Kenya

Economics

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

Haiti

Military & Security

Politics

Kenya's National Assembly approved a contentious government proposal to send approximately 1,000 police to Haiti in a bid to quell gang violence, BBC News Africa reported on Nov. 16.

Kenya: Parliament Approves Deployment of Police to Haiti

The Kenyan government will make an early $300 million payment in December against the country's $2 billion eurobond that matures in June 2024, Reuters reported on Nov. 9.

Kenya: Government to Pay Back Part of Eurobond in December

The High Court of Kenya extended an order blocking the planned deployment of Kenyan police to lead a U.N. Security Council-approved multinational security mission to combat gang violence in Haiti, AP reported Oct. 24.

Haiti: Kenyan Court Extends Block on Plan to Deploy Police to Haiti

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Kenya issued a statement warning Kenyans that Islamist groups like al Shabaab might carry out solidarity attacks with Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas to remain relevant amid the evolving Israel-Gaza war, The EastAfrican reported on Oct. 12.

Kenya: Government Warns of Solidarity Attacks Over Israel-Hamas War

Kenya started talks with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other development institutions over a new loan to help it cover a $2 billion eurobond maturing in June 2024, The EastAfrican reported on Oct. 11.

Kenya: Government Opens Talks With IMF, World Bank on Eurobond Repayment

The U.N. Security Council approved a resolution authorizing the one-year deployment of a multinational force to Haiti to help the country combat gang violence, The New York Times reported on Oct. 2.

Haiti: U.N. Security Council Approves Deployment of Multinational Force to Haiti

China

Russia

In a speech at the U.N. General Assembly, Kenyan President William Ruto called on the U.N. Security Council to formally back a security support mission to Haiti, Reuters reported on Sept. 21.

Haiti: Kenyan President Calls U.N. to Approve Security Deployment to Haiti

Assessments

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

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

United States

Turkey

Indonesia

Ukraine

India

Vehicles drive past the logo of the G-20 Summit on Aug. 10, 2023, in New Delhi.

Environment, Science & Technology

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Science & Technology

The Weekly Rundown: The Africa Climate Summit, the G-20 Summit in New Delhi

Columns

On Geopolitics

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan

Burundi

Central African Republic

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Mali

Mozambique

Nigeria

South Africa

Sudan

Tanzania

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. 

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

Incoming Kenyan President William Ruto lifts a sword at the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani in Nairobi, Kenya, during his inauguration ceremony on Sept. 13, 2022.

Ruto is unlikely to mitigate the East African country's cost of living crisis in his first 100 days as promised, which will impede his government's ability to carry out fiscal consolidation measures to ensure debt sustainability.

Kenya's New President Will Struggle to Fulfill His Pledge of Quick Economic Relief

Chile

Europe

United Kingdom

A moving van at No. 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the prime minister of the United Kingdom, on Sept. 2, 2022, in central London. The governing Conservative Party will announce the winner of its leadership contest Sept. 5, and Queen Elizabeth II will appoint the new Conservative leader as British prime minister Sept. 6.

The Weekly Rundown: A New British Prime Minister, a New Chilean Charter

A supporter of Kenyan presidential candidate Raila Odinga gestures past a fire during a protest in Nairobi on Aug. 15, 2022, after William Ruto was declared the winner of the country's recent presidential race. 

Losing candidate Raila Odinga’s rejection of the results and accusations of foul play will undermine the legitimacy of what was one of the most peaceful votes in the country’s history.

Amid Fraud Allegations, Kenya's Presidential Election Risks Ending in Violence

Media

Senegal

Podcasts

The results of Kenya's and Senegal's widely anticipated elections could mean future economic and legislative uncertainty.

Essential Geopolitics: What's Happening With Elections in Kenya and Senegal?  

Rwanda

Colombia

Taiwan

A Chinese military vessel on Aug. 5, 2022, sails off Pingtan Island, Fujian province, one of mainland China's closest points to Taiwan. Beijing is likely to continue rolling out new methods of economic coercion against U.S. and Taiwanese companies in the coming week.

U.S.-China Relations

The Weekly Rundown: Colombia's President Takes Office, China Coerces Taiwan

Kenya's former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka delivers a speech during an Azimio La Umoja party (One Kenya Coalition Party) campaign rally in Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu on Aug. 4 ahead of the country's general election.

To avoid an economically devastating default, whoever wins the Aug. 9 vote will likely be forced to abandon social spending commitments and pursue fiscal consolidation and/or debt restructuring.

How a New President Will Impact Kenya's Debt Sustainability

What to look for as Kenya's Aug. 9 election approaches.

Essential Geopolitics: Kenya's 2022 Election. A Recipe for Unrest?

Snapshots

Raila Odinga (center left) shakes the hand of his newly announced running mate, Martha Karua, (center right), on May 16, 2022, in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

The selections do not reduce the potential for post-election unrest, especially in the event of a close or contested vote. 

Kenya's Presidential Candidates Select Their Running Mates

A construction worker adds gravel to the tracks of a section of the new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Nairobi, Kenya, in June 2018. 

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

Reducing public spending and renegotiating the debt racked up by current President Kenyatta's infrastructure projects will prove difficult, raising the risk of a default in the long term.

Kenya's Next President Will Inherit an Unsustainable Debt Burden

Kenya hugs the Indian Ocean coast just to the southwest of the Horn of Africa. Its neighbors South Sudan and Ethiopia border it to the north, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south and Uganda to the west. Kenya’s position in East Africa has long drawn interest from outsiders. The territory of modern-day Kenya and its neighbors has been home to robust Indian Ocean trading networks that date to antiquity. This geographic proximity to global trade combined with the broader Lake Victoria region’s strengths &mdash; which include relative cultural homogeneity and advantageous terrain for agricultural development &mdash; helped to yield stable population and economic growth.    Since it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1963, Kenya has struggled at times to manage its diverse ethnic populations. This has resulted in intermittent riots and other forms of unrest related to grievances of various ethnic groups that believed that they were disenfranchised from the country’s political system. Post-electoral violence in 2007-08 and again in 2017 stemmed largely from Nairobi’s mismanagement of its ethnic divisions.    Nevertheless, Kenya occupies the center of gravity in East Africa. Despite Ethiopia’s massive population advantage and economic growth, it remains relatively isolated when compared with Kenya. That allows Kenya to serve as a center for East Africa’s trade, business, security and diplomatic efforts. It also remains a robust supporter of the East African Community, which is fostering closer economic and political ties among Kenya’s neighbors.    Somalia's collapse and its struggles with state-building and militancy, especially the al Shabaab group, has spawned effects that spill over its border with Kenya. Ethnic Somalis &mdash; both refugees and Kenyan citizens &mdash; have pursued an uneasy existence on Kenya's northern coast and in various camps around Nairobi. This has posed a significant challenge for Nairobi to manage, especially as the security situation in Somalia shows no signs of dramatically improving in the years ahead.

SITUATION REPORTS

Kenya: High Court Rules Against Ruto's Housing Tax

Kenya: Parliament Approves Deployment of Police to Haiti

Kenya: Government to Pay Back Part of Eurobond in December

Haiti: Kenyan Court Extends Block on Plan to Deploy Police to Haiti

Kenya: Government Warns of Solidarity Attacks Over Israel-Hamas War

Kenya: Government Opens Talks With IMF, World Bank on Eurobond Repayment

Haiti: U.N. Security Council Approves Deployment of Multinational Force to Haiti

Haiti: Kenyan President Calls U.N. to Approve Security Deployment to Haiti

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