Amid the consequences of violence breaking out in Ethiopia are the many ways it'll affect the region's economy, including this new Dangote- and Ethiopia-funded petroleum pipeline linking Ethiopia to Djibouti's coast. Dangote remains bullish on Ethiopia bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

In Red Sea crisis, Somaliland seizes leverage for US recognition. Written by @dan_m_ford responsiblestatecraft.org/so…

"It’ll be a challenge for Somaliland’s leadership to persuade the US to recognize it while Somalia remains an American partner in counterterrorism activity, and while the wider regional community opposes Somaliland’s independence." responsiblestatecraft.org/so…

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin J. Massinga’s Statement on Recent Developments in Tigray and Afar: “I am disappointed to see the leadership of the TPLF, that the United States sanctioned earlier this year, make the poor decision to launch a large-scale offensive today. Rejecting dialogue sponsored by the AU under President Obasanjo and engaging in an unwinnable fight does nothing for the people. Other armed groups would be wise to avoid this. While the U.S. has tools to sanction additional leaders who try to push Ethiopia down the wrong path, I still believe a reasonable political dialogue is the right way to go.” et.usembassy.gov/statement-o…

In a major setback for Ethiopia’s Federal Government 🇪🇹, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has reportedly taken control of the three main airports under federal control in Tigray: Shire, Mekelle and Axum. Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to the region.

Informative article by my colleague @lee_schlenker on Trump's LatAm counter-narcotics efforts

Most of you have probably seen this already but I thought this would be a good morning to repost my WPR piece from last month about how the U.S. has a deeply asymmetric view of what "sovereignty" means. worldpoliticsreview.com/us-s…

US and China both investing in South Africa's platinum industry. semafor.com/article/09/21/20…

The US says it will help Kenya develop ​a critical minerals processing industry as it considers bids to develop the coastal Mrima Hill deposit, which is expected to contain billions of dollars' worth of rare earth minerals and niobium. reuters.com/world/africa/us-…

Exclusive: President Trump's approval rating fell to 32% — the lowest of his political career — as fellow Republicans soured on his handling of the cost of living amid the unpopular Iran war, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found reut.rs/4xGPL6G

Today, the African Union (#AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (#PAPS), Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, and Mr Karim Haggag, Director - SIPRI, signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Political Affairs Peace and Security Department and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (#UNGA 81) at the @AfricanUnionUN in New York. The MoU formalizes and enhances joint commitments to expand analytical research on governance, peace and security, focusing on various thematics such as early warning capabilities, mediation, disarmament and arms control, security sector reform, climate change and data-driven policies to manage complex transitions and counter growing security threats across #Africa. #Agenda2063 #TheAfricaWeWant #AUPSC.

New Quincy Institute Brief out today: "The Wrong Race: The US, China, and AI Competition." It pulls a year of my writing on the US-China AI "race" into one argument for policymakers, just ahead of Xi's visit to Washington.🚨 What the evidence shows: •The frontier gap between US and Chinese models shrank from 12-14 months to 2-3 months, during the same period Washington tightened export controls. There is no sustainable winner! •We're sprinting toward AGI while China builds for deployment and diffusion. Two different races and two different costs! •Across 20+ fielded AI systems, danger doesn't track model size. Some of the most dangerous are small, open, and already out there. And cooperation is the only way to reduce it. The brief lays out six cooperative measures both sides could adopt without having to trust each other, plus six changes to US strategy, from narrowing export controls back to a small yard to a GI Bill for the AI age. Please share with people that want to better understand this important issue. 💡 Thanks to the @QuincyInst team for the chance to bring it together. @MarcusMStanley @tori_bateman @llumpe @AsiaPolicy @jwdwerner

US working with Somalia and Puntland to go after al-Shabaab in northern mountain range. US CT activity continuing in the region. garoweonline.com/en/news/pun…

Today, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa (#OSAA), briefed the #AfricanGroupUN about her vision for OSAA, focusing on improving @UN’s engagement with #Africa and supporting the continent's development goals in line with #Agenda2063. This was her first engagement with the African Group since assuming her new function at the helm of OSAA. She outlined the critical role of her office in advocating for African interests within the global system, aimed at enhancing Africa’s position on the global stage and fostering sustainable development across the continent. Ms. Ahunna emphasized building partnerships to tackle Africa's unique challenges and called on a united front for a more equitable future. She announced upcoming events, including the 81st UNGA High-Level week and a planning workshop in November 2026. Ms Ahunna was joined during the briefing by members of her OSAA team. The Group reassured her of their support. #TheAfricaWeWant #Agenda2030 #SDGs