Vol 52 No 14 | GHANA Oil and reality 8th July 2011 The most obvious beneficiaries of Ghana’s oil boom so far have been the shareholders of the international companies operating there. Both Ireland’s Tullow Oil, listed on the London...
Vol 52 No 13 | NIGERIA Boko Haram declares war 24th June 2011 Building on growing northern resentments, the Islamist sect wants to create a political and security crisis by bombing the police Few seem convinced by President Goodluck Jonathan’s assurances that the security situation is under control following the bombing on 16 June of Louis Edet House, the national police...
Vol 52 No 13 | NIGERIA Power to the people, profits to the chiefs 24th June 2011 Community control of oil can worsen local strife, to judge by the experience of the Neconde Group, which won the bid for Shell’s 45% of Operations Management Licence...
Vol 52 No 13 | SIERRA LEONEMINING Feast ore famine 24th June 2011 The Tonkolili iron-ore mine looks set to make a billionaire of Frank Timis but the dividend for the nation is less sure Sierra Leone will start earning hundreds of millions of dollars from taxes when iron-ore production begins in November. At least that is what the controversial British-based mining entrepreneur...
Vol 52 No 13 | GHANA Parallel lines 24th June 2011 As the political stars hit the campaign trail a year early, they start a national debate about the economy So far the election season is a three-cornered contest with a lively battle for the leadership of the governing National Democratic Congress, which has prompted the leader of...
Vol 52 No 13 | SENEGAL One day, son 24th June 2011 On 22 June, President Abdoulaye Wade – officially 84 but probably nearer 90 – was about to propose a constitutional amendment to secure a guaranteed third term in...
Vol 4 (AAC) No 8 | GUINEACHINABRIEFING Doors open, doors close 9th June 2011 In early June, Guinea’s President Alpha Condé set the tone for more tense negotiations with mining investors when he declared that Chinese-style mines-for-infrastructure deals are unacceptable. The government...
Vol 4 (AAC) No 8 | SENEGAL Madické Niang 9th June 2011 Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senegal Senegal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Madické Niang has kept up a busy Asian schedule this year. February took him to Delhi for meetings with his counterpart, SM Krishna....
Vol 52 No 11 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Cocoa holds the key 27th May 2011 President Ouattara needs to stop the smuggling and bring the soldiers under control After his grand inauguration at Yamoussoukro on 21 May and pronouncements on the need for Ivorians to reconcile and rebuild the country, one of new President Alassane Dramane...
Vol 52 No 11 | SENEGAL Wade wants to stay on 27th May 2011 Wade looks to farm prices and prestige for electoral success Despite a growing sense that he is losing his political touch, President Abdoulaye Wade is determined to stand in February’s presidential election, people close to him have told...