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By 2050, many of the world's fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the world's leading megacities.   In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this week's host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context.

During the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), clinical breakthroughs with the potential to significantly reduce both the death toll and the duration of the outbreak were made. However, as our guests argued in research conducted for the Congo Research Group in 2020, the international response was organised through parallel health structures rather than the existing Congolese health system. This approach contributed to undermined trust, outbreaks of violence and ultimately prolonged the outbreak. Now, in 2026, similar questions are emerging about the measures being taken at the local, national, regional and international levels to contain what has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record two months after it was officially declared. In this episode, Dr Rachel Niehuus and Bienvenu Mukungilwa join the Africa Programme's Dr Joshua Z. Walker and Lisa Musumba to explore how the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC once again exposes tensions between ad hoc international health responses and local healthcare systems – reinforcing the urgent need to strengthen national healthcare systems in the DRC and across Africa for more effective outbreak preparedness and response. Find out more: Ebola in DR Congo: A 'catastrophic collision of disease and conflict'. Independent Thinking podcast

As 15 May 2026 drew closer, there was growing uncertainty surrounding Somalia's next political transition. This date marked the official end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term; yet no election date was set. Instead, the President officially signed a final set of constitutional amendments passed by majority vote in the Federal Parliament into law – he contends that this grants an extra year to his term which now expires on 15 May 2027. Opposition to the implementation of the constitutional amendments persists and Somalia now faces a political impasse that threatens to deepen political fragmentation. In this episode, Professor Afyare Abdi Elmi and Aweis Ahmed discuss scenarios to navigate Somalia's current political stalemate and pathways for a peaceful political transition.

Since the war in Sudan began in 2023, grassroots, volunteer-led mutual aid groups – the Emergency Rooms (ERRs) – have delivered vital humanitarian assistance and played a key role in safeguarding civilian life across the country in the face of the devastating conflict. The work of the ERRs is grounded in the Sudanese tradition of 'nafeer', an Arabic word meaning collective action.  Less documented is the critical role Sudanese women play in responding to humanitarian needs arising from the conflict. They are at the forefront of providing medical assistance and psychosocial support, creating safe spaces for children and responding to gender-based violence. In this episode, we are joined by Alaa Hassan Taris and Khalid Gurashi, representatives of the ERRs who were in London to receive the Chatham House Prize in recognition of their crucial role in delivering humanitarian support during the ongoing war in Sudan. Dr Eva Khair, founder of the Sudan Transnational Consortium, also joins the conversation with Alaa and Khalid to discuss how vital grassroots-led responses are within the wider international humanitarian picture and highlight the imperative for continued advocacy on the global stage. Find more information about the ERRs and how to support their work here. The Chatham House Prize 2025 was generously supported by Dr Mo Ibrahim, Open Society Foundations and Quadrature Climate Foundation.

As a key mediator in the ongoing conflict in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United States has brokered peace agreements backed by security guarantees and by the investment potential of the country's vast mineral wealth.  However, critics warn this "minerals for peace" approach risks overlooking unresolved issues – from the protection of minority rights to the limited role of the African Union, and fragile state-society relations in the DRC.  In this episode, Christian-Géraud Neema and Joshua Walker join the Africa Programme's Romane Dideberg and Lisa Musumba to discuss how the short and long-term implications of the DRC's pivot to the US is affecting its strategic autonomy, mining sovereignty, and what it means for President Tshisekedi's political options.

The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS early last year – and the subsequent formation of  the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – has posed a critical challenge for regional cooperation, particularly on security. According to the Global Terrorism Index, the Sahel is the "epicentre of terrorism" and rising insecurity is compounded by stalled progress on core issues including the right of hot pursuit, joint military operations, intelligence sharing and tackling illicit finance.  Following a panel event on West African security with Ghana and Nigeria's foreign ministers at Chatham House, Paul Ejime and Paul Melly join the podcast to discuss the ministers' call for local security solutions in the region.  The panel event formed part of the Chatham House Africa Programme's ongoing work on African peace and security. The Programme will shortly launch a new project focused on regional conflict systems in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and Central Africa.

Africa's digital landscape is one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving in the world. African states are not merely adopters of digital norms; they are shaping regulatory approaches in data protection and cybersecurity in addition to innovating mobile money ecosystems and digital health solutions among others.  While innovation hubs are dotted across the continent, growth amongst African states and local communities remain uneven due to infrastructure gaps, broadband affordability, energy reliability and regulatory fragmentation.  In this episode, Ambassador Philip Thigo and Hon. Neema Lugangira join the Africa Programme's Professor Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo and Lisa Musumba to discuss how digitalization can be harnessed to drive inclusive growth, strengthen institutions, and ensure that innovation translates into sustainable development outcomes.

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Amb. Selma Malika Haddadi assumed the leadership of the African Union (AU) at last year's 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly – ushering what many saw a moment of renewed hope and leadership reset. The AU, however, enters 2026 on uncertain ground. Conflicts are intensifying across several regions; while showing signs of resilience economic prospects remain fragile; and political settlements in a number of countries are under strain. All this is unfolding against the backdrop of shifting global priorities and waning international attention on Africa.  In this episode, Chatham House Africa Programme associate fellow, Professor Carlos Lopes, reflects on what lies ahead for the AU, the tests facing its leadership, and how Africa can navigate through changes in the global order.  Related content: Africa Aware: Strengthening African-led peace and security initiatives The AU–EU summit in Luanda must mark a strategic reset of relations Africa Aware: What the African Union's G20 membership means for Africa

The IMF's economic outlook for Africa in 2026 points to an average GDP growth rate of 4.3% – making it the fastest-growing region globally. In practice, however, per capita growth is far lower and various factors like persistent debt issues and a decline in official development assistance jeopardise this positive outlook.  In this episode, guests Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi (African Center for Economic Transformation) and Admassu Tadesse (Trade and Development Bank) explore strategies to ensure sustained economic growth matching the promising outlook for the continent. They discuss untapped policy actions to spur economic transformation as well as the role of regional financial institutions to meet the needs of African countries shaping their development agendas. Related content: Africa in 2026: Global uncertainty demands regional leadership Why an African Credit Rating Agency isn't a good idea for the region's borrowers

Reflecting on research conducted as part of a joint Chatham House and UNDP research project on 'African Peace Processes: Lessons Learned', this episode examines what makes peace processes 'stick'. Lisa Musumba is joined by project researchers Dr Abel Abate Demissie and Leonard Onyonyi to discuss the lessons learned from the Pretoria process linked to Ethiopia's Tigray war and Burundi's Arusha Accords. The episode closes with reflections from AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, from our conference in Addis Ababa on Africa's rising influence in foreign policy and global governance, exploring how African-led peace and security initiatives can be strengthened moving forward. Related content:  De-escalation is needed to prevent Ethiopia and Eritrea from going to war Chatham House hosts conference in Addis Ababa on Africa's rising influence

Tanzania's October 2025 election will mark President Samia Suluhu Hassan's first as a presidential candidate, despite her holding office since 2021. A former vice-president, President Samia came to power following the sudden death of her predecessor, and is widely anticipated to win a new term for her CCM party – extending their unbroken rule in Tanzania since the country's independence in 1961. Key questions surrounding the 2025 polls include the systematic exclusion of leading opposition candidates, tightened restrictions on media, increases in reported abductions and attacks on activists, and the limited presence of external observer missions.  In this episode, Thomas Kibwana, Anna Bwana and Deus Valentine Rweyemamu join Chatham House's Fergus Kell and Lisa Musumba to discuss the lead-up to Tanzania's election and the long-term future for the country.  Related content:  Tanzania election: Erosion of democracy will also come at the cost of economic potential Reviving Tanzania's regional leadership and global engagement

Côte d'Ivoire is widely regarded as a regional powerhouse amid increased political instability and fragmentation in West Africa. However, the country has also been marked by violent conflicts and repeated bouts of political crisis in recent history. With the October 2025 elections fast approaching, Côte d'Ivoire faces another decisive moment – President Alassane Ouattara has confirmed that he will seek a fourth term, while a slew of prominent opposition figures including former president, Laurent Gbagbo, Tidjane Thiam, Charles Blé Goudé, and Guillaume Soro, have been barred from challenging the incumbent at the polls. In this episode, the leader of Côte d'Ivoire's main opposition party, Parti Démocratique de la Côte d'Ivoire — Rassemblement Démocratique Africain, Tidjane Thiam discusses his political aspirations, the hurdles faced in the lead-up to the upcoming elections and the state of Ivorian democracy moving forward. Find out more: Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire: Stumbling Totems of Democracy

The public health systems in Africa are under growing pressure. The sharp 70% drop in official development assistance (ODA) risks weakening critical health programmes, while a rise in public health emergencies continues to stretch already fragile infrastructure.   The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) – the public health agency of the African Union – recognises that these are not isolated challenges. They present a fundamental threat to Africa's political, social, and economic resilience, with far-reaching implications to global stability.   In this episode, Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General at the Africa CDC, discusses the agency's mandate to support AU member states in advancing public health priorities and strengthening the capacity of national health institutions to respond to disease threats.  Related content:  The global response to the mpox outbreak in Africa will show if lessons from COVID-19 have been learned A fair pandemic treaty is unlikely, but poorer countries have healthy options Africa's Health Financing in a New Era – April, 2025

The uptick in armed conflicts across Africa in recent years has challenged peacebuilding efforts and upset a trajectory towards continental stability. In this episode, HE Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security the AU's goal of silencing the guns by 2030, the evolution of peacekeeping, and his vision for a more peaceful and secure Africa.  Related content: Africa Aware: The future of African peace and security Tensions in Tigray could spark war between Ethiopia and Eritrea – disaster must be avoided Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africa's security South Sudan's shaky peace is at risk of collapse. Can it be saved?

In this episode, Tim Eaton and Lubna Yousef discuss their latest research on how transnational human smuggling has fuelled conflict in Libya through a systems analysis of three key transit cities – Kufra, Sebha and Zawiya. Using this approach, their research examines the roles played by conflict and social dynamics in the expansion of human smuggling and trafficking – thus helping uncover critical gaps in policies aimed at addressing the rapid rise of migration.  This episode was produced with support from the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy, and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by UK International Development. Related content: Tackling the Niger–Libya migration route Africa Aware: From Nigeria to Libya: Linked through migration and armed conflict