<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.

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The Post-Apartheid Era Ends

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Old Leaders in a New Africa

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Israeli air defense systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv early on June 18, 2025. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: Israel-Iran Conflict Rages On, NATO Holds Annual Summit

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks to media during the closing press conference of the G7 Summit in Fasano, Italy, on June 15, 2024. 

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Italy is seeking to embed its Mattei Plan into EU policy to gain support for its immediate goals of energy security and migration control, but structural issues will likely limit Rome's long-term influence in Africa.

Italy Syncs Its Mattei Plan for Africa With EU Initiatives

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop hold a joint press conference following their meeting in Moscow, Russia, on May 20, 2022. 

While Russian military support to Mali is set to persist, the Sahelian country's security environment will likely continue to deteriorate amid jihadist groups' strong momentum.

What's Next for Mali as Russia's Wagner Group Pulls Out? 

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Rescue teams work at damaged buildings in Nobonyad Square following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. 

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The Weekly Rundown: G7 Leaders' Summit, More Israeli Attacks on Iran

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M23 fighters are seen at the main border crossing between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Goma on March 1, 2025.

Mediation efforts from the Trump administration will likely see the two African countries ink a peace deal in the coming months, but implementation will prove challenging, sustaining the risk of a new military escalation in eastern Congo.

U.S. Mediation Brings Congo and Rwanda Closer to a Peace Deal

A worker inspects an oil drilling platform located roughly 35 kilometers away from Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta. 

The recent drop in global oil prices risks exacerbating Nigeria's already high inflation, which would ripen socioeconomic conditions for protests and threaten to fuel recruitment by jihadist and bandit groups.

Can Nigeria Navigate Lower Oil Prices? 

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 21 during an official trip to the United States.

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A Gabonese brigade participates in a training exercise as part of a military program linked to the Franco-Gabonese partnership at the French military base Camp de Gaulle in Libreville on March 19, 2025. 

France's reduced influence in Africa will create space for local and foreign actors to take on greater leadership roles, but their inability to fill the security vacuum left by France's withdrawal would threaten to destabilize the region.

France, Africa and the Future, Part 2: The Age of Multi-Alignment 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sacked Andrew Whitfield, a member of the center-right Democratic Alliance, or DA, from his ministerial position without providing an explanation, Reuters reported on June 26.

South Africa: Ramaphosa Sacks DA Deputy Minister, but DA To Maintain Support for Budget 

Kenyan President William Ruto signed into law the Finance Bill 2025 and two other pieces of tax legislation, The Eastleigh Voice reported on June 26.

Kenya: Ruto Signs Finance Bill Into Law as Protest-Related Deaths Pile Up

Electoral Commission Chief of Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party Tanga Odoi said that President Yoweri Museveni would pick up expression of interest papers to retain his position as chairperson of the NRM Central Executive Committee and to run as the party's presidential candidate in Uganda's January 2026 general election on June 28, Monitor reported June 23.

Uganda: President Museveni to Run For a Seventh Term 

Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's army chief and the son of President Yoweri Museveni, threatened to "hunt down" Wazalendo militias, which support the Democratic Republic of the Congo's government, in possible joint Ugandan-Congolese operations unless they surrender, Actualite.cd reported on June 22.

Uganda, Congo: Ugandan Army Chief Threatens To 'Hunt' Congolese Pro-Government Militias

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Nigerien authorities announced that they would nationalize uranium mining company SOMAIR, a subsidiary of France's state-owned Orano that owns the country's only operating uranium mine, Reuters reported on June 20. 

Niger: Junta To Nationalize Subsidiary of France's Orano 

Technical teams from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda initialed the text of a draft peace agreement that both countries' foreign affairs ministers are due to sign on June 27, Radio France Internationale reported on June 19. 

Congo, Rwanda: Ministers Scheduled To Sign Peace Agreement on June 27

The CEO of French multinational energy company TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanne, said he expected the development of the $20 billion Mozambique LNG project to resume "this summer," Reuters reported on June 18.

Mozambique: TotalEnergies CEO Confirms Plan To Resume Work on Mozambique LNG 'This Summer' 

Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress, or APC, is facing rising internal tensions amid speculation that President Bola Tinubu is considering running mates other than Vice President Kashim Shettima for the 2027 general election, the Punch reported on June 17.

Nigeria: Ruling APC Faces Mounting Internal Tensions as Doubts Grow Over Tinubu's 2027 Running Mate

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

South Africa: Ramaphosa Sacks DA Deputy Minister, but DA To Maintain Support for Budget

Kenya: Ruto Signs Finance Bill Into Law as Protest-Related Deaths Pile Up

Uganda: President Museveni to Run For a Seventh Term

Uganda, Congo: Ugandan Army Chief Threatens To 'Hunt' Congolese Pro-Government Militias

Niger: Junta To Nationalize Subsidiary of France's Orano

Congo, Rwanda: Ministers Scheduled To Sign Peace Agreement on June 27

Mozambique: TotalEnergies CEO Confirms Plan To Resume Work on Mozambique LNG 'This Summer'

Nigeria: Ruling APC Faces Mounting Internal Tensions as Doubts Grow Over Tinubu's 2027 Running Mate

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