How China and the US Pursue African Critical Minerals

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 3 August 2026 an article titled "Fragmented Leverage: Why African States Call for Collective Bargaining but Prefer Bilateralism in Critical Minerals Negotiations" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah.

The author explains how China and the United States seek advantage with African countries in bilateral negotiations in their quest for critical minerals.  China exploits bilateral negotiations through processing dominance and bundled infrastructure-mineral deals.  The United States pursues selective frameworks and corridor diplomacy.  

Diplomatic Solution Language Eludes Sudan Cease Fire Talks

 The International Crisis Group published on 17 April 2026 a statement titled "Latest Sudan Conference Shows Diplomacy Is Backsliding" by Comfort Ero and Alan Boswell.

Officials who gathered in Berlin on 15 April pledged 1.5 billion Euros for humanitarian aid to Sudan but failed to agree on a joint communique.  Blame for the inability to agree on a common approach to achieve a cease fire resulted because of differences in the US-led Quad, which includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.

Negotiations foundered over Saudi Arabia's insistence on language stressing the need to preserve "state institutions", which would include Sudan's army, and the UAE's opposition to it.  The intra-Quad discord highlights the challenges facing US-led efforts to secure a truce, which are backsliding amid deteriorating relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Sudan Peace Talks Apparently Stalled

 The International Crisis Group published on 13 April 2026 an analysis titled "Divided Sudan, Elusive Peace."

Negotiations aimed at a cease fire in Sudan appear stalled amid a row between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and the distraction of the war in Iran.  The Sudan civil war risks becoming a regional conflict.  This is the occasion, however, for the Quad (US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) to step up efforts to revive the peace process.  

Ethiopia-China Debt Talks

 The Ethiopian News Agency posted on 3 April 2026 an article titled "Landmark Ethiopia-China Talks Unlock Debt Deal, New Airport Financing."

Discussions between the Ethiopian and Chinese ministers of finance "marked a meaningful step" in restructuring Ethiopia's existing debt stock.  They reportedly reached agreement on debt treatment but did not sign a final agreement.

Ethiopia Today published on 3 April 2026 an article titled "From Dollars to Yuan: Ethiopia and China Move Toward a New Era of Financial Cooperation."

Reporting on a meeting between the governors of the National Bank of Ethiopia and the People's Bank of China, this account said the two countries are exploring an aggressive shift toward the Chinese Renminbi (RMB) to bypass the U.S. dollar in bilateral trade.

Negotiated End to Sudan Conflict Appears More Intractable

 Aljazeera published on 25 December 2025 an article titled "'No Negotiations, No Truce' with RSF, Says Senior Sudan Official" by Maziar Motamedi.

A senior official in Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council has ruled out any negotiations with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.  All current efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict appear to be stalled.  

Ethiopia and Egypt Blame Each Other for Failure of Dam Negotiations

 The New Arab published on 20 December 2023 an article titled "Egypt, Ethiopia Trade Blame as Nile Dam Talks Fail."

Egypt and Ethiopia recently completed another round of talks in Addis Ababa concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile.  They did not result in any significant progress and both sides blamed the other for the failure.  

Sudan's Feuding Generals Accept Principle of Talks

 The Associated Press published on 10 December 2023 n article titled "Sudan's Generals Agree to Meet in Effort to End their Devastating War, A Regional Bloc Says" by Samy Magdy.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development announced that Sudan Armed Forces General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo agreed to the principle of meeting within 15 days in order to pave the way for confidence-building measures that would eventually lead to political talks to end the conflict in Sudan.  

Sudan Talks On Civilian Government Hit Roadblock

 Reuters published on 30 March 2023 an article titled "Sudanese Talks Hit Roadblock Over Security Sector Reform."

Talks in Sudan aimed at reaching a final agreement to name a civilian government and hold elections hit a wall over the issue of restructuring the military, which currently controls the government.  Disagreement over integrating the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the regular military is the apparent problem.  The regular army wants this integration to take place within 2 years; the RSF wants 10 years.   

Ethiopia: Negotiations with the Oromo Liberation Army?

 Ethiopia Insight published on 29 March 2023 a commentary titled "Ethiopian Government and the Oromo Liberation Army Edge Towards Talks" by Ermias Tasfaye, Ethiopia Insight reporter based in Oromia.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that a committee has been formed to negotiate with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which has been seeking autonomy for Oromia.  The OLA left open the possibility of internationally-mediated peace talks.  

Nile Water Talks Stalled

 Al-Monitor published on 27 September 2022 an article titled "Egypt Warns of Stalemate in Nile Dam Dispute."

Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia have not been able to reach agreement on the resumption of talks concerning the release of water behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia.  

Ethiopia: Give Peace a Chance

 Ethiopia's The Reporter published on 30 July 2022 an editorial titled "Give Peace a Chance!"  This is a particularly thoughtful commentary on the immediate steps that need to be taken in order to move forward the Ethiopian peace process.  

Sudan Negotiations Begin Inauspiciously

 The Associated Press published on 8 June 2022 an article titled "Talks to End Sudan Crisis Begin as Anti-coup Groups Boycott" by Samy Magdy.

Talks are underway in Sudan to end the differences between the military, which controls the government, and civilians, who are pressing for a transition to democratic, civilian rule.  Unfortunately, the Forces for Freedom and Change are boycotting the process.  

China-Benin Business Negotiations

 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published in April 2022 a study titled "Negotiating Local Business Practices with China in Benin" by Folashade Soule.  

The study shows how Chinese and Beninese authorities negotiated the establishment of a business center in the capital of Benin and, above all, how Beninese authorities made Chinese negotiators adapt to local labor, construction, and legal norms and put pressure on their Chinese counterparts.

Door for Negotiations in Ethiopia Opens a Crack

 The Associated Press published on 26 January 2022 an article titled "Diaspora Group: Ethiopia PM Open to Talks with Tigray Forces" by Cara Anna.  

Following a private meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee said Abiy is open to negotiations with Tigray forces.  

Ethiopia: Terms for Talks (Maybe) with TPLF

 Agence France Presse published on 11 November 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia Sets Out Terms of Possible Talks with Tigray Rebels" by Robbie Corey-Boulet.  

The government of Ethiopia says before there can be talks with the TPLF, there are three conditions.  The TPLF must stop attacks, pull out of Amhara and Afar regions, and recognize the legitimacy of the Abiy Ahmed government.  The Ethiopian government spokesperson added, however, that even if these conditions are met, no decision has been made to enter into negotiations.  The TPLF responded that pulling out of Amhara and Afar before talks begin is "an absolute non-starter."

Debate on Potential US Sanctions for Ethiopia

 Aljazeera's "Inside Story" ran a half hour program on 18 September 2021 titled "Will Threat of Sanctions End the Conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray?" with Imran Khan.

Following a lead-in by Aljazeera, the program was a discussion with Zelalem Moges. international lawyer and commentator on Ethiopian politics, William Davison, senior analyst for Ethiopia with the International Crisis Group, and myself.  The focus of the discussion was the rationale for and likely impact of potential sanctions recently announced by the United States. 

An Ethiopian Interpretation of Egypt's Negotiating Position on the Blue Nile Dam

 Horn of Africa Insight posted on 29 April 2021 a commentary titled "The Pitfalls of Egypt's Securitization of the GERD" by Gashew Ayferam Endaylalu, Addis Ababa University.  

The author argues that Egypt has approached negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as if it is a threat to its entitlement of 55.5 billion cubic meters of water annually even during years when mother nature provides record low levels of water in the Nile based on a 1959 treaty that excluded Ethiopia.  Ethiopia, on the other hand, sees the negotiations as an effort to achieve an equitable use of Nile water as a shared resource.  

Ethiopia: A Moral Appeal to End Hostilities

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 22 November 2020 a commentary titled "A Moral Appeal to End Hostilities" by Genenew Assefa, former senior civil servant.

The author argues that both sides bear responsibility for the ongoing tragedy in Ethiopia.  In the absence of a cease fire followed by compromise, Ethiopia is in for a seismic humanitarian crisis.   

Interview with US Ambassador to Somalia

The CTC Sentinel published in its April 2020 edition an interview titled "A View from the CT Foxhole: Donald Yamamoto, United States Ambassador to Somalia."

The interview focuses on U.S. relations with Somalia and especially what needs to be done to deal with the al-Shabaab terrorist organization.

Sudan Needs Women at the Negotiating Table

The Institute for Security Studies published on 6 August 2019 a commentary titled "Sudan Needs Women at Its Negotiating Table" by Liezelle Kumalo and Cassie Roddy-Mullineaux.

Sudanese women played a major role in the pro-democracy movement that set Sudan on a possible path to a democratic transition. The authors argue that women should now be included in the negotiating process.