TMC Topic Guide

Africa south of the Sahara

Created: July 26, 2022

Last Updated: January 15, 2023

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Note: This guide contains coverage on the domestic politics in African countries south of the Sahara, including elections, coups, and ethnic politics.

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Table of Contents

General

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Race and Ethnic Politics

Cameroon

Chad

Ethiopia

Race and Ethnic Politics

Race and Ethnic Politics

Race and Ethnic Politics

Nigeria

South Africa

Race and Ethnic Politics

South Sudan

Race and Ethnic Politics

Uganda

Zimbabwe

General

Kim Yi Dionne, “West Africa’s new regional peacekeeping force, explained,” December 13, 2022.
Mercy Kaburu and Carolyn Logan, “What do Africans think about the proposed East African Federation?” September 9, 2022.
Erica De Bruin and Maggie Dwyer, “How this wave of African coups differs from previous ones,” February 25, 2022.
Kristen A. Harkness, “Africa has had eight coup attempts in recent months. What’s behind the ‘coup epidemic?” February 9, 2022.
Carolyn Logan, Joseph Asunka, and E. Gyimah-Boadi, “When Africans speak out, are their governments listening?,” December 3, 2021.
Carolyn Logan and Brian Howard, “Are Africa’s leading democracies in trouble?,” November 26, 2021.
Jonathan Powell and Salah Ben Hammou, “Are coups really contagious?,” November 22, 2021.
Christiaan Keulder and Robert Mattes, “Why are Africans dissatisfied with democracy? Think corruption,” November 19, 2021.
Carolyn Logan and Fredline M’Cormack-Hale, “Some Africans – but not all – are happy with the quality of their elections,” November 12, 2021.
Boniface Dulani, “Long-serving African presidents say the people want them to stay on. Is that true?,” November 5, 2021.
Landry Signé and Eyerusalem Siba, “Four things you should know about food security in Africa,” October 30, 2019.
Moletsane Monyake and Dan Hough, “What’s behind the wave of protests in Africa?” July 31, 2019.
Emmanuel Balogun and Anna Kapambwe Mwaba, “How will the African Union respond to the military overthrow in Sudan?,” April 24, 2019
Chipo Dendere, “Why are so many African leaders shutting off the Internet in 2019?” January 30, 2019.
Xiaojun Li, “China is offering ‘no strings attached aid’ to Africa. Here’s what that means,” September 27, 2018.
Landry Signé, “Africa’s big new free trade agreement, explained,” March 29, 2018.
Sebastian Elischer, “Taking stock of 'good coups' in Africa,” May 18, 2015.

Burkina Faso

Jori Breslawski and Madeline Fleishman, “Can ECOWAS convince Burkina Faso to return to civilian rule?,” October 15, 2022.
Landry Signé, “What went wrong in Burkina Faso and what’s next?,” September 22, 2015.
Molly Ariotti and Naunihal Singh, “Can Burkina Faso — Africa’s most coup-prone state — become a stable democracy?,” September 21, 2015.
Sebastian Elischer, “Taking stock of 'good coups' in Africa,” May 18, 2015.

Burundi

Mercy Kaburu and Carolyn Logan, “What do Africans think about the proposed East African Federation?” September 9, 2022.
Yolande Bouka and Sarah Jackson, “Burundi votes tomorrow on controversial constitutional amendments. A lot is at stake,” May 16, 2018.
Cara E. Jones, “There are signs of renewed ethnic violence in Burundi,” December 15, 2015.
Alexander Noyes, “Did Burundi just have a 'good coup'?,” May 14, 2015.
Cara E. Jones and Stephanie Schwartz, “Burundi Faso? Coups, revolutions and what’s next for Burundi,” May 13, 2015.

Race and Ethnic Politics

Cara E. Jones, “There are signs of renewed ethnic violence in Burundi,” December 15, 2015.

Cameroon

Kim Yi Dionne, “This new book highlights women’s roles in Cameroon’s separatist politics,” July 27, 2020.

Chad

Celeste Hicks and Laura Seay, “Governance, gender and no guarantees in Africa’s oil-rich states,” June 19, 2015.

Ethiopia

Sally Sharif, “Ethiopia's peace may depend on post-conflict plans for Tigray soldiers,” November 18, 2022.
Safia Farole, “Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict reflects unresolved ethnic tensions,” November 24, 2020.
Yohannes Y. Gedamu, “Ethiopia just pardoned political prisoners. Could that signal a shift to real democracy?,” February 9, 2018.

Race and Ethnic Politics

Sally Sharif, “Ethiopia's peace may depend on post-conflict plans for Tigray soldiers,” November 18, 2022.
Safia Farole, “Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict reflects unresolved ethnic tensions,” November 24, 2020.
Yohannes Y. Gedamu, “Ethiopia just pardoned political prisoners. Could that signal a shift to real democracy?,” February 9, 2018.

Gambia

Cara E. Jones and Stephanie Schwartz, “Burundi Faso? Coups, revolutions and what’s next for Burundi,” May 13, 2015.

Ghana

George M. Bob-Milliar and Rachel Sigman, “How Ghana’s economic crisis is reshaping its democracy,” December 1, 2022.
Richard Aidoo, “Will Ghana’s new e-levy help the economy recover from the pandemic?” August 10, 2022.

Guinea

Brandon Prins, Aaron Gold, Anup Phayal, Simon Rotzer, Curie Maharani, Sayed Riyadi and Kayla Marie Reno, “What will keep ships — and people — safer in the Gulf of Guinea?,” June 9, 2022.
Josef Woldense, “After Guinea-Bissau’s failed coup attempt, expect the government to reshuffle political elites,” March 4, 2022.

Kenya

Mercy Kaburu and Carolyn Logan, “What do Africans think about the proposed East African Federation?” September 9, 2022.
Susanne D. Mueller, “Why did Kenyans elect Ruto as president?” August 24, 2022.
Prisca Jöst and Ellen Lust, “Kenya’s democracy needs more than campaigns to end vote-buying,” August 5, 2022.
Kim Yi Dionne, “Here’s what it means to be Somali in Kenya,” August 3, 2018.
Kim Yi Dionne, “Three important lessons from a new book on female genital cutting in Kenya,” August 18, 2017.

Race and Ethnic Politics

Kim Yi Dionne, “Here’s what it means to be Somali in Kenya,” August 3, 2018.

Gender and Politics

Kim Yi Dionne, “Three important lessons from a new book on female genital cutting in Kenya,” August 18, 2017.

Malawi

Kim Yi Dionne, “Malawi’s VP was arrested for corruption. There’s more to the story.,” November 27, 2022.

Lesotho

Kim Yi Dionne, “There wasn’t a coup in Lesotho, but will there be?,” June 25, 2014.

Mali

Susanna D. Wing, “Another coup in Mali? Here’s what you need to know,” May 28, 2021.
Massa Coulibaly, Carolyn Logan and E. Gyimah-Boadi, “Many Malians welcomed last week’s coup, but most still prefer democracy over military rule,” August 28, 2020.
William G. Nomikos, Melanie Sauter, Rob Williams and Patrick Hunnicutt, “The military has ousted Mali’s president. That raises questions about the country’s ongoing security challenges,” August 26, 2020.
Joe Gazeley, “Why was Mali hit with another coup?,” August 20, 2020.

Race and Ethnic Politics

Susanna D. Wing, “What’s behind the escalating ethnic violence in Mali? Here’s what you need to know,” June 12, 2019.

Nigeria

Travis B. Curtice, “Nigeria’s harsh police culture grew from colonial abuses,” July 29, 2022.
Laura Seay, “How does a woman run for office in Nigeria? The answer’s in ‘Love Does Not Win Elections,’” June 7, 2019.
Mia Bloom, “Female suicide bombers are not a new phenomenon,” August 6, 2014.

South Africa

Carolyn E. Holmes, “Two new books take different roads to understand South Africa,” August 26, 2022.
Vayda Megannon, “Unemployed South Africans depended on covid relief grants,” August 19, 2022.
Laura Seay, “Apartheid casts a long shadow across South Africa,” June 24, 2022.
Carolyn E. Holmes, “Archbishop Tutu’s radical commitment to humanity led him to criticize parties, people and institutions,” December 27, 2021.
Carolyn Holmes, “What’s behind South Africa’s xenophobic violence last week?,” September 9, 2019.
Carolyn Holmes, “Tucker Carlson, those South African white rights activists aren’t telling you the whole truth,” May 15, 2019.
Evan Lieberman, “South Africa's apartheid regime ended 25 years ago,” April 27, 2019.
Nina Wilén and Lindy Heinecken, “Women now make up almost 24 percent of South Africa’s military. Why aren’t they treated equally?” April 1, 2018.
Carolyn E. Holmes, “Should Confederate monuments come down? Here’s what South Africa did after apartheid.,” August 29, 2017.
Adam Harris, “The end of race-based politics in South Africa?,” January 29, 2014.
Evan Lieberman, “How Nelson Mandela pulled his punches and helped transform South Africa,” December 7, 2013.

Race and Ethnic Politics

Laura Seay, “Apartheid casts a long shadow across South Africa,” June 24, 2022.
Carolyn E. Holmes, “Archbishop Tutu’s radical commitment to humanity led him to criticize parties, people and institutions,” December 27, 2021.
Carolyn Holmes, “What’s behind South Africa’s xenophobic violence last week?,” September 9, 2019.
Carolyn Holmes, “Tucker Carlson, those South African white rights activists aren’t telling you the whole truth,” May 15, 2019.
Evan Lieberman, “South Africa's apartheid regime ended 25 years ago,” April 27, 2019.
Carolyn E. Holmes, “Should Confederate monuments come down? Here’s what South Africa did after apartheid.,” August 29, 2017.
Adam Harris, “The end of race-based politics in South Africa?,” January 29, 2014.
Evan Lieberman, “How Nelson Mandela pulled his punches and helped transform South Africa,” December 7, 2013.

South Sudan

Audrey L. Comstock, “Report exposes U.N. camp abuses, but research shows justice is elusive,” September 28, 2022.
Mercy Kaburu and Carolyn Logan, “What do Africans think about the proposed East African Federation?” September 9, 2022.
Sophia Dawkins, “On South Sudan’s sixth birthday, here are 6 things you should know,” July 9, 2017.

Race and Ethnic Politics

Sophia Dawkins, “On South Sudan’s sixth birthday, here are 6 things you should know,” July 9, 2017.

Uganda

Mercy Kaburu and Carolyn Logan, “What do Africans think about the proposed East African Federation?” September 9, 2022.
Meghan Garrity, “50 years ago, Uganda ordered its entire Asian population to leave,”August 4, 2022.
Aili Mari Tripp, “Where do African women have more power? Surprise — in countries emerging from war,” July 15, 2016.
Melina Platas, “Who’s behind Uganda’s step forward on same-sex rights?” August 4, 2014.

Zimbabwe

Chipo Dendere, “Why are so many African leaders shutting off the Internet in 2019?” January 30, 2019.
Mwita Chacha and Jonathan Powell, “It’s been one year since Zimbabwe toppled Mugabe. Why isn’t it a democracy yet?,” November 17, 2018.
Kristen Harkness, “Without Mugabe, is democracy coming to Zimbabwe? Probably not,” November 22, 2017.
Chipo Dendere, “Mugabe is what happens when an authoritarian regime abides by its constitution,” November 22, 2017.
Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Erica Frantz, “What went wrong for Mugabe? Most aging dictators don't get toppled by coups.,” November 22, 2017.
Naunihal Singh, “ Is Zimbabwe ready to move on without Mugabe?,” November 18, 2017.
Clionadh Raleigh, “Here's what's happening in Zimbabwe,” November 15, 2017.
Chipo Dendere, “To understand the coup in Zimbabwe, you need to know more about Grace Mugabe,” November 15, 2017.
Alexander Noyes, “Will there be a military coup in Zimbabwe? Probably not. Here’s why.,” August 8, 2017.