Politics & Economy

In an analysis piece republished by bird story agency, veteran Somali reporter Abdi Guled unpacks the high-stakes struggle unfolding along Somalia’s 2,000-mile coastline, a contest over sea access that could redefine the Horn of Africa.

We are political scientists who have researched the security situation in Mali and the Sahel. Our recently published paper showed that non-state armed groups in the Sahel, particularly in Mali, have emerged as key power brokers, shaping local governance by filling gaps left by weak state institutions.

China recently pledged to expand military support to Somalia in its fight against al-Shabaab militants. Beijing has promised equipment, training and closer security cooperation with Mogadishu. This marks a shift from China’s traditionally cautious and small presence in the country. Brendon J. Cannon has researched how external powers – including China – engage with sub-Saharan Africa. He explains how these dynamics are converging in Somalia.

The model has become more important since formal approval of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Deep Cooperation Pilot Zone in early 2024 and the growth of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Exhibition since launch in 2019.

From southern Africa’s coasts to aquariums abroad, a new model of cross-border conservation is taking shape around one of the continent’s most threatened species, the African penguin.

Angola is repositioning itself as Africa’s top destination for long-term oil and gas investment. Regulatory clarity, fiscal incentives, and first-oil milestones are drawing independent and global oil companies alike.

Kenya is laying the ground for an infrastructure fund which will raise money for new projects – such as roads, energy and ports – through public-private partnerships, privatisation proceeds, and institutional capital. We asked Odongo Kodongo, a project finance expert, to unpack the potential risks and rewards of this strategy – and where it falls short.

From Nairobi’s elevated expressways to Lagos’s airport upgrades and Addis Ababa’s new riverside developments, Chinese-backed projects are transforming skylines and daily life across the continent.