Vol 56 No 24 | BURKINA FASO Vive la différence 4th December 2015 In one of the continent's most peaceful transitions, Burkina Faso has elected a new President. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré romped home in the first round with 53.49% of...
Vol 56 No 23 | NIGERIA Buhari resets the clock 20th November 2015 After six months of deliberation, a new team of largely technocratic ministers faces daunting economic and security challenges It is called 'Buhari Mean Time' in Abuja. It started as a jocular description and then became a warning: President Muhammadu Buhari will not be rushed into decisions,... READ FOR FREE
Vol 56 No 23 | SIERRA LEONE Unclear for take-off 20th November 2015 President Ernest Bai Koroma's government informed the International Monetary Fund it had abandoned his flagship project, the Mamamah international airport, during its team visit in September, Africa Confidential...
Vol 56 No 23 | SIERRA LEONE Koidu's future in the balance 16th November 2015 The country's biggest diamond mine could close as its indebted owner struggles with the government to keep its licence A ten-strong team led by Mines Minister Minkailu Mansaray is in London for crisis talks set for 16 November, on the future of the Koidu diamond mine, which...
Vol 56 No 22 | NIGERIA The cauldron boils again 6th November 2015 High-tension state elections, low oil prices and the end of the amnesty add to brewing troubles in the Niger Delta Although the threatened rebellion in the Niger Delta against Muhammadu Buhari's victory in March's presidential election didn't materialise, political and economic discontent in the region is mounting. There...
Vol 56 No 22 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Ouattara walks it 6th November 2015 A decisive victory brings a chance to ease out the corrupt militiamen in government and relaunch the economy The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Youssouf Bakayoko, had an easier time of it last month than five years ago. That's when one of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo's...
Vol 56 No 22 | GUINEA Condé consolidates as opposition regroups 23rd October 2015 Street protests and complaints of electoral fraud are unlikely to shake the incumbent, who has strong diplomatic and commercial backing from abroad Despite the opposition parties' simmering anger and protestors clashing with police this week in Conakry, President Alpha Condé looks set to hold on to his first round victory...
Vol 56 No 21 | GUINEA Condé's surprising knockout 22nd October 2015 'One Strike – Knockout!' That was the message from those who engineered President Alpha Condé's first round victory in the 11 October presidential election, with 57.9% of the...
Vol 56 No 20 | NIGERIA At last a cabinet, and now for the policies 8th October 2015 After balancing political interests and restructuring ministries, the most urgent issue facing President Buhari is economic strategy At his self-imposed eleventh hour, President Muhammadu Buhari submitted his list of 21 ministerial nominees to the Senate on 30 September. On 8 October, the Senate was to... READ FOR FREE
Vol 56 No 20 | MALI IBK ploughs into trouble 8th October 2015 The President's 'gift' to farmers of 1,000 tractors is not all it seems. It isn't the first public procurement problem to crop up President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta is in the midst of another big public spending row after making a supposedly personal gift of 1,000 tractors to rural communities, just in...