<p>Sub-Saharan Africa is a study in diversity. Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, the region is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources. It&rsquo;s no surprise that it captured the imagination of Europe&rsquo;s earliest explorers &mdash; and that it continues to capture the imagination of current world powers eager to exploit it. And yet despite the region&rsquo;s diversity, Sub-Saharan African countries have common challenges &mdash; transnational terrorism, rapid population growth, endemic poverty and corruption &mdash; that prevent them from capitalizing on their economic potential. The coming years will be critical for the region, especially as its political institutions mature in a rapidly globalizing world.</p>

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan

Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Cabo Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sudan

Eswatini

Tanzania

Togo

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

The Post-Apartheid Era Ends

The Politics of Pipelines

Old Leaders in a New Africa

Nigeria: Obstacles to Prosperity

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Crossing Borders

A Crude Recovery

Globalization

China in Transition

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

Assessments

United States

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Saudi Arabia

Taiwan

Europe

Spain

Ireland

Taiwanese President-elect William Lai (C) on Jan. 13 in Taipei, Taiwan. Lai will officially begin his four-year presidency May 20.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

Politics

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Kenya's President Visits Washington, Lai Inaugurated in Taiwan

Snapshots

Bassirou Diomaye Faye gives an address as Senegal's president at an exhibition center in the new town of Diamniadio near the capital Dakar on April 2, 2024.

Economics

Energy

Senegal's young new president will likely slow-walk his plans to renegotiate contracts with energy companies, but this could deny him access to the funding he needs to pursue his economic pledges.

Will Senegal's New President Overhaul Its Oil and Gas Sector?

The skyline of Johannesburg, South Africa, is seen on April 19, 2023.

The government that emerges from the May 29 election will probably fail to address the structural factors holding back South Africa's economy, but a financial crisis remains unlikely for now.

Assessing South Africa's Post-Election Economic Outlook

South Africa's May general election will be the country's most competitive vote in 30 years, testing the dominance of the ruling African National Congress.

2024 Elections: South Africa

Global Elections

Panama

China

France

Serbia

Hungary

Russia

Panamanian presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino on May 1, 2024, in Panama City. Panamanians will vote May 5 to select their next president and all 71 members of the National Assembly.

The Weekly Rundown: Panama Holds General Elections, Xi Visits Europe

Argentina

Bolivia

Peru

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife, Begona Gomez, arrive Oct. 5, 2023, at the Carlos V Palace at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Sanchez is expected to make an announcement about his political future on April 29 following his surprise decision April 25 to suspend public appearances after a court in Madrid announced an investigation into his wife for alleged influence-peddling and corruption.

The Weekly Rundown: South American Foreign Ministers Visit China, the Spanish Premier Announces His Political Future

Congolese soldiers sit in a military vehicle in Kamanyola, a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on Feb. 28, 2024. 

The intensifying fight against M23 rebels in eastern Congo risks triggering border clashes with Rwanda that could threaten Congolese President Tshisekedi's government and risk disrupting Congo's cobalt exports.

Where Is the Conflict in Eastern Congo Headed?

A photo of the Somali flag.

As Somalia’s president moves to strengthen the country’s fragile state institutions, disputes over constitutional reforms threaten to deepen domestic and regional challenges.

Somalia's Constitutional Changes Widen Rifts at Home and Abroad

Media

Podcasts

What are Niger's security options going forward?

Essential Geopolitics: The Outlook for Niger's Security Landscape

Nigerian naira banknotes on Jan. 28, 2016, in Lagos, Nigeria.

Despite the government's commitment to fiscal prudence and macroeconomic and currency reforms, economic conditions in Nigeria will remain challenging in 2024 and 2025 amid modest economic growth and high inflation, keeping the risk of socioeconomic unrest and policy slippage elevated.

Despite Reforms and Prudence, Nigeria's Economy Will Still Challenge the Government

Haiti

Kenya's opposition Thirdway Alliance Party filed a complaint to block the government's planned deployment of police officers to Haiti on May 16, leading the High Court on May 17 to order that the lawsuit be served to top officials, with the case to be heard on June 12, Reuters reported on May 17.

Kenya, Haiti: New Kenyan Legal Challenge Against Deployment to Haiti

Chad's constitutional council on May 16 confirmed Mahamat Idriss Deby as the president, rejecting appeals from candidates Succes Masra and Albert Pahimi Padacke, Radio France Internationale reported the following day. 

Chad: Constitutional Court Confirms Deby as Winner of Presidential Poll

The Democratic Republic of the Congo called for the imposition of an international embargo on mineral exports from Rwanda, claiming that the exports should be considered "blood minerals" due to their sale allegedly financing Kigali's support for M23 rebels in eastern Congo, Bloomberg reported on May 15.

Congo: Kinshasa Calls for International Blockage on Rwandan Mineral Exports

Benin announced that it would "punctually and provisionally" authorize the loading of Nigerien crude oil at the terminal of Seme following a demand from Nigerien customs to participate in loading operations, Radio France Internationale reported on May 15.

Benin, Niger: Benin Temporarily Authorizes Nigerien Oil Exports Amid Chinese Mediation

Algeria

Bahrain

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Morocco

Oman

Qatar

Syria

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Arab leaders began to arrive in Manama, Bahrain, on May 15, for the 33rd Arab League summit that will focus on developing a consensus on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, The National reported the next day.

MENA: Arab League Summit To Formalize Conditions for Gaza Reconstruction

Kenyan authorities unveiled plans to develop a special economic zone (SEZ) in the port town of Lamu, Business Daily reported May 15.

Kenya: Authorities Unveil Plans for Special Economic Zone in Lamu as Part of Transport Masterplan 

The European Council extended the mandate of its military training mission in Mozambique until June 30, 2026, allocating over 14 million euros ($15.15 million) for this period, Club of Mozambique reported on May 14.

Mozambique: EU Training Mission Extension Clears Path for Transition to Military Assistance Mission

British multinational mining company Anglo American unveiled a new restructuring plan under which it will divest from its platinum and diamond assets in South Africa but retain its iron ore operations in the country, Bloomberg reported May 14. 

South Africa: Anglo American To Exit South African Platinum, Diamond Operations Under Restructuring Plan

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Kenya, Haiti: New Kenyan Legal Challenge Against Deployment to Haiti

Chad: Constitutional Court Confirms Deby as Winner of Presidential Poll

Congo: Kinshasa Calls for International Blockage on Rwandan Mineral Exports

Benin, Niger: Benin Temporarily Authorizes Nigerien Oil Exports Amid Chinese Mediation

MENA: Arab League Summit To Formalize Conditions for Gaza Reconstruction

Kenya: Authorities Unveil Plans for Special Economic Zone in Lamu as Part of Transport Masterplan

Mozambique: EU Training Mission Extension Clears Path for Transition to Military Assistance Mission

South Africa: Anglo American To Exit South African Platinum, Diamond Operations Under Restructuring Plan

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