Vol 45 No 22 | EGYPT Economic trumps 5th November 2004 The government focuses on economics and shows no desire to challenge the ruling family The new cabinet, appointed in July, has spent its first quarter quietly demonstrating that it's the economic reformists' dream. It has implemented many of the measures for which...
Vol 45 No 22 | EGYPT A government of economics and security 5th November 2004 This is an analysis of who is who in Egypt's new goverment, including Prime Minister Ahmed Nazeef, Finance Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali and Investment Minister Mahmoud Mohieddin.
Vol 45 No 22 | TUNISIA Faustian deal 5th November 2004 Zine el Abidine Ben Ali's vote of 94.49 per cent in the 24 October presidential poll was no surprise; the established opposition said it couldn't compete with his...
Vol 45 No 19 | MOROCCOSOUTH AFRICA Collision course 24th September 2004 The new Pan-African Parliament has already made an impact. As it opened in Midrand on 16 September, Pretoria established diplomatic ties with the Polisario Front's government-in-exile, the Saharan...
Vol 45 No 17 | MAURITANIA Taya's travails 27th August 2004 President Maaouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya has turned the latest alleged coup plot, on 10 August, to his advantage, detaining Islamist leader Mohamed Jemil Ould Mansour and a dozen...
Vol 45 No 16 | ALGERIA Military matters 6th August 2004 The 3 August announcement that Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mohamed Lamari had resigned for health reasons (for treatment in Spain for an eye condition) came after weeks...
Vol 45 No 13 | WESTERN SAHARAAROUND AFRICA Iraq first 25th June 2004 After seven frustrating years, former United States Secretary of State James Baker III has resigned as the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy to Western Sahara. He is...
Vol 45 No 7 | LIBYA Oil, sweat and tears 2nd April 2004 British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed a triumph for constructive engagement as he met Colonel Moammar el Gadaffi on 25 March. British business was pleased, too.
Vol 45 No 6 | ALGERIA A man for election seasons 19th March 2004 Algerians dislike their clever President but they'll probably re-elect him On 8 April, Abdelaziz Bouteflika will almost certainly become Algeria's first civilian president to win re-election. If he does, it will reflect less on his popularity than his...
Vol 45 No 6 | ALGERIA Le Para moves east 19th March 2004 On 9-10 March, fighting in Chad's Tibesti region, near the Niger border, indicated that fighters from Algeria's biggest active Islamist militia, the Groupe Salafiste de Prédication et de...