Vol 53 No 19 | SOMALIA New president, new laws and old enemies 21st September 2012 The election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is seen as a sign of stability but the new government’s foundations are far from strong. Meanwhile, Kenya’s military policy is worrying other members of the Amisom alliance. The election process was marred by vote-buying but Western commentators welcomed the outcome, often warmly. However, Ethiopia has concerns about the Islamist background of the new leader Somalis welcomed the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, an outsider with a better reputation than his predecessor, as the first critical test of the new constitution. The...
Vol 53 No 19 | SOMALIA As Amisom targets Kismayo, Al Shabaab changes tactics 21st September 2012 The campaign against Al Haraka al Shabaab al Mujahideen is suffering from divisions within the African Union Mission in Somalia and fears over poor tactics, military observers have...
Vol 53 No 19 | BURUNDI Aid threatened, conflict up 21st September 2012 Rebel forces have stepped up attacks on government positions ahead of a critical aid conference in Geneva The United Nations officially classes Burundi as a ‘post-conflict nation’ but chronic low-level violence persists. At the beginning of September, a dissident offshoot of the main opposition declared...
Vol 53 No 18 | SUDANSOUTH SUDAN Politics over oil 7th September 2012 Another round of talks may stave off hostilities but is unlikely to yield a credible border security agreement by the 22 September deadline Much hard negotiating lies ahead between Juba and Khartoum after talks restarted on 4 September, following a month’s delay for the funeral of Ethiopian Premier Meles Zenawi and...
Vol 53 No 18 | TANZANIA Hopes and fears offshore 7th September 2012 Estimates of the offshore deposits are now so vast that there is major concern that bribery will affect the next round of bidding Tanzania is raising its estimates of gas reserves to around 30 trillion cubic feet, and with them, worries about whether the anticipated flood of cash can be managed...
Vol 53 No 18 | SOMALIABRITAIN Monitoring on hold 7th September 2012 Britain’s Department for International Development has taken no step towards setting up the Joint Financial Management Board promised at February’s London Conference on Somalia, Africa Confidential has discovered.
Vol 53 No 18 | KENYA Mombasa murder 7th September 2012 A 14-member team investigating the 27 August shooting in Mombasa of an Al Shabaab-linked Islamist, Sheikh Aboud Rogo Mohammed, will exclude police officials. Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako...
Vol 5 (AAC) No 11 | SUDANSOUTH SUDANASIA Getting the oil to flow again 3rd September 2012 Chinese oil companies have been involved in the talks between Juba and Khartoum but Beijing still prefers quiet, behind-the-scenes pressure There is a surprising mood of optimism amongst politicians and oil company officials in Juba as South Sudan and Sudan enter the latest round of negotiations on oil...
Vol 5 (AAC) No 11 | KENYACHINA Coal hard cash 3rd September 2012 Kenyan politicians are battling over the controversial award of a contract for a coal mine in Eastern Province by the Energy Ministry to a little-known Chinese...
Vol 53 No 17 | ETHIOPIA After Meles 24th August 2012 The Premier’s death removes one of Africa’s most prominent leaders and will test the unity of the country and the ruling party The death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on 20 August has triggered a constitutional succession mechanism which he personally designed, having led the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic...