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.

Event Recap

Apr 20, 2018

Investors and entrepreneurs debate the impact of disruptive technology on Africa

By Africa Center

On Friday, April 20, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center launched two new policy briefs that tackle the complexities of disruptive technology and innovation in Africa. Authored by Aleksandra Gadzala, Atlantic Council senior fellow, “Fintech: Powering Inclusive Growth in Africa” seeks to help investors and policymakers better understand the waves of financial technology (fintech) innovation unfolding […]

Africa Economy & Business

Video

Apr 20, 2018

“Disruptive” Technology and Innovation: A Game-Changer in Africa?

How can African countries leverage “disruptive” technologies to their advantage? On the margins of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Aubrey Hruby and Youth for Technology Foundation Founder Njideka Harry discuss how African governments, working with the private sector, can harness new technology and innovations for inclusive growth and development […]

Africa

Event Recap

Apr 18, 2018

Reserve Bank governor discusses South Africa’s economic resilience

By Africa Center

On Wednesday, April 18, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center, in partnership with the Global Business & Economics Program, hosted a discussion with Mr. Lesetja Kganyago, governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

Africa Economy & Business

Event Recap

Apr 18, 2018

Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank governor discusses new economic order

By Africa Center

On Wednesday, April 18, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted a roundtable with Dr. John Panonetsa Mangudya, governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). Dr. Mangudya presented a summary of Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic environment, highlighting a declining inflation rate, more diversified exports, and excellent human capital within the context of recent political and economic change. […]

Africa Economy & Business

Event Recap

Apr 13, 2018

Gécamines chairman discusses the DRC’s new mining code

By Africa Center

On Friday, April 13, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted a roundtable with Mr. Albert Yuma Mulimbi, chairman of Gécamines and president of the Congolese Business Federation (Fédération des Entreprises du Congo). In his prepared remarks (official document attached), Mr. Yuma emphasized the importance of the mining industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo […]

Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo

AfricaSource

Apr 3, 2018

Who are the winners and losers of Africa’s new free trade agreement?

By Abdoul Salam Bello and Jonathan Gass

Last month, the leaders of forty-four African nations signed a framework agreement to form a continental free-trade zone that will encompass a billion people and up to $3 trillion of cumulative GDP. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would be the largest free trade agreement since the founding of the World Trade Organization over […]

Africa East Africa

AfricaSource

Apr 3, 2018

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam marks milestone, approaches completion

By J. Peter Pham

The April 2 anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in 2011 passed largely unremarked amid the cascade of momentous news coming recently from Ethiopia, including several years of unrest, the sudden release of thousands of detainees in mid-February, the resignation of the prime minister one day […]

Africa East Africa

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2018

Angola Needs a New Strategy for Globalization

By Aubrey Hruby

Angola has long had a reputation of being a closed and secretive frontier market.  Despite Africa’s emergence as an attractive investment destination over the past fifteen years, opportunities in Angola remained hidden by the isolationist tendencies of its former regime. However, the new president, João Lourenço, is in the process of reintroducing his country to […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2018

Bringing Sudan In From The Cold

By Kelsey Lilley

After decades of frozen relations with the United States, Sudan is poised to come in from the cold. Following the October 2017 relaxation of longstanding sanctions, Sudan appears eager to continue US engagement. However, since October, momentum for next steps toward improving the bilateral relationship has slowed. The US-Sudan relationship is imperfect, and there are […]

Sudan

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2018

Trump’s Tough Approach to Ethiopia

By Rachel Ansley

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson traveled to Ethiopia this week to underscore US support for a crucial partner that finds itself in a crisis. Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned unexpectedly on February 15 in the wake of violent anti-government protests. The government then imposed a nationwide state of emergency that lawmakers endorsed earlier […]

Ethiopia