Africa

Five forces that may reshape the African continent in 2026

By Rama Yade

African countries have new opportunities to launch partnerships that serve the continent’s interests and to more permanently carve out Africa’s role in geopolitics

As Russian battlefield losses mount, Putin is turning to Africa for soldiers

By Katherine Spencer

Russia’s growing reliance on African recruits to continue the war in Ukraine is a powerful symbol of an invasion that has gone horribly wrong for Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin, writes Katherine Spencer.

To compete with China in space, the US must form more equitable commercial partnerships with African nations

By Maureen Farrell and Matt Petit

To counter China’s space diplomacy efforts, the United States must make creative investments across multiple sectors of African economies.

Mining corridors as catalysts: Building on the Lobito model

By Aubrey Hruby

The financing approach and public-private cooperation used to build the Lobito transportation corridor offers a playbook for the US and African governments and investors as they seek to tap Africa's critical mineral wealth.

Global Foresight 2036

In this year’s Global Foresight edition, our experts share findings from our survey of geostrategists on how human affairs could unfold over the next decade. Our scholars spot “snow leopards” that could have major unexpected impacts over the next decade. And our tech experts put AI’s forecasting ability to the test.

The Global Foresight 2036 survey: Full results

In the fall of 2025, the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security surveyed the future, asking leading geostrategists and foresight experts around the world to answer our most burning questions about the biggest drivers of change over the next ten years. Here are the full results. 

African soccer needs digital innovation, not just investment

By Tom Bonsundy-O’Bryan

A new league that focuses on digital-first entertainment would demonstrate that Africa can innovate, building world-class sporting competition and soft power on the global stage.

Local and community-driven solutions for development in fragile states

By Elton Skendaj, Peter Mandaville, and Ibrahima Bokoum

This collaborative paper examines community-driven approaches to development from three unique perspectives and highlights the importance of putting local agency at the center of international development work.

The United States and Nigeria must rebuild their engagement architecture for a new global era

By Gbemisola Abudu

The diplomatic tools currently available to the United States and Nigeria are intended for episodic and sector-specific engagement, holding back the relationship's potential.

Climate adaptation: The investment the Global South cannot afford to delay

By Sara Lemniei

Adaptation offers the fastest and most cost-effective way forward; it reduces physical climate risk before it becomes a fiscal, health, and security crisis.