North and West Africa

Malian officials discuss the security situation in the Sahel

By Africa Center

On Monday, March 5, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted a roundtable with Brigadier General Oumar Dao, military chief of staff to the President of the Republic of Mali, and the Honorable Karim Keïta, chairman of the National Commission for Defense, Security, and Civil Protection of the National Assembly of the Republic of Mali. Dr. […]

President of Ghana discusses US relations with his country

By Africa Center

On Friday, March 2, 2018, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted a luncheon in honor of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana. Atlantic Council Vice President and Africa Center Director Dr. J. Peter Pham introduced the president and welcomed participants. In his remarks, President Akufo-Addo highlighted the common bonds […]

Boko Haram’s latest version relies on its old terror toolkit in Nigeria

By Rachel Ansley

More than ninety missing school girls in Nigeria—thought to have been abducted by Boko Haram—show that while the militants may have largely been defeated militarily, Boko Haram remains alive and well in Nigeria, according to an Atlantic Council analyst.

Ethiopian dam stokes regional tensions

Over Egypt’s vocal dissent, Ethiopia is forging ahead with final construction on its ambitious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River, the lifeblood of nearly 500 million Africans. As the region’s population is expected to double to a whopping one billion people over the next three decades, the dam will become more of […]

Aubrey Hruby testifies before the US International Trade Commission

By Aubrey Hruby

On Tuesday, January 23rd, Africa Center Senior Fellow Aubrey Hruby testified on US-Africa trade and investment before the US International Trade Commission hearing on US Trade and Investment with Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Developments, #332-564. Distinguished members of the committee, Ambassadors, and fellow witnesses: I would like to begin by thanking you, not only for the […]

Briefing by the former executive president of the Coordination of Azawad Movements

By Africa Center

On Thursday, January 11, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted Mr. Bilal ag Acherif, former executive president of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), for a private roundtable discussion on the status of the Azawad movement, the role of state and non-state actors in security affairs across the Sahel, and his hopes for the peace […]

Factbox: The Western Sahara and its path towards a referendum

By Mariam Elatouabi

What is the history of the Western Sahara and what is its relationship with Morocco? How close is it really to a referendum?