The President's priorities are clear, for once. He wants to be reelected in June 1997. Soon thereafter, Elf-Aquitaine will start to pump oil from its new wells at...

A French judicial investigation into alleged embezzlement by the former chairman of Elf-Aquitaine, Loïk le Floch Prigent (currently in custody for his own protection) is embarassing Paris...

Paul Biya's glamorous young wife, Francesco Smalto suits and frequent private trips to Europe may suggest a political playboy. Yet the President is a considerable tactician and has...

Zinc mine development at Kipushi, mineral exploration in Shaba, metal processing at Kolwezi; these new ventures in Zaïre show how the world's biggest mining company, the Anglo- American...

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...