As 2021 came to a close, the Wilson Center Africa Program continued its annual tradition of asking policymakers, practitioners, scholars, and Africa watchers to reflect on what they considered to be the year’s most impactful developments on the African continent, in U.S.-Africa relations, and about Africa’s role in the global arena. Our contributors responded with 27 mini-essays covering a broad range of topics in the governance, security, development, and social spheres.
This year marks the sixth edition of the Africa: Year in Review series and encompasses a collection of essays that present brief analyses on many of the continent’s most significant developments in political, economic, and social affairs. Many developments stood out over the year, with our contributors reflecting on topics ranging from civil unrest and corruption to sustainable development efforts.
We thank all of the contributors for this year's volume. We had a wide range of experts and practitioners write for the publication this year, and we are grateful for their expertise on the variety of topics. These key developments resonated across Africa and its relations with rest of the world.
As you read these mini-essays, we ask you to join the Wilson Center Africa Program in reflecting on the developments highlighted, challenges faced, and solutions offered that we hope will educate, inform, and serve as inspiration to propel the continent forward in 2022.
We hope that you enjoy reading and sharing this edition of Africa: Year in Review! Feel free to tag us on social media using @AfricaUpClose and #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
Joseph Asunka
Christopher Maloney
Senior Director for Strategy and Business Development, Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) at the UN Foundation
Thomas P. Sheehy
Margaret Wamuyu Muthee
Olusola Isola
Senior Lecturer in Peace, Security and Humanitarian Studies Department, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Major General Andrew Rohling
Joseph Siegle
Maame Esi Eshun
Regulatory Research Analyst at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Ghana
Osei Baffour Frimpong
Lead Regional Researcher and Conflict Analyst, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Ghana
Sophia Moestrup
Ida Sawyer
Deputy Director for Africa, Human Rights Watch
Oge Onubogu
Cyril Obi
Helen Kezie-Nwoha
Jennyfer Jimenez
Kristen O’Connell
Donna A. Patterson
Professor, Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy, Delaware State University
Robert I. Rotberg
Founding Director of the Intrastate Conflict Program, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Nii Akuetteh
Vivian Lowery Derryck
Theodore Powers
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Iowa
Raymond Gilpin
Deirdre LaPin
Senior Research Associate at the University of Pennsylvania
Cheri Ayers
Elem Eyrice Tepeciklioğlu
Catharine Helmers
K. Riva Levinson
Contributors
Monde Muyangwa
Cheri Ayers
Alyson Grunder
Senior Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State; former Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Monrovia, Liberia; former Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State
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
