CSIS

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Channel • 52 Shows

Government

Government

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Government

Government

Monthly
Government

Government

Updated weekly
Government

Government

Updated 09/09/2024
Government

Government

Updated weekly
Technology

Technology

Updated 03/06/2020
Government

Government

Twice monthly

11/09/2025

Back to basics: Africa’s bid for two permanent UNSC seats (with Amb. Martin Kimani)

Since this episode aired last year, we’re still dreaming of a just and representative global order. Catherine Nzuki was joined by Ambassador Martin Kimani, PhD, the Executive Director of New York University’s Center on International Cooperation. He was previously the Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations (UN). In this episode, we take a deep dive into Africa’s bid for two permanent seats on the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the long road to get there. We discuss how long Africa has been pushing for these seats (3:40); the procedure to create the two permanent seats (7:00); why the process of selecting which African state will occupy those seats could cause infighting (15:20); and two scenarios for how these seats could be distributed (19:40). We zoom out to discuss the deficit of visionary contemporary leaders (30:18); the types of reforms that the African Union needs (34:42); Africa’s demographic dividend (36:00); Africa in the G20 (42:30); and finally, reordering global geography in line with Africa’s own interests (45:00).

11/09/2025

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1 hr
15 JAN

Connecting the Dots: Africa’s Year Ahead

In the first episode of this season, Oge is joined by Fonteh Akum, Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), and Raymond Gilpin, Chief Economist and Head of Strategy at UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa, to reflect on the defining moments of 2025 and explore what 2026 may hold for the continent. While 2025 brought few surprises, it reinforced trends that had long been taking shape on the continent. From the drastic shift in U.S. policy toward Africa to the spread of youth movements, evolving security challenges, and shifting economic dynamics, these trends define a pivotal moment for the continent. Economically, Africa continued its recovery from the long-term impacts of COVID-19, alongside a notable shift in investment from the public sector toward the private sector. Looking ahead to 2026, the conversation underscores the importance of consistency and of connecting the dots between security, development, finance, and governance.

15 Jan

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51 min
29/10/2020

If You Build It, They Will Come

The elderly and those living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are two populations growing faster in sub-Saharan Africa than elsewhere in the world. What challenges do these vulnerable groups face in the wake of Covid-19 and what opportunities exist for increased private sector engagement? Judd Devermont sits down with Rumbi Chakamba (Journalist), Nik Pereira (Africa Healthcare Network), and Nina Prieur (Prosper Africa) to explore U.S. investment in specialized care, Senegal's exemplary pandemic response, and a massive oil spill in Mauritius. Background Reading: How Senegal has set the standard on COVID-19 – Rumbi Chakamba Senegal's quiet COVID success – Deidre Shesgreen The Covid-19 Global Response Index – Foreign Policy The Strategic Significance of Africa’s Smallest Democracies – Judd Devermont A Wake-up Call: What Covid-19 Reveals about Elderly and NCD Care in Sub-Saharan Africa – Judd Devermont and Marielle Harris Sisters care for home-based patients and the terminally ill in Botswana – Rumbi Chakamba

29/10/2020

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32 min
28/08/2025

Back to basics: Decoding demographics with Dr. Jennifer D. Sciubba

Catherine's taking a break this week. In the meantime, we want to reshare one of our essential episodes on demographics. As you all know, by 2050, one in four people will be African. How do demographers reach this conclusion? And how does Africa's population growth intersect with population declines in the Global North? To answer these questions, Catherine was joined by Dr. Jennifer D. Sciubba, President and CEO of the Population Reference Bureau and one of the foremost experts in the field of political demography. Dr. Sciubba breaks down how demographers project future populations and the drivers of population growth. They discuss the limited window to take advantage of Africa’s demographic dividend, the population decline debate in the West, and why overpopulation is a contentious term. They also discuss how politics, cultural norms, women’s empowerment, and the autonomy to not have children factor into population growth. Book recommendation: States and Nature (The Politics of Climate Change) by Joshua W. Busby.

28/08/2025

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32 min
17/04/2025

Best Of: The boomers in Mali getting their news from TikTok

The Afropolitan will be taking a brief hiatus to re-envision its next steps. Stay tuned for an exciting new chapter! In the meantime, we're sharing our very first episode from October, which focused on how older people in Mali are consuming news on TikTok, and why this symbolizes the larger trends sweeping through the Sahel. In this episode, Catherine Nzuki is joined by Doussouba Konaté, the Country Director of Accountability Lab Mali. We unpack two of these shifts in the Sahel. First, growing anti-French sentiments in the region has led to language decolonization in Mali, in which a growing number of people would rather receive their news in Bambara, one of Mali’s national languages, over French. Secondly, growing internet access has connected people across Mali and has brought more visibility to the plight of Malians living in conflict-affected areas. However, as social media usage grows, so too does online misinformation and disinformation.

17/04/2025

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37 min
13/10/2022

Forecasting African Futures

Mvemba is joined by Jakkie Cilliers, Head of African Futures & Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies, a South African think-tank. Jakkie and Mvemba discuss Africa’s potential growth in different global scenarios, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and challenges to intra-continental trade.

13/10/2022

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32 min
22/03/2023

Diving Deeper: U.S.-Africa Engagement on Maritime Security

Africa’s coastline is over 18,900 miles (30,500 km). With 2023 marking the 10-year anniversary of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct and the first ever African Maritime Forces Summit in Cabo Verde, the time to discuss key threats, threat management frameworks, and strategic partnerships to the African maritime space is critical. This week on Into Africa, Mvemba is joined by Rear Admiral Chase Patrick, Director of the U.S. Naval Forces Maritime Headquarters to Europe-Africa and the U.S. Sixth Fleet and Mr. Mark Schapiro, Foreign Policy Advisor of the U.S. Naval Forces to Europe-Africa. They discuss threats faced by key anchor countries for U.S. maritime security engagement such as Djibouti and the Gulf of Guinea, the amplification of multilateral maritime partnerships to combat ‘sea-blindness’, economic challenges posed by maritime security, and more.

22/03/2023

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33 min
27/05/2021

Democracy Doesn't Come from the Sky

President Biden's upcoming Summit for Democracy is one of the administration's flagship efforts aiming to renew its commitment to democracy at home and abroad. What are the key themes of the Summit and how do we ensure that African voices are not treated as sideshows? Judd Devermont sits down with Frances Brown (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), Moussa Kondo (Accountability Lab), and Thandekile Moyo (Writer) to share recommendations for impactful deliverables. Other topics include Chad's military takeover following the death of President Idriss Déby and ZANU-PF's problematic amendments to Zimbabwe's constitution. Background Readings: Who will defend and protect Zimbabwe’s human rights defenders? – Thandekile Moyo The Global Expansion of AI Surveillance – Steven Feldstein America Needs a Democracy Summit More Than Ever – Frances Z. Brown et. al. Africa and the Biden Administration’s Summit for Democracy – Judd Devermont

27/05/2021

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40 min
19/03/2020

Partner of Choice

African militaries are working with the U.S., China, Russia, and others in order to address their security concerns. In an increasingly crowded space, are Africans looking for a partner of choice or a choice of partners? Host Judd Devermont sits down with Katie Bo Williams (Defense One), Ryan Cummings (Signal Risk) and Jonah Victor (Author) to discuss African views on U.S. and foreign security assistance. Guests also review Malian President Keita’s negotiations with extremist leaders and the wave of vigilante violence in Zambia. Background Reading African Security: An Introduction - Jonah Victor and John Siko Speaking with Vampires: Rumor and History in Colonial Africa - Luise White Social media claims about Zambia gas attacks linked to riots, lynchings - AFP

19/03/2020

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33 min
12/12/2024

The Fight Against HIV and Gender-Based Violence

This December 1st, Project HOPE was among the many organizations commemorating World AIDS Day as well as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Over two decades, significant progress in HIV control, particularly in Africa, has been achieved through initiatives like President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Since 2003, PEPFAR has enabled over 20 million people to access antiretroviral therapy and prevented 5.5 million HIV-positive births. However, challenges persist in meeting UNAIDS' 95-95-95 targets—ensuring widespread testing, treatment, and viral suppression. Barriers include funding shortages, stigma, and competing health crises like COVID-19. Adolescents, especially girls and young women, face heightened risk due to social vulnerabilities and limited access to youth-friendly services. Mvemba is joined by Dr. Uche Ralph-Opara, Chief Health Officer at Project HOPE, to discuss the progress made and the hurdles that remain in achieving epidemic control. Their conversation highlights innovative approaches to addressing gender inequality and empowering vulnerable populations.

12/12/2024

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27 min

CSIS podcasts feature experts & scholars on a range of critical issues surrounding geopolitics, national security, defense, & international affairs topics.

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