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Nigeria and the Nation-State
Former Ambassador John Campbell illustrates the history and importance of Nigeria, a country too often overlooked by the West. -
Nigeria Security Tracker Weekly Update: October 17-23Below is a visualization and description of some of the most significant incidents of political violence in Nigeria from October 17 to October 23, 2020. This update also represents violence related t…
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Will the Lekki Toll Gate Atrocity Change Nigeria?"Dr. Richard A. Joseph, professor emeritus at Northwestern University and previously of the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His 1987 book Democr…
Experts in this Region
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Nigeria: Fear of RepressionWestern media is reporting that violence in Lagos—initially connected to protests against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit—is intensifying. Lagos is under a twenty-four-hour curfe…
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Extremism and the Decline of Religious Freedom in Northern NigeriaSamuel Brownback, ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, discusses extremism and the decline of religious freedom in Northern Nigeria. John Campbell, Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at CFR, moderates.
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The World Health Summit, Chile’s Constitutional Referendum, and MoreThe World Health Summit 2020 takes place virtually, Chileans vote in a constitutional referendum amid protests, and Tanzania holds a general election.
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Magufuli is Transforming Tanzania's Ruling Party From a “Benign Hegemon” Into a Malevolent OneNolan Quinn is a research associate for the Council on Foreign Relations’ Africa Program. Prior to working for the Council, he lived in Tanzania, returning in March 2020. Tanzania’s Chama cha Mapi…
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Removing Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism ListThis week, President Trump made the long-anticipated announcement that the United States is prepared to remove Sudan from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST). Sudan has been on the list of …
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Protests, Chaos in NigeriaProtests that initially called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), an elite police unit credibly accused of rampant human rights abuses, now seem less focused—but are accele…
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Nigeria Security Tracker Weekly Update: October 10-16Below is a visualization and description of some of the most significant incidents of political violence in Nigeria from October 10 to October 16, 2020. This update also represents violence related t…
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Nigerian Demonstrations Becoming About More Than the PoliceFollowing nationwide demonstrations—first against the elite Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and then the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, its successor—the Buhari administration has abolish…
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Nigerians Cry Out Against Police BrutalityNkasi Wodu is a lawyer, peacebuilding practitioner, and development expert based in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. In 2017, Nigerian youths adopted a campaign against brutality from the Nigeria Police Fo…
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The Changing Style of African CoupsSomething of a democratic recessional is underway in sub-Sahara, with a weakening of civil society and democratic institutions. This both reflects and facilitates assaults on civilian, secular govern…
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Anti-Police Demonstrations in NigeriaThere is little sense of national cohesion in Nigeria, and protests tend to be along ethnic and religious lines rather than national. Like the 2012 demonstrations against the Goodluck Jonathan admini…
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Ethiopia: East Africa’s Emerging GiantEthiopia’s prime minister promised an aggressive reform agenda, but renewed turmoil threatens to throw the country’s democratic transition off course.