Vol 57 No 16 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE Run-off wrangle 5th August 2016 For the first time since the country's democratic transition in 1991, the losers of an election have claimed the vote was rigged and refuse to recognise the official...
Vol 57 No 15 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE Trovoada's triumph 22nd July 2016 The first-round victory of Evaristo Carvalho, 74, candidate of the ruling Acção Democrática Independente (ADI) in the presidential election came as a surprise to most observers. He received...
Vol 55 No 22 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE Trovoada's return 7th November 2014 Former Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada has crowned an unlikely comeback with an emphatic victory in the 12 October legislative elections. One thing hasn't changed, however: his strained relationship...
Vol 7 (AAC) No 2 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPECHINATAIWAN Move closer 30th November 2013 After allowing China to open a trade office in November, São Tomé is fending off claims that it may abandon Taiwan, its diplomatic ally Prime Minister Gabriel Costa is walking a fine line by encouraging investment from both China and Taiwan. Chinese oil companies play a crucial role in oil exploration, but...
Vol 7 (AAC) No 2 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPECHINA Ins and outs of the oil companies 30th November 2013 São Tomé e Príncipe’s Agência Nacional do Petróleo signed a production-sharing contract with the Hong Kong-registered private oil company Sinoangol for Block 2 in its Exclusive Economic Zone...
Vol 54 No 21 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE 'Pirates' free captains 17th October 2013 The two sea captains arrested in São Tomé left for home last week but President Manuel Pinto da Costa seemed determined to squeeze some profit out of the...
Vol 54 No 19 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE Total loss 19th September 2013 Hopes of oil wealth seem to be in ruins now that oil company Total has decided to abandon Block 1 of the Joint Development Zone (JDZ) with Nigeria....
Vol 54 No 15 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE 'Piracy' row with Sweden 17th July 2013 The public cheered its coastguard’s seizure of two ships accused smuggling. Stena Oil calls it piracy Swedish firm Stena Oil accuses São Tomé of staging a show trial after it gaoled two ships’ masters for three years for smuggling and seized their vessels. This...
Vol 53 No 25 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE Trovoada sacked 14th December 2012 Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada’s government failed to reach the end of its term, as Africa Confidential predicted (AC Vol 53 No 22, Opposition shakes Trovoada), and lawyer Gabriel...
Vol 53 No 22 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE Opposition shakes Trovoada 2nd November 2012 Anti-government protestors demonstrate against the Prime Minister’s manipulation of national television The biggest challenge yet to the government of Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada saw the three opposition parties band together in a major demonstration on 19 October with ‘Save...