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Africa

Top Features

The Price of Prevention

The fourth report in the Sustainable Security series by Gayle Smith, David Sullivan, and Andrew Sweet looks at how to deal with global crises before they occur.

Other Africa Features

October 21, 2009

Ask the Expert: A Chance to Bring Peace to Sudan

John Prendergast offers an expert and activist view on the Obama administration new Sudan policy and talks about priorities int he coming months. By John Prendergast
October 21, 2009

Will Obama Finally Pay Attention to Sudan?

John Prendergast discusses the Obama administration's new Darfur policy in the Wall Street Journal. By John Prendergast
October 20, 2009

Testing Obama's Sudan Policy

After a lengthy internal battle, the Obama administration has formally rolled out its new Sudan policy. By John Norris
October 19, 2009

Sudan's State-Sponsored Pyromania

Enough's John Prendergast explains how the United States can help negotiate a deal in Sudan after militias burned rebellious villages in southern part of the African country. By John Prendergast
October 14, 2009

Lawyers, Guns, and Money

As the Obama administration's Sudan policy review drags on, the Sudanese government, led by a wanted war criminal, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, clearly looks to Washington and dreams of normalizing relations. By John Norris
September 23, 2009

Shining Celebrity Light on Darfur

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow takes a loot at the Enough project's Darfur Dream Team Sister Schools initiative.
September 21, 2009

Building a Stronger Africa

Ambassador Johnnie Carson discussed the Obama administration’s policy plans for Africa at CAP.
September 3, 2009

Two Years to Self Destruct in Sudan

Sudan might very well split in half in precisely two years, and policymakers have taken far too little notice. By John Norris
September 3, 2009

Ask the Expert: Getting Our Sudan Policy Right

John Prendergast focuses on the Obama administration's completion of its Sudan policy review and how it needs to change its policy to stop the cycles of warfare there. By John Prendergast
August 18, 2009

The United States and Egypt: A Common Cause in Sudan

Colin Thomas-Jensen and Maggie Fick write for The Huffington Post on how the U.S.-Egyptian relations should have the situation in Sudan as one of the top priorities. By Colin Thomas-Jensen, Maggie Fick
August 14, 2009

The Violence Behind Congo’s Mineral Trade

The lack of state authority coupled with abundant natural wealth in Congo allows armed groups to control mines, to control taxation routes, and to make tons of money. And in the case of eastern Congo we estimate that armed groups make anywhere from $100 to $180 million last year from taxation and trade in illegal minerals. By Colin Thomas-Jensen
August 12, 2009

Hillary Clinton Misses the Maghreb

As Hillary Clinton tours Africa, one region of the continent is noticeably absent from her itinerary: northwest Africa, often known as the Maghreb, which stretches from Mauritania and Morocco across Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. Clinton's 11-day, seven-nation trip to Africa is a marathon of diplomacy by any measure, and the US secretary of state cannot be faulted for not visiting every state that would receive her. Yet at least one of the Maghreb nations should have made the cut. By Laura Conley
August 11, 2009

Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls the sexual violence in eastern Congo "one of mankind's greatest atrocities." John Prendergast discusses the security crisis and what the U.S. and other nations can do to help stabilize the Democratic Republic of Congo on NPR's "Diane Rehm Show." By John Prendergast
August 7, 2009

Somalia: Too Big a Problem to Fail?

Ken Menkhaus discusses that terrorism in Somalia could be a domestic problem for President Barack Obama, but he shouldn't treat it like one. By Ken Menkhaus
August 7, 2009

Ask the Expert: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Visits the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Colin Thomas-Jensen talks about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's upcoming visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and how the United States can deal with the conflict there. By Colin Thomas-Jensen
July 29, 2009

Electronics Companies and Consumers can Help Stop Congolese Bloodshed

Enough's John Prendergast discussed the greater demand for cheaper electronics that has fueled the conflict in Eastern Congo. By John Prendergast
July 6, 2009

UN Plaza: Conflict Minerals

David Sullivan and Mark Leon Goldberg discuss "blood ipods." By David Sullivan
June 26, 2009

Give Reality a Chance

When I opened The Washington Times on Tuesday and saw an Op-Ed column by Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin Atabani, a key adviser to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, under the headline "Give peace a chance," I could only assume that April Fools' Day had arrived very late this year. Dr. Ghazi conveniently omitted a few key points that your readers should appreciate. His boss, Mr. Bashir, is wanted on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, with a possible charge of genocide soon to follow. By John Norris
June 11, 2009

The World's New Threat: Conflict Fatigue

As violence escalates in eastern Congo, the world must recognize the need for sustained attention and intervention, write Colin Thomas-Jensen and Rebecca Feeley. By Colin Thomas-Jensen, Rebecca Feeley
May 8, 2009

Congo's Electronic Blood Diamonds

Millions of people have died in eastern Congo, in what is the world's deadliest conflict since the second world war. Ending the Democratic Republic of the Congo's multiple conflicts is the single most important task in improving the lives of Congolese, making more lasting development possible and giving people a say in their own affairs. Trying to talk about economic development in eastern Congo without acknowledging this elephant in the room just doesn't make sense. By John Norris
April 28, 2009

Activism and Darfur

John Norris and Rebecca Hamilton join CAP to discuss the role that the advocacy movement has played in Darfur.
April 12, 2009

Obama Can Make a Difference in Darfur

President Barack Obama should now move to finally end the crisis in Sudan, rather than to respond to the immediate symptoms. His administration and its new special envoy to Sudan, Gen. Scott Gration, can do that by focusing on three things. By John Prendergast
April 9, 2009

Obama Can End "Reign of Terror"

In addition to Iraq and Afghanistan, President Obama has inherited another military challenge started by his predecessor. This off-the-radar drama is unfolding under the forest canopy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By John Prendergast
March 22, 2009

Obama Must Halt Starvation in Darfur

Between 1991 and 1993, I traveled extensively as a human rights monitor in what became known as the “starvation triangle” in southeastern Sudan. A third of a million southern Sudanese civilians perished in those swamps and savannas, primarily due to the extended periods when the Sudanese government would cut off all access to humanitarian aid to the areas it was trying to pacify militarily. By John Prendergast
January 15, 2009

Time to Forcefully Oust Mugabe

In the past decade, working as a US diplomat and then as a human rights advocate, I've had the perversely unique opportunity to meet on occasion with one of the longest-serving dictators in the world, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. By John Prendergast
January 7, 2009

Cell Phones and Congo's War Against Women

What in the world could a policy wonk have in common with a movie actress? As it turns out, a lot. Every day we both use electronic devices that wouldn't work without raw materials from a country halfway around the world in central Africa. That country, Congo, has been torn apart by the deadliest war since World War II, where 5.4 million have perished. Its war is fueled by our inexhaustible thirst for cell phones, laptops, video games, digital recorders and other products that owe their existence to Congo's contribution to the world's mineral supply. By John Prendergast
December 11, 2008

Beyond Crisis Management in Eastern Congo

Report from Rebecca Feeley and Colin Thomas-Jensen on the violence in Eastern Congo. By Rebecca Feeley, Colin Thomas-Jensen
December 8, 2008

Obama's Africa Opportunity

Barack Obama's immense popularity on the African continent is more than a feel good story - it's of vital strategic utility to the United States. As an underdeveloped and unstable continent hangs in the balance, Obama has a unique ability to leverage his influence to root out terrorism and strengthen African states. By Laura Conley
November 6, 2008

Letter to President-Elect Barack Obama

The first in a series of letters to the next president from the ENOUGH project outlining a practical road map to end the crisis in Sudan. By John Prendergast, John Norris, Jerry Fowler
September 30, 2008

China's Deadly Investments

Tomorrow, China assumes the Presidency of the U.N. Security Council, a position that it last held in July 2007 when it led the authorization of a U.N. peacekeeping force for Darfur. At that time, Beijing appeared to be responding to a global campaign by activists, in advance of the Olympics, to shame China into using its influence to address human rights crises in locales in which it has significant economic investments. But China's actions have belied its rhetoric, and it has continued to protect its favorite deadly dictators in places like Darfur, Burma, and Zimbabwe. A revised strategy must put greater focus on China's wallet. By John Prendergast, David Sullivan
September 23, 2008

Sudan: Opportunity in the Midst of Crisis

The International Criminal Court's request for an indictment against against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir creates a new opening for peace, write John Prendergast and Colin Thomas-Jensen. By John Prendergast, Colin Thomas-Jensen
September 22, 2008

Mbeki Out in South Africa

Gayle Smith provides analysis on what happened with Mbeki's resignation, why it matters, and what we can do. By Gayle Smith
September 3, 2008

Somalia

ENOUGH report outlines the current crisis in Somalia, failed policies, and what needs to be done to get the country back on track. By Ken Menkhaus
August 11, 2008

Blowback

China’s approach to doing business with despots is remarkably ad hoc, commodity-driven, and short-sighted.
August 11, 2008

Breaking “The Greatest Silence”

“The Greatest Silence” explores the decade-old epidemic of kidnapping, rape, and torture of women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo. By Candice Knezevic
July 24, 2008

Irresolution: The U.N. Security Council on Darfur

The U.N. Security Council has an opportunity to demand real change in Sudan, but history suggests they won't act in time. By John Prendergast, David Sullivan
July 21, 2008

Seeking Justice for Zimbabwe

ENOUGH and Impunity Watch make a case for accountability against Robert Mugabe and others.
July 14, 2008

The Merits of Justice

Holding people accountable for war crimes is not only the right thing to do from a moral perspective—it directly promotes peace and makes future abuses less likely. By John Norris, David Sullivan, John Prendergast
June 23, 2008

Getting to a Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe

Gayle Smith discusses next steps for Zimbabwe in The Washington Post. By Gayle Smith
June 4, 2008

Past Due

ENOUGH report urges using a “3Ps” strategy to neutralize the FDLR and build momentum for an inclusive peace process in eastern Congo. By Rebecca Feeley, Colin Thomas-Jensen
May 30, 2008

Abyei Aflame

An ENOUGH! field update on Abyei, Sudan, where Sudanese Armed Forces recently burned houses and the market to the ground. By Roger Winter
May 14, 2008

Creating a Peace to Keep in Darfur

ENOUGH and the Save Darfur Coalition urge the U.S. government and the international community to take immediate steps to launch and sustain an all-encompassing peace process that addresses the local and national issues that are fueling this conflict. By John Prendergast, Jerry Fowler
May 13, 2008

Mugabe's Revenge: Halting the Violence in Zimbabwe

Report from ENOUGH details how to halt the rising violence surrounding Zimbabwe's contested elections. By Jamal Jafari
May 8, 2008

A New Peace Strategy for Northern Uganda and the LRA

Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony’s failure to sign a peace deal drove a nail into the coffin of the Juba peace process; this report outlines a new strategy. By Julia Spiegel, John Prendergast
April 24, 2008

Fifteen Years After Black Hawk Down: Somalia's Chance?

Just as the Somali insurgency is intensifying, a possible window of opportunity has swung open in the form of a power-sharing agreement to end the war. By John Prendergast
April 22, 2008

Nasty Neighbors: Resolving the Chad-Sudan Proxy War

With the root causes of conflict in Chad and the Sudan still untended, this regional crisis is poised to deepen, writes Colin Thomas-Jensen. By Colin Thomas-Jensen
April 17, 2008

Sounding the Alarm on Abyei: An ENOUGH Report

A new ENOUGH report states that immediately addressing the deteriorating situation in Abyei should be a priority for U.S. peacekeeping. By Roger Winter
March 6, 2008

Human Rights in the Congo: Testimony of ENOUGH's Colin Thomas-Jensen

ENOUGH Policy Advisor Colin Thomas-Jensen testifies before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus Briefing on the Congo. By Colin Thomas-Jensen
February 28, 2008

Kenya: Containing a Rebounding Crisis

A strategy report from the ENOUGH project on how to ensure peace, protection, and accountability in Kenya and the region. By Gayle Smith
February 25, 2008

ENOUGH Policy Standard: Northern Uganda

An simple strategy built on promoting peace, providing civilian protection, and ensuring punishment of the perpetrators can lead to success.

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Where We Stand on National Security

CAP’s national security approach embodies progressive traditions that have protected our nation and nurtured our democratic ideals and freedom at home and abroad. Our policy priorities secure our country from attack and protect our national security interests abroad by ensuring our military forces are capable and ready, and our democratic alliances are strong and enduring. We understand that integrated military, diplomatic, and economic power guided by progressive ideals makes us safer and more prosperous.