<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

Syria

France

Anti-riot police officers with dogs walk past burning barricades made by protesters in Maputo, Mozambique, on Nov. 7, 2024. 

Military & Security

Politics

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

The Weekly Rundown: A New French Government, a Ruling on Mozambique's Disputed Election

Media

Podcasts

What is the future trajectory of the peace process?

Essential Geopolitics: Implications of Cancelled Peace Talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

Cargo containers painted with Chinese and U.S. flags. Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

Cyber

Economics

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

2025 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

South Korea

Germany

Russia

A sign reading ''leader of insurgents'' on a photo of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's face is held up during a protest calling for Yoon's ouster in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 8, 2024. 

The Weekly Rundown: Putin's Annual Press Conference, Another Impeachment Vote in South Korea

Turkey

An illustration of the Ethiopian and Somali flags.

The countries’ commitment to negotiate maritime access reduces immediate conflict risks and could enable Ethiopia to secure leasing rights at Somali ports, but tensions will likely resurge if the two sides fail to finalize a deal.

Ethiopia and Somalia Crack Open the Door To Compromise on Maritime Access

Chart of stock market investment trading on blue background.

Economic coercion is becoming more prevalent in international politics, with certain countries leveraging their economic power to pursue political goals. 

Economic Power in International Politics

Iran

Protesters call for the ouster of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 6, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: An Impeachment Vote in South Korea, Syria's Government Wavers

A voter casts their ballot in a voting booth in Ghana in June 2020.

An opposition victory would likely see the new government prioritize boosting the manufacturing sector and easing fiscal consolidation, while a ruling party victory would raise the risk of post-election violence.

Previewing Ghana's General Elections

Global Elections

United States

China

Marshall Islands

Palau

Taiwan

Tuvalu

Sri Lanka

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.

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

Uruguay

Ukraine

Kazakhstan

The NATO symbol and flags of some member countries Oct. 18 in Brussels. The NATO-Ukraine Council will meet Nov. 26 to discuss Russia's first use of an experimental ballistic missile on Ukrainian territory, which on Nov. 21 Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed involved a new medium-range, hypersonic ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik."

The Weekly Rundown: A NATO-Ukraine Summit, Putin's State Visit to Kazakhstan

Ethiopia denied accusations by Somalia's federal government that Ethiopian security forces had conducted an "unprovoked" attack on Somali security forces in the border town of Dolow, Jubaland state, Addis Standard reported Dec.24.

Ethiopia, Somalia: Ethiopia Denies Accusations by Somalia of Attack on Border Town 

Federal chairperson of the center-right Democratic Alliance Helen Zille said that DA Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube would now formulate the norms, standards and guidelines that will determine the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Act's clauses 4 and 5 following South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement Dec. 20 that the law would be implemented in full, Independent Online reported Dec. 22.

South African: Democratic Alliance Signals Intent To Shape Education Bill Implementation

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso rejected proposals by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a six-month grace period following their formal departure from the regional bloc slated for Jan. 29 and stressed that their exit would take effect immediately, Bloomberg reported Dec. 22.

West Africa: Sahelian Juntas Reject ECOWAS's Grace Period

Mozambique Constitutional Council, the country's top court, ruled on Dec. 23 that presidential candidate Daniel Chapo of the ruling Frelimo party won the disputed Oct. 9 presidential election, officially confirming his victory over opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, Reuters reported Dec. 23. 

Mozambique: Constitutional Council Upholds Chapo's Victory in Disputed Election

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Tshisekedi pressed ahead with a major overhaul of the country's military leadership, Radio France Internationale reported on Dec. 19. 

Congo: President Tshisekedi Overhauls Military Leadership

Kenyan President William Ruto nominated several allies of former President Uhuru Kenyatta to key ministerial positions as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, Business Daily Africa reported on Dec. 19. 

Kenya: President Ruto Nominates Allies of Former President Kenyatta in Cabinet Reshuffle

South Africa's international relations minister, Ronald Lamola, and Mozambique's minister of interior, Pascoal Ronda, agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation to mitigate disruptions to trade between the two countries caused by Mozambique's postelection unrest, Daily Maverick reported on Dec. 18. 

South Africa, Mozambique: Ministers Vow Stronger Cooperation To Mitigate Trade Disruptions

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu presented a 49.7 trillion naira ($31.9 billion) 2025 budget to Nigeria's National Assembly, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 18. 

Nigeria: President Tinubu Presents 2025 Budget

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Ethiopia, Somalia: Ethiopia Denies Accusations by Somalia of Attack on Border Town

South African: Democratic Alliance Signals Intent To Shape Education Bill Implementation

West Africa: Sahelian Juntas Reject ECOWAS's Grace Period

Mozambique: Constitutional Council Upholds Chapo's Victory in Disputed Election

Congo: President Tshisekedi Overhauls Military Leadership

Kenya: President Ruto Nominates Allies of Former President Kenyatta in Cabinet Reshuffle

South Africa, Mozambique: Ministers Vow Stronger Cooperation To Mitigate Trade Disruptions

Nigeria: President Tinubu Presents 2025 Budget

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