https://www.cfr.org/ Michelle Gavin, Ebenezer Obadare, and other experts track political and security developments across sub-Saharan Africa. en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:30:04 -0400 https://www.cfr.org/blog/senseless-election Uganda’s upcoming January 15 election raises urgent questions about just what the whole process i Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Elections and Voting Post Uganda Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/senseless-election Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:37:56 EST Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/debt-drives-wedge-senegal In 2024, the youngest elected head of state in Africa assumed office after a volatile and violent Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Budget, Debt, and Deficits Post Senegal Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/debt-drives-wedge-senegal Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:19:43 EST Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/postcard-cotonou With good reason, it is the positive part of the coup attempt in Benin last weekend that is getti Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Benin Heads of State and Government Military Operations Guinea-Bissau Post Politics and Government West Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/postcard-cotonou Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:26:57 EST Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/ceremonial-foreign-policy President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi and President of Rwanda Paul Kagam Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democratic Republic of Congo United States Wars and Conflict Post Rwanda Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/ceremonial-foreign-policy Thu, 04 Dec 2025 08:47:49 EST Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/protest-and-crackdown-tanzania Tanzania’s elections in late October were not just demoralizing; they were disastrous. Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democracy Elections and Voting Post Tanzania East Africa Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/protest-and-crackdown-tanzania Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:23:28 EST Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/religion-and-nigerian-crisis Of the few guiding axioms of Nigerian politics, perhaps none is more indelible than the idea that Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Religion Post Extremism Politics and Government https://www.cfr.org/blog/religion-and-nigerian-crisis Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:56:06 EST Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/concerning-standoff Has there ever been a more eventful weekend in U.S.-Nigeria diplomatic and security relations? Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Religion Post Boko Haram Extremism Politics and Government U.S. Department of Defense U.S. State Department https://www.cfr.org/blog/concerning-standoff Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:47:19 EST Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/conduct-unbecoming The late British-Czech anthropologist Ernest Gellner once wrote admiringly about America that it Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Heads of State and Government Post Authoritarianism Politics and Government Foreign Policy Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/conduct-unbecoming Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:09:57 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/shelling-drones-and-hunger-el-fasher While the world rightly celebrates a tentative peace in Gaza that has enabled humanitarian assist Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Wars and Conflict Post Sudan Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/shelling-drones-and-hunger-el-fasher Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:30:59 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/cameroon-inflection-point On October 12, the west-central African country of Cameroon held presidential elections, and the Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Elections and Voting Cameroon Post Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/cameroon-inflection-point Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:52:38 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/transactionalism-tested The second Trump administration’s foreign policy towards African countries has been characterized Caroline Hecht Africa in Transition Africa Program United States Immigration and Migration Post Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/transactionalism-tested Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:37:54 EDT Africa in Transition Caroline Hecht https://www.cfr.org/blog/government-nigeria-versus-senator-ted-cruz Within the past week, several senior Nigerian government officials have openly reprimanded the U. Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Religion Post Extremism Politics and Government Foreign Policy https://www.cfr.org/blog/government-nigeria-versus-senator-ted-cruz Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:37:01 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/protests-arrive-madagascar I recently wrote a book, Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Post Madagascar Demonstrations and Protests Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/protests-arrive-madagascar Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:55:14 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/je-suis-yahaya As a paradigm for the contemporary travails of free thought and freedom of worship, the ongoing s Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria International Law Religion Post Politics and Government https://www.cfr.org/blog/je-suis-yahaya Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:58:29 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/lynching-name-god Two recent episodes of religiously motivated violence in northern Nigeria serve as a reminder of Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Religion Terrorism and Counterterrorism Post Boko Haram Violent Nonstate Actors https://www.cfr.org/blog/lynching-name-god Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:13:56 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/who-needs-pan-africanism When South African opposition leader Julius Malema Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria South Africa Development Post Diplomacy and International Institutions Politics and Government Sub-Saharan Africa Sovereignty https://www.cfr.org/blog/who-needs-pan-africanism Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:12:17 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/rising-political-frustration-zambia For more on youth protest dynamics and transition from postcolonial political status quo, see Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democracy Post Zambia Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/rising-political-frustration-zambia Tue, 02 Sep 2025 11:33:43 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/when-it-comes-somalia-its-always-complicated When President Trump was elected to a second term in office, advocates for Somaliland, the autono Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program United States Post Somalia Somaliland Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/when-it-comes-somalia-its-always-complicated Tue, 19 Aug 2025 11:30:24 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/diplomacy-without-consequences It is quite possible that, in time, U.S. Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Elections and Voting Heads of State and Government Post Diplomacy and International Institutions Foreign Policy Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/diplomacy-without-consequences Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:45:11 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/limits-constitutional-engineering If elite jousting over constitutional provisions and political structure is an indication of poli Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Post Politics and Government Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/limits-constitutional-engineering Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:07:24 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/fair-elections-are-us-interest News that Secretary of State Marco Rubio Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democracy United States Elections and Voting Post Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/fair-elections-are-us-interest Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:08:01 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/another-drc-peace-deal On Saturday, representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 insurgency signed a Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democratic Republic of Congo United States Qatar Post Rwanda https://www.cfr.org/blog/another-drc-peace-deal Mon, 21 Jul 2025 12:50:12 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/opposition-versus-tinubu Barely a month ago, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu seemed very much in control of his political d Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Heads of State and Government Post Politics and Government https://www.cfr.org/blog/opposition-versus-tinubu Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:34:44 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/deadly-encounters Kenyan teacher, activist, and social media campaigner Albert Ojwang is finally achieving in death Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Kenya Nigeria South Africa Post Demonstrations and Protests Politics and Government Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/deadly-encounters Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:21:30 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/gen-z-uncowed Since last year’s massive Gen Z protest movement forced Kenyan President Ruto to blink, withdrawi Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Kenya Post Demonstrations and Protests Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/gen-z-uncowed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:24:33 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/peace-theory On June 18, representatives from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democratic Republic of Congo United States Post Rwanda https://www.cfr.org/blog/peace-theory Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:05:20 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/nigerias-never-ending-security-nightmare As he marks his second year in the saddle, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not been shy Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Post Sub-Saharan Africa Violent Nonstate Actors https://www.cfr.org/blog/nigerias-never-ending-security-nightmare Mon, 23 Jun 2025 11:27:37 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/government-day As Government (his real name) Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, celebrated his 54th birthday with friends Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Post Politics and Government Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/government-day Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:30:47 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/political-tension-cote-divoire In March of this year, The Economist magazine Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democracy Ivory Coast Post Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/political-tension-cote-divoire Wed, 28 May 2025 11:15:24 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/tensions-behind-trump-ramaphosa-white-house-meeting The backdrop for the May 21 meeting between President Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa of Sout Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program South Africa United States Post Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/tensions-behind-trump-ramaphosa-white-house-meeting Wed, 21 May 2025 12:11:11 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/letter-young-african My fellow African: Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Democracy Burkina Faso Post Authoritarianism Demonstrations and Protests Politics and Government Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/letter-young-african Tue, 20 May 2025 09:54:41 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/political-breakthrough No matter what happens next, Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Nigeria Heads of State and Government Defense and Security Terrorism and Counterterrorism Post Politics and Government https://www.cfr.org/blog/political-breakthrough Wed, 14 May 2025 10:25:49 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/warning-signs-uganda As Uganda readies for general elections in 2026, the ghosts of its past are making an unwelcome r Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Elections and Voting Post Uganda Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/warning-signs-uganda Fri, 09 May 2025 16:41:51 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/cult-traore Against all odds, ardor for a certain kind of authoritarianism is having a moment in Africa. Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Civil Society Corruption Burkina Faso Post Authoritarianism Politics and Government Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/cult-traore Mon, 05 May 2025 11:58:39 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/peace-talks-era-transactionalism The Trump administration has made its interest in strengthening critical mineral supply chains cl Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democratic Republic of Congo United States Wars and Conflict Post Rwanda https://www.cfr.org/blog/peace-talks-era-transactionalism Thu, 01 May 2025 11:32:24 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/tanzanias-election-will-deepen-cynicism-about-democracy Just over two years ago, in March 2023, United States Vice President Kamala Harris visited Tanzan Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Elections and Voting Post Tanzania Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/tanzanias-election-will-deepen-cynicism-about-democracy Thu, 17 Apr 2025 08:47:24 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/tropical-vibes It always seemed improbable, even for all its well-known vulnerabilities, that the American polit Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Democracy United States Post Authoritarianism Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/tropical-vibes Mon, 07 Apr 2025 10:54:42 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/south-sudan-test-african-union South Sudan is on the brink of a return to civil war. Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program South Sudan Conflict Prevention African Union Post Diplomacy and International Institutions https://www.cfr.org/blog/south-sudan-test-african-union Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:45:28 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/question-freedom President Trump’s controversial decision to dismantle the United States Agency for International Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Foreign Aid Post Sub-Saharan Africa United States Agency for International Development (USAID) https://www.cfr.org/blog/question-freedom Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:50:50 EDT Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/familiar-unrest-zimbabwe Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa came to power via military coup in 2017, when his longtime Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Post Zimbabwe Politics and Government Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/familiar-unrest-zimbabwe Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:41:38 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/whats-next-democratic-republic-congo The crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is getting worse. Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democratic Republic of Congo Angola Wars and Conflict Post Rwanda Diplomacy and International Institutions Violent Nonstate Actors https://www.cfr.org/blog/whats-next-democratic-republic-congo Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:27:07 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/alarm-bells-tigray Toward the end of the first Trump administration, when the world was in the throes of the COVID p Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Wars and Conflict Eritrea Ethiopia Post Foreign Policy Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/alarm-bells-tigray Thu, 13 Mar 2025 10:07:40 EDT Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/prince-sahel Burkinabe dictator, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, is the dashing poster boy for military rule in the We Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Civil Society Burkina Faso Post Politics and Government Populism West Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/prince-sahel Mon, 03 Mar 2025 10:22:13 EST Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/abandonment-sudan Since the start of the ongoing war in April 2023, Sudan has struggled to gain global attention. Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Wars and Conflict Post Sudan Humanitarian Crises Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/abandonment-sudan Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:30:36 EST Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/uncle-sam-goes-rogue Three years ago, Washington was busy marshaling an alliance of the world’s democracies against Ru Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Democracy South Africa Post Sub-Saharan Africa U.S. Foreign Policy https://www.cfr.org/blog/uncle-sam-goes-rogue Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:19:33 EST Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/trumps-misguided-policy-toward-south-africa There are many reasons developments on the African continent merit high-level attention from the Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program South Africa Post Donald Trump Sub-Saharan Africa U.S. Foreign Policy https://www.cfr.org/blog/trumps-misguided-policy-toward-south-africa Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:12:49 EST Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/americas-disastrous-foreign-aid-withdrawal Last month, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi made his first trip of 2025 a visit to the African c Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Global Health Update RealEcon Post Sub-Saharan Africa U.S. Foreign Policy United States Agency for International Development (USAID) https://www.cfr.org/blog/americas-disastrous-foreign-aid-withdrawal Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:43:17 EST Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/fall-goma Once again, the eastern Congolese city of Goma has fallen to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.&n Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Democratic Republic of Congo Wars and Conflict Post Rwanda Humanitarian Crises Violent Nonstate Actors https://www.cfr.org/blog/fall-goma Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:40:51 EST Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin https://www.cfr.org/blog/obnoxious-legislation The Ebenezer Obadare Africa in Transition Africa Program Civil Society Nigeria International Law Religion Post Politics and Government https://www.cfr.org/blog/obnoxious-legislation Wed, 22 Jan 2025 09:04:19 EST Africa in Transition Ebenezer Obadare https://www.cfr.org/blog/accountability-gone-missing-kenya In the wake of last year’s Gen Z protests, Kenyan President William Ruto had two choices. Michelle Gavin Africa in Transition Africa Program Kenya Post Demonstrations and Protests Human Rights https://www.cfr.org/blog/accountability-gone-missing-kenya Tue, 21 Jan 2025 09:26:51 EST Africa in Transition Michelle Gavin