Africa Center Commentary & Analysis

Breaking the Mold in Nigeria

By J. Peter Pham

Bottom Line Up Front:  • On Tuesday, retired military dictator General Muhammadu Buhari surged to victory over incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria’s most hotly contested presidential contest since the end of military rule • Buhari’s win stunned observers: it is the first time that an incumbent has been defeated in Nigeria’s history • Perhaps […]

In Nigeria, Jonathan’s Luck Runs Out

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Opposition leader Buhari’s strategy of building coalitions pays off, says Atlantic Council’s Pham Opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari’s strategy of assembling a broad coalition and restricting President Goodluck Jonathan to his traditional power base helped the former military ruler to a decisive victory in Nigeria’s March 28 presidential elections, according to Atlantic Council analyst J. Peter […]

US-Africa Enhanced Commercial Cooperation: Keeping the Momentum in 2015

By Africa Center

In an era of globalization and expanding commercial ties, Africa offers countries and private industry considerable opportunities for trade and investment. Last August, the White House hosted the inaugural US-Africa Leaders Summit, a gathering of heads of state and government from across the continent. The purpose of the summit was to strengthen and broaden economic […]

Election Uncertainty Would Deal Another Blow to Nigeria’s Economy

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Weak naira, low oil prices already hurting Africa’s largest oil producer, says Atlantic Council’s Hruby The absence of a clear winner in Nigeria’s presidential elections could deal another blow to the country’s economy, which is already reeling from falling crude oil prices, says Atlantic Council analyst Aubrey Hruby. Nigerians will vote in presidential and national […]

What the US Embassy Warnings in East Africa Tell Us about al-Shabaab

By Joshua Meservey

On Wednesday, the US embassy in Kampala, Uganda warned US citizens of a possible attack on Westerners in the city by the Somali terrorist organization al-Shabaab. On March 19, the US embassy in Djibouti closed for several days to “review its security posture;” the embassy did not provide further details, but the closure was likely […]

What’s Russia Doing in Africa?

Atlantic Council’s Pham shares insights on Russia’s acitivities on the continent Under pressure from the West over its actions in Ukraine, including the annexation of Crimea, Russia is increasingly turning its attention to Africa, says J. Peter Pham, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center. “Recent developments have validated these concerns as the siloviki around […]

Russia’s Return to Africa: An Update

By J. Peter Pham

One year after the disputed referendum to join Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula to Russia, the Kremlin is increasingly finding in Africa a welcome break from what has otherwise been its continued international diplomatic and economic isolation as a result of its aggression against its Eastern European neighbor.

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 […]

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 […]

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.