SOUTH AFRICA Opening up the ANC 6th September 1996 President Mandela wants to strengthen the party before he hands over to Thabo Mbeki The post-Mandela African National Congress is beginning to take shape, amid jostling between competing factions. President Nelson Mandela wants a 'broad-church' leadership. The party hierarchy lobbies for its own favoured candidates from a narrower band. Deputy President and anointed heir Thabo Mbeki favours Jacob Zuma as his successor, we hear. And if not Jacob Zuma, then his wife, Minister of Health Nkosazana Zuma.
SOUTH AFRICA Gloomy boom 6th September 1996 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site Speculators talking down the economy have helped create some bargain investments South Africa's mood swings wildly and so do its financial markets. Less than a year ago, equity and bond markets were booming and the rand exchange rate was...
CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE Lissouba lite 6th September 1996 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site The President is in trouble unless he takes his new Prime Minister seriously 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...
TOGO The boss is back 6th September 1996 President Eyadèma has picked a new premier and is planning his own re-election The one-party state is back in Togo. The resignation of Prime Minister Edem Kodjo on 19 August puts President Gnassingbé Eyadèma back in control, after dividing the opposition...
BURUNDI Balance of terror 6th September 1996 With a narrowing support base, Buyoya has to make progress before the embargo bites The embargo imposed by Burundi's neighbours on 31 July, six days after the coup which put Major Pierre Buyoya back in power (AC Vol 37 Nos 15 &...
CÔTE D'IVOIRE Guéi goes 6th September 1996 Whatever the truth about the alleged coup plot against President Henri Konan Bédié last October, it is being used comprehensively to weed out perceived enemies of the ruling...
WORLD BANK Politically correct 6th September 1996 The World Bank's slow redeployment of its Africa Region staff (AC Vol 37 No 10) has given more senior jobs to Africans and women. Senegal's Mamadou Dia, formerly...
GAMBIA Miami vice 6th September 1996 The seizure of two military helicopters on 30 August at Miami's international airport, stored on a plane about to take off for Banjul, has raised more suspicions about...