Africa Stability Ratings and News Summary
More Unstable
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe
More Stable
No countries were more stable over this period.
Unchanged
Cape Verde, Ghana, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Zambia
Regional News Summary
Conflict and humanitarian crises continue dominating Africa’s landscape, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where violence has triggered severe famine and mass displacement. Peace negotiations between the DRC government and the M23 rebel group are resuming in Qatar. Former President Joseph Kabila faces capital punishment accusations for allegedly supporting rebel groups, escalating tensions.
The DRC’s natural resources drive international competition between the US and China. Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council to address illegal resource exploitation, identified as a conflict root cause. This rivalry prompted calls for increased US rare earth mining to reduce China dependence. Japan is simultaneously expanding African influence, particularly in DRC mineral sectors.
Nigeria intensified military operations against Boko Haram, with airstrikes eliminating dozens of militants and rescuing 76 hostages. The nation also deported 50 Chinese nationals engaged in online fraud schemes as part of a cybercrime crackdown.
South Africa strengthened trade ties with Japan, with President Ramaphosa describing his recent visit as impactful. The South African Airports Company plans raising $569 million for growth initiatives.
India’s Army Chief visited Algeria, signaling India’s expanding African engagement. Algeria’s role as major oil producer faces scrutiny as OPEC+ considers unwinding production cuts, potentially affecting global energy markets.
Kenya received UK compensation for historical forest fire victims, marking justice progress. However, raw food export declines of 10.25% raise economic stability concerns.
Weekend Diversions
Two quick reads for the long weekend:
Bloomberg examines President Xi’s military leadership purge, questioning whether it signals strength or weakness. Xi Unleashes China’s Biggest Purge of Military Leaders Since Mao
San Francisco’s citywide adventure awaits discovery. The Wild, Citywide Scavenger Hunt That Ate San Francisco
Have a great weekend!
Carpe tomorrow!