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Members of the transgender and LGBTQ community light candles as they  pay tribute to victims of hate crimes in Uganda and all over the world, in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 23, 2019.
Members of the transgender and LGBTQ community light candles as they pay tribute to victims of hate crimes in Uganda and all over the world, in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 23, 2019.

How U.S. Evangelicals Helped Homophobia Flourish in Africa

Anti-gay sentiment had previously existed on the continent, but white American religious groups have given it a boost.

French soldiers deployed in the Central African Republic board a cargo plane to leave the Bangui airport.
French soldiers deployed in the Central African Republic board a cargo plane to leave the Bangui airport.

Russian Mercenaries Are Pushing France Out of Central Africa

The Wagner Group’s propaganda has a clear target: Paris.

U.S. Marines walk past a toppled statue of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
U.S. Marines walk past a toppled statue of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
Iraqi children walk along a damaged road on their way back from school in Mosul, Iraq
Iraqi children walk along a damaged road on their way back from school in Mosul, Iraq

Iraq Must Not Squander Another Opportunity to Rebuild

The war’s legacy is 20 years of broken hopes and dreams. This government must do better.

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu (C-L) and his wife Oluremi Tinubu (C-R) arrive to vote at a polling station in Lagos on Feb. 25.
All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu (C-L) and his wife Oluremi Tinubu (C-R) arrive to vote at a polling station in Lagos on Feb. 25.

Nigeria’s Kingmakers Are Still in Control

Divisive politics and historical power structures helped Bola Tinubu win.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a virtual speech during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Dakar, Senegal, on Nov. 29, 2021.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a virtual speech during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Dakar, Senegal, on Nov. 29, 2021.

China Is Tweaking Its Propaganda for African Audiences

A concerted media campaign has not done much for Beijing’s image.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) accompanies Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud (R) during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing, China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) accompanies Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud (R) during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing, China.

China’s Iran-Saudi Deal May Not Stick

Beijing will have a tough time balancing ties with Riyadh and Tehran.

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Amatutu, Nigeria, on Feb. 25.
A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Amatutu, Nigeria, on Feb. 25.

Nigeria’s Flawed Election Risks a Democratic Backslide

The international community cannot afford to give up on Nigeria’s vast democratic promise.

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is seen before a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Jan. 12.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is seen before a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Jan. 12.

Ethiopia Is Not Ready for Transitional Justice

Washington should not engage with the country’s government unless it pursues accountability for war crimes.

Iran’s top security official, Ali Shamkhani (right), China's top diplomat, Wang Yi (center), and Saudi National Security Advisor Musaid al Aiban pose for a photo after Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume bilateral diplomatic ties after several days of deliberations between top security officials of the two countries in Beijing on March 10.
Iran’s top security official, Ali Shamkhani (right), China's top diplomat, Wang Yi (center), and Saudi National Security Advisor Musaid al Aiban pose for a photo after Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume bilateral diplomatic ties after several days of deliberations between top security officials of the two countries in Beijing on March 10.

4 Key Takeaways From the China-Brokered Saudi-Iran Deal

Anyone who believes we’re on the cusp of a golden era between Tehran and Riyadh should lie down until the feeling passes.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Workers haul part of a fiber optic cable onto the shore at the Kenyan port town of Mombasa in 2009.
Workers haul part of a fiber optic cable onto the shore at the Kenyan port town of Mombasa in 2009.

The Next Superpower Battlefield Could Be Under the Sea in Africa

U.S. assistance in developing tech infrastructure could help achieve Washington’s strategic and diplomatic goals by countering Russia and China.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on March 9.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on March 9.

Does the United States Have More Leverage Over Israel Than It Thinks?

The beleaguered Netanyahu government needs Washington’s backing on Iran—but unpopular judicial reforms and casual talk of ethnic cleansing could imperil it.

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China, Ukraine, and How Biden Plans to Balance Both

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Can U.S. President Joe Biden really support Ukraine against Russia for “as long as it takes,” as he has pledged? Congressional support for this aid has largely been bipartisan and wide-r...Show more

Protesters gather during a rally against the government's controversial judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv on March 18.
Protesters gather during a rally against the government's controversial judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv on March 18.

Ehud Barak on Israel’s Escalating Crisis

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Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been protesting weekly against their government’s plans to overhaul—and weaken—the country’s judiciary. Several former military officials have ...Show more

BEIJING, CHINA - MARCH 05: A general view of the Great Hall of the People during the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech in the opening of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress at The Great Hall of People on March 5, 2023 in Beijing, China.China's annual political gathering known as the Two Sessions will convene leaders and lawmakers to set the government's agenda for domestic economic and social development for the year. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA - MARCH 05: A general view of the Great Hall of the People during the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech in the opening of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress at The Great Hall of People on March 5, 2023 in Beijing, China.China's annual political gathering known as the Two Sessions will convene leaders and lawmakers to set the government's agenda for domestic economic and social development for the year. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Inside China’s ‘Two Sessions’

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Every year, the top Chinese legislative and advisory bodies meet for two weeks to rubber-stamp decisions already made by the Chinese Communist Party. It’s called the “two sessions,” ...Show more