Experts remain cautiously hopeful about the peace transition in Ethiopia, and Kenya’s steady emergence as a regional power is promising for peacebuilding in the Horn of Africa and in DRC, and the region’s trade and investment. In southern Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa faces political headwinds as he gears up for his run for a second term, while Filipe Nyusi eyes an unconstitutional third term in office, and Emmerson Mnangagwa continues to chip away at civic freedoms and human rights in Zimbabwe.Īmid such political and security crises, 2023 also carries much promise. In all five countries, there is little to no signs of successful democratic transitions in 2023. Democratic backsliding continues, with insurgencies, insecurity, and weak governance having led to military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Chad, and Sudan in 2022. Armed conflicts in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Sahel continue to destabilize countries and regions, exacerbating humanitarian needs and political crises.

The CSIS Africa Program enters 2023 with trepidation and hope.

Africa armed conflict