Mozambique

Rwanda

South Africa

Energy

Military & Security

South Africa completed the withdrawal of its 1,500 troops deployed to Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado region as part of the Southern African Development Community's military mission in Mozambique, or SAMIM, Zitamar News reported on April 16. 

Mozambique: South Africa Completes Withdrawal From Cabo Delgado

Politics

South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission, or IEC, asked the Constitutional Court to provide clarity on the Electoral Court's ruling that allows former President Jacob Zuma to run on the Umkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party candidate list, Bloomberg reported on April 12.

South Africa: Electoral Commission Approaches Constitutional Court on Zuma Candidacy 

South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission, or IEC, demanded that the country's Electoral Court explain its decision to allow former President Jacob Zuma to run on the uMkhonto weSizwe party, or MK, list in the country's May 29 general election, the South African Broadcasting Corp. reported on April 10.

South Africa: Electoral Commission Requests Clarifications From Electoral Court in Zuma Case

Economics

South Africa's Electoral Court overturned the Electoral Commission's previous decision to disqualify former President Jacob Zuma from running in the May 29 parliamentary elections, Bloomberg reported on April 9.

South Africa: Electoral Court Overturns Former President Zuma's Election Disqualification

South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission disqualified former President Jacob Zuma and seven others from running in the upcoming general election scheduled on May 29, Independent Online reported on March 29.

South Africa: Ex-President Zuma Barred From Running in May Election

South Africa's Electoral Court dismissed demands by the ruling African National Congress, or ANC, party to unregister the uMkhonto weSizwe, or MK, party, The Independent reported on March 26.

South Africa: ANC Loses Court Bid To Unregister MK Party

South Africa's Electoral Court announced that it would reserve its judgment on whether the opposition uMkhonto weSizwe, or MK, party's registration was lawful, Independent Online reported on March 19.

South Africa: Electoral Court Delays Judgment on Lawfulness of MK Party's Registration 

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

South African utility company Rand Water warned in an emergency meeting that Gauteng province faced a potential breakdown in its water delivery system, Bloomberg reported on March 19.

South Africa: Rand Water Warns of Potential Collapse of Water Delivery System in Gauteng  

Assessments

United States

Turkey

China

Indonesia

Europe

An APK rally March 29, 2024, in Istanbul. Nationwide municipal elections occur March 31, in which the ruling AKP will likely try to regain the mayoralties of large cities including Ankara and Istanbul.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Turkish Municipal Elections, Blinken Goes to Europe

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan

Chad

Ghana

Senegal

Supporters of former South African President Jacob Zuma sing and chant in Tembisa, South Africa, during a recruitment drive for Zuma's newly launched uMkhonto we Sizwe party on Jan. 21, 2024.

Of the 13 countries holding elections this year, Senegal, South Africa, Chad, Ghana and South Sudan's ballots will likely be the most politically and economically impactful.

Previewing Sub-Saharan Africa's 2024 Elections

Columns

On Geopolitics

Burkina Faso

Mali

Niger

Argentina

Mexico

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Hong Kong SAR, China

Japan

South Korea

Taiwan

France

United Kingdom

Poland

Spain

Italy

Armenia

Ukraine

Azerbaijan

Russia

Bangladesh

India

Pakistan

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our successes and slip-ups in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2023 Annual Forecast

Ethiopia

Brazil

Egypt

Iran

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Belgium

Leaders at the closing day of the BRICS Summit on Aug. 24, 2023, in Johannesburg. On Jan. 1, BRICS will admit Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia after agreeing at an August summit to expand its membership.

The Weekly Rundown: Taiwan's Election Media Blackout, BRICS Expansion

Snapshots

Angola

Republic of the Congo

Zambia

U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with President Joao Lourenco of Angola during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 30, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

U.S.-China Relations

A new supply line could increase access to Central African mining exports and strengthen Western influence in the region, but several constraints stand in the way.

Washington's 'Flagship' Africa Project: A New Supply Line for Central African Mining Exports

Israeli tanks on the border with Lebanon on Oct. 26, 2023, in Israel amid the ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: A Possible Middle Eastern Escalation, an IMF Team Visits Pakistan

Zimbabwe

Ecuador

Guatemala

Supporters of Guatemalan presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo attend a campaign rally in the Central Square in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on Aug. 16, 2023. 

The Weekly Rundown: Lunar Landings, the BRICS Summit and a Host of Elections

From left to right, foreign officials from China, Brazil, South Africa, Russia and India (the five BRICS countries) hold a press conference in Cape Town on June 1, 2023, ahead of the bloc's summit in August. 

Internal divisions will slow plans for membership expansion and increased trade at the upcoming BRICS summit.

Internal Divisions Ensure BRICS' Expansion Will Remain Slow

Media

Sudan

Chile

Germany

Afghanistan

Podcasts

Cyber

Social Issues

What Q3 security risks should companies expect and prepare for?

Essential Geopolitics: An Overview of RANE's Q3 Forecast

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (center) delivers his 2023 state-of-the-nation address at the Cape Town City Hall on Feb. 9, 2023. 

The ruling party's waning support will limit its ability to enact structural economic reforms, portending persistently low growth through the 2024 election and beyond.

No End in Sight to South Africa's Economic Stagnation

What can people do to mitigate the impact of electricity cuts?

Essential Geopolitics: Anticipating the Fallout from South Africa's Electricity Crisis 

An attendant stands next to South African, Indian, Russian, Brazilian and Chinese flags during a BRICS summit in Xiamen, China, on Sept. 4, 2017. 

The addition of other non-Western nations like Saudi Arabia would boost BRICS’ economic and political heft as an alternative to the G-7, though it may come at the cost of the bloc’s internal cohesion.

For BRICS, More Members Would Mean More Power -- and More Problems

At the tip of the African continent lies South Africa. The country borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and also surrounds Lesotho and much of Swaziland. South Africa's current borders were consolidated by the British in 1910 as the Union of South Africa, following the Boer Wars between the United Kingdom and Dutch settlers.    The Drakensberg and Karoo mountains rim the coastlines, separating a dry interior from a coastal region, which captures the majority of the country's rainfall.    Two key factors distinguish South Africa from much of the rest of the continent. The country has a malaria-free climate, which attracted European settlers. It also has abundant mineral resources — including gold, diamonds, coal and platinum — in the north-central interior.    This mining area is the geographic core of South Africa — encompassing the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria and adjoining parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Free State provinces. This core is connected by road and rail to a series of ports — from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, to Durban and Richards Bay — that carry goods and resources to and from Gauteng.    The wealth generated there underwrites financial, agricultural, industrial and manufacturing activity in other parts of South Africa.    South Africa's geographic challenge is to protect the extraction of natural resources in its interior while striving to maintain sufficient employment. It must then find ways to disperse enough wealth to appease its populations in the Gauteng and peripheral zones of the country.

SITUATION REPORTS

Mozambique: South Africa Completes Withdrawal From Cabo Delgado

South Africa: Electoral Commission Approaches Constitutional Court on Zuma Candidacy

South Africa: Electoral Commission Requests Clarifications From Electoral Court in Zuma Case

South Africa: Electoral Court Overturns Former President Zuma's Election Disqualification

South Africa: Ex-President Zuma Barred From Running in May Election

South Africa: ANC Loses Court Bid To Unregister MK Party

South Africa: Electoral Court Delays Judgment on Lawfulness of MK Party's Registration

South Africa: Rand Water Warns of Potential Collapse of Water Delivery System in Gauteng

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