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• Political Transition in Tunisia [October 22, 2014]

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  "Tunisia is in its fourth year of transition after the 2011 'Jasmine Revolution,' and it has so far continued to avoid the types of chaos and/or authoritarian resurrections that have affected other 'Arab Spring' countries. Legislative and presidential elections scheduled for late 2014 are expected to put an end to a series of transitional governments. On January 26, 2014, Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt a new constitution. This is widely viewed as a landmark accomplishment, given the difficulty of achieving political consensus, tensions between Islamists and secularists, and ongoing social and economic unrest. The new constitution asserts Tunisia's Muslim identity, but its framing--creating a civil state and provisions on civil liberties--is seen as a victory for secularists. The vote followed a political agreement under which Tunisia's main Islamist party, Al Nahda, agreed to give up its leadership of the government in favor of a technocratic prime minister in the lead-up to the elections. Tunisia has a small territory, a relatively well-educated and homogenous population, and a history of encouraging women's freedoms. Still, Tunisians face significant challenges in reforming state institutions, addressing economic woes, and responding to security concerns. Ansar al Sharia in Tunisia, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, was reportedly involved in an attack on the U.S. embassy and American school in Tunis on September 14, 2012--three days after the attacks in Benghazi, Libya. The military has targeted terrorist cells near the Algerian border and in the remote south, which reportedly serves as a regional transit point for weapons and fighters."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Humud, Carla E.

  2014-10-22
• International Criminal Court Cases in Africa: Status and Policy Issues [July 22, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "The International Criminal Court (ICC) has, to date, opened cases exclusively in Africa. Cases concerning 25 individuals are open before the Court, pertaining to crimes allegedly committed in six African states: Libya, Kenya, Sudan (Darfur), Uganda (the Lord's Resistance Army, LRA), the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. A 26th case, against a Darfur rebel commander, was dismissed. The ICC Prosecutor has yet to secure any convictions. In addition, the Prosecutor has initiated preliminary examinations--a potential precursor to a full investigation--in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Nigeria, along with several countries outside of Africa, such as Afghanistan, Colombia, Georgia, Honduras, and the Republic of Korea. The Statute of the ICC, also known as the Rome Statute, entered into force on July 1, 2002, and established a permanent, independent Court to investigate and bring to justice individuals who commit war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. As of July 2011, 116 countries--including 32 African countries, the largest regional block--were parties to the Statute. Tunisia was the latest country to have become a party, in June 2011. The United States is not a party. […] This report provides background on current ICC cases and examines issues raised by the ICC's actions in Africa. Further analysis can be found in CRS Report R41116, 'The International Criminal Court (ICC): Jurisdiction, Extradition, and U.S. Policy,' by Emily C. Barbour and Matthew C. Weed, and CRS Report R41682, 'International Criminal Court and the Rome Statute: 2010 Review Conference,' by Matthew C. Weed."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Margesson, Rhoda; Browne, Marjorie Ann . . .

  2011-07-22
• Guinea: Background and Relations with the United States [July 26, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "The past three years have seen a series of dramatic changes in Guinea's political landscape, a new experience for a country that had only two presidents in the first 50 years after independence in 1958. In late 2008, a military junta took power following the death of longtime president Lansana Conté. Junta leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara was shot and wounded by his own bodyguard in December 2009, and his departure paved the way for a military-led transitional government. In June 2010, Guineans voted in their country's first presidential election organized by an independent electoral commission and without an incumbent candidate. Longtime exiled opposition leader Alpha Condé, who had previously never served in government, was declared the winner after a much-delayed run-off poll in November. Condé's inauguration brought an end to two years of military rule and could potentially enable key reforms and the implementation of the rule of law, which are considered prerequisites for private sector growth and increased respect for human rights. Yet political, security, and socioeconomic challenges remain stark. State institutions are badly eroded, and Condé has been accused by opposition parties of attempting to delay and manipulate planned legislative elections. […] Congress may play a role in guiding U.S. engagement with Guinea through the authorization, appropriation, and oversight of U.S. programs and policies. Guinea-focused legislation introduced during the 111th Congress included H.Res. 1013 (Ros-Lehtinen) and S.Res. 345 (Boxer)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2011-07-26
• Crisis in Mali [Updated July 14, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Once seen as a democratic leader, Mali has become an epicenter of regional conflict and instability over the past decade. The military's ouster of the elected president in August 2020 highlighted governance failings and deepened political uncertainty. In May 2021, the same soldiers overthrew the transitional civilian leaders whom they had put in place, after chafing at Transition President Bah N'Daw's effort to replace two junta members as cabinet ministers. The leader of both coups, Colonel Assimi Goïta, has replaced N'Daw as Transition President; allied officers hold four cabinet posts and lead the transitional legislature. Under regional pressure, Goïta has promised elections in February 2022 in which he will not be a candidate, but observers question his commitment. Transitional leaders also have pledged a constitutional referendum to advance the government's 2015 peace deal with northern rebels"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2021-07-14
• Crisis in the Central African Republic [July 8, 2021]

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  From the Document: "The Central African Republic (CAR) remains beset by violence and humanitarian suffering despite international stabilization efforts, two national elections, and multiple peace processes over the past decade. Growing Russian involvement in CAR's defense and mining sectors has raised U.S. policy concerns as a potential model for Russian penetration in Africa. U.N. agencies reported in mid-2021 that 2.8 million people in CAR (over 50%) required humanitarian assistance and over 700,000 were internally displaced, while nearly 700,000 more were refugees in nearby countries. These figures have increased in recent months. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought new health and economic challenges, though CAR has identified (and tested) fewer cases than many other countries."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2021-07-08
• Sexual Violence in African Conflicts [November 25, 2009]

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  "This report focuses on current conflicts in Africa in which sexual violence is reported to be widespread or systematic. It describes the context in which such violence takes place, selected cases where it is currently occurring, and U.S. policy responses. It concludes with a discussion of potential policy considerations for Congress, including the design and effectiveness of U.S. programs; coordination between agencies and between international donors; and the question of whether policy responses to sexual violence can be separated from the broader context in which such violence occurs. The report includes a detailed case study of DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo], which has drawn particular attention from the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2009-11-25
• Guinea's 2008 Military Coup and Relations with the United States [November 5, 2009]

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  From the Summary: "Guinea is a Francophone West African country on the Atlantic coast, with a population of about 10 million. It is rich in natural resources but characterized by widespread poverty and limited socioeconomic growth and development. While Guinea has experienced regular episodes of internal political turmoil, it was considered a locus of relative stability over the past two decades, a period during which each of its six neighbors suffered one or more armed internal conflicts. Guinea entered a new period of political uncertainty on December 23, 2008, when a group of junior and mid-level military officers seized power, hours after the death of longtime president and former military leader Lansana Conté. The junta, calling itself the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD, after its French acronym), named as the interim national president a previously relatively unknown figure, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara. [...] This report analyzes developments since the military's seizure of power in December 2008, Guinea's relations with the United States, and U.S. policy in the wake of the coup. It also provides background on Guinean history and politics."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas; Arieff, Alexis

  2009-11-05
• Tunisia: In Brief [Updated November 1, 2019]

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  From the Document: "Tunisia remains the sole country to have made a durable transition to democracy as a result of the 2011 'Arab Spring.' Tunisians adopted a new constitution in 2014 and have since held two competitive national elections resulting in peaceful transfers of power. At the same time, living standards have worsened for many Tunisians, increasing pressure on political leaders. High unemployment and inflation, unpopular fiscal austerity measures, and concerns about corruption have spurred protests, labor unrest, and a backlash against political elites in recent years."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2019-11-01
• Congress and the Middle East, 2011-2020: Selected Case Studies [May 21, 2021]

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  From the Summary: "Congress shaped U.S. national security policy toward several critical crises and contingencies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) during the decade from 2011 through 2020--a period of upheaval, conflict, and change in that region. [...] Congress may examine the experiences over the decade to assess the results of its use of legislative tools to influence U.S. foreign policy. Analysis of case studies of various specific legislative interventions in specific events and countries shows use of a range of congressional policy tools with varied outcomes. Key considerations include how chosen congressional policy tools relate to executive branch-led foreign relations initiatives and the effects that country- and context-specific factors may have on policy results."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Blanchard, Christopher M.; Arieff, Alexis; Humud, Carla E. . . .

  2021-05-21
• African Elections in 2020 [Updated April 27, 2020]

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  From the Document: "At the start of the year, 21 African countries were slated to hold presidential and/or parliamentary polls in 2020. Scheduled election dates are listed below. Some may be subject to change due to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic or other factors."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Collins, Sarah R.; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .

  2020-04-27
• African Elections in 2020 [Updated February 14, 2020]

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  This report from the Congressional Research Service provides election snapshots for individual nations in Africa in 2020.

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Collins, Sarah R.; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .

  2020-02-14
• Algeria [Updated July 6, 2021]

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  From the Document: "More than two years after nationwide protests forced longstanding President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down, questions remain about the future of Algeria's political system and state-centric economy, which revolves around oil and gas exports. President Abelmadjid Tebboune (75), a former prime minister, was elected in late 2019 to succeed Bouteflika, but some observers question his legitimacy and influence within the complex elite networks known in Algeria as 'le pouvoir' ('the powers that be'). Tebboune won nearly 60% of the vote but turnout was under 40%; his reputed patron, army chief of staff General Ahmed Gaïd Salah, died soon after; and the president spent months in hospitals abroad after contracting COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] in late 2020."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Collins, Sarah R.

  2021-07-06
• Algeria [Updated June 23, 2021]

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  From the Document: "More than two years after nationwide protests forced longstanding President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down, questions remain about the future of Algeria's political system and state-centric economy, which revolves around oil and gas exports. President Abelmadjid Tebboune (75), a former prime minister, was elected in late 2019 to succeed Bouteflika, but some observers question his legitimacy and influence within the complex elite networks known in Algeria as 'le pouvoir' ('the powers that be'). Tebboune won nearly 60% of the vote but turnout was under 40%; his reputed patron, army chief of staff General Ahmed Gaïd Salah, died soon after; and the president spent months in hospitals abroad after contracting COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] in late 2020."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Collins, Sarah R.

  2021-06-23
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact in Africa [Updated August 4, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Sub-Saharan Africa has confirmed fewer COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] cases and deaths per capita than other regions, but many countries have faced a deadlier third wave of cases since mid-2021. As of July 2021, southern African countries had the highest per-capita caseloads (and had also administered the most tests). Public health experts have expressed acute concerns about the regional surge in both cases and deaths, which they attribute to the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant and public fatigue with infection control restrictions. Most governments in Africa have struggled to secure vaccines. Total cumulative confirmed cases and deaths remain concentrated in a handful of countries, led by South Africa. Studies suggest that case data may be underreported in many countries, and experts warn that asymptomatic transmission may have hidden the scope of the spread while allowing for potential virus mutation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Cook, Nicolas . . .

  2021-08-04
• Burkina Faso [Updated January 26, 2022]

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  From the Document: "On January 24, 2022, military officers ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré--the first head of state in Burkina Faso to have entered office via elections--amid a worsening security and humanitarian crisis. The military's actions came amid rising tensions over the government's inability to stem Islamist insurgent attacks, and followed coups in Mali and Guinea. Regional and Western leaders have struggled to respond to the spread of conflicts in the Sahel region and democratic backsliding. Donors have also raised concerns with the recent arrival of Russian military contractors in Mali; some in Burkina Faso have called for increased Russian security assistance."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2022-01-26
• Democratic Republic of Congo: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated March 25, 2022]

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  From the Introduction: "President Félix Tshisekedi's inauguration in 2019 represented DRC's [Democratic Republic of Congo] first-ever electoral transfer of power and reset DRC's relations with the United States and other Western donors. These had grown acrimonious under Tshisekedi's predecessor, Joseph Kabila, once hailed as a peacemaker, who in his later years in office oversaw election delays, violent suppression of opposition protests, allegedly extensive corruption, and burgeoning conflicts throughout the country. U.S. officials heralded Tshisekedi's presidency despite stated concerns about the electoral process that brought him to office, and Tshisekedi has since pursued close ties with the United States. President Tshisekedi has sought donor support to reform state institutions and improve social services, launched a review of state mining contracts, pursued a diplomatic rapprochement with neighboring countries, and sought to position DRC (with its extensive tropical forests) as a global player on climate change issues. Whether his stated goals are likely to advance or stall ahead of elections slated for 2023 is uncertain; progress to date has been slow. Observers debate whether the president and key supporters are motivated primarily by a commitment to reforms, or by a desire to capture the state and its resources, as previous heads of state arguably did. DRC's challenges are stark. The country is rich in minerals, forest resources, and agricultural and hydroelectric potential, but most Congolese live in poverty."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2022-03-25
• Niger: Frequently Asked Questions About the October 2017 Attack on U.S. Soldiers [October 27, 2017]

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  "A deadly attack on U.S. soldiers in Niger and their local counterparts on October 4, 2017, has prompted many questions from Members of Congress about the incident. It has also highlighted a range of broader issues for Congress pertaining to oversight and authorization of U.S. military deployments, evolving U.S. global counterterrorism activities and strategy, interagency security assistance and cooperation efforts, and U.S. engagement with countries historically considered peripheral to core U.S. national security interests."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Feickert, Andrew . . .

  2017-10-27
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact in Africa [Updated April 11, 2022]

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  From the Document: "As of April 2022, most countries in sub-Saharan Africa ('Africa') had emerged from a fourth COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] wave--primarily driven by the Omicron variant, first detected in Botswana in late 2021--and were reporting relatively low caseloads. Citing these trends and increased treatment capacity in many countries, World Health Organization (WHO) officials have expressed optimism that Africa 'can control the pandemic in 2022.' [...] COVID-19 has exacerbated health system challenges in many African countries, disrupting routine immunizations, diagnosis and treatment of other diseases, maternal and child health care, and other health services. The pandemic has intensified food insecurity (especially in areas with conflicts or natural disasters) and prompted long school closures without virtual options in some countries. The initial economic impact in Africa was severe and pushed tens of millions more people into extreme poverty, according to the World Bank. The pandemic cratered global demand and prices for Africa's oil and mineral exports, disrupted trade and tourism, stemmed remittances from African workers abroad, and prompted local lockdown measures. Most African economies began to recover in 2021, buoyed in some cases by rising commodity prices, but growth rates appear unlikely to reverse increases in poverty and debt. The regional outlook remains uncertain."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Cook, Nicolas

  2022-04-11