Cairo's attempts to resuscitate Nasser's pan- African schemes have foundered
Egypt has two goals for its African policy: the prestige of leading the continent and the defence of the Nile waters. The aspiration to leadership stems largely from nostalgia for the days when President Gamal Abdel Nasser, as a prime mover of the Non-Aligned Movement, used to claim to speak for the developing world. More realistically, Egypt believes that diplomatic leadership is rewarded with cash.
Few things escape the watchful and computerised eyes of the Presidency
Zine el Abidine Ben Ali showed off his self-confidence by spending 20 March, the 40th anniversary of Independence, being filmed on a visit to Habib Bourguiba, the President-for-Life...
President Ben Mkapa is doing well on the mainland but struggling with Zanzibar
The President insists that he does not want to be called Mtukufu (Your Excellency) or have his picture on banknotes and does not want to hear his name...