Two military uprisings within a month have thoroughly destabilised the government of President Ange-Félix Patassé. On 18 May the leaders of the April mutiny, headed by Adjutant (Sergeant...

President Ange-Félix Patassé in his Sango-language speeches vaunts his nationalism and his refusal to take orders from Paris, as his predecessors did. Yet when angry soldiers broke out...

After 35 years of independence and 30 of civil war, Chad will hold its first pluralist election on 2 June. Once a warlord and now President, Idriss Déby...

Blatant cheating, with no secret ballot, a disputed electoral roll and the refusal to allow opposition candidates to withdraw, gave victory – and another seven-year mandate – to...

A bungled attempt to launch a coup in Cameroon has ended in an Australian court. Between July and November 1994, Geoffrey Vernon Hughes, a businessman, tried to buy...

A figure from the past has popped up again in central Africa. Christian Tavernier, a Belgian ex-colonel, commanded the 14th Commando Battalion of the Congolese National Army when...

One of Africa's most reluctant converts to multi-party politics has pulled a fast one on his critics. Sixteen years after he led a coup against his uncle, President...

As the grip of central government weakens, the province of Eastern Kasaï gains strength. Its new prosperity, putting it ahead of neighbouring Shaba as the nerve-centre of Zaïre’s...

The United States and Israel have constructed a series of bases in Chad, Cameroon and elsewhere in which they are training a substantial Contra force of Libyans, including...