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Michael William Wilson

Biography

Gulf Research Center Foundation, Geneva

Latest Papers

2025-11-03
Beyond Washington: Africa’s Emerging Trade Axis with the Gulf, China, and Russia

Under President Donald J. Trump, America’s policy toward Africa has shifted from soft-power engagement to a more transactional and disengaged approach. In 2025, the State Depar ...

Writer: Michael W. Wilson
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2025-09-15
A New Axis of Instability: Iran’s Africa Strategy and Gulf Security Risks

Amid growing geopolitical instability and shifting global alliances, new partnerships are emerging for African states beyond traditional Western powers. As the United States an ...

Writer: Michael W. Wilson
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2025-06-26
US Foreign Policy Retrenchment in Africa: Implications for Gulf Engagement and Strategy

Under the guise of an America First Policy, US President Donald Trump has redrawn America’s foreign policy by shifting from adherence to soft diplomacy toward taking a more bus ...

Writer: Michael W. Wilson
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2025-06-10
Ports, Power, and Proxy Wars: GCC Engagement in the Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa and Its Challenges The Horn of Africa, encompassing Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, is a region rich in natural resources, including critical miner ...

Writer: Michael W. Wilson
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2025-04-10
Strategic Alliances: The Gulf States and Africa in a Multilateral World

Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, are redefining their global standing by pursuing ambitious national visions aimed at reducing oil dependence and expandin ...

Writer: Michael William Wilson
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2025-03-03
Conflict in Congo: The Global Stakes in Africa’s MineralRich Warzone

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is home to vast natural resources, including gold, cobalt, lithium, and coltan – all critical for global electronics and renewable en ...

Writer: Michael Wilson
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2025-01-30
The Strategic Role of Tourism in GCC-Africa Relations

The GCC states are on a mission to diversify their economies from oil reliance. The development of tourism plays a significant role in this regard also with regard to Africa. I ...

Writer: Michael Wilson
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2024-12-17
Extremism in the Sahel: A Region in Crisis and the Search for New Allies

Violent extremism has plagued the Sahel region, stretching from Senegal to Eritrea, with threats emanating from groups like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates such as the Is ...

Writer: Michael William Wilson
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2024-10-28
From Ports to Pipelines: The Gulf Cooperation Council’s Influence on Africa's Oil and Gas Landscape

As of 2022, oil and gas contributed to nearly 45% of the energy supply in Africa, making them critical for energy security; coal, hydropower and biowaste are also vital energy ...

Writer: Michael William Wilson
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2024-08-21
From the Desert to the Mines: The GCC’s Role in Africa’s Mineral Development

Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council have each devised plans for shifting their economies away from oil reliance. This includes plans to prioritise clean and green ene ...

Writer: Michael Wilson
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2024-01-25
Saudi Arabia-African Summit: the Road Ahead

The Saudi-Africa Summit held in November 2023 reflected the continued commitments the Kingdom has maintained to African countries. 50 African leaders and senior government offi ...

Writer: Michael W. Wilson
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