Vol 48 No 18 | KENYA Leaky bucket 7th September 2007 The leaking of a report detailing how former President Daniel arap Moi's family and associates have stolen more than US$2 billion of state revenues was timed to cause...
Vol 48 No 17 | KENYA Politicians overboard 24th August 2007 Two key players have jumped from the opposition coalition but that will not assure President Kibaki of victory It was a bad month for Kenya's opposition, after personal rivalries came to a head and leading politicians split off to run their own campaigns. They will probably...
Vol 48 No 17 | KENYA Tinga's tractor in top gear 24th August 2007 Above all, he is unpredictable and indefatigable: that is how an old associate sums up Raila Amolo Odinga. He has plenty of charisma for his rousing speeches in...
Vol 48 No 17 | SUDAN Mission improbable 24th August 2007 Khartoum's schemings, political rows and logistical shortages are undermining the Darfur peacekeeping force African Union Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konaré's statement in Khartoum on 12 August that the planned 26,000-strong peacekeeping force for Darfur would be entirely African and his criticisms...
Vol 48 No 17 | SUDAN Half and half 24th August 2007 The United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is half of the process; the other half involves negotiations between rebels and regime. This requires a common platform for...
Vol 48 No 17 | SUDAN Who's Who in the war and peace talks 24th August 2007 The Sudan Liberation Movement faction of Abdel Wahed Mohamed Ahmed el Nur boycotted this month's Arusha talks. This matters because it is the second largest military group and...
Vol 48 No 17 | SUDAN Smokescreen 24th August 2007 Under growing international pressure, Khartoum's National Congress (aka National Islamic Front) is uncovering 'internal plots'. On 14 July, it arrested Umma Party renegade and former minister Mubarek Abdullahi...
Vol 48 No 16 | ETHIOPIA The Millennium deal 3rd August 2007 Political compromises could mark the start of a new style for both government and opposition To satisfy both domestic expediency and international pressure, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has commuted the life sentences passed on 35 of his opponents. That was expected and it...
Vol 48 No 16 | BURUNDI Going wrong again 3rd August 2007 The rebel Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL) were supposed to negotiate a cease-fire with the government. On 21 July their chief, Jean-Berchmans Ndayishimiye, walked out, followed by his...
Vol 48 No 16 | ERITREAETHIOPIA Boiling point 3rd August 2007 Eritrea and Ethiopia, whose leaders detest each other, are clashing on three regional issues. Moreover, hawks in Addis believe – rightly or wrongly – that Ethiopia's support for...