Rafiq Raji is a research fellow at the NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies at Nanyang Business School in Singapore. A former Africa economist at Standard Chartered in London, Dr. Raji is an editorial contributor to the Africa coverage of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), as well as an associate research fellow with the Africa programme at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) in Milan. A former senior correspondent with London-based New African and African Banker magazines, Dr. Raji has written for African Business, Forbes Africa, BusinessDay, and Africa Investor publications and has been interviewed by Al Jazeera, CNBC Africa, TRT World, and the BBC Radio World Service. Dr. Raji has a PhD in financial economics from Wits Business School at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and an MBA from Lagos Business School in Nigeria.

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Experts React: The Challenges and Opportunities for the Trump Administration in Africa

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump will begin his second term as U.S. president. CSIS Africa Program experts highlight opportunities to strengthen U.S.-Africa relations through green industrialization, strategic partnerships, good governance, and country-focused engagement.

Commentary by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Laird Treiber, Rafiq Raji, Jon Temin, Saleh Bala, Cameron Hudson, Emilia Columbo, Ryan Cummings, and Will Brown — January 13, 2025

African Fintech Is Booming despite Challenges

Though cash remains critical in day-to-day African market activities, the space for payment digitization and fintech capital is rapidly expanding with the aid of policy instruments like AfCFTA and PAPSS on the continent.

Commentary by Rafiq Raji — December 8, 2022

What to Watch in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022

The CSIS Africa Program previews some of the top stories and trends in the region for 2022.

Commentary by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, William Mark Bellamy, Hannah Ryder , Laird Treiber, Emilia Columbo, Will Brown, Rafiq Raji, Ryan Cummings, Maria E. Burnett, and Marielle Harris — January 20, 2022

What to Watch in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2021

From escalating conflicts in Ethiopia and Mozambique to a China-Africa relationship characterized by vaccine distribution and debt forgiveness, the CSIS Africa Program previews some of the top stories to watch in sub-Saharan Africa in 2021.

Commentary by Yemi Adamolekun, Lina Benabdallah, and Will Brown, Maria E. Burnett, Emilia Columbo, Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Hilary Matfess, Rafiq Raji, Jon Temin, Laird Treiber, Judd Devermont, Marielle Harris, Kyle Murphy — January 12, 2021

Covid-19 and Ghana’s December Elections

How is Covid-19 playing out in Ghana? Senior Associate Rafiq Raji outlines the government’s response to the virus, implications for general elections scheduled for December, and ways in which international partners can support Accra.

Critical Questions by Rafiq Raji — August 26, 2020