By Abby Burczyk Since the end of October, Mali has been suffering from a widespread fuel blockade caused by a jihadist group. The fuel blockade has impacted nearly every aspect of life for Malians by forcing schools to close, impacting power supply to critical industries like healthcare, and resulting in food prices to dramatically surge.... Continue Reading →
By Abby Burczyk On October 31, the United Nations Security Council backed a resolution for Western Sahara to maintain autonomy under Moroccan rule. Though Morocco has presented similar resolutions to develop governmental systems for Western Sahara since 2007, the most recent resolution was written by the United States. The Trump administration has been very supportive of... Continue Reading →
By Abby Burczyk On Sunday October 26, members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) declared that they have captured the city of El Fasher, Sudan. Since 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in civil war which has concerned the international community of ethnic cleansing and genocide. The RSF emerged in the early 2000s from the Janjaweed militia.... Continue Reading →
By Madelyn Williams Tanzania has elected its first female president. President Samia has taken office following an election that many describe as less of a contest and more of a coronation. She previously served as vice president under the former president until his death in office. Her predecessor was admired for his determination to stamp... Continue Reading →
Madelyn Williams Malagasy protests in September led to a new government in October. The protests began as peaceful demonstrations over persistent power and water shortages. On September 19, 2025, two government officials were arrested for planning a peaceful rally in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo. This sparked outrage, particularly among Gen Z, who saw the arrests as an... Continue Reading →
By Abby Burczyk Since September 27 ongoing protests in Morocco have overtaken several cities throughout the country. The protests are led by a group called Gen Z 212 which has unified youth using social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Discord. The outcry comes after preparations have begun for the 2030 World Cup which is... Continue Reading →
By Madelyn Williams There is a surprise candidate on Cote d’Ivoire’s ballot next month, Former First Lady Simone Gbagbo has announced that she will run for president in the upcoming elections. Simone has been dubbed the “Iron Lady” due to her fearsome reputation during her now ex-husbands presidency. Laurent and Simone Gbagbo were activists for... Continue Reading →
By Abby Burczyk The near completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has raised great concern for Egypt and Sudan. With the dam building its water reservoir using water from the Blue Nile, downstream countries are increasingly worried about the restriction of water flow into their countries. Sudan utilizes the River Nile for almost... Continue Reading →
By Madelyn Williams Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is no stranger to disease outbreaks such as malaria, Mpox, and dengue fever. This is due to warm climate, rich biodiversity, weak public health systems, malnutrition, and various other factors. While some diseases are a constant challenge, others emerge as sudden outbreaks like the Sudan Virus Disease (SVD) and... Continue Reading →
By Madelyn Williams Last month the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, signed the Land Expropriation Law. This has caused a firestorm of controversy in South Africa and abroad as some expect that it will be used to remove white farmers from their land. The law provides guidelines about how land expropriation may be implemented and... Continue Reading →
The Patterson Journal of International Affairs 