Vol 52 No 4 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE The financial sanctions tighten 18th February 2011 Laurent Gbagbo’s economic options are narrowing. While sanctions have deprived him of most of his income from cocoa, he did, say local reports, make off with US$500 million...
Vol 52 No 4 | NIGERIA A fight for the President’s base 18th February 2011 After a period of calm, political battles have resumed in Ogoniland as the ruling party tries to ensure its dominance ahead of the coming elections Political violence in the Niger Delta is escalating in the run-up to the April elections, threatening to plunge President Goodluck Jonathan’s power base into chaos again and compromising...
Vol 52 No 3 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Squeezing Gbagbo's budget 4th February 2011 African and European sanctions could take months to bite while the political and security crisis grows daily in Abidjan Europe is adding its own sanctions to the pressure on President Laurent Gbagbo from Africa's regional organisations to force him to stand down in the post-election stand off. At the same...
Vol 52 No 3 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Cocoa ban may hit Gbagbo's war chest 4th February 2011 Around 40% of the world's cocoa is grown in Côte d'Ivoire and the market is in confusion as a result of the reigning political paralysis. The harvests, though, are large...
Vol 52 No 3 | NIGERIA Bayelsa's fighting chance 4th February 2011 Rivalry between two former loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan and his People's Democratic Party in his home state of Bayelsa presages fierce confrontations before April's elections. The split in the Bayelsa...
Vol 52 No 2 | NIGERIA Jonathan’s primary colours 21st January 2011 Winning the PDP’s presidential nomination looks easier for Goodluck Jonathan than establishing himself as a truly national politician President Goodluck Jonathan clinched the presidential nomination of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on 14 January with an unexpected 77% of the votes. Jonathan, the insiders quickly learned,...
Vol 52 No 2 | BENIN Battle of the bankers 21st January 2011 Two financial experts are duelling for the presidential election in April in a campaign that will focus on development issues The two main contenders in April’s presidential election – both regional bankers – are evenly matched but for now the balance of support favours the incumbent, President Thomas...
Vol 52 No 2 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Propaganda war 21st January 2011 Many in the Francophone African exile community have been unusually supportive of Laurent Gbagbo, in spite of his sanguinary reputation and with few doubts about the fairness of...
Vol 52 No 1 | NIGERIA Electric elections 7th January 2011 The accidental President Goodluck Jonathan takes on the northern establishment, with unpredictable results All the ingredients in the presidential and parliamentary elections due in April make for a fierce political battle. The dominant national party for over a decade is losing...
Vol 52 No 1 | LIBERIA Johnson Sirleaf stands on her record 7th January 2011 Voters are likely to favour the President but ex-football star George Weah could push the election to a second round Strategy for the presidential and parliamentary elections on 11 October will dominate political life, with incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf tipped to win. Yet a strong push by...