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South Africa Votes: Can Local Elections Rebuild Trust?

South Africa's local government elections may be municipal contests, but the stakes are national. As South Africa prepares for its first nationwide electoral test since the ANC lost its parliamentary majority and entered coalition government at the national level, voters are weighing frustration over poor public services, coalition instability, and confidence in democratic institutions.  

In this episode of Into Africa, Oge Onubogu is joined by Daryl Swanepoel and Gemima Barlow to explore what is at stake in the elections, how electoral integrity and public trust are evolving, and what the results may reveal about the future of South African democracy. They also examine whether greater political competition can produce better governance, how disinformation is reshaping the electoral landscape, and why these local elections matter far beyond South Africa's borders. 

Podcast Episode by Oge Onubogu — October 22, 2026

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Noam Unger

Noam Unger

Vice President, Global Development Department, Director, Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative and Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development
Hadeil Ali

Hadeil Ali

Chief of Staff, Global Development Department
Romina Bandura

Romina Bandura

Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development
Caitlin Welsh

Caitlin Welsh

Director, Global Food and Water Security Program

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Into Africa

South Africa Votes: Can Local Elections Rebuild Trust?

South Africa's local government elections may be municipal contests, but the stakes are national. As South Africa prepares for its first nationwide electoral test since the ANC lost its parliamentary majority and entered coalition government at the national level, voters are weighing frustration over poor public services, coalition instability, and confidence in democratic institutions.  

In this episode of Into Africa, Oge Onubogu is joined by Daryl Swanepoel and Gemima Barlow to explore what is at stake in the elections, how electoral integrity and public trust are evolving, and what the results may reveal about the future of South African democracy. They also examine whether greater political competition can produce better governance, how disinformation is reshaping the electoral landscape, and why these local elections matter far beyond South Africa's borders. 

Podcast Episode by Oge Onubogu — October 22, 2026

Photo: CSIS

Unpacking the Data Center Backlash with Jasmine Sun

In this episode of the AI Policy Podcast, Wadhwani AI Center director Aalok Mehta is joined by writer Jasmine Sun for a conversation about nationwide backlash to the AI infrastructure buildout.

Event — October 8, 2026

Into Africa

Nigeria 2027: Can Nigerians Trust the 2027 Election?

Oge Onubogu is joined by Samson Itodo to discuss Nigeria’s electoral landscape and the governance deficit at the heart of many of its challenges.

Podcast Episode by Oge Onubogu — September 10, 2026

Photo: CSIS

Bridging the Gap: LEO Satellite Internet and Human Rights

Low Earth orbit satellite internet holds tremendous promise for keeping government functioning and civil society connected in the direst of circumstances, but it must be harnessed for the public good and evade continued authoritarian efforts to fully shut off the internet.

Critical Questions by Andrew Friedman — August 6, 2026

Red Kraken: The Coming Age of Agentic Cyber Strategy

In a tabletop exercise, members of Congress faced Red Kraken, an AI agent trained to emulate Beijing. Benjamin Jensen and Emily Harding examine how China could target ports and logistics to delay U.S. mobilization and argue for AI-enabled gaming to strengthen cyber defenses.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen and Emily Harding — July 28, 2026

The Vatican Just Outmaneuvered Washington on AI

The Vatican’s AI intervention exposes Washington’s blind spot: Policymakers are debating hypothetical doomsday scenarios while missing the real crises already reshaping human dignity, work, truth, and power. Washington must move beyond abstract AGI fears and build a civil society dialogue on human dignity, supply chains, truth, and statecraft.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen — May 26, 2026