<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

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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

Assessments

Russia

Members of the Unity for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) rebel group gather at the DDR (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration) site in Maloum, the Central African Republic, on July 24. 2025.

Military & Security

Politics

The dissolution of key rebel groups and the reintegration of ex-fighters could stabilize the country after years of conflict, but the process will remain fragile amid funding challenges and potential attacks from non-signatories.

Central African Republic's New Peace Deal Holds Promise, but Challenges Persist

Columns

On Geopolitics

United Arab Emirates

Shipping containers are offloaded from a vessel at Berbera Port in Somaliland on Aug. 31, 2021.   (ED RAM/AFP via Getty Images)

Economics

The UAE is expanding its influence across East Africa through large-scale investments and security partnerships, aiming to consolidate its status as a global trade hub and counter regional competitors, at the risk of entangling regional states in broader geopolitical contests.

The UAE's Long Game in East Africa

A Tigrayan flag waves at the entrance of a hospital in Tigray's regional capital, Mekele, on Oct. 10, 2024. 

The ruling TPLF's apparent rapprochement with Eritrea and the rise of anti-TPLF groups are raising the risk of an Ethiopian-Eritrean proxy conflict in Tigray that could eventually spur a larger military escalation.

Ethiopia's Tigray Region Faces a Brewing Storm Amid Shifting Alliances

Media

Podcasts

What does the country's latest corruption scandal mean for President Cyril Ramaphosa and South African politics? 

Essential Geopolitics: The Outlook for South Africa's Coalition Government

Snapshots

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara arrives at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium on June 22, 2025, in Abidjan. 

President Ouattara's decision to seek a fourth term in Cote d'Ivoire's upcoming election, amid leading opposition candidates' inability to run, is fueling rising political tensions and increasing the risk of a post-election crisis.

Cote d'Ivoire Gears Up for a Heated Election Season 

United States

China

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Philippines

 The European Union and China will hold a high-level leaders' summit July 24 in Beijing, marking the 50th anniversary of Chinese-EU diplomatic 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: An EU-China Summit, South Africa's Budget Vote

U.S.-China Relations

A demonstrator holds a Kenyan flag on a street in Nairobi, Kenya, during a pro-democracy protest on July 7, 2025. 

Growing anger over Ruto's economic policies and crackdown on dissent will hinder his efforts to reduce Kenya's fiscal deficit and portend recurring bouts of violent and disruptive protests.

No End in Sight to Kenya's Cycle of Deadly Protests

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.

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

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. 

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

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Europe

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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

France

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to "strengthen" and "renew" relations between France and Senegal following a bilateral meeting in Paris, Radio France Internationale reported on Aug. 28. 

Senegal: Faye Indicates Plans To Strengthen Relationship With France Following Meeting With Macron

Tanzania's electoral commission announced that it would not allow the opposition ACT-Wazalendo party's presidential candidate, Luhaga Mpina, to run in the country's Oct. 29 general election, Reuters reported on Aug. 27.

Tanzania: President Hassan Locks Presidential Race as ACT-Wazalendo Flagbearer Barred From Running

On the night of Aug. 24-25, unidentified armed men from neighboring Burkina Faso attacked the Ivorian border town of Difita in Tehini department, marking the first deadly assault in Cote d'Ivoire linked to jihadist activity since 2021, Jeune Afrique reported on Aug. 26. 

Cote d'Ivoire: Four Killed and One Missing in Attack Near Burkinabe Border

Libya

The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, announced plans to activate a 260,000-strong counterterrorism force to address insecurity in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel, Daily Trust reported on Aug. 26.

West Africa: Regional Bloc To Mobilize Counterterrorism Force

Somalia's federal government and a faction of the opposition within the Somali Salvation Forum reached an agreement on the 2026 elections, RFI reported on Aug. 26.

Somalia: President and Some Opposition Leaders Reach Agreement on Upcoming Elections

Brazil

Energy

Nigeria and Brazil signed five memorandums of understanding to strengthen cooperation in sectors such as trade, science and finance following a meeting between Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Business Day reported on Aug. 26.

Nigeria: Tinubu Expands Economic Cooperation With Brazil, Hints at 'Imminent Return' of Petrobras 

Ahead of the planned 2026 elections, the Somali federal government warned opposition figures that any attempt at armed rebellion in the capital, Mogadishu, would be met with force, Garowe Online reported on Aug. 24.

Somalia: Government Threatens Crackdown on Opposition

Mozambican Defense Minister Cristovao Artur Chume is leading a delegation of high-ranking Mozambican defense officials to Rwanda for three days, during which he has already met with his counterpart, Juvenal Marizamunda, Club of Mozambique reported on Aug. 25.

Mozambique: Defense Minister's Trip to Rwanda Highlights Strengthening Security Partnership 

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Senegal: Faye Indicates Plans To Strengthen Relationship With France Following Meeting With Macron

Tanzania: President Hassan Locks Presidential Race as ACT-Wazalendo Flagbearer Barred From Running

Cote d'Ivoire: Four Killed and One Missing in Attack Near Burkinabe Border

West Africa: Regional Bloc To Mobilize Counterterrorism Force

Somalia: President and Some Opposition Leaders Reach Agreement on Upcoming Elections

Nigeria: Tinubu Expands Economic Cooperation With Brazil, Hints at 'Imminent Return' of Petrobras

Somalia: Government Threatens Crackdown on Opposition

Mozambique: Defense Minister's Trip to Rwanda Highlights Strengthening Security Partnership

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