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.

Sub-Saharan Africa

<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

2017 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

2017 Third-Quarter Forecast

2017 Second-Quarter Forecast

Central African Republic

Equatorial Guinea

Madagascar

Mali

South Africa

Sudan

Uganda

Zimbabwe

Russia

Libya

Echoes of the Cold War

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

The Guardian has reportedly obtained documents revealing Russian influence efforts in Africa, the British paper reported June 11.

Russia: Leaked Documents Detail Russian Campaign for Influence in Africa

Russian political operatives attempted to bribe multiple Malagasy presidential candidates in the island country's 2018 election, the BBC reported April 8.

Madagascar: Russian Operatives Reportedly Bribed Presidential Candidates

Drought conditions in southern Madagascar are causing major food shortages, leaving hundreds of thousands of people hungry and raising the risk of widespread famine, U.N. agencies said Oct. 20, Reuters reported. 

Madagascar: Drought Causes Major Food Shortages In South

Politics

Malagasy Prime Minister Jean Ravelonarivo and his entire Cabinet resigned on April 8, an official in Madagascar's presidential office announced, Reuters reported. 

Madagascar: Prime Minister, Cabinet Step Down

South Sudan

Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Cabo Verde

Chad

Comoros

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Djibouti

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Malawi

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Somalia

Eswatini

Tanzania

Togo

Zambia

Americas

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Barbados

Belize

Bolivia

Brazil

Canada

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Suriname

Bahamas

Trinidad and Tobago

United States

Uruguay

Venezuela

Greenland

Jamaica

Asia-Pacific

Australia

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

China

Timor-Leste

Federated States of Micronesia

Fiji

Indonesia

Japan

Kiribati

Laos

Malaysia

Marshall Islands

Eurozone

Economics and Finance

Energy

After two weeks of negotiations, representatives of nearly 200 countries have approved the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the extent of climate change in the coming decades, The Telegraph reported Dec. 12.

France: Delegates Approve Paris Climate Change Deal

The government of Madagascar's Prime Minister Roger Kolo has resigned amid heavy public criticism over power outages and living conditions, Bloomberg reported Jan. 13.

Madagascar: Government Resigns Amid Criticism

Madagascar is battling to contain an outbreak of a plague, which was first identified in August, and has killed 47 people, AFP reported Nov. 26. 

Madagascar: Plague Kills 47 As Outbreak Spreads To Capital

Former President of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana was placed under house arrest after returning to the country from exile, RFI reported Oct. 13.

Madagascar: Former President Under House Arrest

Afghanistan

Algeria

Luxembourg

A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Armenia

Bahrain

Lithuania

Egypt

Maldives

Malta

Ukraine

India

Iran

North Macedonia

Tajikistan

Bhutan

Germany

Iraq

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.

Finland

Israel

Nepal

Georgia

Jordan

Pakistan

Mir Castle in the Minsk region of Belarus.

Kuwait

Liechtenstein

Sri Lanka

Latvia

Lebanon

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Czech Republic

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

Denmark

Moldova

Oman

Palestinian Territories

Holy See (Vatican City)

Qatar

Greece

Saudi Arabia

France

Mongolia

Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean located just off the coast of southeast Africa. Its neighbors include Mozambique to the west, the Comoros islands and France's Mayotte Department to the northwest, and Mauritius and France's Reunion Island to the east. The island is principally known for its rich biodiversity.    Due to Madagascar's geographic location, its population contains a mix of cultures. Those in the largest ethnic group, known as the Merina, are actually predominantly Malayo-Indonesians who arrived in boats many centuries ago by utilizing the winds of the Indian Ocean. Following the Merina, groups from the African mainland and Arab traders eventually settled on the island. At the end of the 19th century, French colonial expansion came to the island, lasting until its independence in 1960.    Since gaining independence, Madagascar has struggled to achieve political stability and economic growth. At times this struggle has taken on an ethnic dimension. The Merina control the highlands, including the capital city of Antananarivo, and have clashed with other groups on the island. There are also tensions with immigrants from the Comoros. Managing the cultural and ethnic diversity remains one of country's principal challenges. Additionally, as one of the poorest countries in the world, Madagascar suffers a dearth of infrastructure and must grapple with the devastating impact of seasonal cyclones and hurricanes.    In terms of foreign relations, Madagascar has historically leaned on former colonizer, France, for support. Nevertheless, given its island status, it has also exercised an ability to balance international interest. Over the years, it has strengthened ties to North Korea, China, the United States, the Republic of South Africa and others.

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Media

Graphics

Paris Agreement Emphasizes Shift Away From Oil

The pace of the transition will be decided by how quickly new technologies reach the developing world.

Economics

Assessments

Delegates attend a plenary session at the U.N. climate change summit in Paris on Dec. 9.

The agreement signed Dec. 12 in Paris is just a small part of a broader energy transition driven by technological change.

SITUATION REPORTS

Russia: Leaked Documents Detail Russian Campaign for Influence in Africa

Madagascar: Russian Operatives Reportedly Bribed Presidential Candidates

Madagascar: Drought Causes Major Food Shortages In South

Madagascar: Prime Minister, Cabinet Step Down

France: Delegates Approve Paris Climate Change Deal

Madagascar: Government Resigns Amid Criticism

Madagascar: Plague Kills 47 As Outbreak Spreads To Capital

Madagascar: Former President Under House Arrest

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