Africa-wide
Population: n/a million
GNI: n/a million
Debt: n/a million

Africa-wide
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/56/AFRICA-WIDE

Algeria
Population: 34.9 million
GDP: 135000 million
Debt: 2.7 million

After President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's 90% victory in the April 2009 elections, there are few signs that the government will meet its pledges of 3 million new jobs and a million new houses.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/1/ALGERIA

Angola
Population: 18.5 million
GDP: 69700 million
Debt: 12.2 million

President José Eduardo dos Santos has delayed presidential elections until atleast 2012 while his ruling MPLA crafts a new constitution and waits for new oil fields to come on stream and fund more reconstruction projects.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/2/ANGOLA

Benin
Population: 8.9 million
GDP: 6500 million
Debt: 15.2 million

Hemmed in by a hostile parliament, President Thomas Yayi Boni will struggle to win re-election in 2011: he faces a more united oppsition and the possible candidacy of regional bank director Abdoulaye Bio Tchané.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/3/BENIN

Botswana
Population: 1.9 million
GDP: 10800 million
Debt: 12.4 million

GDP growth crashed by 10% in Botswana's diamond mono-economy in 2009. Newly elected President Ian Khama Seretse Khama and the governing Botswana Democratic Party are confident of reviving growth and keeping a tight lid on local politics.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/4/BOTSWANA

Burkina Faso
Population: 15.8 million
GDP: 7800 million
Debt: 24.1 million

Assured of victory in the November 2010 elections, President Blaise Compaoré will continue to whitewash his past policies of regional destabilisation with French-endorsed peacemaking in Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/5/BURKINA-FASO

Burundi
Population: 8.3 million
GDP: 1400 million
Debt: 24.8 million

Oppositionists fear intimidation and fraud as the authoritarian President Pierre Nkurunziza and the ruling Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie-Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD-FDD) plan for total victory in the elections in June and August. More violence will hold back the already battered economy.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/6/BURUNDI

Cameroon
Population: 19.5 million
GDP: 21800 million
Debt: 7.1 million

Helped by a partisan electoral commission and tactical acuity, 76-year-old President Paul Biya is confident of another victory against a divided opposition in national elections in 2011, but succession battles are looming.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/7/CAMEROON

Cape Verde
Population: 0.5 million
GDP: 1800 million
Debt: 47.0 million

The ruling Partido Africano da Independência de Cabo Verde will continue its search for a fresh candidate for the 2011 national elections when President Pedro Pires steps down. It hopes investments in telecoms will boost growth as tourist revenues falter.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/8/CAPE-VERDE

Central African Republic
Population: 4.4 million
GDP: 2000 million
Debt: 51.1 million

After bringing the two strongest armed oppositionists into his coalition, President François Bozizé will easily win national in April; the candidacy of ex-President Ange- Félix Patassé will split Bozizé's opponents.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/9/CENTRAL-AFRICAN-REPUBLIC

Chad
Population: 11.2 million
GDP: 7000 million
Debt: 22.0 million

Parliamentary elections scheduled for mid-2010 will be delayed again after census problems. President Idriss Déby Itno will parry concerns about authoritarianism by pointing to the Khartoum-backed rebels in the east.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/10/CHAD

Comoros
Population: 0.7 million
GDP: 500 million
Debt: 48.4 million

On the coup-prone archipelago, President Ahmed Sambi has delayed polls until 2011 when candidates from Mohéli are set to vie for the rotating presidency; there are more doubts about President Ahmed’s willingness to leave.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/11/COMOROS

Congo-Brazzaville
Population: 3.7 million
GDP: 8600 million
Debt: 24.6 million

After the blatantly fraudulent elections in 2009, President Denis Sassou-Nguesso will reign supreme, helped by corrupt co-option, bludgeoning of opponents and shamefaced backing from Europe and the International Monetary Fund.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/12/CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE

Congo-Kinshasa
Population: 66.0 million
GDP: 11100 million
Debt: 125 million

With leading oppositionists Jean-Pierre Bemba and Etienne Tshisekedi unlikely to campaign effectively, President Joseph Kabila prepares for an easier run in the 2011 elections. The mandate of the United Nations peacekeepers has been extended until June.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/53/CONGO-KINSHASA

Côte d'Ivoire
Population: 21.1 million
GDP: 22900 million
Debt: 40.6 million

Much-delayed national elections may be held at last in 2010 – if voting rights for two million people are agreed. President Laurent Gbagbo is likely to defeat the alliance of Henri Konan Bédié and Alassane Ouattara, if the elections actually take place.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/13/C%c3%94TE-D'IVOIRE

Djibouti
Population: 0.9 million
GDP: 1100 million
Debt: 60.5 million

Siding with Ethiopia against Eritrea and Islamists in Somalia, President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh hopes to secure continued Western backing for Djibouti as a regional hub despite worries about his autocratic leadership.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/15/DJIBOUTI

East Africa
Population: n/a million
GNI: n/a million
Debt: n/a million

East Africa
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/61/EAST-AFRICA

Egypt
Population: 83.0 million
GDP: 188000 million
Debt: 16.8 million

The ruling clique around 81-year-old President Hosni Mubarak are determined to scupper Mohamed El Baradei’s presidential candidacy in national elections in 2011; their favoured successor is Mubarak’s banker son, Gamal.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/16/EGYPT

Equatorial Guinea
Population: 0.7 million
GDP: 11200 million
Debt: 1.0 million

After another near-100% electoral victory in November 2009, President Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo Nguema’s family will continue its political domination as it searches for more oil to finance its excesses.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/17/EQUATORIAL-GUINEA

Eritrea
Population: 5.1 million
GDP: 1700 million
Debt: 53.7 million

UN sanctions against President Issayas Afewerki’s regime may inhibit but will not stop its anti-Ethiopian regional policy. Armed opponents of Issayas are likely to exploit problems caused by the faltering economy.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/18/ERITREA

Ethiopia
Population: 82.8 million
GDP: 22900 million
Debt: 12.7 million

Rebels turn up the rhetoric as Premier Meles Zenawi and the ruling EPRDF march towards victory in the May elections; leading oppositionists such as Birtukan Mideska will be kept in gaol, others will be heavily monitored.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/19/ETHIOPIA

Gabon
Population: 1.5 million
GDP: 10900 million
Debt: 10.8 million

President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba will distance himself from his father’s legacy but his anaemic anti-corruption campaigns will fall flat. The government will push ahead with the Chinese iron ore project to raise cash.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/20/GABON

Gambia
Population: 1.7 million
GDP: 700 million
Debt: 43.6 million

President Yahya Jammeh will alternately co-opt and batter the weak and ineffectual opposition. Lack of decisive reaction to his threats to kill human rights activists suggests growing international indifference to the regime.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/21/GAMBIA

Ghana
Population: 23.8 million
GDP: 14800 million
Debt: 34.2 million

The two main parties – the NDC and NPP – will hold difficult congresses; the economy will slowly recover with more public investment programmes and the start-up of commercial production from the Jubilee oil field.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/22/GHANA

Guinea
Population: 10.1 million
GDP: 2100 million
Debt: 22.9 million

The serious wounding of Captain Moussa Dadis Camara in a gun battle in December will delay the elections due in early 2010; the growing military factionalism raises doubts about promises to hand over to civilians.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/23/GUINEA

Guinea Bissau
Population: 1.6 million
GDP: 400 million
Debt: 238 million

The election of Malam Bacai Sanha in September 2009 followed a spiral of assassinations, but he will battle to constrain the military, revive the legitimate economy and counter the influence of Latin American drug cartels.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/24/GUINEA-BISSAU

Kenya
Population: 39.8 million
GDP: 30200 million
Debt: 23.4 million

President Mwai Kibaki’s and Premier Raila Odinga’s parties will remain divided over constitutional reform and prosecuting those behind the 2007 election violence; little prospect for change before the 2012 elections.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/25/KENYA

Lesotho
Population: 2.1 million
GDP: 2900 million
Debt: 12.7 million

A row over the share of seats in then 2007 parliamentary elections means the opposition, headed by the All Basotho Convention, may boycott the 2010 local and 2012 presidential polls; the ruling LCD is weakening.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/26/LESOTHO

Liberia
Population: 4.0 million
GDP: 900 million
Debt: 290 million

Delays to mining and agriculture projects, corruption concerns and the conclusions of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission threaten President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s bid for a second term in 2011 elections.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/27/LIBERIA

Libya
Population: 6.4 million
GDP: 60600 million
Debt: 9.2 million

Leader Muammar el Gadaffi will alternate between backing for a populist agenda, the favouring of his modernising son Seif al-Islam and his reformist colleagues, and profitable family deals with Italy and Russia.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/28/LIBYA

Madagascar
Population: 19.6 million
GDP: 9000 million
Debt: 26.7 million

International mediation efforts will increase pressure on interim President Andry Rajoelina to work with former presidents Marc Ravalomanana and Didier Ratsiraka ahead of fresh elections as the economy worsens.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/29/MADAGASCAR

Malawi
Population: 15.3 million
GDP: 4900 million
Debt: 17.7 million

Controlling 114 of 193 parliamentary seats after the May 2009 elections, President Bingu wa Mutharika will pursue his strategy of agricultural subsidies and confrontation with the foreign tobacco buyers. His DPP controls 114 of 193 parliamentary seats after the May 2009 elections.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/30/MALAWI

Mali
Population: 13.0 million
GDP: 8800 million
Debt: 16.1 million

The race to succeed President Amadou Toumani Touré when he retires in 2012 will begin seriously this year with Premier Modibo Diarra and oppositionist Boubacar Keita emerging as front-running candidates.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/31/MALI

Mauritania
Population: 3.3 million
GDP: 3200 million
Debt: 57.2 million

After putschist General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz fought off sanctions from Africa and Europe to win a flawed victory in last year’s elections, he will flaunt his opposition to the region’s Islamists to win Western acceptance.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/32/MAURITANIA

Mauritius
Population: 1.3 million
GDP: 9200 million
Debt: 9.5 million

In 2010 national elections, Premier Navin Ramgoolam and the LP will face a backlash due to the failing textile and tourism businesses, but divisions among his opponents in the MSM and MMM may bolster his campaign.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/33/MAURITIUS

Morocco
Population: 32.0 million
GDP: 90800 million
Debt: 21.9 million

The new Parti Authenticité et Modernité, with close ties to King Mohamed VI’s government, will increasingly challenge the position of the conservative nationalist Istiqlal party as the dominant party in the ruling coalition.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/34/MOROCCO

Mozambique
Population: 22.9 million
GDP: 9.7 million
Debt: 29.7 million

The victory of Frelimo and President Armando Guebuza in October’s elections means the further erosion of support for their established opponents in Renamo and the rise of Beira-based Daviz Simango and the MDM.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/35/MOZAMBIQUE

Namibia
Population: 2.2 million
GDP: 9000 million
Debt: 7.7 million

Although SWAPO and President Hifikepunye Pohamba won another large victory in the November 2009 elections, radical new MPs will demand change from SWAPO's old guard amid economic worries.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/36/NAMIBIA

Niger
Population: 15.3 million
GDP: 5300 million
Debt: 16.4 million

President Mamadou Tandja will adjust to life as an international pariah; almost oblivious to regional and international sanctions, his regime will rely on opaque revenues from uranium deals with China and France.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/37/NIGER

Nigeria
Population: 155 million
GDP: 165000 million
Debt: 3.0 million

The crisis caused by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s health worries and its implications for change among the ruling elite will eclipse the amnesty deal and plans for banking, oil sector and electoral reform.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/38/NIGERIA

Rwanda
Population: 10.0 million
GDP: 5000 million
Debt: 16.7 million

President Paul Kagame will certainly win the presidential elections in August and opposition candidates will face major strictures even if his tenuous deal with Kinshasa starts to unravel with fresh violence in Eastern Congo.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/39/RWANDA

São Tomé & Príncipe
Population: 0.20 million
GDP: 200 million
Debt: 10.8 million

Premier Rafael Branco, in office for just over a year, will battle to keep his fractious coalition together and may run for the presidency in 2012. Officials are hopeful that a new oil licensing round this year will boost investment.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/40/S%c3%83O-TOM%c3%89-%26-PR%c3%8dNCIPE

Senegal
Population: 12.5 million
GDP: 12600 million
Debt: 24.4 million

Slipping into authoritarianism, 83-year-old President Abdoulaye Wade has promised to run for a third term in 2012 while grooming his son Karim as successor; this will be enough to unite the formerly fractious opposition.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/41/SENEGAL

Seychelles
Population: 0.1 million
GDP: 700 million
Debt: 41.7 million

President James Michel will try to tame hyper-inflation ahead of national elections in 2011; his uncharismatic opponent Wavel Ramkalawan will not offer a strong challenge.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/42/SEYCHELLES

Sierra Leone
Population: 5.7 million
GDP: 2100 million
Debt: 22.9 million

Opposition will mount to President Ernest Bai Koroma’s rule as the SLPP questions the ruling APC’s links to corrupt deals; the respected anti-corruption czar Abdul Tejan-Cole will tackle some of the worst cases.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/43/SIERRA-LEONE

Somalia
Population: 9.1 million
GDP: n/a million
Debt: n/a million

The fighting will grow more complex with battles between Hizbul Islam and Al Shabaab for control of the South, but neither will be able to take and consolidate power over Mogadishu; the US will get more involved.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/44/SOMALIA

South Africa
Population: 50.1 million
GDP: 277000 million
Debt: 1.8 million

Hosting the 2010 World Cup will give President Jacob Zuma’s government a chance to showcase the country and change perceptions of Africa. His economic team are under pressure to boost housing and education budgets.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/45/SOUTH-AFRICA

Southern Africa
Population: n/a million
GNI: n/a million
Debt: n/a million

Southern Africa
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/60/SOUTHERN-AFRICA

Sudan
Population: 42.3 million
GDP: 543000 million
Debt: 81.3 million

A pivotal year with local, parliamentary and presidential elections in April, ahead of the 2011 referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. The armed stalemate in Darfur and fresh fighting in the east look ominous.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/46/SUDAN

Swaziland
Population: 1.2 million
GDP: 2900 million
Debt: 12.7 million

Growing economic troubles loom in 2010 with more than two-thirds of Swazis below the poverty line; the government of absolutist King Mswati III will respond by stepping up repression and covering up corruption.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/47/SWAZILAND

Tanzania
Population: 43.7 million
GDP: 22200 million
Debt: 17.9 million

Despite corruption concerns, President Jakaya Kikwete will lead the CCM to victory on the mainland in 2010 national elections but Zanzibar’s elections will see rising tensions between the CCM and opposition CUF.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/48/TANZANIA

Togo
Population: 6.6 million
GDP: 2800 million
Debt: 53.2 million

In the 28 February elections, President Faure Gnassingbé’s powers of incumbency and control of the armed forces will secure another flawed victory over long-time oppositionist Gilchrist Olympio and allies.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/49/TOGO

Tunisia
Population: 10.3 million
GDP: 40000 million
Debt: 52.8 million

Economic efficiency and political repression helped 73-year-old President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali win a fifth term in October. Hs government will boost the economy but unemployment will stay dangerously high.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/50/TUNISIA

Uganda
Population: 32.7 million
GDP: 15700 million
Debt: 14.7 million

President Yoweri Museveni will start his campaign for the 2011 elections with a national tour this year as he faces a more coherent opposition and will have to fight for the support of the influential Baganda people.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/51/UGANDA

Western Sahara
Population: n/a million
GDP: n/a million
Debt: n/a million

International pressure for a resolution to the conflict over the territory’s sovereignty will grow following Morocco’s submission to pressure when it allowed Sahrawi activist Aminatou Haidar to return home.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/52/WESTERN-SAHARA

Zambia
Population: 12.9 million
GDP: 12300 million
Debt: 9.4 million

Prospects for the copper-driven economy look brighter than the increasingly fractious political scene; after a disputed election win in 2008, President Rupiah Banda wants to be the MMD’s candidate in 2011.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/54/ZAMBIA

Zimbabwe
Population: 12.5 million
GDP: 3600 million
Debt: 33.5 million

The power-sharing regime will rumble on in 2010 as the economy shows signs of recovery but the three main parties struggle to agree on reforms to the electoral and land ownership system and, above all, to the military.
http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/55/ZIMBABWE