Mvemba is joined by Travis Adkins (U.S. African Development Foundation) for a conversation that spans a number of topics, including how Travis’ personal background has informed his professional trajectory; how Travis is taking the USADF from “the best kept secret” to one of the best foreign assistance agencies in the U.S. foreign policy toolkit; and how the USADF is directly funding African partners in 21 countries across the continent.
Mvemba Phezo Dizolele is joined by author Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr to discuss Ubuntu, the African concept of humanity, meaning “I am because we are.” They discuss Akunyili’s recent book, I Am Because We Are: An African Mother's Fight for the Soul of a Nation, which tells the story of her late mother Dora Akunyili who committed her life to fighting fraudulent drug manufacturing as the Director General of Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. They also discuss corru...
This is the first episode of the Into Africa podcast with new host Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, who joined the CSIS Africa Program as director and senior fellow in December 2021. Mvemba speaks with author Howard French about his newest book, Born in Blackness. They discuss French’s research process, the outsized role that São Tomé played in the modernity of the Western world, and how plantations—or, more accurately, prison labor camps—were the most important economic innovation of the modern age prior...
In Judd Devermont’s last episode as host, he is joined by Nnedi Okorafor (author), Patrick Gathara (journalist and cartoonist), and David Pilling (Financial Times) to discuss why and how the world should think differently about Africa.
What might an African strategy toward China look like, and what are implications for loans, debt management, African exports, and people-to-people flows? Judd Devermont is joined by Hannah Ryder (Development Reimagined), Cliff Mboya (China Africa Project), and Casey Schmidt (VoxCroft Analytics) to discuss African agency and policy formation toward Beijing. They also talk about Zambia’s opposition leader-turned-President Hakainde Hichilema, as well as Kenya’s faltering Building Bridges Initiative...
What is the history of stolen African artefacts—such as the Benin Bronzes—and what can be done to rectify these wrongs? Judd Devermont is joined by Ciraj Rassool (University of Western Cape), Charlotte Ashamu (Yale University), and Barnaby Phillips (author of Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes), to discuss if restitution is enough, and why the growth of the museum industry in Africa is so critical. Plus, they discuss anti-government riots in South Africa and the #FixtheCountry movement in Ghana...
African creatives are using online literary magazines to publish their work directly to the web—resulting in more visibility, wider audiences, and richer conversation. Judd Devermont is joined by Abdi Latif Dahir (New York Times), Ambassador Makila James, and content creator Derick Matsengarwodzi to discuss this trend. Guests also cover the unilateral ceasefire in Tigray and pro-democracy protests in eSwatini. eSwatini with Cebelihle Mbuyisa - Cebelihle Mbuyisa, Judd Devermont, Nicole Wilett The...
Judd Devermont is joined by Paul Nantulya (Africa Center for Strategic Studies), ret. Vice Admiral Michael Franken (AFRICOM), and Bonny Lin (Center for Strategic and International Studies) to discuss U.S. and Chinese government engagement with African security chiefs. Guests also cover the deployment of Rwandan and SADC troops in Mozambique and Burundian politics. Background Readings: Personal Ties: Measuring Chinese and U.S. Engagement with African Security Chiefs – Judd Devermont, Marielle Har...
Judd Devermont is joined by Anouar Boukhars (African Center for Strategic Studies), Jason Warner (United States Military Academy in West Point), and Emily Estelle (American Enterprise Institute) to discuss the dangers of overemphasizing or underselling the ties between regional groups and global Jihadi networks. Guests also cover French President Macron's decision to draw down Operation Barkhane in the Sahel and the ADF's links to the Islamic state in Eastern Congo. Background Readings: A Course...
Introducing 49, CSIS Africa Program's newest podcast, about the past, present, and future of U.S. policy toward sub-Saharan Africa. Hosts Judd Devermont, director of CSIS's Africa Program, and Nicole Wilett, Chief of Staff at the Open Society Foundations, discuss past U.S. successes and failures; offer policy recommendations for the Biden Administration; and share the best of the region's music, movies, food, and culture. One country at a time. The first episodes drop on Thursday, 15 July 2021.
What does a consequential U.S. strategy towards sub-Saharan Africa look like? Judd Devermont is joined by Zainab Usman (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), Nicole Wilett (Open Society Foundation), and former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Chester Crocker (Georgetown University), to discuss a focused and pragmatic U.S. approach to the region. Guests also cover Angolan President Joao Lourenco’s leadership and the standoff between Twitter and the Nigerian government. Back...
Several African leaders are setting the stage to hand over power to their sons. Judd Devermont is joined by Brett Carter (University of Southern California), Regina Sondo (Journalist), and Paul Melly (Africa Program at Chatham House) to discuss the implications of familial succession across sub-Saharan African. Guests also cover Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso's latest contested election win and the worsening Anglophone crisis in Cameroon. Background Readings: Biden’s Diplomats ...
How can international actors achieve the balance between recognizing strides in economic performance and development while holding governments accountable for human rights abuses and regional interference? Judd Devermont is joined by Adotei Akwei (Amnesty International), Ida Sawyer (Human Rights Watch), and Michela Wrong (Author) to discuss how the Biden Administration, with its focus on democracy and human rights, should respond to these challenges. Guests also cover alleged crimes against huma...
President Biden's upcoming Summit for Democracy is one of the administration's flagship efforts aiming to renew its commitment to democracy at home and abroad. What are the key themes of the Summit and how do we ensure that African voices are not treated as sideshows? Judd Devermont sits down with Frances Brown (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), Moussa Kondo (Accountability Lab), and Thandekile Moyo (Writer) to share recommendations for impactful deliverables. Other topics include Cha...
In several countries, gangs, militias, and self-defense forces have become part of the security landscape. What’s behind this trend and what are the consequences? Judd Devermont sits down with Comfort Ero (International Crisis Group), Leanne Erdberg Steadman (U.S. Institute of Peace), and David Africa (former South African intelligence officer) to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of “dirty deals” and the challenge of accountability involved in dealing with these groups. Guests also cover Presi...
Disinformation operations in Africa are hidden in discretely coordinated social media campaigns. How can activists across the globe detect fake news and tackle these issues more coherently? In our 11th episode in partnership with African Arguments, Judd Devermont is joined by Elsie Eyakuze (The Mikocheni Report), Shelby Grossman (Stanford Internet Observatory), and Rose Jackson (Atlantic Council) to discuss the importance of people-to-people engagement in responding to disinformation. Guests als...
America spends more money on Halloween candy than on UN peacekeeping operations each year. What is the true value of these missions and how much in financial contributions are required to earn a seat at the table? Judd Devermont sits down with Paul-Simon Handy (Institute for Security Studies), Kate Almquist Knopf (Africa Center for Strategic Studies), and Chandrima Das (Better World Campaign) to discuss the state of peacekeeping in Africa. Guests also explore democracy and protests in Senegal an...
Investigative journalism in Africa is entering a golden age. What trends underpin new access to and the dissemination of hidden information? Judd Devermont is joined by journalists Micah Reddy (amaBhungane), Peter Murimi (BBC Africa Eye), and Khadija Sharife (OCCRP) to discuss the realities facing media houses today. Other topics include the recent explosions in Equatorial Guinea and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana. Background Materials: I am Samuel Film - Directed by Peter Murimi Congo...
How does populism manifest itself in sub-Saharan Africa in comparison to other regions? As part of a special live episode with a class at the University of San Francisco, Judd Devermont is joined by Kathleen Klaus (University of San Francisco), Chiponda Chimbelu (Deutsche Welle), and Danielle Resnick (International Food Policy Research Institute) to discuss factors that enable populist leaders to gain political sway in Africa. Guests also unpack the strengths and weaknesses of Kenya’s Building B...
How do African media outlets portray politics, economics, and cultural life in their own countries and in the broader region? Aanu Adeoye (The Continent), Moky Makura (Africa No Filter), and Yinka Adegoke (Rest of World) join Judd Devermont for a lively discussion on how increased media coverage on Africa and a focus on human-interest stories can foster unity and drive continental potential. Guests also discuss the impact of Tanzanian President Magufuli’s previous denial of Covid-19, and Africa’...
How do we go beyond rhetoric that rarely translates into concrete and strategic action? In our 10th episode in partnership with African Arguments, Judd Devermont is joined by Deborah Malac (former U.S. Ambassador to Uganda), Maria Burnett (CSIS), and Michael Mutyaba (African Arguments contributor) to discuss recommendations for foreign partners and donors in holding autocratic regimes accountable—beyond strongly-worded statements. Guests also delve into Uganda’s repressive elections and the dete...
Central to the green revolution and technologies of the future, cobalt is found in some of the most conflict-stricken and unjust places on earth. What is the industry's current approach to responsible sourcing? Pamela Fierst-Walsh (U.S. Department of State), Mike Jobbins (Search for Common Ground), and Laurent Kasindi (Search for Common Ground) join Judd Devermont to highlight the benefits of a "do more good" over a "do no harm" approach to mineral mining. Guests also discuss recent attacks by t...
The growth of Chinese technology in Africa has sounded alarm bells in Washington and other foreign capitals. Beyond security and surveillance risks, what, if any, benefits exist for Africans? Judd Devermont is joined by Chairman Carolyn Bartholomew (U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission), Bulelani Jili (Harvard University), and Jeremy Goldkorn (SupChina and Sinica Podcast) to unpack the concerns surrounding Chinese involvement in the region’s tech sector, sharing recommendations for...
What role do musicians play in politics and advocacy, especially during a health crisis? For this special anniversary episode, East Africa’s biggest pop band, Sauti Sol share their thoughts on the music industry’s adaptation to the pandemic, the state of Kenya’s health system, and efforts to remain outspoken about police brutality. Lauren Blanchard (Congressional Research Service) and Damola Durosomo (CSIS) also join Judd Devermont to discuss the state of Sudan’s political transition two years i...
Welcome to the third season of the Into Africa podcast. As always, Judd Devermont has an exciting lineup of high-profile guests from around the world joining in to unpack African politics and policy and dig deeper into new topics. There's a lot to look forward to this year: Chinese tech in Africa, vaccine diplomacy, conflict minerals, and the reparation of African artifacts. We also plan to host webinar shows with U.S. universities and African think tanks. See you next week for our special anniv...
How does multilateral diplomacy transform during a global pandemic? In our season finale, Judd Devermont is joined by Alex Rondos (European Union), Sanusha Naidu (Institute for Global Dialogue), and Susan Page (University of Michigan) to discuss relationship building in a pre- and post-pandemic world. Guests also examine key developments in the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, and expectations for the incoming Chair of the African Union, DRC's President Felix Tshisekedi. See you in the New ...
Covid-19 has accelerated the adoption of digital currency and mobile money platforms in Africa. How can innovations in FinTech lower the barriers to vital remittance flows? Judd Devermont is joined by Yomi Kazeem (Quartz Africa), Alexis Akwagyiram (Reuters), and Deepali Fernandes (IOM) to discuss the tug-of-war between innovation and regulation, high-tech solutions to expanding internet access across the continent, and the Trump Administration's opposition to the first African and first female D...
The long-awaited results of the United States presidential election will shape the future of American democracy and U.S.-Africa policy for years to come. Are there lessons from sub-Saharan Africa that the U.S. should consider as it reflects on its electoral process? Udo Jude Ilo (Open Society Initiative for West Africa), Maria Sarungi Tsehai (#ChangeTanzania), and Jason Stearns (Congo Research Group) join Judd Devermont to discuss the elections, the future of Nigeria's #EndSARS movement, DRC's t...
The elderly and those living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are two populations growing faster in sub-Saharan Africa than elsewhere in the world. What challenges do these vulnerable groups face in the wake of Covid-19 and what opportunities exist for increased private sector engagement? Judd Devermont sits down with Rumbi Chakamba (Journalist), Nik Pereira (Africa Healthcare Network), and Nina Prieur (Prosper Africa) to explore U.S. investment in specialized care, Senegal's exemplary pande...
When it comes to election observation, there’s often one rule for the West and another for everybody else. But with a wave of democratic backsliding occurring around the world, now may be the time to disrupt the status quo and reimagine election observation missions. In our eighth episode with African Arguments, Ansbert Ngurumo (Journalist), Nic Cheeseman (University of Birmingham), and Jessica Moody (King’s College London) join Judd Devermont to discuss shifting electoral processes, election sa...
