There is no grand design to the violence that is wracking the country. Government supporters and oppositionists are pursuing vendettas against each other and a shadowy third force...

General Sani Abacha's 31 December announcement that by stepping up French teaching, Nigeria will in 'a very short time' become bilingual is a shrewd diplomatic move, however unrealistic...

Jerry Rawlings has delivered the knockout blow he had promised for the 7 December presidential election (AC Vol 37 No 22), finishing some fifteen points ahead of his...

Foday Sankoh's Revolutionary United Front has been badly damaged, with 'spontaneous demobilisations' in the east. So it was expected to sign the draft Peace Agreement in Abidjan on...

The coup was a flop and President Alpha Oumar Konaré is looking even stronger than before. On 28 October Konaré's security services clamped down on a group of...

The personal vendettas in Monrovia are only part of the real battle for control of Liberia that is being fought out in the hinterland. All the signs are...

The smart money is on a close result in the legislative and presidential elections due on 7 December. President Jerry Rawlings is far more popular than his ruling...

With no friends and no money, President Tejan Kabbah's government is in deep trouble after less than nine months in office. The rebels of Corporal Foday Sankoh's Revolutionary...

The government is pushing ahead with its sale of state assets in the hope of reaping political and economic dividends. First to come to market will be the...

Alongside General Sani Abacha's bold plans to sell the state oil and gas companies, plans for his political transition are becoming clearer. Above all, the government is determined...