Foreign Policy Blogs

Tag Archives: Africa

Chance for Russia in Africa: France Ends ‘Operation Barkhane’

Chance for Russia in Africa: France Ends ‘Operation Barkhane’

On June 10, 2021, the president of France Emmanuel Macron announced the end of operation Barkhane in the Sahel region. It will be finished by the first quarter of 2022 in order to reconfigure French military engagement in Africa. More details appeared after a virtual video summit with the leaders of the G5 Sahel (Mali, […]

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Water Conflict in Africa: the Largest Hydroelectric Power Station Is the Bone of Contention Between Ethiopia and Egypt

Water Conflict in Africa: the Largest Hydroelectric Power Station Is the Bone of Contention Between Ethiopia and Egypt

Ethiopia has been building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile River since 2011. During this period relations between Egypt and Ethiopia became strained with mutual threats and accusations. Moreover, there is a risk of water conflict in Africa, which would completely destabilize East Africa. After construction, GERD will be the largest […]

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2019 Review: Main Political Events in Africa

2019 Review: Main Political Events in Africa

Africa welcomed 2019 with reports about the coup in Gabon and ushered it out with elections in Guinea-Bissau. In the meantime, there have been enough challenges since January 2019. In order to analyze the main political events in Africa, they are divided into 5 categories: political situation and elections, security background, peace initiatives, regional integration […]

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Development of renewable energy in Africa: continent’s future as the world hub of green economy

Development of renewable energy in Africa: continent’s future as the world hub of green economy

Electricity is an important condition for the reduction of poverty and economic growth. The development of agriculture, education and technology demand sufficient and continuous electricity supply. The situation in Africa is fundamentally different. The shortage of energy significantly impedes the continent’s development. Approximately 70% of Africans don’t have reliable access to electricity. According to the […]

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The Turning Tides of Egypt

The Turning Tides of Egypt

Overcoming tyranny is neither easy nor impossible. The Egyptian people know this very well as Egypt is still living through a decade of hope and disenchantment. In that defining period, Egyptians have deposed a corrupt despot- Hosni Mubarak. They elected their first president—Mohamed Morsi—in a fair and internationally monitored election. And within 365 days, they […]

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Does Kenya Really Want To End Terrorism?

Does Kenya Really Want To End Terrorism?

New dangerous dynamics are emerging at the Horn of Africa. Political tension emanating from maritime territory that Somalia and Kenya, both claim it as part of their legitimate border is getting more volatile. As the International Court of Justice gets ready to hold public hearings on “Maritime Delimitation in the Indian Ocean (Somalia v. Kenya)” […]

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Sexual Violence and HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Sexual Violence and HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of Congo

In October of last year, the Nobel Committee awarded Dr. Denis Mukwege with the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Mukwege is a world-renowned gynecologist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who established the Panzi Hospital, which practices a holistic approach to providing assistance to survivors of sexual assault. Congo has been deemed by the international […]

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New York trial casts new scrutiny on China’s Belt and Road Initiative

New York trial casts new scrutiny on China’s Belt and Road Initiative

According to prosecutors, the trial of Patrick Ho was simply business. The Chinese financier, found guilty of orchestrating a multi-million dollar bribery scheme in Africa, wasn’t the victim of a US smear campaign as his defense claimed. No, he was simply brought to justice for violating US laws while working for an US-based organization. Yet […]

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Angola’s Story of Politically Exposed Persons and Debt Traps

Angola’s Story of Politically Exposed Persons and Debt Traps

In its financing attempts that brought the resource-rich country to become indefinitely indebted for a long time, the Government of Angola sought a US$15 billion loan from China (one of many) last May. Just as this latest round of financing commenced, Standard and Poors downgraded Angola’s sovereign credit rating to B- due to concerns about […]

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African Regimes at a Crossroads

African Regimes at a Crossroads

New hope is blowing across the African continent against the backdrop of toppled heads of government and state in South Africa and Zimbabwe and a rejuvenated government that is pursuing ambitious reforms in Ethiopia. Other recent examples of transitions from long-sitting governments have also played out in Burkina Faso and The Gambia where the sitting […]

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On South Africa

On South Africa

I first visited South Africa in 2008, when Thabo Mbeki was being outmaneuvered by Jacob Zuma, who forced out Mbeki and ascended to the presidency in spite of sexual assault and corruption charges. No one then understood how catastrophic Zuma’s eight years in power would be—but a report the other weekend demonstrates how he undermined critical democratic […]

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China’s military expansion – what right does Washington have to be worried?

China’s military expansion – what right does Washington have to be worried?

In August 2017, two Chinese warships carrying an unidentified number of military personnel berthed on the coast of the East African nation of Djibouti, signaling the first Chinese military base outside of the South China Sea. This commitment enhances the country’s military presence in Africa, as over 3,000 troops have been stationed in Mali, Liberia […]

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Warning signs of instability in Egypt

Warning signs of instability in Egypt

The latest data from our Risk Pulse collaboration show significant increases in potential instability and unrest in Egypt. Joseph Colonna explains how conditions are ripe for another wave of protest, with presidential elections due on 26-28 March. It’s not uncommon to hear Egyptians saying that the revolution failed – that it was hijacked by opportunists, while […]

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Under the Radar: Ethiopia’s economic growth offers opportunities and challenges

Under the Radar: Ethiopia’s economic growth offers opportunities and challenges

Not many may know that Ethiopia was among the first countries to join the International Monetary Fund (IMF) when the latter was formed on 27 December 1945.  Nevertheless, it took another 72 years for Ethiopia to welcome its first visit from the IMF Managing Director, in this case, Christine Lagarde who in December 2017 visited Addis […]

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Cape Town Awaits “Day Zero”

Cape Town Awaits “Day Zero”

Picture from City of Cape Town. (Source: Alberton Record) Cape Town, South Africa (a city of four million people) is at a dangerous inflection point. National Public Radio (NPR) reports that South Africa’s second main economic driver and Africa’s third main economic hub city could be the first major city in the developed world to […]

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