Africa Center Commentary & Analysis

Through high-level relationships and a track record of well-respected analysis, the Africa Center speaks directly to the stakeholders who matter, shaping policy on the foremost issues of this dynamic continent.

AfricaSource

Jun 8, 2016

Sudan Still a “State Sponsor of Terrorism”?

By J. Peter Pham

The Secretary of State is required by law to provide the Congress with an annual “full and complete report” on terrorism. The Country Reports on Terrorism covering 2015 was released last week and makes for some interesting reading, its conclusions eliciting reactions ranging from alarm to bemusement to, quite simply, befuddlement. An example of the latter […]

Sudan

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2016

What the UN Gets Wrong About Rights in Eritrea

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A finding of crimes against humanity would be indefensible, said the Atlantic Council’s Bronwyn Bruton A UN panel’s expected conclusion that crimes against humanity are being committed in Eritrea would be legally indefensible because of the flawed methodology in the compilation of the report and would further erode the credibility of the International Criminal Court […]

Eritrea

AfricaSource

Jun 6, 2016

Uganda’s Radical Refugee Approach

By Julian Wyss

Earlier this month, Kenya drew international condemnation by announcing the closure of Dadaab refugee complex and the repatriation of its 330,000 mostly Somali residents by November of this year. It’s not the first time Kenya has threatened to close the camp, but the political leadership is likely emboldened by the European Union’s plans to limit […]

East Africa

Event Recap

May 19, 2016

Conversation with Congolese Opposition Leaders

By Africa Center

On Thursday, May 19, the Africa Center hosted a roundtable with a delegation of Congolese opposition leaders led by the Honorable Olivier Kamitatu, the Vice President of the G7 coalition of political parties, on recent developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Africa

AfricaSource

May 19, 2016

America’s Friend in North Africa Deserves Better

By J. Peter Pham

It is written in the Book of Proverbs that “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” In other words, a true friend will tell another unpleasant truths, conveying things the other may not want to hear, but doing so for the sake of the other’s own good, which is valued more than even the friendship itself. However, […]

Morocco

AfricaSource

May 16, 2016

No ‘Silver Bullet’ for Kenya’s Security

By Kelsey Lilley and Julian Wyss

On May 6, the Kenyan government announced that it would cease hosting the estimated 600,000 refugees that currently call Kenya home. Days later, the government scaled back its initial threat, focusing instead on northeastern Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp, the world’s largest and home to 350,000 Somali refugees and their progeny. Despite providing little evidence, the […]

Africa East Africa

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2016

Joseph Kabila’s Ugly Legacy

By Julian Wyss

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces a “crisis in governance” under President Joseph Kabila, said panelists at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center on May 12, and, though Kabila is constitutionally ineligible for a third term as president, it’s becoming increasingly clear that he has no plans to step down […]

Africa

Event Recap

May 12, 2016

Launch of ‘Congo Blues: Scoring Kabila’s Rule’

By Africa Center

On Thursday, May 12, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center launched its newest issue brief, Congo Blues: Scoring Kabila’s Rule, by Pierre Englebert, H. Russell Smith Professor of International Relations and Professor of African Politics at Pomona College.

Africa

AfricaSource

May 3, 2016

Obama’s ‘Commercial Diplomacy’ in Africa

By Kelsey Lilley and Stephanie Sparrow

Barack Obama’s historic election as President of the United States in 2008 was the first time an American of African descent had ever held the United States’ highest position. Because of the President’s Kenyan roots, many Africans were particularly excited for what they hoped would be the start of a new era in relations between […]

Africa Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Apr 29, 2016

Zimbabwe in ‘Grave Danger’ of Political Violence

By Kelsey Lilley

Former opposition Member of Parliament cites ‘serious political vacuum’ in the country Zimbabwe is in “grave danger” of political violence and its fractured opposition is “poisoned” because of an undemocratic culture, according to David Coltart, a founding member of the country’s main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). “There is a very serious […]

Africa