisoner to President: Hakainde Hichilema and Zambia’s new dawn

As we mark The ARC Insider’s 30th episode, hosts Karen Allen and Tara O’Connor discuss breaking news stories from across Africa, including Guinea’s future post-coup and former South African president Jacob Zuma’s early prison release on medical parole. 

...As Zambia celebrates peaceful transfer of power after elections, Karen and Tara are joined by Trevor Simumba, a senior trade expert and economist. Simumba shares his insights on why Africa's newest President, Hakainde Hichilema, spells a new dawn for Zambia, sharing his outlook for the economy, in particular the mining sector, and Sino-Zambia relations.