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Africa in Transition

Michelle Gavin, Ebenezer Obadare, and other experts track political and security developments across sub-Saharan Africa.

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A member of the South African National Defence Force works on a tanker ahead of a ceremony to commemorate the International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers at at De Brug military base in Bloemfontein, South Africa on May 29, 2023.
A member of the South African National Defence Force works on a tanker ahead of a ceremony to commemorate the International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers at at De Brug military base in Bloemfontein, South Africa on May 29, 2023. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

When Non-Intervention Becomes a Dogma

Sometimes the only thing worse than foreign intervention is non-intervention. Read More

Nigeria
The Ride of Their Lives
More than a mere automobile, the sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Nigeria is rich in social meaning.
Religion
A King and His Subjects
The relationship between a Nigerian pastor on death row and his congregation offers a timely glimpse into the nature of devotion and social obedience across African Pentecostal churches. 
Chad
Chad’s “Democratic” Transition
In assessing Chad’s upcoming elections, the junta’s actions should speak louder than their words.    
  • Guinea
    Guinea’s Junta Feels the Heat
    As external actors seem to lessen pressure on West Africa’s juntas, Guineans register their discontent with military governance.
  • Nigeria
    The Case Against Military Rule
    Nigeria needs a change of direction, not a change of government.  
  • Nigeria
    A Tragedy Sixty-Four Years in the Making
    The crisis in Nigeria offers a rare opportunity to rethink the moral foundations of the Nigerian state.
  • Sudan
    United States Lacks Strategic Clarity on the Horn of Africa
    The recent flurry of congressional and executive attention on Sudan needs to be married to a long-term strategy toward the Horn of Africa. 
  • Senegal
    Democracy Deferred in Senegal
    President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone Senegal’s elections threatens the country’s democratic identity.
  • Nigeria
    Life After Weber
    What if the solution to insecurity in Nigeria is beyond the capacity of the state?
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
    The Cult of Dirigisme
    Despite repeated failure, faith in closely controlled economies among Africa’s political elites remains strong.