Ethiopia: A Song Upends a Country

 Ethiopia Insight published on 16 May 2026 a commentary titled "Teddy Afro's Mourning Tent and Ethiopia's Fractured National Imagination" by Belete Addis Yemata, University of Melbourne.

Teddy Afro's new album Etorika and especially the opening song, Das Tal (loosely meaning "pitch the tent"), has drawn more than 140 million views on You Tube and ignited political arguments throughout the Ethiopian community.  Reactions to Das Tal exposed political loyalty, politico-religious alignment, competing ideas of Ethiopia, and different opinions about Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.  

Partition Is Not the Answer to the Sudan Conflict

 Foreign Affairs published on 8 April 2026 an article titled "Don't Partition Sudan Again: Splitting It Didn't Work in the Past and Won't Work Now" by Francis M. Deng and Ahmed Kodouda.

Both the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) insist they are fighting to preserve a unified Sudan, but the longer the current geographical division persists, the harder it will be to put the country together again.  

The 2011 independence of South Sudan offers a cautionary tale.  Any effort to formalize the split between the SAF and RSF-controlled parts of Sudan would not resolve the conflict's root causes.  Another partition of Sudan would also destabilize its neighbors.    

Allegations Russian Orthodox Church Recruits Kenyans for War Against Ukraine

 Religion News Service posted on 17 February 2026 an article titled "Watchdogs Say Russian Church Helped Recruit Young Kenyans Who Have Fought in Ukraine" by Frederick Nzwili.

There are reports that the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) branch in Kenya played a role in a few cases recruiting Kenyans to go to Russia and who eventually ended up on the front line of the war against Ukraine.  The ROC denies that it sent any Kenyans to Russia to fight in Ukraine.

Illegal Chinese Mining in Nigeria Results in Dustup with US

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 16 February 2026 an analysis titled "Beijing Rejects U.S. Allegations of Financing Terror in Nigeria's Illegal Mining Sector--The Reality Is More Complex."

Prominent Republican members of the US Congress have sponsored a bill that alleges Chinese individuals and companies involved in illegal mining pay "protection money" to Fulani militias and other armed groups to secure access to lithium and gold deposits.  The bill links these militias to terrorist violence that has impacted Nigerian Christian communities.

The Chinese embassy in Abuja issued a strongly worded statement refuting allegations that Chinese nationals are funding militant groups to gain access to minerals in Nigeria's Middle Belt and northwestern region.  

China-Africa Security Radar concludes that it is generally agreed there is illegal Chinese mining in Nigeria, but the culprits are pragmatically paying "rent" to armed groups to access the minerals.

Nigeria Is Turning into a US-China Battleground

 Foreign Policy published on 20 November 2025 a commentary titled "Nigeria Is Turing into a U.S.-China Battleground" by Patrick Egwu, a Nigerian-born freelance journalist based in Toronto.

After President Donald Trump threatened military action against Nigeria over the alleged persecution of Christians by Islamic insurgents, China has stepped in to oppose Trump's actions--deepening the contest between Washington and Beijing for the allegiance of Africa's most populous country.

Ethiopia: Yet Another Proposal for Tigray Region

 Ethiopia Insight published on 15 November 2025 a commentary titled "A Third Way in Tigray" by Getachew Gebrekiros Temare.

The author argues that Ethiopia has failed to implement the Pretoria Agreement and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has squandered its mandate.  His solution to the deteriorating situation in Tigray Region is creation of a broad-based civic-political alternative called the Tigray National Civic Coalition (TNCC).  It must include representatives from groups that oppose the TPLF, which the author says would go into retirement.    

Understanding Nigeria and President Trump's Threat to Engage Militarily

 The Hudson Institute published in November 2025 an analysis titled "A Better Understanding of Nigeria's Problems" by James Barnett.  

This is a reasoned analysis of the current situation in Nigeria and useful discussion of President Trump's recent social media post to send US troops into Nigeria "guns-a-blazing."  The author concludes: "Insisting on a heightened and visible military posture would face international risk and political resistance within Nigeria."

US-Nigeria Relations Hit a New Low

 The International Crisis Group published on 7 November 2025 an analysis titled "Why Is President Trump Threatening a Humanitarian Intervention in Nigeria?" by Nnamdi Obasi, the Crisis Group's senior adviser for Nigeria.  

The author reviews the background of President Trump's threat to engage militarily in Nigeria to protect Christians and describes the current situation in the country.  He points out that the US-Nigerian rift has brought bilateral ties to their lowest point since the 1970s, when the two countries were at odds on how to end apartheid in South Africa.

Trump's Nigeria Delusion

 World Politics Review published on 6 November 2025 a commentary titled "Trump's Nigeria Delusion."

The commentary reviews Boko Haram's jihadi attacks in Nigeria and compares President Trump's proposed response similar to his striking of small boats off Venezuela.  The commentary concludes: "Trumps crusade in Nigeria is detached from a realistic understanding of what is happening there.  In this case it seems to be the product of lobbying from evangelical Christians among his MAGA base."

Why Is Trump Threatening Nigeria?

 The BBC published on 6 November 2025 an article titled "Are Christians Being Persecuted in Nigeria as Trump Claims?" by Olaronke Alo, Chiamaka Enendu, and Ijeoma Ndukwe.

President Trump's claim that Nigeria, which is about equally divided between Muslims and Christians, is persecuting Christians apparently stems from attacks in northern Nigeria by the jihadi organization Boko Haram that began in 2009.  The BBC looks at the numbers killed over the years and concludes Boko Haram probably has killed more Muslims than Christians.  In any event, the government of Nigeria strongly opposes Boko Haram.  

China Opposes US Threats against Nigeria

 Arise News, a Nigerian world news channel, posted on 4 November 2025 an article titled "China Warns US Against Interfering in Nigeria's Affairs after Trump's Military Threat" by Faridah Abdulkadiri.  

President Trump in a post on Truth Social requested the US Department of War to prepare for possible military action against Nigeria if it continues to allow the killing of Christians. The spokesperson for China's foreign ministry responded: "As Nigeria's comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries internal affairs and threatening other countries with sanctions and force."

Comment:  President Trump's threat is a headscratcher.  Nigeria has faced a long-standing threat from the Boko Haram terrorist organization that has killed many Christians and Muslims in northern Nigeria. The government of Nigeria strongly opposes Boko Haram and has even received some American assistance over the years to counter the organization.   

The Russian Orthodox Church Comes to Africa

 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published on 15 October 2024 a commentary titled "Russia's Influence in Africa: The Role of the Russian Orthodox Church" by Charles A. Ray.

In December 2021, The Russian Orthodox Church established the patriarchate Exarchate of Africa with two dioceses: the South African Diocese with 24 countries under its jurisdiction and the North African Diocese with 31 countries.  The Russian Orthodox Church reportedly opened more than 200 parishes between December 2021 and July 2023.  

The Church's actions are aligned with Vladimir Putin's goal of expanding the Kremlin's influence in Africa.  Kremlin-backed entities financially support the Church.  

The Many Faces of Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed

 Foreign Policy published on 6 September 2024 an essay titled "The Many Faces of Abiy Ahmed" by Tom Gardner, Africa correspondent for The Economist.

This essay is adapted from the book published in 2024 and titled The Abiy Project: God, Power and War in the New Ethiopia by Tom Gardner.  The author argues there are many Abiy Ahmeds: the aspiring emperor longing for a glorious past, a forward-looking modernizer, a Pentecostal Putin both pragmatic and Machiavellian, a Christian nationalist, and a corporate CEO.  Abiy is convinced he was sent by God to rule Ethiopia.  

Russian Orthodox Church Is Extending Influence in Africa

 Foreign Policy published on 12 March 2024 an article titled "Russia Is Waging Spiritual War in Africa" by Elisabeth Braw.

The Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church is wooing priests away from the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Egypt and elsewhere in Africa.  The defections are designed to bolster Russian influence in Africa.  

Chinese Company Builds Largest Mosque in Africa

 Al-Monitor published on 26 February 2024 an article titled "What We Know about Algeria's Mega Mosque, the Largest in Africa" by Adam Lucente.

After years of controversy, Algeria recently inaugurated the Great Mosque of Algiers, the largest in Africa and third largest in the world.  Built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation, the company also extended the Algiers airport and is building the business district of Egypt's new administrative capital.  

Religion in Ethiopia

 The Rift Valley Institute and the Peace Research Facility published in 2023 a study titled "Religion in Contemporary Ethiopia: History, Politics and Inter-Religious Relations" by Jorg Haustein, Abduletif Kedir Idris, and Diego Maria Malara.  

Religion has made a political comeback in Ethiopia under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and is once again part of the political discourse.  Religious affiliation in Ethiopia is part of a multi-layered nexus incorporating ethnicity and other, secondary, social characteristics, such as occupation or class.

The study provides an overview of the politics of religion since the making of the modern Ethiopian nation state in the nineteenth century.  It surveys the four most important faith groups in Ethiopia--Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Protestantism/Pentecostalism, and traditional religions.  Finally, it explores inter-religious relations. 

Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas in Washington

 The Washington Post published on 7 January 2024 an article titled "A Candlelit Orthodox Christmas in D.C. with an Ethiopian Vibe" by Jenna Portnoy.  

The article describes an Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Christmas on 7 January in Washington at the Debre Meheret Kedus Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral.  

Video on Ethiopia's Goal to Access the Sea

 Joseph Pisenti, an American YouTuber in Dallas, Texas, who uses the name RealLifeLore recently posted a 50-minute video titled "Why Ethiopia Is Preparing to Invade Eritrea Next."  

This is a summary of Ethiopian history, demography, religion, and ethnicity leading up to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's expression of the need for landlocked Ethiopia to have access to the Red Sea.  

Religion in Contemporary Ethiopia

 The Rift Valley Institute and the Peace Research Facility published on 29 May 2023 a study titled "Religion in Contemporary Ethiopia: History, Politics and Inter-Religious Relations" by Jorg Haustein, Abduletif Kedir Idris, and Diego Malara.  

Religion in Ethiopia has made a political comeback under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.  Religion is once again part of political discourse, whether it be in defining political constituencies, demarcating differences, or articulating visions of Ethiopian unity.  This 67-page review offers a comprehensive introduction to the current religious situation in Ethiopia.  

Divisions in Ethiopian Orthodox Church Add to Country's Woes

 The Washington Post published on 12 April 2023 an article titled "Divisions in Ethiopia's Ancient Church Pose New Threat to War-weary Country" by Katharine Houreld.

Regional and ethnic differences among Oromo, Amhara, and Tigrayans within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are adding to disunity in Ethiopia.