Vol 43 No 4 | AFRICATHE WEST Saying yes, saying no 22nd February 2002 Rich countries aren't offering much aid or freer markets in response to Africa's development plan Africa is enjoying, or perhaps suffering, a spring offensive by Western leaders. France's President Jacques Chirac hosted 13 African leaders in Paris on 8 February; British Prime M...
Vol 43 No 3 | UNITED KINGDOMAFRICA Designer diplomacy 8th February 2002 At face value the omens could hardly be worse for Prime Minister Tony Blair's West Africa tour from 6-10 February. First stop Nigeria has been blighted by an arms dump explosion ki...
Vol 43 No 2 | ECONOMYAFRICA Bear markets 25th January 2002 The rich world's recession hits Africa's prospects but reform goes slowly on For many Africans, the new year confirms the most pessimistic forecasts of economic gloom. Nigerians face a 50 per cent increase in fuel prices, South Africans must cope with a cur...
Vol 43 No 1 | AFRICA Raelity 11th January 2002 The Raelian Movement claims 55,000 members worldwide and is campaigning to increase its African membership. In mid-December Rael, its leader, was visiting Congo-Brazzaville, by in...
Vol 42 No 25 | FRANCEAFRICA Oil slick 21st December 2001 Legal sources in Paris say the long, venomous investigations into oil company Elf-Aquitaine will be buried before May's presidential election. Elf, merged in 1998-9 with Franco-Bel...
Vol 42 No 23 | UNITED KINGDOMAFRICA Armed and dangerous 23rd November 2001 Arms supplies to countries such as Zimbabwe and Congo-Kinshasa will be more tightly controlled, says Britain's Minister of State for Trade, Nigel Griffiths. UK-based arms dealers b...
Vol 42 No 23 | AFRICAAIRLINES No more handouts 23rd November 2001 Belgium's Sabena went bust. Swissair was to have rescued it but followed it into financial collapse. For Africa's business travellers and public servants, it's a disaster. Swissair...
Vol 42 No 22 | UNITED STATESAFRICA Doing the business 9th November 2001 The third US-Africa Business Summit, in Philadelphia on 30 October – 2 November was larger and more successful than the previous ones in Washington (1999) and Houston (2000) – desp...
Vol 42 No 21 | UNITED STATESAFRICA Washington's new pragmatism 26th October 2001 Forget the broad principles, Bush's people prefer trade, practical details and anti-terrorism Africa will see little of the billions of dollars being pumped into the United States' military, diplomatic and intelligence services since the 11 September attacks. However, alrea...
Vol 42 No 19 | UNITED STATESAFRICA Everyone's catastrophe 28th September 2001 The slaughter in the USA creates more economic and political problems for Africans Every African government sent condolences to Washington after the attacks of 11 September and popular sympathy everywhere was with the victims. However, opinion is divided on Washi...