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.

New Atlanticist

Sep 24, 2013

The Real Reason al-Shabab Attacked a Mall in Kenya

By Bronwyn Bruton

Kenya has suffered devastating terror attacks in the past, worst among them al-Qaeda’s bombing of the American embassy in Nairobi (and simultaneously in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) in 1998. That attack killed almost two hundred Kenyans, and was followed in 2002 by an attempted missile strike on an Israeli commercial airline and the destruction of […]

East Africa

New Atlanticist

Sep 23, 2013

Photos from Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi

Terrorists attacked an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday, September 21. Since early 2012, experts from the Africa Center have talked about the likelihood of Kenya becoming a target for Somali terrorist groups. We’re aggregating relevant content, including media appearances and publications.Below are photo galleries from the initial attack and from earlier today when […]

East Africa

Event Recap

Sep 20, 2013

Kenya Working Group Meeting with Ministerial Delegation from the Republic of Kenya

The Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted a meeting of the Kenya Working Group with a ministerial delegation from the Republic of Kenya, including H.E. Amina Mohamed, cabinet secretary of foreign affairs, and H.E. Fred Matiangi, cabinet secretary of information, communication, and technology. The session was moderated by Ambassador William M. Bellamy, Warburg professor of international […]

Africa East Africa

Event Recap

Sep 15, 2013

Transition Seminar for US Representative to the African Union Reuben E. Brigety II

The Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted a transition seminar for Reuben E. Brigety II, recently confirmed by the US Senate as representative of the United States of America to the African Union with the personal rank of ambassador.

New Atlanticist

Aug 9, 2013

A Better AGOA for Africa

By Adrienne Chuck

The twelfth African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum opens on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bringing together senior US and African policymakers to discuss the extension of the trade legislation ahead of its September 2015 expiration date.

Africa Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Aug 1, 2013

Power Africa the Right Choice

By Sam Fishman

President Barack Obama’s “Power Africa” initiative, announced during his six-day tour of Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania in early July, is a major step forward for an administration that has remained relatively inactive in the Sub-Sahara. Though the $7 billion pledge will be spread over three to five years, matching promises from the business community […]

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Jul 29, 2013

Zimbabwe’s Irrelevant Election

By Bronwyn Bruton

Elections scheduled for Wednesday in Zimbabwe are shaping up to be an absolute disaster. They were organized on short notice and without adequate budget, so promise to be plagued with irregularities. Some will be deliberate—the ruling party is expected to rig the vote and violently harass the political opposition—but enormous lines, unprinted ballots, and disorganized […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2013

Mali’s Election: Good enough, but not sufficient

By J. Peter Pham

Nearly a year and a half after a coup brought down its elected government, inadvertently paving the way for the takeover of the northern two-thirds of the country by ethnic separatists temporarily aligned with al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate and other extremists, and seven months after a French-led military intervention turned back the insurgents, scattering the militants […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 24, 2013

China’s Soft Power Deficit in Africa

By Adrienne Chuck

President Barack Obama’s second trip to Sub-Saharan Africa last month was accompanied by criticism and talk of the diminishing American presence and influence on the continent. The media described his trip to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania as an effort to “catch up” to or “counter” the influence that China has made in Africa in […]

Africa China

New Atlanticist

Jun 25, 2013

Obama in Africa: Take Two

By Sam Fishman

Africa is occupying a larger space on the world stage. Security threats posed by new Islamic extremist groupings, the continent’s rapid GDP growth, and a bullish China blowing past the US in bilateral trade suggest that the continent will rise higher on the presidential agenda.  Presidents Bush and Clinton took a special interest in Africa, […]

East Africa
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