Subsaharan Africa
This area stretches from the Cape Verde islands on the Atlantic to the Horn of Africa on the Indian Ocean, and north to south from the Upper Nile and the Sahara Desert to the Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. The continent’s main assets are abundant natural resources and a young population.
Reports on Subsaharan Africa See all →
Mali and Mauritania: Instability in the Sahel
Mali and Mauritania are both politically and economically fragile. In these two countries, social divides and the state’s inability to fully control its own territory has led to the rise of radicalized armed groups. These challenges highlight the instability that threatens the entire Sahel region – a state of affairs that could have a ripple effect throughout Africa and lead to another wave of migration toward Europe.
Dim prospects for developing countries
Developing countries are facing some favorable global conditions, with cheap financing, rising commodity prices, and foreign investors looking for opportunity. But three roadblocks will prevent improved growth in Africa and other developing economies: government involvement in the market, an outsize bureaucracy, and an undereducated labor force. The solutions now being ...
Namibia faces political and economic uncertainty
Namibia has been hailed as a success story of democratic transition in Africa, enjoying relative stability and economic growth for years. But after general elections this November, the country may face a turning point. Growth has stagnated, and political polarization has weakened the ruling SWAPO party. Even if he holds ...
GIS Dossier: Mozambique’s roller-coaster ride
Mozambique seemed to have it all. Its economy took off after a long and bloody civil war ended in 1992, accelerating further after discoveries of vast natural gas and oil reserves in 2010-2012 prompted the government to liberalize the energy sector. Yet the country’s rags-to-riches scenario has yet to materialize, ...
Mediation helps start a fragile transition in Sudan
The fall of President Omar al-Bashir in Sudan can be seen as the demise of just another African strongman. Yet in a large state divided along complex ethnic, religious and political lines, his personalized tyranny made political stability possible. Now that is gone and an internationally mediated transition agreement is ...
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