Into Africa
CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
Fearless music activists. Savvy tech entrepreneurs. Social disrupters. Into Africa shatters narratives that dominate U.S. perceptions of Africa. With the world’s youngest population, the decisions made across Africa today—good or bad—will shape the world’s future. Featuring in-depth interviews, the CSIS Africa Program sits down with policymakers, journalists, academics, and other trailblazers in African affairs to shine a spotlight on the people and stories shaping cultural, political, and economic trends across the continent today and for decades to come.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 11, 2022 • 38min
AFRICOM and the Triple Nexus
Mvemba is joined by Ambassador Andrew Young, Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement of U.S. Africa Command. They discuss the three dimensions of the department’s engagement in the region (defense, diplomacy, and development) over the past 14 years and unpack future goals of the strategic operation partnership.
Oct 27, 2022 • 35min
A Conversation with DR Congo’s Minister of Finance
Mvemba is joined by Mr. Nicolas Kazadi, Minister of Finance of the Democratic Republic of Congo.They discuss the Millennium Challenge Corporation, tackling corruption in the mining industry and the public sector, conflict in eastern DRC, and the auction of oil blocks and climate pledges.
Oct 13, 2022 • 32min
Forecasting African Futures
Mvemba is joined by Jakkie Cilliers, Head of African Futures & Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies, a South African think-tank. Jakkie and Mvemba discuss Africa’s potential growth in different global scenarios, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and challenges to intra-continental trade.
Sep 29, 2022 • 52min
H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia
Mvemba is joined by His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The newly elected President came into office for the second time in May 2022 promising a more inclusive government and greater stability. They discuss the challenges his government faces, including countering Al-Shabaab, food scarcity during one of the worst droughts in decades, and a rising cost of living. This episode is a recording from a live event with President Mohamud, held at CSIS on September 16, 2022.
Sep 15, 2022 • 45min
Survey: Why Turkey Is So Popular in the DRC, And More
Mvemba is joined by Joshua Walker, Director of Programs at the Congo Research Group and Francesca Bomboko, Co-Founder and Director of BERCI, a public opinion research firm based in the Democratic Republic of Congo.They unpack the results of CIC and BERCI's new national survey in the DRC. They analyze voter trends, the factors impacting President's Felix Tshisekedi's approval ratings, addressing the gap between civilians and their elected officials, the growth of Turkey as a key and popular player in the country.
Sep 1, 2022 • 32min
Building A Political Career in Kenya
Mvemba is joined by Josphat Kamanya, a Kenyan politician and entrepreneur. Josphat reflects on his run for local government, shares insights into the experiences of young and aspiring politicians, and explores the nature of politics in Kenya.
Aug 18, 2022 • 34min
Addressing Forced Migration in the Horn
This week, Mvemba is joined by Mohammed Abdiker, Regional Director for East Africa and the Horn of Africa at the International Organization for Migration. The two delve into migration trends in countries across the Horn, and the economic, political, and environmental factors that continue to exacerbate forced displacement in the region. They unpack various initiatives and conferences aimed at addressing migration trends, both regional and international, and highlight their pitfalls and opportunities.
Aug 4, 2022 • 35min
Using Digital Tools To Increase Food Resiliency in East Africa
In this episode, Mvemba is joined by Caitlin Welsh, the Director of the Global Food Security Program at CSIS, and Melodine Jeptoo, Researcher and Coordinator at PlantVillage. PlantVillage non-profit research unit that uses AI technology, satellite systems, and field work to increase the yield and profits for millions of farmers in East Africa. They discuss the drivers of food insecurity in the region and explore how technology can be leveraged to build resilient food systems in East Africa.
Jul 21, 2022 • 32min
Gold, Gas, and Good Governance
This week’s episode, Dr. Zainab Usman joins Mvemba to discuss her new book, "Economic Diversification in Nigeria: The Politics of Building a Post-oil Economy." They re-examine the concept of the resource curse and explore the role of good governance and institutions in wielding natural resources for sustainable and equitable growth.
Jul 7, 2022 • 30min
Sahel Pressure on Littoral States
In this edition of Into Africa, Mvemba is joined by Karana Olivier, Côte d'Ivoire Chief of Party for Equal Access International, to discuss the spillover of violent extremism from the Sahel into the littoral states of West Africa— Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo, and Ghana. The two explore government and armed groups’ shared responsibility for unrest, as well as the effects of porous borders in the region, state fragility, and illicit transnational trade.
