Into Africa

China's footprint in Africa extends beyond infrastructure projects and financing. How significant are the relationships spun between Chinese elites and their African counterparts? In our eighth episode with African Arguments, Shinovene Immanuel (The Namibian), Lina Benabdallah (CSIS), and John Culver (Former National Intelligence Officer) join host Judd Devermont for a conversation on Chinese engagement with Africans. Guests also discuss Namibia's fishrot corruption scandal and politics in Algeria.  Background Readings: Why Mali Needs a New Peace Deal - Judd Devermont and Marielle Harris Under the Radar: Summer Edition - Judd Devermont and Ryan Cummings The Spoils of the Fishrot (Part 1) - Shinovene Immanuel and Tutaleni Pinehas Swapo's 'golden children' - Shinovene Immanuel Shaping the Future of Power - Lina Benabdallah   China loans Africa much less than you think - Lina Benabdallah (African Arguments)

The last 70 years of U.S.-Africa policy is underscored by a bipartisan legacy of continuity. How can it evolve to meet new challenges and realities? Ambassador Hank Cohen (Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs), Dr. Elizabeth Schmidt (Loyola University Maryland), and Dr. Adebayo Oyebade (Tennessee State University) join Judd Devermont for a lively discussion on the past, present, and future of U.S. policy toward Africa. Guests also discuss the implications of President Ouattara's candidacy for a third term in Côte d'Ivoire and Nashville's historic African diaspora.Background Reading: Under the Radar: Summer Edition - Judd Devermont and Ryan Cummings Foreign Intervention in Africa: From the Cold War to the War on Terror - Elizabeth Schmidt Foreign Intervention in Africa after the Cold War: Sovereignty, Responsibility, and the War on Terror - Elizabeth Schmidt US Foreign Policy in Africa and the 21st Century - Adebayo Oyebade  US Policy Toward Africa: 8 Decades of Realpolitik - Hank Cohen A New U.S. Policy Framework for the African Century - Judd Devermont

France has complicated and often contentious relations with Francophone Africa. What is Françafrique and how has it evolved in recent years? Judd Devermont is joined by Rahmane Idrissa (African Studies Center in Leiden), Ambassador Jeff Hawkins (Former U.S. Ambassador to CAR), and Marielle Harris (CSIS) to discuss Françafrique's prominence in the region, Mali's worsening political crisis, and the Central African Republic’s upcoming presidential elections.Background Reading: Why Mali Needs a New Peace Deal - Judd Devermont and Marielle Harris

Since the start of the Trump Administration, the United States has identified strategic competition with China and Russia as a core objective in sub-Saharan Africa. Is great power competition the most constructive framework for formulating and implementing U.S. policies in sub-Saharan Africa? In this virtual CSIS debate event, Judd Devermont is joined by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili (Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative), Ken Ofori-Atta (Minister for Finance, Ghana), Gayle Smith (ONE Campaign), and Juan Zarate (Financial Integrity Network) to debate the opportunities and risks embedded in the great power competition concept and to explore how it evolves during a global pandemic. Online Event: CSIS Debate Series: Great Power Competition Debate Results

Critical sources of funding and supplies are flowing into the region to help the African governments battle the Covid-19 pandemic. But legacies of corruption are compromising the response efforts at a time when countries are at their most economically vulnerable. How can policymakers prevent and expose corruption, as well as implement systemic reform? Patrick Smith (Africa Report), Onyi Ough (Step Up Nigeria), and Matthew Page (Chatham House, CEIP, CDD West Africa) join Judd Devermont to discuss Covid-19, Angola's history of corruption, and Nigeria's growing political turmoil within the ruling All Progressives Congress. Background Reading: Angolan Government Relying on Partner Assistance to Fight Covid-19 - Emilia Columbo (CSIS) Angola: on the trail of stolen billions - The Africa Report Coronavirus: Nigeria's 'Fiscal Flu' - Matthew Page (Chatham House) Dubai Property: An Oasis for Nigeria’s Corrupt Political Elites - Matthew Page (CEIP) Emeka's Money - Onyi Ough (Step Up Nigeria)

How do we separate fact from fiction? What is the best way to tackle misinformation about the virus? In our seventh episode with African Arguments, Ambassador Dawn Liberi (Former U.S. Ambassador to Burundi), Lee Mwiti (Africa Check), and Antonio Zappulla (Thomson Reuters Foundation) join host Judd Devermont to discuss the rapid spread of misinformation in Africa and the dangerous implications of government crackdowns on the press during the pandemic. Guests also examine Burundi’s turbulent transition following the death of President Nkurunziza and Kenya’s faltering economy. A note to our listeners: this episode was recorded on June 12th and some of the fast-moving developments in Burundi may not be reflected in the episode.Background Reading: Kenya Tops Angola as Sub-Saharan Africa’s No. 3 Economy - Bloomberg 3 African leaders: The smart step to fight the virus - CNN Egypt forces Guardian journalist to leave after coronavirus story - The Guardian FACTSHEET: Coronavirus and the Covid-19 outbreak - Africa Check What's Crap on WhatsApp? - Africa Check and others

Africa is undergoing a digital transformation, helping the region to weather some the pandemic's negative consequences. What opportunities exist to accelerate Africa's adoption of digital and mobile technologies? Host Judd Devermont is joined by Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid (African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy), Ilana Cohen (GSMA), and Greg Cohen (Asoko Insight) to discuss the Covid-19 challenge and GSMA’s report, “Digital Solutions for the Urban Poor.” Separately, Judd, Greg, and Ilana also review President Museveni’s approach to the pandemic and developments in Madagascar.Background Reading: Digital Solutions for the urban Poor - GSMA  Uganda: Driving inclusive socio-economic progress through mobile-enabled digital transformation - GSMA Mobile money recommendations to central banks in response to COVID-19 - GSMA Virus exposes gaping holes in Africa’s health systems - Reuters The Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030)

How will the Covid-19 pandemic affect the future of business, trade, and investment in sub-Saharan Africa? How important will technology and automation be for economic development in the region? Guests Laird Treiber (State Department), Chukwuka Onyekwena (Center for the Study of the Economies of Africa), and Vijaya Ramachandran (Center for Global Development) join host Judd Devermont to discuss the new world of work. Guests also analyze South Africa and Nigeria’s responses to the pandemic.Background Reading South Africa’s Bold Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic – Judd Devermont and Topaz Mukulu Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Nigerian economy – Chukwuka Onyekwena and Mma Ekeruche Nigeria's Tech Sector May Be Booming, but Where Are the Women? – Vijaya Ramachandran and Blessing Omakwu Can Africa Be a Manufacturing Destination? Labor Costs in Comparative Perspective – Vijaya Ramachandran et al. Philanthropy and the Humanitarian Crisis in Northeast Nigeria – Judd Devermont

How will the Covid-19 pandemic affect African governments’ ability to respond to violent extremism in the region? Will groups exploit the health, economic, and political crisis brought on by the pandemic? In this security-focused episode, host Judd Devermont is joined by Bulama Bukarti (Tony Blair Institute), Emilia Columbo (CSIS), and Will Brown (The Telegraph, CSIS) to discuss the violence in northern Mozambique, Boko Haram’s attack on Chadian soldiers in late March, and Covid'19's implications for the security landscape.Background Reading: Extremist Groups Stepping up Operations during the Covid-19 Outbreak in Sub-Saharan Africa – Emilia Columbo and Marielle Harris Supporting Mozambique’s Response to the Growing Insurgent Threat in Cabo Delgado – Emilia Columbo How Jihadi Groups in Africa Will Exploit COVID-19 – Bulama Bukarti As the World Is Distracted, Boko Haram Terrorists Strike a Key Western Ally – Will Brown

Experts project that the next few years will be pivotal for Africa's growth and influence. What policies should African governments and their partners focus on to positively shift the region’s trajectory? Jonathan Rosenthal (The Economist), Erin Sikorsky (National Intelligence Council), and Jakkie Cilliers (Institute for Security Studies) join Judd Devermont to discuss forecasting and the continent's projected growth and development. Guests also explore the widespread abuses by security forces during Covid-19 enforced lockdowns and Lesotho’s Prime Minister Tom Thabane’s decision to step down. Background Reading: Africa First! Igniting a Growth Revolution - Jakkie Cilliers The African Century (The Economist special report) - Jonathan Rosenthal  Global Trends: The Paradox of Progress (2017 report)  - National Intelligence Council