Africa Center Commentary & Analysis

Libya and Africa

By Peter Pham

As Western-led operations against forces loyal to Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi continue, most analysis in the media has situated events in the context of the developments in the Middle East and its impact on it. Largely forgotten, however, is that Libya is an African power whose fate has significant implications for the rest of the […]

Jones: Making Africa Better Place Makes World Safer Place

By James Joyner

Former National Security Advisor Jim Jones says tackling the "real 21st century challenge" of maritime security and political instability in West Africa is "something we must do" as well as something we should do.  He called on the United States and its NATO Allies to work together on these issues "Not only to make Africa […]

Rwandan Election: Proper Perspective Needed

It has been little more than a week since incumbent Paul Kagame won Rwanda’s August 9 presidential election with 93% of the vote. It was not a vote for an open, Western style democracy but rather one for continued security and stability, which, not surprisingly, are highly valued by Rwandans since the 1994 genocide.

Terrorist World Cup in East Africa

By David Smith

The first half of the World Cup final game was drawing to a close when that universal cry of combined disappointment and relief arose from restaurants and bars around the world.  Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas had made a spectacular save.  But at that very moment, cries of anguish arose from Kampala’s Ethiopian Village Restaurant—a suicide […]

Nigeria: Internal Stability and International Order

By Martin Kimani

“Clean!” was Nigerian Acting President Goodluck Jonathan’s emphatic response when asked for a promise about the upcoming 2011 elections.  At the formal launch of the Atlantic Council’s Ansari Africa Center, Dr. Jonathan spoke to a standing room only crowd about his vision for good governance and accountability, youth and hope, peace and security.  The speech […]

Africa: Partner or Problem?

By Nikolas Gvosdev

Had there been more time, I would have be interested in pursuing some of the tantalizing statements about Nigeria’s foreign policy that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan made in his remarks launching the Atlantic Council’s Michael S. Ansari Africa Center yesterday.