This Week in Africa

This Week in Africa

The newsletter highlights a volatile political climate in Africa, with Benin’s April 12 presidential election shadowed by a spreading Islamist insurgency and President Patrice Talon’s power consolidation. Regional security is further strained as Ethiopia reportedly backs Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, deepening the civil war. Economic repercussions from the Iran‑War are already felt, triggering fuel shortages in Madagascar and rising energy and food costs across the continent. Meanwhile, rapid urbanization—exemplified by Nairobi’s fragmented governance—and growing foreign investment, such as Chinese purchases of luxury homes in Zimbabwe, underscore shifting development dynamics.