Regional Overview: Africa | January 2023
Highlights on political violence and conflict trends in Africa.
Analysis
Africa
Staff
Ladd Serwat
Senior Analyst, Africa
Dr. Ladd Serwat is ACLED’s Africa Senior Analyst. He conducts and coordinates analysis, contributes to the oversight of regional data coverage, manages senior researchers, and serves as the main point of contact for partnerships and external engagement on the Africa desk.
With expertise on the Wagner Group, development policy, and land-related conflict in Africa, Ladd has over 15 years of experience in non-profits, academia, and the private sector. While working broadly across Africa, Ladd specializes in the Great Lakes region, where he has lived, traveled, and worked since 2008. Before joining ACLED, Ladd held several positions focused on humanitarian, development, and youth issues in Burundi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and the United States.
Ladd holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Sussex, an MSc in African Development from the London School of Economics, and studied International Relations and French at Gonzaga University. His recent publications on the Wagner Group have been featured in major outlets such as TIME, The New York Times, and Le Monde.
Content by this author
Regional Overview: Africa December 2022
Military conflicts and political tensions in Africa regions with various national disputes.
Wagner Group Operations in Africa: Civilian Targeting Trends in the Central African Republic and Mali
Report on Wagner Group's operations in Africa, focusing on civilian targeting in the CAR and Mali.
10 Conflicts to Worry About in 2022: Sudan | Mid-Year Update
Sudan faces political and economic challenges with rising violence involving paramilitary forces and anti-government protests.
Fact Sheet: Attacks on Christians Spike in Nigeria Alongside Overall Rise in Violence Targeting Civilians
Overview of rising anti-Christian violence amid worsening insecurity in Nigeria.
Widespread Violence Rises Ahead of Burundi’s 2020 Election
Overview of violence in Burundi during the 2020 elections with a focus on political violence by Imbonerakure.
Past events
ACLED Webinar | Tackling the Islamic State threat in Africa: State responses and the road ahead
Watch ACLED analysts on Somalia, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, the Great Lakes region, and northern Mozambique, for another in-depth analysis of IS’s pivot to Africa and the evolving nature of African regional security.
Webinar | The Islamic State’s pivot to Africa
The Islamic State is increasingly pivoting its operations toward Africa. Watch the recorded webinar for a deep dive with our experts as they examined IS’s expanding strongholds, providing insights into the actions of the group in five African regions.
