Africa is the youngest, fastest-growing region on Earth—and central to the future of the global economy, security, and climate. My guest is Judd Devermont, former CIA analyst and President Biden’s top Africa advisor, who’s worked on Africa policy during four U.S. administrations.

We talk coups, colonialism, China’s growing footprint, the legacy of U.S. aid programs like PEPFAR, and whether the U.S. still has moral authority on the continent. Judd explains how intelligence is gathered on African politics, the continent's impact on the rest of the globe, and why he believes the future of Africa hangs in the balance.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Meet Judd Devermont: CIA to the White House

01:13 – Why Africa? Devermont’s Origin Story

03:03 – Traveling the Continent: 42 of 54 African Nations

04:47 – Africa’s Diversity, Innovation, and Misunderstanding

08:05 – Colonialism, the Berlin Conference, and Lasting Borders

15:36 – Religion, Geography, and Conflict in Africa

19:34 – Comparing U.S. Africa Policy: Obama to Trump to Biden

26:46 – George W. Bush’s Underrated Legacy in Africa

35:05 – China’s Belt and Road and the Global Competition

43:39 – Coups, Crisis, and the New Cold War in Africa

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