Vol 52 No 2 | NIGERIA Jonathan’s primary colours 21st January 2011 Winning the PDP’s presidential nomination looks easier for Goodluck Jonathan than establishing himself as a truly national politician President Goodluck Jonathan clinched the presidential nomination of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on 14 January with an unexpected 77% of the votes. Jonathan, the insiders qu...
Vol 52 No 2 | BENIN Battle of the bankers 21st January 2011 Two financial experts are duelling for the presidential election in April in a campaign that will focus on development issues The two main contenders in April’s presidential election – both regional bankers – are evenly matched but for now the balance of support favours the incumbent, President Thomas Yay...
Vol 52 No 2 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Propaganda war 21st January 2011 Many in the Francophone African exile community have been unusually supportive of Laurent Gbagbo, in spite of his sanguinary reputation and with few doubts about the fairness of th...
Vol 52 No 1 | NIGERIA Electric elections 7th January 2011 The accidental President Goodluck Jonathan takes on the northern establishment, with unpredictable results All the ingredients in the presidential and parliamentary elections due in April make for a fierce political battle. The dominant national party for over a decade is losing its gri...
Vol 52 No 1 | LIBERIA Johnson Sirleaf stands on her record 7th January 2011 Voters are likely to favour the President but ex-football star George Weah could push the election to a second round Strategy for the presidential and parliamentary elections on 11 October will dominate political life, with incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf tipped to win. Yet a strong pus...
Vol 52 No 1 | BENIN Banker for Benin 7th January 2011 Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, the Governor of the regional Banque ouest-africaine de développement, this week officially launched his bid for April’s presidential election in Benin. This h...
Vol 51 No 25 | NIGERIA The war against the amnesty 17th December 2010 The presidential election, the oil trade and community peace deals are at risk in the latest Niger Delta conflicts Leaders of the Ayakoroma community in Delta State saw the violence coming. They warned the military Joint Task Force in mid-November that their town was in the crossfire between t...
Vol 51 No 25 | NIGERIA General John Togo and all his enemies 17th December 2010 The self-styled General of the Niger Delta struggle, warlord John Togo, emerged from the Itsekiri/Ijaw ethnic war of 2003, when rival tribal groups from Delta State spawned death, ...
Vol 51 No 25 | SIERRA LEONEMINING Iron constitutions required 17th December 2010 A Chinese-British consortium exploiting massive iron ore reserves at Tonkolili prompts opposition from villagers and anti-corruption campaigners One of the wealthiest and most controversial businessmen in Britain, Vasile Frank Timis, has brought over $300 million of Chinese finance to Sierra Leone’s Tonkolili district to e...
Vol 51 No 25 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Two presidents, one crisis 17th December 2010 Violent clashes on the streets of Abidjan for control of state broadcasting escalate the post-election conflict Whether Côte d’Ivoire erupts into a fresh conflict or joins a new world of parliamentary democracy depends mainly on money, the military and regional solidarity. As Africa Confiden...