Vol 52 No 6 | KENYA On to the trial 18th March 2011 Despite a dissident judge and government lobbying, the ICC is set to try six politicians accused of mass murder and has issued summonses Kenya’s government is still trying to dodge the International Criminal Court, whose Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) ruled on 8 March that six high-level Kenyan suspects must appear at the...
Vol 52 No 6 | TANZANIA Gas finds offer hope of ending power-cuts 18th March 2011 Powerful interests stood in the way of a sound energy policy emerging but everyone wants to turn on the gas Despite obstacles from corrupt politicians, the exploitation of gas is likely to gather pace this year with new offshore discoveries. The opening on 12 April of the fourth...
Vol 52 No 6 | TANZANIA Tanzania's gas players 18th March 2011 Songas consortium consists of PanAfrican Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Orca Exploration, CDC Globeleq and the state-owned Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC). Songas has operational rights over the...
Vol 52 No 6 | DJIBOUTI Hello North Africa 18th March 2011 Opposition politicians are to boycott the presidential election due on 8 April, after Interior Minister Yacin Elmi Bouh banned all demonstrations, fearing a spate of North African-style democracy protests. Ismael Guedi Hared, leader of...
Vol 52 No 6 | SUDANUNITED STATES Questions on terror 18th March 2011 Just as the United States was preparing to remove the Sudan regime from its State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list, Khartoum has a hosted a conference of international Islamists, including some...
Vol 52 No 5 | UGANDA Power at a price 4th March 2011 Museveni’s victory was the result of astute tactics, state funding and a divided and despondent opposition Uganda faces a harsh economic hangover because so many state resources were used to win a decisive victory for President Yoweri Museveni, 67, in 18 February’s elections. Museveni and the...
Vol 52 No 5 | SUDAN Democracy heads south 4th March 2011 Political tactics or public relations? The announcement of President Omer’s exit points to jitters in the ruling National Congress Party The prospect of President Omer Hassan Ahmed el Beshir stepping down reflects the ruling National Congress Party’s dilemma over how to tackle growing domestic and regional calls for political change and...
Vol 52 No 5 | ERITREAMINING Gold rush 4th March 2011 Issayas used to be suspicious of foreigners, but that was before a mineral wealth bonanza looked possible The Eritrean President and leader of the ruling People’s Front for Democracy and Justice, Issayas Afewerki, has long sought to retain a closed economy and prevent non-Eritrean involvement in his...
Vol 52 No 5 | ERITREAMINING Eritrea is not for sale 4th March 2011 ‘Eritrea is not for sale.’ This used to be President Issayas Afewerki’s customary response to interest in his country’s considerable mineral resources. Now, as he faces greater isolation while needing...
Vol 52 No 4 | KENYA First pick your judge 18th February 2011 President Kibaki is undermining efforts to reform the judiciary as he protects his allies from prosecution The latest dispute between President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga began in late January, when Odinga accused Kibaki of failing to consult him about nominations to...