Welcome to our Newsletter! Is Africa rising to meet its promise, or contending with long-standing pressures and external shocks? Across energy, finance, governance, and historic diplomatic ties, the continent is navigating critical pathways that will shape its future. From protecting development projects and accelerating the shift to renewable energy, to redefining foreign policy and reinforcing institutions such as the Pan-African Parliament, today’s decisions will determine Africa’s resilience, influence, and strategic role for years to come.

 

This edition follows Africa as it balances ambition with pragmatism. Regional leaders are forging new alliances, initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area are taking shape, and policymakers are turning bold visions into tangible outcomes. The continent is redefining Pan-African diplomacy, advancing regional integration, and asserting its place in a multipolar world, even as it faces complex dynamics: dependence on fossil fuels, hidden financial pressures, and institutional hurdles within the African Union. Yet these challenges coexist with the chance to strengthen leadership, enhance cohesion, and secure sustainable development for decades ahead.
 

PUBLICATIONS

Diplomatic Recalibration: Beyond Historical Ties

 

Len Ishmael

 

Africa’s relationships with the Caribbean and Latin America highlight decades of missed opportunities. The Pan-African Movement, which emerged as a driving force against apartheid and racial segregation, historically linked Africa with diasporic communities, yet these ties have not translated into consistent political or economic engagement. Today, as Africa asserts itself on the international stage, cultivating these historic connections is more than symbolic, it represents a strategic lever for influence, trade, and collaborative development initiatives. Countries that invest in strengthening these networks may gain long-term advantages in global diplomacy and soft power... Read more

Why Ring-Fencing Development Expenditures Matters Today?

 

Hinh T. Dinh & Laura Rubidge

 

Advocates for “ring-fencing” development expenditures argue that insulating long-term initiatives from short-term fiscal, political, and security pressures is essential. By establishing statutory protections, independent funds, and dedicated revenue streams, governments can ensure continuity in transformative projects. Aligning development finance with security priorities allows countries to leverage the growing pool of international funding aimed at security-related initiatives while safeguarding broader developmental objectives. Ring-fencing is not a panacea, but it offers a pragmatic framework for reconciling long-term ambitions with short-term constraints... Read more

(FR) UEMOA Zone and The ‘Silent’ Banking Crisis

 

Seydina Alioune NDIAYE

 

Despite officially stable BCEAO rates, liquidity is increasingly scarce, creating stress within regional banks. This hidden monetary tightening, if left unaddressed, could undermine economic stability, constraining investment and growth. Policymakers must implement proactive measures strengthening regulatory oversight, monitoring liquidity conditions, and coordinating fiscal policy to avert systemic risks and safeguard the region’s economic resilience... Read more

(FR) Why Africa Can’t Quit Fossil Fuels… Yet

 

Francis Perrin

 

Africa’s continued reliance on fossil fuels, despite the growth of renewable energy sources, exposes the continent to volatility in global markets and delays the transition to more sustainable energy systems. Yet this challenge is also an opportunity. Accelerating the adoption of renewables could simultaneously enhance energy security, attract green investment, and position African economies as leaders in sustainable development. Strategic energy planning and investment are now critical to ensuring that Africa does not fall behind in the global energy transition... Read more

 

(FR) Inside the Pan-African Parliament (PAP)

 

Driss Alaoui Belghiti

 

Twenty years after its creation, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) remains largely marginalized within the African Union. Institutional weaknesses, resistance to the Malabo Protocol, and geopolitical rivalries limit its effectiveness. The PAP’s challenges reflect broader issues in continental integration: shared governance remains aspirational, and national interests often take precedence over supranational ambitions. Strengthening the PAP and other continental institutions is essential for achieving meaningful political cohesion and coordinated policy implementation across Africa... Read more

(FR) South Africa and the Moroccan Sahara: The Subtle Shift

 

Driss Alaoui Belghiti

 

Recent developments in South African foreign policy reveal subtle but meaningful changes regarding the Moroccan Sahara. Once a topic confined to elite diplomatic circles, it is increasingly part of public discourse. The framing has shifted from historical anti-colonial rhetoric toward themes emphasizing national unity and anti-secessionism. While this does not indicate a radical policy reversal, it reduces domestic political costs for engagement and suggests that South Africa may adopt a more nuanced, pragmatic approach in regional affairs. This recalibration signals a broader trend: African foreign policy is increasingly shaped by domestic political realities as much as international considerations... Read more

MULTIMEDIA

Reinventing Pan-African Diplomacy

 

This episode examines the future of Pan-African diplomacy, underscoring the urgency for African states to redefine multilateralism in a rapidly shifting global order. Initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and Atlantic cooperation are highlighted as drivers of tangible integration, emphasizing practical action, infrastructure development, and the blue economy. The analysis stresses that Africa must chart its own interests and pursue measurable outcomes beyond political declarations. Strengthening collaboration among key regional players is seen as essential for building a unified, prosperous, and strategically influential continent...Listen

Aligning or Leading? Africa in the New World Order

 

This edition explores whether African states are passive responders or active architects of emerging strategic alignments, including BRICS+ and South–South cooperation. The discussion considers Africa’s push for reform in multilateral institutions and the emergence of potential continental consensus...Watch

 

(FR) Africa on the Global Stage

 

Amid competing partnerships among major powers, the rise of the Global South, and the expanding BRICS coalition, Africa must strike a balance between strategic autonomy and integration into new alliances. This episode highlights the political and diplomatic strategies that could enable Africa to amplify its voice in major international negotiations whether on climate, security, or digital governance...Watch
 

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