Africa
Even today, Africa is home to many of the poorest countries in the world. However, the continent is undergoing major changes and is experiencing economic growth.
Africa, the second-largest continent on the globe, consists of 54 independent nation states and can be subdivided into five regions: North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa. Over the course of the past 40 years, it has experienced massive population growth – today counting over a billion people of more than 3,000 ethnic groups, with great variations in culture, language and religion. The continent is still home to a considerable proportion of the world’s poor, but it is also characterized by rapid development and economic growth.
NUPI conducts wide-ranging research on Africa, in particular on issues related to social and economic development: fundamental questions concerning the conditions for state formation and democracy, as well as specific studies of individual countries and areas. Other important thematic areas include how post-conflict counties can avoid relapse, and the role of international peace operations in such circumstances – not least, the activities of the UN and the African Union.
Source: Store Norske Leksikon and NUPI.
News about Africa
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Lorax in Motion: Building the Transnational Ecosystem Politics Database
17 Mar 2021Lorax in Motion is a series whereby we report and reflect upon the Lorax project’s ongoing research activities. Here, we zoom in upon Lorax’s Dr Cristiana Maglia, who recently received her PhD in Political Science Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), after a...
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Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheet: South Sudan
11 Mar 2021South Sudan is highly vulnerable to climate change, including flooding, droughts and, most recently, a locust infestation. Long-term climate change, like a gradual increase in temperature, and short-term changes, like increased flooding, have indirect and interlinked implications...
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How does climate change affect peace and security in South Sudan?
11 Mar 2021How does climate change affect peace and security in South Sudan?
Publications about Africa
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Publication
: Report
Governance, Social Policy, and Political Economy: Trends in Norway’s Partner Countries
In 2017–2018, NUPI (the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs) headed a project where political economy analyses were undertaken in eleven of Norway’s partner countries. These analyses were published as eleven separate reports. The reports focused on power relations and political developments... -
Publication
: Interview
Central African Republic: What's behind the crisis?
2021The situation in the Central African Republic's capital of Bangui is "apocalyptic" - that's how a former prime minister this week described the situation there. The UN says more than 200,000 people have fled their homes since the conflict erupted last month. Rebel forces now control... -
Publication
: Kronikk
South Sudan’s battle for Democracy
2021South Sudan’s peace process is still largely up for negotiation. A new South Sudan must emerge through a civilian technocratic government. This will require transforming the way security forces control the state. It also means being serious about addressing the root causes of conflict, implementing a...
Research projects about Africa
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Photograph: AMISOM
Research project
Climate-related Peace and Security Risks (CPSR)
2020 - 2023 (Ongoing)The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) are collaborating on a climate, peace and security project that is aimed at backstopping...
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Research project
Training for Peace 2020 - 2025 (TfP)
2020 - 2025 (Ongoing)In its new phase (2020-2025) the TfP will strengthen its partnership and collaboration with the African Union, by providing applied research, policy support and capacity-building.
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Photograph: EU media library
Research projectCOOPERATION: President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President og the AU, Moussa Faki Mahama.
Shaping a New Africa-Europe Relationship for a post-Covid-19 global order
2020 - 2021 (Ongoing)This collaborative project between NUPI, ACCORD and ECFR aims to stimulate and enrich the dialogue in Africa and Europe on the underlying geopolitical, Covid-19, peace and security and other key developments...