Vol 49 No 13 | EQUATORIAL GUINEA At the circus 20th June 2008 Britain's tenuous relations with Equatorial Guinea are likely to be the other casualty - alongside natural justice - after this week's show trial in Malabo of former Special...
Vol 49 No 12 | CONGO-KINSHASA Bemba under arrest 6th June 2008 It is convenient for President Kabila that his main opponent stands accused of war crimes At least a couple of months must pass before Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo can be transferred from Belgium, where he was arrested on 24 May, to prison in the...
Vol 49 No 12 | CAMEROON Biya's purge 6th June 2008 The President is about to sack some selected ministers for corruption but that won’t end the problem Corruption scandals have become a handy way for President Paul Biya to brighten his image ahead of the 2011 presidential election. They allow him to boost his...
Vol 49 No 12 | CONGO-KINSHASABELGIUM Diamond horror 6th June 2008 On 24 May, Kinshasa recalled ‘for consultations’ its Ambassador in Brussels, Jean-Pierre Mutamba, and (to the horror of the diamond trade) closed its Antwerp consulate. Later, it closed...
Vol 49 No 11 | CONGO-KINSHASABELGIUM In the rain-forrest 23rd May 2008 Under scrutiny since 2002, the Forrest Group is in trouble with the United Nations again Belgium has lost a diplomat and the George Forrest Group, which dominates parts of Congo-Kinshasa's mining industry, has lost a valuable senior executive. Pierre Chevalier, Belgium's Special Representative...
Vol 49 No 10 | UGANDACONGO-KINSHASA Hidden depths 9th May 2008 Tensions between Kinshasa and Kampala are heating up again and oil fortunes are at stake Talks to resolve the intermittent border disputes between Kampala and Kinshasa have been called off after Congolese troops seized a tract of disputed territory between Arua district and...
Vol 49 No 10 | CONGO-KINSHASABELGIUM Drifting apart 9th May 2008 The habitual politeness between Belgium and its former colony grew thinner still during a five-day visit to Kinshasa in late April by three ministers from Brussels, Karel De...
Vol 49 No 10 | CONGO-KINSHASA Under cover 9th May 2008 The halting of United Nations' investigations into allegations of abuses by Indian and Pakistani peacekeepers in Congo-Kinshasa raises new questions about UN accountability and the legal responsibilities...
Vol 49 No 9 | EQUATORIAL GUINEA Vicious voting 25th April 2008 Coup plot claims, a lucrative oil deal and a plane crash are enlivening the desultory campaigning ahead of parliamentary and municipal elections in Equatorial Guinea due on 4...
Vol 49 No 9 | GABON Politique a l'Americaine 25th April 2008 The election season has started with the usual components of fraud, corruption and attempts by the government to co-opt any credible opposition candidates. A review of the national...