Subsaharan Africa

Africa’s second-largest oil producer had been going through a rough patch since the 2014 oil-price collapse – and then came the pandemic. The country’s prospects for post-Covid recovery are hampered by crippling foreign debt and lack of progress in economic diversification. However, Angola has an important edge in sub-Saharan Africa ...

President Felix Tshisekedi came to power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo thanks to an agreement with the former long-reigning president, Joseph Kabila. After the deal fell through in 2020, he began co-opting Kabila loyalists to consolidate his power. However, it seems unlikely that he will undertake the reforms ...

In Namibia, the three decades after independence saw a long and not entirely successful struggle to build a democratic governance system. The ruling party has failed to address corruption and abuse of power. Disillusioned, young citizens are radicalizing and getting drawn into bitter ethnic rivalries – a process that could ...

Leaders staying in power indefinitely is threatening the development of democracy on the African continent. In 2020, several West African heads of states overstayed their constitutional time in office, leading to widespread anger. Given the worsening economic situation of most authoritarian states, protests and ethnic tensions could soon flare up.