5 Feb
The Sudan crisis: Realistic options for Europeans
The catastrophe in Sudan is now accelerating into dizzying levels of complexity and violence. Millions could die of famine this year, but there seems to be no end in…
Experts & Staff
Will Brown
Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
Africa geopolitics and international relations, the Sahel, Horn of Africa, humanitarianism, conflict reporting, emerging middle powers, and Russia in Africa.
Languages
English, French
Biography
Will Brown is a senior policy fellow with the Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. His main research interests are African geopolitics, the ongoing conflict in the Sahel region, and international competition in the Horn.
Brown has been a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC since 2020. Previously, he worked for a decade as a multi-award-winning journalist and reported from more than 30 countries, including from the front line in Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, and Chad. He was a senior reporter at the independent investigative outlet Tortoise Media, the Africa Bureau chief for the Telegraph newspaper based in Nairobi, the west Africa correspondent for The Economist based in Dakar, and a freelance journalist in New Delhi.
He holds a BA in history from the University of Manchester and trained in reporting at the Press Association in London.
Pressure points: How Europeans could help avert a Third Congo War
Congo stands on the brink of being at the centre of a devastating new regional war. Europe should act in its own self-interest to avert further humanitarian catastrophe
Why France should close its permanent military bases in Africa
Chad and Senegal recently announced the end of their historic defence agreements with France. Now France should hand over its remaining military bases in Africa and work towards a more forward-thinking cooperation model
Reste calme: Why Europeans should take a measured approach towards Trump in Africa
During his first presidency, Donald Trump’s Africa policy was defined by a series of gaffs and confused foreign policy decisions. His re-election is a wake-up call to European governments that building a strong relationship with the world’s fastest-growing continent is more vital than ever
Sudan’s humanitarian crisis
Mark Leonard welcomes Will Brown, Jonas Horner, and Raga Makawi to discuss the EU’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan
21 Oct
How Europeans can help stabilise the Sahel
A decade of military, humanitarian, and developmental European interventions in the Sahelian states of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have failed comprehensively. Yet, European governments…
Aligned in the sand: How Europeans can help stabilise the Sahel
Rather than disengaging from the coup belt, European governments should stay present and work to curb the worst of the chaos engulfing the region — and prevent rival powers from gaining the upper hand
The sweating bear: Why Russia’s influence in Africa is under threat
While Russia remains a potent player in parts of Africa, recent events in the Sahelian states have shown that Russian forces are deeply overstretched and losing credibility. It is obvious to all involved that Moscow has no solutions – which leaves a diplomatic opening for the West
Deserted: Europe’s dilemma in the Sahel
On Saturday, Germany became the latest European country to withdraw military forces from the Sahel. Other states may go further, closing embassies. But walking away, wagging a patronising white finger at states facing existential threats will do nothing to stabilise the region
The final nail: Niger’s break with the US
Europe’s old Sahel strategy is dead – and Russia is circling over its carcass
Publications
Aligned in the sand: How Europeans can help stabilise the Sahel
Rather than disengaging from the coup belt, European governments should stay present and work to curb the worst of the chaos engulfing the region — and prevent rival powers from gaining the upper hand
Articles
Pressure points: How Europeans could help avert a Third Congo War
Congo stands on the brink of being at the centre of a devastating new regional war. Europe should act in its own self-interest to avert further humanitarian catastrophe
Why France should close its permanent military bases in Africa
Chad and Senegal recently announced the end of their historic defence agreements with France. Now France should hand over its remaining military bases in Africa and work towards a more forward-thinking cooperation model
Reste calme: Why Europeans should take a measured approach towards Trump in Africa
During his first presidency, Donald Trump’s Africa policy was defined by a series of gaffs and confused foreign policy decisions. His re-election is a wake-up call to European governments that building a strong relationship with the world’s fastest-growing continent is more vital than ever
The sweating bear: Why Russia’s influence in Africa is under threat
While Russia remains a potent player in parts of Africa, recent events in the Sahelian states have shown that Russian forces are deeply overstretched and losing credibility. It is obvious to all involved that Moscow has no solutions – which leaves a diplomatic opening for the West
Deserted: Europe’s dilemma in the Sahel
On Saturday, Germany became the latest European country to withdraw military forces from the Sahel. Other states may go further, closing embassies. But walking away, wagging a patronising white finger at states facing existential threats will do nothing to stabilise the region
The final nail: Niger’s break with the US
Europe’s old Sahel strategy is dead – and Russia is circling over its carcass
Podcasts
Sudan’s humanitarian crisis
Mark Leonard welcomes Will Brown, Jonas Horner, and Raga Makawi to discuss the EU’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan
Events
5 Feb
The Sudan crisis: Realistic options for Europeans
The catastrophe in Sudan is now accelerating into dizzying levels of complexity and violence. Millions could die of famine this year, but there seems to be no end in…
21 Oct
How Europeans can help stabilise the Sahel
A decade of military, humanitarian, and developmental European interventions in the Sahelian states of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have failed comprehensively. Yet, European governments…
19 Mar
Sudan crisis: humanitarian response in the lead-up to the Paris Summit
Sudan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. Ethnic killing plagues Darfur once again, millions have been displaced, and now a famine is looming. The fighting…
4 Mar
The aftermath of Yaya Dillo’s death: implications for Chad and Sudan
On 28 February, Chadian opposition leader Yaya Dillo was killed in a shootout with security forces. He had been accused of leading an attack against…
In the media
Will Brown on linkening M23 to Vladimir Putin’s ‘Little Green Men’ who took Crimea in 2014
They are at best stuck, and at worst gradually losing the fight
Will Brown on the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger claiming they are winning the fight against insurgents
Somalia is a failed state plagued by jihadist violence. The idea of dumping deeply traumatised people there is hellish
Will Brown on Israel’s consideration of sending Gazans to Somalia
Will Brown on France’s diminishing military influence in the Sahel region
Will Brown on France’s military presence in Africa