Disorder and Distrust Ahead of the 2023 Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Analysis of challenges and violence surrounding the 2023 elections in DRC amid concerns about the CENI's impartiality.
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 | November 2023
Violence and conflicts escalate in regions across Africa including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Morocco, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
Regional Overview: Africa | October 2023
Overview of recent political protests and conflicts across North Africa, DRC, Madagascar, Mali, and Sudan.
Regional Overview: Africa | September 2023
Security, elections, protests, and violence in various African countries.
Regional Overview: Africa | July 2023
Increased violence and political instability across African regions in 2023.
Moving Out of the Shadows: Shifts in Wagner Group Operations Around the World
Drawing on the latest ACLED data, this report analyzes key trends in Wagner Group activity across the globe, with an in-depth focus on the mercenary organization’s operations in Ukraine, the Central African Republic, and Mali.
Regional Overview: Africa | June 2023
Highlights of political unrest and violence in various African countries.
Special Issue on the Targeting of Local Officials: South Africa
The report analyzes political violence in South Africa, particularly against local officials, highlighting its causes and regional impact.
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.
