The CSIS Africa Program charts new directions for U.S.-Africa policy by providing timely, forward-thinking analysis. The CSIS Africa Program is committed to charting new directions for U.S.-Africa policy, providing forward-thinking analysis that spurs new insights and policy recommendations for the region.
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We seek to identify shifts in the economic, political, and security landscape, and connect these developments to broader global trends. Leveraging our reputation as a bipartisan think tank, the Africa Program convenes high-level representatives from the U.S. government, African governments, private sector, and non-governmental organizations to explore new ideas and tackle enduring challenges to peace and prosperity in the region. Director Judd Devermont leads our efforts. Website: http://csis.org/program/africa-program “Into Africa” podcast: https://www.csis.org/podcasts/africa Twitter: http://twitter.com/CSISAfrica Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/csisafrica/
We have an exciting lineup of high-profile guests for our third season of the Into Africa podcast. There's a lot to look forward to this year: Chinese tech in Africa, vaccine diplomacy, conflict minerals, and the reparation of African artifacts. Join us next week for our special anniversary episode featuring Kenyan afro-pop band, Sauti Sol!
Here's a teaser: www.csis.org/node/59380
Anxiety underpins what people buy, how neighborhoods are structured, and which type of crimes take place in the large city of Johannesburg.
In our fifth edition of Talking Urban Futures in Africa, the CSIS Africa Program sat down with Cobus van Staden and Nicky Falkof, co-editors of Anxious Joburg: The Inner Lives of a Global South City (Wits University Press, 2020).
http://bit.ly/3pVfaa3
In our fifth edition of Talking Urban Futures in Africa, the CSIS Africa Program sat down with Cobus van Staden and Nicky Falkof, co-editors of Anxious Joburg: The Inner Lives of a Global South City (Wits University Press, 2020). Van Staden and Falkof discuss why anxiety is a useful lens to understa...
Sub-Saharan Africa’s 49 countries rarely receive equal attention. Director Judd Devermont and senior associate Ryan Cummings address this disparity in the CSIS Africa Program’s series, “Under the Radar,” revealing insights on countries that seldom grab headlines.
Read on for the Winter Edition: http://bit.ly/3mWKAuK
Sub-Saharan Africa’s 49 countries rarely receive equal attention. The international media and analysts privilege the region’s biggest economies and troubled spots, neglecting political, economic, and security developments in other countries. Director Judd Devermont and senior associate Ryan Cumm...
As the crisis in the Sahel nears its second decade, the international community must refresh its approach to the region’s intertwined political and security challenges.
In a new European Union in the United States supported brief, CSIS experts Judd Devermont and Marielle Harris outline key recommendations: https://bit.ly/3piMx
Download the Brief The Issue The situation in the Sahel has never been more dire. As the crisis enters its tenth year, extremist violence is spreading, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is growing, and food insecurity is affecting more people than ever before. There are growing doubt...
In a new interactive piece, the Africa Program profiles the dynamic links between African countries and 15 select U.S. cities. The resounding conclusion is that a city’s engagement with the continent contributes significantly to overall enrichment.
Read, watch, and explore: https://bit.ly/CSCity
Africa matters to U.S. cities. Over the past few decades, the continent has shaped the wealth, foreign policy profile, academic success, and cultural life of America’s major cities. The Hometown Argument The national security pitch about why Africa matters to the United States tends to fall on dea...
In a new interactive piece, we profile the dynamic links between African countries & 15 select US cities. The resounding conclusion is that a city’s engagement with the continent contributes significantly to overall enrichment.
Read, watch, and explore: bit.ly/CSCity
Africa matters to U.S. cities. Over the past few decades, the continent has shaped the wealth, foreign policy profile, academic success, and cultural life of America’s major cities. The Hometown Argument The national security pitch about why Africa matters to the United States tends to fall on dea...
With Uganda's presidential elections just a few weeks away, there are increasing concerns that violence will escalate and the situation could reach a tipping point.
Senior Associate Maria Burnett breaks down the systemic setbacks opposition candidates and civil society face.
www.csis.org/analysis/repression-voters-weigh-musevenis-34-years
Being an opposition presidential candidate in Uganda is an exercise in anxiety. Not because you are unsure of what might happen, but rather because you know quite well what will. Opposition candidates know that on January 14, 2021, their names and party symbols will appear on the ballot. They know t...
"The Sahel’s exceedingly disjointed security environment underpins each challenge faced by those in need of humanitarian aid—and those trying to deliver it."
The visualization below illustrates the scale of attacks in the region. Read more: http://ow.ly/1vwf50CI3m9
On the latest Into Africa episode, Yomi Kazeem highlights the differences between East and West Africa in relation to the adoption of digital technology and mobile money.
Plus, Judd Devermont is joined by Alexis Akwagyiram and Deepali Fernandes to discuss the WTO Director-General race, expanding internet access across sub-Saharan Africa, and the exciting potential of digital currency.
Listen: bit.ly/IADigitalCurrency
Digital currencies and mobile money platforms have the potential to lower costs of remittances and increase financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa.
In a new piece, Judd Devermont and Topaz Mukulu share their recommendations to hasten the secure and safe adoption of digital currencies and expand the use of mobile money across the continent.
Read the commentary: bit.ly/SSADigitalCurrency
The predictions were dire. In the early stages of the Covid-19 outbreak, the World Bank predicted a 23.1 percent drop in remittances to sub-Saharan African countries. With the region’s economies and households accustomed to receiving as much as $48 billion in remittances, a substantial decline—c...
Prime Minister Abiy and the TPLF share responsibility for the tragedy in Tigray.
In a new commentary, Judd Devermont explains the origins of the conflict in Ethiopia and discusses the concerning prospects for the country's democratic transition.
Read his analysis: bit.ly/TigrayConflict
On November 28, Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed congratulated the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) for seizing control of Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia’s restive Tigray region, after nearly a month of mounting violence between the government and rebel Tigrayan forces. Abiy declared t...
New on Into Africa: Covid-19 has accelerated the adoption of digital currency and mobile money platforms across Africa. Judd Devermont sits down with Alexis Akwagyiram (Reuters), Yomi Kareem (Quartz Africa), and Deepali Fernandes (IOM - UN Migration) to discuss the tug-of-war between innovation and regulation, high-tech solutions to expand internet access, and the remaining obstacles to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's confirmation as WTO Director-General. Listen: bit.ly/IADigitalCurrency
In the latest episode of CNA Corporation's "Coming in from the Cold," Judd Devermont joins Pamela Faber to discuss the assassination of the first elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo, Patrice Lumumba.
Listen: https://www.cna.org/news/coming-in-from-the-cold
Access to humanitarian aid for millions of IDPs in the Sahel hinges upon overcoming obstacles posed by the fragmented security environment.
In a new paper with CSIS Humanitarian Agenda, Senior Associate Kyle Murphy explores how to break down those barriers and provide an effective humanitarian response: bit.ly/SahelHumanitarian
Last week, CSIS and ONE hosted a virtual event focusing on the tough decisions African leaders are forced to make as the pandemic rages on. Our panelists discussed the opportunities and challenges African governments face and how they can navigate these impossible choices. Watch the entire event: bit.ly/ImpossibleChoices
The CSIS Africa Program and the ONE Campaign invite you to an event exploring challenges faced by African governments during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through a simulated experience, panelists will navigate key issues in a fictional scenario, with reality reflected in presented policy choices. As an au...
Cross-country trips introducing world leaders to U.S. ingenuity, diversity, and culture have been lost to history.
A failure to reimagine official visits by African leaders will mark a missed opportunity to boost stagnant trade and investment, reinvigorate cultural ties with the United States, and compete with U.S. adversaries who are more apt to shower African counterparts with high-level attention.
In a new commentary, Judd Devermont highlights the importance of reinvigorating innovative diplomatic engagement with African leaders. bit.ly/LeaderTours
In 1959, the U.S. government treated Guinean president Sékou Touré to an impressive show of U.S. diplomacy. As recounted by U.S. Ambassador to Guinea John Morrow, President Touré was brought on a 14-day trip across the United States that included a dinner hosted by President Eisenhower in his hon...
NEW: In the second episode of Race and Diplomacy, Travis Adkins and Judd Devermont sit down with Saron Tamerat, Hannah Ryder, and Guangzhi Huang. Following widespread condemnation of racism in Guangzhou earlier this year, they explore anti-blackness and what it means to be African in China.
Watch the episode: bit.ly/RDChina
Travis and Judd return for the second episode of #RaceandDiplomacy. This week, they discuss with an all-star panel the experience of Africans living abroad i...
Mozambique’s use of force against insurgents in Cabo Delgado, including the use of private military companies, is not an effective strategy to combat the growing conflict. Emilia Columbo builds upon CSIS’s scenarios for violence in the region and analyzes a new approach for Mozambique and its regional partners. bit.ly/MozambiqueLongTerm
This commentary provides an updated state of play and roadmap for the insurgency in northern Mozambique, outlined in the October 2019 CSIS report Northern Mozambique at a Crossroads: Scenarios for Violence in the Resource-rich Cabo Delgado Province . During the past year, the Ahlu Sunna wa Jama (ASW...
In a new white paper from CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies, Senior Associate Kyle Murphy explores obstacles preventing an effective humanitarian response in the Sahel.
His country-by-country analysis provides an in-depth look at the state of armed conflict and humanitarian organizations in the region. Read his recommendations for a better response: bit.ly/SahelHumanitarian
Download the Report The humanitarian emergency in the Sahel is causing unprecedented suffering. Approximately 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—the hardest hit countries in the region. The number of people facing acute hunger has tripled ...
Join CSIS and ONE at 10:00 a.m. ET today for an interactive webinar on the impossible choices African leaders face during Covid-19. Kader Hassane, Diene Keita, and Rima Le Coguic join Gayle Smith and Judd Devermont to reinvigorate the conversation on debt and finance.
Register to attend the event: http://ow.ly/BQ9R50CnWNX
On the latest episode of Into Africa, Maria Sarungi Tsehai shares her reactions to the U.S. election and discusses the future of U.S. policy on the continent. Plus Jason Stearns and Udo Jude Ilo discuss the latest on the #EndSARS movement, the DRC’s political troubles, and the conflict in Ethiopia. Listen: http://ow.ly/Tee450Cmazv
The anticipated removal of Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list provides a crucial opportunity for the transitional government. How will delisting impact Sudan's humanitarian response?
In a new commentary, Judd Devermont and the CSIS Humanitarian Agenda team explore the potential for a more robust response from the Sudanese government and international partners.
Read their analysis: https://www.csis.org/analysis/humanitarian-impacts-sudans-removal-state-sponsors-terrorism-list
The anticipated removal of Sudan from the United States’ State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list is a crucial opportunity for Sudan’s transitional government. Navigating a tenuous power-sharing agreement between civilian and military authorities, the government has overseen substantial humanitari...
Nearly a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, many African governments do not have financial reserves and liquidity readily available to keep their economies afloat and tackle the virus. Step into the shoes of African finance ministers in a virtual, interactive event with CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies and ONE.
Join us next Wednesday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET to explore the policy choices African governments might have to make.
Register: bit.ly/ImpossibleChoices
Register Via Zoom This event will be a Zoom Webinar and has a limited number of available spots for live participants. Please register for this event through the registration button and you will receive an email with the details to watch the event live. The recording of this event will be posted on....
Following a viral video of a deadly shooting by Nigeria's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Nigerians took to the streets to demand that the government abolish the SARS unit after decades of abuse.
The #ENDSARS protests spanned continents and have begun to evolve into wider calls for reform and civic change within Nigeria. Program Director Judd Devermont explains the rise of the movement, what it's achieved so far, where it can go from here, and what it means for the future of Nigeria.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEmrVvIbnFQ
On October 3, 2020, footage of a man being shot and killed by Nigeria's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) went viral. The following days and weeks saw Nigeri...
In the seventh installment of Africa Reacts, top African analysts share their reactions to the U.S. presidential election.
Many noted that the election outcome would determine the fate of U.S. democracy for years to come, while others expressed shock at the closeness of the race and the willingness of many Americans to support a leader who has not prioritized human rights, climate change, anti-racism, and gender equality.
Read their thoughts: bit.ly/AfricaReacts7
In our “Africa Reacts” series, the CSIS Africa Program asks prominent African journalists, civil society activists, and thought leaders to share their analysis on the U.S. presidential election process. Sub-Saharan Africa has not featured prominently in presidential campaigns, but the outcome of...
Nina Prieur discusses Prosper Africa's goal to increase trade and investment between the United States and Africa. Tune in to hear more on the opportunities and challenges that exist for increased private sector engagement in the African healthcare sector. Plus, Senegal's pandemic response and the oil spill in Mauritius.
Listen to the latest ep. of #IntoAfrica: bit.ly/IANCD
"U.S. policy toward Nigeria needs to change. The #EndSARS movement is a sharp reminder that Washington’s focus on core American values - good governance, respect for human rights, and shared prosperity - is slipping."
Judd Devermont and Matthew T. Page reflect on lessons from the #EndSARS movement and provide recommendations for improved U.S.-Nigeria relations.
Via allAfrica.com: https://allafrica.com/stories/202011021090.html
The Africa Program is excited to announce our newest affiliates. They bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives to the team.
Hilary Matfess is a PhD candidate at Yale where she has conducted extensive research on the gendered dynamics of conflict. She is also a 2020-2021 USIP Peace Scholar Fellow. Learn more: bit.ly/CSISHM
Laird Treiber was a career member of the Senior Foreign Service in the Department of State. Most recently, he served as the State Department senior liaison for Prosper Africa. Learn more: bit.ly/CSISLT
In the latest edition of Talking Urban Futures, Judd Devermont, Rachel Locke, and Eric Apelgren press for inclusive and holistic approaches to how urban stakeholders address violence and insecurity. The conversation also covers the impact of Covid-19 and implications of smart city tech. bit.ly/TUFUrbanViolence
In our fourth edition of Talking Urban Futures in Africa, Judd Devermont discusses urban violence and security challenges with Rachel Locke, director of Impact:Peace, and Eric Apelgren, a municipal official in Durban, South Africa. Rachel and Eric are pressing for new approaches to how urban stakeho...
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Payton Knopf (USIP) emphasizes the need for multilateral engagement that responds to the aspirations of the people. Listen to the entire discussion with Judd Devermont, Nilanthi Samaranayake (CNA), and Housam Darwisheh (Institute of Developing Economies) in the latest episode of Into Africa. Plus, learn about the GERD, the UK-Mauritian dispute over Diego Garcia, and more: http://ow.ly/dinj50Bv8wa
U.S. policy toward Africa has been mired in old thinking for too long. In his latest brief, Judd Devermont describes a new policy framework built on more engagement with African counterparts and an expansion of public diplomacy and repetoire. Read it now: bit.ly/NewUSPolicy
Professor Elizabeth Schmidt analyzes Ivorian President Ouattara's decision to run for a third term in the latest podcast episode of Into Africa. Listen to Professor Schmidt, Program Director Judd Devermont, Ambassador Hank Cohen, and Professor Adebayo Oyebade discuss Côte d'Ivoire, Nashville's vibrant diaspora, and the legacy of U.S. policy toward Africa: bit.ly/IAUSPolicy
Rahmane Idrissa discusses France's complicated relations with Africa in the newest episode of Into Africa. Ambassador Jeff Hawkins & Program Manager Marielle Harris join the discussion on Françafrique, Mali's political crisis, and the Central Africa Republic's upcoming elections. Listen to the full episode: megaphone.link/CSIS9200924766
Mali's political crisis is rapidly escalating as a coalition of thousands of opposition supporters, civil society organizations, and others join in anti-government demonstrations. Program Director Judd Devermont sat down with Chicago Council on Global Affairs to discuss Mali and the regional security implications it has for the region. Listen to the episode of Deep Dish now: bit.ly/DDMali
"A destabilized Burundi is not good for the region," former Ambassador to Burundi Dawn Liberi says in her conversation with Host Judd Devermont on the importance of a peaceful transition following the death of President Pierre Nkurunziza and subsequent inauguration of his successor. Listen to the latest on Burundi, Kenya, misinformation in Africa, and more: megaphone.link/CSIS1186083552
Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, discusses how the continent can rebuild post-Covid-19. She highlights three best practices: 1. Create a compassionate and effective political order 2. Innovate in the economy 3. Invest in a new social contract
In the latest podcast episode of Into Africa, Ilana Cohen from GSMA Mobile for Development explains the need for expanded internet access and accelerated tech development for Africans during the Covid-19 pandemic. Listen to the conversation now: bit.ly/D-GTech
On the latest "3 Questions with the Africa Program," Patrick Gaspard, president of Open Society Foundations, explains how Covid-19 is moving the needle on democracy and economic justice around the world, especially in Africa.
On the latest Into Africa episode, CSIS senior associate and journalist Will Brown discusses the threat that Covid-19 poses to African governments, international partners and their ability to address humanitarian crises. Listen to the full episode here: http://bit.ly/VirusesandVEOs
Join the CSIS Africa Program on Thursday, May 21 for a discussion on how digital technologies are playing a critical role in solving some of the region’s most pressing health, economic, and social challenges, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Panelists include Worku Gachou (Managing Director, Africa, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation), Astrid Haas (Policy Director, International Growth Centre), and Max Cuvellier (Head of Mobile for Development). Register to attend here: bit.ly/DSCSIS
In a recent “3 Questions with the Africa Program,” CSIS Expert Jake Kurtzer discusses the impact of Covid-19 on the humanitarian crisis in Northeast Nigeria. He explains that, in charting a way forward, bureaucratic restrictions need to be lifted to allow humanitarian agencies the access they need to respond. To learn more about the situation, read the full report here: bit.ly/NEReport
Last week, program director Judd Devermont testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, on China’s security and military presence in Africa. He noted China’s expanding military capabilities and commitment to strengthening bilateral relationships. Listen to the full testimony to learn more about the implications of China’s involvement in sub-Saharan Africa here: bit.ly/TestifyJDUSChina
On the latest Into Africa episode “The Shape of Africa to Come,” Jonathan Rosenthal (Africa Editor at the Economist) discusses the future of Africa and the necessity of centering the agency of Africans when analyzing future projections. Host Judd Devermont was also joined by guests Erin Sikorsky (National Intelligence Council) and Jakkie Cilliers (Institute for Security Studies). They also explore the widespread abuses by security forces during Covid-19 enforced lockdowns and Lesotho’s Prime Minister Tom Thabane’s decision to step down. Listen to the full episode: https://www.csis.org/podcasts/africa
What does the gradual spread of COVID-19 in Africa look like? For the past few weeks we have been tracking cases across the continent. For more information on the pandemic in Africa, visit: bit.ly/COVID-19Africa
NEW: Three Questions with the CSIS Africa Program As part of a new video series, CSIS Africa will deliver weekly analysis to update our online audience on key developments across sub-Saharan Africa. We will feature the insights of our staff and affiliates, as well as U.S. and African thought leaders. Here's program director Judd Devermont on the politics surrounding #COVID-19
Genevieve Nnaji's Lionheart, the first Netflix original film produced in Nigeria, was disqualified from the Oscars. In light of this, what can African governments and the international community do to support and invest in the continent’s growing creative sector? http://bit.ly/CSISLionheart
Fresh off the editing suite - a new Into Africa episode! Host Judd Devermont is joined by Abdi Nor Iftin (Author), Erol Yayboke (CSIS), and Beza Tesfaye (Mercy Corps) to discuss Abdi’s book "Call Me American: A Memoir," South Sudan’s fragile peace deal, plus the threat of Al Shabaab in Somalia. bit.ly/InAfrPodcast4
New episode alert! African prints are wrapped up in issues around gender, tradition, and commerce. How do these dynamics affect their starring role in the creative economy? In this latest Into Africa episode with African Arguments, host Judd Devermont discusses this and more with Aubrey Hruby (Atlantic Council of US); Topaz Mukulu (@CSIS Africa Program); and Idza Luhumyo (writer). bit.ly/InAfrPodcast2
Program Director Judd Devermont examines Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's ambitious reform agenda and the response to his recent Nobel Peace Prize award. Watch more: http://bit.ly/CSISEthiopia
Bobi Wine joins the Into Africa podcast to chat with host Judd Devermont, journalist Damola Durosomo, and analyst Lauren Blanchard
Program Director Judd Devermont sat down with CSIS’ "The Truth of the Matter" hosts Bob Schieffer and Andrew Schwartz to break down the Russia-Africa summit and what it means for U.S. policy in the region. Listen to the episode: http://bit.ly/RussiaIntoAfrica
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