• Africa-wide
  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Cape Verde
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Comoros
  • Congo-Brazzaville
  • Congo-Kinshasa (DRC)
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Djibouti
  • East Africa
  • Egypt
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea Bissau
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • São Tomé & Príncipe
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • Southern Africa
  • Sudan
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Western Sahara
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • 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: 33.3 million
    GNI: 101200 million
    Debt: 16400 million

    Government reconciliation efforts have not stemmed the number or magnitude of terrorist attacks. Al Qaida's local affiliate pledges to step up attacks as President Abdelaziz Bouteflika prepares for a constitutional referendum and an eventual third term run in 2009.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/1/ALGERIA

    Angola
    Population: 16.4 million
    GNI: 32400 million
    Debt: 9400 million

    Asian and Western investors flock in as oil revenues and production spiral, providing a local boom ahead of legislative elections due in mid-2008, which the ruling MPLA looks sure to win. President José Eduardo dos Santos shows no signs of retiring.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/2/ANGOLA

    Benin
    Population: 8.7 million
    GNI: 4700 million
    Debt: 1800 million

    Buoyed by victory in last year's legislative elections, President Yayi Boni's team of technocrats will push ahead with macroeconomic reform and privatisation.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/3/BENIN

    Botswana
    Population: 1.8 million
    GNI: 10400 million
    Debt: 44 million

    In early 2008, President Festus Mogae will step down in favour of Vice-President Ian Khama, who will try to resolve splits in the Botswana Democratic Party before legislative elections in 2009.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/4/BOTSWANA

    Burkina Faso
    Population: 13.6 million
    GNI: 6300 million
    Debt: 1900 million

    This year, President Blaise Campaoré will complete his skilful transition from main foreign backer of the rebellion in Côte d'Ivoire to a leading peacemaker. At home he will subdue opposition with a mix of coercion and cash.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/5/BURKINA-FASO

    Burundi
    Population: 7.8 million
    GNI: 794 million
    Debt: 1.2 million

    To defuse the political stalemate, President Pierre Nkurunziza will make more concessions to satisfy critics within his party, the opposition and Agathon Rwasa's Forces Nationales de Libération.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/6/BURUNDI

    Cameroon
    Population: 16.7 million
    GNI: 18100 million
    Debt: 6100 million

    The ruling Rassemblement Democratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC) campaigns for constitutional change and another term for President Paul Biya in 2011 as relations deteriorate with neighbouring Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/7/CAMEROON

    Cape Verde
    Population: 0.51 million
    GNI: 1100 million
    Debt: 480 million

    Presiding over a booming economy and tourism, President Pedro Pires and Premier José Maria Neves' Partido Africano da Independência de Cabo Verde is likely to sweep local elections this year.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/8/CAPE-VERDE

    Central African Republic
    Population: 4 million
    GNI: 1500 million
    Debt: 870 million

    A reconciliation conference raises hopes as President François Bozizé talks to some of his opponents. Contributions run late for the European force to stem the spillover from conflict in Chad and Sudan.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/9/CENTRAL-AFRICAN-REPUBLIC

    Chad
    Population: 10 million
    GNI: 4700 million
    Debt: 1500 million

    Renewed rebellion in the east and a proxy war with Sudan complicates President Idriss Déby Itno's calculations. Despite a souring of relations, Paris will support his regime and European peacekeepers on the border.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/10/CHAD

    Comoros
    Population: 0.6 million
    GNI: 410 million
    Debt: 260 million

    After imposing a naval blockade, AU diplomats will try to resolve the electoral dispute that has poisoned relations between the federal government and Anjouan Island.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/11/COMOROS

    Congo-Brazzaville
    Population: 4 million
    GNI: 3800 million
    Debt: 5200 million

    Having co-opted the main opposition politicians in the 2007 elections, President Denis Sassou-Nguesso will campaign for another presidential term. His international standing is worse than ever.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/12/CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE

    Congo-Kinshasa (DRC)
    Population: 59.3 million
    GNI: 7700 million
    Debt: 9400 million

    Diplomats will step up efforts to dampen down conflict in the Kivus, as President Joseph Kabila faces huge financing and infrastructure deficits, and must rule on the validity of some key mining contracts.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/53/CONGO-KINSHASA-(DRC)

    Côte d'Ivoire
    Population: 18.5 million
    GNI: 16000 million
    Debt: 9900 million

    The much delayed presidential election is scheduled for June but progress on disarmament and identification is needed if the poll is to be credible and consolidate President Laurent Gbagbo's deal with rebel leader Guillaume Soro.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/13/C%c3%94TE-D'IVOIRE

    Djibouti
    Population: 0.8 million
    GNI: 856 million
    Debt: 390 million

    Gulf investors flood in while President Ismael Omar Guelleh profits from US and French garrisons and offers some electoral reform ahead of legislative elections in early 2008.

    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: 75 million
    GNI: 101000 million
    Debt: 28100 million

    Slow-motion battle to succeed septuagenarian President Hosni Mubarak pits presidential son and proclaimed reformer Gamal Mubarak against military elite while the Muslim Brotherhood's grassroots support grows.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/16/EGYPT

    Equatorial Guinea
    Population: 0.5 million
    GNI: 420 million
    Debt: 220 million

    His domestic opponents vanquished or in exile, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo plans to run again in 2009 and spend some of the largesse from new oil and gas discoveries and 2008's licensing round.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/17/EQUATORIAL-GUINEA

    Eritrea
    Population: 4.5 million
    GNI: 890 million
    Debt: 720 million

    Ineffectual mediation means the border dispute with Ethiopia continues. President Issayas Afeworki will still counter Ethiopia by backing Ogaden secessionists and Somali oppositionists.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/18/ERITREA

    Ethiopia
    Population: 72.7 million
    GNI: 12900 million
    Debt: 5900 million

    As international criticism mounts, Premier Meles Zenawi will ease the hard line against domestic opposition, except Ogadeni separatists. Ethiopia's invasion of Somalia and the Eritrea border will be heavily contested.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/19/ETHIOPIA

    Gabon
    Population: 1.4 million
    GNI: 7000 million
    Debt: 3600 million

    After 40 years in power, President Omar Bongo calls for action on corruption but will not sanction his family or corrupt party barons determined to capitalise on another oil boom.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/20/GABON

    Gambia
    Population: 1.5 million
    GNI: 440 million
    Debt: 620 million

    Self-appointed curer of HIV-Aids, President Yahya Jammeh faces a growing threat from dissident military officers. He will be regionally ostracised after the 'disappearance' of over 400 Ghanaians in Gambia.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/21/GAMBIA

    Ghana
    Population: 22.5 million
    GNI: 11800 million
    Debt: 5700 million

    December's presidential and legislative elections will dominate the political and economic year. The governing New Patriotic Party will try to engineer a mini-boom before a hard fought contest with the National Democratic Congress.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/22/GHANA

    Guinea
    Population: 9.2 million
    GNI: 3700 million
    Debt: 2900 million

    Reforming Premier Lansana Kouyaté's will come under pressure from regime conservatives and the increasingly strident trades unionists as oppositionists go back on to the streets.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/23/GUINEA

    Guinea Bissau
    Population: 1.6 million
    GNI: 310 million
    Debt: 670 million

    International concern grows about Bissau's narco-state as evidence implicates officials in President João Bernardo 'Nino' Vieira's regime. Premier Martinho N'Dafa Kabi concentrates on March's legislative elections.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/24/GUINEA-BISSAU

    Kenya
    Population: 35.1 million
    GNI: 20500 million
    Debt: 5500 million

    Political tensions will stay high as international mediators urge Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga to share power. The threat of governmental stalemate and communal violence damages the economy.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/25/KENYA

    Lesotho
    Population: 1.8 million
    GNI: 1800 million
    Debt: 650 million

    Economic prospects outshine politics as oppositionists reject the Lesotho Congress for Democracy's victory in February 2007's elections. Finance Minister Tim Thahane steers the economy towards record growth.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/26/LESOTHO

    Liberia
    Population: 3.4 million
    GNI: 470 million
    Debt: 1100 million

    Political logjams have slowed post-conflict reconstruction, signalling the end of a honeymoon as government finances struggle while waiting for debt relief.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/27/LIBERIA

    Libya
    Population: 6 million
    GNI: 44000 million
    Debt: n/a million

    Colonel Moammar el Gadaffi will reap more rewards from intelligence cooperation with the West targeting Islamist militants, especially Al Qaida. Doubts grow about political reform ahead of a promised new constitution in 2009.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/28/LIBYA

    Madagascar
    Population: 19 million
    GNI: 5300 million
    Debt: 3200 million

    President Marc Ravalomanana consolidates his domination of politics after his Tiako-I-Madagaskira party's sweeping victory in the 2007 legislative elections. Textile exports will do well but agriculture is languishing.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/29/MADAGASCAR

    Malawi
    Population: 13.2 million
    GNI: 2300 million
    Debt: 3000 million

    The parliamentary deadlock will continue but President Bingu wa Mutharika will emerge on top in time for the 2009 general election. Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe is steering the economy towards record growth and low inflation.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/30/MALAWI

    Mali
    Population: 13.9 million
    GNI: 6100 million
    Debt: 2800 million

    President Amadou Toumani Touré is launching a new development drive as income from gold and cotton exports looks uncertain. A Tuareg rebellion in the north persists.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/31/MALI

    Mauritania
    Population: 3.2 million
    GNI: 2300 million
    Debt: 2000 million

    Voters hope that President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and his technocratic ministers will improve public services and cut inflation after services and cut inflation after their 2007 election win. The security forces are braced for more Al Qaida attacks.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/32/MAURITANIA

    Mauritius
    Population: 1.3 million
    GNI: 6800 million
    Debt: 800 million

    More jobs and Asian investment have not taken the sting out of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and Finance Minister Rama Sithanen's programme of social and economic reforms.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/33/MAURITIUS

    Morocco
    Population: 30.5 million
    GNI: 58000 million
    Debt: 16200 million

    New Premier Abass al Fassi will move cautiously on economic and political modernisation as the kingdom's Islamist opponents regroup. Pressure is growing in fresh talks with Polisario Front over Western Sahara referendum.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/34/MOROCCO

    Mozambique
    Population: 20 million
    GNI: 6900 million
    Debt: 4400 million

    A Chinese-style mix off 'Market-Leninism' will allow President Armando Guebuza to purge the ruling Frelimo party, promote loyalists and maintain an impressive momentum of economic growth despite and overbearing bureaucracy.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/35/MOZAMBIQUE

    Namibia
    Population: 2.1 million
    GNI: 6600 million
    Debt: N/A million

    Despite a relatively sound economy, the defection of dissident Hidipo Hamutenya from the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation offers a serious political challenge to President Hifikepunye Pohamba's government.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/36/NAMIBIA

    Niger
    Population: 14.4 million
    GNI: 3700 million
    Debt: 1800 million

    A Tuareg-led rebellion in the north, food shortages and rows with France over the price of uranium exports will test President Mamadou Tandja's government. Criticism is mounting of his treatment of oppositionists.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/37/NIGER

    Nigeria
    Population: 144.7 million
    GNI: 92400 million
    Debt: 20300 million

    Courtroom battles over last year's elections may trigger a major political upset as oil and gas revenues rise further. Banks and telecoms companies are preparing big new investments.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/38/NIGERIA

    Rwanda
    Population: 9.2 million
    GNI: 2300 million
    Debt: 1400 million

    Higher growth and rising school enrolment boost President Paul Kagame's authoritarian Front Patriotique Rwandais while relations with France will gradually improve. Eastern Congo's persisting crisis will reverberate in Kigali.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/39/RWANDA

    São Tomé & Príncipe
    Population: 0.20 million
    GNI: 120 million
    Debt: 330 million

    Social discontent will rise in 2008 as President Fradique de Menezes struggles to resolve the chaos in the National Assembly after economic growth dips and oil exploration proves disappointing.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/40/S%c3%83O-TOM%c3%89-%26-PR%c3%8dNCIPE

    Senegal
    Population: 11.9 million
    GNI: 8900 million
    Debt: 3600 million

    After marginalising the opposition parties, President Abdoulaye Wade tips his son Karim for the succession, embarks on grand infrastructure projects and hosts the Organisation of Islamic Conference summit in March.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/41/SENEGAL

    Seychelles
    Population: 0.9 million
    GNI: 704 million
    Debt: 400 million

    With a renewed mandate for his Seychelles People's Progressive Party in last year's legislative elections, President James Michel will push ahead with more economic restructuring to encourage investment and tourism.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/42/SEYCHELLES

    Sierra Leone
    Population: 5.6 million
    GNI: 1400 million
    Debt: 1400 million

    President Ernest Bai Koroma's pledges to restore electricity and piped water and vanquish corruption will be tested after a slow start to his new administration. Expect controversy as a mining contracts' review gets under way.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/43/SIERRA-LEONE

    Somalia
    Population: 8.5 million
    GNI: N/A million
    Debt: 1900 million

    The appointment of Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein 'Adde' and the illness of President Abdullahi Yusuf offer a better chance of substantive negotiations with the opposition. Ethiopians and the AU force face more terror attacks

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/44/SOMALIA

    South Africa
    Population: 47.4 million
    GNI: 255300 million
    Debt: 20900 million

    The ANC leadership battle continues in August when part President Jacob Zuma faces corruption charges while his supporters plot against national President Thabo Mbeki. The political mayhem will undermine the economy.

    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: 37 million
    GNI: 29900 million
    Debt: 11700 million

    President Omer Hassan Ahmed el Beshir's National Congress will fight on several fronts: suppressing rebellions in Darfur and undermining the weak UN mission; in proxy wars with Chad and the Central African Republic; and keeping pressure on South Sudan.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/46/SUDAN

    Swaziland
    Population: 1.1 million
    GNI: 2700 million
    Debt: 450 million

    There is little prospect of agreement on constitutional reform ahead of the October elections or any reduction in King Mswati III's absolute powers. Most Swazis will face food shortages, prolonged drought and joblessness.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/47/SWAZILAND

    Tanzania
    Population: 39.5 million
    GNI: 13400 million
    Debt: 6200 million

    Pressure grows President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete to act decisively against corrupt politicians and officials as economic management problems persist. Kikwete will reshuffle his cabinet, including perhaps Premier Edward Lowassa.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/48/TANZANIA

    Togo
    Population: 6.3 million
    GNI: 2200 million
    Debt: 1500 million

    Last year's gerrymandered legislative elections brought the opposition into parliament and will trigger a resumption of EU and IMF aid. Contesting the results in court, the opposition still distrusts President Faure Gnassingbé.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/49/TOGO

    Tunisia
    Population: 10.1 million
    GNI: 30100 million
    Debt: 14700 million

    Ex-policeman President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali will keep an iron grip on power ahead of elections in 2009, in which his Rassemblement Constitutionnel Démocratique will use cash and incumbency to marginalise the opposition.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/50/TUNISIA

    Uganda
    Population: 29.9 million
    GNI: 8900 million
    Debt: 4300 million

    Deteriorating relations with Buganda over land reform, worsening corruption, failing peace negotiations with the Lord's Resistance Army and fallout from Kenya's crisis presage a difficult year for President Yoweri Museveni.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/51/UGANDA

    Western Sahara
    Population: 0.27 million
    GNI: n/a million
    Debt: n/a million

    The Polisario Front threatens a resumption of armed hostilities should US-mediated negotiations with Morocco fail to produce agreement on a referendum on the future of Western Sahara.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/52/WESTERN-SAHARA

    Zambia
    Population: 11.9 million
    GNI: 7500 million
    Debt: 4900 million

    Efforts to restructure the constitution will fall behind schedule and the trial of ex-President Frederick Chiluba will probably falter, but the economy will grow strongly, buoyed by increasing copper production.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/54/ZAMBIA

    Zimbabwe
    Population: 13.1 million
    GNI: 4500 million
    Debt: 3300 million

    Efforts by ZANU-PF dissidents under General Solomon Mujuru to form a United Front with Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC might just halt President Robert Mugabe's march towards another election victory in 2008.

    http://www.africa-confidential.com/browse-by-country/id/55/ZIMBABWE