Africa: Year in Review 2018


As 2019 begins, it is important to reflect on the top developments that occurred in Africa, in U.S.-Africa relations, and in Africa's role in the global arena over the past year. The Wilson Center Africa Program continued its tradition of asking experts, practitioners, and policymakers to weigh in on the most important and impactful developments of 2018 for the continent, and their implications for U.S.-Africa relations. They responded with the brief and insightful essays in this volume.
We thank them for their contributions, which provide analysis on topics including the Trump Administration and Africa; reform efforts in Ethiopia; the implications of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); the growing ties of countries like China, Russia, and Turkey across Africa; successes and challenges in women’s leadership; and reflections on the key issues and opportunities for democratic governance and elections in Africa, among other topics.
Due to the lapse in federal appropriations, which had impacted the Wilson Center, we had a slight delay in publishing this year’s edition of Africa: Year in Review. We thank you for your patience and understanding!
We hope that you enjoy reading and sharing this volume!
Authors
Ambassador Herman J. Cohen

Hannah Akuiyibo
Laura Lane
Major General Roger L. Cloutier Jr.
Grant Harris
Alex Vines
Elem Eyrice Tepeciklioğlu

Terence McNamee
Independent
Leila Ndiaye
Matt Kandel

Jamie Van Leeuwen
CEO & Founder of the Global Livingston Institute and Director of Youth & Community Engagement at the Emerson Collective
Nathan Davis

Franklin Oduro
Vivian Lowery Derryck
Ann L. Phillips
Former Professor of International Security Studies Director, Program in Security, Stability, Transition and Reconstruction, George C. Marshall Center, Germany
Toni Weis
Naomi Sand

Getachew Zeru Gebrekidan
Lecturer, Institute for Peace and Security Studies, Addis Ababa University
Sophia Moestrup

Ambassador Nureldin Satti
Retired UN Senior Official; Former Ambassador of Sudan to the United States, France, Portugal, Switzerland and the Vatican
Rushdi Nackerdien
Contributors
Africa Program
The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and U.S.-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial U.S.-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, including our Africa Up Close blog, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in U.S.-Africa relations. Read more