Programs

The Atlantic Council’s Africa Center promotes dynamic geopolitical partnerships with African states and helps redirect US and European policy priorities toward strengthening security and bolstering economic growth and prosperity on the continent.

Content

Cover image for Keeping China at bay and critical minerals stocked: The case for US-Africa defense collaboration

Report

Jun 6, 2025

Keeping China at bay and critical minerals stocked: The case for US-Africa defense collaboration

By Aleksandra Gadzala Tirziu

As Russia, China, and other authoritarian powers expand their global reach, US security is at stake. To stay competitive, the United States must turn to Africa—for both critical minerals and partnership in countering rising adversarial influence on the continent.

Africa Non-Traditional Threats

New Atlanticist

Jun 4, 2025

Can Gabon become a beacon of democratic entrenchment for West and Central Africa?

By Will Mortenson

Brice Oligui Nguema’s post-coup election as president of Gabon offers an opening for democratic reforms and greater prosperity.

Africa Corruption

AfricaSource

Jun 3, 2025

Experts react: How Sidi Ould Tah will shape the African Development Bank

By the Africa Center

The Bank's newly elected president ran on a platform that focused on mobilizing more capital and reforming financial systems. Our experts outline what that will look like in reality.

Africa Economy & Business

MENASource

Jun 3, 2025

Beyond the gridlock: The case for Tunisia-Israel normalization

By Alissa Pavia and Maayan Dagan

The potential for normalization may seem farfetched, but there are many strategic benefits for Tunisia and Israel beyond what meets the eye.

Israel Middle East

AfricaSource

May 30, 2025

How the United States can support Cameroon as it faces its next democratic test

By Jude Mutah

The United States can act now to support democratic elections in Cameroon and help the country navigate what unfolds after the vote.

Africa Democratic Transitions
A view shows buildings behind a street of the Gombe area, ahead of the announcement of provisional results of the December presidential election, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo December 30, 2023.

Issue Brief

May 23, 2025

Beyond critical minerals: Capitalizing on the DRC’s vast opportunities

By Dave Peterson, Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Rabah Areki, Thomas De Dreux-Brézé, Nicole Namwezi Batumike, and Calixte Ahokpossi

As major powers contend for access to Kinshasa’s mineral wealth and Washington seeks to broker a peace deal with Rwanda, the DRC and its partners have a chance to aim high, and channel the country’s resource wealth into good governance, infrastructure, and more.

Democratic Republic of the Congo Economy & Business

AfricaSource

May 15, 2025

African governments should rethink their approach to combating money laundering and terrorist financing

By Benjamin Mossberg

African countries can bolster financial inclusion and tap economic growth opportunities—while preventing the abuse of the global financial system by nefarious actors.

Africa Digital Currencies

In the News

May 13, 2025

Starling-Daniels and Luetkefend quoted in WMAL article titled “In Great Power Competition, Special Ops to Play Key Role”

On May 3, Forward Defense director Clementine Starling-Daniels and assistant director Theresa Luetkefend were quoted in a WMAL article titled “In Great Power Competition, Special Ops to Play Key Role.” The article highlights their argument that, after two decades primarily focused on counterterrorism and direct-action missions during the Global War on Terror, today’s peer and […]

Africa Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2025

The next pope may be African—or not. Either way, Africa is at the forefront of today’s Roman Catholic Church.

By Alexander Tripp

An African pope is not a given in this conclave or the next, but African agency and leadership in the twenty-first-century church is.

Africa Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

May 6, 2025

A blueprint for a trilateral Morocco-Israel-US investment fund

By Aïssa Christophe Agostini

Amid instability in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Sahel, a chance to deliver on the promise of the Abraham Accords.

Israel Middle East

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