African Affairs & Intl Politics..👀on West and Southern Africa. MPhil from @Cambridge_Uni. Michigander. Views MY OWN. also find me at @maxbone55.bsky.social

Joined January 2013
On Sunday, #Cameroon will hold an election that will certainly return #PaulBiya to power. For @ForeignPolicy, I examine how the succession battle and election have unearthed societial fissures that will make the post-Biya transition dangerously unstable. foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/07…
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EU report on Zambia: "The ECZ introduced a campaign calendar for candidates. However, the calendar did not apply to the president and VP and restricted other candidates’ freedom of movement... Key incumbency advantages created an uneven playing field." eeas.europa.eu/sites/default…
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My story’s only possible in America.  I’m a proud son of immigrants from Vietnam, a teacher, and a lawyer.  Now, I’m running for Congress in one of the nation’s only open toss-up seats to stand up to Trump and protect our future.  Join the fight to flip MI-10 and take back the House. Link in bio.
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🚨AFRICA WATCH🚨 Read @TonyVinyoh's dispatch from #Cameroon on Pope Leo XIV's recent visit, which thrust the decade-long Anglophone conflict onto the world stage and kindled a rare flicker of guarded hope in a country long weary of war and instability. vanguardafrica.com/africawat…
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My latest piece with Anna Trissa tracks India’s sub-national readiness for #IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026!
New piece by Associate Fellow @aryandroz and Anna Trissa on #IndiaAI and India’s states!
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Glad to have written a piece titled, “Economic reforms do not always need laws, and Budget 2026 can show the way” for @IndiaToday. India’s upcoming #BudgetSession is the perfect opportunity for the @narendramodi government to “signal” its reform agenda! indiatoday.in/budget/story/b…
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My new piece on India’s economic reforms and the Winter Session of Parliament. Published by @TheWeekLive. Learn more about the India Chair’s India Reforms Scorecard 3.0: indiareforms.csis.org
India’s Winter Session tees up laws aimed at boosting growth, attracting investment and shaping a "Viksit Bharat 2047." Read the latest "India Reforms Scorecard 3.0" (indiareforms.csis.org/) piece by Associate Fellow @aryandroz in @TheWeekLive 🇮🇳📈 theweek.in/news/biz-tech/202…
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Last week, the @CSIS Africa Policy Accelerator program held its monthly, member-led session for December. Cohort members @maxbone55, Miriam Frost and Emily Hardman Rodgers led an engaging discussion U.S. engagement in African elections. Thanks to our sponsors Kosmos Energy and CISCO.
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“Congratulate him on his inauguration.” SHAME!!
Le secrétaire d'État américain Marco Rubio s'est entretenu avec le président Paul Biya pour le féliciter de son investiture et réaffirmer notre engagement à renforcer la sécurité, à promouvoir la paix régionale et à approfondir la coopération entre nos deux pays. #USinCameroon #USCameroonPartnership
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The United States congratulates President Paul Biya on his inauguration. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Cameroon to advance shared goals such as regional peace and security and prosperity for both our peoples.
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What on earth is this madness? The absurdity has reached new levels, even for this administration…
Port Harcourt To deter #BokoHaram and other jihadist groups in Nigeria—and to stop their massacres of Christians and threats against moderate Muslims— I advise the #Trump administration to establish an emergency base in #PortHarcourt, the main port city of the #Biafra region. Such a move would enable the rapid deployment of international humanitarian aid, particularly assistance from American churches. President @realDonaldTrump has issued two strong statements condemning the jihadist attacks on Nigerian Christian communities and has directed the Secretary of War to prepare contingency plans for the “protection of communities” in Nigeria, should the federal government fail to stop the jihadists—as has been the case for years in northern and central Nigeria. In the meantime, targeted strikes against jihadist forces could also be considered. @POTUS @VP @SecRubio @SecWar @SpeakerJohnson @ODNIgov @CIADirector @USAfricaCommand @envoy
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Must read analysis on the harmful and counterproductive approach being taken by the Trump administration to narcotics by @JayaRoseK
Our new op-ed in @elpais_america highlights how Trump's counternarcotics strategy is choosing might and spectacles over proven tools. It argues for more investment in law-enforcement, financial tracing, arms trafficking, and regional partnership. english.elpais.com/opinion/2…
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Unfortunately, it seems like a good time to repost my two-year-old article that warned how much #Cameroon was beginning to look like #Sudan in terms of political crisis possibly leading to armed conflict between ruling factions. When the "official" election results are announced tomorrow (Oct. 27th), will the entire security force apparatus continue to take orders to suppress, arrest, and shoot protestors, in every region and city of the country? The opposition leader claiming victory, northerner Tchiroma, was a regime insider for many years. The extent of voter resentment against a flawed election and worsening economic situation seems higher than 2018: it's not that all those who voted for Tchiroma love him, but that he was seen as a possible transition president after 43 years of Biya. Still not clear if Tchiroma is really a change agent or a lurking Mnangagwa, but change is what many or most Cameroonians want. They've seen recent leadership changes across the continent by ballot box (Senegal, Botswana, Ghana) and via mass protests where the military had to take a side (most recently in Madagascar). The next week is going to be a crucial one in Cameroon's history: watch carefully. #FreeCameroon foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/06…
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If a local administrator says 100 people were due to vote in Ndu, then how did over 15.000 people, manage to vote for Paul Biya, the CPDM candidate in the area? #MMI #CameroonDecides2025 #RoadToEtoudi2025 #237Vote #MMINews #Etoudi2025
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It is really concerning to see massvily high vote tallies coming in from rural areas across #Cameroon. This includes areas in the Anglophone Regions impacted by conflcit. Scores of votes for the #RPDC are coming in- a methood to manipulate the results. #CameroonDecides2025
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Results from the Southwest Region, where #tchiroma won in almost all polling stations where party representatives and civil society monitored. A concrete example of the results being rigged.
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It has been an amazing day watching #CameroonDecides2025 . The spirit of the Cameroonian people to make their voices heard & monitor the vote is inspiring. Things are fluid & voting occurred at 3,1653 polling stations. Only the ruling party had agents at them all.
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So far no candidates have claimed victory, but my understanding is that tomorrow morning (Oct 13) Tchiroma will make a statement and very well may. Other opposition figures including @Atekiseta have noted that Tchiroma has garnered many votes & is on track for a victory.
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Should he declare victory, or should his supporters begin to be worried about regularities, the potential of widespread unrest is real. For how, it’s important not to rush to concisions and allow the process to play out. The coming days will be unpredictable w/ lots on the line.
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