US-Sudan Relations: A Way Forward

The Atlantic Council published in March 2018 an issue brief titled "Sudan: Soft Power, Cultural Engagement, and National Security" by Tim Carney and Mary Carlin Yates.

As part of a program to improve US-Sudan relations, the authors comment that the reforms necessary to drive real change--improvements in governance, rule of law, human rights, and political participation--are well known and must remain a centerpiece of US-Sudan engagement. They should not, however, take a back seat to narrow counterterrorism concerns.

Nigeria, China, and Taiwan's Trade Office

Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, University of Leuven, Belgium, recently posted a report titled "Nigeria-Taiwan Row: Understanding China's Influence in Africa."

In 2017, Nigeria, under pressure from China, ordered Taiwan to relocate its trade mission from the political capital of Abuja to the commercial capital of Lagos. It subsequently asked the director of the trade mission to leave Nigeria. Nigeria took this action in compliance with China's definition of the One China policy.

Nile Water Diplomacy

The Institute for Security studies published on 2 February 2018 an analysis titled "Will Egypt-Ethiopia-Sudan Diplomacy Placate Other Nile Countries?" by Duncan E. Omondi Gumba, regional coordinator in Nairobi for the ENACT project.

The leaders of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan recently met to discuss Nile water issues after weeks of frosty ties between Egypt and Sudan. The author concluded that any talks on this issue are doomed unless a basin-wide approach involving all 11 riparian states is followed.

78 Former US Ambassadors to Africa Send Letter to President Trump

In a public letter to President Trump on 16 January 2018, 78 former US ambassadors to Africa urged him to reassess his views on Africa and its citizens, and recognize the important contributions Africans and African Americans have made and continue to make to our country, our history, and the enduring bonds that will always link Africa and the United States. I was proud to be among the 78.

The Council on Foreign Relations posted on 18 January 2018 an article titled "Former U.S. Ambassadors to Africa Protest President Trumps's Remarks" by John Campbell.

North Korea's Military Links with the Horn of Africa

The Diplomat published on 6 January 2018 a commentary titled "North Korea's Military Partners in the Horn of Africa" by Samuel Ramani, University of Oxford.

While Sudan and Uganda reportedly are no longer violating sanctions against North Korea, the author suggests that Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia are continuing to do so. He argues that Eritrea and Somalia are unlikely to suspend military links with North Korea, although Ethiopia may be in the process of complying with sanctions.

China's Evolving Role in Africa

The fall 2017 edition of CKGSB Knowledge, the publication of the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing, included an article (pages 8-12) titled "A Long-term Engagement: China's Evolving Role in Africa" by Jens Kastner. It is a mostly positive assessment of the evolving China-Africa relationship.

Better US Diplomacy in Africa Needed to Counter North Korea

Foreign Policy published on 3 October 2017 a commentary titled "The U.S. Needs Real Diplomacy to Counter North Korea in Africa" by Grant T. Harris, National Security Adviser for Africa under President Obama.

The author concludes that the United States is not properly staffed at its embassies in Africa to counter North Korea's outreach to African countries, citing the cases of Namibia and Uganda.

China-Malawi Relations

The Diplomat published on 15 September 2017 an analysis titled "Malawi-China Diplomatic Ties: 10 Years On" by Raphael Mweninguwe, a freelance journalist based in Malawi.

Malawi broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan ten years ago and established ties with China. The author documents the infrastructure projects that China has built in Malawi over the past ten years but wonders if Malawi will, as a result, struggle with debt.

Saudi-Iranian Rivalry in Africa

The Middle East Institute in Washington published in September 2017 a policy paper titled "The Fight for Africa: The New Focus of the Saudi-Iranian Rivalry" by Gerald Feirstein, Middle East Institute, and Craig Greathead, University of St. Andrews.

The authors argue that Africa has become a competing arena between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Both states have turned their focus to the continent, developing ties with a number of African states in the economic and security arena.

Impact of High Level Visits on China-Africa Trade

The July 2017 issue of the Scottish Journal of Political Economy has an article titled "The Impact of Africa-China's Diplomatic Visits on Bilateral Trade" by Faqin Lin, Wenshou Yan, and Xiaosong Wang.

The authors argue that high level exchange visits between China and Africa stimulate China's exports to Africa in capital intensive manufacturing goods. They also found that state visits significantly increase official Chinese aid and exports by state-owned enterprises to African countries, which contributes to subsequent trade growth.

Botswana-China Relations

The Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University published in August 2017 a paper titled "A Study of Perspectives on How to Enhance Botswana-China Relations," by Frank Youngman, Botswana Open University.

The author concluded that although Botswana's relationship with China has positive dimensions, it also has significant tensions. Economic issues underlie the relationship while development assistance and formal political/diplomatic exchanges constitute important components of the state-to-state ties.

Re-engaging Sudan

The Atlantic Council published in July 2017 a report titled "Sudan: A Strategy for Re-engagement" by Mary Carlin Yates and Kelsey Lilley.

The report is intended to assist the Trump administration in identifying opportunities for a recalibrated strategy in Sudan and in determining what a successful US-Sudanese relationship could look like in ways that both serve US interests and encourage improved peace and security for Sudan.

China's Policy in South Sudan

The International Crisis Group published on 10 July 2017 a study titled "China's Foreign Policy Experiment in South Sudan."

Because of its oil interests in South Sudan, China has advocated a more flexible interpretation of the non-interference policy and taken a more proactive approach to its exercise of diplomacy. China continues to draw a line at intruding on matters of domestic governance; opposes regime change or unilateral military intervention; and believes that showing respect, rather than exerting pressure or inflicting punishment, is how to elicit cooperation and improvement in governance. But its considerable economic and political influence inevitably bring leverage to the table that traditional mediation efforts sometimes lack.

Eritrea-Ethiopia Relations

Foreign Policy published on 21 June 2017 an article titled "The Rehabilitation of Africa's Most Isolated Dictatorship" by Tom Gardner.

The article suggests that there is serious talk of a change in Addis Ababa on its policy towards Eritrea, with which it broke relations in 1998 and engaged in a two year war.

Somalia and the Limits of U.S. Bombing

The New York Times published on 25 May 2017 an oped titled "Somalia and the Limits of U.S. Bombing" by Jon Temin, Enough Project.

The author warns that increased U.S. military activity in Somalia, if that is the policy of the Trump administration, will have little positive impact (and possibly negative implications) unless it is coupled with a series of other steps.

South Sudan Seeks New Partners

World Politics Review published on 25 May 2017 an interview with Brian Adeba, Enough Project, titled "How South Sudan Is Trying to Mitigate Its Diplomatic Isolation."

Adeba notes that as South Sudan's relations with the United States and other traditional backers remain tense, Salva Kiir is seeking new partnerships with countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco.

Chinese Diplomats Expanding African Language Learning

Theoutline.com posted on 16 May 2017 a piece titled "Why China Is Trying to Learn Africa's Languages" by Michael Erard.

While foreign language learning is dropping at American and British universities, China is giving it more attention, including the learning of more obscure African languages. The Beijing Foreign Studies University is adding 11 new languages, including Tigrinya, Ndebele, and Comorian, to those that it already teaches.

China and the African Union

The Conversation published on 23 February 2017 a brief commentary titled "How the African Union's Planned Overhaul May Affect Its Ties with China" by Yu-Shan Wu, University of the Witwatersrand.

The commentary suggests that proposed AU reforms may result in a different approach to Africa's partnership summits with countries such as China and Japan.

China, Africa, US Engagement: What Is the Connection?

The Confucius Institute US Center posted on 18 April 2017 a 42 minute video titled "China, Africa, US Engagement: What Is the Connection?" with the following panelists: John Paden, George Mason University, Stephen O'Connell, Swarthmore College, and myself.

The topics covered included trade, Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, investment, education, diplomacy, security, anti-piracy, counterterrorism, peacekeeping, health, agriculture, soft power, special economic zones, and technology transfer. There were specific references to Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Mauritius.

China-Taiwan "Diplomatic Truce" Over

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission published on 9 February 2017 an issue brief titled "As Chinese Pressure on Taiwan Grows, Beijing Turns Away from Cross-Strait 'Diplomatic Truce'" by Matthew Southerland.

The analysis notes recent decisions by Gambia and Sao Tome and Principe to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, possible Chinese overtures to Burkina Faso to do the same, Nigeria's decision that required Taiwan to move its liaison office from the capital of Abuja to the commercial center of Lagos, and other evidence that suggests Beijing is stepping up pressure on Taiwan. The conclusion is that the "diplomatic truce" since 2008 between China and Taiwan not to encourage switches in diplomatic recognition is over. Only two African countries now recognize Taiwan and only 21 globally.