<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

Syria

France

Anti-riot police officers with dogs walk past burning barricades made by protesters in Maputo, Mozambique, on Nov. 7, 2024. 

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: A New French Government, a Ruling on Mozambique's Disputed Election

Media

Podcasts

What is the future trajectory of the peace process?

Essential Geopolitics: Implications of Cancelled Peace Talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

Cargo containers painted with Chinese and U.S. flags. Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

Cyber

Economics

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

2025 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

South Korea

Germany

Russia

A sign reading ''leader of insurgents'' on a photo of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's face is held up during a protest calling for Yoon's ouster in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 8, 2024. 

The Weekly Rundown: Putin's Annual Press Conference, Another Impeachment Vote in South Korea

Turkey

An illustration of the Ethiopian and Somali flags.

The countries’ commitment to negotiate maritime access reduces immediate conflict risks and could enable Ethiopia to secure leasing rights at Somali ports, but tensions will likely resurge if the two sides fail to finalize a deal.

Ethiopia and Somalia Crack Open the Door To Compromise on Maritime Access

Chart of stock market investment trading on blue background.

Economic coercion is becoming more prevalent in international politics, with certain countries leveraging their economic power to pursue political goals. 

Economic Power in International Politics

Iran

Protesters call for the ouster of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 6, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: An Impeachment Vote in South Korea, Syria's Government Wavers

A voter casts their ballot in a voting booth in Ghana in June 2020.

An opposition victory would likely see the new government prioritize boosting the manufacturing sector and easing fiscal consolidation, while a ruling party victory would raise the risk of post-election violence.

Previewing Ghana's General Elections

Global Elections

United States

China

Marshall Islands

Palau

Taiwan

Tuvalu

Sri Lanka

U.S. President Joe Biden and President Joao Lourenco of Angola on Nov. 30, 2023, at the White House. Biden on Dec. 2-4 will visit Angola, where he will focus on the Lobito Corridor project that aims to refurbish and expand railways connecting critical mineral-rich regions in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo with the Angolan port of Lobito.

The Weekly Rundown: Biden Visits Angola, von der Leyen's Second Term

Uruguay

Ukraine

Kazakhstan

The NATO symbol and flags of some member countries Oct. 18 in Brussels. The NATO-Ukraine Council will meet Nov. 26 to discuss Russia's first use of an experimental ballistic missile on Ukrainian territory, which on Nov. 21 Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed involved a new medium-range, hypersonic ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik."

The Weekly Rundown: A NATO-Ukraine Summit, Putin's State Visit to Kazakhstan

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Tshisekedi pressed ahead with a major overhaul of the country's military leadership, Radio France Internationale reported on Dec. 19. 

Congo: President Tshisekedi Overhauls Military Leadership

Kenyan President William Ruto nominated several allies of former President Uhuru Kenyatta to key ministerial positions as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, Business Daily Africa reported on Dec. 19. 

Kenya: President Ruto Nominates Allies of Former President Kenyatta in Cabinet Reshuffle

South Africa's international relations minister, Ronald Lamola, and Mozambique's minister of interior, Pascoal Ronda, agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation to mitigate disruptions to trade between the two countries caused by Mozambique's postelection unrest, Daily Maverick reported on Dec. 18. 

South Africa, Mozambique: Ministers Vow Stronger Cooperation To Mitigate Trade Disruptions

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu presented a 49.7 trillion naira ($31.9 billion) 2025 budget to Nigeria's National Assembly, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 18. 

Nigeria: President Tinubu Presents 2025 Budget

Somalia's federal government is expected to allow Ethiopian troops to take part in the new African Union peacekeeping mission set to start in January 2025, Hiiraan Online reported on Dec. 19, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.

Somalia: Government May Allow Ethiopian Troops To Remain in Country

Ghana's Supreme Court dismissed two petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill, which would increase prison sentences for LGBTQ+ individuals and rights group members, MyJoyOnline reported on Dec. 18. 

Ghana: Supreme Court Dismisses Legal Challenges Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill 	

In a draft of the U.S. continuing resolution to fund the government through March 14, 2025, released on Dec. 18, lawmakers included several measures designed to tighten restrictions on China and protect U.S. supply chains.

U.S., China: Washington's Continuing Resolution Draft Focuses on China, Leaves Out Africa

Zambia secured a $184 million disbursement after the International Monetary Fund completed the fourth review of the country's August 2022 support program, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 17.

Zambia: IMF Approves Fourth Review of Support Program 

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Congo: President Tshisekedi Overhauls Military Leadership

Kenya: President Ruto Nominates Allies of Former President Kenyatta in Cabinet Reshuffle

South Africa, Mozambique: Ministers Vow Stronger Cooperation To Mitigate Trade Disruptions

Nigeria: President Tinubu Presents 2025 Budget

Somalia: Government May Allow Ethiopian Troops To Remain in Country

Ghana: Supreme Court Dismisses Legal Challenges Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill

U.S., China: Washington's Continuing Resolution Draft Focuses on China, Leaves Out Africa

Zambia: IMF Approves Fourth Review of Support Program

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support