The coronavirus crisis highlights the unique challenges of North African countries

AfricaSource Mar 27, 2025

Prioritizing access to critical minerals will require prioritizing Africa

By Benjamin Mossberg

Access to critical minerals is an urgent national security issue. The United States must view investments in African energy, mineral, and mining—key to securing this access—with similar importance.
Africa Energy & Environment
The coronavirus crisis highlights the unique challenges of North African countries

AfricaSource Mar 21, 2025

In the scramble for Africa’s critical minerals, the West must not abandon the ESG agenda

By Zainab Usman and Rama Yade

As this race for minerals and metals critical for the energy transition heats up, both companies and governments must not abandon environmental, social, and governance principles in Africa.
Africa Energy & Environment
The coronavirus crisis highlights the unique challenges of North African countries

AfricaSource Mar 20, 2025

If the international community wants to curb fossil fuel emissions, it must make Africa a serious clean energy offer

By Neil Ford

Before the international community asks African countries to leave undeveloped fossil fuel resources in the ground, it must make them an offer of clean energy financing—one substantial enough to fund Africa’s current and future appetite for electricity.
Africa Energy & Environment

Programs

The Atlantic Council’s Africa Center promotes dynamic geopolitical partnerships with African states and helps redirect US and European policy priorities toward strengthening security and bolstering economic growth and prosperity on the continent.

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African creatives spotlight series

Meet the creatives redefining narratives about Africa and proving why investing in local talent matters.

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The coronavirus crisis highlights the unique challenges of North African countries

African creatives Aug 29, 2024

ESPN Host and two-time WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike champions African diaspora engagement through sports and media 

Ogwumike is a Nigerian-American powerhouse redefining the intersection of sports and media and highlighting the important role of the diaspora in shaping the future of the African continent.

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The coronavirus crisis highlights the unique challenges of North African countries

African creatives Jun 7, 2024

Cultural curator Abdul Karim Abdullah elevates African culture from the Bronx to Ghana 

By Africa Center

As founder and chief executive officer of AfroFuture Fest and Culture Management Group, Abdul Karim Abdullah is creating opportunities for the diaspora to celebrate African culture at a festival in West Africa.

Africa Economy & Business
The coronavirus crisis highlights the unique challenges of North African countries

African creatives May 1, 2024

Creative visionary Elroy Fillis-Bell showcases the impact of dance across the continent 

By Africa Center

Joburg Ballet Chief Executive Officer Elroy Fillis-Bell is an advocate for the arts and believes that dance provides a unique way for communities to engage
Africa Economy & Business

Content

MENASource

Mar 30, 2020

The coronavirus crisis highlights the unique challenges of North African countries

By Karim Mezran, Alessia Melcangi, Emily Burchfield, and Zineb Riboua

It is important to monitor the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, its effects on each North Africa system, and the debate between government elites and masses to better understand the situation in these countries and the long-term implications of the health crisis.

Coronavirus Libya

AfricaSource

Mar 27, 2020

Tanzania’s mild response to COVID-19 and its implications for the 2020 elections

By Neil Edwards

Tanzanian President John Magufuli received widespread criticism as he encouraged the public to continue to attend places of worship, rather than imposing stringent restrictions to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. As the number of cases rise in Dar es Salaam, what will the spread in the city look like? With the upcoming 2020 presidential election, will Magufuli use the COVID-19 outbreak as a pretext for seeking a third term in office?

Africa Coronavirus

Report

Mar 27, 2020

Making the most of Prosper Africa: Leveraging US competitiveness in African markets

By Aubrey Hruby

Global powers are jockeying for access to opportunities in African markets. In this environment, how can the United States ensure US commercial success in Africa?

Africa Economy & Business

AfricaSource

Mar 26, 2020

A rough road ahead for Nigeria

By Aubrey Hruby

Africa’s giant, Nigeria, is awakening to a new economic and social reality as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The country of two hundred million has already recorded over fifty cases and its first COVID-related death. News of high-profile infectees is starting to drive social change and spur calls for stronger government action.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 26, 2020

COVID-19 in the DR Congo

By Private: Pierre Englebert

As of March 24, the Democratic Republic of Congo had only forty-eight confirmed cases of coronavirus, with three dead of the disease. But although Congo is only in the very first stages of the pandemic, the contrast between the degree of state capacity and social discipline that it takes to stifle the disease and Congo’s record on these two counts is particularly worrisome.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 25, 2020

Tough times ahead for African oil producers

By Luke Tyburski

The precipitous decline in oil prices related to the coronavirus pandemic will have significant economic knock-on effects in Africa. Central African producers look to be the most vulnerable, but the shocks will be felt everywhere.

Africa Angola

AfricaSource

Mar 24, 2020

African leaders respond to coronavirus… on Twitter

By Luke Tyburski

African leaders have embraced Twitter as a platform to provide updates on COVID-19. This curation of their tweets is meant as a window to the continent's evolving response.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 24, 2020

African elections in the time of coronavirus

By Luke Tyburski

African elections slated for 2020 are already being affected by COVID-19, with the potential for delays and disruptions to have significant impact on election credibility, political trust, and adherence to term limits across the continent.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 24, 2020

Cabo Verde braces for plummeting tourism revenue

By Luke Tyburski

When thinking of Africa, the tiny Portuguese-speaking archipelago nation of Cabo Verde probably isn’t the first country that comes to mind. But it is representative of a subset of small island nations, which rely heavily on tourism revenue. Accordingly, although Cabo Verde has only just recently confirmed its first case of COVID-19, disruptions to travel and trade present existential threats to the country’s economy.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 24, 2020

Rwanda’s successes and challenges in response to COVID-19

By Neil Edwards

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has issued a nationwide shutdown that took effect midnight March 21. Two days later, on March 23, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Rwanda doubled overnight to thirty-six, the most in East and Central Africa. Although the government’s response has been robust, many challenges still loom as the Ministry of Health attempts to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Africa Coronavirus
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Experts

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Pauline Deschryver

Senior Manager, DTEK Group

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Central Europe

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Kipkorir Koskei

2025 European Leadership Accelerator participant

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Temidayo Oniosun

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Space

Fellow

Eric V. Guichard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Corruption

Fellow

David H. Young

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Fellow

Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Energy & Environment
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Events

Flagship Event Tue, June 17, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

2025 Global Energy Forum

The ninth Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum will be held June 17 and 18 in Washington, DC.
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