Angola

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Military & Security

Politics

Angola's presidency said it would relinquish the country's role as the chief mediator in the conflict between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and the Alliance for the Congo River, a coalition led by the Rwandan-backed M23, Reuters reported on March 24. 

Congo: Angola Relinquishes Role as Conflict Mediator, AFC/M23 Remains in Walikale  

Angola's presidency said it would broker the start of direct talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo's government and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group in the "coming days" following a meeting between Angolan President Joao Lourenco and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, Radio France Internationale reported on March 12.

Congo: Angola Says It Will Broker Direct Talks Between Kinshasa and M23 Within Days 

United States

China

Economics

Angolan Economy Minister Jose de Lima Massano said Angola was seeking to raise between $1 billion and $2 billion in eurobonds as part of efforts to extend maturities and lower its debt cost, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 22.

Angola: Government To Issue Fresh Eurobonds, Advance Privatization  

Sub-Saharan Africa

Zambia

U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that the United States would provide an additional $600 million in financing to support the development of the Lobito Corridor, which will connect Zambia's Copperbelt to the Atlantic Ocean, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 4.

U.S., Africa: Biden Confirms $600M in New Financing for Lobito Corridor

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda reached an agreement regarding the disarmament of the radical Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, in eastern Congo, the state-owned Angola Press News Agency reported on Oct. 13. 

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Reports Agreement Over FDLR's Disarmament

Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio held talks with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi regarding the progress of peace talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Radio Okapi reported on Sept. 20.

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Steps Up Efforts To Consolidate Eastern Congo Cease-Fire 

Clashes erupted between the Congolese military and Rwanda-backed M23 militants near Congo's eastern town of Kirumba despite an Aug.4 ceasefire, Reuters reported on Aug. 25.

Congo, Rwanda: Clashes Erupt Between Congolese Military and M23 Despite Ceasefire

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Angolan President Joao Lourenco expressed their satisfaction with the implementation of an Aug. 4 ceasefire in eastern Congo, Radio France Internationale reported Aug. 12. 

Congo: Tshisekedi Expresses Content With Eastern Congo Ceasefire

Assessments

Burundi

Uganda

An M23 fighter stands in the foreground as detained Congolese soldiers are loaded onto trucks on Jan. 30, 2025, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Unless the Congolese government agrees to enter direct talks, Rwanda-backed rebels will likely resume their advance toward the city of Bukavu, whose fall would expose Congo to mounting instability, including nationwide unrest and a potential military coup.

Fighting in Eastern Congo Reaches a Crossroads as Rebels Press Southward

Cote d'Ivoire

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World map on a dark digital background representing global communication and global finances.

Cyber

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Russia-Ukraine Conflict

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2025 highlights high-impact, low-probability risks and trends from the annual forecast presented in more extreme terms.

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2025

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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.

U.S.-China Relations

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

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

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Comoros

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France

Yael Braun-Pivet, a French lawmaker for the ruling Renaissance party, delivers a speech after being reelected as National Assembly president following the third round of voting on July 18, 2024.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: France Resumes Political Horse-Trading, Blinken Returns to Middle East

Cabo Verde

Europe

India

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) meets with French President Emmanuel Macron on Dec. 1, 2023, in Dubai.

The Weekly Rundown: Blinken Visits Africa, Macron Visits India

Snapshots

Republic of the Congo

U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with President Joao Lourenco of Angola during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 30, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

A new supply line could increase access to Central African mining exports and strengthen Western influence in the region, but several constraints stand in the way.

Washington's 'Flagship' Africa Project: A New Supply Line for Central African Mining Exports

Libya

Cyprus

Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (2nd L) and Libya's Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah (3rd L) attend an agreement-signing ceremony between Italian multinational oil and gas company Eni and the Libyan National Oil Corporation in Tripoli, Libya, on Jan. 28, 2023.

As Europe turns away from Russian energy, Italy positions itself as a natural gas conduit between the Continent and Africa.

With Energy Deals in Africa, Italy Positions Itself as Europe's Next Gas Hub

North Korea

South Korea

Angolan President Joao Lourenco addresses MPLA supporters at an election rally July 23, 2022, in Luanda, Angola. Lourenco will face off against Adalberto Costa Junior of the opposition UNITA on Aug. 24. 

Social Issues

The Weekly Rundown: Independence Day in Ukraine, Election Day in Angola

Ethiopia

Newly elected Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema delivers a speech during his inauguration at the Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on Aug. 24, 2021. 

Beijing's first foray into debt restructuring under the G-20 framework will offer insight into China's potential position in other African countries' creditor talks.

What Zambian Debt Talks Could Mean for Chinese Borrowers in Africa

Angolan President Joao Lourenco is pictured on a flag at a campaign rally for the country’s ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party on June 26, 2021, at Largo das Escolas in Luanda. 

President Lourenco will likely secure another term on Aug. 24. But it may be his last, as grievances over poverty, electoral fraud and political repression erode support for his ruling MPLA party.

Previewing Angola’s General Election

Oman

OPEC headquarters on April 4, 2013, in Vienna. OPEC+'s decision to maintain production levels will bolster the idea that oil markets are entering a supercycle, contributing to concerns about rising inflation.

OPEC+'s decision to maintain production levels will bolster the idea that oil markets are entering a supercycle, contributing to concerns about rising inflation.

OPEC+ Stays the Course, Driving up Oil Price, Inflation Expectations

An oil tanker sails on Maracaibo Lake in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on March 15, 2019. OPEC'S relevance will slowly decline over the next two decades as the global transition from fossil fuels accelerates and oil's dominance in the transportation sector is diminished.

OPEC'S relevance will slowly decline over the next two decades as the global transition from fossil fuels accelerates and oil's dominance in the transportation sector is diminished.

As Oil's Importance Fades, So Will OPEC

Angola is a former Portuguese colony located in southwest Africa. It is mostly semi-arid savanna, with few natural geographic defensive barriers. The Namib Desert is found along its southern coastal strip, and the Congo Rainforest lies to Angola's north.    Crude oil is the country's predominant natural resource, found on and offshore northwestern Angola.     The country is roughly 1.25 million square kilometers, but is relatively unpopulated, with approximately 20 million people. Angola's main geographic challenge is maintaining control over its ethnic divisions across vast distances.    The planalto and Kwanza River Basin are the two regions capable of supporting a substantial population. The planalto is Angola's single elevated region and is the core for the majority Ovimbundu peoples. Relatively high rainfall makes this area Angola's corn-based agricultural breadbasket. The Kwanza River is Angola's sole navigable river and flows from the planalto to the Atlantic Ocean near the capital, Luanda. The Kwanza river mouth is a navigable entry into Angola's interior, allowing internal and external trade. This is the core for the ruling minority Mbundu.    The internal struggles and civil war between the Mbundu and Ovimbundu ethnic groups were triggered when the country gained independence in 1975. The Mbundu's absorption of the colonial infrastructure in Luanda and the country's licit crude oil-based economic relationships led to the group's control of the country, dominating the agrarian Ovimbundu. As a result of this dynamic, the Angolan government relies on a robust internal security force to control the vast, remote and resource-rich country against domestic rivals.

Old Leaders in a New Africa

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

A Crude Recovery

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Congo: Angola Relinquishes Role as Conflict Mediator, AFC/M23 Remains in Walikale

Congo: Angola Says It Will Broker Direct Talks Between Kinshasa and M23 Within Days

Angola: Government To Issue Fresh Eurobonds, Advance Privatization

U.S., Africa: Biden Confirms $600M in New Financing for Lobito Corridor

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Reports Agreement Over FDLR's Disarmament

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Steps Up Efforts To Consolidate Eastern Congo Cease-Fire

Congo, Rwanda: Clashes Erupt Between Congolese Military and M23 Despite Ceasefire

Congo: Tshisekedi Expresses Content With Eastern Congo Ceasefire

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