Content

Issue Brief

Mar 1, 2019

The illicit tobacco trade in Zimbabwe and South Africa

By Simone Haysom

This groundbreaking study of the illicit tobacco trade in southern Africa explores how this trade supports organized crime, helps enable official corruption, and erodes state structures.

Non-Traditional Threats South Africa

Event Recap

Jan 28, 2019

Nobel Peace Prize laureate on sexual violence in the DRC

By Africa Center

On January 28, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted Dr. Denis Mukwege, founder and medical director of Panzi Hospital and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, for a discussion on the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Introducing the distinguished guest, Atlantic Council […]

Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo

New Atlanticist

Jan 11, 2019

Lessons from Congo’s 2018 election

By Pierre Englebert

Although the situation is likely to remain fluid for a while, it is already possible to draw some important lessons from these elections and use them to inform some scenarios for the future. 

Corruption Elections

AfricaSource

Dec 19, 2018

Congo’s election sham

By Pierre Englebert and Georges Kasongo Kalumba

The Congo government’s spurious disqualification of popular opposition candidates and the regime’s increasingly desperate attempts to prevent those remaining from campaigning demonstrate that Kabila not only intends to turn Congo’s elections into a sham.

Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo

New Atlanticist

Oct 26, 2018

‘Conflict gold’ fueling war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

By David A. Wemer

Militias and warlords are selling gold to fund their military activities and political control in eastern Congo and their illicit trade is not just flowing to the black market, but “may be coming here to the United States as well as Europe,” Sasha Lezhnev, deputy director of policy for the Enough Project, explained.

Conflict Democratic Republic of the Congo

Event Recap

Oct 24, 2018

Congo’s conflict gold trade: recent findings and recommendations for the future

By Africa Center

On October 24, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center partnered with The Sentry at the Enough Project to host a discussion on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s conflict gold trade, occasioned by the release of the group’s new report: The Golden Laundromat. Atlantic Council Vice President and Africa Center Director Dr. J. Peter Pham […]

Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the News

Aug 24, 2018

Pham Joins Voice of America to Discuss Zimbabwe Supreme Court Election Ruling

By J. Peter Pham

Listen to the full discussion here.

South & Central Africa

AfricaSource

Aug 14, 2018

CAR’s changing security landscape: a catalyst for UN policy change?

By Andrew Carroll

Amid strong pressure from the Trump Administration, the United Nations (UN) voted at the end of June to cut over $600 million from its peacekeeping budget. The majority of these cuts are set to come from key operations in Sub-Saharan Africa, including the UN’s mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), known by its French […]

Africa English

In the News

Aug 10, 2018

Pham Joins VOA to Discuss Zimbabwe and Mali Elections

By J. Peter Pham

Listen to the full discussion here.

Sahel South & Central Africa

New Atlanticist

Aug 3, 2018

Uncertainty and a Need for Leadership After Zimbabwe’s Election

By David Wemer

After days of uncertainty, protests, and violence following Zimbabwe’s July 30 presidential and parliamentary elections, “everyone has got to take deep breath,” Dr. J Peter Pham, the Atlantic Council’s Vice President for Research and Regional Initiatives and the Director of the Council’s Africa Center said. In the early hours of August 3, the Zimbabwe Electoral […]

South & Central Africa

Experts