Event Recap

On Thursday, January 22, at 10:00 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center convened a panel of experts, former officials, and practitioners to discuss the impact of electoral cycles on Africa’s business and investment environments. This was the inaugural event for the Africa Center’s new trade and investment portfolio.

The discussion was moderated by Dana Banks, senior fellow at the Africa Center and lead of its trade and investment portfolio. The panel included Andrew Dabalen, chief economist for Africa at the World Bank Group; Troy Fitrell, former US ambassador to the Republic of Guinea and senior official of the Africa Bureau at the US State Department; Kendra L. Gaither, president of the US-Africa Business Center at the US Chamber of Commerce; Bryan Lanza, partner at Mercury Public Affairs and advisor of US President Donald Trump‘s transition team; and Florizelle Liser, president and chief executive officer of the Corporate Council on Africa.

Banks opened by noting that 2025 and 2026 are two pivotal years for the African continent, with national elections in Cameroon, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, the Central African Republic, and Benin “reshaping political landscapes, and by extension, the business environment in these key markets.” She added that “as we look ahead to 2026, additional electoral contests promise to further influence governance structures, economic policy directions, and market dynamics.”

Lanza observed that companies’ responses to electoral outcomes across Africa “has a lot to do with the shifts taking place here in the US.” He noted that African government officials are increasingly engaging with members of this administration, trying to “establish relationships early.”

Liser explained that US firms are increasingly turning to local partners who understand the political environment and business ecosystem, noting this approach differs from the past when “American companies often might go in and think, ‘I’ll do it on my own.’”

Fitrell emphasized that while businesses want stability, it should not be confused with rigidity.“A concrete house is rigid, but when you have a tremor and it collapses, it’s spectacular,” he said. When businesses are looking for stability, “they’re looking for something that has the ability to adapt and evolve.”

Gaither emphasized that “business goes beyond the headlines,” pointing out that while elections may dominate media attention, “companies are beyond the headlines looking at fundamentals—they are making long-range decisions.”

Dabalen noted that despite elections often being associated with volatility, the surprising thing in the economic data across countries that have had elections and will have elections this year is that “there are no surprises at all,” as investors also consider macroeconomic indicators like inflation, debt management, and taxation.

Sarah Way is a Program Assistant with the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center

Event Description

On Thursday, January 22, at 10:00 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center will host a conversation examining how electoral cycles are shaping Africa’s business and investment environment.

The year 2025 saw several national elections take place across the continent, including in Cameroon, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, the Central African Republic, and Guinea-Bissau. These contests had significant implications for policy continuity, regulatory frameworks, and investor confidence. And 2026 will bring with it additional elections, which are expected to further influence political and economic trajectories in several key markets. Understanding the effects of such electoral periods is critical for businesses, investors, and development partners operating in Africa.

The Africa Center will bring together leading voices from think tanks, business associations, and development institutions to offer practical insights for navigating Africa’s evolving business landscape, with a focus on governance, economic reform, market stability, and risk management.

New policy: In-person attendees will be required to show photo ID upon arrival, and no on-site registration will be permitted. Guests will not be admitted later than twenty minutes after the event’s start time. Registration for this event will close at 5:00 p.m. ET the day prior. 

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