The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to hold its presidential, legislative, and provincial elections countrywide on 20 December. These elections are taking place amid an environment of heightened uncertainty marked by logistical challenges and an ongoing conflict in the country’s eastern regions. Incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi is running for re-election hoping to secure …
The inaugural Saudi-Arab-African Economic Conference was held in Riyadh on 9 and 10 November and drew high-level delegates from across the continent, including dozens of heads of state. Over 50 agreements were signed during the conference between Saudi, Arab, and African governments. This notably included financing agreements by the state-owned Saudi Fund for Development totalling …
On 4 November, Renamo mayoral candidate for Maputo, Venancio Mondlane, declared that the opposition party’s demonstrations protesting the outcome of the 11 October municipal elections would intensify should the Constitutional Council uphold the results. Renamo has led a series of protests since 16 October after the National Elections Commission (CNE) began releasing the initial election …
Gabon’s long-time leader Ali Bongo was deposed in a military coup on 30 August ending over 56 years of the Bongo family’s rule over the central African country. The coup was led by General Brice Oligui Nguema, the head of the country’s Republican Guard, who has since been installed as the country’s interim president. Ironically …
South Africa will host the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) 15th heads of state and government summit in Johannesburg’s Sandton area from 22 to 24 August. The conference will take place in a climate of heightened security and global political tensions which will likely increase unwanted scrutiny of South Africa’s foreign policy. The …
The leaders of the 26 July Nigerien coup agreed on 13 August to hold direct talks with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) indicating that ECOWAS’s threat of military intervention has had some impact on the coup leaders. Tensions in West Africa have been elevated ever since Niger’s armed forces – led by …
Zimbabwe will hold its unified elections on 23 August when voters will cast ballots for the president, the legislature, and local councils. Zimbabwean elections have historically been marked by a fraught political environment with frequent outbreaks of violence and unrest. The 23 August poll is expected to be no different. Already, there have been multiple …
A week after the Wagner Group’s 24 June aborted insurrection against the Russian state questions remain about the future of the private military company (PMC) future and the consequences for the African states in which it operates. Over the past five years, the Wagner Group has become an established ‒ albeit controversial – security and …
On 6 June, protests about increased fuel prices and the Angolan Kwanza (AOA) depreciation broke out across the country. In Huambo Province, police fired on protesters with live ammunition, killing at least five people. In other areas, ranging from Zaire to Hulía, protesters were also brutally suppressed, despite the National Assembly passing the Bill on …
Several regional conflict incidents in Ethiopia in the past month have highlighted the country’s continued threat of fragmentation and sectarianist violence despite the November 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement which ostensibly ended the war in the country’s Tigray region. The peace accords ended a two-year war between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front …