South Africa has long been a cornerstone of Iran’s South-South strategy, which aims to strengthen ties with African and South American states. Strongly promoted by President Ahmadinejad, the South-South strategy intends to boost Iranian international credibility and promote trade. The Islamic Republic was one of the first countries to resume trade with South Africa following the end of apartheid, and the two countries have enjoyed strong relations ever since.

On November 10, Rwandan security forces shot dead two Ugandan nationals accused of smuggling tobacco across the border. Smuggling has become more common after Rwanda closed its border with Uganda in late February amidst a dispute between Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses challenges for African agriculture. Farming is the dominant way people in sub-Saharan Africa earn their living and feed their families. Government restrictions on movement could threaten food security if not done properly.

The conflict broke out in Cabo Delgado province in the fall of 2017, and resulted in more than 1,000 deaths and forced 100,000 people to flee their homes. The group is Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jamo (ASWJ), aka al-Shabab, with links to the Islamic State.

After years of negotiations, Egypt has written to the UN Security Council about what it considers to be Ethiopia's failure to reach an agreement over the filling and operations of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).