Tom Gardner
@tomgardner18.bsky.social
Africa correspondent @TheEconomist
Author, "The Abiy Project: God, Power and War in the New Ethiopia”
Retweet ≠ endorsement / views my own
Still on X (for now) @tomgardner18
Author, "The Abiy Project: God, Power and War in the New Ethiopia”
Retweet ≠ endorsement / views my own
Still on X (for now) @tomgardner18
Pinned
Tom Gardner
@tomgardner18.bsky.social
· Apr 22
The Abiy Project: God, Power, and War in the New Ethiopia
Gardner’s account of the rise of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is essential reading for those interested in understanding how individual ambition and structural factors combine to mold a leader’...
www.foreignaffairs.com
Chuffed to see that the brilliant @kopalo.bsky.social
has reviewed my book, "The Abiy Project", in this latest issue of @foreignaffairs.com. He calls it "essential reading": www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/abiy...
has reviewed my book, "The Abiy Project", in this latest issue of @foreignaffairs.com. He calls it "essential reading": www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/abiy...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
In July 2018, shortly after #Abiy became PM, #Epstein texts #Bannon:
"Note, I spoke with the president of #Ethiopia and #Eritrea , they have agreed not to do any
more work with the Chinese. ! as they now understand the trick.
In fact there is a possiblitiy of the two countries becoming one".
🫠
"Note, I spoke with the president of #Ethiopia and #Eritrea , they have agreed not to do any
more work with the Chinese. ! as they now understand the trick.
In fact there is a possiblitiy of the two countries becoming one".
🫠
February 18, 2026 at 7:55 AM
I this week's issue of @economist.com I wrote about how local politics threatens to undo Nigeria's multimillion dollar Museum of West African Art in Benin City 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
How Africa’s hottest new museum unravelled
A dispute over returning Benin bronzes to Nigeria is only part of the story
www.economist.com
February 15, 2026 at 7:50 AM
I this week's issue of @economist.com I wrote about how local politics threatens to undo Nigeria's multimillion dollar Museum of West African Art in Benin City 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
New from me, feat. Prince of Darkness and his “best pal”
When Peter Mandelson was fighting to keep his job as US ambassador, a mysterious account was making favourable edits to his Wikipedia page
And when he was fired? The same account went into overdrive...
And when he was fired? The same account went into overdrive...
February 11, 2026 at 5:11 PM
New from me, feat. Prince of Darkness and his “best pal”
Tigray’s interim president described the fighting as “something resembling an all-out war”.
That outcome appears to have been averted, for now. Yet the risk of further violence remains uncomfortably high.
Our piece on the latest war-scare in Ethiopia👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
That outcome appears to have been averted, for now. Yet the risk of further violence remains uncomfortably high.
Our piece on the latest war-scare in Ethiopia👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Ethiopia inches ever closer to war
The latest flare-up in Tigray shows the risk of a regional conflagration
www.economist.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Tigray’s interim president described the fighting as “something resembling an all-out war”.
That outcome appears to have been averted, for now. Yet the risk of further violence remains uncomfortably high.
Our piece on the latest war-scare in Ethiopia👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
That outcome appears to have been averted, for now. Yet the risk of further violence remains uncomfortably high.
Our piece on the latest war-scare in Ethiopia👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
February 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
My piece from last week's issue of @economist.com is about how one of the most widespread assumptions about trade in Africa - that African countries barely trade with each other - is, in some important ways, wrong:
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
African trade has been vastly underestimated
The continent’s food markets are more dynamic than commonly thought
www.economist.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:57 PM
My piece from last week's issue of @economist.com is about how one of the most widespread assumptions about trade in Africa - that African countries barely trade with each other - is, in some important ways, wrong:
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
My story, written this morning from Minneapolis, is part of The Economist's cover package this week
Inside the movement challenging—and disrupting—ICE
www.economist.com/united-state...
Inside the movement challenging—and disrupting—ICE
www.economist.com/united-state...
Inside the movement challenging—and disrupting—ICE
A non-violent network of activists is forming across America
www.economist.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:07 AM
My story, written this morning from Minneapolis, is part of The Economist's cover package this week
Inside the movement challenging—and disrupting—ICE
www.economist.com/united-state...
Inside the movement challenging—and disrupting—ICE
www.economist.com/united-state...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
The regime’s paramilitary forces are conducting a campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Hmong man detained by ICE today in St. Paul, Minnesota.
(Photo via Reuters)
(Photo via Reuters)
January 19, 2026 at 2:08 AM
The regime’s paramilitary forces are conducting a campaign of ethnic cleansing.
My piece in @economist.com last week on Nigeria's emerging domestic energy champions, with reporting from Lagos 👇
Oil is vital to Nigeria’s economy, accounting for more than 80% of exports. Yet in recent years high costs and a worsening security situation had left Africa’s largest oil exporter struggling. Could that be changing?
Home-grown firms are helping Nigeria’s oil industry to rebound
But they will struggle to find the capital to sustain it
econ.st
January 19, 2026 at 6:55 AM
My piece in @economist.com last week on Nigeria's emerging domestic energy champions, with reporting from Lagos 👇
Reposted by Tom Gardner
Great to see our investigation in the Guardian!
Portland declined to comment on our findings.
They told the Guardian they didn't have a relationship with the subcontractor we linked them to, claimed to follow guidelines for all "social media platforms".
(Wikipedia is not a social media platform)
Portland declined to comment on our findings.
They told the Guardian they didn't have a relationship with the subcontractor we linked them to, claimed to follow guidelines for all "social media platforms".
(Wikipedia is not a social media platform)
Prominent PR firm accused of commissioning favourable changes to Wikipedia pages
Prominent PR firm accused of commissioning favourable changes to Wikipedia pages
Portland Communications, founded by Keir Starmer’s communications chief, linked to so-called ‘black hat’ edits
A high-profile PR company founded by Keir Starmer’s communications chief has been accused of commissioning changes to Wikipedia pages to make them more favourable towards clients.
Portland Communications, founded by Tim Allan, has been linked to the so-called “black hat” edits, sometimes called “Wikilaundering”. Several changes were made to Wikipedia pages by a network of editors, allegedly controlled by a contractor working on Portland’s behalf. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Great to see our investigation in the Guardian!
Portland declined to comment on our findings.
They told the Guardian they didn't have a relationship with the subcontractor we linked them to, claimed to follow guidelines for all "social media platforms".
(Wikipedia is not a social media platform)
Portland declined to comment on our findings.
They told the Guardian they didn't have a relationship with the subcontractor we linked them to, claimed to follow guidelines for all "social media platforms".
(Wikipedia is not a social media platform)
Reposted by Tom Gardner
Happy 25th to @wikipedia.org, one of the great wonders of the digital world!
While #Wikipedia's volunteers are good at disrupting influence ops, PR firms still try to manipulate pages for the rich & powerful.
My latest, for @tbij.bsky.social 🧵
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
While #Wikipedia's volunteers are good at disrupting influence ops, PR firms still try to manipulate pages for the rich & powerful.
My latest, for @tbij.bsky.social 🧵
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
London PR firm rewrites Wikipedia for governments and billionaires
Founded by Keir Starmer’s comms chief, Portland helps rich clients ‘protect their reputation’ – with a shady, off-the-books service
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Happy 25th to @wikipedia.org, one of the great wonders of the digital world!
While #Wikipedia's volunteers are good at disrupting influence ops, PR firms still try to manipulate pages for the rich & powerful.
My latest, for @tbij.bsky.social 🧵
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
While #Wikipedia's volunteers are good at disrupting influence ops, PR firms still try to manipulate pages for the rich & powerful.
My latest, for @tbij.bsky.social 🧵
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Today the city appears eerily silent. Seen from the sky, once bustling markets are empty and overgrown with vegetation. The streets are devoid of traffic, except for vehicles known to be used by the RSF. Water points, too, appear deserted:
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
Seen from above, el-Fasher is a ghost town
Satellite imagery reveals how North Darfur’s capital has been abandoned after its fall
www.economist.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Today the city appears eerily silent. Seen from the sky, once bustling markets are empty and overgrown with vegetation. The streets are devoid of traffic, except for vehicles known to be used by the RSF. Water points, too, appear deserted:
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
So, El Fasher looks like one of the worst single event atrocities to happen this century so far, but the evidence has come in such a trickle it seems to only now be getting verified
At least 60,000 murdered in Sudanese city, which resembles ‘a slaughterhouse’
Satellite evidence shows extent of paramilitary massacre in El Fasher
www.irishtimes.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:50 AM
So, El Fasher looks like one of the worst single event atrocities to happen this century so far, but the evidence has come in such a trickle it seems to only now be getting verified
“They packed our children like cows into the bush,” says Chukwuelota Mmadubueze, whose son was 1 of 300 abducted from his school in north-west Nigeria last month.
My latest, on Nigeria's kidnapping epidemic (filling in for @oreogunb.bsky.social while she's away) 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
My latest, on Nigeria's kidnapping epidemic (filling in for @oreogunb.bsky.social while she's away) 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis
Donald Trump’s ire has drawn attention to appalling security failures
www.economist.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:35 AM
“They packed our children like cows into the bush,” says Chukwuelota Mmadubueze, whose son was 1 of 300 abducted from his school in north-west Nigeria last month.
My latest, on Nigeria's kidnapping epidemic (filling in for @oreogunb.bsky.social while she's away) 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
My latest, on Nigeria's kidnapping epidemic (filling in for @oreogunb.bsky.social while she's away) 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
My piece in this week's issue looks at the rapid rise of Mormonism in Africa, where the small but influential American sect is building temples and impacting politics from Sierra Leone to Ghana to Kenya 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Mormonism’s surprising boom in Africa
The American sect has come a long way from being “the white people’s church”
www.economist.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:55 AM
My piece in this week's issue looks at the rapid rise of Mormonism in Africa, where the small but influential American sect is building temples and impacting politics from Sierra Leone to Ghana to Kenya 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
I guest wrote this week's War Room, our defence newsetter, on the lessons for the Horn of Africa from Europe, 1914 👇
view.e.economist.com?qs=df4e468c9...
view.e.economist.com?qs=df4e468c9...
December 1, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I guest wrote this week's War Room, our defence newsetter, on the lessons for the Horn of Africa from Europe, 1914 👇
view.e.economist.com?qs=df4e468c9...
view.e.economist.com?qs=df4e468c9...
"A putsch favouring the government would be unusual. But unusual things happen in Guinea-Bissau."
My latest 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
My latest 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Armed men take power in Guinea-Bissau, again
But not everyone is convinced the latest putsch is a real one
www.economist.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM
"A putsch favouring the government would be unusual. But unusual things happen in Guinea-Bissau."
My latest 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
My latest 👇
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
From Ukraine to Haiti to Congo, Erik Prince’s mercenary services are everywhere, and his worldview is more influential among America’s powerholders
Erik Prince, America’s most notorious mercenary, spies opportunity in chaos
The return of the Blackwater founder is a sign of the times
econ.st
November 22, 2025 at 8:30 AM
From Ukraine to Haiti to Congo, Erik Prince’s mercenary services are everywhere, and his worldview is more influential among America’s powerholders
"Contrary to some recent news headlines,JNIM, the Sahel’s pre-eminent jihadist group, is not about to follow in the footsteps of jihadists in Afghanistan and Syria and seize power in the capital."
My latest
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
My latest
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
A fuel blockade shows the frightening power of Mali’s jihadists
But fears of a terrorist takeover are overblown
www.economist.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:04 AM
"Contrary to some recent news headlines,JNIM, the Sahel’s pre-eminent jihadist group, is not about to follow in the footsteps of jihadists in Afghanistan and Syria and seize power in the capital."
My latest
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
My latest
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
I am moving to Dubai because England is so dangerous. www.ft.com/content/9bf6...
November 19, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I am moving to Dubai because England is so dangerous. www.ft.com/content/9bf6...
Reposted by Tom Gardner
Three years ago one of the deadliest conflicts of the 21st century ended when Ethiopia’s government struck a peace deal with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Now it is unravelling
How to avoid Africa’s next war
Pressure from America and its allies can prevent a return to fighting
econ.st
November 16, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Three years ago one of the deadliest conflicts of the 21st century ended when Ethiopia’s government struck a peace deal with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Now it is unravelling
"But a covert proxy war between Ethiopia, Eritrea and their allies has, in effect, already begun. It needs worryingly little to explode into the open."
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Ethiopia is perilously close to another war
Conflict in Tigray could balloon into a regional conflagration
www.economist.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
"But a covert proxy war between Ethiopia, Eritrea and their allies has, in effect, already begun. It needs worryingly little to explode into the open."
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
One feature is the role of outside powers, including some Gulf states, which exert influence over their proxies. The best chance for de-escalation lies with America and these outside powers, who must push their allies to stop fighting and start talking again.
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
How to avoid Africa’s next war
Pressure from America and its allies can prevent a return to fighting
www.economist.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
One feature is the role of outside powers, including some Gulf states, which exert influence over their proxies. The best chance for de-escalation lies with America and these outside powers, who must push their allies to stop fighting and start talking again.
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
A groundbreaking, eye-opening, and much needed investigation into Tigray's postwar goldrush: one of the most overlooked causes of the region's calamitous law and order breakdown—and its slide back to war.
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
When Tigray became a ‘wild west’ of illegal gold mining, Canadian firms staked a claim
A postwar gold rush in Ethiopia razed the landscape and sowed seeds for conflict. The Globe looks into Canadian-licensed sites at the heart of it, and their ties to Beijing
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:11 PM
A groundbreaking, eye-opening, and much needed investigation into Tigray's postwar goldrush: one of the most overlooked causes of the region's calamitous law and order breakdown—and its slide back to war.
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...