<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

Assessments

Supporters of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's ruling Sacred Union coalition gather at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa on April 29, 2023.

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

Amid instability in the east, election interference and disunity, the Congo's opposition parties will struggle to gain a foothold during the country's December general elections.

In Congo, President Tshisekedi Looks to Secure a Second Term

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Russia

OPEC headquarters on June 3, 2023, in Vienna. OPEC+ will meet Nov. 26 to decide whether to deepen production cuts.

Energy

Social Issues

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

The Weekly Rundown: Climate Negotiations at COP28, OPEC+ Meets Following an Oil Sell-off

Snapshots

South Sudanese military police officers sit on a pickup truck as they monitor the area during a deployment ceremony for South Sudan's unified forces at the Luri Military Training Center in Juba on Nov. 15, 2023. 

If a coup destabilizes South Sudan's fragile power-sharing government, the country could return to civil war.

Coup Rumors in South Sudan Highlight Continued Risk of Political Instability and Civil War 

Argentina

Taiwan

Netherlands

The presidential candidate for the Union por la Patria party, Sergio Massa (R), speaks next to the presidential candidate for the La Libertad Avanza party, Javier Milei, on Nov. 12, 2023, during a presidential debate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Argentina will hold the second round of its presidential election Nov. 19.

The Weekly Rundown: Argentina's Presidential Runoff, the Registration Deadline for the Taiwanese Presidential Race

Opposition supporters gather to protest the results of the local elections in Maputo, Mozambique, on Oct. 17, 2023.

Despite recent opposition protests, the ruling party will likely maintain its dominance in the general elections and beyond, bolstered by an influx of revenue from the expected resumption of a major LNG project.

Mozambique's Disputed Local Elections Offer a Preview for the 2024 National Ballot

United States

China

Spain

U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet Nov. 14, 2022, in Bali, Indonesia.

The Weekly Rundown: Xi and Biden at APEC, a Saudi Summit on Gaza

U.S.-China Relations

Columns

On Geopolitics

South Asia

Just as low- and lower-middle-income economies are experiencing peak distress, they are finding it harder to secure financing assurances and debt relief from official creditors.

The Politics of Developing Economy Debt Restructuring, Part 1

Opposition supporters attend a rally in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on Oct. 21, 2023, ahead of the country’s Nov. 16 presidential election.

President Rajoelina’s likely reelection on Nov. 16 portends limited mining sector reforms and a continuation of rampant corruption, poverty and crime in the East African island nation.

Previewing Madagascar's Presidential Election

Iran

Ukraine

Pakistan

Israeli tanks on the border with Lebanon on Oct. 26, 2023, in Israel amid the ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: A Possible Middle Eastern Escalation, an IMF Team Visits Pakistan

Media

Podcasts

What are the implications of ATMIS' withdrawal from Somalia?

Essential Geopolitics: Somalia's Security Outlook

Madagascar's Constitutional Court confirmed President Andry Rajoelina's reelection on Nov. 16 in response to a court challenge by the runner-up, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, BBC reported Dec. 1. 

Madagascar: Court Confirms President Rajoelina's Reelection

The National Bank of Ethiopia announced that the country had reached a $1.5 billion debt relief agreement with creditors, an interim measure as it seeks a broader financing package, The Africa Report reported on Nov. 30.

Ethiopia: Government Reaches $1.5 Billion Debt Relief Agreement

Europe

The European Union canceled its election observation mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to security concerns that rendered the mission "impossible," Reuters reported on Nov. 30. 

EU, Congo: Bloc Cancels Congo Election Observation Mission

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu presented the 27.5 trillion naira ($34.85 billion) 2024 budget to the National Assembly, Premium Times reported on Nov. 29.

Nigeria: President Presents 2024 Budget to National Assembly

Police and government officials in Sierra Leone labeled a coordinated series of attacks on military barracks and prisons on Nov. 26 as a failed coup attempt, Al Jazeera reported on Nov. 28.

Sierra Leone: Officials Label Attacks as Failed Coup Attempt

Kenya's high court ruled against a tax measure meant to fund President William Ruto's promise to build affordable housing, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 28.

Kenya: High Court Rules Against Ruto's Housing Tax

Madagascar's opposition presidential candidate Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, who received 14.4% of votes to incumbent President Andry Rajoelina's 58.95% of votes during the Nov. 16 election, filed lawsuits with the country's highest court to have the results of the allegedly fraudulent election overturned, AP reported on Nov. 28.  

Madagascar: Opposition Candidate Files Lawsuit Claiming Rajoelina's Victory Was Fraudulent

The East African Community trade bloc, or EAC, officially admitted Somalia as its eighth member, The EastAfrican reported on Nov. 25. 

Somalia: East African Community Admits Somalia as Eighth Member

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Madagascar: Court Confirms President Rajoelina's Reelection

Ethiopia: Government Reaches $1.5 Billion Debt Relief Agreement

EU, Congo: Bloc Cancels Congo Election Observation Mission

Nigeria: President Presents 2024 Budget to National Assembly

Sierra Leone: Officials Label Attacks as Failed Coup Attempt

Kenya: High Court Rules Against Ruto's Housing Tax

Madagascar: Opposition Candidate Files Lawsuit Claiming Rajoelina's Victory Was Fraudulent

Somalia: East African Community Admits Somalia as Eighth Member

Forecasts

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