Vol 39 No 3 | GHANA Finding flagbearers 6th February 1998 Two years before the next election and amid more economic problems, the parties are agonising over their presidential candidates The best chance for the ruling National Democratic Congress to win the election in 2000 would be to find a way to put up incumbent President Jerry John...
Vol 39 No 3 | SIERRA LEONE Jump or be pushed 6th February 1998 Abuja is working on a military option if the Freetown junta refuses to go in April The commitment that Major Johnny Paul Koroma’s Freetown junta gave Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Tom Ikimi, to hand over power by 22 April, looks less credible by the day....
Vol 39 No 2 | NIGERIA Plots, lies and videotapes 23rd January 1998 Amid general discontent and military nervousness, the Abacha regime's latest claim of a coup plot is unlikely to be its last General Sani Abacha is pulling out all the stops to gain maximum political advantage from the latest alleged coup plot. Videotaped scenes from interrogations of the accused, including...
Vol 39 No 2 | GHANA Zero tolerance 23rd January 1998 Hardline policing and economic pressures presage a tense political year Car thefts at gun-point, a high-speed chase through the streets of Accra on a hot Sunday afternoon, live commentary on the car-chase on local radio, a track-suited President...
Vol 39 No 2 | SENEGAL Rules of the game 23rd January 1998 Popular pressure chips away at (democratic) one-party rule while rebels mine Casamance
Vol 39 No 2 | SENEGAL Targeting Club Med 23rd January 1998 Every one of nearly 400 beds at the beautiful Club Mediterranée at Cap Skirring, near the Guinea-Bissau border, was full for Christmas. But guests were taken aback by...
Vol 39 No 2 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Hot chocolate 23rd January 1998 A scalding splash has landed on the next round of talks with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, due early next month. As he prepares to bid...
Vol 39 No 1 | MALI Nous pas bouger 9th January 1998 Government and opposition say they want to talk but then say 'We won't budge' French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin's visit to Bamako on 20- 21 December was perceived as a show of support for President Alpha Oumar Konaré and his regime, which...
Vol 39 No 1 | NIGERIA Rotters or plotters? 9th January 1998 On the face it, the 21 December allegation that the Deputy Head of State, Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya, Major General Tunji Olanrewaju, Maj. Gen. Abdulkarim Adisa and eight...