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Published 21st November 2019

Vol 60 No 23


Brexit and a trade pipe-dream

Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch. Pic: Chris Radburn/PA Archive/PA Images
Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch. Pic: Chris Radburn/PA Archive/PA Images

Whatever happens in Britain's general election, the uncertainty over its trade policy, including ties with Africa, will continue next year

A win for the Conservatives in the election on 12 December would mean Britain's formal exit from the European Union early next year. That would be followed by years of trade negotiations between Britain and the rest of the world. But in the short-term there would be several interim arrangements, rolling over the terms of trade that Britain signed up to as a member of the EU.

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Cashing in on the crisis

New Zim dollar bank notes. Pic: Shaun Jusa/Xinhua/PA Images
New Zim dollar bank notes. Pic: Shaun Jusa/Xinhua/PA Images

As the country faces the worst drought for 30 years and inflation at over 440%, politically connected oligarchs see opportunities

Days after regional leaders called for dialogue across the political divide to resolve Zimbabwe's deepening crisis, police broke up a crowd outside the headquarters of the main opp...


SWAPO stumbles

President Hage Geingob. Pic: Zou Guangping/Xinhua/PA Images
President Hage Geingob. Pic: Zou Guangping/Xinhua/PA Images

A bad land reform record, a corruption scandal and electoral fraud claims will shake but not topple the ruling party in the polls

Namibia is in the grip of a crippling drought, but negative economic growth, blatant disregard for its election promises and persistent scandal will do little to prevent SWAPO's re...



BLUE LINES
THE INSIDE VIEW

Suddenly the stakes in Sudan have been raised – between the revolutionaries and the supporters of Omer el Beshir's ousted regime. For weeks, rumours have been swirling about an impending coup by die-hard Islamists in state security, militias and Beshir's National Congress Party, proscribed by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan's junta in April.

Initially, Islamist activists accepted a three-year transition. With their accumulated wealth and security networks, they were confident of win...

Suddenly the stakes in Sudan have been raised – between the revolutionaries and the supporters of Omer el Beshir's ousted regime. For weeks, rumours have been swirling about an impending coup by die-hard Islamists in state security, militias and Beshir's National Congress Party, proscribed by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan's junta in April.

Initially, Islamist activists accepted a three-year transition. With their accumulated wealth and security networks, they were confident of winning an election.

Times have changed.

First came a demand from the Forces for Freedom and Change that Beshir be handed over for trial at the International Criminal Court. That was followed on 5 November by a statement from Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok that 'no barrier' could stop that happening, prompting a threat from the People's Defence Forces, one of Beshir's militias, to burn the country should he be handed over.

Alongside this, the newly appointed Prosecutor General has ordered the arrest of two leading Islamists charged with involvement in the 1989 coup that brought Beshir to power. The generals on the sovereign ruling council may not want to obstruct the extradition, even if they dislike the idea of a foreign trial. Many would find Beshir's exit convenient, unless he tried to implicate them in war crimes. His support among the junior officers and the ranks collapsed long ago. Against expectations, his extradition could unite factions within the military.

 

 

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Hefty down payment for 2020

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Intrigue at State House

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Unity or bust for 2021

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The DA's race dilemma

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The departure of both Mmusi Maimane as leader of the Democratic Alliance and Herman Mashaba as mayor of Johannesburg has sent shock waves through the main opposition party and star...



Pointers

Oil majors tax threat

The Nigerian government plans to raise an extra US$1 billion next year in royalties from the oil majors as it struggles to fund a record budget and curb mounting debt. The industry...


Assault on Mount Kenya

President Uhuru Kenyatta is trying to put an end to a simmering rebellion against his government in a region where discontent with him would be least expected – the Mount Ken...