As Africa aspires to take responsibility for its development, peace and security, the question of regional leadership is key. This seminar will discuss the historical distribution of power in Africa and how it is likely to change over the next 25 years.

In an increasingly multipolar world, parts of Africa will become more prosperous. But will that change Africa’s relative influence globally? And which countries have the greatest ‘power potential’?

New research by the ISS explores Africa in the global power context and the future capabilities of the continent’s Big Five: Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa. The full results are published in the latest paper in the African Futures series, which will be launched at the seminar. Copies of the paper will be available for distribution.

Chair: HE Ambassador Kongit Sinegiorgis, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the AU and UNECA

Speaker: Dr Jakkie Cilliers, Executive Director, ISS

Respondent: Dr Chrysantus Ayangafac, Democracy and Governance Officer, AU Commission

This seminar is made possible with funding from the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The ISS is grateful for support from the members of the ISS Partnership Forum: the governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the USA.