<p>Sub-Saharan Africa is a study in diversity. Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, the region is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources. It&rsquo;s no surprise that it captured the imagination of Europe&rsquo;s earliest explorers &mdash; and that it continues to capture the imagination of current world powers eager to exploit it. And yet despite the region&rsquo;s diversity, Sub-Saharan African countries have common challenges &mdash; transnational terrorism, rapid population growth, endemic poverty and corruption &mdash; that prevent them from capitalizing on their economic potential. The coming years will be critical for the region, especially as its political institutions mature in a rapidly globalizing world.</p>

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan

Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Cabo Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sudan

Eswatini

Tanzania

Togo

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

The Post-Apartheid Era Ends

The Politics of Pipelines

Old Leaders in a New Africa

Nigeria: Obstacles to Prosperity

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Crossing Borders

A Crude Recovery

Globalization

China in Transition

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

Assessments

Brazil

Israel

Austria

Russia

A G-20 summit banner on Nov. 12 at City Hall in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will host G-20 leaders Nov. 18-19 in Rio de Janeiro, where he will try to secure support for three main proposals.

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

Politics

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Brazil Hosts the G-20, Constitutional Crisis Looms in Israel

Media

Podcasts

Are there viable paths to a peaceful resolution?

Essential Geopolitics: Evolution of the Post-Election Violence in Mozambique

Both main political parties have deployed inflammatory rhetoric that has heightened political polarization, raising risks of political violence ahead of, and especially on and after, election day.

2024 Elections: Ghana 

Global Elections

Sudanese army soldiers patrol an area in Khartoum on Nov. 3, 2024.

The warring sides' deep distrust and their external backers' competing interests portend a protracted conflict that may expand into South Sudan and Chad, and heighten jihadist activity.

The Security Implications of Sudan's Ongoing Civil War

United States

China

Workers move batches of copper sheets on July 6, 2016, in Mufulira, Zambia. Zambia's copper output will likely steadily increase by the late 2020s on the back of a more stable tax environment and a global rush for critical minerals, but the country faces an uphill battle to meet its 2032 copper production target.

Zambia's copper output will likely steadily increase by the late 2020s on the back of a more stable tax environment and a global rush for critical minerals, but the country faces an uphill battle to meet its 2032 copper production target.

Zambia Banks on the Green Rush for Copper 

Snapshots

Cameroonian President Paul Biya (left), and his wife Chantal Biya (left) watch a parade marking the 51st celebration of Unity Day in Yaounde on May 20, 2023. 

The end of the aging president's 42-year reign will leave a power vacuum that could engulf the country in crisis as various factions within the ruling elite, opposition parties and militants scramble to secure their interests. 

Cameroon Braces for Volatility Amid Concerns About President Biya's Health

Egypt

Iran

United Arab Emirates

Indonesia

Moldova

India

Vehicles pass by a banner thanking outgoing Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and congratulating President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka ahead of their Oct. 20 inauguration in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Oct. 17, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: An Impeachment Case in Kenya, an Inauguration in Indonesia

A Somali National Army soldier participates in a military drill in Mogadishu on March 19, 2024.

Egypt and Somalia's deepening security coordination risks triggering armed clashes with Ethiopia that could undermine regional counterterrorism efforts and inflame ethnic tensions.

The Horn of Africa Braces for Conflict as an Anti-Ethiopia Alliance Takes Shape

What does Somalia's security landscape look like for the next five to 10 years?

Essential Geopolitics: The Future of Somalia

Tunisia

Germany

Ukraine

A man in Maputo walks past a wall covered with electoral posters in support of Daniel Chapo, the ruling party candidate in Mozambique’s presidential election, on Oct. 4, 2024. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: Biden Visits Germany as Mozambique, Tunisia and Brazil Hold Elections

Mali's junta announced through a press release on state media the appointment of Maj. Gen. Abdoulaye Maiga as prime minister, Radio France Internationale reported on Nov. 21.

Mali: Junta Replaces Civilian Prime Minister With General

Environment, Science & Technology

South African Energy Minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa said he would present a revised Integrated Resource Plan -- which lays out South Africa's energy strategy -- to the Cabinet the week of Nov. 25 that would involve an "exponential increase" in the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix, Daily Maverick reported on Nov. 20.

South Africa: Energy Ministry To Present Revised Energy Strategy

Congolese opposition figures including Moise Katumbi, Martin Fayulu and former President Joseph Kabila announced that they were forming a new coalition to oppose President Felix Tshisekedi's proposed constitutional changes, Jeune Afrique reported on Nov. 20.

Congo: Opposition Unites Against Proposed Constitutional Changes

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

The U.N. Climate Change Conference's new draft text on a climate finance agreement still includes separate options for the so-called New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, differing both on the scale and scope of commitments, as well as which countries will contribute, Argus Media reported on Nov. 21.

Global: Disagreements Over COP29 Finance Target Remain as Summit Enters Final Hours

The European Council has allocated an additional 20 million euros to support the Rwanda Defence Force's mission in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, aimed at countering an Islamic State-linked insurgency in the region, Radio French International reported Nov. 19.

Rwanda, Mozambique: EU Allocates More Funding to Rwandan Forces in Mozambique

Spokesperson for the opposition National Democratic Congress Sammy Gyamfi accused outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo of tasking Brig. Gen. Michael Opoku with rigging the country's upcoming Dec. 7 general election in favor of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Modern Ghana reported on Nov. 19.

Ghana: Opposition Accuses President of Tasking Senior Army General With Rigging Upcoming Election

Leaders of the Group of 20 issued a joint declaration during a summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, emphasizing the need to fight hunger and climate change, reform multilateral institutions, and end conflicts and humanitarian crises in Gaza and Ukraine, g1 reported on Nov. 18.

G20: Despite Joint Communique, G20 Summit Unlikely To Impact Businesses Directly

The Nigerian government's 2025-27 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework foresees 31.24 trillion naira ($18.6 billion) in additional borrowing and 50.39 trillion naira in debt servicing costs over the next three years, The Punch reported on Nov. 19.

Nigeria: Budget Plans Foresee Rising Borrowing and Debt Servicing Costs in 2025-27

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Mali: Junta Replaces Civilian Prime Minister With General

South Africa: Energy Ministry To Present Revised Energy Strategy

Congo: Opposition Unites Against Proposed Constitutional Changes

Global: Disagreements Over COP29 Finance Target Remain as Summit Enters Final Hours

Rwanda, Mozambique: EU Allocates More Funding to Rwandan Forces in Mozambique

Ghana: Opposition Accuses President of Tasking Senior Army General With Rigging Upcoming Election

G20: Despite Joint Communique, G20 Summit Unlikely To Impact Businesses Directly

Nigeria: Budget Plans Foresee Rising Borrowing and Debt Servicing Costs in 2025-27

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