African Country Military Strength Ranking

 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).

Mapping China's Maritime Strategy

 The National Bureau of Asian Research published on 1 August 2024 an essay titled "Geography Matters, Time Collides: Mapping China's Maritime Strategic Space Under Xi" by Andrew Erickson.

The author uses maps as visual references for understanding China's evolving maritime geography and the constraints on its power in the maritime domain.  Concerning Africa, he identifies potential PLAN ports in Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and Mauritania.  Constraints on the projection of Chinese sea power in African waters are long distances from China and choke points such as Bab el Mandeb in the Red Sea.

South Africa Is a Cheap Date for China

 The Daily Maverick published on 27 August 2023 a commentary titled "South Africa's Strange Obsession with China Is Proof That It's a Cheap Date" by Greg Mills and Ray Hartley.

South Africa has more in common with India than China, but its African National Congress (ANC) government is tripping over itself to align with the latter.  The ANC appears hypnotized by China's ordered, state-led government, which controls civil society.  South Africa is demonstrating that it is a cheap date.  

Can India Match China in Africa?

 The Aljazeera Centre for Studies, an independent research institution, published on 4 July 2023 a commentary titled "In Its Quest for More Engagement with the Continent, Can India Match China in Africa?" by Hakeem Alade Najimdeen, a Nigerian researcher.  

The author concluded that India is not yet able to challenge China's influence in Africa but given its geographic and cultural proximity to Africa, as well as the appeal of its cuisine and cinema, India's people-centered diplomacy may be a key advantage in the long run.  

Challenges for People's Liberation Army to Obtain Access to the Indian Ocean Region

 The Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College Press published in July 2022 an edited volume titled Enabling a More Externally Focused and Operational PLA  that contains a chapter (#4, pp. 67-87) titled "The People's Liberation Army and Operational Access in the Indian Ocean Region: Geographic Constraints and Lessons from the Cold War" by David Brewster.  

The chapter examines challenges faced by the People's Liberation Army in obtaining operational access to the Indian Ocean region.  It focuses on how China's strategic imperatives may drive the army's future presence, bearing in mind the geographic constraints particular to the region and the Soviet experience during the Cold War.  

Sudan: A Country Study

The Library of Congress published in 2015 a book titled Sudan: A Country Study edited by LaVerle Berry.  It is a comprehensive study on the history, geography, government, politics, economy, foreign relations and society of Sudan.  Although most of the writing for this effort ended several years ago, it offers a useful compendium of information about Sudan before the separation of South Sudan.  I wrote chapter 4: Government and Politics.

Ethiopia: Bibliography of Key Works

Oxford Bibliographies asked me last year to prepare a bibliography of key works about Ethiopia.  The bibliography titled "Ethiopia" has been published.  The first several pages are available without subscription.  To access the entire bibliography it is necessary to subscribe or access a university on-line subscription.  Oxford Bibliographies prepares bibliographies on most countries and many global issues.  If you are not familiar with this resource, I urge that you explore it through a university subscription.  All contributions to the series are extensively peer reviewed.  My final version of the Ethiopia bibliography looks considerably different than the first draft.  

Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia - Second Edition

Scarecrow Press/Rowman & Littlefield

The second edition of our Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia will be published in April 2013 by Scarecrow Press.

This 692 page hard-back book is a completely revised and updated version of the 2004 edition.

It contains an historical chronology, introductory overview of Ethiopia, extensive bibliography, and individual entries for key historical events, personalities, ethnic groups, current issues and geographical features.