The Area Studies Division of the Africa Institute of South Africa focuses on regions and countries of the continent within the context of a holistic policy formulation framework and its impact on Africa’s developmental thinking. The division is divided into five research desks, namely Central Africa and the Great Lakes, East Africa and the Horn, North Africa, West Africa and South Africa and SADC.

Central Africa and the Great Lakes desk would include, but not limited to the following countries: Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Congo Kinshasa, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Burundi and Rwanda Central Africa Republic, Angola and Uganda. Particular attention would also be paid to sub regional organizations such as CEMAC and ECCAS

East Africa and the Horn desk include, Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. Attention would also be paid to sub regional organizations such as COMESA and IGAD.

North Africa desk would focus on Mauritania, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and the Western Sahara. Attention would also be paid to the activities of The Maghreb Union and the Arab League.

West Africa desk would include, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Mali and Gambia and ECOWAS would fall within the jurisdiction of the desk.

Southern Africa and SADC would involves South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland, Tanzania, Mauritius, Zambia and Tanzania. Emphasis would also be on the Southern Africa Development Community.

The India Ocean Island desk would focus on the following Islands, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles and Comoros.