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Sub-Saharan Africa

Saudi Arabia Turns to Africa

Saudi Arabia is increasingly interested in building economic and diplomatic ties with Africa. Not long ago, the continent was nowhere near a priority in...

Kenya’s Attempt to Woo the West

On a recent tour through Africa, I got the chance to meet academics, diplomats and other industry experts on behalf of Charles University. I...

The Race to Dominate Seabed Mining

The world can’t get enough of critical minerals. From 2017 to 2022, green energy projects alone boosted demand for lithium by roughly 200 percent,...

The Demise of Francafrique

France’s colonial empire in West and Central Africa dissolved in the 1950s and 1960s, but Paris’ dominance remained. Through the unofficial policy of “Francafrique,”...

Why the Coup in Niger Is Different

For the past few years, one military after another in West Africa has overthrown its democratically elected leaders without garnering too much attention abroad....

The Future of the BRICS

On Aug. 22-24, members of the BRICS grouping will hold a summit in Johannesburg. They’re expected to discuss two key issues: enlargement and the...

South Africa’s Difficult Balancing Act

Though South Africa has remained outwardly neutral on Russia’s war in Ukraine, its recent actions have increasingly frustrated Western countries. Ahead of a BRICS...

Make Some Room for the Global South

The world is in the throes of an economic and political reorganization. The COVID-19 pandemic made virtually every country rethink the fundamental structure of...

Daily Memo: Russian Exports to Uzbekistan, Canadian Firms in the US

Energy in Central Asia. Russia will start exporting natural gas to Uzbekistan in October, the Uzbek Energy Ministry said. Deliveries totaling 9 million cubic...

France’s Africa Strategy Depends on Chad

An authoritarian military regime may not seem like the most logical choice of partner for France in Central Africa, but Chad is an essential...

China’s New Approach in Africa

China is moving away from its landmark Belt and Road Initiative in favor of smaller direct investments in strategic projects like renewable power and...

Why Sudan Matters

Since declaring its independence in 1956, Sudan has been beset by conflict. The country lies in an unstable region on the edge of the...

Kenyan Protests Reshape East Africa

Kenya has generally been a beacon of stability in an otherwise restive region. Since its independence, it has had relatively strong institutional integrity, with...

The Hidden Conflict in Congo

The geopolitical competition over the Democratic Republic of Congo is heating up. One of the poorest countries on earth, Congo has problems that are...

The Ukraine War, One Year In

It’s been a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and what many believed would be a short-lived conflict rages on. That’s not to say it’s...

In South Africa, Russia Prospects for Opportunity

A country as distant and seemingly disinterested as South Africa may not seem like a typical ally for stronger powers, but there’s evidence that...

Latest Posts

European colonization of Africa disrupted the development of nation-states and imposed artificial borders that set the stage for recurring conflict.

These modern nation-states are therefore very young and institutionally immature.

Sub-Sahara Africa typically serves as a secondary theater for tensions between stronger powers.

South Africa has the potential to be a regional power despite its economic difficulties. Two other candidates are Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Read Regional Assessment

Required Reads: Sub-Saharan Africa

From our Forecast...

European and U.S. efforts to draw down their respective military presences in Africa will be slowed due to the risk of losing economic opportunity and political influence to competitors like Russia, Turkey or China.

Sub-Saharan Africa in our Memos

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Latest Posts

East African Trade Bloc Welcomes Somalia

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(click to enlarge) Somalia's accession to the East African Community marks a significant geopolitical shift, despite the country's struggles with al-Shabab, environmental catastrophes, violent separatist...

The Shifting Middle East

After several years of seemingly improved relations between Israel and parts of the Middle East, the war between Hamas and Israel has sparked fears of a wider regional conflict. Host Christian Smith speaks with GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari for a deep dive on how other powers in the region see the conflict, what they want to happen next, and whether Middle Eastern geopolitics have fundamentally changed.

Daily Memo: Israel Update, Problems for British Banking

Fighting continues. Israel Defense Forces said on Friday they would resume combat operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the group violated the cease-fire...

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