China Gifts Kenya a Foreign Ministry

 The Brief posted on 9 April 2026 an article titled "China to Build Kenya's Foreign Affairs Headquarters in Landmark Aid Deal."

Kenya has signed a grant agreement with the China International Development Cooperation Agency paving the way for Beijing to construct a new headquarters for the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.  

While the project underscores deepening bilateral ties, it raises sovereignty concerns.  Critics warn that allowing a foreign power to finance and construct the headquarters of a ministry responsible for diplomacy and the handling of classified communications could pose security and sovereignty risks.

Exodus of Chinese Ambassadors from West Africa

 The South China Morning Post published on 22 June 2025 an article titled "Routine or Rising Tensions? Chinese Ambassadors in Exodus from West African Nations" by Jevans Nyabiage.

Chinese ambassadors in Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger returned to Beijing at about the same time.  It raises the question whether their return was coincidental or is intended to send some kind of subtle message to the region.  

The Implications of a USAID Shutdown

 Brookings published on 4 February 2025 a series of essays titled "Implications of a USAID Shutdown."

This is a series of short essays by a variety of experts on how the Trump administration's dismantling of USAID will impact US foreign policy.  The introduction, written several days ago, suggests the administration may be walking back the dismantlement.  More recent information suggests this is not the case.  On the contrary, it appears to be stepping up the disintegration of the organization.  

Somalia Calls for End of UN Political Mission

 The Voice of America published on 9 May 2024 an article titled "Somalia Calls for Termination of UN Political Mission" by Mohamed Olad Hassan.

The Somali government has unexpectedly asked the UN Security Council to terminate the 360-member UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) when its mandate expires in October.  The UNSC established UNSOM in 2013 and its mandate has been renewed more than 15 times.  

The text of the 9 May 2024 letter from the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to the president of the UN Security Council calls for a transition of UNSOM to a traditional UN country team.  

Chinese Foreign Minister's Visit to Egypt and Tunisia

 China Med posted on 24 January 2024 an article titled "Wang Yi's First Trip of 2024 According to the Egyptian and Tunisian Press" by Mariateresa Natuzzi.  

The recent visit of China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Egypt and Tunisia underscored China's wide range of engagement with Egypt and the focus only on tourism in Tunisia.  There was a steady growth in Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Egypt from 2003 through 2022.  During the same period, FDI has remained almost non-existent in Tunisia.  

New US Ambassador to Somalia

Garowe Online published on 30 March 2023 an article titled "US President Joe Biden Appoints New Ambassador to Somalia." 

Richard H. Riley, a career officer currently at the U.S. embassy in Ottawa, Canada, has been named by President Biden to replace Larry Andre, who reportedly is returning to Washington.  

The White House announced the appointment in a press release dated 27 March 2023.  It contains the  background of ambassador-designate Riley, who has served in a number of hardship posts but none in Africa.  

New US Embassy Head in Ethiopia

 Diplopundit published on 1 February 2022 an article titled "US Amb. to Ethiopia Geeta Pasi to Retire, Amb. Tracey Ann Jacobson to be CDA."

The State Department announced that US ambassador to Ethiopia, Geeta Pasi, is retiring and will be replaced by career Foreign Service Officer, Tracey Ann Jacobson as charge d'affaires a.i.  Jacobson retired in 2017 after serving as ambassador to Kosovo, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.  

Comment:  Ambassador Pasi served in Addis Ababa for one year of a normal three year tour.  It is also unusual to appoint an outside, senior charge d'affaires rather than move the deputy chief of mission into that slot.  The Department obviously envisages a long process in getting another ambassador to Addis Ababa during a difficult time in U.S.-Ethiopian relations.

Russian Influence on African Members of UN Security Council

 The South African Institute of International Affairs published on 26 October 2021 a study titled "Walking the Bear? Russia and the A3 in the UN Security Council" by Priyal Singh and Gustavo de Carvalho.

The popular perception is that the three African states that are members of the UN Security Council have been strongly influenced by Russian positions.  Based on UNSC voting patterns from 2014-2020, the study concluded that Russia's influence over the three African members is often exaggerated or misplaced.  

US-Ethiopian Relations in Downward Spiral

 CNN published on 2 November 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia on Verge of Losing Access to Lucrative US Trade Program over Human Rights Violations" by Jennifer Hansler.

This article suggests steps are underway in Washington that will have the effect of further depressing US ties with Ethiopia.  So far, there is no indication that either Addis Ababa or the TPLF is interested in responding in a manner that could stop the downward spiral.  

China's Reaction to Sudan Coup

 The China Africa Project posted on 27 October 2021 an interview titled "What's at Stake for China in Sudan" by Eric Olander with Luke Patey, Danish Institute  for International Studies and author of a book on Sudan and South Sudan.

Patey concludes that China's approach to the military coup d'etat in Sudan will be to prioritize stability, but until it is clear which side will prevail China will keep open lines of communication to various power sources in Sudan's government, military, and Islamists.  The author adds that China's tens of billions in investment and finance in the two Sudans did not pave the way for peace and stability.   

Kenya-Somalia Ties after UN Court Decision

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 15 October 2021 an analysis titled "UN Court Decision a Fresh Test for Kenya-Somalia Ties" by Meron Elias.

An ICG expert discusses the potential impact on Kenya-Somalia relations of the recent International Court of Justice decision that upheld Somalia's claims of a long-running maritime border dispute between the two countries.  

Congressional Hearing on Eritrea

Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing titled "Eritrea: A Neglected Regional Threat" on 14 September 2016.

Persons testifying were Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Father Habtu Ghebre-Ab, Canonical Eritrean Orthodox Church in Diaspora, Khaled Beshir, Awate Foundation, and Bronwyn Bruton, Deputy Director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council. A video of the hearing and the full statements of those testifying are available on-line.

Somaliland: Progress towards a Regional and International Role

Chatham House in London hosted on 31 October 2013 Mohamed Bihi Yonis, Somaliland's foreign minister, and Hersi Ali Hassan, Somaliland's minister of presidential affairs.  It published a summary of their remarks in a document titled "Somaliland: Progress towards a Regional and International Role." 

The Somaliland representatives briefed on developments n Somaliland and priorities for the government, including progress on the new voter registration system and ties between Somaliland and Somalia.  They also discussed how Somaliland can engage more effectively with the international community.