Ethiopia Insight published on 28 March 2026 a commentary titled "Ethiopia Heads to Elections Amid War and Instability" by Eyob Tilahun Abera, Mekelle University.
Ethiopia is scheduled to have national elections in June. Scattered conflict in Amhara, Tigray, and Oromia regions poses serious challenges to organizing and campaigning. The author argues that elections held under such conditions could deepen divisions within the country.
Friends of Socialist China posted on 25 March 2026 an article titled "South African Communist Party Visits China."
A delegation of the South African Communist Party (SACP) led by Solly Afrika Mapaila, the general secretary of the party, met in mid-March with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The SACP is part of the ruling coalition in South Africa.
The two parties agreed to strengthen communication, exchanges, and party building.
The Emirates Policy Center published on 27 March 2026 an analysis titled "Exacerbating the Risk of Fragility: Consequences of Iran War on the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa Region."
The Horn of Africa and Red Sea may become an arena for escalating regional and international conflict as Iran seeks to expand its confrontation with the US and Israel. It could escalate existing local conflicts, intensify competition by regional powers such as Türkiye and Egypt, and cause a recalibration of foreign policy alignments.
AEI's Critical Threat Africa File posted on 26 March 2026 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo, Liam Karr, and Elliot Nazar.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied SPLM-N have taken control of the southern part of Sudan's Blue Nile State, which borders Ethiopia. The UAE is now supplying the RSF through Ethiopia and across the border into Blue Nile State.
APA News published on 26 March 2026 an article titled "Over 80 Zimbabweans Lured into Russia-Ukraine War, 15 Killed."
Zimbabwe accused Russia of fraudulently recruiting its nationals to fight in the war with Ukraine. Fifteen Zimbabwe nationals have died in the war and the government in Harare is working to repatriate 66 others.
Kenya's The Star published on 24 March 2026 an article titled "Africa Needs a Harmonised Strategy to Enjoy China's Zero-Tariff Treatment, Expert Reveals" by Rading Biko.
To take full advantage of China's new zero tariff policy, African countries need to pursue a harmonized strategy, meet Chinese import standards, and encourage value addition to African exports.
Foreign Affairs published on 25 March 2026 an article titled "Why Russia Is Losing the Sahel" by Frederic Wehrey and Andrew S. Weiss, both at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
As Russia confronts shortcomings in its own capacity and the complexities of an environment it never fully understood, its expansion into the Sahel is on the verge of stalling, if not unraveling entirely. Moscow's initiatives should serve as a cautionary tale for other African states contemplating whether to accept Russian security assistance. This is also an opportunity for the United States to return.
Discovery Alert posted on 25 March 2026 an article titled "DRC Lithium Project: $1.4B Investment Transforming Africa's Mining Sector" by Muflih Hidayat.
China's Zijin Mining Group will have a 55 percent controlling interest in a $1.4 billion joint investment with the DRC government in a lithium mining project that will potentially contribute almost 5 percent of global mined lithium output by 2028.
The DRC project represents a paradigm shift in how international mining companies approach African mineral extraction. Rather than focus on raw material export, this approach integrates downstream processing capabilities directly into mining operations.
Ethiopia Insight published on 24 March 2026 a commentary titled "The Looming War to Eclipse the Horn's Past Conflicts" by Nebiyu Daniel Meshesha, former Ethiopian diplomat.
The author argues that earlier dynamics in the Horn of Africa that once fractured states and redrew borders now risk drawing Ethiopia into a similar spiral, with potentially profound consequences for the region. The Horn of Africa may once again find itself trapped in a cycle of conflict.
The Poynter Institute, a global non-profit focused on ethical journalism, published on 20 March 2026 an in-depth report titled "A Year After Trump Administration Cuts, Voice of America and Its Sister Outlets Are Mostly Shadows of Their Former Selves" by Angela Fu.
After being largely shut down for more than a year on orders from the Trump administration, a federal judge has allowed the Voice of America (VOA) and its sister organizations under the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to resume operations. The other outlets are the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the Middle East Broadcasting Network.
VOA had approximately 800 employees and 600 contractors in March 2025 broadcasting in 49 languages. Today it has about 130 total staff reporting in just 6 languages. The other employees, but not contractors, were placed on paid leave. Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the Middle East Broadcasting Network were able to continue limited broadcasting because, unlike VOA and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, they are independent organizations. But they lost funding and experienced major cuts.
The future of all of the broadcasting outlets remains uncertain. The biggest challenge will be to regain the trust of the audience that the VOA and other outlets had before the Trump administration tried to dismantle them.
Global Firepower has released its "2026 Military Strength Ranking" that evaluates 145 countries based on 60 factors in the categories of manpower, military equipment, finances, logistics, natural resources, and geography. The ranking included 38 of the 54 countries in Africa.
The ten highest ranked African countries were Egypt (19), Algeria (27). Nigeria (33), South Africa (40), Ethiopia (47), Morocco (56), Angola (59), DRC (64), Sudan (66), and Tunisia (79).
The Clash Report posted on 23 March 2026 an article titled "UAE Tries to Rewire Supply Routes to Sudan's RSF via Ethiopia & Central African Republic."
The United Arab Emirates is restructuring its logistical network to sustain supply lines to Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, shifting routes through Ethiopia and the Central African Republic as existing corridors in Chad and Libya face pressure.
Otto's Journal, a digital news publication based in New York, posted on 22 March 2026 an article titled "South Africa and China Strengthen Security Ties in 2026 Pretoria Summit" by Thabiso Mkhwanazi.
South Africa welcomed Chinese Vice President Han Zheng where discussions are expected to prioritize bilateral security cooperation, implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and South Africa's evolving role in a multipolar world as Pretoria navigates a complex relationship with the United States and deepens its ties with BRICS countries.
Reuters published on 19 March 2026 an article titled "Beijing Tells Chinese Firms to Strengthen Zimbabwe Risk Prevention after Mineral Export Ban."
The Chinese embassy in Harare warned Chinese mining companies to uphold local laws and regulations after Zimbabwe suspended exports of raw minerals and lithium concentrate.
Agence France Presse published on 21 March 2026 an article titled "Kenya, Uganda Open Rail Extension Burdened by Chinese Debt."
The completion of the Chinese-built and financed standard-gauge railway from the port of Mombasa to Naivasha, which was originally intended to reach Kampala, Uganda, has become a major priority for both leaders. The presidents of Kenya and Uganda recently met to discuss the railway extension.
Chinese companies will build the extension, which Kenya will finance by borrowing against future cargo taxes.
China-Africa Security Radar published on 21 March 2026 an article titled "Guinea's New Safe City Deal Pushes China's Surveillance Footprint to Nearly Half of Africa."
Guinea obtained a loan from China's Export-Import Bank to install urban surveillance systems across 324 sites in 8 cities. The stated purpose is to enhance public security, emergency response, urban planning, and governance.
At least 26 African countries now have Chinese safe city systems either operational, planned, or stalled. A key feature of these systems is facial recognition. The systems are often installed in a weak regulatory environment leaving them open to abuse.
LN24 International published on 20 March 2025 an article titled "South Africa Imposes Steep Tariffs on Structural Steel Imports from China, Thailand."
South Africa imposed a tariff of 75 percent on structural steel imports from China following evidence of persistent dumping by Chinese companies. It also imposed a 20 percent tariff on imports from Thailand. The goal is to protect South African steel producers. China has not yet responded.
The Washington Post published on 18 March 2026 an editorial titled "Ethiopia Starts to Bury Its Marxist Past."
The editorial comments favorably on floating Ethiopia's currency in mid-2024, allowing foreign banks to operate in the country for the first time, launching the first stock exchange of the modern era, and, especially, an ambitious privatization effort.
While it also notes some serious challenges facing Ethiopia, it concludes that opening the economy can help make everything else easier for a country that has failed to live up to its potential for too long.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 17 March 2026 an analysis titled "Chinese State-Owned Enterprises and Market Capture in Africa" by Paul Nantulya.
China has the largest state-owned enterprise (SOE) sector in the world, accounting for about 20 percent of China's GDP. African economic sectors such as mining, railways, and power generation can become dominated by large Chinese SOEs. They can then out compete African companies and other investors, create supply chain dependence on Chinese firms, and reduce the bargaining power of African governments.
Gallup just released its "World Happiness Report 2026" that assesses 147 countries from 2023 through 2025. The 2026 edition highlights the role social media plays in social connection, trust, and shared experiences worldwide.
The happiest African countries based on the social media focus were Mauritius (73), Libya (81), Algeria (83), Mozambique (93), and Gabon (96). The least happy African countries were DRC (140), Botswana (143), Zimbabwe (144), Malawi (145), and Sierra Leone (146).
Comment: There are surprises, at least for me, at both ends of the scale. The focus on social media probably accounts for them
Diplobrief Media posted on 19 March 2026 an article titled "EU Takes on China in Africa's Digital Race with Inaugural Global Gateway Deal in Kenya."
The European Union moved to counter China's growing influence in Africa's digital space. As part of its Global Gateway strategy, the EU launched a new technology partnership with Kenya to deepen collaboration in telecommunications infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and e-governance.
AEI's Critical Threats Africa File posted on 19 March 2026 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo and Elliot Nazar.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has consolidated control in western Sudan while the Sudan Armed Forces made gains in southeastern Sudan. External actors continue to fuel the conflict.
The International Crisis Group posted on 19 March 2026 a 36-minute podcast titled "What Is Really Going on in the Horn?" with Alan Boswell and Moses Chrispus Okello, Institute of Security Studies.
The drivers of conflict and instability in the Horn of Africa are no longer confined to the Horn, which is being absorbed into the geopolitical arena of the Red Sea and Gulf States. External actors are contributing to fragmentation in the Horn that is rooted in domestic politics.
Landlocked Ethiopia is key to stability in the region because it borders all other countries in the Horn, is the most populous, and is now trying to obtain access to the Red Sea.
Discovery Alert posted on 18 March 2026 an article titled "US Push into DRC Copper and Cobalt Reshapes Global Mineral Security" by Muflih Hidayat.
US Project Vault is a $30 billion critical minerals investment framework. Rather than purchasing minerals on the international market, the US strategy involves deep capital investment in extraction, processing, and transportation infrastructure.
This contrasts with China's approach. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, Chinese entities control 15 major copper/cobalt operations representing billions of dollars in infrastructure investment accumulated over two decades. This strategy has created supply chains that flow predominantly to China, limiting Western access to critical minerals.
The comparison between Chinese billions already invested and American strategic financing reveals the challenge facing Western countries. China's established infrastructure relationships and operational experience provide significant advantages that cannot be overcome through financial resources alone.
African Arguments posted on 4 March 2026 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Smaller Wars: Destitution, Conflict Escalation, and Military Abuses in Lower Omo" by Lucie Buffavand.
Me'en and Mun people (also known as Bodi and Mursi) are agro-pastoralists who live in the lower Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia. These two small ethnic groups have been engaged in conflict since 2023. Cattle rustling and competition for food is behind much of the conflict.
