Vol 52 No 1 | CAMEROON To Biya or not to Biya 7th January 2011 The President could easily rig his way back to power but may prefer to spring a surprise and quit In power for the last 28 years, President Paul Biya, 77, will face his old rival in the presidential election scheduled for October. This is John Fru Ndi,...
Vol 52 No 1 | CONGO-KINSHASA Kabila again 7th January 2011 If, despite some legal hurdles, the elections are held, President Joseph Kabila is likely to win another five years in power Congo’s approaching elections are already entangled by lawyers. The main opposition party, Jean-Pierre Bemba’s Mouvement de libération du Congo (MLC), supported by several local non-governmental organisations, claims that...
Vol 52 No 1 | GABON Bongo feels the heat 7th January 2011 President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba has maintained a dignified silence over the claim, contained in a United States State Department cable of June 2009 and leaked by WikiLeaks,...
Vol 4 (AAC) No 2 | GABON Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba 28th December 2010 President, Gabon Newish President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba aims to end Gabon’s economic dependence on oil along with its traditional ties to France. A 9-12 November trip to Singapore yielded...
Vol 4 (AAC) No 2 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLICASIA India sets the pace 27th December 2010 Indian and Chinese investors are on the offensive in Central African Republic – even if the country is voted one of the worst in the world for doing...
Vol 51 No 25 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Amid the chaos, a sort of vote 17th December 2010 Rebels, dissidents and their allies from across the region could turn the coming elections into a protracted battle for power Seven months late, national elections are due on 23 January, amid accusations of cheating and fraud, and with insecurity bringing hunger to more than half the country. The...
Vol 51 No 24 | CONGO-KINSHASA The case against Kabila's army 3rd December 2010 A new report by United Nations experts implicates Congo’s soldiers in murderous criminality, leaving Kinshasa some tough choices The findings by a United Nations' investigation that extensive criminal networks inside Congo's army are raping and killing people and stealing minerals challenge President Joseph Kabila's position following his call for...
Vol 51 No 24 | CONGO-KINSHASA Will the UN bail out of Congo? 3rd December 2010 Another month, another United Nations' report on Congo-Kinshasa. Yet do these reports, or indeed the UN in general, help improve conditions in Congo? At around 19,000 strong, the Mission des Nations...
Vol 4 (AAC) No 1 | CONGO-KINSHASACHINA The price of debt forgiveness 18th November 2010 Kinshasa may have to rethink its deals with China if it wants debt write-offs from Western creditors European powers are blocking billions of dollars of debt relief to President Joseph Kabila’s government until it agrees to revise some of its trade and financing deals with...
Vol 4 (AAC) No 1 | CONGO-KINSHASASOUTH KOREA Hyperactive relations 18th November 2010 South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak is due in Kinshasa in early 2011 to reciprocate Congolese President Joseph Kabila’s visit to Seoul in March. This month, the Korean International...