<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

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Cabo Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sudan

Eswatini

Tanzania

Togo

Uganda

Zambia

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

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers a speech on April 18, 2026.

Politics

Ramaphosa will likely attempt to delay his upcoming impeachment process to facilitate the rise of a reformist ANC successor, though he still may preemptively resign, which would likely result in the collapse of South Africa's coalition government.

South Africa's Top Court Shows Ramaphosa the End of the Road

United States

Iran

Israel

Lebanon

China

France

United Kingdom

Boats on April 28, 2026 on Qeshm Island, Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions between the United States and Iran will remain elevated, especially around the strait, following the May 7 U.S.-Iran exchange of attacks and Iranian attacks against the United Arab Emirates.

Military & Security

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

The Weekly Rundown: Elevated Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, France Convenes an Africa Summit

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Trucks haul away ore from a pit in the Chinese-owned Tenke Fungurume Mine, one of the largest copper and cobalt mines in the world, in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17, 2023.

Economics

Greater access to Congo's mining sector will likely help the U.S. further secure its cobalt and copper supplies, but ongoing security concerns in the Central African country and China's dominance over global mineral processing will limit the extent of these gains.

Trump Goes Hunting For Congo's Minerals

Media

Podcasts

Why is the United States involved in the mediation process? 

The Decision Advantage: Key Drivers of the Congo-Rwanda Conflict

A digital illustration of Mali’s flag.

Recent attacks by al Qaeda affiliate JNIM pose a significant challenge to the junta's legitimacy, elevating the immediate threat of another military coup and signaling a progressive fragmentation of state authority as the jihadist group expands its reach.

Jihadist Onslaught Puts Mali on the Brink of Spiraling Chaos

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sits in his office as he speaks to journalists at Villa Somalia, the palace and principal workplace of the president, on April 22, 2025, in central Mogadishu, Somalia.

President Mohamud's attempt to extend his term could prompt opposition forces to form a parallel administration and lead to a federal military intervention in Jubaland state.

Somalia Descends Into Another Constitutional Crisis

South Asia

IMF officials participate in an economic outlook briefing in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 2026.

Energy

The sharp increase in global oil and fertilizer costs will force import-reliant, low-income nations in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa to choose between fiscal discipline and maintaining social stability.

Iran War Price Shocks Will Hit Low-Income Energy Importers Hardest

The Dangote petroleum refinery plant is seen in Lagos, Nigeria, on April 6, 2026.

Nigeria will enjoy a short-term revenue boost from elevated oil prices, but the potential for renewed instability in the Niger Delta could undermine efforts to increase oil production.

Nigeria's Oil Gains From Iran War Face Old Challenges

How have dynamics evolved since France and the United States withdrew from the region? 

The Decision Advantage: Jihadist Insurgency in the Sahel and West Africa

Columns

On Geopolitics

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Social Issues

Demographic decline, driven by falling fertility rates worldwide, is likely irreversible but will also increasingly differentiate countries based on their ability to adapt through sound immigration, labor, technological and fiscal policies.

Adapting to Demographic Decline: Policy Tradeoffs and Global Divergences

Rwanda's Foreign Affairs Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, said that Mozambique has secured funding to sustain the deployment of Rwandan troops in the country's northern Cabo Delgado region, Reuters reported May 19.

Rwanda, Mozambique: Rwanda Says Mozambique Has Secured Funding for Cabo Delgado Mission

Kenyan public transport operators suspended a nationwide strike for one week after the government agreed to talks on fuel pricing following a 23.5% rise in diesel prices in May and a 24.2% increase in April, AP reported on May 19.

Kenya: Fuel Strike Suspended After Deadly Nationwide Protests as Government Opens Talks

U.S. forces reportedly killed around 20 Islamic State West Africa Province fighters on May 17 in airstrikes near Metele in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, following high-level operations on May 15 that killed ISWAP's deputy leader, Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, along with around three dozen fighters, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 18.

Nigeria, U.S.: Joint Operations Kill Islamic State's Second in Command, ISWAP Fighters

Environment, Science & Technology

The World Health Organization declared a "public health emergency of international concern" surrounding a deadly Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, Reuters reported on May 17.

Congo, Uganda: WHO Declares Global Health Emergency Following Ebola Outbreak

Talks between Somalia's federal government and opposition forces collapsed on May 15 after they failed to reach an agreement surrounding Somalia's governance framework following the purported end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term, Garowe Online reported on May 16.

Somalia: Mogadishu Enters Full-Blown Constitutional Crisis

Tanzania's registrar of political parties has threatened to suspend or fine the main opposition party, Chadema, over alleged "incitement" and anti-government remarks, The Citizen reported on May 15.

Tanzania: Registrar of Political Parties Threatens To Suspend Main Opposition Party

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, launched a drone strike on the Ethiopian locality of Kurmuk on April 29, killing at least eight civilians, including one humanitarian worker from the International Organization for Migration, Addis Standard reported on May 14 based on testimonies from local residents.

Sudan: SAF Reportedly Launched Drone Strike Into Western Ethiopia in Late April

The U.S. Directorate of Defense Trade Controls announced the lifting of blanket restrictions on the export of military equipment to Ethiopian security forces under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Addis Standard reported on May 14.

Ethiopia: Trump Administration Lifts Arms Export Ban

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Rwanda, Mozambique: Rwanda Says Mozambique Has Secured Funding for Cabo Delgado Mission

Kenya: Fuel Strike Suspended After Deadly Nationwide Protests as Government Opens Talks

Nigeria, U.S.: Joint Operations Kill Islamic State's Second in Command, ISWAP Fighters

Congo, Uganda: WHO Declares Global Health Emergency Following Ebola Outbreak

Somalia: Mogadishu Enters Full-Blown Constitutional Crisis

Tanzania: Registrar of Political Parties Threatens To Suspend Main Opposition Party

Sudan: SAF Reportedly Launched Drone Strike Into Western Ethiopia in Late April

Ethiopia: Trump Administration Lifts Arms Export Ban

Forecasts

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