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On Geopolitics

Sub-Saharan Africa

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Burundi

Central African Republic

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

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Mali

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Nigeria

South Africa

Sudan

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Zimbabwe

Women sit under U.N.-branded cardboard boxes in Semera, Ethiopia, on Feb. 14, 2022, as they wait to be registered by the authorities at a hotel compound hosting civilians fleeing violence. 

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

Social Issues

GBV is often primarily seen as a women’s and human rights issue. But in sub-Saharan Africa, it is also a key constraint to stable (and democratic) governance, economic growth, and lasting peace.

The Geopolitics of Gender-Based Violence in Africa

Assessments

Rwanda

Uganda

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, speaks during the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Feb. 5, 2022.

East African Integration

Congo's ports will grant the East African Community access to the Atlantic Ocean, but the country's overall poor infrastructure and security will limit the volume of trade with other bloc members. 

How Congo's EAC Membership Will Alter Trade in East Africa

Security

Cuba

El Salvador

United States

Venezuela

China

Myanmar

North Korea

Europe

Russia

Iran

Iraq

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the situation in Myanmar following the recent military coup in Washington D.C. on Feb. 10, 2021. 

Energy

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

Globalization

Coping With a Nuclear North Korea

Russia's Internal Struggle

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Amid talk of new U.S. sanctions on Myanmar and Russia, we review what factors make such penalties most effective in actually altering a country’s behavior.

Reviewing the Role and Effectiveness of Sanctions

U.S.-China Relations

Venezuela's Unraveling

Iran's Arc of Influence

2020 Second-Quarter Forecast

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.

<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>

2020 Annual Forecast

2019 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

2019 Third-Quarter Forecast

2019 Second-Quarter Forecast

2019 Annual Forecast

2018 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

2018 Second-Quarter Forecast

2018 Annual Forecast

Two East African presidents on Nov. 11 condemned a decision by the International Criminal Court to open a war crimes investigation into Burundi, saying it undermined regional peace initiatives, Reuters reported.

Uganda, Tanzania: East African Presidents Condemn Burundi War Crimes Investigation

Canada

Chile

Mexico

Peru

Australia

Japan

Malaysia

New Zealand

Singapore

Vietnam

Negotiators from the 11 remaining countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact began talks in Tokyo on Sept. 21 to discuss freezing parts of the proposed deal that had been introduced by the United States, Mainichi reported.

Japan: Remaining TPP Members Resume Discussion On How To Move Forward Without The U.S.

Congolese forces have shot and killed at least 18 Burundian refugees near Burundi's border, officials said Sept. 16, AP reported.

Congo: Military Forces Kill At Least 18 Burundi Refugees, U.N. Says

Terrorism and Security

South African International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane submitted an official Instrument of Withdrawal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Oct. 19 signaling its intention to leave the Netherlands-based body, News 24 reported Oct. 21.

South Africa: Government Withdraws From International Criminal Court

Burundi's parliament voted on Oct. 12 to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), with the vast majority of lawmakers voting in favor of the move, Reuters reported. 

Burundi: Parliament Votes To Withdraw From ICC

A panel of U.N. human rights experts warned about the rising use of torture and sexual violence by security forces in Burundi, as the country continues to face lasting unrest in which hundreds of people have been killed, AP reported Aug. 12. 

Burundi: U.N. Warns Of Rising Torture, Sexual Violence

Burundi's government has rejected a recent U.N. Security Council decision to deploy nearly 300 U.N. police officers in the face of lasting unrest in the country, BBC reported Aug. 3. 

Burundi: Government Rejects Planned U.N. Deployment

A man dressed in military fatigues carried out a grenade attack in the northern Burundian city of Ngozi, a local government official said, AP reported June 14. 

Burundi: Grenade Attack Carried Out In President's Hometown

Afghanistan

Algeria

Antigua and Barbuda

Luxembourg

A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Angola

Argentina

Armenia

Bahrain

Lithuania

Barbados

Benin

Egypt

Maldives

Malta

Ukraine

Belize

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Brunei Darussalam

India

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Tajikistan

Bhutan

Bolivia

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Germany

The President palace in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

The administrative center of the Gakh region of Azerbaijan, located at the foot of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, on the river Kurhumchai.

Brazil

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Pakistan

Mir Castle in the Minsk region of Belarus.

Cabo Verde

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Fiji

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chad

Costa Rica

Indonesia

Libya

Comoros

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A horse grazes in front of Kara-Kul lake in the Chon-Ak-Suu valley, 300 kilometers southeast of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Morocco

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Dominica

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Oman

Dominican Republic

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Palestinian Territories

Djibouti

Ecuador

Holy See (Vatican City)

Qatar

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Greece

Marshall Islands

Saudi Arabia

Eritrea

France

Grenada

Mongolia

A small, landlocked country in Africa, Burundi is bordered by Rwanda to the north, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and Tanzania to the east and south.    Since gaining independence from Belgium in 1962, Burundi has struggled with internal ethnic divides similar to those of Rwanda. These divides are Burundi's greatest challenge, and cycles of ethnic violence have often broken out between the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi ethnic groups. Relatedly, the country's turn toward authoritarian rule under President Pierre Nkurunziza in recent years has been, in part, an attempt to consolidate power in Hutu hands at the expense of Tutsis. Burundi's geographic proximity and ethnic ties to neighboring Rwanda have provided an additional challenge for its rulers, as they must manage relations with the country's wealthier and significantly more powerful neighbor. On top of that, the security issued in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo have heaped problems on Bujumbura, Burundi's capital, as militant groups have taken refuge in the vast territories beyond Burundi's borders.     Because of its links to the Great Lakes region, Burundi has tried to hop on the bandwagon of regional integration with the East African Community. However, Burundi has largely failed to capitalize on the development happening in Rwanda, and its long-running political problems have made efforts to connect it to regional infrastructure less attractive. This lack of regional integration poses a significant problem for Burundi, which has high import and export costs because of its landlocked position. 

Female

Male

Snapshots

Somalia

The Jihadist Wars

Al Shabaab militia staged a deadly attack on a military base outside Mogadishu, underlining how difficult it will be to keep the peace in Somalia after African Union forces leave.

Somalia: The Fight Against Jihadists Takes Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

The Untapped Potential of Lake Victoria

Despite the region's natural advantages, it has never become a center of geopolitical power.

If Burundi follows through with its threat, it would deal a significant blow to the mission, which draws about a quarter of its force from the country.

Burundi: Government Orders Troops to Withdraw From AMISOM

Senior U.S. officials say al Shabaab is included under a law authorizing military force against terrorist organizations linked to 9/11 attacks.

 Somalia: U.S. Increases Authority to Attack Militant Group

SITUATION REPORTS

Uganda, Tanzania: East African Presidents Condemn Burundi War Crimes Investigation

Japan: Remaining TPP Members Resume Discussion On How To Move Forward Without The U.S.

Congo: Military Forces Kill At Least 18 Burundi Refugees, U.N. Says

South Africa: Government Withdraws From International Criminal Court

Burundi: Parliament Votes To Withdraw From ICC

Burundi: U.N. Warns Of Rising Torture, Sexual Violence

Burundi: Government Rejects Planned U.N. Deployment

Burundi: Grenade Attack Carried Out In President's Hometown

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