Association of Concerned Africa Scholars
Analysis and Action on Policies Impacting Africa

Tanzania: A haven of peace

By ACAS | February 2008

By Goran Hyden February 14, 2008 Originally published in the Gainesville Sun President Bush is on his way to Africa this week. One of his destinations is Tanzania. He will be the first American president to ever visit the country. Unlike its northern neighbor Kenya, Tanzania is relatively little known in the U.S. although it [...]

ACAS Press Statement on the Crisis in Kenya

By ACAS | January 2008

The Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (ACAS), an organization of United States-based academics and activists, today rejected superficial and misleading popular and media portrayals of the post-electoral violence in Kenya as “tribal.”

No Easy Victories party

By ACAS | November 2007

Book Party for No Easy Victories: African Liberation and American Activists over a Half Century, 1950-2000.

ACAS at African Studies Association, October 2007 (photos)

By ACAS | October 2007

Photos taken at the ACAS membership meeting, New York, Oct 2007, during the African Studies Association annual meeting.

Eritrea Reportedly Expels USAID

By ACAS | July 2005

Text of report in English by Eritrean opposition, Awate.com website, 29 July, 2005: “The Eritrean government has ordered USAID to leave the country. An official statement has yet to be made by the government, but the decision has already been communicated to the US ambassador and the USAID director in Eritrea. USAID, or US Agency for International Development, is the United States government’s arm for international development and humanitarian aid. The Agency has been present in Eritrea since 1992, and was the main channel for providing food as well as development assistance to the Eritrean people.” …

Action Alert : Ngugi and Njeeri Wa Thiongo Wa Ngugi

By ACAS | January 2005

Association of Concerned African Scholars January 14, 2005 Dear Friends, As you may already know, world renowned Kenyan playwright, novelist and social critic Ngugi Wa Thiong’o and his wife Njeeri Wa Ngugi were brutally attacked on August 11, 2003 in an apartment in Nairobi, Kenya. Ngugi was severely beaten and burned with cigarettes, and his [...]

Action Alert: The Story of Aster Yohannes and the Struggle for Democracy in Eritrea

By ACAS | November 2004

In 2000 a young Eritrean woman named Aster Yohannes arrived in Phoenix, AZ with a dream of completing her college education so she could return home to her husband and four young children. She was the recipient of a UN-funded scholarship for college bound individuals in her homeland Eritrea. In September of 2001, Aster’s husband, the former Minister Petros Solomon was arrested, along with 10 other high-ranking members of the government for demanding democratic reform. When the Government of Eritrea refused to allow Aster to bring her children to the US, she felt she had to return to Eritrea.

Open letter to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia

By ACAS | May 2001

In response to the accelerating repression against students and scholars in Ethiopia, ACAS on May 11th wrote to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, urging him to release all detainees and restore conditions ensuring freedom of speech and academic freedom. While some detainees have been released, others have not.

Open Letter to President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania

By ACAS | February 2001

Association of Concerned Africa Scholars February 5, 2001 President Benjamin William Mkapa, United Republic of Tanzania The State House PO Box 9120 Dar Es Salaam Tanzania FAX 22-211-3425 Dear President Mkapa, The Association of Concerned Africa Scholars writes today to condemn the killings of activists on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba in late January [...]

Open Letter to the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri K. Museveni

By ACAS | January 2001

Association of Concerned Africa Scholars January 31, 2001 [Note: Within a week after this letter, Dr. Depelchin was released and ended his hunger strike after UN observors were dispatched to Ituri province. Dr. Depelchin shortly thereafter left Uganda. We thank ACAS members and others for their work on this and related, continuing, issues.] 31 January [...]