Publisher: Qira’at Afriqiyah Magazine
Issue: 68,April 2026
ISSN: 2634-131X
Year : 22
Pages: 6-25
Author: Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Ismail
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Abstract:
 This study examines the phenomenon of Christian fundamentalist movements in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on their intellectual foundations, theological and social characteristics, and key organizational models, while assessing their impact on religion, society, and politics. 
  It begins by defining Christian fundamentalism within its Western historical context and then traces its transmission to Africa through missionary activity and the rise of Protestant and Pentecostal churches since the nineteenth century. The study argues that African Christian fundamentalism is not a mere extension of Western theology; rather, it has evolved through the interaction with local cultures, producing hybrid religious expressions that combine scriptural literalism, charismatic leadership, and elements of African spiritual worldviews.
  The study highlights both non-violent evangelical movements and violent groups that justify the use of “sacred violence,” such as the “Lord Resistance Army” (LRA), which developed a syncretic religious–magical discourse and became associated with systematic violence against civilians. The findings reveal that Christian fundamentalism in Africa emerges from a complex interplay of factors, including the legacy of colonialism, weak state institutions, economic marginalization, and intense religious pluralism. These movements have played a significant role in reshaping state–society relations, contributing in some contexts to social welfare and spiritual renewal, while in others reinforcing polarization and cycles of conflict.
  The study concludes by emphasizing the need for analytical approaches that integrate religious, social, and political dimensions, and by calling for deeper engagement with local religious institutions in peacebuilding efforts and in understanding the ongoing transformations driven by charismatic Pentecostalism across the continent .

Publisher: Qira’at Afriqiyah Magazine
Issue: 68,April 2026
ISSN: 2634-131X
Year : 22
Pages: 26-39
Author: Dr. Abbas Ismail
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Abstract:
  The 8th century AH marked a pivotal stage in the history of West Africa, witnessing the rise of the Mali Empire as one of the most prominent political and cultural powers in the Islamic world at that time. Its ascendancy was not merely a matter of political expansion or fleeting economic prosperity but was inextricably linked to the entrenchment of Islamic manifestations within its internal structure and its active engagement in the network of cultural relations of the Islamic world.
  This leads to the central question of this study: To what extent did Islamic manifestations contribute to shaping the civilizational development of the Mali Empire during the 8th century AH? Was the influence of Islam merely a superficial one, limited to certain rituals and practices, or did it constitute a profound foundation in shaping the state›s internal and external cultural structure? This study seeks to address this issue through a historical-analytical approach, examining Islamic manifestations in the religious, social, and educational spheres, and then exploring their impact on the flourishing of relations and cultural interaction.
  This study gains its significance from highlighting a successful African Islamic model of cultural integration and re-emphasizing the role of Islam in building political entities in West Africa. The study is structured into an introduction and two main sections. The introduction presents the sources and analyzes their methodological value, the emergence of the Mali Empire, the circumstances of its founding, its most prominent figures, and its geographical extent during its period of prosperity. The first section presents the Islamic manifestations in the Mali Empire. The second section sheds light on the flourishing of relations and cultural influence, demonstrating the impact of Islamic manifestations on cultural development.

Publisher: Qira’at Afriqiyah Magazine
Issue: 68,April 2026
ISSN: 2634-131X
Year : 22
Pages: 40-57
Author: Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ashour Mahdi – Egypt
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Abstract:
  The legal and constitutional codification of language policies is fundamental to understanding how multilingual states organize and manage their linguistic diversity. At the African level, the constitutional framework is one of the most important arenas reflecting profound shifts in African political and legal thought regarding the management of linguistic and cultural diversity. After decades of centralized policies that sought to impose a single linguistic and cultural identity in the name of «national unity,» in what some called «sectarian integration,» many African countries have begun to realize that political stability is not achieved by erasing differences, but rather by organizing and recognizing them within an integrated system that guarantees equality without eliminating difference, or what is known as «functional integration››.
   Based on this; this paper seeks to address the issue of linguistic and cultural diversity in Africa from an analytical constitutional perspective, through three interconnected axes: the first examines the position of several African constitutions on linguistic and cultural diversity; the second discusses the challenges and problems facing recognition policies; and the third aims to develop a comprehensive approach to linguistic and cultural justice that goes beyond formal recognition towards the genuine integration of diversity into the structure and practices of the state.
  In summary, the paper aims to highlight that linguistic and cultural justice is a prerequisite for building inclusive citizenship and a state capable of managing its diversity as a source of strength, not a factor of division.

Publisher: Qira’at Afriqiyah Magazine
Issue: 68,April 2026
ISSN: 2634-131X
Year : 22
Pages: 58-73
Author: Dr. Shaimaa Moheyeldin – Egypt
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Abstract:
  Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a cornerstone of economic growth and sustainable development, particularly in developing countries. This type of investment requires a stable political environment, a clear legal and regulatory framework, and a safe and attractive climate. Despite Africa›s vast potential in terms of natural resources, geographical diversity, emerging markets, and a young workforce, it continues to suffer from weak FDI inflows, raising questions about the political environment conducive to such investment. This paper, therefore, seeks to analyze the political obstacles that undermine the investment climate in Africa and hinder the realization of available opportunities. Among the most significant of these obstacles are widespread corruption, weak state institutions, a lack of transparency, and recurring political crises, in addition to the repercussions of internal and regional conflicts that have led to infrastructure deterioration, a lack of rule of law, and market instability. The paper also sheds light on emerging threats, most notably the rise of terrorist activity and armed insurgency, and the increasing prevalence of crime amidst Africa›s weak security systems. Accordingly, the study begins by presenting a theoretical framework that includes the most prominent theoretical frameworks explaining the relationship between political conditions and foreign direct investment flows in any country. It then moves on to monitoring and analyzing the most prominent political challenges hindering investment in Africa, reviewing the most important mechanisms for addressing these obstacles in a way that positively affects the investment environment in African countries.

Publisher: Qira’at Afriqiyah Magazine
Issue: 68,April 2026
ISSN: 2634-131X
Year : 22
Pages: 74-87
Author: Dr. Mona Abdel Fatah Othman Abdel Aal
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Abstract:
  Official Development Assistance (ODA) represents a key tool for supporting economic and social development in Sub-Saharan African countries, yet its effectiveness in promoting economic growth remains widely debated. This study aims to analyze the impact of ODA on economic growth in the region during 2000–2023, emphasizing the role of governance quality as an institutional factor shaping aid effectiveness.
  The study employs a quantitative panel data methodology covering 26 countries, incorporating indicators of aid volume, domestic investment, education quality, and governance effectiveness. The results indicate that ODA exerts a weak positive impact on economic growth (β = 0.061) with limited statistical significance. Domestic investment, education quality, and governance emerged as stronger determinants of growth compared to aid alone.
   Interactive regression models demonstrate that governance quality critically moderates the effect of ODA, enhancing its positive impact as governance improves (β₃ = 0.113, Sig. = 0.004). Temporal analysis reveals that aid effectiveness fluctuates in response to major economic shocks, such as the global financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, while countries with stable and strong institutional environments achieve more sustained benefits from aid.
  Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening governance and public institutions, integrating ODA into national development plans, and targeting productive sectors such as infrastructure, education, and agriculture, while investing in human capital to maximize long-term impact. Additionally, it calls for comprehensive evaluation mechanisms that assess aid effectiveness beyond financial volume, including governance quality and growth outcomes.

Publisher: Qira’at Afriqiyah Magazine
Issue: 68,April 2026
ISSN: 2634-131X
Year : 22
Pages: 88-101
Author: Aya Essam Elsdawy
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Abstract:
  This study examines the evolving role of major African cities in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on Lagos, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa as key urban centers that increasingly function as influential political and economic actors within their respective states. Rather than serving merely as administrative units, these cities have developed growing capacities to shape local policy and urban development. The study builds on the concepts of urban authority and parallel urban governance, which refer to the ability of large cities to manage local affairs, mobilize financial resources, and implement development policies with a degree of autonomy while remaining within the legal and institutional framework of the central state.
  The main objective of the study is to assess the extent to which these cities can exercise urban influence within centralized political systems and to identify the factors that determine their capacity to shape local policy. The research adopts a descriptive–analytical approach combining a review of theoretical literature on urban governance with an analysis of economic and financial data, urban expansion patterns, and land-use transformations. In addition, it examines the evolving relationship between major cities and central governments in the African context.
  The findings indicate that the rise of Lagos, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa as centers of urban influence is driven by several interrelated factors, including rapid population growth, expanding economic activity, and the increasing ability of cities to generate local revenues. Lagos represents the strongest example of urban influence due to Nigeria’s federal system, which grants significant administrative and fiscal powers to states. This institutional framework has enabled Lagos to develop a robust local revenue system and finance major infrastructure projects with limited dependence on federal transfers. Nairobi, by contrast, illustrates a decentralized governance model established after Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, which granted counties broader administrative and financial authority, although the city still relies partially on central government transfers. Addis Ababa represents a more centralized model: despite possessing significant administrative and financial resources, the city remains directly supervised by the federal government.
  The study further shows that the relationship between major cities and central governments is shaped by three key dimensions: fiscal distribution of resources, legal and administrative authority, and social pressure from citizens and civil society. These dynamics often transform large cities into arenas of political negotiation between local and national actors.
   Ultimately, the study concludes that major African cities are increasingly emerging as influential urban decision-making centers capable of shaping development policies. However, their influence remains relative and contingent upon the broader political structure of the state, the degree of fiscal autonomy available to cities, and their capacity to manage urban expansion while negotiating power with central governments.

Publisher: Qira’at Afriqiyah Magazine
Issue: 68,April 2026
ISSN: 2634-131X
Year : 22
Pages: 102-119
Author: Doaa Abd El Naby Hamed
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Abstract:
     This study seeks to analyze the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation in the African continent, not only from the perspective of the opportunities they provide for development and innovation, but also through a critical lens that highlights the risks of contemporary digital colonialism. While AI constitutes a strategic tool for economic growth and sustainable development by improving healthcare, education, and financial services, as well as enhancing digital infrastructure it simultaneously raises significant challenges related to digital sovereignty, the widening technological gap, and the dominance of multinational corporations over Africa’s data and digital resources.
     Accordingly, the study is structured around three main axes: the first addresses AI and digital transformation in Africa in terms of the opportunities and challenges facing the continent in implementing digital change; the second examines AI as a tool of contemporary digital colonialism through the dominance of major Western technology companies; and the third explores the risks of digital transformation for Africa and the African strategies needed to confront these challenges.