Vol 55 No 11 | SUDAN Chaos theory 30th May 2014 Past-masters at confusing both adversaries and outsiders, the Khartoum regime is tripping over its own feet Khartoum's political leaders are fuelling a crisis they were trying to forestall. The regime this month deployed three brigades of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to protect the capital....
Vol 55 No 10 | SOUTH SUDAN The end of the beginning 16th May 2014 President Salva Kiir and his former Deputy, Riek Machar, have agreed to an interim government but its shape is far from clear Mediators in Addis Ababa studiously played down the fact that the cessation of hostilities agreement signed on 9 May was not the result of face-to-face talks between South...
Vol 55 No 10 | SOUTH SUDAN Fixing the forces 16th May 2014 Foreign military assistance is piecemeal and has yet to be sorted out. Britain’s contribution, for instance, includes training an officer in England, along with one from Sudan. The...
Vol 55 No 10 | TANZANIANORTH KOREA The MIGs of Mwanza 16th May 2014 Tanzania has sent home the North Koreans who were supposed to be restoring some of the Tanzanian People’s Defence Force’s Soviet-era military equipment following secret protests by the...
Vol 55 No 10 | SOMALIA Parliament wants the President's head 12th May 2014 A letter from almost half of all MPs calls on Hassan Sheikh to step down or be forced out President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is fighting for his political life after more than 100 members of parliament petitioned him to resign over his failure to tackle security. If...
Vol 55 No 10 | ETHIOPIA Addis plan touches off riots 7th May 2014 A scheme to expand the administrative area of the capital has sparked Oromo nationalist anger Peaceful protests at Ambo University and on campuses across Oromia turned into deadly clashes with security forces for days after federal police shot dead a 14-year-old student, Endale...
Vol 55 No 9 | SOUTH SUDAN Calling time on the killing 2nd May 2014 As the rival leaders appear indifferent to the slaughter and threats to stability, support is growing for a serious intervention force and targeted sanctions The pressures of war are mounting but President Salva Kiir Mayardit still sports a black ten-gallon hat and a hefty walking stick. Looking tired and stooped, Salva hectored... READ FOR FREE
Vol 55 No 9 | SOUTH SUDAN The third eleven enters the contest 2nd May 2014 At talks in Addis Ababa about forming an interim government in South Sudan, some are pinning their hopes on a group of eleven politicians, most of whom were...
Vol 55 No 9 | KENYA Alarm over terror swoop 2nd May 2014 The government is screening ethnic Somalis and confining refugees to camps. Some question the effectiveness – and motives – of the policy The security agencies' investigation of the Somali community for links to terrorism is meeting growing criticism. It forms part of the Jubilee Alliance government's response to the attack...
Vol 55 No 9 | TANZANIA Electrical storm 2nd May 2014 Some of the government's electricity supply deals – what Energy Minister Sospeter Muhongo called 'shoddy contracts that are a burden to Tanzanians' – are back in the news...