As 2020 begins, it is important to reflect on the top developments that occurred in Africa, in U.S.-Africa relations, and in Africa's role in the global arena over the past year. The Wilson Center Africa Program continued its annual tradition of asking practitioners, experts, and policymakers to weigh in on the most important and impactful developments of 2019 for the continent, and their implications for U.S.-Africa relations. They responded with the brief and insightful essays in this volume. 

We thank them for their contributions, which provide analysis on topics including the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, people power and the rise of popular protests in Sudan and Algeria, increased violent extremism and pastoral violence across many parts of the continent, the influence of countries like Turkey and the Gulf States in the Horn, the role of Africa’s creative sector in driving economic growth, and the importance of Ghana’s “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” initiative for the global African diaspora, among other topics. 

We hope that you enjoy reading and sharing this volume!

Please note that the views expressed in these essays are solely the responsibility of the authors, and not those of the Wilson Center.