Lawfare Archive: A Trip Around Africa with Judd Devermont and Emilia Columbo
Jun 9, 2024
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Explore African politics with experts Judd Devermont and Emilia Columbo discussing challenges & opportunities. Topics include US-Africa relations, elections, security issues, President Macron's response, data privacy, democracy in Nigeria, and South Korea's role in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa's population will double by 2050, impacting global issues.
Prosper Africa initiative faces challenges, but youth engagement shows promise for economic development.
Deep dives
Civil War in Sudan and International Involvement
The civil war in Sudan continues to escalate, leading to devastating humanitarian consequences with international involvement intensifying. As the conflict extends beyond borders, other countries join in the fray, complicating the situation.
Political Developments in South Africa and Rwanda
The African National Congress Party in South Africa faces the need to establish a unity government after failing to secure a majority in the recent national election. Additionally, Rwanda prepares for upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, with President Paul Kagame expected to maintain power.
US Policy Initiatives and Concerns in Africa
Prosper Africa, an initiative aimed at aiding business investments in Africa, faced delays and bureaucratic challenges leading to concerns about its effective implementation. Moreover, discussions on US policies regarding human rights abuses, elections, and corruption in sub-Saharan Africa have showcased a mix of positive and negative actions.
Challenges and Opportunities in African Nations
Key challenges in Africa include potential US military drawdowns in sub-Saharan regions, threatening security partnerships and access to vulnerable communities. Conversely, there is a growing focus on technology, youth engagement, and entrepreneurship, paving the way for economic development and youth empowerment in various African countries.
From March 3, 2020: The population of Africa is projected to double by 2050, giving the continent one quarter of the world's people by then. Nigeria alone will have a larger population than the United States. To the extent they aren't so already, the world's problems and opportunities will be Africa's, too, and African problems and opportunities will also be the world's. David Priess spoke about developments in African politics and international engagement with two experts from the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies—its director Judd Devermont, and one of its senior associates, Emilia Columbo.