Africa Programme

Should Donald Trump fail to back the Lobito Corridor project, João Lourenço’s government has other partnership options in Europe and the Middle East.

In this episode, Professor Carlos Lopes discusses what the African Union’s G20 membership means for Africa’s economic and geopolitical influence on the global stage.

In this episode, Khalid Omer Yousif discusses how Sudan’s broadest anti-war, pro-democracy coalition, Tagadom, aims to bring civilian voices to the fore in a war dictated by military powers, and their plans to the end of Sudan’s war despite mounting atrocities engulfing the country.

An internship at Chatham House offers an invaluable learning experience through a six-month placement in one of our teams.

In this episode, guests discuss ways to turn Somalia’s climate vulnerability to climate resilience.

The contestation over gold – and its connection to transnational networks – is becoming a major driver of Ethiopia’s complex conflicts.

International cooperation is needed to deliver civilian protection, scale up humanitarian assistance, leverage the influence of regional actors, and give Sudanese civilians a role in the peace process.

Chinese engagement with Africa is on an uptick after a period of decline.

Efforts to co-opt opposition and externalize blame are familiar tools in Kenyan politics, but may be ill-equipped to address the demands of a new youth protest phenomenon and the realities of Kenya’s fiscal struggles.

In this episode, recorded to mark the African Union’s African Anti-Corruption Day, the panel discusses Chatham House’s Social Norms and Accountable Governance (SNAG) research project supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

New foreign minister Ronald Lamola is a rising political force. He will likely focus more on foreign relations serving domestic economic issues, taking a lower profile than his predecessor.

Many of southern Africa’s liberation leaders should take heed that electorates are impatient for tangible change – as the ANC has discovered.

Tighisti Amare talks to Michael Palin and producer Segilola Arisekola about their new documentary series, and Chatham House’s work on governance in Nigeria.

While the anti-war, pro-democracy Taqaddum coalition offers a glimmer of hope, the main challenge for its members will be to remain united and act decisively in negotiations over ending the war and Sudan’s political future.

In this episode, Wenjie Chen of the International Monetary Fund’s African Department discusses the IMF regional economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa.

The ANC is creaking at the seams and wounded by the success of Jacob Zuma’s MK. Alliance with the DA may be tricky to sell to party members.

President Joe Biden’s choice of Kenya for a first African state visit in more than 15 years is no coincidence, but both countries must be clear on what is driving this increasing strategic dependence.

Speculation that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) could lose its majority and usher in a new form of politics has garnered international attention. Through this complex transition, the country’s electoral system and civil society observers can and should be trusted.

In this episode, His Excellency Timothy Musa Kabba, Foreign Affairs Minister for Sierra Leone, shares insights into his country’s key priorities during its tenure on the Security Council.

Long-running border disputes between Ethiopia and Sudan are intersecting with other internal conflicts, bringing greater militarization and economic instability.

China’s long-term strategy around bases in Africa is unclear, but countries hosting them must also make political calculations.

With multiple military coups in the region, signs that the presidential election in Senegal is back on track are being greeted with cautious optimism by some

In this episode, guests discuss gold’s connection to the current war and transnational dynamics.

After nearly a year of devastating conflict, there is little sign of a ceasefire. Concerted high-level international pressure is needed to change the calculations of the generals and support a democratic transition.

This episode discusses transnational links between the movement of people and armed conflict – from Edo State in Nigeria, through Niger, to Libya.

ANC domination is anticipated to give way to national and provincial coalition deal-making between very different parties. But the constitution was designed to accommodate this change.

Leading African Union member states continue to delay ratification of the Malabo convention, limiting harmonized African policymaking on cybersecurity.

The discussion series brings together African stakeholders to discuss the continent’s response to geopolitical trends.

From a year of elections, to multiple summits, as well as conflict hotspots and debt burdens, 2024 will bring mixed fortunes for the African continent.

But the system remains deeply flawed, with the country’s enormous wealth controlled by a tiny elite.

Despite legislative efforts and cooperation with the EU, migration through Niger and Libya to Europe has grown significantly in recent years. This paper examines the transnational drivers of this phenomenon, including insecurity in Libya and the mobility economy in Niger.

Exploitation and abuse of Nigerians and other people moving have become a profitable revenue source for armed groups in Libya. Tackling this situation will require both a transnational approach and policy tools beyond those traditionally associated with conflict response.

Tanzania’s rising economic influence and its ambitions for major cross-border infrastructure projects demand a more proactive approach to foreign policy. The policy review currently under way is a chance for the country to reach its potential as a regional leader and reliable global partner.

Amid civil war and territorial rivalry on both sides of the Ethiopia–Sudan border, sesame has become central to a conflict economy that perpetuates violence and political instability.

This paper explores the regional dimensions of the two-year civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and the potential for successful implementation of the November 2022 peace agreement.

More cohesive international engagement is needed to support stability in Ethiopia and Sudan and resolve damaging cross-border disputes that jeopardize security and development across the Horn of Africa.

Zambia’s recent approach to international relations has boosted the country’s prominence, but further domestic focus is needed to make this a sustainable policy shift.

A global approach is the only way to tackle debt distress in Africa. This will require strategic cooperation between China, the West and African nations.

Nigeria’s young democracy has been undermined by corruption in the form of vote markets. Using survey evidence, this paper examines the drivers of vote-selling.

Mozambique’s government has an opportunity to redress human rights failings and help establish durable security relationships in the vital extractives sector.

This paper examines why some Nigerian parents, often acting against their own beliefs, pay bribes to ensure their children’s exam success.

This paper takes a closer look at the drivers of corruption and examines the role of religion in anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.

Strengthening the social contract, tackling governance failures, and replacing a counterterrorism imperative with a focus on human security are long overdue in the Western Sahel.

This paper finds that the transition perspectives of Central and Eastern European member states can help shape the EU’s evolving partnership with Africa.

This paper summarizes the US mission in Somalia, analyses how it is being implemented, and assesses whether US policy in Somalia is working. It also outlines three scenarios for future US engagement.

Despite enshrining gender equality in law, Kenya’s 2010 constitution has failed to deliver the transformation many had hoped for. This paper highlights the importance of devolution in enhancing gender equality in Kenya and suggests practical ways forward to facilitate gender-responsive budgeting and planning.

Trade between Central and Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa has increased significantly in the last decade and a half. There is a strong case to be made for greater economic re-engagement, especially in terms of investment, that has the potential to support inclusive growth in both regions.

This paper examines how the deal to end civil conflict was achieved and highlights potential risks in the run-up to the October 2019 elections and beyond.

Mauritania stands at the threshold of a crucial political change. The actions of political leaders and wider society during this critical period could have large and far-reaching consequences in setting the course for the country’s evolution. 

Combating illegal wildlife trade and further pursuing conservation-development models could help generate considerable economic benefits for African countries, while ensuring the long-term preservation of Africa’s wealth of natural capital.

It is critical that the Angolan authorities get a full picture of the efficiency shortcomings of past major investments, and that bold reforms are undertaken to make public investment more efficient.

International engagement will be critical to the success of Nigeria’s elections, but its international partners – in particular the US – appear less engaged than they were four years ago.

Anti-corruption efforts could be made significantly more effective through new ways of understanding why people engage in the practice.

Tanzania’s leaders will need to increasingly rely on astute policy-making to maintain the country’s unique position in a region with numerous powerful national leaders, writes Adjoa Anyimadu.

The ongoing struggle for greater influence, inclusion, accountability and representation in northern Nigeria is central to understanding transformations in the region’s politics, especially in the context of its security challenges and a looming general election in 2015.