<p>Sub-Saharan Africa is a study in diversity. Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, the region is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources. It&rsquo;s no surprise that it captured the imagination of Europe&rsquo;s earliest explorers &mdash; and that it continues to capture the imagination of current world powers eager to exploit it. And yet despite the region&rsquo;s diversity, Sub-Saharan African countries have common challenges &mdash; transnational terrorism, rapid population growth, endemic poverty and corruption &mdash; that prevent them from capitalizing on their economic potential. The coming years will be critical for the region, especially as its political institutions mature in a rapidly globalizing world.</p>

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan

Angola

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Central African Republic

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Zimbabwe

The Post-Apartheid Era Ends

The Politics of Pipelines

Old Leaders in a New Africa

Nigeria: Obstacles to Prosperity

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Crossing Borders

A Crude Recovery

Globalization

China in Transition

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

Assessments

Russia

Members of the Unity for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) rebel group gather at the DDR (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration) site in Maloum, the Central African Republic, on July 24. 2025.

Military & Security

Politics

The dissolution of key rebel groups and the reintegration of ex-fighters could stabilize the country after years of conflict, but the process will remain fragile amid funding challenges and potential attacks from non-signatories.

Central African Republic's New Peace Deal Holds Promise, but Challenges Persist

Columns

On Geopolitics

United Arab Emirates

Shipping containers are offloaded from a vessel at Berbera Port in Somaliland on Aug. 31, 2021.   (ED RAM/AFP via Getty Images)

Economics

The UAE is expanding its influence across East Africa through large-scale investments and security partnerships, aiming to consolidate its status as a global trade hub and counter regional competitors, at the risk of entangling regional states in broader geopolitical contests.

The UAE's Long Game in East Africa

A Tigrayan flag waves at the entrance of a hospital in Tigray's regional capital, Mekele, on Oct. 10, 2024. 

The ruling TPLF's apparent rapprochement with Eritrea and the rise of anti-TPLF groups are raising the risk of an Ethiopian-Eritrean proxy conflict in Tigray that could eventually spur a larger military escalation.

Ethiopia's Tigray Region Faces a Brewing Storm Amid Shifting Alliances

Media

Podcasts

What does the country's latest corruption scandal mean for President Cyril Ramaphosa and South African politics? 

Essential Geopolitics: The Outlook for South Africa's Coalition Government

Snapshots

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara arrives at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium on June 22, 2025, in Abidjan. 

President Ouattara's decision to seek a fourth term in Cote d'Ivoire's upcoming election, amid leading opposition candidates' inability to run, is fueling rising political tensions and increasing the risk of a post-election crisis.

Cote d'Ivoire Gears Up for a Heated Election Season 

United States

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Philippines

 The European Union and China will hold a high-level leaders' summit July 24 in Beijing, marking the 50th anniversary of Chinese-EU diplomatic relations.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: An EU-China Summit, South Africa's Budget Vote

U.S.-China Relations

A demonstrator holds a Kenyan flag on a street in Nairobi, Kenya, during a pro-democracy protest on July 7, 2025. 

Growing anger over Ruto's economic policies and crackdown on dissent will hinder his efforts to reduce Kenya's fiscal deficit and portend recurring bouts of violent and disruptive protests.

No End in Sight to Kenya's Cycle of Deadly Protests

Cameroon President Paul Biya (L) and his wife Chantal Biya react during a parade marking the 51st celebration of Unity Day in Yaounde on May 20, 2023.

Cracks in the ruling coalition risk fueling unrest and political instability as 92-year-old President Biya seeks an eighth term in the October election. 

Amid Growing Defections, Cameroon's Aging President Doubles Down With a Reelection Bid

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) speaks during a peace agreement signing ceremony between Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner (R) and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe in the Treaty Room of the State Department in Washington, D.C., on June 27, 2025. 

The peace agreement opens Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo up to significant economic opportunities, but disagreements over interpretation and continued proxy violence risk stalling the deal’s implementation.

A Fragile Peace Takes Shape Between Congo and Rwanda

Americas

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Europe

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Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The third quarter of 2025 will be defined by disruptive trade policies fueling supply chain volatility and the persistent risk of escalation in major conflicts.

2025 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

South African Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced that 11 train operating companies had met requirements to access South Africa's rail network and would now enter negotiations over commercial contracts defining the modalities of their access, Reuters reported on Aug. 22.

South Africa: Government Picks 11 Private Companies To Access Railway Network 

Egypt

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Aug. 21 with his counterparts from Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya during which he stressed Egypt's "categorical rejection of unilateral measures" on the eastern Nile Basin and said "water security" was "existential" for Egypt, Addis Standard reported on Aug. 22.

Egypt: Cairo Courts Upstream Nile Basin States With Promise of Development Support  

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba unveiled plans to launch an Indian Ocean-Africa economic zone initiative during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, The Asahi Shimbun reported on Aug. 20.

Africa: Japan's Ishiba Unveils Plans for Indian Ocean-Africa Economic Initiative, Fresh Investments and Loans

South African Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi said his department was "prioritizing" a policy review assessing whether telecommunications companies could operate in the country using equity-equivalent programs rather than by granting a 30% stake to Black South Africans, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 20. 

South Africa: Minister Hints at Expansion of Equity-Equivalent Alternative to Black Ownership in Telecom Sector 

The Ghanaian government renewed curfew hours in the Bawku region and surrounding areas, though the curfew was reduced to 8 p.m.-5 a.m. from 6 p.m.-6 a.m., Business Ghana reported on Aug. 18.

Ghana: Government Renews Curfew in Bawku Amid Intercommunal Violence, Jihadist Threats

Qatar

Qatar forwarded a draft peace deal to the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rwandan-backed M23 that would involve a seven-month phased approach to resolving their conflict, Jeune Afrique reported on Aug. 18.

Congo: Qatar Forwards Draft Peace Deal With M23

The commander in chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, reshuffled his Joint Chiefs of Staff by appointing new deputies in charge of logistics, training, administration and operations, as well as a new head of military intelligence and a new commander of the air force, Sudan Tribune reported on Aug. 18.

Sudan: Al-Burhan Reshuffles Top Brass, Brings Allied Groups Under SAF Command

Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye inaugurated the start of works on a new $2.15 billion, 300-kilometer (about 186-mile) Standard Gauge Railway that will connect Tanzania's eastern city of Uvinza to the Burundian town of Musongati, The Chanzo reported on Aug. 17.

Tanzania: Government Kicks Off Construction of $2.15B Standard Gauge Railway to Burundi

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

South Africa: Government Picks 11 Private Companies To Access Railway Network

Egypt: Cairo Courts Upstream Nile Basin States With Promise of Development Support

Africa: Japan's Ishiba Unveils Plans for Indian Ocean-Africa Economic Initiative, Fresh Investments and Loans

South Africa: Minister Hints at Expansion of Equity-Equivalent Alternative to Black Ownership in Telecom Sector

Ghana: Government Renews Curfew in Bawku Amid Intercommunal Violence, Jihadist Threats

Congo: Qatar Forwards Draft Peace Deal With M23

Sudan: Al-Burhan Reshuffles Top Brass, Brings Allied Groups Under SAF Command

Tanzania: Government Kicks Off Construction of $2.15B Standard Gauge Railway to Burundi

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