Vol 43 No 17 | CAMEROON President, people, parties 30th August 2002 President Paul Biya has been in power since 1982, and the 1997 constitution allows him two more seven-year terms. He will almost certainly be the presidential candidate...
Vol 43 No 17 | CHAD Digging a hole 30th August 2002 The World Bank appears to be struggling to create transparency but at least it's trying Digging a trench is easier than establishing accountable institutions. Yet the World Bank is supposed to be financing the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project precisely to set up these kinds...
Vol 43 No 17 | CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE Old guard, new guard 30th August 2002 After five transitional years, the former President has a new mandate – of sorts President Denis Sassou Nguesso chose a significant date to end the long transition that began with his forces' defeat of Pascal Lissouba in October 1997. The Fête Nationale...
Vol 43 No 16 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLICLIBYA Patassé's pals 9th August 2002 President Ange-Félix Patassé has become even more dependent on the protection of Libya and its Bangui garrison, as last month's arrest of Finance Minister Eric Sorongopé-Zoumanji on corruption...
Vol 43 No 13 | CONGO-KINSHASAWORLD BANK Carrots for Kinshasa 28th June 2002 The International Monetary Fund and World Bank's US$1.2 billion package is a massive gesture of political support for President Joseph Kabila. Technically it was made possible by a...
Vol 43 No 12 | CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE By other means 14th June 2002 President Sassou Nguesso claims a mandate but has restarted the civil war Congo-Brazzaville's hidden conflict and flawed parliamentary elections show how thin a veneer of democracy covers recycled dictator Denis Sassou Nguesso. The official results from the first round of...
Vol 43 No 12 | CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE Who's who in Sassou's Congo 14th June 2002 Northerners control the army, many are ex-Cobras, President Denis Sassou Nguesso's militia of the mid-1990s civil war. Commanded by the respected General Gilbert Mokoki, the military is still...
Vol 43 No 10 | CONGO-KINSHASA Behind the partition 17th May 2002 Since 52 days of inter-Congolese talks at Sun City ended last month, a new partition is emerging. Some 70 per cent of the territory is covered by the...
Vol 43 No 8 | CONGO-KINSHASA Sundown 19th April 2002 Rebel and government delegations are regrouping – not reuniting their country The Inter-Congolese Dialogue, which began on 25 February in Sun City, South Africa, has missed its deadline. The government of Joseph Kabila, the rebels, the unarmed opposition and...
Vol 43 No 8 | CONGO-KINSHASA Who killed Laurent? 19th April 2002 The death penalty hangs over the accused but the trial is alternately tedious and entertaining. At Kinshasa's central prison on 15 March, a military court began trying some...