The importance of African cities as economic, political and social actors is increasing. While Africa used to be perceived as a predominantly rural continent, it is estimated that by 2050, the urban population of the continent will increase by around 900 million people,...
Sub-Saharan Africa
Founded in 2007, the Sub-Saharan Africa Center of the French Institute of International Relations - Ifri works to address the cross-disciplinary issues that the African continent is facing. The Center achieves its mission through quality analyses available in various formats.
Aimed at renewing interpretative frameworks and nurturing public debate, the Center’s expertise offers helpful tools for policy-makers in Africa. The Center also provides analyses for some key actors in Africa such as the French Ministry of the Armed Forces (Ministère des Armées), the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères), International Crisis Group, the OECD or the World Bank.
Launched in 2008, l’Afrique en questions covers topics of broad and current interest. In addition, the Policy Papers and Reports published by the Center provide more comprehensive analyses. These publications are combined with public events where politicians, academics, companies and civil society can promote dialogue about Africa and share analytical tools.
Afrique Décryptages, the Sub-Saharan Africa Center’s blog, provides information regarding the Center's activities, publication announcements, conference reports, and links to the Center's research fellows’ public appearances. Afrique Décryptages also works as a forum where the research fellows share their opinions about topical issues and stimulate debates and discussions.
Research Fellow, Director of Ifri's Sub-Saharan Africa Center
...Research Fellow, Coordinator of the Governing the Urban Transition in Africa research program, Ifri's Sub-Saharan Africa Center
...Associate Research Fellow, Sub-Saharan Africa Center / Center for Energy and Climate
...Associate Research Fellow, Sub-Saharan Africa Center and Turkey/Middle East Program
...Associate Research Fellow, Sub-Saharan Africa Center
...Associate Research Fellow, Sub-Saharan Africa Center
...Associate Research Fellow, Coordinator of the Observatory of Central and Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa Center
...Condemnations of French policy in French-speaking Africa have grown in recent years[1]. The grievances raised are manifold (military interventions, persistence of the CFA franc, development aid policy, restrictive visa policy, etc.) and the reasoned contestation, which focused on...
Voter turnout for Nigeria's presidential elections in February-March 2023 has never been so low since the country's return to democracy in 1999. Nigeria's new president, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, must now reassure voters that Africa's leading economy is capable of putting the lie to a persistent...
Armies’ doctrines of engagement are constantly evolving in line with experience in the field.
This paper looks at how terrorism has thrived in the East African region, the evolving nature of criminality and terrorism, and the crime-terror nexus in the coastal and maritime areas of East Africa. The emphasis of the analysis is on the Kenyan coastal regions with a focus on three counties,...
Since 1999, when Nigeria returned to civilian government after successive military regimes, it has continued to face enormous challenges to its legitimacy and monopoly of the use of force.
This paper aims to highlight how and why William Ruto won the 2022 presidential elections against Raila Odinga by focusing on his political strategy before, during and after the campaign.
Since the launch of the Opening Plan to Africa in 2003, Turkey's African policy has spread to the whole of the African continent, where its involvement is distinguished by its scope and diversity.
Surprised and harassed by Boko Haram’s atrocities from mid-2013, the Cameroonian authorities initially responded with strong military and judicial responses that helped to contain the threat and regain control of the situation.
The European Union (EU) is holding firm in the face of the war in Ukraine—perhaps better than expected. But what long-term effects will the war have on European institutions and policies? The institutions will need to be changed to cope with the forthcoming expansions. The EU has...
Evolutions of the Religious Landscape in East and Central Africa East and Central Africa Observatory Conference
This conference will explore the major evolutions of the religious landscape in Central and East Africa. We will discuss the mutations observable in the Christian and Muslim worlds, the relations between religion and politics, and the development of various forms of radicalism, whether...
Politics and Policies of Africa’s Intermediate Cities Conférence hybride
Debates on Africa’s urbanization have long focused on the continent’s capital- and megacities, such as Dakar, Lagos or Nairobi. Africa’s capital cities concentrate political offices, cultural goods, foreign direct investment as well as local economic production and businesses.
German and French Africa Policies in a Multipolar World Conférence
As Africa experiences a paradigm shift in its global positioning, characterized by the rise of multiple regional and international actors, it becomes imperative to examine how traditional European powers, such as France and Germany, navigate this transformed landscape.
Digitization of Africa: International Power Plays Conférence hybride
Over the past two decades, increasing attention has been paid to digital infrastructure development and funding on the African continent. Whereas massive infrastructure gaps in funding persist, especially in rapidly growing urban areas, investments in telecom and digital infrastructure have...
City diplomacy in Africa: a promising tool? Conference hybride
Cities and, more broadly, local and regional authorities play an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Polling in Nigeria: Electoral Issues in a Country Facing Multiple Crises Visioconference
On February 25 and March 11, 93 million Nigerian voters are called to elect their president, deputies, senators, and governors.
4x4 Directors Forum 2023 African-European Think Tank Dialogue
The Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) and the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) are organizing the fifth edition of the 4x4 Directors Forum on February 1-2, 2023, in Rabat, Morocco.
...
Geopolitics of Urban Infrastructure Financing in Sub-Saharan Africa
Investment in infrastructure is promoted as a key tool for sustainable urban development. According to the African Development Bank, it would require between 130 and 170 billion dollars annually to meet infrastructure needs.
After TICAD 8 - COVID, war in Ukraine and the cooperation with Africa: Views from Japan and France Webinar
The TICAD 8 – the 8th edition of the Japan-Africa Summit – was held on 27-28 August 2022 in Tunis.
How Realistic is a New Partnership Between Europe and Africa? Seminar
An open discussion organized within the framework of the partnership "Schwarzenbergplatz Forum" between the Austro-French Center and the French Embassy in Austria
The Sub-Saharan Africa program and its Associate Fellows are accustomed to sharing their expertise with the media. Our experts mainly speak French, but they can also intervene in English. Consult our researchers’ geographic and thematic specialties on their profile.
Companies affiliated with the powerful Crystal Ventures holding company, the financial arm of Kigali's ruling party, are already present in Mozambique.
President Emmanuel Macron kicks off a tour of Central Africa on Wednesday in a diplomatic drive to test out a new "responsible relationship" with the continent as anti-French sentiment runs high in some former colonies
From Benin to Mozambique, President Paul Kagame is flexing his small country’s military muscle—and transforming the continent’s security landscape.
Africa has occupied a significant place in Emmanuel Macron’s political agenda but he will need more than fine speeches to change the longstanding paternalist image of France on the continent.
In the Central African Republic (CAR), nine out of 10 people do not have internet, and only one in seven has electricity -- that is, when there are no power cuts.
...The European bloc is involved in two training missions in Mali – the EUTM and the EUCAP – to coach soldiers and police.
Paris and Beijing have agreed to build infrastructure projects in Africa, South East Asia and Eastern Europe. But will this help shine light on China’s opaque foreign investments? Or just give the appearance of doing so?
An interview with Olumide Abimbola, founder and director of the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI).
The British used to call it "the Great Game" — the military and political jockeying of great powers in the late 19th century in Afghanistan, India and the areas around southern Russia. France, too, has played its "Great Game" in western Africa for 150 years. Now it's losing. Islamist...
President Déby was killed while visiting troops on the frontline, according to an army spokesman.