Ethiopia is one of the most consequential states on the African continent. With more than 130 million people, one of the largest armies in Africa, and a critical role as a supplier of low-cost power, developments in Ethiopia reverberate far beyond its borders. At the center of the country’s contemporary story is its prime minister, Abiy Ahmed.

For this episode we welcome Tom Gardner, The Economist’s Africa correspondent and author of The Abiy Project: God, Power, and War in the New Ethiopia. Foreign Affairs called the book “essential reading,” while the LA Review of Books described it as “groundbreaking.” The book is a critical read for anyone seeking to understand this fascinating country.

Books referenced in the podcast

The Wife's Tale: A Personal History by Aida Edemariam - https://tinyurl.com/3pmctm5b

Oromay by Baaalu Girma - https://tinyurl.com/k7dvpup9

South Africa this month is hosting the G20 summit in Johannesburg, an opportunity for the government of Cyril Ramaphosa to shift the focus from a steady drumbeat of news about the country's highly contentious relations with the US. We are very fortunate to be joined for this episode by prominent analyst of South Africa, Dr. Terence McNamee. Terence published this month in the Christian Science Monitor a cover story entitled “End of the Rainbow?,” a title that bluntly describes a country that he feels has dramatically lost its way. In this conversation we look at what has gone wrong in the Rainbow Nation and also what gives Terence hope about a land and people with such potential.

Based in Johannesburg, Terence is a fellow at the Montreal Institute for Global Security. Educated in his native Canada and the UK, he completed a doctorate at the London School of Economics on South Africa’s nuclear weapons program. For more than two decades he led research initiatives and shaped strategy sessions at leading think tanks on two continents – the Royal United Services Institute in London and The Brenthurst Foundation in Johannesburg – that drew presidents, generals, and global CEOs. From 2018-2024 he was a Global Fellow of The Wilson Center in Washington, DC. 

Articles and Books Mentioned in the Podcast

-"End of the Rainbow?" Christian Science Monitor

-"My Traitor's Heart" by Rian Malan

-"Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah

For episode 15 we welcome Perry Boyle, who has fast established himself as one of the most prominent Western investors – via his firm MITS Capital – in Ukraine’s burgeoning defense industry. Ukrainian defense technology, whether it be highly capable yet low-cost unmanned aerial and ground systems to path-breaking electronic warfare products, isgrabbing the attention of Western investors and highlighting the fact that defense innovation does not need to involve development cycles taking multiple years and tens of millions of dollars of investment. Perry and MITS Capital, and the just launched MITS Industries, is at the leading edge of this trend. Two quick notes – this interview was recorded just a few weeks before President Zelensky announced that the Ukrainian defense industry would be allowed to begin exporting certain types of products. And, finally, while our editing tool has impressive capabilities to cut out background noise, please be advised that this interview was recorded while Perry was in an airport lounge and there are a few moments where the bustle of global travel can be heard in the background.

Podcast references

https://mits.capital/

https://mits.industries/

https://www.boma.ngo/

Christian-Geraud Neema is one of the foremost commentators on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Today we’re excited to discuss with him the DRC's always fascinating and often vexing politics. Geraud wears many hats, including serving as Africa Editor of the China-Global South Project and as a nonresident scholar in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Africa Program. A technical note - because of recording issues, Todd's voice track isn't as clear as usual, but fortunately Geraud's is unimpacted.

"When Putin was a student in the KGB university, he was perfect in a subject called 'verbovka.' In Russian, that means recruiting new agents. So he's perfect in manipulation of people." -Former Latvian President Valdis Zatlers

President Valdis Zatlers served as Latvia’s head of state from 2007-2011, a period that coincided with the global financial crisis that hit Latvia arguably harder than any country in the world. President Zatlers also was the first and only Latvian leader to visit Moscow on a state visit, where he gained first-hand knowledge of what drives President Putin and how the Russian leader engages with his counterparts. President Zatlers offers insights into how he sees the war in Ukraine developing in the months ahead and fascinating vignettes from a career that includes not only affairs of state, but also serving as a surgeon responding to the disaster at Chernobyl in 1986.

In episode 12 we look at the Baltic region, which has repeatedly been in the headlines of late as it sits on the frontline of NATO’s physical and rhetorical face-off with Russia. Just a few days ago, Russian military aircraft penetrated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, in yet another challenge to the Western defense alliance. We are extremely fortunate to have with us Oliver Moody, who is the Times of London’s correspondent in Berlin. Early this year Oliver published the book Baltic, which has been called a “timely analysis” by the Financial Times and “fascinating…essential reading” by noted political economist Helen Thompson. Oliver helps us understand a region that far too often is ignored in discussions about Europe but which he argues plays an absolutely critical role in geopolitics.

Books Mentioned in the Podcast -

"The Northern Crusades" by Eric Christiansen

"Peter the Great" by Robert K. Massie

"Understanding the Baltic States" edited by Charles Clarke

The headlines regarding Africa’s infrastructure needs are ever-present, whether it be the requirement to serve the continent’s rapidly growing cities or construction of export routes for Africa’s minerals. Core to all of these needs is provision of reliable baseload electricity. There are very few companies as advanced in their project pipeline and as committed to Africa’s long-term development as the Anzana Electric Group. Anzana COO Josiah Brand gives us unique insight into the company’s value proposition, its strategy for competing in a highly complex, bureaucratic, and long-cycle industry, and why he hopes that the years ahead bring more competition in their sector.

Books mentioned in the podcost -

"Dancing in the Glory of Monsters" by Jason Stearns - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-stearns/dancing-in-the-glory-of-monsters/9781610391597/?lens=publicaffairs

"Cobalt Red" by Siddharth Kara - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250284297/cobaltred/

Harvard historian Danielle Leavitt's recently published "By the Second Spring" provides a harrowing look at the impact of Russia's war on the lives of seven ordinary Ukrainians. Noted scholar Lawrence Freedman says, "Leavitt uses the individual stories to showcase Ukrainian resilience and resistance...with empathy, candor, and a cautious optimism for Ukraine’s future." Join us for a fascinating discussion with Danielle focused on the unique path she took to writing the book and the many lessons she found in the bravery of her subjects.

Books mentioned in the podcast -

"By the Second Spring" by Danielle Leavitt -https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374614331/bythesecondspring/

"The Gates of Europe" by Serhil Plokhy - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/280294/the-gates-of-europe-by-plokhy-serhii/9780141980614

"The Orphange" by Serhiy Zadan - https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300243017/the-orphanage/

"In Isolation: Dispatches from the Occupied Donbas" by Stanislav Aseyev - https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674268784

Judd Devermont is unquestionably one of the US’s leading policy practitioners and experts on Africa. His experience ranges from the White House (President Biden's senior Africa advisor) to the CIA (senior political analyst) and many points in between. Not only has he had a ringside seat at the making of US-Africa policy, but he's also a historian who has undertaken fascinating studies looking at how past US presidents have handled relations with the continent.

Judd's Substack page - https://substack.com/@judddevermont

"High Noon in Southern Africa" by Chet Crocker - https://www.amazon.co.uk/High-Noon-South-Africa-Neighbourhood/dp/0393034321

"Betting on the Africans: John F. Kennedy's Courting of African Nationalist Leaders" by Philip Muehlenbeck - https://history.columbian.gwu.edu/betting-africans-john-f-kennedys-courting-african-nationalist-leaders

Join us for a fascinating discussion looking at the interplay of intelligence, covert action, and secret statecraft in the conduct of international affairs. We are joined by Professor Rory Cormac, who is unquestionably one of the leading scholars on the theory and practice of covert action both throughout history and in the contemporary world. Rory has written a number of books on the subject, including most recently How to Stage a Coup  and The Secret Royals: Spying and the Crown from Victoria to Diana. He has researched and fronted three documentaries for UK Channel 4 and he regularly features in a wide variety of UK and international newspapers and TV and radio news broadcasts.

Books mentioned in the podcast -

Watching the Jackals – Daniella Richterova