East Africa

East Africa

Spanning from Sudan in the north to Tanzania in the south and centered around the strategic Horn of Africa, East Africa is a gateway to the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian Ocean. East Africa includes a diversity of states, ranging from the relatively successful developmental models of Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Kenya to the weak conflict-prone examples of South Sudan and Somalia. Playing host to the African Union and several other regional organizations, East Africa is a critical area with both high hopes for growth and demands for stability.

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Content

Event Recap

May 11, 2020

IGAD executive secretary lays out priorities amid coronavirus crisis

By Africa Center

On Monday, May 11, the Africa Center hosted a virtual roundtable with His Excellency Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The discussion focused on IGAD's response to East Africa's evolving challenges.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

May 1, 2020

The “shadow pandemic” of gender-based violence

By Joanne Chukwueke

While lockdowns and social distancing measures have been essential in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, they have also produced unintended consequences: increased rates of domestic violence. As COVID-19 spreads in African countries, demand for support services for victims of gender-based violence continues to rise.

Africa Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 15, 2020

Gadzala quoted in Quartz on Kenya’s 3D printing community stepping up to address a deficit of COVID equipment

By Atlantic Council

Africa Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 13, 2020

Hudson quoted in Bloomberg on the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces providing services during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve its public image

By Atlantic Council

Africa Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 11, 2020

Hudson in allAfrica: Sudan’s revolution one year after the fall of the dictatorship

By Atlantic Council

Africa Democratic Transitions

AfricaSource

Apr 2, 2020

Coronavirus deals a blow to Ethiopia’s elections

By Bronwyn Bruton

On March 31, the government of Ethiopia indefinitely postponed historic elections that were scheduled to take place in August. This makes Ethiopia the first African nation, in what is likely to be a wave of countries, forced to set back highly contentious political contests in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, with significant implications for the outcome.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Mar 30, 2020

Coronavirus comes to Sudan

By Cameron Hudson

Not yet one year into a historic political transition and in the midst of an economic collapse, Sudan’s future was already hanging in the balance. The addition of a national and global public health crisis now has the potential for a ‘make or break’ impact on the country.

Africa Coronavirus

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

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

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

Fellow

Godfrey Odongo

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa East Africa

Fellow

Oscar Meywa Otele

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

Advisory Council member

Marsha Parcou

Global Advisor, Women for Prosperity

Freedom and Prosperity Center

East Africa Entrepreneurship

Fellow

Patrick Quirk

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center GeoStrategy Initiative

Civil Society Conflict

Fellow

Jeannine B. Scott

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Civil Society

Fellow

Thomas S. Warrick

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

National Security Terrorism