No one could describe General Sani Abacha as a convert to market economics yet the policy of 'guided deregulation' begun last year is certainly his own. Whilst he...

The prospect of former dictator Mathieu Kérékou returning to power as elected President worries those who argue that economic liberalisation must go hand-in-hand with democratisation. In the first...

Who rules Liberia? At present, nobody. Since 1990, the nearest thing to a national authority has been the peacekeeping force of the Economic Community of West African States....

Next month's presidential election is important not just for the Beninese, who will give their verdict on five years of economic reform, but more widely as a test...

A head of steam is again building up for tougher sanctions against General Sani Abacha's government. A January review in Washington, we hear, considered three categories of sanction:...

The rumblings are getting more ominous. General Sani Abacha's son killed in a plane crash, bombings in the north, tons of guns and ammunition found on the Benin...

Freetown may be stumbling into a peace deal of sorts with the rebels it has been fighting for the last four years. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and his...

Africa's second coup of the year in Niamey had been brewing as long as its first in Freetown. Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Barré Mainassara, the former army Chief of...

Whatever happened at the 28 December Cabinet meeting at State House, it is helping the opposition's campaign for this year's elections. According to President Jerry Rawlings' supporters, his...

Brigadier Julius Maada-Bio’s announcement that he will not postpone elections scheduled for 26 February following his 16 January coup against Captain Valentine Strasser has several caveats. Most important...