<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

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Burundi

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Central African Republic

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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

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 21 during an official trip to the United States.

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

The Weekly Rundown: South Africa's U.S. Reset, Three European Elections

Columns

On Geopolitics

Algeria

Morocco

France

A Gabonese brigade participates in a training exercise as part of a military program linked to the Franco-Gabonese partnership at the French military base Camp de Gaulle in Libreville on March 19, 2025. 

Military & Security

Politics

France's reduced influence in Africa will create space for local and foreign actors to take on greater leadership roles, but their inability to fill the security vacuum left by France's withdrawal would threaten to destabilize the region.

France, Africa and the Future, Part 2: The Age of Multi-Alignment 

A picture released on July 12, 1963, of then-French President Gen. Charles de Gaulle (2L) and Jacques Foccart (L) greeting African, Malagasy and French overseas territories veterans arriving in Paris for French Bastille Day celebrations.

Economics

After decades of cultivating tight-knit relationships with francophone African countries, France has effectively ended its forward military presence in West and Central Africa amid shifting political dynamics in both regions, which will weaken its influence on the continent but enable Paris to reallocate resources towards Europe's security.

France, Africa and the Future, Part 1: A New Balance of Power 

Snapshots

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen holds a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Jan. 28, 2025.

Rising tensions between the ruling ANC and its key coalition partner over the 2025 budget are raising the risk of a coalition breakdown, which would threaten policy paralysis and a marked depreciation of the rand.

What the Democratic Alliance's Exit From Government Would Mean for South Africa

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A list of countries facing reciprocal tariffs on display April 2 at the White House.

Global Trade

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: The Escalating Global Trade War, South Africa's Coalition Government on the Brink

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U.S.-Iran Relations

A photo of Khartoum, Sudan, with columns of smoke rising in the background.

The SAF's military victory in Khartoum marks a turning point in the country's civil war, but a firm resolution remains out of reach as the RSF fights to consolidate control in the west.

What Next for Sudan After the Army Retakes Khartoum?

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Who are the main actors involved, and what are the primary goals influencing the conflict?

Essential Geopolitics: South Sudan's Evolving Political and Security Outlook

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Philippe Lazzarini (C), the commissioner general for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, attends a humanitarian conference for Gaza in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 2, 2024, amid the continuing Israel-Hamas war.

Egypt's economic limitations will continue to restrain its assertiveness in foreign policy, constraining its ability to project power in the region.

Egypt's Economic Priorities Sideline Assertive Foreign Policy

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Intensifying trade wars, a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, continued volatility in the Middle East and consequential elections in key countries will shape the quarter.

2025 Second-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Global Elections

The skyline of Kigali, Rwanda, is seen on March 27, 2024.

The region's population dynamics will remain favorable in the context of strong labor force growth and declining dependency ratios.

The Economic Potential of Sub-Saharan Africa's Population Growth

Russia

Sources within Russia's Embassy in Mozambique confirmed that the Russian research vessel Atlantida K-1704 had been fired upon around three miles (about 5 kilometers) off the coast of Tambuzi island on May 10, located in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, Club of Mozambique reported on May 19. 

Mozambique: Attack of Russian Research Vessel Likely Linked to Islamic State Mozambique Province

The United States and Cote d'Ivoire reached an agreement in principle permitting the United States to operate drones from the Bouake air base, Jeune Afrique reported on May 14. 

Cote d'Ivoire: Government Reportedly Reaches Agreement in Principle With U.S. Over Drone Access  

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment and recruitment of armed forest guards to secure Nigeria's 1,129 forests, Sahara Reporters reported on May 14. 

Nigeria: Armed Guards To Reclaim Nigeria's Forests From Terrorists, Kidnappers

The National Election Board of Ethiopia revoked the legal status of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), citing its failure to meet the conditions tied to its registration as a party under "special consideration," Addis Standard reported May 14.

Ethiopia: Election Board Revokes TPLF's Legal Status 

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to hold a trade and investment summit with African heads of state and government before the end of 2025, The Africa Report reported May 14.

U.S., Africa: Trump to Hold U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment Summit by Year-End 

Mali's junta leader, Gen. Assimi Goita, officially dissolved all political parties and politically affiliated organizations across the country via a presidential decree, Radio France Internationale reported on May 13.

Mali: Junta Officially Dissolves Political Parties

A mutiny broke out at a Nigerien military garrison based in Termit, a remote desert area in northeastern Niger, after hundreds of angry soldiers denounced chronic malnutrition, lack of adequate equipment, and delays in the payment of salaries and bonuses, citing the deterioration of their living conditions, Radio France Internationale reported on May 13.

Niger: Soldiers Mutiny in Northeastern Termit Camp, U.S Ambassador Presents Credentials to Junta Leader

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration welcomed 59 white South Africans to the United States as part of its resettlement program for South Africa's Afrikaner community, Reuters reported on May 13. 

South Africa, U.S.: Trump Administration Welcomes First Afrikaners Under Resettlement Program 

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Mozambique: Attack of Russian Research Vessel Likely Linked to Islamic State Mozambique Province

Cote d'Ivoire: Government Reportedly Reaches Agreement in Principle With U.S. Over Drone Access

Nigeria: Armed Guards To Reclaim Nigeria's Forests From Terrorists, Kidnappers

Ethiopia: Election Board Revokes TPLF's Legal Status

U.S., Africa: Trump to Hold U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment Summit by Year-End

Mali: Junta Officially Dissolves Political Parties

Niger: Soldiers Mutiny in Northeastern Termit Camp, U.S Ambassador Presents Credentials to Junta Leader

South Africa, U.S.: Trump Administration Welcomes First Afrikaners Under Resettlement Program

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