Vol 44 No 24 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE We interrupt . . . 5th December 2003 Lieutenant Zadi's forcible interruption of state television programmes on 30 November to demand the withdrawal of French troops may presage a new offensive by loyalists of President Laurent...
Vol 44 No 22 | GHANA Politics get crude 7th November 2003 Money, oil and scandals are the key to pre-election politics The row over crude oil supplies to the state-owned Volta River Authority is turning into a full-scale political battle in the run up to next year's general elections....
Vol 44 No 22 | GHANANIGERIA Gaius says goodbye 7th November 2003 The sacking of Jackson Gaius Obaseki, Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, on 3 November, is linked to the growing problems with well connected firm Sahara...
Vol 44 No 22 | LIBERIASIERRA LEONE Taylor's shadow 7th November 2003 There is a new government but no real peace and far too few peacekeepers Renewed fighting in Liberia's north-east Nimba County rings alarm bells across the region. Fingers are pointing at ousted President Charles Ghankay Taylor, now exiled in south-eastern Nigeria, who...
Vol 44 No 22 | NIGERIA Polio politics 7th November 2003 There is growing frustration that a boycott of an immunisation campaign in northern Nigeria may be leading to a resurgence of poliomyelitis in the region. This would thwart...
Vol 44 No 21 | NIGERIA Roll out the barrel 24th October 2003 Raising domestic oil prices is essential but seems impossible The government's latest bid to liberalise (and inevitably raise) fuel prices has united traders, trades unionists and state governors against President Olusegun Obasanjo's new economic team. The team...
Vol 44 No 21 | NIGERIA No end to the affair 24th October 2003 Allegations by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nassir el-Rufai that two senators had solicited a 54 million naira (US$420,000) bribe for approving his appointment are set to cause more...
Vol 44 No 21 | TOGO Lomé abstention 24th October 2003 Togo was a German colony, then a French one. The two former masters now disagree about Togo's dubious democracy and its 35-year President, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, 65. European aid...
Vol 44 No 20 | NIGERIA So, farewell then 10th October 2003 Rilwanu Lukman's sudden resignation on 7 October as Special Advisor on Oil to Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo is likely to trigger other high-level departures as the crisis in...
Vol 44 No 19 | NIGERIA Saharan desserts 26th September 2003 President Olusegun Obasanjo's commitment to fighting oil sector corruption (AC Vol 44 No 18) is being severely tested on the one hand by a Federal Government probe of...