Africa Program

Conducting sustained, timely research and analysis on the major elements of U.S. policy toward Africa

4 Focus Areas 

 

Security and Governance. Africa’s security and governance landscape is constantly in flux, from military coups to civil war to violent non-state actors. The CSIS Africa Program anticipates how these factors underpin leadership transitions, public protests, and insurgencies, with implications for sub-Saharan African and international stakeholders. In particular, the program provides analysis on security trends including defense forces, reform programs, and bi- and multilateral cooperation. It also contextualizes constitutional and military coups against the backdrop of closing political and civic spaces across the region.

Climate Change and Conflict. Researchers have extensively studied climate change and its impact on the environment. With regard to Africa, however, more research is needed on the relationship between climate change, conflict, and security. How do droughts, flooding, desertification, and rising sea levels impact tensions between communities, e.g., herdsmen versus farmers in Nigeria, and water disputes between countries in the Horn of Africa? In Ethiopia, for example, the National Defense Forces launched their offensive on Tigray just as farmers were preparing for the teff planting season—disrupting the farming cycle and exacerbating food insecurity across the region. The CSIS Africa Program will deepen existing research by examining this fragile nexus.

Youth. Nearly 50 percent of Africa’s population is under the age of 18. In the long run, this youth bulge represents unlimited potential for economic and human development and leadership. In the short run, however, the demographic pressures exacerbate governance challenges and overwhelm public services. Consequently, Africa is experiencing a rise in public discontent, political contestation, and repression. Strong youth movements, such as Y’en a Marre (Senegal), Balai Citoyen (Burkina Faso), and LUCHA (DRC) have been at the forefront of the struggle for democratic change and better service delivery. The CSIS Africa Program is committed to analyzing youths’ role in African societies—from democratization to economic development to security— and investigating pathways for youths to gain greater access to policymaking.

The Strength of the Judiciary. In recent years, African judicial institutions have begun to counterbalance executive powers through processes like judicial reviews—spurring tension across the continent. Cases vary widely, from Malawi (where the Constitutional Court annulled results of the presidential election and ordered a run-off) to Benin (where long-independent courts are now facing challenges from the president). The CSIS Africa Program researches these trends, noting their impact on the rule of law and governance, and recommending potential solutions.
 

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Two Railroads, One Vision

The United States and China are seemingly backing rival railroads in the quest for critical minerals in southern Africa. CSIS senior adviser Judd Devermont, however, argues the future of these rails is connection, not competition.

Commentary by Judd Devermont — October 10, 2024

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Featured Podcast

Into Africa

Into Africa

Fearless music activists. Savvy tech entrepreneurs. Social disrupters. Into Africa shatters the narratives that dominate U.S. perceptions of Africa. Host Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Africa program director and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C., sits down with policymakers, journalists, academics and other trailblazers in African affairs to shine a spotlight on the faces spearheading cultural, political, and economic change on the continent.

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Featured Blog

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Baraza

The Baraza blog offers analysis on the stories, trends, and debates driving the African zeitgeist.

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Keeping the Embers Alive: Biden Reignites U.S.-Africa Relations with Kenyan State Visit

President Ruto's state visit symbolizes a partial fulfillment of a series of long-awaited commitments on U.S.-Africa relations from President Biden. Kenya and the United States will use this time to advance shared interests in trade, security, and global geopolitics.

Commentary by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Cameron Hudson, Khasai Makhulo, and Catherine Nzuki — May 10, 2024

Audio Briefs

Keeping the Embers Alive: Biden Reignites U.S.-Africa Relations with Kenyan State Visit

An audio version of “Keeping the Embers Alive: Biden Reignites U.S.-Africa Relations with Kenyan State Visit,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Cameron Hudson, Khasai Makhulo, and Catherine Nzuki. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Cameron Hudson, Khasai Makhulo, and Catherine Nzuki — May 10, 2024

Audio Briefs
Into Africa

The Twists and Turns of U.S.- Tanzania Bilateral Relations

Mvemba is joined by Ambassador Michael Battle, United States Ambassador to Tanzania, to discuss the history and current state of U.S.- Tanzania bilateral relations. Ambassador Battle shares his hopes of transformed US-Tanzania relations from an aid and development assistance model to a trade and investment model.

Podcast Episode by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele — May 2, 2024

CSIS Into Africa

The Twists and Turns of U.S.- Tanzania Bilateral Relations

Mvemba is joined by Ambassador Michael Battle, United States Ambassador to Tanzania, to discuss the history and current state of U.S.- Tanzania bilateral relations. Ambassador Battle shares his hopes of transformed US-Tanzania relations from an aid and development assistance model to a trade and investment model.

Transcript — May 2, 2024

Preventing Another Darfur Genocide

After a year of fighting in Sudan, El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, had been spared a direct hit. The city is now in the RSF's crosshairs, cut off by fighters preparing for an assault on the last Darfur city not under their control and risking new genocidal violence.

Critical Questions by Cameron Hudson — April 25, 2024

Into Africa

From a Jail Cell to the Presidential Palace

Hawa Ba, Director of Core Partners in Open Society Foundations, joins Mvemba to share her impressions from Senegal's tumultuous election.

Podcast Episode by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele — April 18, 2024

CSIS Into Africa