President Yahya Jammeh likes to be seen to be in charge, active and striking everywhere. This month alone he has sacked three ministers, while the former Chief Justice,...

Ibrahim Bah, the warlord and arms dealer who was living in Freetown in breach of United Nations sanctions (AC Vol 54 No 10, Impunity in Freetown), has gone...

President Goodluck Jonathan’s state visit to China delivered much-needed finance for infrastructure projects but the final amount was rather less than his officials had originally envisaged. Ahead of...

Political and financial concerns have stalled or forced the reformulation of many of the major projects trumpeted since 2008. Back in May 2010, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation...

Uncertainty hangs over three controversial deals with China that President Dioncounda Traoré’s outgoing transitional government had hoped to conclude before the first round of national elections held on...

China is sending troops to the new United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in late June that it would dispatch its...

Despite falling foul of local communities and environmentalists, in late June Malaysian palm oil giant Sime Darby finally won approval to cultivate rubber and palm oil on 5,000...

Chinese companies, both private and state-owned, are set to carve out major stakes in Sierra Leone’s economy. Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma ended a six-day trip to...

In July, Development and Planning Minister Albert Mabri Toikeusse revealed that negotiations are under way between the Abidjan government and China’s state-run policy banks that will provide the...

Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (IBK) had always looked the man to beat in the Malian presidential race and as Africa Confidential went to press, it was clear that he...