Opinion & Analysis

Jan. 13, 2013
France’s Mali Military Intervention: No End In Sight

France’s Mali Military Intervention: No End In Sight

The French took the plunge and began attacking Islamist militant groups in Mali this week after regional leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) hesitated for months. The instability in northern Mali dates back nearly a year and yet, until now, no agreement on a foreign intervention strategy could be reached. That stands... Read more »

Jan. 4, 2013
Africa trade with Tampa businesses matures, potential widens

Africa trade with Tampa businesses matures, potential widens

Terence McCulley, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, and Rebecca Armand, Senior Commercial Officer for the U.S. Mission to Nigeria, spoke to the Tampa Bay area business community on December 12. The event was hosted by the Tampa Port Authority and presented by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The story below is a follow-up and was originally... Read more »

Dec. 22, 2012
Eritrea: The Fog Over the Red Sea: Eritrea's strict media control

Eritrea: The Fog Over the Red Sea: Eritrea's strict media control

This article was written by Armin Rosen, the Atlantic‘s International Channel producer and was originally published here. Eritrean information minister Ali Abdu, who is rumored to have defected this past week, helped build one of the world’s strictest systems of media control. Eritrea sits on some of the most important real estate in Africa, occupying a thin... Read more »

Dec. 12, 2012
Rice: Hitting ‘reset’ on Africa talks

Rice: Hitting ‘reset’ on Africa talks

Michael O’Hanlon, in his Reuters Opinion piece, “In defense of Susan Rice” (Reuters, December 10, 2012), took issue with my New York Times op-ed article, “Susan Rice and Africa’s Despots” (December 9, 2012). Mine were not ad hominem attacks. It is fair to hold a public official accountable for her career and for the roles... Read more »

Nov. 14, 2012
Building Bridges:  An Ambassador Reflects on U.S.-Africa Relations

Building Bridges: An Ambassador Reflects on U.S.-Africa Relations

In the last blog entry, I wrote that Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger was visiting the University of South Florida as part of an event sponsored by the Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies. Amb. Ranneberger gave a lecture titled “U.S. Foreign Policy in Africa: Lessons, Challenges, and Opportunities” through the center’s “Lecture Series on National Security.”... Read more »

August 7, 2012
Malawi’s Activists Turned Politicians: What Standards Should Joyce Banda’s Administration Be Held To?

Malawi’s Activists Turned Politicians: What Standards Should Joyce Banda’s Administration Be Held To?

In the wake of the death of Malawi’s former president, Bingu wa Mutharika due to cardiac arrest, the country’s political leadership has welcomed a new guard. Joyce Banda, an outspoken activist and leader of the People’s Party, became the president of the country making her the second female president in Africa. In the relatively short period of time until... Read more »