<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

Snapshots

Cameroon President Paul Biya (L) and his wife Chantal Biya react during a parade marking the 51st celebration of Unity Day in Yaounde on May 20, 2023.

Military & Security

Politics

Cracks in the ruling coalition risk fueling unrest and political instability as 92-year-old President Biya seeks an eighth term in the October election. 

Amid Growing Defections, Cameroon's Aging President Doubles Down With a Reelection Bid

United States

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) speaks during a peace agreement signing ceremony between Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner (R) and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe in the Treaty Room of the State Department in Washington, D.C., on June 27, 2025. 

Economics

The peace agreement opens Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo up to significant economic opportunities, but disagreements over interpretation and continued proxy violence risk stalling the deal’s implementation.

A Fragile Peace Takes Shape Between Congo and Rwanda

Assessments

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The third quarter of 2025 will be defined by disruptive trade policies fueling supply chain volatility and the persistent risk of escalation in major conflicts.

2025 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Media

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2025 Third-Quarter Forecast.

2025 Third-Quarter Forecast Webcast

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Iran

Israel

Ukraine

Russia

Israeli air defense systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv early on June 18, 2025. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: Israel-Iran Conflict Rages On, NATO Holds Annual Summit

Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks to media during the closing press conference of the G7 Summit in Fasano, Italy, on June 15, 2024. 

Energy

Italy is seeking to embed its Mattei Plan into EU policy to gain support for its immediate goals of energy security and migration control, but structural issues will likely limit Rome's long-term influence in Africa.

Italy Syncs Its Mattei Plan for Africa With EU Initiatives

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop hold a joint press conference following their meeting in Moscow, Russia, on May 20, 2022. 

While Russian military support to Mali is set to persist, the Sahelian country's security environment will likely continue to deteriorate amid jihadist groups' strong momentum.

What's Next for Mali as Russia's Wagner Group Pulls Out? 

Canada

Japan

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Rescue teams work at damaged buildings in Nobonyad Square following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. 

Global Trade

The Weekly Rundown: G7 Leaders' Summit, More Israeli Attacks on Iran

Palestinian Territories

China

Poland

The Weekly Rundown: A U.S. Tariff Ruling, Israel's Opposition Seeks To Dissolve the Knesset

M23 fighters are seen at the main border crossing between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Goma on March 1, 2025.

Mediation efforts from the Trump administration will likely see the two African countries ink a peace deal in the coming months, but implementation will prove challenging, sustaining the risk of a new military escalation in eastern Congo.

U.S. Mediation Brings Congo and Rwanda Closer to a Peace Deal

Credit rating agency S&P downgraded Senegal's sovereign credit rating from B to B- and revised the country's debt outlook to negative after Senegal's government debt was found to stand at 118% of gross domestic product at the end of 2024, against 104% as previously assessed, Reuters reported on July 15. 

Senegal: Credit Downgrade Portends Mounting Economic Challenges 

During a July 10 meeting of the ruling Patriots of Senegal (PASTEF) party, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko urged President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to intervene against what he called ''unacceptable attacks'' by critics or allow Sonko to handle them himself, Jeune Afrique reported July 11.

Senegal: Tensions Erupt Between Prime Minister and President

The Central African Republic (CAR) government, with mediation from Chad, officially dissolved two major rebel groups: Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation (3R) and the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), RFI reported July 11.

Central African Republic: Main Rebel Groups Officially Dissolved Under New Agreement 

John Steenhuisen, the leader of the center-right Democratic Alliance (DA) -- the second largest party in South Africa's ruling coalition behind the left-leaning African National Congress (ANC) -- insisted that his party would not support the budgets for the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Human Settlements, despite warnings from the senior legal adviser to South Africa's parliament that the 2025 budget could not be approved unless every single departmental budget was approved, Daily Maverick reported July 10.

South Africa: ANC-DA Tensions Pose New Risks to Budget and Government Stability

Environment, Science & Technology

Northern Mozambique, particularly Cabo Delgado province, is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis driven by insurgent violence, mass displacement and the aftermath of recent cyclones, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Club of Mozambique reported on July 9. 

Mozambique: U.N. Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Cabo Delgado

U.S. President Donald Trump said Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame would sign a U.S.-brokered peace deal between the two countries at the White House by the end of July, Radio Okapi reported on July 10.

Congo, Rwanda: Peace Deal Nears Finalization, Kinshasa Gears Up for New Round of Talks With M23

Egypt

Turkey

Turkey-mediated technical talks between Ethiopia and Somalia over Ethiopia potentially securing maritime access to Somali ports have been suspended indefinitely, Africa Intelligence reported on July 9.

Ethiopia, Somalia: Turkey-Led Mediation Over Maritime Access Indefinitely Suspended

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the United States' planned imposition of 30% tariffs on South Africa is "subject to modification" as his government advances trade negotiations with the Trump administration, Bloomberg reported on July 8. 

South Africa: Ramaphosa Pushes for Fresh Negotiations With U.S. After Trump Imposes 30% Tariffs

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Senegal: Credit Downgrade Portends Mounting Economic Challenges

Senegal: Tensions Erupt Between Prime Minister and President

Central African Republic: Main Rebel Groups Officially Dissolved Under New Agreement

South Africa: ANC-DA Tensions Pose New Risks to Budget and Government Stability

Mozambique: U.N. Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Cabo Delgado

Congo, Rwanda: Peace Deal Nears Finalization, Kinshasa Gears Up for New Round of Talks With M23

Ethiopia, Somalia: Turkey-Led Mediation Over Maritime Access Indefinitely Suspended

South Africa: Ramaphosa Pushes for Fresh Negotiations With U.S. After Trump Imposes 30% Tariffs

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