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

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

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2015

US, EU Pressure Sought on Congo’s Kabila

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Opposition leaders see signs President is trying to cling to power The United States and the European Union must continue to press Congolese President Joseph Kabila to leave office at the end of his second term in 2016 because the country’s constitution bars him from seeking a third term, opposition officials from the Democratic Republic […]

Africa

Event Recap

Mar 9, 2015

Congo’s Democracy Deficit: A Conversation with Vital Kamerhe

By Africa Center

Despite being home to extraordinary mineral deposits and other natural resources, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most under-developed countries in the world, and hosts the United Nations’ largest peacekeeping mission. In the run-up to DRC’s 2016 presidential election, both the United States and the European Union have expressed concern […]

Africa

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2015

South Sudan: Kicking the Can Down the Road, Again

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Rivals and international community lack political will to end crisis, says Atlantic Council’s Pham South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his former Vice President Riek Machar failed to resolve their differences by the March 5 deadline not only because they lack the political will to do so, but also because the international community lacks the […]

Africa East Africa
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