Africa Aware

As 15 May 2026 drew closer, there was growing uncertainty surrounding Somalia's next political transition. This date marked the official end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term; yet no election date was set. Instead, the President officially signed a final set of constitutional amendments passed by majority vote in the Federal Parliament into law – he contends that this grants an extra year...

Since the war in Sudan began in 2023, grassroots, volunteer-led mutual aid groups – the Emergency Rooms (ERRs) – have delivered vital humanitarian assistance and played a key role in safeguarding civilian life across the country in the face of the devastating conflict. The work of the ERRs is grounded in the Sudanese tradition of 'nafeer', an Arabic word meaning collective action.  Less documented...

As a key mediator in the ongoing conflict in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United States has brokered peace agreements backed by security guarantees and by the investment potential of the country's vast mineral wealth.  However, critics warn this "minerals for peace" approach risks overlooking unresolved issues – from the protection of minority rights to the li...

The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS early last year – and the subsequent formation of  the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – has posed a critical challenge for regional cooperation, particularly on security. According to the Global Terrorism Index, the Sahel is the "epicentre of terrorism" and rising insecurity is compounded by stalled progress on core issues including the ri...

Africa's digital landscape is one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving in the world. African states are not merely adopters of digital norms; they are shaping regulatory approaches in data protection and cybersecurity in addition to innovating mobile money ecosystems and digital health solutions among others.  While innovation hubs are dotted across the continent, growth amongst African states...

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Amb. Selma Malika Haddadi assumed the leadership of the African Union (AU) at last year's 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly – ushering what many saw a moment of renewed hope and leadership reset. The AU, however, enters 2026 on uncertain ground. Conflicts are intensifying across several regions; while showing signs of resilience economic prospects remain...

The IMF's economic outlook for Africa in 2026 points to an average GDP growth rate of 4.3% – making it the fastest-growing region globally. In practice, however, per capita growth is far lower and various factors like persistent debt issues and a decline in official development assistance jeopardise this positive outlook.  In this episode, guests Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi (African Center for Economic Tra...

Reflecting on research conducted as part of a joint Chatham House and UNDP research project on 'African Peace Processes: Lessons Learned', this episode examines what makes peace processes 'stick'. Lisa Musumba is joined by project researchers Dr Abel Abate Demissie and Leonard Onyonyi to discuss the lessons learned from the Pretoria process linked to Ethiopia's Tigray war and Burundi's Arusha Acco...

Tanzania's October 2025 election will mark President Samia Suluhu Hassan's first as a presidential candidate, despite her holding office since 2021. A former vice-president, President Samia came to power following the sudden death of her predecessor, and is widely anticipated to win a new term for her CCM party – extending their unbroken rule in Tanzania since the country's independence in 1961. K...

Côte d'Ivoire is widely regarded as a regional powerhouse amid increased political instability and fragmentation in West Africa. However, the country has also been marked by violent conflicts and repeated bouts of political crisis in recent history. With the October 2025 elections fast approaching, Côte d'Ivoire faces another decisive moment – President Alassane Ouattara has confirmed that he will...

The public health systems in Africa are under growing pressure. The sharp 70% drop in official development assistance (ODA) risks weakening critical health programmes, while a rise in public health emergencies continues to stretch already fragile infrastructure.   The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) – the public health agency of the African Union – recognises that th...

The uptick in armed conflicts across Africa in recent years has challenged peacebuilding efforts and upset a trajectory towards continental stability. In this episode, HE Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security the AU's goal of silencing the guns by 2030, the evolution of peacekeeping, and his vision for a more peaceful and secure Africa.  Related conte...

In this episode, Tim Eaton and Lubna Yousef discuss their latest research on how transnational human smuggling has fuelled conflict in Libya through a systems analysis of three key transit cities – Kufra, Sebha and Zawiya. Using this approach, their research examines the roles played by conflict and social dynamics in the expansion of human smuggling and trafficking – thus helping uncover critical...

In this episode, Professor Carlos Lopes discusses what the African Union's G20 membership means for Africa's economic and geopolitical influence on the global stage. 

In this episode, Khalid Omer Yousif discusses how Sudan's broadest anti-war, pro-democracy coalition, Tagadom, aims to bring civilian voices to the fore in a war dictated by military powers, and their plans to the end of Sudan's war despite mounting atrocities engulfing the country.  Related content:   https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/open-event/civilian-priorities-ending-war-sudan   https:...

For years now, Somalia has experienced the effects of not only climate change , but also climate extremes – oscillating between devastating droughts and fierce floods. Ranked as the most climate-vulnerable country in the world , Somalia faces lasting environmental and socio-political challenges due to the frequent extreme climate events; furthermore, efforts to secure timely climate financing are...

There is a deeply entrenched view both within and outside of Nigeria that corruption represents an intrinsic feature of Nigerian society. In reality, however, the issue of corruption is more complex and driven by a range of social and behavioural factors. It is these underlying factors sustaining corruption in Nigeria that the Chatham House Africa Programme's Social Norms and Accountable Governanc...

In this episode, Wenjie Chen, Deputy Division Chief of the Regional Studies Division at the International Monetary Fund's African Department, discusses the IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa titled 'A Tepid and Pricey Recovery'. The International Monetary Fund's global economic outlook for 2024, released this January, cites a resilient global economy with positive projections for...

In this special episode, His Excellency Timothy Musa Kabba , Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, shares insights into his country's key priorities during its current tenure on the Security Council. 54 years ago, Sierra Leone was elected to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member for the first time, serving a two-year mand...

As the devastating war in Sudan nears the one-year mark, it remains fuelled by transnational military business networks, and one such sector funding the military activities in Sudan's gold sector. In this episode, Ahmed Soliman discusses his upcoming research on the Sudan conflict and its link to the gold sector – from how gold has evolved as a 'conflict good,' its connection to the current war an...

Tim Eaton and Leah de Haan ( Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme ) discuss their research on the transnational links between the movement of people and armed conflict – from Edo State in Nigeria, through Niger, to Libya. This episode was produced with support from the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy, and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by UK International Developm...

Partial reforms in Tanzania's political and socio-economic environment have been widely lauded since President Samia Suluhu Hassan's sudden rise to office in March 2021, but progress towards the reconciliation and repair of Tanzania's democratic system remains incomplete. Criticisms over the limits of the current reform process are increasingly coalescing around demands for a new Tanzanian constit...

As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) prepares for its upcoming elections, the nation stands at a critical juncture in its democratic trajectory. Against a backdrop of historical challenges and persistent political complexities, the forthcoming elections are of paramount importance to the future of the country and its democratic aspirations. On this episode of Africa Aware, Martin Fayulu, oppo...

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has historically had a strong record of regional norm-setting on governance and democracy. Yet ECOWAS now faces significant challenges in how to reorient its role and credibility amid a rise in military and 'constitutional' coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and most recently in Niger. On this episode of Africa Aware, Ambassador  Abdel-Fatau...

Countries in the Horn of Africa face several interlinked challenges to their stability, including conflict, resource contestation and cross-border divisions. These complex issues are exacerbated by the impacts of climate change and the competing interests of external actors. On this episode of Africa Aware, the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), H.E. Dr W...