Commentaries
Congo’s political crisis after 19 December
Protests and arrests have been centred on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s major cities, but we should also pay attention to more rural areas. This commentary was first published in […]
Africa
As a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we are seeing a renewed Global Powers competition and an increasingly acute energy crisis. These developments have put the African continent centre stage again in international relations. Understanding how political and security developments within Africa shape the continent, as well as its position on the international scene, is a core objective of the Africa Programme.
In line with this aim, we contribute to increased knowledge and shape policy debates on, and in, Africa by organising expert seminars and providing in-depth research on: military interventions and security collaborations; the politics of elections; peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts; the political economy of mining, and the development of women, peace and the security agenda, with a particular focus on the Great Lakes and the Sahel region.
Drawing on our own expertise, as well as a wide network of national and international research institutes, public authorities, and NGOs, makes the Africa Programme a central authority on matters related to Africa on a national, regional and global level.
Publications
Africa Uprising? The protests, the drivers, the outcomes
The number of popular protests in Africa has increased significantly since the mid-2000s, reaching its peak in recent years. To what extent can this surge challenge sitting governments or even […]
The slow demise of the ANC: Political change, economic decline, and state of corruption in South Africa
The primary consequence of South Africa’s August municipal elections has been the relegation of the once-dominant ANC party to a predominantly rural party that holds onto power through alliances with […]
External publications
The Rationales behind the EAC Members’ Response to the Burundi Crisis
The crisis in Burundi has exposed regional divisions and underlined the lack of dependable behaviors and common norms among EAC members. Nkurunziza’s internationally uncontested bid for a third term risks […]
Katanga: Congo’s perpetual trouble spot
Katanga, a former province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has experienced several periods of violent social and political upheaval since the colonial era. Multiple cleavages, Katanga’s mineral wealth, […]
It’s not all about the land’: Land disputes and conflict in the eastern Congo
Land disputes are considered both key sources and perpetuating factors of conflict in the eastern DRC. Over the years, scholars and practitioners have identified a number of critical land-related factors […]