Africa Program

The Brown Capital Management Africa Forum

Launched in September 2015, the Brown Capital Management Africa Forum provides a premier platform for substantive and solution-oriented dialogue on key trade, investment, and development issues in Africa, and in U.S.-Africa relations.

The Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding

The Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) is a consortium of research and policy organizations from across Africa. The network seeks to foster dialogue and increase the visibility of African perspectives within the U.S. policy arena.

Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) 10 Year Anniversary

To celebrate and commemorate YALI’s ten-year anniversary, the Department of State and the Wilson Center Africa Program will host a Virtual Summit and Livestream Event in 2021. Check this page for more details in January 2021.

Sudans Working Group

Through high-level working groups, the Africa Program provides a platform for in-depth, candid discussions and offers real-time options and actionable ideas for addressing pressing issues confronting Africa and U.S.-Africa relations.

Wilson Center Experts on How the World is Reacting to the 2020 Election

Wilson Center experts offer their analysis on how the world is reacting to the 2020 Election

Africa and the COVID-19 Challenge

Ground Truth Briefing: U.S. Interests and Engagement in the Sahel: Current State, Key Issues, and the Way Ahead

The Wilson Center Africa Program hosted a Ground Truth Briefing on “U.S. Interests and Engagement in the Sahel: Current State, Key Issues, and the Way Ahead” with Dr. J. Peter Pham, U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region of Africa, on Thursday, September 24. Listen to the audio recording below.

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: Impact, Responses, and Lessons from Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda

In this paper, Osei Baffour Frimpong, Rigobert Minani Bihuzo, S.J., and Richmond Commodore examine the impact of COVID-19 and response strategies in Africa with a specific focus on Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Rwanda.

Situation in Mali

Statement from Monde Muyangwa, Director of the Africa Program.

Climate Change and Violent Extremism in the Lake Chad Basin: Key Issues and Way Forward

In this paper, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding and Africa Program Scholar Osei Baffour Frimpong, examines the impact of climate change on diminishing resources, as well as its relationship with violent extremism and terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin.

Security Sector Reform (SSR) Challenges to Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In this paper, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding and Africa Program Scholar Rigobert Minani Bihuzo, analyzes security sector reform in the DRC and its challenges.

Financial Inclusion in the COVID-19 Era: Policy Responses in West Africa

In this paper, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding and Africa Program Scholar Richmond Commodore, explores the financial inclusion perspective of COVID-19-related interventions in West African countries, with a specific focus on DFS.

Diaspora Financing for Development and Peacebuilding: Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Richmond Commodore, examines the current role of the African diaspora in economic development and peacebuilding efforts on the continent.

Violent Extremism in West Africa: Are Current Responses Enough?

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Osei Baffour Frimpong, analyzes regional and international approaches for CVE in West Africa, evaluates the efficacy of current mechanisms, and explores the root causes of violent extremism.

Transnational Organized Crime and Peacebuilding in East Africa

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Messay Asgedom Gobena, assesses the relationship between TOC, conflict, and peacebuilding in East Africa.

Building Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Beyond the United Nations Toolkit

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Rigobert Minani Bihuzo, analyzes the deployment of MONUSCO in the DRC.

WEBCAST | Natural Resources, Sustainable Development, and Peace in Africa

On June 30, 2020, The Wilson Center Africa Program and the Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding Network held a virtual event on “Natural Resources, Sustainable Development, and Peace in Africa.”

WEBCAST | Countering Transnational Organized Crime as a Strategy for Peacebuilding in East Africa

On June 8, 2020, the Wilson Center Africa Program hosted a webcast event on “Countering Transnational Organized Crime as a Strategy for Peacebuilding in East Africa.” The event assessed the relationship between transnational organized crime (TOC), conflict, and peacebuilding in East Africa and identified policy options for African and international policymakers and practitioners to more effectively combat TOC and counteract its negative impact on peacebuilding efforts in the region.

WEBCAST | Violent Extremism in West Africa: Are Current Responses Enough?

On June 2, 2020, the Wilson Center Africa Program hosted the event “Violent Extremism in West Africa: Are Current Responses Enough?” The event assessed the efficacy of current regional mechanisms in addressing the threat of violent extremism, their articulation and complementarity with international efforts, and proposed options to improve the regional response to violent extremism in West Africa.

WEBCAST | Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Revisiting the Tool Kit

On June 3, 2020, the Wilson Center Africa Program hosted the event “Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Revisiting the Tool Kit.” This event analyzed the efficacy of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), established in 1999 under the name MONUC, and discussed policy options for improving policy tool kits to build peace in the DRC.

WEBCAST | Beyond Remittances: Engaging the Diaspora to Meet Africa’s Development Financing Needs

On May 27, 2020, the Wilson Center Africa Program hosted the event “Beyond Remittances: Engaging the Diaspora to Meet Africa’s Development Financing Needs.” This event examined the role of the African Diaspora in contributing to peacebuilding and development in Africa, and how governments can better engage with them.

Former Longtime Co-Chair of the Wilson Center’s Sudans Working Group, Nureldin Satti, Appointed Sudan's Ambassador to the U.S.

The Wilson Center congratulates Ambassador Nureldin Satti for his appointment as Sudan's Ambassador to the United States, the first ambassador in over 20 years. Ambassador Satti is a former Wilson Center Global Fellow and Co-Chair of the Sudans Working Group. 

The Impact of COVID-19 in South Africa

In this paper, Dr. Emmanuel Sekyere, Prof. Narnia Bohler-Muller, Prof. Charles Hongoro, and Dr. Mokhantso Makoae examine COVID-19’s implications and impacts on South African society in the social, economic, health, environmental, and technological realms.

Targeted Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Measures in Support of Peace in South Sudan

The Africa Program thanks Dr. Jok Madut Jok (Professor of Anthropology at Syracuse University and former director of the Sudd Institute) and Mr. John Prendergast, Ms. Hilary Mossberg, and Ms. Megha Swamy (The Sentry) for a much-needed advancement of the discussion on the effectiveness of sanctions.

Economic Sanctions are not an Effective Instrument for Political Pressure

The Africa Program thanks Dr. Jok Madut Jok (Professor of Anthropology at Syracuse University and the former director of the Sudd Institute) and Mr. John Prendergast, Ms. Hilary Mossberg, and Ms. Megha Swamy (from The Sentry) for a much-needed advancement of the discussion on the effectiveness of sanctions.

Sudans Working Group—One Year After Bashir: Ground Truth Briefing on Sudan

On April 15, 2020, the Wilson Center Africa Program and its Sudans Working Group (SWG), in partnership with the Wilson Center Middle East Program, held a private Ground Truth Briefing on “One Year After Bashir: Ground Truth Briefing on Sudan.”

WEBCAST | COVID-19 and Africa: On-the-Ground Perspectives from Five African Countries

On April 9, 2020, the Wilson Center Africa Program hosted the event "COVID-19 and Africa: On-the-Ground Perspectives from Five African Countries."

Combating Violent Extremism in West Africa

In this edition of Wilson Center NOW we are joined by Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar Osei Baffour Frimpong. He discusses his Wilson Center project "Violent Extremism in West Africa: Are Current Responses Enough?"

The Role of the Diaspora in Meeting Africa’s Development Needs

In this edition of Wilson Center NOW we are joined by Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar Richmond Commodore. He discusses his Wilson Center project Beyond Remittances: Engaging the Diaspora to Meet Africa’s Development Financing Needs.

Countering Transnational Organized Crime in East Africa

In this edition of Wilson Center NOW we are joined by Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar Messay Asgedom Gobena who discusses his project Countering Transnational Organized Crime as a Strategy for Peacebuilding in East Africa.

Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In this edition of Wilson Center NOW we are joined by Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar Rigobert Minani Bihuzo who discusses his project “Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Revisiting the Tool Kit.”

The Trump Administration and U.S. Africa Policy: What has been accomplished and what lies ahead?

A conversation with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Tibor Nagy on "The Trump Administration and U.S. Africa Policy: What has been accomplished and what lies ahead?"

Progress & Retrogression on Electoral Processes and Transitions in West Africa: Peace and Security Concerns and Consequences

The Wilson Center Africa Program and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) co-hosted a Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) Regional Policy Workshop on “Progress & Retrogression on Electoral Processes and Transitions in West Africa: Peace and Security Concerns and Consequences.”

Briefing on the Situation in Libya with Mr. Anas El Gomati

Mr. Anas El Gomati discusses the resurgence of violence in Libya, catalyzed by Haftar’s offensive against Tripoli, and its implications on both the local population and on the international stage.

The Role of Agricultural Extension in Peacebuilding in the Central African Republic

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Paterne Mombe, discusses the impact CAR’s conflict has had on agriculture and food security and examines the role of agricultural extension services in peacebuilding in post-conflict countries, with a focus on the Central African Republic (CAR).

Chinese Migrants Versus Ordinary Zambians: Causes of Tension and Possible Peace Pathways

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Emmanuel Matambo, explores Zambia-China relations at the subnational level, focusing on the historical relation between Zambia and China. He highlights the evolution, current state, and emerging tensions in Zambia-China relations at the citizen level.