<p>Sub-Saharan Africa is a study in diversity. Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, the region is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources. It&rsquo;s no surprise that it captured the imagination of Europe&rsquo;s earliest explorers &mdash; and that it continues to capture the imagination of current world powers eager to exploit it. And yet despite the region&rsquo;s diversity, Sub-Saharan African countries have common challenges &mdash; transnational terrorism, rapid population growth, endemic poverty and corruption &mdash; that prevent them from capitalizing on their economic potential. The coming years will be critical for the region, especially as its political institutions mature in a rapidly globalizing world.</p>

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan

Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Cabo Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

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Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mozambique

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Niger

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

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Sudan

Eswatini

Tanzania

Togo

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

The Post-Apartheid Era Ends

The Politics of Pipelines

Old Leaders in a New Africa

Nigeria: Obstacles to Prosperity

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Crossing Borders

A Crude Recovery

Globalization

China in Transition

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

Assessments

United States

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The Geopolitics of Trade

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Global Trade

Military & Security

Persistent conflict and armed group control in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will sustain significant legal, financial and reputational pressures on companies sourcing critical minerals from the region for the foreseeable future.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Due Diligence and Congo's Critical Minerals

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Americas

Middle East and North Africa

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Forecast Webcast

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2025 Fourth-Quarter Forecast.

2025 Fourth-Quarter Forecast Webcast

U.S.-China Relations

Politics

The fourth quarter will bring shifting trade tactics, evolving wars, and pivotal elections and flashpoints worldwide that will test governments’ stability and market confidence.

2025 Fourth-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Algeria

Anti-riot police officers on April 8 in front of the Algerian Embassy in Bamako, Mali. While a full-scale military conflict remains very unlikely, Mali's legal challenge against Algeria ensures that diplomatic and security friction will define the relationship for the foreseeable future.

While a full-scale military conflict remains very unlikely, Mali's legal challenge against Algeria ensures that diplomatic and security friction will define the relationship for the foreseeable future.

Mali's ICJ Case Against Algeria Will Deepen Diplomatic Standoff in the Sahel

Nigerian soldiers from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) drive in pick-ups during training at the Sector 3 MNJTF military base headquarters in Monguno, Borno state, Nigeria, on July 5, 2025. 

War, Insurgency & Terrorism

Armed groups will continue to expand across Nigeria as the government struggles with domestic constraints and limits on regional security cooperation.

In Nigeria, Security Forces Struggle To Address Growing Militancy

Brazil

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France

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French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on Aug. 27, 2025.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: France's Bayrou Faces a Confidence Vote, Ethiopia Inaugurates Its Mega-Dam

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Geopolitical, security and environmental risks threaten to disrupt trade through crucial waterways, including the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Suez Canal, the Danish and Turkish straits, and the Panama Canal.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 2

The flag of Somaliland is seen during a political rally in Hargeisa on Nov. 8, 2024.

The United States is growing more likely to recognize Somaliland's statehood to secure basing rights in the territory, which would likely roil U.S.-Somalia relations and risk plunging Somalia into crisis.

Assessing the Prospect of the U.S. Recognizing Somaliland's Independence

Diverse security risks threaten maritime chokepoints around the world, presenting unique challenges to international trade.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 1

Russia

Members of the Unity for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) rebel group gather at the DDR (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration) site in Maloum, the Central African Republic, on July 24. 2025.

The dissolution of key rebel groups and the reintegration of ex-fighters could stabilize the country after years of conflict, but the process will remain fragile amid funding challenges and potential attacks from non-signatories.

Central African Republic's New Peace Deal Holds Promise, but Challenges Persist

Joseph Kabila, who served president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001 to 2019, has been sentenced to death in absentia by the high military court in Kinshasa, Jeune Afrique reported on Sept. 30.

Congo: Former President Kabila Sentenced to Death in Absentia

Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina dissolved his entire government following nationwide deadly protests over ongoing water and power cuts, RFI reported on Sept. 29.

Madagascar: President Dissolves Entire Government Following Deadly Protests

China

China signed a $1.4 billion agreement with Zambia and Tanzania to revitalize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) that links Zambia's copper-rich region to the Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 29.

Tanzania, Zambia: China Signs $1.4B Agreement To Revitalize Railway

Guinea announced that it will hold a presidential election on Dec. 28, the country's first since the 2021 coup that brought Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya to power, Jeune Afrique reported on Sept. 28.

Guinea: Junta Sets First Presidential Election Following 2021 Coup

Venezuela

Iran

Iraq

Kuwait

Libya

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

OPEC+ will likely decide to increase its oil production in November by at least 137,000 barrels per day when the group meets on Oct. 5, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 28.

Global: OPEC+ Likely To Approve Another Production Hike at Next Meeting

Turkey

A Nigerien military airstrike reportedly hit the village of Kourfeye in the Tillaberi region, killing at least 40 civilians at a weekly market, RFI reported on Sept. 25.

Niger: Army Kills 40 Civilians Amid Reports of Turkish Forces Set To Train Nigerien Troops

The CEO of Ethiopia’s state-owned Ethiopian Electric Power company, Ashebir Balcha, signed an action plan for the planning and construction of a nuclear power plant in Ethiopia with the general director of Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, Reuters reported on Sept. 25.

Ethiopia: Electricity Company Signs Deal With Rosatom on Construction of Nuclear Power Plant 

The Group of Seven nations and the European Union have discussed establishing a price floor on rare earth minerals and placing taxes on Chinese rare earth minerals in an effort to promote rare earth production outside of China, Reuters reported on Sept. 24.

Global: G7 and EU Discuss Rare Earth Price Floor, Tariffs To Boost Production

Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Congo: Former President Kabila Sentenced to Death in Absentia

Madagascar: President Dissolves Entire Government Following Deadly Protests

Tanzania, Zambia: China Signs $1.4B Agreement To Revitalize Railway

Guinea: Junta Sets First Presidential Election Following 2021 Coup

Global: OPEC+ Likely To Approve Another Production Hike at Next Meeting

Niger: Army Kills 40 Civilians Amid Reports of Turkish Forces Set To Train Nigerien Troops

Ethiopia: Electricity Company Signs Deal With Rosatom on Construction of Nuclear Power Plant

Global: G7 and EU Discuss Rare Earth Price Floor, Tariffs To Boost Production

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