Africa all around with Amaka Auku

Tittle: Africa all aroundThere is a renowned inclination to view and discuss Africa largely in terms of failure and disaster. The horrendous civil war in Sudan, the coups in the Sahel, the never ending wars in the DRC, are excellent examples. More broadly, in the West the continent tends to be seen as a long project of democratisation, whilst to Russia and China it is largely a huge pit of natural resources and a useful instrument of anti west disorder.But Africa is a vast continent of 54 states, with a population of over 1.5 billion people. The differences between the north and the south are vast as are those between the east and the west — and it has vast potentials for production and investment. To understand both the issues and the potentials there can be no better guide than Amaka Anku, Head of the Africa Practice at the Eurasia Group. In a sharp, passionate and humorous discussion with Ilana Bet-El she takes us through a whistle stop tour of the continent past, present and potential futures. Bottom line: African states post colonialism are young, but they need to move on towards a positive narrative of their states.This episode was recorded on 11 December 2025ChaptersWhat are the key investors in Africa?Why Africa struggle for effective governance?Colonial legal and democracy industrialisationPopulation growth and economic challengesZoom on the Sahel region and the return of coupsWhy Russia and China are back in African countries?MentionsEurasia GroupAfrica political mapBBC “Benin coup plot leader hiding in Togo”FollowAmaka Anku LinkedIn, Eurasia groupIlana Bet-ElInstagram @women_leaders_podcastWatch this episode on our YouTube channelOur partner European Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn Facebook websiteCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJTContribute to the conversation with a comment & a 5-⭐️Reach us on our Instagram and follow for updates @women_leaders_podcastWatch now our episode on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.