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

Mar 19, 2015

Guinea Democracy Stillborn?

By J. Peter Pham

While it was the first of France’s African colonies to achieve independence, democracy came rather late to Guinea. The country’s first president, Ahmed Sékou Touré, who ruled with an iron grip from 1958 until his death in 1984, turned out to be a Marxist ideologue who aligned his country with the Soviet Union, ruining the […]

North & West Africa

AfricaSource

Mar 19, 2015

Interview with Chairman of Nigeria’s Electoral Commission

By Africa Center

Transcript of Interview with Professor Attahiru M. Jega, OFR Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)Federal Republic of Nigeria   March 19, 2015 J. Peter Pham: For those who do not follow Nigeria closely, could you briefly give us an overview of the sheer scale of what is involved in organizing general elections in the Federal […]

Politics & Diplomacy

Event Recap

Mar 18, 2015

Nigeria on the Eve of the 2015 Elections

By Africa Center

In February, Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections, citing the ongoing threat posed by the terrorist group Boko Haram. The presidential polls were rescheduled to March 28; in the interim, the Nigerian military—with the aid of its neighbors—has launched a military offensive against Boko Haram.

Politics & Diplomacy

Event Recap

Mar 18, 2015

Atlantic Council Exclusive: Electoral Commission Chairman Discusses Readiness for Nigeria’s 2015 Elections

By Africa Center

Nigeria made waves last month when its Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced just one week before the scheduled date for general elections that polls would be delayed by six weeks. The decision, taken on the advice with Nigeria’s top security officials, came as terrorist group Boko Haram continued to attack and occupy a large […]

Nigeria Politics & Diplomacy

Event Recap

Mar 17, 2015

The State of Human Rights and Democracy in Sudan: A Conversation with Deputy Assistant Secretary Steven Feldstein

By Africa Center

In his remarks in October at the Atlantic Council, US Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth affirmed the US government’s willingness to engage with Khartoum in talks, effectively extending an olive branch to the Sudanese government. Still, obstacles to improved US-Sudan relations remain, including a stalled national dialogue process; continuing conflict in […]

Africa Sudan

AfricaSource

Mar 16, 2015

Democratic Congo’s Democracy Deficit

By J. Peter Pham

The incumbent regime ruling the rather ironically-named Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to narrow the political space in the country as it approaches elections which are supposed to be held next year, going so far this past weekend as to arrest a US diplomat who was detained along with other participants at a […]

usa-afrique

Article

Mar 16, 2015

J. Peter Pham Writes on President Obama’s Legacy in Africa

By Africa Center

Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham authored an essay for the latest edition of the French-language magazine Pouvoirs d’Afrique. In the piece entitled “What Legacy will Barack Obama Leave in Africa?”, Pham writes, “With both U.S. political parties, Democratic and Republican, under pressure to demonstrate to the electorate ahead ofthe 2016 presidential election that they are […]

Article

Mar 13, 2015

A Weakened Caliphate Expands

By J. Peter Pham

Bottom Line Up Front: • The Islamic State accepted Boko Haram’s allegiance, or bay’at, pledged to the Iraq and Syria-based extremist group over the weekend • Given the recent military setbacks for Boko Haram and the Islamic State, and their increasing convergence, this development is unsurprising and a propaganda victory for both groups

Nigeria Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2015

Rights and Wrongs: US Law Hurting Ties, Says Nigerian Official

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Leahy amendment curbs US military aid to foreign troops accused of atrocities A US law that bans the sale of weapons to foreign forces accused of human rights violations is “hindering” cooperation between the United States and Nigeria, even as Abuja wages war against Boko Haram militants, a top Nigerian intelligence official said March 11. […]

Nigeria Politics & Diplomacy

Event Recap

Mar 11, 2015

Update on Security in Nigeria and the Campaign against Boko Haram

By Africa Center

Amid the most hotly-contested elections since Nigeria’s 1999 transition back to civilian rule, the West African country’s military has gone on the offensive against Boko Haram, an Islamist terror group that until very recently controlled a chunk of territory across three northeastern states equivalent to the size of Belgium. A regional military force, catalyzed in […]

Nigeria Politics & Diplomacy
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