Africa: Year in Review 2020
![AYIR 2020](/sites/default/files/styles/publication/public/media/uploads/images/Cover%20Image_3.jpg)
![AYIR 2020](/sites/default/files/styles/publication/public/media/uploads/images/Cover%20Image_3.jpg)
From the COVID-19 pandemic to popular protests, civil unrest, and democratic backsliding, 2020 was quite the year! This year’s Africa: Year in Review 2020 is a special edition, marking the fifth year since the launch of the series. The Wilson Center Africa Program continued its annual tradition of asking policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders to examine the top developments in Africa and in U.S.-Africa relations for 2020. Our contributors responded with the brief and insightful essays in this volume.
We thank them for their contributions, which provide analysis on topics including the 2020 U.S. election results; COVID-19 diplomacy and mitigation; popular protests and the rise of African youth activists; Niger’s peaceful transfer of power; the military coup in Mali; the role of sovereign wealth funds in promoting sustainable development; and the importance of utilizing African knowledge and traditional medicine to combat COVID-19 and address the continent’s health needs, among other topics.
We hope that you enjoy reading and sharing this volume! Feel free to tag us on social media using @AfricaUpClose #AfricaYearInReview.
The statements made and views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not represent the views or official positions of the Wilson Center.
Authors
Alan Boswell
Nii Akuetteh
Judd Devermont
Thomas P. Sheehy
Vivian Lowery Derryck
Alex Vines
Joseph Siegle
Gregory Kearns
Sophia Moestrup
Ladan Affi
Aili Mari Tripp
Wangari Maathai Professor of Political Science and Gender and Women’s Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
![Michele Fabiola Lawson](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/uploads/images/fabiola.jpg)
Michele Fabiola Lawson
![Adesoji Adelaja](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/images/person/adelaja_photo.jpg)
Adesoji Adelaja
John A Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics
K. Riva Levinson
Major General Andrew Rohling
Anthony Carroll
Kristen O’Connell
Marisa O. Ensor
Kamissa Camara
Ambassador J. Peter Pham
![Hannah Beckett Akuiyibo](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/uploads/images/HannahAkuiyibo%20small-1_0.jpg)
Hannah Akuiyibo
Monique Walker
![George Boateng](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/images/person/george_boateng.jpg)
George Boateng
Research Analyst, African Center for Economic Transformation
Beatrice Oforiwaa Dankyi
![Ian Gorecki](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/images/person/ian.jpg)
Ian Gorecki
Viola Llewellyn
Liz Kitoyi
Garnett Achieng’
Thomas S. Jayne
Louise Fox
Keith Fuglie
Adam Dixon
Munashe Matambo
Yusuf Kenan Küçük
Elem Eyrice Tepeciklioğlu
Gregory Gondwe
Lawrence Kamanga
![Gamuchirai Mhute Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/uploads/images/AFR-Headshot-Mhute.jpg)
Gamuchirai Mhute
Contributors
Africa Program
The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations. Read more