The Importance of Political Monitoring

An understanding of the political environment in which one operates is key to the successful running of a business. From changes in personnel and policies, to the potential for political upheaval, it is important for investors to understand local operating environments and to stay abreast of developments. This is especially the case in Africa, where the ever-changing political environment can present significant challenges to foreign investors.

The recent spate of coups in West Africa has highlighted the potential for political instability on the continent. As the transitional authorities take shape, it is increasingly important for foreign investors with interests in those jurisdictions to understand the directions in which the countries are going, who the key decision-makers are and the implications for their interests. And this does not only apply to countries which have experienced military interventions. Elections in Africa are often tense affairs and there is little to suggest that this will change in 2022, with important elections taking place across the continent. Moreover, as the World emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, governments across Africa are reassessing their economic policies, which will have important implications for foreign investors.

Local intelligence is key to gaining this much needed understanding of the political environment and Africa Integrity is well-positioned to provide this. In addition to our expertise in open-source monitoring, we have an unrivalled network of local associate investigators, who furnish us with timely intelligence from well-placed human sources. Bringing these together, we offer a range of political monitoring services, tailored to the needs of our clients. This ranges from long-term monthly monitoring to specific coverage of events, such as elections. To find out more about our political monitoring services, please contact us.

This article originally featured in Africa Integrity’s February 2022 Newsletter. To join our newsletter mailing list, please contact us.