Chad: Chad Picks a Fight With Germany - What's Behind It and What the Consequences Are

Chad recently ordered the German ambassador to the country, Dr Gordon Kricke, to leave within 48 hours, accusing him of disrespectful behaviour and disregard for diplomatic… Read more »

Rwanda: Rwanda and Nigeria Sign an Accord for More Responsible Exploration - Why This Matters

In 2020, the United States announced a framework for the private exploitation of space resources. It consists of practical principles to guide exploration, science and commerce in… Read more »

Rwanda: Rusesabagina Vs Rwanda - How Kagame Wields Soft Power to Get His Way With the West

In politics, soft power is a persuasive approach to international relations. A leader can use soft power by exerting economic, cultural or reputational influence. Read more »

East Africa: East Africa's Peace Mission in the DRC - Why It's in Burundi's Interest to Help

Burundi was the first country to offer troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2022 as part of east Africa's peace drive after a wave of attacks from the rebel group… Read more »

Rwanda: Paul Rusesabagina's Release and Apology - a Master Stroke By Kagame

Rwanda's ministry of justice recently announced the pardon and release of Paul Rusesabagina from jail. Rusesabagina was involved in events portrayed in the 2004 Hollywood film… Read more »

Equatorial Guinea: Covid, Bird Flu, Mpox - a Virologist On Why We're Seeing So Many Viruses Emerge

From the widespread outbreak of mpox (formerly called monkeypox) in 2022, to the evolving bird flu situation, to recent cases of Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea, COVID isn't… Read more »

Equatorial Guinea: Marburg Virus Outbreaks Are Increasing in Frequency and Geographic Spread - Three Virologists Explain

The World Health Organization confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus disease in the central African country of Equatorial Guinea on Feb. 13, 2023. To date, there have… Read more »

Congo-Kinshasa: How a Minority Ethnic Group in the DRC Became the Target of Rebels

The Banyamulenge are a minority ethnic group in South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In December 2022, the UN adviser on the prevention of genocide raised… Read more »

Chad: The Lake Chad Basin Is a Security Nightmare - 5 Guidelines for Finding Solutions

It is now 14 years since Boko Haram and other armed groups began to operate in the Lake Chad Basin. The region, which includes Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon, has become… Read more »

Rwanda: Over 90% of Rwandans Have Health Insurance - the Health Minister Tells an Expert What Went Right

In 2015 the United Nations General Assembly adopted universal health coverage as one of the sustainable development goals. The aim of universal health coverage is to ensure that… Read more »

West Africa: Violent Extremism Is Rising in the Sahel, but Not in Chad - What's Different?

Since the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria and the emergence of Islamist-Salafist groups in northern Mali in 2013, the Sahel has increasingly been caught in the maelstrom of Islamist… Read more »

Cameroon: Jean-Paul Zé Bella - the Cunning Cameroonian Soldier Who Became a Global Music Legend

One of Cameroon's most influential music stars - Jean-Paul Zé Bella - passed away on 15 January at the age of 71 after a battle against cancer. The singer and drummer was a… Read more »

Africa: Pope Francis in DRC and South Sudan - One of His Most Challenging Visits Ever

On 31 January, Pope Francis departed from Rome to central Africa, to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its neighbouring state South Sudan. The visit was previously… Read more »

Uganda: Kampala, Kigali and Addis Ababa Are Changing Fast - New Book Follows Their Distinct Paths

Kampala, the Ugandan capital where I live, is naturally the city I have studied and worked on the most as an urban economist. Yet even with this background, reading Tom… Read more »

Congo-Kinshasa: How DRC's Elite Use Sport to Build Their Reputations and Hold On to Power

Football in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - as in much of the world - is intertwined with politics. Read more »

Angola: Peatlands Trap Carbon and Clean the Region's Water - How We Mapped This Newly Found Landscape #AfricaClimateHope

Ask most people what they picture when thinking about natural "carbon sinks" - ecosystems that absorb and store greenhouse gases - and they'll probably describe a forest.… Read more »

Central Africa: 7 Million Internally Displaced People Live in Central Africa - They Need More Support

Central Africa is host to the largest community of internally displaced persons in Africa. The countries in this region include Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), the… Read more »

Congo-Kinshasa: Mining and Armed Conflict Threaten Eastern DR Congo's Biodiversity in a Complex Web

The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) conflict-affected eastern provinces are home to numerous protected areas. These areas host unique biodiversity and a range of threatened… Read more »

Angola: Where Did All the Oil Riches Go? - Luanda Residents

A few years ago, Luanda, the capital of Angola, was on every ambitious investor's lips. With large infrastructure and housing projects rapidly changing its appearance, the city… Read more »