The Confrontation between Military and Rapid Support Forces Threatens Stability in Sudan and the Horn of Africa
Sudan has been facing political instability for decades. The country has been under the rule of authoritarian regimes, military coups, and civil wars, which have significantly affected its economic and social development. In 2019, a peaceful revolution led by the Sudanese people overthrew the 30-year dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir. Since then, Sudan has been going […]
Sudan’s Fragile Stability Threatened by Power Struggle Between Military Leaders: An In-Depth Look at the Conflict Between SAF and RSF
Sudan, a country in northeastern Africa, has been rocked by violent clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since Saturday, April 23rd. The conflict has spread to several regions throughout the country, including the capital Khartoum and areas in the east and west, including Kassala, Gedaref, and Darfur. […]
Challenges to France’s Influence in Africa: An Examination of the Changing Landscape and Recommendations for the Future
Introduction: France has a long and complicated history in Africa, having colonized much of the continent in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Even after many countries gained their independence, France maintained close ties with its former colonies, particularly in the areas of security and defense. However, over the past few years, France’s influence in […]
Hichilema: A New Dawn For Africa?
In August, Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in as the new president of Zambia after defeating the outgoing Edgar Lungu by almost one million votes in a bitterly contested election. Hichilema’s inauguration marks the third time that power has peacefully shifted to opposition parties in Zambia. He faces a number of competing priorities in his first […]
Middle East Hydropolitics: Conflict and Scarcity
In 1920, a committee was established by France and Britain (then the region’s mandated powers) to coordinate efforts toward the utilization of the waters of the Euphrates and Tigris. Attempts since to create a sustainable governance framework and management system for both, have faltered. The Middle East and North Africa is the most water-scarce region […]
Tunisia’s Political Crisis: A Slide to Authoritarianism?
In July 2021, following massive street protests, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied sacked the prime minister, suspended parliament temporarily, and stated his intent to move forward with widespread prosecutions as part of long-promised anti-corruption efforts. The military was then deployed, preventing legislators from entering the parliament building; while police stormed the headquarters of news broadcaster Al […]
How the UAE’s demand for gold is fuelling instability in Africa
Buoyed by a recent spike in gold prices and the spread of illicit mining, hundreds of tons of gold flows out of Africa each year and onto the world market. The billions of dollars that flow back are fuelling instability across the continent, particularly in the Sahel, where armed gangs, militias and jihadists often traffic […]
South Africa: Political Riots and Social Revolt
In July, South Africa was swept with a week of civil unrest, which left more than 330 people dead, thousands arrested, and businesses burnt to the ground. While the riots were contained within that one week, the unrest is expected to have longer-term effects. The unrest, triggered by the imprisonment of former President, Jacob Zuma, […]
South Africa: What chance a failed state?
After apartheid ended in 1994 and Nelson Mandela came to power, the international community lauded him for his conciliatory approach. Broadening out Archbishop Tutu’s concept of the Rainbow Nation, Mandela sought to reconcile the racial divisions of the past and move forward as one South Africa. A big part of this was the Truth & […]
Sudan’s Revolution After Two Years
Security challenges and instability in post-revolution Sudan